Chapter 148

Huang Qishan's first stop was actually Suxi Township. This move caught both Guo Wei and me off guard, and we were a bit flustered.

For the expressway land requisition, Suxi Township occupied the least amount of land, so little that it could even be ignored. Huang Qishan therefore came with justification, came with peace of mind, and came as a matter of course.

The three of us sat in Guo Wei's office, all three of us keeping our mouths shut and drinking our tea.

Zhu Shizhen knocked on the door and entered. Seeing the situation, he laughed and backed out. I hurriedly chased after him and asked, "Old Zhu, is something the matter?"

Zhu Shizhen smiled and didn't speak. He took a cigarette out of his pocket, offered me one, lit it, and then opened his mouth to say, "Township Head Chen, I have a small matter I'd like to report to Secretary Guo."

I said "Oh" and said, "It has nothing to do with me then." I smiled faintly and teased myself, "I was just being sentimental."

Zhu Shizhen hurriedly explained, "I intended to go find you, Township Head Chen, to report after I finished reporting to him."

I said absent-mindedly, "It's fine, Old Zhu. If you have something to tell Secretary Guo, just tell him. I'm not important. As long as it's something Secretary Guo decides, I will never object."

Zhu Shizhen smiled guiltily and said, "Township Head Chen, you've misunderstood me."

I squinted at him and said, "Is that so, Old Zhu?"

Zhu Shizhen smiled humbly, a fake smile like a breeze rippling the surface of the water appearing on his face. He bowed his waist and said, "I wouldn't dare. Township Head Chen, you are the head of a township, and I, Old Zhu, have only held a leisurely position my whole life; I wouldn't dare to climb high."

I patted him on the shoulder and said, "Look at that, such distant words."

Zhu Shizhen finally softened, leaned close to me, and lowered his voice, "The county wants to transfer me to be the director of the Martyrs Cemetery Management Office. The administrative rank is one level higher than it is now, but it's a grave-keeping job, so I wanted to come and report my thoughts."

I stared into his eyes and said, "Keeping graves for martyrs is an infinitely glorious thing."

Zhu Shizhen said helplessly, "If it were just keeping graves, a person of my age would accept it. But Township Head Chen, you know, can the current Martyrs Cemetery even be called a garden? If one day a leader from above comes on a whim to pay respects, what will I have to show the leader? If a problem arises, can I take the responsibility?"

A flash of inspiration crossed my mind, and I remembered what He Zhi's cousin had said when he came to inspect last year. Could it be that he had thought of coming to Chunshan County to pay respects to the martyrs again? Had Guan Peishan heard some rumors? Besides, there was no "Martyrs Cemetery Management Office" in the administrative establishment of the County Party Committee and County Government.

I wanted to ask him more, but Zhu Shizhen didn't give me the chance. He hurriedly said goodbye and went downstairs, saying he would come back to report when Secretary Guo was free.

I returned to Guo Wei's office with a head full of questions, seeing that the two of them were still continuing to drink tea, and the teacups were left with nothing but tea leaves. I picked up the thermos, refilled their water, and said, "Secretary Huang, what instructions do you have for coming this time?"

My words were meant to break the deadlock. Once the words were out, they were indeed immediately effective.

Huang Qishan said, "How can there be any instructions! These are the instructions of the County Party Committee; I am just here to execute them."

Guo Wei took over the conversation and said, "Secretary Qishan, there are so many townships in the county for land requisition, and our Suxi Township is just on the edge. How did you come to me first?"

People who are officials are particular about how they speak. As the County Youth League Committee Secretary, Huang Qishan belongs to the level of a County Standing Committee member, and Standing Committee members have the right to vote. As for Guo Wei, his administrative rank is not lower than Huang Qishan's, but he is not a Standing Committee member, so he only has the fate of executing orders. I can only call Huang Qishan by his surname plus his official title, while Guo Wei can call him by his name plus his official title. This is the difference!

After hearing Guo Wei's obviously complaining words, Huang Qishan said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Comrade Guo Wei, land requisition is a game of chess for the whole county; we don't judge the order by the size of the area. I came for two purposes: one is that I have feelings for Suxi Township, and two is that we were colleagues in the past, so it is relatively easy to communicate. To tell you the truth, it's just taking Suxi Township as a pilot. Your Suxi occupies less land, and a small boat is easy to turn around. If it goes well, other townships will follow suit."

"My gourd might not be easy to follow," Guo Wei smiled and said. "If you want to use my gourd to draw a ladle, you'd better be mentally prepared."

Huang Qishan said calmly, "What kind of gourd are you?"

Guo Wei laughed and pointed at me, saying, "Ask Chen Feng and see what kind of gourd we are."

