Chapter 66

After the New Year, Ningyang County was about to adjust its personnel, and the Organization Department became a vegetable market again.

Lu Fan was the Minister's secretary, so naturally, he was the target everyone scrambled to befriend in order to probe for news and the Minister's movements. Therefore, Lu Fan had recognized all the bigwigs in the county. Now, he might not be able to handle big things, but handling small matters should be smooth and unobstructed.

After Bian Jide returned from Liu Tiancai's office, he threw the file heavily onto his desk, his face livid, and didn't say a word.

As a secretary, it is his responsibility to share the leader's worries and solve their problems, but Lu Fan wasn't sure if the Minister trusted him, so he didn't dare to ask too much.

However, after Bian Jide sulked for a while, he took the initiative to say: "Not a shred of organizational discipline, doing whatever he wants. Does he really think the County Party Committee is his own home?"

Lu Fan tentatively said: "Minister, did Secretary Liu propose unreasonable personnel appointments again?"

Bian Jide needed to vent and said angrily: "The top leader has become a 'tyrant'. Even Secretary Wang's words are useless! A mere deputy director of the Culture Bureau is actually going to be promoted to director! In the history of Ningyang, there has never been a deputy director promoted directly to director, and she is even delusional, wanting to be the Education Bureau Director! How important is the Education Bureau? It's almost the same usage as a Deputy County Chief. If people are really used like this, the Organization Department will become a laughingstock. Where will the face of the organization be? Won't I be cursed to death by the people of Ningyang? What kind of person is that woman? Who in the whole county doesn't know? It's simply nonsense!"

"Her reputation is indeed quite big. Some people say she is very close to Secretary Liu!"

"Hmph, if he can't control his pants, something will happen sooner or later. Past mistakes are lessons for the future, yet he doesn't learn a single lesson. That such a person can be a County Party Committee Secretary, he must be blind!"

"Minister, is it a foregone conclusion?"

"Not yet. He just called me and Secretary Wang over to coordinate, and it's probably eight or nine out of ten. Secretary Wang almost argued with him, but it was useless. I see he's made up his mind."

The Minister still had principles, but this kind of personnel appointment was indeed outrageous. Lu Fan had a flash of inspiration and said: "Minister, in most cases, 'public opinion is as great as heaven' is unquestionable. If the cadres and masses of Ningyang learn that Secretary Liu intends to use people this way, there will definitely be public outcry. After all, education is the biggest livelihood, and if the director is that kind of person, which parent can rest easy?"

"The logic is sound, but if it spreads and becomes known to everyone right after Secretary Liu coordinated with us, he will definitely be suspicious of the Organization Department. Wouldn't that be lifting a rock only to drop it on our own feet?"

Lu Fan hadn't considered this point, so he could only say: "Sorry, Minister, I didn't consider it thoroughly."

Bian Jide considered it and said: "There is no wall that doesn't leak. Although he only coordinated with me and Secretary Wang, it doesn't mean only the three of us know. Can County Party Committee Office Director Xu Caijie not know? Can the person herself not know? Can the County Chief not know? Between two benefits, choose the greater; between two harms, choose the lesser. You look into it and operate it, be steady in your actions, and don't leave a tail!"

"Minister, please rest assured, I will make it foolproof!"

The chess stalls on the streets of Ningyang County are unique. All day long, chess enthusiasts play and watch, including community residents and octogenarians. It is the most comfortable lifestyle for elderly friends.

Old Man Liu, as usual, took out the chess set and a few folding stools, set up the chessboard and pieces on a small table, and waited for chess fans to come to the stall.

Before long, people came to play, and there were more than a dozen onlookers. Playing chess, watching chess, and commenting on chess—not for superiority, not for winning or losing, but for leisure, for passing the time, for showing off one's skills, and also for learning skills and making chess friends.

Du Wenlong knew nothing about chess, but he pretended to squeeze into the crowd, watching the game while chatting with everyone, deliberately steering the topic toward education.

Seeing the time was ripe, Du Wenlong pretended to be mysterious and said: "If you have connections at home, hurry up and transfer your children to Yingjiang or Chang'an for school!"

An old man said: "Young man, the quality of education in our Ningyang is still okay. Do you think everyone has that condition?"

Du Wenlong sighed and said: "Education in Ningyang used to be quite good, but it's about to suffer!"

"Young man, what's wrong? Can education be good one day and bad the next?"

"You don't know, the Education Bureau Director is about to change!"

A person who looked like an old cadre asked: "Change? Haven't heard of it? Who is changing?"

"The deputy director of the Culture Bureau, a woman!"

"Her? Impossible! She's not qualified at all!"

Du Wenlong said with certainty: "Don't believe it? Just wait and see! Her lover is Executive Vice County Chief Le Xueyi. County Chief Le has already agreed with Secretary Liu. Within a month, the Education Bureau Director will definitely change!"

"Damn his ancestors! That slut can be the Education Bureau Director? This Liu Tiancai dares to mess around like this? This bunch of bastards, none of them are good birds. No matter what, you can't make a joke out of education!"

Before long, the chess stall became noisy, criticizing Liu Tiancai and Le Xueyi. Du Wenlong completed his task and left, hiding his merit and fame.

