Chapter 502

Su Yang thought for a moment and said, "Nothing else, just these two matters are already quite troublesome for Uncle Huang."

Translation: Su Yang thought for a moment and said, "Nothing else, just these two matters are already quite troublesome for Uncle Huang."

Su Yang thought for a moment and said, "Nothing else, just these two matters are already quite troublesome for Uncle Huang."

Huang Dacheng chuckled and said, "It seems Ruohan still cares about you; she called me yesterday and said it's not just these two things."

Translation: Huang Dacheng chuckled and said, "It seems Ruo Han cares about you; she told me on the phone yesterday that it's not just these two things."

She said your township is too poor, so she asked the provincial civil affairs department to directly allocate some poverty relief funds—partly to reissue relief payments to those previously poor households, and partly to fund construction in your township.

Translation: "She said your township is too poor, so she had the provincial Civil Affairs Department directly allocate some poverty relief funds—on one hand to issue relief payments to those previous poor households, and on the other hand to fund construction in your township."

To be honest, since I came to the province, she's never called me for work-related matters, but she's been very concerned about your affairs. Ah, you kid are also lucky.

Translation: "To be frank, since I came to the province I've been here a while, and she's never called me for work-related matters or asked me to handle anything, but she's quite concerned about your affairs. Ah, you kid are also lucky."

Su Yang was silently moved for three seconds, then gave a simple smile and said, "Well, I also need your support."

Translation: Su Yang silently felt moved for three seconds, then gave a simple smile and said, "But I also need your support."

Huang Dacheng said, "You kid, before you came, I already called the Civil Affairs, Tourism, and Transportation departments. Just give them the relevant documents, and they'll arrange things for you."

Translation: Huang Dacheng said, "You kid, before you arrived I already called the Civil Affairs Department, Tourism Department, and Transport Department. Just give them the relevant materials, and they'll arrange things for you."

However, you kid, you're repairing roads too frequently—do you just fix the road wherever you go? If everyone did that, other township leaders would surely have objections.

Translation: "However, you kid, you've been repairing roads too frequently—do you fix the road wherever you go? If everyone did what you're doing, other township leaders would surely have objections."

For road repairs like this, people usually handle connections at year-end and allocate funds at the start of the year, but you're still doing this at year-end.

Translation: "For such road work, normally people pull strings at year-end and allocate funds at the start of the year, but you're still doing this at year's end."

Su Yang repeatedly said, "It's not because I'm relying on Uncle Huang's face; otherwise I doubt I could even get into the Transportation Department's office. Otherwise, I won't bother you here—I'll just go to the Transportation Department."

Translation: Su Yang repeatedly said, "It's not just relying on Uncle Huang's face; otherwise I estimate I couldn't even enter the Transport Department's gate. Otherwise I won't bother you here—I'll just go to the Transport Department."

Huang Dacheng said, "You're in such a hurry? I originally wanted to keep you for lunch together."

Translation: Huang Dacheng said, "You're in such a hurry? I originally wanted to keep you for lunch together."

That's fine; it looks like you're really busy. So go ahead—hurry over there; I guess the leaders at the Transportation Department haven't left work yet.

Translation: "That's fine; I can see you're really busy. Then go ahead—hurry over now; I'd guess the leaders at the Transport Department haven't left work yet."

Su Yang left Huang Dacheng's office, turned around, and saw Huang Dacheng's secretary, Lai Junchen, following behind. He couldn't help but show a somewhat surprised, honored expression: "Director Lai, you're so busy you don't need to see me off; I see you still have many leaders queuing up to report work."

Translation: Su Yang came out from Huang Dacheng's side, turned his head, and saw Huang Dacheng's secretary Lai Junchen following behind; he couldn't help but show a somewhat surprised, flattered expression: "Secretary Lai, you're so busy you don't need to see me off—I see you still have many leaders queued up waiting to report work."

