Chapter 16: Wang Hongtao Takes Action

The next day, Han Xuyang knocked on County Chief Li Guoquan's office door and said with a smile: "County Chief, I'm here to report on the career recruitment plan. Please take a look first."

Li Guoquan took the plan and said while reading: "The birthplace of fresh graduates must be Ningyang County, and the household registration of previous graduates must have been moved to Ningyang before June 1st. This recruitment is to solve the employment problem of university students from Ningyang. Don't let some people muddy the waters and take the spots of Ningyang people."

"Okay, I'll add that in."

After reading the plan, Li Guoquan said: "Xuyang, the Secretary and I have discussed it. The recruitment work will be held in November. There is one thing I must specifically instruct you on."

"Please instruct, County Chief."

"This recruitment has been approved for 400 spots. You also know that for the convenience of work, some special circumstances need to be treated specially. The Secretary and I have drawn up a list of 11 people who need to be hired directly. The recruitment announcement should be released for 389 people, but there must be no problems with the procedure."

Han Xuyang nodded and said: "Okay, I will find a way to implement it." This situation was very common. With such a large-scale recruitment, it was impossible for there to be no greetings from superiors, and there were some children of old leaders who needed to be taken care of. It was all human nature.

After discussing work, Han Xuyang brought out the prepared speech: "County Chief, regarding this recruitment, there is a special situation I must report."

"Old Han, go ahead."

"Yesterday, Director Yang Ye's wife called me and talked about her nephew's job problem. Some of the things she said left me speechless—about burning bridges and the tea going cold. I really couldn't find a way to respond, so I just found an excuse to drag it out. I feel her emotions are very unstable, and I estimate she will come to find the County Chief in these two days."

"Ah? What a mess! Sigh, to be honest, Director Yang Ye played a decisive role in getting our recruitment quota approved. Director Yang was a good man, what a pity! We all know this. I am not the kind of person who burns bridges, but if the Secretary doesn't express his stance, I can't take the initiative to bring it up. After all, this matter is quite sensitive. Old Han, you must stabilize Director Yang's wife and do a good job of explaining. If it causes a scene at the County Government, the impact will be very bad, and we won't have a way to answer for it. I suggest reporting this matter to the Secretary and asking him to make the final decision."

Han Xuyang deliberately said: "Alright then, you two main leaders meet first, and I will wait for the County Chief's instructions."

Li Guoquan immediately said: "Old Han, you are the leader in charge of recruitment work, and you know the problem best. I think you should report it to the Secretary!"

Han Xuyang did not decline and asked back: "That's fine, it's part of my job. But you are the Director of the Establishment Committee. If the Secretary asks about the County Government's attitude, how should I say it?"

Li Guoquan thought for a moment and said: "It doesn't matter to me; it mainly depends on the Secretary's opinion. However, we did promise them. How about this: if the Secretary agrees, I agree. If the Secretary disagrees, we will think of other ways. In short, handle this kind of matter as properly as possible, and don't let it become a big fuss."

"Alright, then I'll go to the County Committee and see how the Secretary instructs."

Han Xuyang was indeed very attentive to Lu Fan's job. As soon as he left the County Chief's office, he headed straight for the County Committee.

There were several directors queuing outside Secretary Guo Mingxiong's office. Seeing Han Xuyang, they all greeted him warmly, while the secretary, Gao Zhiguo, went directly into the Secretary's office to report.

Before long, the Director of the Agriculture Bureau came out of the Secretary's office and gave way to Han Xuyang—the priority system for standing committee members.

After entering, and waiting for Gao Zhiguo to pour tea, Han Xuyang said with a smile: "Secretary, there is a tricky matter to report."

Guo Mingxiong lay back in his chair and turned his head: "Xuyang, what new problems have you, the old revolutionary, encountered?" His attitude was very casual, as the two were middle school classmates.

"Secretary, Director Yang Ye's wife has come to the County Government."

"Oh? What exactly is the matter?"

"Sigh, we promised to arrange a job for his nephew. The county's recruitment work is about to start, and she has come to our door, asking if we are burning bridges and letting the tea go cold."

"Old Yang told his wife about this? What a mess! Xuyang, what do you think?"

Han Xuyang pushed the responsibility away, saying: "I don't have any thoughts; I will resolutely implement the County Committee's instructions. However, if the matter is not handled well, I estimate Director Yang's wife will definitely come to find you. To get the job arranged, I'm afraid she might just break the pot."

Guo Mingxiong sighed: "It's not easy to handle. What is Guoquan's opinion?"

"I reported it to County Chief Li. The County Chief expressed that we must keep our word and handle it as properly as possible, but it mainly depends on the County Committee's opinion."

"He sure knows how to push things. The County Chief is the Director of the Establishment Committee and the one in charge. This matter is very tricky. Do you have that person's information?"

Han Xuyang immediately handed over Lu Fan's information.

"Hmm, the age is enough, but the education is only high school. It's hard to handle! Xuyang, if we do it, what's a good trick?"

