Chapter 1648

Hou Xiaojun, as the secretary, naturally had to share the leader's worries, and once again ran to Chen Sheng's home, only to hear that he had been hospitalized, his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately went to the hospital.

Upon arriving at the ward, he saw Chen Sheng lying on the hospital bed reading a book, his complexion rosy, showing no sign of illness at all.

But Chen Sheng told him that lying in bed he had nothing wrong, yet as soon as he moved, his head felt dizzy and nauseous.

After coming to the hospital, all examinations were done, yet nothing was found; the doctor advised hospitalization for observation.

Hou Xiaojun returned to the department with a heavy heart, standing outside Chen Quan's office door, hesitating for a long time without knocking.

Because he knew Chen Quan would surely lose his temper, and he might suffer as an innocent bystander.

Yet not going in to report was also impossible; after a while, he steeled himself and knocked on the door.

Indeed, after hearing Hou Xiaojun's report, Chen Quan flew into a rage and smashed the teacup he had used for over ten years and greatly liked.

His premonition also came true: a shard of the teacup flew and splashed onto his face, cutting a bloody gash.

……………

"Notify Zhao Jin Hui, let him come to me immediately."

Chen Quan's voice was cold, causing Hou Xiaojun to shudder involuntarily.

"I'm going now."

Hou Xiaojun first picked up the scattered items on the floor, then grabbed the broom and swept the floor clean, before turning and leaving.

Chen Quan turned and sat down on the chair, lit a cigarette, and the smoke began to rise.

And his face, half-hidden in the smoke, looked even more gloomy.

Before he could finish one cigarette, Hou Xiaojun returned.

"Minister, I called Zhao Jin Hui's home; he took the train this morning."

A smile appeared on Chen Quan's face, but the hand hidden under the table clenched tightly into a fist.

"Our Zhao Secretary truly cares about your province; the successor hasn't been decided, no handover has taken place, yet he just left like this."

Hou Xiaojun hesitated: "Zhao Jin Hui's lover said he had already completed the handover with Chen Sheng last night."

Chen Quan's eye twitched: "He did the handover with Chen Sheng?"

"Yes!" Hou Xiaojun said: "You've already spoken with Chen Sheng; only the organizational procedures remain, so Zhao Jin Hui believes Chen Sheng becoming secretary is a done deal."

"Ha!" Chen Quan laughed once, though his smile looked somewhat forced: "Not bad, very good."

How could he not know Chen Sheng was faking illness? It was just strange—why would Chen Sheng avoid this promotion?

Now he understood: the root lay with Zhao Jin Hui; likely this secretary had realized something, so he fled so quickly.

Originally, the transfer procedures were all completed; even without a handover, your departure would merely be a work error, not a big deal.

But stabbing the leader in the back, stirring up Chen Sheng to fake illness—that's your fault.

What he needs to do now is arrange a successor for the secretary position as soon as possible; it can't remain vacant.

Fortunately, Sony's side seems to have encountered some trouble; the original No. 1 inspection, which was to come, has been delayed until the end of this month, giving him ample time; otherwise, it would indeed be a hassle.

Chen Quan pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray: "Deputy Secretary Chen is ill, but that doesn't delay the normal organizational procedures."

Hou Xiaojun froze, then immediately understood: "I'll go notify them right away."

Hospital: Chen Sheng was sitting cross-legged on the bed eating, his wife sat on a stool sighing continuously.

"Hiding in the hospital all the time isn't a solution."

"What can be done?" Chen Sheng put down his chopsticks, closed the lunchbox lid: "Anyway, I absolutely cannot take this secretary position."

"Papapap..."

Someone knocked on the door; Chen Sheng put down his lunchbox: "Come in!"

With a creak, the ward door was pushed open; Zhu Leiwei entered carrying a bag of fruit, followed by several colleagues.

"How did you all come?" Chen Sheng hurriedly greeted everyone to sit down.

Zhu Leiwei and the other colleagues put down what they were carrying.

"We are processing the transfer procedures; it should come down soon, so since we have time today, we came to visit the leader."

Chen Sheng sighed: "Everyone is our own; we all know what's going on. You came, that's fine—no need to buy so much."

"Leader!" a young girl said with a giggle: "For so many years, I've never bought you a pack of cigarettes; now, before leaving, I wanted to buy you something, to show my filial respect."

Chen Sheng gave a bitter smile: "I don't even know how long I'll have to stay sick."

"Never mind that." Zhu Leiwei said bluntly: "Isn't there still Secretary Yang in the bureau? You don't need to worry; just stay here."

"Papapap..."

The ward door was knocked again; before Chen Sheng could speak, the door was pushed open.

First came a person of short stature, wearing a gray cadre uniform, somewhat plump, middle-aged.

Then, two more people followed, also in their thirties, carrying nutritional supplements.

"Secretary Feng, why are you here?"

Chen Sheng instinctively tried to get out of bed, then realized that moving would make him dizzy, so he couldn't get up.

The visitor was indeed Feng Guanjun, head of the Personnel Bureau; as soon as he entered, he put on a smile, looking very amiable.

"The leader is very concerned about your health, so he sent me to visit you. Also, I'm here to conduct a formal organizational talk. Old Zhao Secretary left this morning; we need to finalize your appointment as secretary as soon as possible."

Chen Sheng was dumbfounded: I've hidden in the hospital, yet you still won't let me go—aren't you afraid of karmic retribution, heavenly thunder and earthly split?

Chen Sheng's mind was in chaos; what Feng Guanjun said, what he replied—everything was a blur.

"I never expected—even in the hospital I couldn't avoid it." After Feng Guanjun left, Chen Sheng sighed long: "It seems I must apply for medical retirement."

"Why apply for medical retirement?" Zhu Leiwei said with a smile: "Since the department sent people to the hospital to talk to you, it shows the leader values you greatly; if you apply for medical retirement, you'll only make the leader feel worse."

Chen Sheng looked at Zhu Leiwei: "If I don't apply for medical retirement, a heap of trouble will follow."

"No way!" Zhu Leiwei shook his head: "The department leaders trust you; giving you more responsibility is a good thing, but if you're unwell, you can't ignore it."

So, Director, you should just take it as it comes—hospitalization, you should just stay in the hospital. As for the work in the office, isn't there still Deputy Director Yang?

Everyone knows Deputy Director Yang's abilities—whoever mentions him gives a thumbs up. During your hospitalization, you can completely hand over the office work to Deputy Director Yang.

Chen Sheng was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Yang Qi is an old subordinate of Minister Chen's. During my illness, with him overseeing the office work, I believe the leadership would also feel reassured, right?"

Zhu Jiewi chuckled hehe: "Rest assured, how could he not be reassured?"

Speaking of which, he and Chen Quan still have that somewhat roundabout familial connection.

But when it comes to scheming against Chen Quan, he feels no psychological burden at all.