Chapter 123: Running for Township Head (2)

Zhu Shizhen was beating around the bush with me, and his intention was self-evident. The candidate for township head had not yet been determined. According to organizational principles, the election of a township head generally requires a multi-candidate election. The so-called multi-candidate election means finding someone to run as a foil. Before the election, the organization holds talks, and the foil candidate must be persuaded to withdraw, allowing the organization's predetermined candidate to be elected in a legitimate manner.

There was once a story in a neighboring county: the county wanted to elect a county magistrate, and the municipal committee sent people to organize the election. Originally, the organization had already spoken to the voters, but unfortunately, the county magistrate was recommended by the Party Secretary, and this person had a poor reputation and was despised by the representatives. As a result, after the first round of voting, the predetermined official's vote count was far lower than the foil candidate's. Logically, whoever gets the most votes should be elected, but the Secretary wouldn't have it and demanded a second round of voting. After the second round, although the vote count was higher than the foil candidate's, it still didn't exceed half, which didn't meet organizational principles. The Secretary got angry and demanded a closed-door vote, saying that if no result was produced, no one would be allowed to leave. The representatives were hungry and cold, unable to leave and unable to produce a result, so they had to discuss and vote collectively. In the end, the recommended candidate was elected with a majority of one vote over half.

The Suxi Township head election would definitely have to go through the multi-candidate procedure. This news was told to me personally by County Magistrate Liu Qimeng. Although it wasn't explicitly stated who was predetermined and who was the foil, County Magistrate Liu's meaning was very clear: there wouldn't be a laughingstock of an election like in the neighboring county. Whoever was elected was elected; as long as the vote count exceeded half and met organizational procedures, that person would be the Suxi Township head.

As acting township head, Zhu Shizhen was the primary candidate, a status no one could shake. When Zhu Shizhen was made acting township head, the subtext was that he would be the official township head. If nothing unexpected happened, whoever ran as the foil was destined to be a supporting act.

The position of township head isn't high; it can be considered the most grassroots administrative cadre in China. But the development potential of a township head is great, especially in a historical period where economic construction is the center. The political achievements of a township head are visible, such as increased farmer income or a highly profitable project. Getting promoted is much easier than getting a degree.

Zhu Shizhen must have received news through small channels, knowing that I would be the foil candidate.

I received the official notification after the Lantern Festival. The County Committee Organization Department sent people to find Guo Wei, and later they talked to me, saying that the organization had decided that my candidacy as the foil for the Suxi Township head election had been decided by the County Standing Committee, and the official document had already been issued.

I knew the fate of being a foil, so when the Organization Department talked to me, I clearly stated that I would not participate in the election.

The organizational cadre was very disappointed with my stance, saying that as a cadre cultivated by the Party, one should unconditionally obey the organization's decision and could not bargain or have personal emotions.

I said earnestly, "I won't bargain, and I won't have personal emotions. I just feel that I haven't done enough and am not suitable to run as a candidate."

The organizational cadre said, "Whether you are suitable to run is not something you can decide; this is an organizational decision. Since it is an organizational decision, you are definitely a cadre with achievements. A cadre without achievements wouldn't be given any opportunity." After thinking for a moment, he added, "The votes are in the hands of the representatives; the election is a reflection of public opinion, and in the end, the representatives have the final say. Although you are a foil candidate, it doesn't mean you can't be elected."

I was speechless. If I insisted on refusing to run, not only would I not change the fate of being a foil, but I would also be labeled as uncooperative with the organization. If such a brand were stamped on me in the officialdom, I would be destined never to turn things around in this life. No leader likes a subordinate who goes against their will, and the organization's decision was actually a reflection of the personal will of County Secretary Guan.

After the organizational cadre left, Guo Wei also talked to me once. I only took in one sentence: "Man proposes, God disposes."

Since fate is controlled by Heaven, why should I spend effort trying to change it? Besides, going against Heaven will eventually lead to being struck by lightning!

When I told Xue Bing this thought, it made her laugh until she was shaking.

Laughing aside, work still had to be done. My status as a foil candidate was clear, but I still had to think of some ways for the election. Who could guarantee I wouldn't be a dark horse?

To be a dark horse, I needed votes. I began to secretly inquire about who the township people's representatives were. Just as I had this thought, a representative came to my door.

The principal of the township middle school had one vote and was a senior township people's representative, having served for three terms; he was the most qualified among all the township people's representatives.

