Chapter 94: Instructions for the Mission

County Magistrate Liu wanted to have a talk with me, and his secretary came to the school in person to find me.

Upon hearing this news, Deng Hanyu was full of resentment. Among the thirty-some trainees from all walks of life, I was the youngest, had the least experience, and held the lowest rank. What exactly did County Magistrate Liu see in me? My heart was filled with trepidation; I wanted to refuse, but I couldn't find a suitable excuse, and I paced back and forth in the room in distress.

Deng Hanyu said with a sarcastic tone, "What are you pacing for? The Second Boss is inviting you; it can't be a bad thing."

I said with a worried face, "The County Magistrate wants to see me, but I don't know what to say. I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing and displease him."

Deng Hanyu looked me up and down and said with a dark face, "Getting cocky? Brother Chen, logically speaking, as a committee member in charge of propaganda, the County Magistrate really doesn't have much to talk to you about. The problem is that he's looking for you now, so it's definitely not about propaganda. There must be other arrangements. Who knows, maybe your luck has arrived, little brother."

After pacing a few more times, my mood calmed down slightly. I said, "I usually don't have the opportunity to report my work to the County Magistrate. To tell you the truth, Town Mayor Deng, this is the first time such a high-ranking official has looked for me. I'm nervous."

"Nervous my ass. No matter how high-ranking the County Magistrate is, he's just a division-level cadre. You're a section-level cadre now. There's no need to overcomplicate a work-related conversation between a superior and a subordinate." Deng Hanyu then said conceitedly, "I see County Magistrate Liu often, and I even go to report to Secretary Guan once a month. I haven't seen anything different. Hurry up and go, lest they get impatient waiting and say you're putting on airs, leaving a bad impression on the leader."

I tentatively said, "How about this, Town Mayor Deng, why don't you come with me?"

"No time." Deng Hanyu rejected my proposal decisively. He rummaged through his drawer, pulled out a deck of cards, and said, "I'm going to find them for a few rounds. The loser pays for the meal."

Once Deng Hanyu left, I immediately pulled out the money Pan Xiaoqin had sent me from under my pillow, stuffed it into my pants pocket, opened the door, and headed straight for the school gate.

The car engine was still running. Principal Lao Zhang was standing by the car talking to the secretary. The driver saw me and honked the horn. The secretary turned his face and asked me, "Chen Feng from Suxi Township?"

I nodded, accompanied by a smiling face, and apologized, "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

The secretary said expressionlessly, "Get in the car. County Magistrate Liu is still waiting for you in his office."

Principal Lao Zhang enthusiastically helped me open the car door, a smile emerging from the wrinkles on his face as he said, "Safe travels, everyone. Come by and sit for a while when you have time."

The secretary sat in the front row, stomped his feet, and said, "This damn weather, it's really cold."

I didn't dare to respond. Compared to me, the County Magistrate's secretary was a person of high standing in the halls of power.

"Tell me, Chen Feng, is your home in Hengyue City?" the secretary asked me, sounding a bit skeptical. "You've been a secretary in Suxi Township for over three years?"

I hurriedly said yes and shifted my bottom to make myself sit more comfortably.

"Graduated from the Normal University?"

"Department of Chinese."

"Why didn't you become a teacher?"

"Afraid of misleading the students," I said with a self-deprecating laugh, hunching my body forward to get as close to the secretary's back as possible.

He chuckled and said, "Not strange. Among cadres nowadays, there are many who come from a normal school background."

I laughed "hehe" and leaned back. My back touched the soft cushion, and my nervous mood eased quite a bit.

"My surname is Du. You can call me Secretary Du from now on," Secretary Du introduced himself. "I'm also a normal school graduate, but not from the same school as you. I studied in Nanjing."

I complimented him, "Secretary Du, you studied at a prestigious school."

Secretary Du smiled conceitedly and said, "It's not really a prestigious school, but compared to the Normal University in Central Province, it produces more people. In the national ministries and commissions, there are quite a few of our people."

"That's true," I said. "People from your school are the ones who manage the fate of the country. Unlike us, when we graduate, we all end up standing at a three-foot podium. A small portion who enter government agencies end up neither dead nor alive, and I haven't heard of any big officials coming out of there."

Secretary Du was clearly very fond of my flattery. He turned his head and asked me, "Do you know why County Magistrate Liu is looking for you?"

I looked at him with a blank face and shook my head.

He glanced at the driver, leaned his body back, lowered his voice, and said, "County Magistrate Liu might be transferred to the Hengyue City High-Tech Development Zone to be the Director."

I was even more confused. County Magistrate Liu's promotion—what did that have to do with me?

"Your coming to the Party School for study this time was single-handedly facilitated by County Magistrate Liu. Without him, you wouldn't have this opportunity. The cadres who came to study this time are all people who will be promoted in next spring's leadership transition. Originally, like me, with a secretary position, your administrative rank would at most be a stock-level cadre. Now you're considered a deputy section-level cadre, so your qualifications meet the requirements for study."

So I had thought my promotion to a member of the Party Committee was Guo Wei's arrangement, but listening to this, it seemed County Magistrate Liu was supporting me from behind the scenes. A wave of emotion surged in my heart, and I almost teared up.

"I don't know the specific reason why County Magistrate Liu is looking for you this time. When you see the County Magistrate later, don't be stage-frightened." He smiled and tapped the black leather bag in his hand lightly. "No matter what, we are both alumni of normal schools. All normal schools under heaven are one family."

I nodded gratefully. Secretary Du's heartfelt words made me feel that the road ahead was bright.

Arriving at the County Government, Secretary Du took me directly into County Magistrate Liu's office.

