Chapter 1: A Tiger Falls to the Flatlands and Is Bullied by Dogs!

Finally, I am to be transferred back from the Old Cadre Bureau to the Secretariat of the Municipal Party Committee Office!

Tang Ye meticulously straightened his clothes; his wheat-colored skin, short and thick hair, tall and upright stature, and well-defined jawline, combined with his crisp formal attire, made him appear sunny and steady.

Tang Ye is twenty-seven years old this year, a graduate of the School of Government Management at Qiongjin University with a master's degree, and he passed the entrance exam for the Municipal Party Committee Office with the top score. His first year of work had not gone smoothly. Immediately after joining, he was transferred to a "clear-water yamen"—the Old Cadre Bureau.

Later, he learned that a villain had played dirty tricks behind his back, and the key was that it was an acquaintance; acquaintances stab you in the back even harder.

He walked to the corner of the stairs.

A pink figure appeared out of nowhere.

Tang Ye could not avoid it in time and collided head-on with the other person.

"Ouch, you're going to kill me!"

"Careful!"

The document papers fluttered in the air like snowflakes.

Tang Ye felt his shoulder bump into something like clouds; he focused his eyes and saw that it was actually Cheng Lin, the Deputy Bureau Chief of the Old Cadre Bureau.

Cheng Lin is thirty-two years old this year, a typical Jiangnan beauty with an oval face, dark eyes, red lips, and white teeth.

Her voice was crisp, and her pronunciation had an accent.

"Look at me being so clumsy, the more hurried I am, the more chaotic things get."

Cheng Lin arched her back to pick up the documents, revealing the snow-white, supple skin below her neckline; the hem of her dress swayed gently, and a trace of a pink strap mark on the edge of her hip was visible, as if it were there and then not, appearing and disappearing.

Tang Ye squatted down to help gather the documents, gently blew off the dust, and smiled to ease the awkward atmosphere, "Sister Lin, you have a lot of internal heat; there are many pimples on your face! Are you feeling unwell?"

Cheng Lin subconsciously rubbed the red spot near her lip with her hand, her dark brows knitted slightly, and she said resentfully, "Are there many? Sigh, I've been suffering from insomnia lately. During last week's physical exam, every indicator was flashing a warning light!"

"Even minor ailments should be taken seriously. I know a very skilled traditional Chinese medicine doctor; I'll take you to see him when I have time."

"That would be great; I've been wanting to regulate my body as well."

Cheng Lin took the documents Tang Ye handed over, tapped the two stacks to align them, looked Tang Ye up and down, and smiled with pursed lips, "Xiao Ye, you look really spirited. Are you going back to the Municipal Party Committee to report for duty?"

"Sister, although I've been transferred back, if you need anything, call me anytime!"

"Hey, once you're back at the Municipal Party Committee Office, put your energy into your work and prioritize your career."

Sister Lin's appearance is like a landscape, but her marriage is a mystery.

She is married, but her husband has never been seen; it is said he is studying for a doctorate abroad in Canada.

On Tang Ye's second day at the Old Cadre Bureau, the water pipes in her home burst and two lights broke; she couldn't find a repairman. After Tang Ye found out, he rushed over to help. His hands-on ability was incredibly strong, and he fixed the pipes.

Coupled with the fact that Tang Ye had a good way with words and was steady in his work, Cheng Lin appreciated him quite a bit; she didn't treat him as a subordinate and they got along like siblings.

The promotion path at the Old Cadre Bureau is limited and it is not a place to stay for long; Cheng Lin played a big role in Tang Ye being able to return to the Municipal Party Committee Office.

Just as he entered Building No. 1.

Tang Ye's shoulder sank; he turned around and a face with narrow eyes and a hawk nose came into view.

Shao Jinbo was that "villain who stabs in the back."

"Old classmate, long time no see! What have you been busy with lately?"

Shao Jinbo and Tang Ye were not only high school classmates, but they also passed the civil service exam in the same year.

Shao Jinbo's position was originally at the Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, but when Tang Ye was seconded to the Old Cadre Bureau, he entered the Secretariat of the Municipal Party Committee Office to take his place.

