Chapter 764

Contains Su Yang and the Cultivation Organization. Also, 'board' might not be a name. So the entities are Su Yang and the Cultivation Organization.

Moreover, I saw Secretary Guo of the Municipal Party Committee this morning, and Secretary Guo said the same thing—could it possibly change?

Although I'm not an office‑seeker, nor do I think about promotion just for doing a bit of work, this is really disheartening, isn't it?

Is there really no place where reason can be heard?

If this continues, wouldn't it chill the hearts of us grassroots cadres who work wholeheartedly and with all our might?

His dead‑serious tone directly made Zhou Ruohan laugh: "A few days ago when I called Dad, I even said that since you became deputy county magistrate, your political savvy has matured quite a bit."

But if you say that, I suddenly feel you're no different from before.

By now, don't you understand a simple principle? Having made a mistake doesn't guarantee severe punishment, and having merit doesn't guarantee reward.

Moreover, I need to correct your mistaken view: being a cadre is to serve the people, not to seek personal status.

As long as you put in the effort, the organization can see it.

Why would something that sounds already decided still produce variables? Because your county's situation is relatively special and cannot be judged by routine; if it were routine, matters decided by the city would basically be set in stone.

But the situation in Lieshan County affects the provincial pattern.

I say, if in the end this matter is investigated for responsibility at the Provincial Party Committee level and it falls on Governor Zhao, in his anger he could not only press you down but even send you to some remote backwater—it's entirely possible.

I know you don't want to rely on influence or use a tiger's skin as a banner.

But in this matter you surely think you have your father's connections behind you, plus Uncle Huang's support in the province, and even the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary backs you.

But if Governor Zhao, having taken the blame, insists on punishing you as severely as other County Party Committee members, others would have little to say.

In politics there are no absolute rights or wrongs, only compromise and interests.

But don't worry, Old Zhou's face should still carry weight; if he really wanted to target you, at most he'd just press you down, not really do anything to you.

I still say the same thing: if it really doesn't work out, you can totally come back to Jingcheng to tide over, and you can keep me and our baby company.

Just go back to the local post after a year or two, right?

Su Yang clearly understood in his heart that Zhou Ruohan was speaking entirely from the perspective of a housewife.

If he really wanted to take such a shortcut, he would have done it long ago, but that would go against his original intention.

He had completely become someone who holds office just for the sake of holding office, rather than serving the common people.

At that moment he also realized a principle: the main theme of politics is compromise. He is merely a county‑division‑level cadre, and when a ministerial‑level bigwig flies into a rage, he can even be forced to eat coarse cornbread in prison.

At the same time he understood that having background and connections does not guarantee the fairness he desires.

Before he thought that if county leaders had a Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee member as their backing in the city, they could do as they pleased.

But in fact it's not so; just like him, as a county‑division‑level cadre, his background isn't heaven‑defying, but it's certainly not lacking.

Yet what he often has to face are people of higher rank than himself.

Old Zhou's rank is already the ceiling in the eyes of Lieshan County cadres, but Old Zhou has his circle and the environment of that circle.

But ultimately there is one point: one must conduct oneself uprightly and sit properly to face everything squarely and thus be qualified to seek justice for oneself.

After these thoughts flashed through his mind, he said: "Alright, I was just saying that—do you really think I'm that kind of office‑seeker?"

Besides, how long have I been in the county? And my reputation has already been spread as utterly heinous; it's possible no one wants to be my colleague. In Huatian Town, all I managed to get in was a Town Party Committee Secretary and a Deputy Town Mayor.

Xiushui Township is even worse—the township Party Committee secretary, township head, and deputy secretary all went in. I originally thought that was my limit, but upon arriving in the county, of the 11 County Standing Committee members, aside from me and the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary, the other nine were basically wiped out. Just thinking about it is worrisome; you say this isn't intentional on my part—it's truly a disaster without cause.

Zhou Ruohan heard this and giggled: "You finally have a clear understanding of yourself. To be honest, if it were me, I definitely wouldn't take a post in your county—one careless move and you'd be locked up."

But I still need to tell you seriously: upholding principles is right, considering the people and putting public interest first is right, but whenever possible you should still unite comrades. Otherwise, like you, not only is it unfavorable for carrying out work, making enemies on all sides, when the time comes for crucial promotion later, it's inevitable that someone will jump out to become a stumbling block.

After they chatted a bit more about private matters, they then hung up.

Recently there have been far too many things; Su Yang leaned on the bed and fell asleep straight away.

At that moment, a private club in Jingcheng.

Tian Xiaofei was drinking his sorrows away, unable to stop complaining: "What the hell do you call this? I just threw out an idea behind the scenes, that damned Su Yang is just lucky, and those people in Lieshan County are good-for-nothings—they can't even take down a Su Yang even if they have guns. It didn't work out, and I still got myself into a mess—how wronged am I?"

Besides, my family wants me to try to ease relations with Su Yang, and they even want me to take over that shambles of the Shuanggou Daqu in their county. What would I use to take it over? Where would I go to find people to fill that pit? Obviously this business can't go on—people who run breweries all head for big places; who would go to a godforsaken spot where even birds don't poop?

Zhang Jiangbo opposite said: "You've really been put through the wringer this time. After being slapped in the face by workers last time, you chased all the way to Ganzhou Province, I thought you could easily handle Su Yang relying on your uncle's connections, but you ended up slinking back—where do you expect to save face from now on?"

Moreover, I can't figure out what this has to do with you—why must you be forced to ease relations with Su Yang?

At that moment, Jia Guolong sitting opposite them took a sip of XO and said slowly: "Xiaofei Fei, you say I'm stupid and you still don't believe it—by now, don't you understand why this is happening?"

Zhang Jiangbo and Tian Xiaofei in unison asked: "Why? We really haven't figured it out."