The same thing happened in the streets and alleys of Ningyang. Ceng Ming, Liu Jin Zhu, and Su Xiaoyi "strolled" around, and the gossip about the new Education Bureau Director spread throughout the county like the wind.

Rumors stop at the wise, flourish at the foolish, and start at the schemers.

People's words are fearful, three people make a tiger, rumors confuse the masses; a single rumor can sometimes really destroy a person.

After work the next day, the entire county compound was talking about the new Education Bureau Director, and it was closely linked to Le Xueyi.

Every leader has their own informants, let alone at the level of Liu Tiancai and Le Xueyi.

When the secretary reported the "rumor" to Le Xueyi, County Chief Le was so angry his lungs almost exploded. He cursed in his office. He hadn't even touched a hair of that slut. Who didn't know she was Liu Tiancai's "mistress"? He hadn't eaten the mutton but got the smell all over him. It was truly disgusting. Who started the rumor?

What if Secretary Liu misunderstood? Le Xueyi wanted to go and explain to Liu Tiancai immediately, but felt it was inappropriate, as it would feel like "there is no silver three hundred taels here." Damn it, how unlucky!

Now it was like mud falling into his pants; even if it wasn't shit, it was shit. Le Xueyi had bitter words he couldn't speak! Not to mention he wasn't short of women, even if he were, he wouldn't snatch one from Liu Tiancai!

Liu Tiancai also received the news. At first, he was angry and almost called to question that bitch.

However, having been immersed in politics for many years, Liu Tiancai immediately began to consider the personnel issue. He had originally planned to cut the Gordian knot and finish it quickly. Once it was a done deal, at most, he would let the cadres and masses gossip a bit; it wouldn't hurt or itch.

Now, the social reaction was too great. The Education Bureau Director position probably couldn't be given to her. Bedtime jokes could only be abandoned. It was common to pull up one's pants and not recognize people; he would find a way to compensate her later.

Before the County Party Committee could react, at ten o'clock in the morning, a large crowd of people flooded into the County Party Committee compound, holding banners to express their demands.

Education concerns thousands of households. How could parents agree to the County Party Committee using a flirtatious woman who is "pillowed by a thousand people" to be the Education Bureau Director? This collective petition by the masses was planned by people inside the county compound.

Seeing the dense crowd, Liu Tiancai sighed and arranged for Wang Hongtao and Bian Jide to go down and calm the storm, promising that the County Party Committee would carefully consider the candidate for Education Bureau Director and asking the masses not to believe rumors.

Wang Hongtao enjoyed high prestige among the people of Ningyang. After going down, he dismissed the crowd in a few words, and a storm disappeared into the invisible.

During lunch, Le Xueyi approached Liu Tiancai to talk, but unexpectedly, Secretary Liu scolded him: "It's already March. How many times have I said we need an 'opening victory'? Look at the economic indicators for the first two months. How did you connect them? If you can't get into the top three, you will make a self-criticism at the Standing Committee meeting!" After finishing, he threw down his bowl and chopsticks and left.

Le Xueyi was a bit confused, thinking that County Chief Zhao was the primary person responsible. Who did I offend? But he quickly came to his senses. Could it be because of that rumor?

My great Secretary, how would I dare to give you a green hat? Le Xueyi was speechless with grief. He decided he must go and explain clearly to the Secretary later. Although they were of the same path, I don't agree with your taste for married women; I only like young and beautiful ones!

Bian Jide saw Le Xueyi get snubbed with his own eyes. After returning to the office, he was all smiles, feeling that Lu Fan had handled this matter beautifully, especially by involving Le Xueyi, completely muddying the waters. He had a good brain.

But then he thought, Le Xueyi had repeatedly proposed to appoint the Baishu Bay Forest Farm Director, and now Lu Fan had created a rumor for Le Xueyi. Could these not be unintentional acts? Could these two have a grudge?

Taking advantage of Lu Fan coming in to deliver documents, Bian Jide asked straightforwardly: "Lu Fan, do you have a conflict with County Chief Le?"

Lu Fan was slightly stunned, his eyes slightly red, and he said truthfully: "Yes, Minister. There is an old saying: I did not kill Boran, but Boran died because of me. When I was in elementary school, my father had a conflict with the Le family over land boundaries and was beaten until he was bedridden, leaving behind a root of illness and eventually dying in depression, but their brothers didn't receive any punishment. It can be said that I have an irreconcilable hatred with the Le family!"

"No wonder! Alright, I know. You go out first!"

Lu Fan walked a few steps, turned his head and said: "Minister, I am very grateful for your promotion and help. If my personal grudge with Le Xueyi affects you, no matter what decision you make, I will accept it calmly."

"Work hard, don't let your imagination run wild. I still have this much responsibility!"

"Thank you, Minister!"

After Lu Fan went out, Bian Jide was full of worry. It would be a lie to say he wasn't worried. The eldest of the Le family was the Executive Vice Mayor, and it was said he would soon be promoted. Is it worth offending the Le family for a secretary?

Oh, right, isn't Wang Hongtao his teacher? Does Secretary Wang know about this? Bian Jide needed a reason to continue using Lu Fan.

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