"Secretary, there are only two paths. One is 'black-box operation' during the exam, giving a special quota and 'guaranteeing admission' along with those 11 people. After all, this child's parents are both dead, and his father was a cadre in the Forestry Bureau. The situation is special and can be justified; we can just add a meeting record. The second is the trapeze artist method: get a 'file' from another county and then transfer him back. In Ningyang, such operations are not few."

"Sigh, no matter which method, it's a troublesome matter. I really don't want to deal with it."

"Then should I explain it to Director Yang Ye's wife? Push the matter away cleanly? Anyway, the person is dead and the debt is rotten. She has no evidence; it's nothing more than scolding a few times or causing trouble. I will focus on monitoring and try my best not to let her cause trouble for you."

"If she causes a scene, our reputation will stink! This Old Yang, telling his wife everything."

"Secretary, the recruitment plan will be ready soon. This matter must be hurried. The County Chief's meaning is that the recruitment absolutely cannot be dragged into next year."

Guo Mingxiong nodded and said: "This is a must. The recruitment was approved in 2007. If it crosses the year, we have to go through the procedures again. We can't let any side issues arise. Xuyang, let me think about it. This opening is not easy to make!"

Han Xuyang stood up and said: "Alright, then I'll wait for your instructions."

"Hmm, you must stabilize Director Yang Ye's wife. Think of a way yourself."

"Sigh, I'll try my best!"

Coming out of the Secretary's office, Han Xuyang saw Wang Hongtao walking towards him and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. This was the person the Secretary trusted most. If he could put in a good word, the matter would likely be done.

Han Xuyang could feel Wang Hongtao's respect for him, and for some reason, he also had a great fondness for Wang Hongtao, feeling like they were friends despite the age gap.

Wang Hongtao greeted him warmly and took the initiative to shake hands: "Hello, County Chief Han!"

Han Xuyang smiled: "Here to report work to the Secretary?"

"Yes, asking for money and policies. You also have to strongly support the work in Zhouchuan!"

"That goes without saying, I must support your work. Hongtao, can we step aside and talk?"

"I'm at your service!"

After going downstairs, the two walked side by side in the County Committee courtyard. Han Xuyang said: "Hongtao, have you heard about the matter of Director Yang Ye of the Municipal Human Resources Bureau?"

"Hmm, everyone knows!"

"The deceased is gone, may they rest in peace! I had a very good relationship with Old Yang. He put in a lot of effort for our county's recruitment this time, and at the time, the county verbally promised to arrange a job for one person."

Wang Hongtao nodded and said: "I know about this!"

Sure enough, he was indeed a confidant!

"Hongtao, the family has come to our door. If we break our promise, I feel ashamed of Old Yang and ashamed of the widow!"

"Is this what you just reported? What is the Secretary's attitude?"

"I feel he is 60% inclined to do it, but is currently hesitant."

"What about County Chief Li?"

"He listens to the Secretary!"

"County Chief Han, must it be done?"

"I did promise Old Yang, and I don't want to break my word to the deceased!"

"Alright, but I can only put in a good word for the Secretary; it might not have much effect."

"Man proposes, God disposes. Hongtao, thank you!"

Wang Hongtao smiled and said: "County Chief Han, you don't need to be polite with me. If there's anything, just call me. If it can be done, it will be done; if it can't be done, we'll find a way to do it!"

Watching his departing back, Wang Hongtao's thoughts were in turmoil. No one knew that in his previous life, it was Han Xuyang who helped him get his deputy section-level position.

Knocking on the Secretary's office door, Wang Hongtao saw Guo Mingxiong sitting in his office chair in deep thought and said with a smile: "Secretary, what's bothering you?"

"Hongtao, you're here. Sigh, there really is a tricky matter. Help me analyze it. It's this person. I promised Yang Ye of the Municipal Human Resources Bureau, and the family has come to settle old scores."

Wang Hongtao glanced at the information and felt the name was very familiar. Looking closer, it was actually his own student. For public or private reasons, this matter had to be done!

"As the saying goes: A person cannot stand without trust, a business cannot thrive without trust, and a country cannot be strong without trust! We are in a small place. Once Director Yang Ye's wife causes trouble, it will 100% become a big fuss. Yang Ye's matter already has high attention and is very sensitive. I think it's best to stay far away and not get involved in that mess. We can't let the city suspect we have any involvement with him. Since the county is recruiting, why not just fulfill the promise? The County Government handles the specifics anyway. If the government agrees and the County Committee opposes, and it gets out, you'll be caught in the middle!"

Guo Mingxiong nodded and said: "Makes sense! I'll listen to you, do it! This Lu Fan's parents are both dead, he is indeed quite pitiful. Just consider it doing a good deed!"

Wang Hongtao smiled: "The Secretary is kind-hearted. You have changed his destiny. Good people will definitely be rewarded!"

For Wang Hongtao, today's matter was just going with the flow, a mere lift of a finger.

But for Lu Fan, it was a great fortune, allowing him to step into the system with one foot and opening up infinite possibilities for the future. ===== CHAPTER 17 =====