Chapter 263: He went abroad

Secretary Chen's full name is Chen Zhiwen, the personal secretary of the previous Provincial Committee Secretary. When the Provincial Committee Secretary retired, he arranged for him to serve as the County Committee Secretary in Qidong County, and three years later, he served as the Mayor of Hengyue City.

When Secretary Chen was still a secretary, he really wanted to be a mayor in the capital city of Central Province—Furong City. The Provincial Committee Secretary considered that he was still young and lacked much local experience, so arranging him directly in Furong City wouldn't make sense in terms of reason or emotion. So he came up with a "curve to save the country" method, letting him start as a County Committee Secretary.

The Provincial Committee Secretary had great foresight; although he had retired, his influence could not be underestimated. Three years later, during the change of term, he logically helped him sit in the position of Mayor of Hengyue City.

Hengyue City was originally the second-largest city in Central Province and a leader among southern industrial cities. The Provincial Committee Secretary asked for his opinion: either serve as a deputy department-level cadre in the province or go to Hengyue City to be the second-in-command.

Chen Zhiwen also considered it repeatedly, thinking that rather than being a deputy department director in the province with no say, it would be better to go to the city to be the second-in-command. Even if the second-in-command is small, it is still a local ruler.

Secretary Chen has a very strong secretary complex. As far as I know, he has been in Hengyue City for so many years and has promoted two county magistrate secretaries under him. I was a secretary by background, so when he heard that I had been a secretary in Suxi Township, he showed strong interest.

"Little Chen, as a cadre, you must remember to tell the truth and do practical things. Your grassroots work seems monotonous, but it is actually very complex. If grassroots work is done well, higher-level leaders will save a lot of worry."

Secretary Chen sees that I haven't spoken and continues to instruct me.

"Secretary Chen, I think grassroots work is indeed very tempering. I want to thank the Party Committee and the government for the opportunity, which let me know the true side of society and clarified the path I will take in the future." I start by "brushing on the paste"—when talking to a cadre of the department level like Secretary Chen, one must appear respectful but not lack one's own opinions.

Secretary Chen nods and asks me: "Town Mayor Little Chen, what are your thoughts on the 'three rural issues'?"

I ponder slightly and start to say: "Secretary Chen, the 'three rural issues' are the biggest problems in China, and I'm afraid I won't be able to explain them well."

"Speak boldly," Secretary Chen encourages me.

"If rural areas want to change their appearance, they must first change the knowledge structure of farmers. Only by changing the knowledge structure of farmers can agriculture develop. In the final analysis, it is actually two words: 'development'—developing education and developing productive forces." Secretary Chen hears this, looks up at me, nods, and says: "Interesting."

"To talk about development, of course, the first thing is to develop education. But it is very difficult to change our current education system. How to change the education system? I think we should first solve the problem of farmers' ideological understanding. Only when farmers feel the importance and necessity of knowledge can they thoroughly attach importance to education."

"Secretary Chen, this is a great era of reform and opening up. The only way out for rural people has always been to take exams and join the army since liberation. Rural people now all want to change their destiny urgently, but what they have learned is limited. Even if they go out to work, besides doing some hard labor, it is still hard labor. I feel that relying on working to change destiny has a very low possibility. It is better to let farmers turn their own resources into opportunities to change their destiny."

"Hmm, tell me, what resources do farmers have?" Secretary Chen completely puts down the book in his hand and takes off his glasses, taking a lens cloth to wipe them carefully.

"Rural areas have vast land, forests, lakes, ancient buildings, and more importantly, the simplicity inherent in farmers—a rural lifestyle that city people envy. These are all their unique resources, which cannot be copied or recreated. City people nowadays have better living conditions and want to experience rural life. Letting city people live the lives of rural people not only lets city people feel a different lifestyle but also lets farmers obtain economic sources. I think this model will be a pilot project to change the 'three rural issues'."

Secretary Chen hears this, his face becomes heavy, and he sighs: "Not all rural areas can be like what you said. After all, city people are limited."

"Secretary Chen," I say sincerely: "The prosperity or depression of a place is still inextricably linked to the cadres in charge. For example, in our Chunshan County, I think developing tourism can very well drive local economic prosperity." I pause and lick my somewhat dry lips: "Chunshan County is a revolutionary old base in Hengyue City. The last batch of bandits were executed in Chunshan County, and the revolutionary martyrs who liberated the Hengyue region also sleep in Chunshan County. Developing tourism in Chunshan County as a red revolutionary old base has positive significance."

Secretary Chen remains calm, picks up the book in his hand again, and ignores my words.

"Also, Chunshan County has the only hot spring in the Hengyue region, with a surface temperature of over sixty degrees, and the minerals contained in the hot spring water have more trace elements for strengthening the body compared to similar hot springs."

"Oh, there's this matter too?" Secretary Chen puts down the book in his hand again: "Chunshan County also has a hot spring? So, you have ideas?"

I nod with a smile.

Secretary Chen doesn't continue with the previous topic, turns his head and asks Aunt Mo: "Xiaoxiao went upstairs?"

Aunt Mo says: "Xiao Meng seems absent-minded during this period. Xiaoxiao coming is a good thing. I was even preparing to call her."

She turns to ask me: "Your surname is Chen? Is that right?"

I quickly agree and say yes.

"Are you Secretary He's nephew?" Aunt Mo asks me, hesitating.

"My father was originally a subordinate of Secretary He's father, who came south. My mother is Secretary He's cousin, so he is my uncle." I answer Aunt Mo's words seriously, not daring to be presumptuous at all.

"How did you get to know Xiaoxiao?"

