The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

Chen Fang didn't want to leave Changming County because his heart was still troubled by Tan Yandong.

In the officialdom, there's no one who doesn't want to climb higher and higher.

Chen Fang was no exception.

Although Sun Shenru had fallen, the truth about Tan Yandong's suicide was on the verge of coming to light.

But Li Duming knew there were still doubts in his heart.

He was still determined to get to the bottom of this matter.

If Chen Fang agreed, Li Duming wouldn't have planned to speak the following sentence, but he had no choice; in the end, he was forced to say it out loud.

Chen Fang was stunned for a moment.

He took a deep breath and said, "I'll go to Jinde County."

Li Duming nodded and replied, "Alright, I'll arrange this matter during this period."

"Leader, may I recommend a secretary for you?"

Chen Fang asked.

Li Duming looked surprised and asked, "Oh? Do you have a suitable candidate in mind?"

"My former secretary in Fuguang Town, named Guo Zheng, although young, is quite steady in his work. With your training, he should grow rapidly."

"Okay, since you recommended him, I have complete trust in him. Then you can hand over your current work to him, and I'll try to finalize your transfer as soon as possible."

"Good, then I'll have to trouble the leader," Chen Fang said.

Everything that needed to be said was said.

Li Duming stretched.

He said, "Let's go, Li Yi, we're going home."

During the discussion about the job transfer, Li Yi had hardly interjected.

But when standing up to leave, Chen Fang saw a look of reluctance in her eyes.

He patted her on the arm and said, "It's okay, I'll come back to visit you and the leader when I have time. I promise I'll play chess with you then."

His words made Li Yi smile.

She said, "That's what you said, oh, we'll play for an entire day and night next time, no backing out."

"Okay, I'll play with you for a whole day and night," Chen Fang responded.

Li Duming's efficiency was really fast.

It only took five days.

The transfer order from the Organization Department of Jinde County Committee was sent to Changming County.

The news of Chen Fang's transfer spread instantly throughout the county committee compound.

That morning.

Chen Fang received several phone calls.

There were calls from Mo Zifei, Zhao Xixi, and even Luo Lan.

All were inquiring about his job transfer.

It was just a change of workplace, not a life-or-death farewell; there was no need for Chen Fang to detach and withdraw.

The day after receiving the transfer order.

Chen Fang formally bid farewell to Li Duming and set off alone to take up his new post in Jinde County.

The distance between the two places was less than two hundred kilometers.

Chen Fang originally planned to take a bus.

But as soon as he reached the entrance of the residential complex.

He saw a black Mercedes.

It was Zhang Cheng's car.

Zhang Cheng was leaning against the car, quietly smoking, staring at Chen Fang displeasedly.

"Leaving? Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

Zhang Cheng asked somewhat unhappily.

Chen Fang smiled and said, "I'm not going off to war never to return, what's there to say?"

Zhang Cheng nodded and said, "Fine, you're right, it's not like you're not coming back. But taking a bus is so tiring. I've arranged for Fang Mei and Fang Gui to drive you there. It's better to have company to talk to on the road."

Chen Fang took a closer look.

Sure enough, Fang Mei was in the driver's seat, and Fang Gui was sitting beside her, both waving at him.

"Alright then, since I can't refuse, I'll accept,"

Chen Fang joked.

As he was about to open the door to the back seat.

Zhang Cheng grabbed his shoulder with determination and said, "Don't you have any questions for me?"

"I do,"

Chen Fang nodded and said.

Zhang Cheng was taken aback and asked, "Then why don't you ask?"

"If I asked you and you told me the truth, it would probably be hard on you, but if you didn't tell me the truth, it would be tough on me. Since someone has to get hurt either way, why bother asking?"

"Aren't you curious?"

"Of course, I'm curious, very curious, but sometimes, curiosity killed the cat."

Chen Fang gave a slight smile.

Then he got into the car.

He patted Fang Mei on the shoulder and said, "Let's set off."

Watching the vehicle slowly move away.

Zhang Cheng stood there, and for some reason, he felt a surge of sadness in his heart.

"You little rascal, making it all so sentimental, you've even touched me."

Zhang Cheng murmured to himself, not turning to leave until the car had disappeared around the bend.

Chen Fang felt the same way on the car.

Back when he was in Fuguang Town, he had discovered that Zhang Cheng sent two sisters to get close to him and to look for that notebook.

There must have been someone behind it.

Yet, from beginning to end, Chen Fang never exposed this matter.

He was indeed curious about the person behind Zhang Cheng, but later on, he gradually realized that the sisters never did anything "out of line" again, which meant that Zhang Cheng had given up on "searching" for him.

In that case.

There was no need for him to delve further into it; better to understand and not speak, and continue being friends.

Just as he had just said.

If the truth would harm someone, he would rather not know it.

After all, he had his ways of getting closer to the truth.

The first time the three of them rode in the car together was when Chen Fang was sent to take up his post in Fuguang Town, and they were incessantly chattering the whole way.

But this time, they were sending Chen Fang to Jinde County.

The three hardly spoke at all.

It was as if each harbored their own machinations.

Fang Gui was afraid that her sister Fang Mei would discover that she and Chen Fang had already crossed the "line."

Fang Mei also feared that her flirtations with Chen Fang would be found out by her sister Fang Gui.

Jinde County had a population of about five hundred thousand and was located in the northeastern part of Yong'an Province. It once was the political, economic, and cultural center of the Yongdong region. With its coastal location, the entire region is peninsular.

Moreover, Jinde County's coastline is the longest in all of Yong'an Province.

It's a prototypical seaside town.

As for Jinde County.

Chen Fang was not unfamiliar with it.

During his university days, a good friend from the same dormitory came from Jinde County.

Furthermore, his first girlfriend in college was also from Jinde County; it was because of this he had visited Jinde County with his ex-girlfriend for a few days, and he had a good impression of the city.

Approaching noon.

Chen Fang hurried to Jinde County Committee compound.

The compound was built along the mountain, and although the structures were somewhat old, the scenery was pleasant.

Four century-old banyan trees inside the courtyard shaded the sky and decorated the compound like a park.

Having heard of Chen Fang's arrival.

Zhang Feng, the head of Jinde County's Organizational Department, personally came out to greet him.

He helped Chen Fang complete the organizational procedures.

Originally, the Organizational Department could have sent a car to take Chen Fang to his post today; however, according to procedure, there's one more step before department heads take office— a meeting with the county head.

As it happened, Jinde County's county head, Li Xiaomin, was out at a meeting in the city today.

Zhang Feng then suggested he find a place to stay first and wait until after the meeting with the county head the next morning, then he would personally send Chen Fang to his post.

"Comrade Chen Fang, I'll call the county guest house in a moment, and have them reserve a room for you," Zhang Feng said politely.

Chen Fang repeatedly said, "Leader, I appreciate your kindness. I've heard that our Jinde County's snacks are quite famous, and I'd like to take the opportunity this afternoon to go out and explore, so I won't bother the guest house."

Zhang Feng hesitated for a moment.

He said, "Alright, since Comrade Chen Fang desires to explore, I won't hold you back. Tomorrow morning, you can go directly to the county government to report to County Head Li, and then come to the office to find me."

"Thank you so much, Director Zhang."

"No need for thanks. I've been good friends with Mr. Li for many years, and this is a favor I should do," Zhang Feng said.

After leaving the county committee compound.

Chen Fang's stomach was already rumbling in protest.

After getting into the car, Chen Fang said to Fang Mei, "Let's go, drive ahead, I'll take you to eat something delicious."