Chapter 48: One Stroke to the End (2)

  Xu Shaojie was just about to get off work when the phone rang. At this time, Xu Shaojie was a bit of a headache. If there's something that needs to be dealt with during non-working hours, it will delay things, and who knows how long it will take. Xu Shaojie secretly cursed his bad luck, thinking that if he had left work a little earlier, he could have transferred the call to the switchboard and avoided this problem altogether.

  "Hello, this is the Huaiyang Municipal Party Committee Office."

  "Hello, I'm looking for Xu Shaojie."

  "Excuse me, where are you from?"

  "I am from Xilin Police Station."

  Xu Shaojie was furious, following Tang Wanrou's method of making phone calls, others who received the call must have thought they had done something wrong, why would the public security bureau come looking for them if nothing happened?

  "Comrade Tang Wanrou, watch your tone of speech. We are revolutionary comrades and fellow fighters who stand shoulder to shoulder, although we may not be in the same place, our goals are consistent, striving for a common cause."

  The laughter of Tang Wanrou came from the other end of the phone.

  "Xu Shaojie, who told you not to call me? You didn't call me, so I'm looking for you."

  "Officer Tang, I don't know your phone number, how can I call you? Besides, you work at the Public Security Bureau, if I casually call you and something happens, everyone will think I'm doing something bad and trying to get in good with you."

  "I knew it, you have a guilty conscience! From now on, I'll call you frequently to keep an eye on you."

  "Alright, alright, no problem, welcome Officer Tang to supervise my work. However, from now on, don't say it's the Public Security Bureau that found me, just say Tang Wanrou found me, or say I'm Xu Shaojie's girlfriend, how about that, haha."

  "Xu Shaojie, you said so yourself. From now on, I'll call every other day and when they ask, I'll say I'm Xu Shaojie's girlfriend."

  Xu Shaojie was stunned, but couldn't explain it. This was what he had said himself, originally thinking it was a joke. Who knew that Tang Wanrou would take it seriously? From now on, Tang Wanrou would definitely do this. However, Xu Shaojie also felt relieved. In a few days, he would be going to the countryside and then Miss Tang wouldn't be able to find him.

  After hanging up the phone, Xu Shaojie quickly transferred the call to the machine room. Now, no matter what happened, he couldn't be found. Coincidentally, Qian Dazhi also came in. Actually, Qian Dazhi had been outside for a while and saw Xu Shaojie answering the phone, so he waited outside for a moment. The two walked out of the municipal party committee compound, hailed a car, and arrived at Chengdong. There were many small restaurants here with good taste and cheap prices, and business was always booming.

  After two cups of wine, Qian Dazhi's words became more numerous.

  "Xiao Xu, I heard that the municipal party committee is going to send cadres to the grassroots level for training. What do you think about this?"

  "I've just started working and I'm not very clear about it, but Director Qian must know the inside story."

  "It's not that they're familiar, but rather they know some of the situation. Cadres working in the municipal party committee and government who go to lower levels for temporary postings are actually just getting a superficial experience. Of course, it doesn't sound good to say this, but think about it, within one or two years, how much can you accomplish? Moreover, when they go down, they usually take on the role of deputy district head, and now in districts and towns, there's a long list of deputy secretaries, so what does being a deputy district head even mean? They don't even have a place to speak, local personnel relationships are complex, no money, no power, it's hard to get things done."

  "Oh, I see. So what does Comrade Qian think the cadres sent down should do?"

  "It's simple to say it's simple, and complicated to say it's complicated. Simply put, after arriving at the district or town, one can just go with the flow, possibly doing some divisional or assistant work, with someone above responsible for it. Just do a perfunctory job, not seeking achievements but avoiding mistakes. After time is up, return to the unit, and with a higher rank, don't get involved in the district's actual interests and personnel adjustments, and maintain good relations with subordinates.

  On the other hand, if we say it's complicated, it involves getting things done, which requires money. The district or town currently lacks money the most. It's almost impossible for dispatched cadres to ask the district or town to spend money on something. So, they can only turn to the county or city government, and further up, to the municipal party committee and government. However, it's very difficult, and the funds are not easily available. If there's too much, it can't be allocated; if there's too little, it won't have an effect. At this point, things get complicated, and one has to put in a lot of effort, but still may not achieve good results. It's possible that ultimately, nothing will come of it, and upon returning to the unit, one will still feel burdened."

