128: Chapter 128 Doing it personally

Xiao Bei turned around, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'm fine. The organization has its reasons for this arrangement."

Although he said that, the feeling of being doused in cold water wouldn't fade from his heart, leaving him feeling a bit cold...

He had originally thought that after County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu fell from grace, he, as a standing committee member and Deputy County Magistrate, would naturally become the Executive Deputy County Magistrate. Seeing everyone's reactions, he had also come to believe that he would be exceptionally promoted to the position of County Magistrate; Secretary Ma had even hinted at this possibility. At the very least, he could have been given a certificate of merit...

However, reality dealt him a heavy blow—the provincial authorities had directly parachuted in County Magistrate Lin Ruohan.

"Well? Did you find anything?"

Xiao Bei put down his teacup, his voice returning to its usual composure.

Team Leader Zhang Yining shook her head, a rare look of frustration on her face. "Only her work experience at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, thirty years old, unmarried. Other information... it's as if it was deliberately erased by someone."

She bit her lower lip. "I contacted a few friends in the province, and they all said they only knew she had a strong reputation and was very capable, but no one could clearly say what specific work she had handled."

Xiao Bei nodded thoughtfully. This County Magistrate Lin Ruohan was not simple.

"By the way, has the office for that newcomer, Chen Mo, been arranged?"

"He's been placed in the General Affairs Section, responsible for document distribution and meeting minutes."

Team Leader Zhang Yining hesitated for a moment. "County Magistrate Xiao, why are you paying special attention to him?"

County Magistrate Xiao walked to the desk and picked up a file. "He's a former criminal police officer. In three years, he participated in solving seventeen criminal cases and received two individual third-class merits."

He opened the file. "Look at his background check; his parents are both ordinary workers, and he has no connections. A person like this is like a blank slate in the officialdom."

Team Leader Zhang Yining's eyes lit up. "Are you thinking of..."

"Observe first."

Xiao Bei closed the file. "If he is truly as clean as he appears, he might become our capable assistant."

As he was speaking, there was a knock on the office door. Chen Mo stood outside, his posture as straight as a pine, holding a document in his hand. "County Magistrate Xiao, this is the agenda list for tomorrow's Standing Committee meeting, please take a look."

County Magistrate Xiao took the document, noticing Chen Mo's gaze quickly sweep across the office, finally resting on the Poverty Alleviation project markers on the map of Jinhe County on the wall—those had been marked by County Magistrate Xiao himself.

"Are you interested in poverty alleviation work?" County Magistrate Xiao asked casually.

A flash of alertness crossed Chen Mo's eyes, but he immediately returned to calm. "Just a professional habit, a quirk of observing details I developed when handling cases before."

County Magistrate Xiao smiled. "A good habit. By the way, have you adapted to the new job?"

"I'm adapting." Chen Mo's answer was short and firm. "Compared to government work, criminal investigations are more direct."

County Magistrate Xiao nodded, then suddenly changed the subject. "I heard you solved a poverty alleviation fund fraud case in Cangyang?"

Chen Mo was visibly stunned for a moment, then replied frankly. "Yes, a village Party secretary falsified the list of impoverished households to defraud state subsidies. It wasn't a big case, but it affected the interests of over thirty truly impoverished households."

"Very good." County Magistrate Xiao said meaningfully. "Working in the government also requires this spirit of upholding fairness and justice."

After Chen Mo left, Team Leader Zhang Yining looked at County Magistrate Xiao with confusion. "How did you know he handled a poverty alleviation case? It wasn't in the file."

"I guessed." A flash of craftiness crossed County Magistrate Xiao's eyes. "Cangyang is a poor county with large flows of poverty alleviation funds; it's impossible for a criminal police officer not to have encountered such cases. Besides..."

He pointed to where Chen Mo's gaze had rested earlier. "He was looking at the relatively poorest villages in our county."

Team Leader Zhang Yining realized with a start. "You were testing him?"

"You could say that." County Magistrate Xiao picked up his jacket. "Let's go to the cafeteria. I heard the new County Magistrate is having lunch with everyone today, we need to show proper respect."

The County Government cafeteria was much livelier than usual. When County Magistrate Xiao and Team Leader Zhang Yining walked in, many cadres cast subtle glances. Some whispered, others pretended not to see them.

Officialdom is like a play; everyone is choosing their stage and playing their role.

County Magistrate Lin Ruohan sat by the window, a simple meal in front of her: vegetables, tofu, and half a bowl of rice. Her posture while eating was elegant and restrained, as if she were in a high-end restaurant rather than a cafeteria.

County Magistrate Xiao walked over with his tray. "County Magistrate Lin, may I sit here?"

County Magistrate Lin Ruohan looked up, those ink-black eyes staring straight at County Magistrate Xiao without any warmth. "Please do."

"County Magistrate Lin, your meal is very light," County Magistrate Xiao said, making small talk after sitting down.

"I'm used to it." County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's voice was as cold as her gaze. "During my time at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, I often missed meal times, so my stomach isn't very good."

County Magistrate Xiao noticed a faint ring mark on her left ring finger, but didn't ask any further.

He turned the conversation to work. "Regarding the audit report for the poverty alleviation projects you requested, I have already had it organized, and it will be delivered to your office first thing tomorrow morning."

"No need." County Magistrate Lin Ruohan put down her chopsticks. "I will go to the archives room to look at it myself this afternoon."

County Magistrate Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Such a thick stack of materials..."

"I'm used to finding answers myself." County Magistrate Lin Ruohan interrupted him, her tone brooking no argument. "By the way, I will personally preside over next week's poverty alleviation work promotion meeting. Deputy County Magistrate Xiao, please have the report materials ready for the agricultural and rural work you are in charge of."

"No problem." County Magistrate Xiao agreed readily, then changed the subject. "County Magistrate Lin, you place great importance on poverty alleviation work."

A flash of inscrutable light crossed County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's eyes. "It is a major national affair and the foundation of people's livelihoods, so naturally, it must be taken seriously."

She stood up. "I'm finished, please continue."

Watching County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's retreating back, Team Leader Zhang Yining whispered. "Why is she guarding against you like she's guarding against a thief?"

County Magistrate Xiao shook his head, thoughtful. "She's not guarding against me; she's looking for something."

In the afternoon, County Magistrate Xiao deliberately "passed by" the archives room. Through the half-open door, he saw County Magistrate Lin Ruohan buried in reading the poverty alleviation project materials, with stacks of archive boxes around her. Her expression was focused and cold, and she was occasionally recording something in a notebook.

"County Magistrate Xiao?" Director Chen Mo's voice came from behind him. "Do you need any materials? I can help you find them."

County Magistrate Xiao turned around and saw Chen Mo holding a few documents. "No need, I was just looking around. What is this?"

"Quarterly reports from the Poverty Alleviation Office, requested by County Magistrate Lin Ruohan." Chen Mo replied, his eyes filled with inquiry. "Do you need me to report to you?"

County Magistrate Xiao waved his hand. "Just follow the procedure."

He paused, lowering his voice. "However, if you discover any unusual circumstances, you can come to me at any time."

A flash of understanding crossed Chen Mo's eyes, and after a slight nod, he walked toward the archives room.

Returning to his office, County Magistrate Xiao stood by the window, watching the sunset dye the County Government building gold.

In the arena of power, undercurrents are always surging. County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's parachuting in, the unusual attention to the poverty alleviation projects, the background information that couldn't be found... all of this was like pieces of a puzzle, waiting to be assembled...