County Magistrate Liu was wearing black-rimmed glasses and correcting documents. Seeing me enter, he pointed to the sofa opposite and signaled for me to sit. He kept his head down, writing and marking on the documents, ignoring me.

My heart was pounding. He called me here but ignored me—what kind of medicine was he selling in his gourd? My heart was thumping, and I seemed to be able to hear the sound of my own heartbeat. In front of leaders, one must keep one's tail tucked! I tucked my tail well, placed my hands on my knees, straightened my back, and watched County Magistrate Liu work with a calm expression.

Secretary Du brought in a cup of tea, smiled, retreated, and closed the door.

After waiting for a long while, County Magistrate Liu finally put down his pen, raised his head, looked at me, and said with a smile, "Is the study hard?"

I hurriedly replied, "It's not hard. I just feel a bit overwhelmed. Originally, I swallowed the Party's policies and guidelines whole, but after this study, I finally understand the power of theory."

"Hmm," County Magistrate Liu said with a smile, "Young people should study more. Only cadres who can study can adapt to the needs of social development."

I felt my mouth go dry and my throat parch, as if a slow fire was roasting it. I stared at the teacup in front of me a few times but didn't dare to pick it up to drink.

County Magistrate Liu noticed my action and said kindly, "Little Chen, drink some water. The weather is cold and the air is dry; drinking more water is good for you."

I smiled at the County Magistrate as if relieved of a heavy burden, picked up the cup, and took a big gulp, almost spitting it out because it was so hot. I cursed inwardly, Secretary Du, you son of a bitch, such hot water and you didn't even warn me.

My awkward appearance made County Magistrate Liu burst into laughter. He stood up, walked over to sit opposite me, and comforted me, "Don't be nervous, relax. My place isn't a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, why are you so nervous?"

After drinking a few sips of water, my throat felt much more moisturized. I lowered my eyelids, not daring to look the County Magistrate in the eye.

"I invited you here today to understand your views on Suxi Township, nothing else. Let's just talk casually; say whatever you want, but your attitude must be serious." County Magistrate Liu emphasized, "This isn't a work conversation, just a private exchange. Don't have any psychological burden."

I nodded, put down the teacup, and said, "County Magistrate Liu, although I've worked in Suxi Township for three years, there are still many things I need to learn. I'm afraid I won't express myself well."

"Just say whatever comes to mind. For example, what changes does Suxi Township still need to make, or whether the cadre team needs to be adjusted."

I quickly turned it over in my mind and said, "If we're talking about changes in Suxi Township, I think we first need to establish a market. Suxi Township covers an area of over twenty square kilometers, and the nearest market is over ten miles of mountain road away. Farmers cannot purchase the daily necessities and production materials they need in a timely manner, and agricultural and sideline products cannot be sold out in time. This has caused the economy to be unable to circulate, so to this day, if people in Suxi Township want to buy a set of clothes, they still have to run to the county town."

County Magistrate Liu stared at me with interest and said, "Continue."

I cleared my throat and said, "Once the market is established, Suxi Township has natural forest resources, strange mountains and waters everywhere, a tea oil base built by the state in the 1950s, and simple folk customs; it's practically a paradise. Now that electricity and roads are connected, if we utilize these resources in Suxi Township and engage in tourism development, it should drive the entire economic development."

I stopped and took a sip of water. In fact, these ideas of mine had basically taken shape a year ago. Suxi Township is located in a remote area with inconvenient transportation; it has neither factories nor commerce and is basically in a primitive state of living. But Suxi Township has forests that others can only dream of, the purest mountain spring water, and the most simple-minded farmers. These are the dreams of people who have lived in the city for a long time. But I am just a secretary, a secretary who cannot be brought to the table; to some people, these ideas of mine are simply Arabian Nights. Therefore, whether it was Zhu Shizhen or Guo Wei, I hadn't told anyone about these ideas. In fact, I was waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity like today. But the person listening to me talk about this blueprint was about to be transferred. Would a person who is about to be transferred realize this dream of mine?

Thinking of this, my interest waned, and I stopped talking.

County Magistrate Liu Qimeng saw that I had stopped and urged, "Is that all?"

I looked at him uneasily and said with a bitter smile, "County Magistrate, it's not easy to realize this plan."

County Magistrate Liu smiled and tapped the table, reminding me, "What if we let industry take the lead and let industry drive tourism? What do you think?"

I looked at him blankly and stammered, "County Magistrate, I don't quite understand."

"What did you just say? Suxi Township has the purest mountain spring water; that's not water, that's money." He laughed loudly, stood up, returned to his desk, and sat down, saying, "I didn't misjudge you, Little Chen. You should focus on your studies for now. When the study is over, we'll talk again."

County Magistrate Liu was issuing a dismissal order. I touched the money in my pants pocket and said, "County Magistrate Liu, let me treat you to a meal."

He looked at me strangely and teased, "What? Little Chen, trying to bribe me?"

I hurriedly waved my hands, saying the County Magistrate had misunderstood my meaning. County Magistrate Liu said kindly, "Alright, Little Chen, I'll give you some face today. Let's go eat snail chicken, but I'll pay."

Snail chicken is a famous dish in Chunshan County. The best snails are large with thin shells and grow in sunny paddy fields. After picking the snails one by one and putting them in a basin, add a few drops of vegetable oil, and in one night, the snails will spit out all the mud and sand in their stomachs. Then, braise the local chicken until cooked, put it in a clay pot, cover the top with a layer of snails with the bottoms cut off, add dried chili, ginger slices, star anise, and garlic, and braise over a slow fire. Once out of the pot, it's fragrant and appetizing. It's an excellent delicacy for drinking and dining.

I treat, County Magistrate Liu pays.

I followed behind his butt, wagging my tail happily like a pug. ===== CHAPTER 95 =====