Chapter 1067: You

Old Fang comrade glared at his precious daughter and said, "You're getting more and more out of shape these days. This is someone else's work choice—what are you worrying about for nothing? You're just meddling in others' affairs, got it?"

If everyone followed your line of thinking and tried to squeeze into the ministries, who would do all the grassroots work?

Fang Jingwen rolled her lips and said, "Enough, enough, stop lecturing me with big principles. Look at the sons and daughters of high officials—who isn't just hanging out in the ministries?"

I was just saying that, and you're already lecturing me—this doesn't fly at home. Say it again and I'll run away from home.

Old Fang comrade's stern face, which had just stiffened, instantly collapsed—but he couldn't lose face as a father. He turned to Su Yang and said, "Although I just said Jingwen shouldn't interfere with your choice, looking at the current situation from an ordinary person's standpoint, staying in the ministry is your best option."

First, the work really isn't that busy—setting aside power and connections, the key is that staying in Jingcheng lets you take care of your family. Most importantly, there's far less infighting in the ministry than in local posts, especially for someone at your level.

Besides, this is the emperor's backyard, a model region—such shocking things are even less likely to happen here. So this is indeed the best choice.

Su Yang thought for a moment and said, "Staying would of course be best, but I personally think I should go where the need is greatest. If everyone just seeks comfort, how would any work get done? Besides, people like me have already earned the reputation of being an 'officialdom killer'; even if I went to the ministry, I'd surely be subjected to all kinds of gossip."

Moreover, the work done in the ministry is mostly macro‑level; it may not truly benefit the people, and you wouldn't see any concrete results. One can imagine the life would be easy, with every day packed with social engagements, but I'm not used to that kind of life.

Then I'd rather stay at the grassroots, go to places that need help and secure real benefits for the common people. I too come from the countryside; I know how hard life is for the lowest‑level folks, and I'd rather see, under our Party and state's policies, that our grassroots officials resolutely implement and carry them out to actually solve some problems.

I think a cadre should do things with more practical significance—for example, in this place people don't have enough to eat or keep warm, but through my and my comrades' efforts we can change that situation, and then I'd feel quite satisfied.

Of course, I also have limited ability and limited status, so I can help only a few people. As for the rest, I'm not afraid, because justice will prevail, the people will prevail—any scheming and trickery will only bring shame upon itself in the face of justice.

Old Fang comrade nodded repeatedly: "Well said, well said! If our nation's cadres all had your ambition and ideals and didn't just talk big, our country's development would surely race onto the fast track, and the common people's lives would undergo earth‑shaking changes."

Since that's the case, I respect your choice and won't interfere. Whenever the organization assigns you somewhere, you go there. But this doesn't mean I won't care about you—if any problem comes up, you can always find me.

The two of them were speaking loftily here, but Fang Jingwen was unhappy: "You two make it sound as if only the two of you are cadres in the whole country, as if only you two are working for the Party and the nation, while everyone else is just killing time."

Especially Su Yang—when you talk like that, do you think the earth would stop turning without you? Do you think you have nine lives? Do you think you're amazing? Don't you think about your children?

Saying this, she suddenly felt she'd gone too far, then added: "Don't you think about your family? Countless people have learned from bloody reality that once driven by absolute self‑interest, people will resort to any means."

Other than that, it's fine to say, but if you really go to the southwest or the north, whether it's the profit chain of those shady tour guides or the big bosses behind the illegal coal mines, none of them are anything but ruthless characters who treat human lives as playthings.

Furthermore, if they get into trouble, countless people under them take the blame for their debts—people spend a few hundred thousand and just grab anyone to be a scapegoat. And you? How many heads do you have to go up against them?

As they talked, her eye sockets somehow turned red. This moment made Old Fang and Su Yang a bit afraid to speak further. In fact, Old Fang fully understood his daughter's mindset and knew exactly how dangerous this situation was. But as a leader and as a man, he hoped Su Yang would follow his own path.

Just then Fang's mother came out of the kitchen: "What's going on? We're sitting down to eat a meal, and you're already arguing?"

Fang Jingwen pouted and said, "My dad insists on sending Su Yang to those dangerous places, and even after I say a couple of things he's still unhappy."

Fang's mother, who never joins these discussions, surprisingly jumped in: "Fang Runan, what's wrong with you? I see leaders always try to look after their own people as much as possible, transferring them to the most comfortable posts they can—what are you doing?"

What if, following the organization's assignment, Su Yang ends up in those dangerous places you mentioned—what then? If something really happens, can you bear that responsibility? I never realized you were like this before—are you, as an executive vice minister, supposed to be self‑less and just show off your power and dignity?

Old Fang was hit with a thunderous barrage of criticism, his mouth hanging open as he couldn't utter a word for a while, thinking to himself: "Why are you rushing me? We're already talking about this, and why do you care so much about other people's affairs?"

Su Yang at this moment also didn't dare say a word, lowering his head to look at the water cup on the coffee table. Right then and there, he had the illusion that his old father and old mother were arguing over his work.

All fathers in the world want their sons to go out and make their way, to walk their own path; a man ought to have a man's sense of responsibility. But old mothers are different—safety comes first, whether one works or not doesn't matter; being safe and sound is best.

Seeing Fang's mother still going on, Fang Jingwen sat aside without trying to mediate, seeing that the firepower wasn't enough, she wanted to add a few more provocations. Fortunately, Old Fang comrade still had some experience; he silently adjusted his glasses and muttered to himself, "I've drunk too much tea today—I need to go to the restroom."

Nice move—he just pulled a pee‑escape. Su Yang noted he'd learned that trick; his life has only just begun, and there will be plenty of occasions to use it in the future.

Old Fang comrade had just stepped out when Fang's mother's tone instantly softened: "Little Su, you can't be willful now. Before, when you were alone, it was fine to go out and explore—no one stopped you. But now you're a family person too; if you're not thinking of yourself, don't you at least think about your child?"