Lai Junchen said, "Why are you being polite with me? People come every day to report work to the leaders; do I really have to accompany them all the time? In my job, I definitely need to prioritize; otherwise, how could I get this work done?"

Translation: Lai Junchen said, "Why are you being polite with me? People come every day to report work to the leaders; do I really have to accompany them all the time? In this job I must prioritize urgencies, otherwise how could I get anything done?"

Su Yang chuckled and said, "Director Lai, as a low-ranking section-level official, I can't trouble you to go out of your way. I couldn't bear that."

Translation: Su Yang chuckled and said, "Secretary Lai, as a lowly section-level cadre I can't trouble you to make the trip. I couldn't bear it."

Lai Junchen pretended to be angry and said, "Why do you keep calling me 'Director'? We should address each other as brothers. Don't keep being so formal with me."

Translation: Lai Junchen pretended to be angry and said, "Why do you keep calling me 'section chief'? Can't we just address each other as brothers? Don't keep being so formal with me."

Given our relationship, you still can't handle it? You're slapping my face.

Translation: "Given our relationship, you still can't handle it? You're slapping my face."

Su Yang then realized—apparently they were reaching out to make connections. Being able to establish such a relationship, he was also happy.

Translation: Su Yang then realized—apparently they wanted to make connections. Being able to forge such a relationship, he was also happy.

He quickly said, "Brother Lai, your words make me feel embarrassed. I actually wanted to invite you for a meal, but seeing how busy you are, I didn't dare to bring it up. If that's the case, how about we grab dinner together after work tonight, if you're free?"

Translation: He quickly said, "Brother Lai, your words leave me feeling ashamed. I actually wanted to invite you for a meal, but seeing how busy you are I didn't dare to bring it up. If that's the case, how about we have dinner together after work tonight, if you're free?"

Lai Junchen said, "I called you in advance because, as you know, as a secretary we have to wait for the boss; if the boss has nothing going on, I can leave early to meet you."

Translation: Lai Junchen said, "I'll call you ahead of time, because you know as a secretary we have to wait for the boss; if the boss has nothing going on, I can leave early to find you."

Su Yang also understood, after all being a secretary isn't that free; although the position sounds impressive and looks glamorous.

Translation: Su Yang also understood, after all being a secretary isn't that free; although the position sounds impressive and looks glamorous.

But in reality, it's just being the leader's shadow, constantly at their side. He said, "It's fine; I don't have anything tonight either—I'll pick a place and wait for you."

Translation: But in reality it's just being the leader's shadow, constantly at their side. He said, "It's fine; I have nothing tonight either—I'll set a place and wait for you."

Lai Junchen smiled and said, "Alright, it's set—no standing me up tonight. You're such a busy person, you've come to the province several times already, yet we've never had a meal together."

Translation: Lai Junchen smiled and said, "Okay, that's settled—no standing me up tonight. You're such a busy person, you've come to the province several times already and still never suggested a meal together."

He escorted Su Yang all the way downstairs before turning back.

Translation: He escorted Su Yang all the way downstairs before turning back.

This scene was fully observed by the leaders waiting to report work, each of them involuntarily starting to speculate about Su Yang's identity.

Translation: This scene was fully seen by those leaders waiting to report work, each of them involuntarily starting to guess Su Yang's identity.

In their view, a young official being able to see a provincial big leader without queuing and being called directly in is already like having a connection. But this is far less shocking than Lai Junchen personally escorting him downstairs.

Translation: In their view, such a young cadre being able to see a senior provincial leader without queuing and being summoned directly is already like having a connection; but this pales in comparison to the shock of Lai Junchen personally seeing someone off downstairs.

It's said that being a secretary is a matter of insight; under normal circumstances, being able to go in first to report work only indicates that your work is urgent, or that the leader specifically requested to see you, though there are other possibilities.

Translation: Everyone says being a secretary is about having keen eyes; under normal circumstances being able to go in first to report work only indicates that your work is urgent, or that the leader specifically asked to see you—of course there are other possibilities as well.

