Chapter 1403: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 1403: Absurd

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Wang Xiaohua was still overwhelmed with emotion over Li Zhenxing's murder case when, early the next morning, Vice Town Mayor Zhong Hongtao found him, a look of delight on his face:

"Wang Xiaohua, you're something else, pulling off such a great good deed!"

"What good deed did I do?"

Wang Xiaohua was stunned, completely baffled.

Zhong Hongtao asked: "Did a vicious murder case happen in Shangou Village?"

Wang Xiaohua answered honestly:

"Yes, one dead, one seriously injured."

Wang Xiaohua thought to himself, no matter from which angle you look at it, this isn't a good thing, is it?

But Zhong Hongtao said:

"Police Station Chief Zhou Zhiliang already told me, in the process of stopping the killer from committing the crime this time, you made a major contribution! He specially commended you, Liu Yumeng, and Wang Chang for your brave and righteous actions!"

Wang Xiaohua was stunned, momentarily not knowing what to say.

Brave and righteous actions?

He didn't think so.

When he, Wang Chang, and Liu Yumeng arrived at Li Zhenxing's house, Li Zhenxing had already killed Zhou Hongwei.

And later when Wang Xiaohua chased after him to stop Li Zhenxing, it didn't have any effect either.

By the time he arrived, Li Zhenxing had already chopped who knows how many times into Zhou Zhihao's body.

So to say he acted bravely and righteously, he felt unworthy of the praise.

But Zhong Hongtao said at this moment:

"Xiao Hua, this will become a bold and colorful stroke in your grassroots resume. I, Secretary He, Chief Zhou, and the others discussed it together and decided to hold a commendation and study conference for the three of you — you, Liu Yumeng, and Wang Chang!"

When Zhong Hongtao said this, his face wore a smile.

As if this were a happy occasion, not a funeral where someone died.

Wang Xiaohua frowned slightly:

"Mayor Zhong, this commendation and study conference, can we not hold it?"

Wang Xiaohua carefully put forward his opinion.

Then he hurriedly added:

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not being ungrateful, it's just that I truly feel unworthy. I couldn't save Zhou Hongwei's life, and right now Zhou Zhihao's life still hangs in the balance. Holding a commendation conference at a time like this seems rather inappropriate..."

But Zhong Hongtao said:

"Xiao Hua, you're wrong there. Whether you saved Zhou Hongwei's life or not, whether Zhou Zhihao pulls through or not, none of that affects your, Liu Yumeng's, and Wang Chang's brave and righteous actions! Don't say any more, this matter is settled. Hurry up and find time to write a speech draft, you'll need it at the commendation and study conference!"

"But..." Wang Xiaohua still wanted to decline.

Zhong Hongtao cut him off:

"No buts. You might not want this commendation, but Liu Yumeng sure does. Her family has been pushing hard for this commendation conference, and her uncle Chief Zhou also attaches great importance to it!"

Hearing this, Wang Xiaohua suddenly realized.

He should have thought of this long ago!

It's just that he had been focusing his attention on the parties involved — Li Zhenxing, Zhou Hongwei, Zhou Zhihao — and thus overlooked Liu Yumeng, such a key figure!

To put it this way, on the surface this commendation conference is commending Wang Xiaohua!

But in reality, it's specially being held for Liu Yumeng!

Even though Liu Yumeng didn't do anything at all, and even turned around and ran out to vomit when she saw Zhou Hongwei!

Wang Chang at least gave Zhou Hongwei emergency first aid, but Liu Yumeng — from start to finish, she didn't move a finger!

But she must count as one of the brave and righteous actors!

Otherwise this commendation conference couldn't be held at all!

Wang Xiaohua felt this matter was absurd, yet it was also stark naked reality!

This kind of thing, to speak honestly, for ordinary grassroots civil servants it's helpful, but the help is limited.

But for someone like Liu Yumeng, it would be infinitely magnified, and might even become one of the reasons for her future promotion.

After all, the things she can do, the things she would do, are not many!

A trivial matter like this naturally has to be written up in a big way, otherwise her resume would look too thin.

"Alright then, since Mayor Zhong has put it that way, I'll go find time to write the speech draft."

Wang Xiaohua smiled wryly, accepting this arrangement.

Because this arrangement, he fundamentally had no way to refuse.

After all, with this kind of thing, if the higher-ups want to hold a commendation conference, it can be said to be perfectly justified, without the slightest reason to obstruct it.

And for Wang Xiaohua, it actually counts as a good thing too.

He should thank Liu Yumeng.

Even more, he should thank Liu Yumeng's family, and her uncle Zhou Zhiliang.

He basked in their reflected glory.

For this kind of thing, don't be resentful, don't feel indignant.

Instead, learn to accept it.

So Wang Xiaohua said to Zhong Hongtao:

"Mayor Zhong, pass a message to Chief Zhou for me. Tell him I'm very grateful; I accept his kindness."

Hearing this, Zhong Hongtao couldn't help but laugh:

"That's more like it! A promising youngster indeed! With your insight, you'll absolutely have a boundless future!"

Yet Wang Xiaohua couldn't be happy.

Is a so-called future what he pursues?

If he truly pursued a future, he wouldn't have returned to his hometown to do grassroots work in the first place.

If it were for a future, even as a civil servant he would prioritize the Central Selection Graduate program, then provincial-level positions, municipal-level positions, and posts closer to the center of power!

Why would he run back to this mountain pass in his hometown to be a grassroots poverty alleviation cadre!

Wang Xiaohua returned to the Office and discovered Liu Yumeng and Wang Chang were in the Office writing a speech draft.

Both wore faces full of delight, discussing phrasing and wording.

Wang Chang was happy because, middle-aged, he had finally encountered a sliver of promotion opportunity.

Liu Yumeng was happy because she felt tomorrow's Commendation Conference should greatly satisfy her vanity.

"Yumeng, you wrote this line well... 'Acting bravely for a just cause' is a virtue of our Country for thousands of years; though I risked my life, I couldn't shirk my duty... truly good, how are you so literary! I couldn't write it!"

Wang Chang was flattering Liu Yumeng.

Clearly he had already witnessed how formidable Liu Yumeng's connections were, so now he was trying his best to say nice things for her to hear.

Meanwhile Lin Aijun, to the side, wore a face full of gloom and couldn't help but sigh:

"How come such a good thing never falls to me?"

When Wang Xiaohua walked in, Lin Aijun still couldn't help but complain to Wang Xiaohua:

"Director Wang, why did you transfer me to Shangang Village Committee back then, causing me to miss this chance to act bravely for a just cause!"

Wang Xiaohua chuckled:

"Didn't you like that job a lot at the time, saying it was comparatively relaxed, comparatively comfortable."

Lin Aijun said:

"Relaxed it may be, but there's no opportunity either!"

Wang Xiaohua said: "How about you swap with Wang Chang starting tomorrow? But don't blame me for not reminding you — the current Changjiang Village Committee has more than double the workload from before!"

Lin Aijun immediately stuck out her tongue:

"Then forget it, I'd rather stay a salted fish at Shangang Village Committee!"

Liu Yumeng asked Wang Xiaohua at this moment:

"Wang Xiaohua, have you finished writing tomorrow's speech draft?"

Wang Xiaohua answered honestly:

"I haven't written it yet; Mayor Zhong only just told me about this. I plan to write it when I go back in the evening."

Liu Yumeng said:

"Hurry up and write it. When it's done, give it to me for reference — after all, you're from Tsinghua University, your literary talent must be amazing!"

Wang Xiaohua didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Looking at the Office filled with a celebratory atmosphere, he felt everything before him was absurd and unreal.