Chapter 190

My uncle's spirits were surprisingly good. From the moment he came downstairs, he hadn't stopped smiling.

The midday sun danced among the branches, the flowers under the trees were in full bloom, and a flock of birds flew past, scattering silver-bell-like chirps. The world seemed incomparably peaceful, as if time had stopped.

Just after finishing lunch, my uncle's driver arrived. My uncle was going to the Central Province airport in person to pick up my aunt.

Departing from Hengyue City, following the national highway to Furong City Airport in Central Province, takes three and a half hours. Hengyue City has no airport; everyone who comes to Hengyue City by plane must land in Furong City. There is an expressway between Hengyue City and Furong City, but it hasn't stopped undergoing repairs since it opened, and it is often congested. Therefore, taking the national highway is sometimes faster than the expressway.

At the dinner table, I didn't mention a word about Chunshan County, let alone the "disciplinary detention" style investigation I was under. I appeared extremely gratified and said: "Aunt is coming back, Uncle, you must celebrate. I have to call my mother over. When Aunt comes, my mother will live ten years longer."

Secretary He looked at me strangely, with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "How do you figure that, Xiao Feng?"

"Look, my mother has no one to talk to all day long now. I'm in Suxi Township and can barely make it home once a week. I worry about her. Now that Aunt is coming back, my mother can come to your house often. It can help Aunt relieve her homesickness and give my mother a companion to talk to. Isn't that great?" I analyzed sincerely.

"That makes sense. My older sister shouldn't stay at home alone. Hmm, doesn't your aunt Xiaoyue want to come home and see?" my uncle asked me with suspicion.

"She does. Now it's almost entirely my aunt taking care of my mother."

"Xiaoyue is someone who likes to stir things up. She's been looking for me during this time, wanting to register some road and bridge company. Her husband has retired from the military; he should find a proper job to do. But she won't listen and insists on starting a company. Is a company that easy to run?"

I didn't dare to defend my aunt.

"You didn't participate, did you?" my uncle stared at me: "I heard that whatever Xiaoyue does, you're always involved."

I was shocked. My uncle wouldn't say things without a basis. I quickly declared: "I only just heard about this from Director Chen."

"Chen Yazhi from the Highway Bureau? Old Huang's wife?" My uncle pondered for a moment and said: "Old Huang seemed to mention to me that you were pursuing their daughter. Is there any truth to that?"

I nodded in admission, my face showing shyness.

"And what about the female teacher who came to the house last time?" My uncle's tone rose, signaling he was about to get angry.

"That's a thing of the past. It has nothing to do with this," I said, lowering my head, not daring to look at him.

"Your lifestyle and conduct cannot be messy! Do you understand? Xiao Feng, you are a cadre; everyone is watching your every word and action. As a cadre, you are a role model for the common people. One must correct oneself before correcting others. I think your private life is a bit messy," my uncle pointed directly at my sore spot and criticized me mercilessly.

I honestly stated: "Uncle, I will handle everything well. I won't cause you any trouble."

"How will you handle it?" my uncle questioned me: "Abandon the female teacher? You'd be a Chen Shimei. Abandon Old Huang's daughter, and will Old Huang let you off? Foolish, so foolish." My uncle sat on the sofa, scolding me with a sense of "hating iron for not becoming steel": "Your feathers haven't even grown in yet, and you dare to take flight?"

I was terrified. My uncle saying these things implied that he was very clear about my affairs.

When someone knows you inside and out, and you still think about making up lies to deceive them, it's either because they are playing dumb or you are a fool.

"What should I do?" I looked at him pitifully.

"You figure it out yourself." My uncle stood up, took the bag Xiao Mei handed him, turned to me and said: "Do you want to come with me to Furong City?"

I jumped up with joy, grabbed the bag from his hand, and said flatteringly: "Of course I want to go. I haven't met Aunt yet."

The driver was very familiar with the road to Furong City and headed straight for the expressway after leaving the city.

I sat side-by-side with my uncle in the back seat, my eyes fixed on the various vehicles flashing by on the expressway, not daring to be the first to speak.

"Xiao Feng, let me ask you a situation. Is your county's Martyrs Cemetery going to be relocated outside the city?" My uncle patted his knee, looking out the window with an expressionless face.

"Such a big matter, there's no way I would know, Uncle," I answered him sincerely.

He gave a "hmm," and then asked me: "Your Secretary Guan is an old cadre. I heard there is a conflict between the Chunshan County Party Committee and the government?"