However, only one explanation exists for a leader's secretary personally escorting someone downstairs: that person must be someone very close to the leader; otherwise, a secretary wouldn't have such an overt relationship and would never casually escort someone out.

Translation: But if a leader's secretary personally sees someone off downstairs, there's only one explanation: that person is in fact the leader's closest confidant; otherwise, without that overt relationship, a secretary would never casually go downstairs to see someone off.

Lai Junchen saw that everyone looked thoughtful, realizing they were speculating about Su Yang's identity.

Translation: Lai Junchen saw that everyone looked thoughtful, and knew they were speculating about Su Yang's identity.

Normally, he wouldn't disclose Su Yang's identity, because being in his position, his words and actions could even affect a certain official's future—this amounts to him introducing that relationship to everyone.

Translation: Normally he wouldn't disclose Su Yang's identity, because standing in his position, even a word or deed could affect some cadre's future—this amounts to him introducing that relationship to everyone.

He then said to those present, "Oh, you might not know, but that person just now is a rare young official, merely a section-level cadre."

Translation: He then said to those present, "Oh, you might not know, that person just now is a rare young cadre, merely a section-level cadre."

As soon as he said that, everyone was shocked again. Some had speculated that he might be from a provincial department, or perhaps a new secretary to some leader—basically, they thought he represented someone behind the scenes.

Translation: As soon as he spoke, everyone was shocked again. Originally some had guessed he might be someone from a provincial department, or perhaps a new secretary of a certain leader—in short, they all thought he represented the leader behind him.

So when they heard he was a section-level official, they were also mildly surprised, given that Lai Junchen himself is a full department-level official.

Translation: So when they heard "section-level cadre," they were also slightly surprised, given that Lai Junchen himself is still a division-level official.

But the next sentence was enough to astonish them. Lai Junchen said, "The leader places great importance on the development of young cadres; look, today he specially summoned the deputy director of the poverty alleviation office of Jincheng County—that is, the party secretary of Shuixiang Township, who was appointed yesterday after a special greeting to the Organization Department."

Translation: But the next sentence was enough to turn their world upside down. As Lai Junchen said: "The leader places great importance on the development of young cadres—this is why he specially summoned today the deputy director of the Poverty Alleviation Office of Jincheng County, namely the Township Party Committee Secretary of Xiushui Xiang, who was appointed yesterday after a special greeting to the Organization Department."

Speaking of that place, some of you might not know—it's truly remote and impoverished, and the township officials there are corrupt, each worse than the last. The leader therefore temporarily decided to let Comrade Su Yang take over; otherwise, those old cadres would just continue muddling through.

Translation: "As for that place, you folks might not know—it's truly remote and impoverished, and its township cadres are corrupt one after another. The leader therefore temporarily decided to let Comrade Su Yang take over; otherwise those old cadres could only continue muddling along."

The rest of Lai Junchen's words went unheard by them; they only remembered Su Yang's name and also remembered Shuixiang Township.

Translation: Lai Junchen's following words went unheard by them; they merely remembered Su Yang's name and also remembered Xiushui Xiang.

Some people had already started frantically searching for information about Shuixiang Township in their minds, because they clearly understood that given this morning's situation, the leader couldn't possibly meet everyone one by one.

Translation: Some people had already begun frantically searching their minds for information about Xiushui Xiang, because they clearly understood that given this morning's situation, the leader likely couldn't see them all one by one.

After leaving, Su Yang headed straight to the Transportation Department. Because he needed to settle matters there in the morning so he would have enough time in the afternoon to go to the Tourism Department.

Translation: After leaving, Su Yang headed straight for the Transport Department, because he had to settle the Transport Department's matters in the morning so he would have enough time in the afternoon to go to the Tourism Department.

These two items, no matter which one, are hard bones difficult to chew for him.