Chapter 186: Tacit Understanding

I had always thought Cousin-in-law was my only straw to clutch at.

In the surging sea, even a straw can give a person a glimmer of hope for survival, however insignificant.

I tried hard to grasp this straw, but Aunt cruelly told me that this straw was a mirage! I began to despair in the surging waves, despairing until my liver and gallbladder were torn, and I was in pain.

Just a moment ago, we were whispering sweet nothings, tender and affectionate; now, my heart was a blank, and I was lost.

Officialdom is like a battlefield; it's either you die or I live, or we shake hands and make peace.

Guan Peishan double-regulating me was definitely not a whim. He was playing a big game, and I was just a small pawn in this game. From the moment he announced Zhu Shizhen's double-regulation, I became a chess piece related to the victory or defeat of the whole game. But I was still naive and ignorant, even thinking about visiting Zhu Shizhen, thinking I could stay out of it.

This is the manifestation of immaturity; in politics, I was still too childish. I sighed.

Zhu Shizhen was just a shadow in this game; he wasn't even a chess piece. But because of him, I could be drawn out, and I was the weight that could make Guan Peishan and Cousin-in-law He Zhi reach a tacit understanding.

Now, Cousin-in-law He Zhi hadn't said a word; what medicine was in his gourd, I didn't know.

The more I thought, the more annoyed I became; the more I thought, the colder my heart felt. Old Secretary Liu Quan was forced to leave his hometown because of a sponsorship money; I might be plunged into the abyss by this sponsorship money, never to be turned over. Of course, that was assuming Cousin-in-law He Zhi really didn't care about me.

But if that were the case, Guan Peishan would also end up in the same ruin. Therefore, he had to gamble.

A loan note for one hundred thousand yuan might be a glimmer of hope; I had to admire Aunt's shrewdness. Back then, Aunt reminded me that I was a small township government secretary, and my family wasn't a wealthy one; taking out one hundred thousand yuan wasn't money, it was a bomb. One day, it could blow me to pieces.

I didn't take it seriously at the time; only today did I know the depth.

"Meizhu has prepared for the handover of your original company." Aunt told me, "If they ask you anything, push it all to her."

"Is that appropriate? She's still a girl." I hesitated.

"It's fine. Just do as I say. Besides, you really don't know about the original company." Aunt made a quick decision, "Just do it that way."

The guard came in, each holding an apple, and said to me with a smile, "Township Head Chen, eat one?"

I shook my head and declined his kindness.

"You should go." The guard issued an eviction order.

After Aunt and the others left, I felt relaxed instead. To hell with it, at worst I'll return to five years ago and be an unemployed person; who can do anything to me!

Thinking of this, I said to the guard, "Anyway, it's boring, let's play cards."

The guard looked at me in surprise, "Township Head Chen, you really are a big shot, still in the mood to play cards."

"Life and death are determined by fate." I said, throwing them a cigarette, "I'm innocent, afraid of a fart."

They laughed, saying they had handled cases for many years and hadn't met anyone like me. Others double-regulated were scared out of their wits, and at the very least, they couldn't eat or sleep. I, on the other hand, ate on time every day, laughing and joking without any scheming. Could it be that the Discipline Inspection Commission made a mistake, or was I really innocent?

After all, they were on official business; no matter how I tried to persuade them, they refused to sit down and play with me.

By evening, Guan Peishan's secretary came and asked me to go to the County Committee Building, saying Secretary Guan wanted to see me.

Since Guan Peishan could jump out, it meant he couldn't sit still. If he couldn't sit still, I had a glimmer of hope.

I followed him upstairs, and as soon as I entered, I saw Guan Peishan with a dark face. My heart skipped a beat, and I didn't dare to make a sound.

"Little Chen, you're confused." Guan Peishan had a look of "hating iron for not becoming steel," which could almost be described as heartbroken.

"Secretary Guan, I..."