As soon as I heard this, my head swelled up bigger than an ox's. Who in the Chunshan County officialdom couldn't tell a few stories about the relationship between Guan Peishan and Liu Qimeng? Secretary Guan handles ideology, and County Magistrate Liu handles economic development. Originally, these were things that didn't interfere with each other, but Secretary Guan often couldn't stand the loneliness. After all, he is the Secretary, and the Party leading everything is a basic principle. Although County Magistrate Liu holds the title of Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee, he ultimately belongs to the number two spot. Between the number two and the number one, there is a world of difference in the distribution of power.

Thus, a strange cycle appeared in Chunshan County where the government is an appendage of the Party Committee. Even for announcements or documents that the county government wants to issue, the Government Office Director must personally deliver them to the County Party Committee Office Director for review, and they can only be issued after Secretary Guan's approval. The government is basically an empty shell, and County Magistrate Liu is just a chicken crawling on that empty shell.

The County Party Committee and the government each have their own offices, and the directors on both sides are generally of the same administrative rank. Government documents need the County Party Committee's approval, and the director has to personally deliver them for approval. The Government Office Director is filled with anger, but since his master is always keeping a low profile, how could he dare to jump out and point fingers?

What kind of grass am I? A tiny township head; a hundred of my words aren't worth half a fart from Secretary Guan. Being of low status and light weight is secondary; how could I be clear about the ways between their leaders?

"I'm not clear, and I haven't heard of it," I stammered, looking left and right and talking about other things.

"Chunshan's economic development has been good in recent years. Old Guan has managed to get some things done. But I heard that County Magistrate Qimeng has more ideas in terms of economic construction."

I nodded quickly. From the first time I saw County Magistrate Liu Qimeng, his elegant style had made me admire him endlessly.

"Enough of that. Let's talk about some private issues." Secretary He's tone became relaxed, and he leaned back: "Xiao Feng, is your work going well now?"

"Good, good, good," I answered hurriedly, thinking to myself, damn it, I almost didn't have the chance to sit in the same car as you.

"Since you have chosen to enter politics, you must be mentally prepared. You must have patience and a progressive mindset. Think more about everything, and don't be reckless. As cadres, we aren't here to enjoy ourselves, but to think about seeking welfare for the common people. It doesn't matter if we suffer a bit; when the common people live well, that is the greatest reward for our work.

Cadres who only think about getting rich are not good cadres and should be cleared out of the cadre ranks. Although the policy says to let some people get rich first, this group of people refers to the common people, not the cadres. If the cadres all get rich while the common people are still living in deep water and scorching heat, what will be the result?

From ancient times to the present, it has always been officials forcing the people to rebel! The requirements of the common people are not high; having a meal to eat, clothes to wear, a house to live in, being able to visit relatives in their spare time, and having something to look forward to when busy is enough. If we can't even do this, what face do we have to sit in this position? Sooner or later, we will be driven down by the common people."

He sighed and furrowed his brows: "It's better that you didn't participate in the business Xiaoyue's husband is running. If you did participate, you must withdraw for me."

He gave a firm order: "If they want to get rich, let them get rich. We, the two of us, should do our own work well and not participate in any economic activities."

I nodded earnestly and resolutely, looking at him with infinite admiration.

"As for your personal affairs, handle them as soon as possible." He closed his eyes slightly and leaned on the seat cushion to doze off.

"Uncle, don't worry, I know what to do." I instructed the driver: "Drive steadily, brother."

The driver slowed down, turned on the audio, and slow music flowed out.

The car moved silently through the traffic, and Secretary He closed his eyes and stopped talking. I also quietly watched the cars outside the window. A red sports car whizzed past us, and I could vaguely see that the driver was a woman in white. The driver cursed, then closed his mouth and fell silent.

I also learned to relax my body like Secretary He. There was still half the journey to go, so I would rest and recharge my energy to welcome my aunt returning from the north.

I had never met my aunt. A woman accustomed to the freezing cold of the north, yet in her old age, she had made up her mind to return to our Jiangnan water town, letting the gentle Jiangnan nourish the skin wrinkled by the dry northern winds. Accompanying her was my cousin, a young man who was said to have just graduated from Beijing.

I glanced at my uncle; he had his eyes closed slightly, and I didn't know if he had fallen asleep.

Watching the trees flashing by outside the window, I counted them one by one in my heart. After counting less than a hundred, I had to start over from the beginning.

Suddenly, a flash of white light crossed my mind. Xue Bing and Huang Weiwei—where should I go from here?