The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

The Changming County Committee Office consists of 12 internal institutions: General Office, United Front Department, Supervision Office, Secretariat One, Secretariat Two, Reform Office, Legal Affairs Office, Information Office, Official Documents Office, Confidentiality Office, Archives Office, and Administrative Office.

In many places, the director of the County Committee Office is also a member of the standing committee of the County Party Committee.

Although Lv Wuzhao, the director of the Changming County Committee Office, is not a member of the standing committee,

his prestige is still very high.

There has been talk about expanding the standing committee recently.

If that really happens,

it is inevitable for Lv Wuzhao to become a standing committee member.

That's also why he refused the intended promotion to be the deputy county head from above.

As the County Party Secretary's top aide,

the power of the director of the Committee Office is significant.

According to regulations within the system, the County Party Secretary is not entitled to have a secretary.

However, in reality, not only does the County Party Secretary have a dedicated secretary, but even the town Party Committee Secretary does as well.

It's just under some other guise.

For example, Chen Fang currently holds the position of head of Secretariat One.

And this Secretariat One exists for the top leader's secretary.

Aside from Chen Fang, there is no one else in Secretariat One, making him effectively the sole commander.

It's just that as the personal assistant to the top leader, the aura of Secretariat One is theoretically impressive, but everyone in Changming County knows that being Mr. Li Duming's secretary is neither easy nor a long-term position.

"Comrade Chen Fang, to be honest, I was quite surprised when you came to be the secretary, but since it is Mr. Li's wish, I won't say much. I only have one request, take care of your own duties. Don't cause trouble for Mr. Li or our Committee Office. I don't care what you were like in other units, but once you're here, what I say, you do. Secretary work is no child's play. If you don't follow the rules, then don't blame me for not being courteous."

In Lv Wuzhao's office,

he lounged on the sofa,

legs crossed, cigarette in hand,

with Chen Fang standing at attention before him.

This conversation prior to taking office had quite a bit of an intimidating aura to it.

Moreover, the door to Lv Wuzhao's office was not closed, and he shouted all of this at the top of his voice.

Unsurprisingly,

the people outside could hear this scolding as well.

It was normal for Lv Wuzhao not to like Chen Fang.

After all, wherever Chen Fang went, trouble tended to follow, and the Committee Office was a place that valued stability. With someone as problematic as Chen Fang coming in, it naturally upset him.

Of course,

this was the least important reason.

Mr. Li Duming's previous secretary, Han Qi, was a distant relative of Lv Wuzhao.

Only a little over a month into his job, he was reported for accepting bribes and taken away by the Disciplinary Committee.

Besides these two points,

there was a deeper reason: Lv Wuzhao disliked Tan Yandong, and actually despised him.

Prior to being appointed as the director of the County Committee Office, Lv Wuzhao had worked in the county government office for several years.

After Tan Yandong became the county head, he took a strong dislike to Lv Wuzhao, often scolding him harshly. During those times, Lv Wuzhao endured considerable humiliation.

It wasn't until a few years ago that he was transferred out of the county government to become the director of the County Committee Office, but even then, Tan Yandong often showed him no respect in many matters. Now that Tan Yandong was dead, he naturally felt the happiest.

As Tan Yandong's adopted son,

it seemed appropriate for Lv Wuzhao to reprimand him a few times.

This was a case of the son paying for the father's debts.

Watching the silent Chen Fang before him,

he felt very pleased.

There was a sense of satisfaction as if a great vengeance had been satisfied.

"The Committee Office has a rule, no matter who you are or what your status is, the first thing you do when you take office is to serve everyone. Today you, and you alone, will clean the offices and corridors of the Committee Office's 23 rooms. Any problem with that?"

Lv Wuzhao said in a tone that was neither hot nor cold.

Is there such a rule?

Chen Fang was taken aback.

Doing cleaning wasn't a big deal.

Even if it was for 23 offices.

But the rule at hand was clearly made up on the spot just for him.