  "Oh, I understand what Director Qian means. After going down, one still needs to have self-awareness, act within one's capabilities, and not be impulsive, lest one brings trouble upon oneself."

  "Xiao Xu, you're really smart, that's what it means. Nowadays, the term is usually one year, where can you do anything? It's good to have such an idea, but also respect reality."

  "Thank you, Director Qian. I've just started working and don't understand anything. Director Qian's words have broadened my horizons, and from now on, I'll definitely follow him to learn more."

  Qian Dazhi held up his wine glass, with a smile all over his face. As for Xu Shaojie going down to exercise, it was absolutely not to be mentioned, whether Xu Shaojie knew or not. Many things can only be understood and cannot be spoken of. If Xu Shaojie doesn't understand now, he will in the future. He has already planted the seeds, which will slowly sprout in Xu Shaojie's heart.

  What was said earlier were all heartfelt words. Nowadays young people are impulsive, don't know the height of the sky or the thickness of the earth, and don't know the difficulties and complexities below. They always want to make a big stir, but don't realize that there are many old foxes in the district and town who will mock them, push waves and stir up trouble, and secretly do bad things. In the end, the dispatched cadres will return to their units with their tails between their legs, without saying anything about their performance below.

  He told Xu Shaojie these things just to avoid him going down and suffering a loss.

  After returning home, Xu Shaojie remembered Qian Dazhi's words. Qian Dazhi was a man of purpose and wouldn't shoot arrows for no reason. Although Xu Shaojie had only been at the municipal party committee office for a short time, he discovered that it was a place where dragons and tigers hid, and there were no simple people. Everyone had their own schemes in mind, but since Xu Shaojie had just arrived, he didn't pose a threat to anyone, so life was still relatively comfortable. However, as time went on, this might not be the case.

  Xu Shaojie wasn't accustomed to this trend. The longer he stayed, the more he would become calculating himself. Originally, he had some understanding of this, but if he remained in such an environment for a long time, even if he was very capable, it wouldn't mean anything. This was a typical case of internal strife.

  Xu Shaojie thought that perhaps this was why Ding Yuan wanted him to leave the municipal party committee office as soon as possible. Although similar situations existed at the district and township levels, and might be even more severe, he could still do things there, accumulate experience through practical work, which was much stronger than internal strife in the municipal party committee office.

  Qian Changjiang's meaning is basically understood by Xu Shaojie, neither of them will say it clearly. Perhaps Qian Dazhi knows he has to go down there and kindly reminds him. Qian Dazhi's kindness, Xu Shaojie will remember, because in an official unit, ordinary people usually don't say such things out loud. Qian Dazhi can say it out loud, no matter what his intentions are, this feeling, Xu Shaojie must keep in mind.

  Xu Shaojie is worried about his future, Qian Dazhi knows the situation and speaks the truth. As a deputy district head in the district town, he can't do anything, has no right to speak, no personnel rights, and no financial power, equivalent to a mere decoration on the periphery of power. If it's such a situation, it's quite miserable. Xu Shaojie thought of Song Tao from Yudu District, who is an dispensable role, he can't be like that. Although he is a deputy district head, in reality, he is just a decoration, no one will notice him, everyone will respect him, as long as he doesn't interfere with anything and leaves when his time is up.

  With these doubts, Xu Shaojie fell asleep in a daze.

  On Thursday, Xu Shaojie, who was on duty, received a call from the Organization Department.

  "Comrade Xu Shaojie, please come to the Organization Department's County and City Cadre Section."

  Xu Shaojie hung up the phone and hurried over to report to Qiao Yurong that someone had to answer the office phone.

  "Xiao Xu, didn't you hear wrong? The Organization Department of County and City Cadres Section is looking for you."

  "Jiao Ke Long, I heard it clearly, notify me to go over immediately."

  "What's going on? This doesn't sound right. Wait a minute, let me ask our leader. You've just arrived at the office to start work and don't know anything yet, how can the organization do things like this?"

  "Director Qiao, don't look for the leader just yet, I still don't know what's going on, maybe it's about taking some documents or something. Let me go take a look and I'll come back to report to you."

  "Xiao Xu, go quickly, I'll be in the office taking calls, waiting for your news."