There was no helping it; Shao Jinbo had strong connections—his uncle is the Deputy Secretary of the Hanzhou Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

Tang Ye swallowed hard and revealed his snow-white, neat teeth, "Just busy with nothing. Thanks for your concern."

Shao Jinbo's fake smile was clumsy, and he said sarcastically, "Is it super boring at the Old Cadre Bureau? The old men and women like to tattle when they have nothing to do, and sometimes they are especially stubborn and like to be unreasonable. Being able to crawl out of that pit, your luck is not just ordinary!"

Tang Ye did not like him belittling the old comrades and frowned slightly, "The old cadres are very simple; they are just a group of old children. If you find the right way, they are quite easy to get along with. As for luck, I can't compare to you!"

Shao Jinbo lifted his chin, held the document bag in his hand, and gestured in the air, "Work at the Municipal Party Committee Office is indeed busy and the pressure is high. I stayed up until the early hours yesterday to write a speech, and I still have two panda eyes. I'm quite happy you're back; finally, there's someone with less seniority to help me share the load!"

Shao Jinbo put on an air of seniority and started "giving orders" before even returning to his own post.

Tang Ye laughed instead of getting angry, "Hey, the capable do more work; I can't do your job. Your complexion is indeed very poor, and your hairline has even parted in the middle; I don't know if that counts as a work-related injury! Take care of yourself."

"Your mouth is as poisonous as ever!" Shao Jinbo's expression twisted for a moment, and he began to change the subject, "Do you remember our high school classmate Xiao Hui?"

Tang Ye sensed that Shao Jinbo had ill intentions and smiled half-heartedly, "Of course! The class beauty of our class."

A look of triumph appeared on the corner of Shao Jinbo's mouth, "We are engaged. Want to meet up for a meal when you have time? You chased her back then, didn't you? I talked to her for two months, didn't even really chase her, and it just happened."

An inexplicable irritation welled up in Tang Ye's heart, but his expression remained as calm as water, "Three people isn't very lively; why not invite a few more and organize a class gathering?"

Tang Ye managed his emotions like a copper wall and iron bastion.

Shao Jinbo felt it was dull, lowered his voice, and said abruptly, "I wish you all the best 'going forward'!"

Watching Tang Ye disappear into the elevator, a cold sneer appeared on the corner of Shao Jinbo's mouth!

Tang Ye first went to the Personnel Division to report, then came to Yang Yuan's office.

A four-foot vertical scroll painting of lotus flowers, "Green Pond Swaying," came into view.

Yang Yuan is the Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee and concurrently serves as the Director of the Municipal Party Committee Office.

Seeing Tang Ye, Yang Yuan took off his glasses and squeezed a smile onto his face, "Xiao Tang, please sit."

Yang Yuan's tone was unusually cordial.

Tang Ye felt vaguely uneasy.

"Xiao Tang, you did well at the Old Cadre Bureau and gained the recognition of many old cadres; the leaders of the Old Cadre Bureau also speak highly of you. It is evident that the organization's arrangement for you was extremely correct."

"Thank you for the organization's cultivation!"

"The Municipal Party Committee Office has a quota for a temporary post at Pinghu Town in Jinyang County. Rest at home for a few days and go report for duty next week."

Tang Ye's whole body stiffened, and his mood plummeted into the abyss.

Pinghu Town is a famous poor town in Hanzhou, bordering Runjiang City, and its location is relatively remote, so no one is willing to go there.

Yang Yuan could be said to have "taken great pains." Shao Jinbo has his uncle as a backer. If Tang Ye returned to his post, wouldn't Shao Jinbo have to return to the Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau? Thus, Yang Yuan came up with a "best of both worlds" solution—sending him to the grassroots level in the countryside.

Isn't he very outstanding? Once he gets there, he will surely be able to "shine" as well.

"Director Yang, your decision is a bit sudden. How about I return to the Secretariat to work for a year first, and then get sent down to a township for a temporary post to gain experience?"

Even though the matter was already settled, Tang Ye still tried his best to fight for it.

Yang Yuan raised his hand and tapped the desk twice, the smile on his face becoming even softer, "The new Municipal Party Secretary is about to take office. You aren't familiar with the work of the Secretariat, so now is not a good time to come back. Pinghu Town is a bit poor and a bit run-down, but it is a rare opportunity. After you return, promoting you will be a logical next step."