The three of us were originally in the same social education work group, and at that time, Guo Wei was our group leader. Now Huang Qishan is a leader of the County Party Committee, while the two of us are township officials under his rule. I don't care, but Guo Wei is different. Therefore, once they started speaking, their words were full of hidden daggers, and the smell of gunpowder was strong.

Huang Qishan turned his gaze toward me and said suspiciously, "Chen Feng, you tell me."

I understood the calculations in their hearts very well. Huang Qishan coming to Suxi Township was definitely not for the bullshit reason he gave. His Youth Commando almost cost him his official career; could he have feelings for Suxi Township? Even if he did, it was a feeling of hatred. Huang Qishan must have a reason for coming, and this reason, all three of us knew in our hearts: it was Huang Weiwei!

Back then, in order to pursue Huang Weiwei, Guo Wei even broke up with his college classmate of three years. Who knew that Huang Qishan would appear halfway and quietly plot to become the County Youth League Committee Secretary of Chunshan County. While Guo Wei was still immersed in trying to find ways to be romantic to Huang Weiwei, Huang Qishan had already taken office in style.

After Huang Qishan circled around Minister Huang Shan's house a few times, he thought he had Huang Weiwei in the bag, but who would have expected Guo Wei to come to Suxi Township, which was the focus of the whole province, to be the Party Secretary. He knew very well that without Minister Huang Shan's promotion, he, Guo Wei, wouldn't have been able to get the job of a local emperor in Suxi Township even if he risked his life. And all of this made their relationship subtle; both of them were full of anger, secretly sizing each other up.

But I, too, have now been drawn into their struggle. One Huang Weiwei makes three men harbor their own ulterior motives, so it is said that a beautiful woman is a source of disaster—an eternal golden saying! Of course, Huang Weiwei is not important; what is important is Minister Huang Shan behind her.

I saw Huang Qishan's suspicious gaze and felt a burst of amusement in my heart. I said, "Secretary Huang, Suxi Township doesn't grow gourds. If you want to say what kind of gourd we are, I think, at most, we are a gourd that can give birth to the Gourd Brothers."

Huang Qishan became even more puzzled and muttered, "What kind of medicine do you two gourds have inside?"

Guo Wei stood up, walked over, sat down opposite Huang Qishan, and stared into his eyes, "Qishan, as long as you promise me one thing, I guarantee that your land requisition work in Suxi Township will be a success from the start."

Huang Qishan didn't hesitate at all and said, "Tell me."

Guo Wei stopped talking and turned to me, "Township Head Chen, report to Secretary Huang about our land requisition in Laoyingzui. Remember, focus on reporting the land requisition funds clearly."

My head buzzed. Guo Wei, you son of a bitch, why don't you say it yourself?

Guo Wei stared at me. After all, he is the Secretary, and besides, I am the one specifically in charge of the Laoyingzui land requisition. I had no choice but to tell it exactly as it was, and in the end, I emphasized my tone, "Our township government's land requisition compensation standard is 3,000 yuan per mu."

Boss Qian said with a smile, "Brother, I asked around about the mineral water plant you mentioned last time; there isn't one in Hengyue City, and there isn't one in Central Province either. It's a new industry."

Guo Wei said with a smile, "We don't mean that. It mainly depends on Secretary Qishan. Let me tell you, there isn't a single penny for the construction of the new township government."

"Wasn't the project approved? It should be state funding."

"If the city and county finance were willing to give money, I definitely wouldn't trouble you, Secretary Huang."

"If they don't give money, why approve the project?"

"You have to ask yourself that; you are a leader of the County Party Committee."

"What can I do?" Huang Qishan felt a dry heat on his body, his butt twisting uneasily on the chair. After a long time, he said, "I'm afraid it won't be easy to explain to the common people."

"The common people's affairs are the responsibility of our township government. We won't add any trouble to you, is that okay?"

"Sigh," Huang Qishan let out a long sigh and said, "Secretary Guo, for such matters, you'd better go find Secretary Guan; I'm afraid I can't do it."

Guo Wei said with a half-smile, "Since Secretary Huang is now the director of the County Party Committee's Land Requisition and Demolition Office, I'm afraid you can't escape the matter of our township government relocating."

Huang Qishan became anxious, and a layer of fine sweat seeped out on his forehead. He stood up and said with a bitter smile, "You are asking me to enter hell."

Guo Wei said seriously, "I am inviting you to heaven. As for hell, I'd better go down there; if I don't enter hell, who will? Don't you agree, Chen Feng?" He laughed and stood up as well, saying to me, "Township Head Chen, go to the cafeteria and make arrangements; today, we three brothers will have a drink."