She sees my suspicious look and smiles: "It's Weiwei. We all call her Xiaoxiao. Smile, it sounds festive."

"I was a social education cadre with her, both social education cadres in Chunshan County." I say.

"When Xiaoxiao went down to do social education, it seems she was at the Municipal Youth League Committee, right? At that time, more than a dozen social education cadres were sent down by the city, all young people from the Municipal Committee and Municipal Government organs. Which department were you in?" Aunt Mo asks me with interest. Women all like to get to the bottom of things, and I don't mind.

"I was originally a clerk in an organ under the agricultural sector." I answer embarrassedly. Thinking of the past, I can't help but feel sad. Back then, when I was arranged by the leader to do social education, I thought it was being exiled. I didn't expect that the social education cadres who went with me were all people with significant backgrounds.

Aunt Mo says "Oh" and stops asking me, stands up to fill Secretary Chen's tea, and says: "Old Chen, it's not easy for you to come home to rest once, so don't read books."

Secretary Chen smiles and says: "I'm fine, don't worry. You go rest, I'll chat with Little Chen some more."

I smile, flattered, and shift my butt, which was originally sitting firmly, to remind myself that I am in the home of the Municipal Committee Secretary.

"Little Chen, your Chunshan County is going to select a deputy county magistrate from among young cadres this time, you know about this, right?" Secretary Chen puts down the book in his hand for the third time.

My heart jumps violently, and I nod: "Just heard about it, Secretary Chen."

"Regarding the selection of cadres in Chunshan County this time, the Municipal Committee has decided not to give opinions, not to interfere, and not to obstruct. We are completely letting Old Liu do it. I just want to see what kind of deputy county magistrate he will select for me." Secretary Chen says with a smile, not fast or slow.

Secretary Chen's words make me excited. Such words, a Municipal Committee Secretary could not possibly say to a small town mayor. In the eyes of the Municipal Committee Secretary, a small town mayor is just a cabbage that can't satisfy hunger. But he did say it, and I heard it clearly. Could it be that Secretary Chen favors me? Did my gamble work?

"Go back and work hard. You must trust the organization. Whether a person has ability and whether a cadre has character is reflected in work. Saying it well is not as good as doing it well; saying a lot is not as good as doing it practically." Secretary Chen seems to be accusing me, my face burns, and I dare not reach out to touch it, so I have to lower my head and look at my toes.

My eyes sweep over the ginseng I brought, and I immediately stand up, hold the ginseng with both hands and say: "Aunt Mo, this was entrusted to us by Bureau Chief Chen, Weiwei's mother, to bring to you. Please accept it."

Aunt Mo examines the ginseng and says: "This Old Chen, still being formal with me about these things. Since you brought it, it wouldn't be good for me to return it. Simply put, when you leave later, remember to take something for me. I went abroad for inspection some time ago and brought back some cosmetics. Take some for Old Chen."

Secretary Chen laughs and says: "You women, the older you get, the more you love to dress up."

The two old people don't care at all that I, an outsider, am present, and tease each other affectionately.

I laugh awkwardly along with them. I am now beginning to appreciate Secretary Chen's approachability. People who are officials, the bigger the official, the less airs they have, and the more they seem to partake in the common life. It seems that in their eyes, worldly affairs are nothing but passing clouds. This is a realm, the realm of being an official!

A sound of footsteps rings out on the stairs, and then I see Huang Weiwei and Chen Meng walking down with their heads lowered.

Chen Meng doesn't stop for even half a step, walks directly to the door to change her shoes, and while changing, says to her parents: "Mom and Dad, I'm going out for a bit."

Aunt Mo asks: "It's so late, where are you going?"

"Something to do." Chen Meng finishes changing her shoes, sees me still sitting foolishly on the sofa, raises her eyebrows and says: "Aren't you leaving yet?"

I wake up from my trance, smile apologetically at Secretary Chen, and walk to the door to change my shoes.

"Town Mayor Little Chen, I will find a chance to chat with you again." Secretary Chen looks at Chen Meng, shakes his head, and sighs.

I specifically observe Secretary Chen, and his expression has aged a lot in this sigh.

As soon as we go out, Huang Weiwei rushes to me and says: "Chen Feng, call He Jiaxiao and call him out."

I have no choice but to take out my phone and call He Jiaxiao while standing under the shade of a tree. As soon as the call is connected, it is Sister Xiao Mei who answers. She recognizes my voice immediately and asks with joy: "Is this Town Mayor Chen Feng?"

Her way of addressing me is clearly a joke. Ever since I saw her seductive lingerie in her room, I have been able to feel her subtle feelings for me very clearly.

"Is Jiaxiao at home?" I ask, tearing off a leaf and putting it to my lips.

"He went abroad. You don't know?" Sister Xiao Mei asks me in surprise.

I am shocked and ask: "When did this happen?"

"He left the day before yesterday. The Madam and I sent him to the plane together," Sister Xiao Mei says in a low voice: "Jiaxiao cried a mess when he left, and the Madam cried too. Such a good thing as going abroad, what's there to cry about?"

"Which country did he go to?"

"I don't know. They didn't tell me, and I didn't dare ask," Sister Xiao Mei says hurriedly: "The Madam is about to wake up, I won't say more. You come to the house to play when you have time. Secretary He is mentioning you."

After hanging up the phone, I am truly stunned. Chen Meng, standing not far away, is pregnant with He Jiaxiao's child, yet this guy has run abroad. How can I tell her this? What should Chen Meng do?

Under the hazy lamplight, Chen Meng is still waiting for my news pitifully, but I can't move a step. ===== CHAPTER 264 =====