Young people cannot have high standards but low abilities, looking down on grassroots work. Struggle is the true color of youth; going to hardship areas and the grassroots front line to sweat and strive is the most beautiful story of youth. Believe me, the township is a vast world with many opportunities, and you will definitely achieve great things.

If you encounter problems in your new position, you can come to me at any time. The Municipal Party Committee office will always be your backing."

Tang Ye felt disgusted!

Not only was he being exiled to the poorest township, but Yang Yuan was also putting on a hypocritical act of pretending to have his best interests at heart, using all sorts of empty words and clichés to morally kidnap him!

Tang Ye was incredibly depressed. He wanted to retort but didn't know how to start, so he could only reply formulaically, "Thank you for your advice and guidance, Director Yang. Please rest assured, I will definitely perform my duties conscientiously in my new position and will not let you and the organization down."

Yang Yuan put on his glasses and issued an order to leave, "Go get busy!"

Tang Ye waited until he left.

Yang Yuan used the landline to make a call to Shao Jinbo.

"Jinbo, your classmate's new job has already been arranged."

"Heh, thank you for the trouble, Director Yang. Under your guidance, he will surely be able to achieve eye-catching results in his new position."

……

Leaving Building No. 1, Tang Ye headed to the Old Cadre Bureau. Not long after he sat down, he received a call from his mentor.

Tang Ye's master's degree mentor was Jiang Jinpeng, the Dean of the Qiongjin School of Public Administration.

"Back at the Municipal Party Committee office?"

"It was all for nothing; I've been arranged to take a temporary post in Pinghu Town." Tang Ye's tone was somewhat dejected.

Jiang Jinpeng's brows knitted into a 'chuan' shape, "That is too damn bullying! Why don't you resign? My research group needs you!"

"Thank you for your concern, teacher. In my graduation project, I used Hanzhou as the urban model for my research. The reason I returned to Hanzhou to take the civil service exam was to apply what I've learned and verify the concepts in my project. I cannot give up halfway!"

Jiang Jinpeng felt indignant for Tang Ye, while at the same time admiring the adversity quotient and resilience his prized student displayed in the face of setbacks.

It was just that the officialdom is different from other professions; talent alone is not enough—opportunity and a platform are even more important!

"My door is always open for you here."

……

About to leave the Old Cadre Bureau, Tang Ye began to organize his personal items. There was a letter on the table addressed to Hong Ruilin.

Tang Ye decided to deliver the letter to him and bid him farewell while he was at it.

The Government provides preferential treatment to old comrades, allowing them to live in family quarters with good environments, but Hong Ruilin was an "outlier" who chose to live in an ordinary residential complex.

Hong Ruilin was originally the Deputy Secretary of the Hanzhou Municipal Party Committee. He had an eccentric personality, and his colleagues at the Old Cadre Bureau both respected and feared him.

The old gentleman was obsessed with playing Go, but his skill and his sportsmanship were inversely proportional; he liked to take back moves and loved to lose his temper when losing a game.

Tang Ye knew a little about Go, and when he was free, he would play a few games against the old gentleman.

In the spirit of respecting the old and loving the young, even if he was scolded by him a couple of times, Tang Ye would still greet him with a smile.

However, there are no fathers and sons on the battlefield, and no grandfathers and grandsons on the chessboard; when Tang Ye needed to clean him up, he never held back and would clean him up hard!

Hong Ruilin discovered that Tang Ye was different from others—unlike the rest who either feared him and were timid, or fawned over him and played poorly on purpose. He often scolded Tang Ye as a bad kid, but deep down, he regarded Tang Ye as a Go friend across generations.

He pressed the doorbell a few times, but there was no movement. Tang Ye took out his phone and dialed the number.

The ringing sound came from inside the room, but after waiting for a long time, no one opened the door.

Tang Ye sniffed his nose; a pungent burnt smell spilled out from the crack in the door.

Something was wrong!

There was a fire! "On the second day of the New Year, the pipe-smoker arrives on time for the appointment with a new book. Please everyone, add to your collections, write a review, and leave a footprint."