Chapter 1061

Su Xinghui quickly said: "Big Brother Monkey, don't say things like that—I'm just a town mayor, far from being a county magistrate, still several steps away; there's no way I'd ever be chosen for that position. If others heard, they'd think I actually had such ambitions."

Su Xinghui was a town mayor, a Level 10 official; seemingly only two ranks below a county magistrate, but in reality, the gap between them was like a chasm.

If everything went smoothly, Su Xinghui could advance one step every two years; according to the normal trajectory, he still needed to serve as town party secretary, deputy county magistrate, member of the county party standing committee, first deputy county magistrate or deputy party secretary before reaching the position of county magistrate—conservatively estimated, that would take at least ten years.

This was determined by China's official hierarchy of seniority; without extraordinary promotion, Su Xinghui wouldn't be eligible to become county magistrate until around thirty-three, which would already be considered very fast.

Take Tian Xiaopeng—he's about the same age now when he became county magistrate, and he's already seen as having had a smooth ride; as long as he delivers results in Shangjun County, barring accidents, he'll reach the provincial-level cadre rank before forty.

Han Xiang Dong saying Su Xinghui could become county magistrate now was pure fantasy; a county magistrate oversees the welfare of hundreds of thousands of people in a county—it's not that easy to attain.

Han Xiang Dong said: "That's exactly what I mean—do you think you're not capable of being county magistrate? I think you're fully qualified, you just need to wait out your seniority. We'll all give you full support and strive to make you the youngest county magistrate in China."

Han Xiang Dong wasn't boasting; if all their families truly threw their full weight behind Su Xinghui, they could secure him two extraordinary promotions, letting him skip several years of waiting for seniority and become county magistrate around thirty.

Su Xinghui smiled: "Big Brother Xiang Dong, I appreciate your goodwill, but I'd rather wait out my seniority slowly; waiting isn't just about seniority—it's also a process of tempering one's character. Rising too fast, too easily, makes people arrogant."

Yu Ruizhi nodded: "Su Xinghui's point has merit—rising slowly has no downside; after all, Su Xinghui is still young—a twenty-three-year-old town mayor is probably rare nationwide."

Chu Zheng asked: "Su Xinghui, are you afraid of Provincial Chief Tian coming to inspect Shangjun?"

Su Xinghui smiled: "What's there to fear? Can he criticize me to my face? If he does, so what—he's the provincial chief, I'm just a town mayor; if he criticizes me, I'll listen. If there's truth, I'll correct it; if not, I'll take it as encouragement. That's all. I'll still do what I must, oppose what I must—nothing changes."

Yu Ruizhi raised his thumb: "Your mental resilience is unmatched. But then again, you're perfectly at ease talking and laughing with my grandfather—what's a provincial chief compared to him?"

Su Xinghui smiled without replying, raised his cup: "Big Brothers, I'll drink to you all—thank you for your help!"

After dinner, the group returned to the town government. Liu Yongjun told Su Xinghui: "Mayor, I just got a call from the county party committee office—they said Provincial Chief Tian will go straight to Pengjiawan for inspection on Monday morning. All county leaders will be there. We need to prepare for reception."

Su Xinghui froze slightly upon hearing this—Tian Chengzu was coming to Pengjiawan first?

But then he relaxed; it made perfect sense—Pengjiawan was on the route from Jiangcheng to Shangjun County, and right now, the two most noteworthy townships in Shangjun were Meng Hu Ling and Pengjiawan. Getting off at Pengjiawan would save him considerable time.

Pengjiawan currently housed Shangjun County's largest single-investment foreign enterprise, a promising vegetable industry, and the soon-to-start Changjiangdaqiao and expressway projects—wasn't that exactly what leaders came to inspect townships for?

Of course, Tian Chengzu's main purpose in coming to Pengjiawan was likely to pressure Su Xinghui and support his son Tian Xiaopeng. By normal logic, his arrival should be highly effective—the provincial chief was the second-highest official in the province, and the psychological pressure he exerted on ordinary people was unimaginable.

But as Yu Ruizhi said, Su Xinghui remained calm and composed even before Old Yu—compared to Old Yu, a provincial chief meant nothing.

Unfortunately, Tian Chengzu had no idea of this—he still expected to pressure Su Xinghui with his status.

Su Xinghui asked Liu Yongjun: "Have you reported this to Secretary Qi?"

or not?"

Liu Yongjun nodded: "I've already reported it to Secretary Qi. After hearing it, he told me to notify all town leaders to meet in the conference room at two this afternoon to discuss how to prepare for Provincial Chief Tian's reception."

Su Xinghui nodded: "I understand."

Back in his office, Han Xiang Dong smiled: "Su Xinghui, it looks like Provincial Chief Tian is coming mainly for you—he's getting off directly at your Pengjiawan. Aren't you afraid?"

Su Xinghui smiled faintly: "What good would fear do? But I doubt a provincial chief would be so low-level—why target a mere town mayor?"

Chu Zheng laughed heartily: "Alright, we give in—you've got serious guts."

Su Xinghui said: "Without desire, one is invincible. I've done nothing wrong, so I fear no one."