"Don't say anything, it's been cleared up." Guan Peishan waved his hand, "It's all groundless. This Old Zhu, biting people randomly. However, we still have to understand him; no matter what, he was also responsible to the Party."

I stammered, not daring to answer.

"Regarding your matter this time, I think it's necessary to report to Secretary He. I've been quite busy lately; I think you should report to Secretary He on my behalf. What are your opinions?" He looked at me unfathomably.

"I'm not qualified." I said, scratching my head.

"Hahaha." He smiled without warmth, "Little Chen, you're still very suitable. Secretary He might have some misunderstandings. For example, the Martyrs Cemetery matter—this Old Zhu dared to sign an agreement privately behind the County Committee's back and dared to solicit bribes. People who don't know might think it was the County Committee's idea." He paused, "So, reporting clearly to Secretary He is also a major event related to Chunshan County's economic development and cadre unity."

"What should I say?" I hesitated, unable to think of a sentence to answer.

"Easy." He picked up a stack of papers and waved them at me, "These are Zhu Shizhen's confession materials. Especially regarding the Martyrs Cemetery land issue, he confessed quite clearly."

He handed the materials to me and waved his hand at me, "You go back to rest first, and go to Hengyue City tomorrow."

I asked foolishly, "I'm still double-regulated."

"No one double-regulated you. It was just an investigation to understand the situation; don't escalate the problem. The organization follows a normal procedure to ensure every cadre can grow healthily. Understand?"

I nodded vigorously, and the gloom covering my heart was swept away.

I got excited and started stammering, not to mention that sitting in front of me was the biggest parent official of Chunshan County. People have a "government office complex," and I'm no exception, even though I'm now a member of the government office.

"Nothing's wrong now!" Secretary Guan exhorted again, getting up and walking to my side, "Remember to report your work to Secretary He properly. You represent Chunshan County, not yourself. Young people must have the spirit of being able to endure hardship, be patient, and be tough. Oh," he changed the subject and asked, "I heard you're preparing to build a mineral water factory in Suxi Township; that's a very good thing."

I smiled bitterly, "Can't build it, the resistance is too great."

Secretary Guan looked at me with interest and smiled, "What's the problem? Where is the resistance?"

I blurted out without thinking, "Resistance can be overcome, but it's hard to build if thinking isn't unified."

"Your township party committee and government team's opinions aren't unified?"

I shook my head.

"Where is the problem?"

"Actually, there's no big problem." I explained, "The key is the investor, who hasn't been seen for over half a month."

"Who is investing?"

When the Secretary asked to this level, if I didn't tell him, it would be a lack of trust in the organization.

"Qian Youyu from Yuetang Village."

The Secretary said "Oh" again, "Isn't their village completely land-acquired?"

"Yes, the compensation is nearly one hundred million."

The Secretary frowned and waved at me, "You go rest first."

Retiring from Guan Peishan's office, I called Huang Weiwei directly, telling her I had turned danger into safety, and I was standing on the street of Chunshan County, preparing to return to Hengyue City early tomorrow morning.

Huang Weiwei said happily on the phone, "Come home for dinner tomorrow night, I'll tell Mom and Dad."

After hanging up her phone, I called Aunt again; I had to tell everyone who knew about this good news.

Aunt was also very happy to hear I was returning to Hengyue City, saying Uncle's road and bridge company had just been established, and the celebration wine hadn't been drunk yet, so I should drink it together when I return. Aunt also mysteriously told me, "Little Feng, you have a share in the road and bridge company too."

A series of good things left me grinning from ear to ear. The play that Secretary Guan of Chunshan County is putting on hasn't reached its finale yet, and Guan Peishan won't easily let go. I am currently a chip held in his hand; he has hidden this card away and will only reveal his trump card at the critical moment. But after surviving this ordeal, I have more confidence in myself, because I know that Huang Weiwei won't ignore me, Xue Bing won't ignore me, and my charming, alluring aunt certainly won't ignore me!