  Qiao Yurong's anxious expression was evident, and Xu Shaojie was still somewhat moved. He remembered Qiao Yurong, who had just gone to find the leader, revealing her true feelings. Qiao Yurong's husband was the deputy secretary-general of the municipal government, following the vice mayor, and still had some right to speak.

  "Comrade Xu Shaojie, I am representing the organization to talk to you. After research and discussion, it has been decided that you will be assigned to work in the district town, serving as a member of the Yu Du District Committee of Huai'an City and Vice Secretary in charge of organizational work. This is a demonstration of the organization's trust in you. We hope you will do your job well and make contributions to the economic development and social progress of Yu Du District. Do you have any other opinions?"

  "Comrade Luo, thank you for the organization's trust in me, I will obey the organization's arrangement and work hard."

  "Alright, you go back and get ready, tomorrow afternoon come to the Organization Department, I'll take you to Huai'an City for registration."

  Watching Xujiaojie leave the office, Luohaijun was lost in thought. Originally, Xujiaojie going to Huaiyang City didn't need him to see off at all, but this Xujiaojie was a bit special, so he decided to go and see him off personally. Of course, once Xujiaojie took office in Yudu District, there would be no need for him to see him off again, the Huai'an Municipal Party Committee would make arrangements.

  "What's going on, Little Xu?"

  "Director Qiao, I will leave the municipal party committee office tomorrow and go to work in Yudou District, Huai'an City."

  "This won't do, Little Xu. Don't be in a hurry. I'll go find the leader right away. How can this arrangement be suitable? You've only been working for over a month and aren't familiar with anything. How can you go to a lower level for a temporary assignment so soon?"

  "Comrade Jiao, thank you, the organization has already made arrangements, I've also said that I'll follow the organization's arrangements, in a moment I'll handle the handover, actually there's nothing to hand over."

  Qiao Yurong's face had an indignant expression, she knew that Xu Shaojie's words were true, the organization had already made arrangements, and not going at this time would be inconsistent with the principles. Qiao Yurong thought about saying something to Xu Shaojie, but the phone rang. Xu Shaojie hurriedly went to answer it, still having to stick to his post at this time.

  "Is it Little Xu? Come upstairs for a moment."

  When Xujie went upstairs, Qiaoyu Rong knew that at this time, it was useless to talk to anyone. Xujie's matter had already been settled. However, Secretary-General Liao Hongyun's conversation with Xujie was somewhat unexpected by Qiaoyu Rong. Normally, for a cadre on temporary assignment, a conversation with the deputy secretary-general would be more than enough; usually, a conversation with the deputy director of the office would suffice.

  Xu Shaojie did not enter Liao Hongyun's office, he was taken directly to Ding Yuan's office by Liao Hongyun. Ding Yuan's secretary was Li Ming, the deputy director of the municipal party committee office. Li Ming looked at Xu Shaojie with an unpredictable expression in his eyes.

  "Xiao Xu, the Organization Department has talked with you."

  "Secretary Ding, I just came back from the Organization Department."

  "Uh, you're young, going down to take office, be humble, learn from other old comrades, grassroots work is very practical, the focus is on being pragmatic, you will directly contact farmers, feel the suffering of farmers, I hope you can calm down and do things solidly, get along with farmers, achieve results in work as soon as possible. Now, you are a member of Yudu District's team, your identity is different, pay attention to what you say and do, think more, the principle is to talk less and do more. Finally, I want to remind you not to follow the trend, stick to principles, have your own independent understanding. I have high hopes for you."

  "Thank you, Secretary Ding, I will definitely work hard and achieve results soon."

  "Alright, you go ahead with the handover, be on time at the Organization Department tomorrow morning."

  Xu Shaojie left the office, and Ding Yuan picked up the phone.

  "Lao Liao, tomorrow morning, can you see Xu Shaojie off? Young Xu is still young, we should try to help him as much as possible."

  After putting down the phone, Ding Yuan didn't look at the file, stood up and walked to the window, looking at the courtyard of the municipal party committee, where the flowers in the flowerbed were competing to bloom, with red and green colors matching, it was really beautiful. Ding Yuan didn't know what kind of achievement Xu Shaojie would make after arriving in Yudu District, whether his hard work would be in vain, Xu Shaojie was too young...