The intent to make things difficult for me was all too obvious.

"There's a problem."

Chen Fang, who had been silent up until now, answered.

Lv Wuzhao was startled for a moment and asked, "A problem? What's the problem?"

"My arm is injured; I can't work."

Chen Fang rolled up his sleeve to show the bandaged forearm.

This injury, sustained while saving Qi Kexin, was not serious, but it couldn't have been more useful in this situation.

"Oh? Injured? If you're injured, then you don't need to work for now. Go back and take care of your injury. When the sanitation work is done, then you can resume your post."

Lv Wuzhao scoffed coldly.

Thinking to himself, I can't deal with you, little guy?

"Oh, Director Lv, could you write me a sick leave note then? I'm afraid I won't know how to answer if Mr. Li asks," Chen Fang said.

Lv Wuzhao slapped the sofa armrest.

He angrily bellowed, "Chen Fang, don't you use Mr. Li to pressure me. I'm the boss in the County Party office; what I say goes. Even if you're a secretary personally appointed by Mr. Li, you still have to get through me. Tan Yandong is already dead; what are you still pretending for in front of me? If others can't handle you, do you think I can't?"

"Yo, from way over here I could hear Director Lv losing his temper. What's happened? Did Director Lv eat gunpowder today?"

No sooner had he spoken.

A mocking voice came from the doorway.

Lv Wuzhao was taken aback.

He turned to look.

Suddenly he stood up, nodding and bowing as he said, "Deputy Secretary Xing, good to see you."

In the doorway stood a middle-aged man.

Around forty-six or forty-seven years old.

Lean and tall, with hair greasy and shiny yet neatly arranged.

He wore a casual bureaucratic jacket but sported a pair of cloth shoes, appearing simple and unadorned.

This man was the third in command of Changming County, a member of the County Party Committee, standing committee, and the County Deputy Secretary, Xing Yu.

Xing Yu nodded slightly in acknowledgement.

With a cheerful smile, he asked, "Who has upset Director Lv this time?"

In front of Xing Yu, Lv Wuzhao dared not show a bad attitude and said with a beaming smile, "No one, no one, you caught me in an embarrassing moment, Deputy Secretary Xing. Do you need something at the County Party office?"

Xing Yu didn't pursue the matter.

He said, "Oh, I almost forgot the main point of my visit. I heard that Mr. Li's secretary, Chen Fang, is starting today. I came over to have a look."

This comment left Lv Wuzhao utterly confused.

Xing Yu always prided himself on being above politics, never getting involved in political struggles, and apart from his designated duties, hardly concerned himself with anything else. Why was he interested in Li Duming's secretary all of a sudden?

He gestured toward Chen Fang, who was standing aside, and said, "Deputy Secretary Xing, this comrade here is Chen Fang. I was just having a pre-assignment talk with him."

"Oh, you're Chen Fang? Goodness, you've grown up so fast. I remember when we first met, you were still in university, right?"

After confirming the person before him was Chen Fang,

Xing Yu greeted him with a surprise.

He reached out and pinched Chen Fang's shoulder.

While this gesture might seem trivial,

when a leader makes such a move to a subordinate, it's loaded with meaning— at the very least, it sent a signal to Lv Wuzhao that he had a significant relationship with Chen Fang.

Had they truly met before?

Not at all!

Chen Fang understood as soon as he heard it.

Xing Yu had come specifically to support him.

He quickly smiled and said, "Hello, Uncle Xing."

"Ah, time flies indeed, you've grown up in the blink of an eye, and we, too, have become old timers," Xing Yu remarked.

"Not at all, Uncle Xing is still in his prime and getting more spirited," Chen Fang replied.

"Hahaha..."

Xing Yu burst into laughter.

He took Chen Fang's hand and said to Lv Wuzhao, "Director Lv, Ah Fang and I haven't seen each other in a long time. I'll take him out for a walk; you don't mind, do you?"