I decided to invite the principal to sit at Pan Xiaoqin's restaurant.

After the road builders and the people installing power lines left, business at the small restaurant plummeted; almost no one came to eat. Pan Shurong was so idle he was bored to death. Every day, he would tuck a bamboo basket into his waist and wander in the paddy fields. Seeing a swamp eel hole, he would reach in with a clip and drag out a swamp eel.

Pan Shurong's skill was an ancestral craft. He could tell which hole was a swamp eel hole, which was a loach hole, and which was a water snake hole. Moreover, he knew how deep the hole was and how big the creature inside was. As long as he walked through a paddy field once, he could almost catch all the swamp eels and loaches in it.

When I told Pan Shurong about inviting the principal, he beamed and told me that the principal loved eating blood eels, and if he came to his restaurant to eat, he could definitely make the principal happy.

He suddenly asked me, "Cadre Chen, what's the matter with you inviting the principal to dinner?"

I smiled and said, "Nothing major. The principal is a man of culture, and I am inviting a man of culture to dinner out of respect for culture."

Pan Shurong smiled honestly and said, "I probably guessed it."

I asked with a face full of confusion, "What did you guess?"

Pan Shurong pulled me to sit at a small table and said mysteriously, "I heard the township is going to elect a township head, and you are also a candidate. If I'm not mistaken, inviting the principal to dinner is probably related to the election."

Pan Shurong's words made my heart drum. If even he could see through the move, I didn't know how clearly Zhu Shizhen could see it. Pan Xiaoqin's restaurant was right under the nose of the township government; if I invited the principal to drink and eat, anyone could see the trickery in it.

I forced a smile and said, "Brother Pan, your news is still very well-informed."

Pan Shurong smiled conceitedly and said, "I am also a township people's representative; knowing this news doesn't count as being well-informed."

I asked, "Could it be that Brother Pan has even better-informed news?"

Pan Shurong smiled cunningly and didn't answer my question, just asking me, "Do you still want to invite him?"

I said, "You wouldn't turn down business, would you?" Pan Shurong laughed, "It's not that I don't want to earn your money, it's just that this money might not be a good thing to earn." He hesitated for a long time and said, "In my opinion, this dinner should be invited, but not at our shop. If you want to invite him, go to Chunshan County."

His words reminded me. I thought for a moment and said, "That's fine too."

My heart was still like a bucket going up and down. If the election hadn't been made public and clear, I would still be eating and sleeping well. Now that this matter had surfaced, it made me restless and at a loss. So, a person who has something on their mind is living a life worse than death.

Thinking of Huang Weiwei's entrustment to me in Chunshan County and her expectant gaze, I felt that if I failed the election, it would be a disservice to her whole family.

Anyone with a brain could see that Huang Weiwei's trip to Chunshan wasn't her own decision; it must have come with the requirements of Minister Huang and Bureau Chief Chen. Of course, the decision of Minister Huang and Bureau Chief Chen was behind Huang Weiwei's opinion.

My brain was a mess. I shook my head, seemingly wanting to clear it. Who knew that the more I shook, the heavier it felt? I thought about calling Huang Weiwei to probe the reality.

Once the call went through, Huang Weiwei sounded very happy on the other end, saying that I had finally taken the initiative to call her, and she wanted to see if the sun was rising from the west.

After talking for a while, I told her about the county wanting me to run for township head. She sounded confident on the phone and said, "Don't think too much. You just do your own thing. I'll think of a way for the rest."

I said, "What way will you think of?"

She giggled and said, "There are always more solutions than problems. He has a mass base, so we will take the leadership route."

I didn't understand and said, "Wouldn't that have a bad influence?"

"It is to have an influence, and a big one at that. Not only in Chunshan County, but also in Hengyue City." She lowered her voice and said to me, "Get ready. In two days, I will accompany Chen Meng to the township to interview you and publish an exclusive article about you in the *Hengyue Daily*. We need to build momentum."

I was speechless. Secretary Guan Peishan might not even have such an opportunity for an exclusive report in the *Hengyue Daily*. For me, a small Party committee member of a township, to be so exposed, wouldn't it invite a fatal disaster?

Huang Weiwei seemed to see through my psychology and laughed, "Don't worry, I've already talked to Chen Meng; she won't make it difficult for you."

I suddenly felt like a marionette. Huang Weiwei had become the person manipulating me, hiding behind the thick curtain, letting me dance and jump on the front stage. ===== CHAPTER 124 =====