95: Chapter 95 Meeting Team

Xiao Bei walked to the window, looking at the sycamore trees in the Town Government courtyard: "Hmm, I'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

"On my end…" Su Yun paused, "The station has already approved my transfer application, but it still needs to go through the proper procedures. It will probably take about a week before I can come over."

Xiao Bei felt a warmth in his heart: "You decided so quickly?"

"It had to be decided sooner or later anyway." Su Yun chuckled, "My classmate said the News Department at Jinhe TV Station happens to be short-staffed, and the conditions are quite good."

"In that case… I'll wait for you in Jinhe." Xiao Bei's voice softened unconsciously.

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Bei noticed Team Leader Zhang Yining standing at the office door, holding a stack of files.

"Apologies, I didn't mean to eavesdrop." Team Leader Zhang Yining walked in and placed the files on the desk, "This is the handover checklist for Bishi Town. I've already organized it."

Xiao Bei flipped through the files and found that every page was clearly organized, with key data highlighted in different colors. This girl's work efficiency was astonishing.

"Thank you." Xiao Bei said sincerely, "With you here, I'm not as worried about the trip to Jinhe."

Team Leader Zhang Yining pushed up her glasses, a flash of complexity in her eyes behind the lenses: "Xiao Bei, once we arrive in Jinhe County, we may face all sorts of unexpected situations. But please believe that no matter what happens, I will stand by your side."

This seemingly ordinary promise gave Xiao Bei a sense of heavy weight. He vaguely felt that Team Leader Zhang Yining seemed to know some inside information he was not yet aware of.

Night fell, and Xiao Bei stood by the dormitory window, gazing at the night view of Bishi Town. In just a few short months, he had left behind too much sweat and too many memories here. Tomorrow, he would embark on a new journey, facing more complex situations and more hidden enemies.

His phone vibrated; it was a text message from Mayor Qin: [Team Leader Zhang Yining is more capable than she appears; listen to her advice at critical moments. Remember, no matter how difficult a matter is, there is always a way to resolve it. No matter how murky the water, there will always come a day when it evaporates to reveal the bottom.]

Xiao Bei gripped his phone tightly and looked toward the distant Jinhe County. What kind of storm awaited him there?

In front of the Jinhe County County Party Committee compound, two rows of neat holly trees swayed slightly in the early spring breeze. As Xiao Bei's car slowly drove through the main gate, he noticed the four gilded characters "Diligent Governance for the People" on the courtyard wall shining in the sunlight, though one corner had already fallen off, revealing the mottled cement underneath.

"County Magistrate Xiao, welcome, welcome!" A stocky, ruddy-faced man strode up and took the initiative to open the car door. He was wearing a dark blue jacket with a Party emblem pinned to the collar, his smile enthusiastic but not reaching his eyes.

"I am Office Director Zhao Dehai of the County Party Committee Office. Secretary Ma and County Magistrate Xuan are waiting for you in the conference room. Please, this way…"

Xiao Bei got out of the car and straightened his collar. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Team Leader Zhang Yining having already silently stood half a step behind him, holding a notebook and a tablet, looking every bit the diligent secretary.

"Sorry to trouble you, Office Director Zhao Dehai." Xiao Bei smiled and nodded, following Office Director Zhao Dehai toward the main building. He deliberately slowed his pace to observe the environment of the County Party Committee compound—neatly trimmed green belts, polished glass curtain walls, and several brand-new black sedans in the parking lot in the distance.

Team Leader Zhang Yining suddenly gave a light cough, and Xiao Bei looked in the direction she indicated. At the window on the far right of the third floor, a figure was standing there looking down at them. Seeing Xiao Bei look up, the person quickly drew the curtains.

"That is Secretary Ma Wendong's office." Office Director Zhao Dehai explained, following Xiao Bei's gaze, the smile on his face stiffening for a moment.

In the conference room, people sat on both sides of the long conference table. As soon as Xiao Bei entered, everyone stood up. The man sitting in the main seat was in his early fifties, with his hair combed back meticulously, his smile as standard as if it had been carved on his face.

"Comrade Xiao Bei! We have finally been waiting for you!" Secretary Ma Wendong walked around the table and shook Xiao Bei's hand vigorously.

"The Provincial Party Committee has sent us a crack soldier to Jinhe County this time!"

Xiao Bei felt that the other man's palm was dry and warm, his grip controlled just right—neither appearing dismissive nor overly aggressive.

"Secretary Ma Wendong, you are too kind. I am here to learn."

Secretary Ma Wendong laughed and patted Xiao Bei's shoulder, turning to the others: "Everyone, let's get acquainted. This is our new Deputy County Magistrate, Comrade Xiao Bei. Previously in Bishi Town, Beijiang County, Canglan City, he achieved quite a few accomplishments! The higher-ups specifically instructed us to work well with Comrade Xiao Bei!"

Xiao Bei's gaze swept over every face in the conference room. Sitting to the right of Secretary Ma Wendong was a woman in her forties, wearing a beige suit, with her hair in a low ponytail and wearing gold-rimmed glasses. Her makeup showed she had carefully groomed herself, but it also felt like she wasn't very skilled at applying it, with a layer of white powder floating on her face...

Xiao Bei noticed the woman with the caked-on makeup was sizing him up with a scrutinizing gaze.

"This is County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu." Secretary Ma Wendong introduced, his tone carrying a subtle pause.

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu stood up and extended her hand: "I have long heard of your name, Comrade Xiao Bei."

Her voice was very soft, almost too coquettish, yet it carried an undeniable strength. When shaking hands, Xiao Bei noticed she was wearing a seemingly simple platinum ring on her ring finger, but it was embedded with a circle of tiny diamonds on the inside.

"Hello, County Magistrate Xuan." Xiao Bei nodded in greeting. He keenly caught Secretary Ma Wendong and County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu exchanging a look, which contained an understanding far beyond their surface relationship.

In the subsequent introductions, Xiao Bei silently noted the characteristics of each leadership team member—Executive Deputy County Magistrate Liu Fuzhi always unconsciously touched the edge of his bald head when speaking; Organization Department Head Li Hongmei wore thick glasses and almost pressed her face to her notebook while taking notes; Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Wang Zhenhua sat in the furthest corner, not saying a word the entire time...

"Comrade Xiao Bei has just arrived, so let him familiarize himself with the situation first; work will be handed over gradually." Secretary Ma Wendong concluded, "Office Director Zhao Dehai has already arranged the dormitory and office. If you have any needs, just let us know."

After the meeting ended, Xiao Bei was taken to an office on the west side of the third floor. The room was spacious and bright, but it had clearly just undergone simple renovations, and the smell of paint and glue still lingered in the air. A brand-new mahogany desk was placed in the center, with two sofas for receiving guests opposite it.

Team Leader Zhang Yining closed the door and immediately took a small device out of her briefcase, walking around the room.

"No listening devices." She said in a low voice, then walked to the window and pulled the blinds.

"Secretary Ma Wendong is more… than he appeared in the files." Xiao Bei deliberated over his wording.

"More like an actor." Team Leader Zhang Yining finished his sentence, pulling up a video on her tablet, "Take a look at this."