Chapter 144 - 124: Open Strife and Secret Struggles

Mei Ru Xue told Xu Chunliang not to worry, as she would immediately contact the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Office.After Xu Chunliang hung up the phone, Huang Yong’s mobile phone rang, and he knew without looking who was calling.

Huang Yong braced himself and answered the call. He didn’t dare use the speakerphone because most likely Town Mayor Mei would not give him any face. He wasn’t as eloquent as Xu Chunliang, nor as handsome. Most importantly, Town Mayor Mei was his direct superior.

Mei Ru Xue reprimanded him unceremoniously, asking him what exactly was going on and why he was intensifying conflicts at such a time.

Unauthorized constructions in Hu Shan Town had been a longstanding issue. To resolve this matter, a proper method was needed; one that could achieve governance goals while maximizing the protection of the residents’ interests. Acting on impulse and fanning the flames was not the way to go.

Huang Yong felt bitter inside and stated that it was Secretary Kong’s directive.

Saying this made the situation worse. Upon hearing this, Mei Ru Xue got angry and directly said, "You better figure out who the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Office should be responsible to," and then hung up the phone.

Huang Yong knew he had offended Mei Ru Xue. Although Secretary Kong Xiangsheng was the apparent leader, in terms of division of responsibilities, he mainly handled party building.

Town Mayor Mei Ru Xue was the actual leader of the town government and the legal representative of Hu Shan Town. As one of the most important departments of the town government, the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Office was primarily accountable to the Town Mayor and worked under her direction.

By mentioning Kong Xiangsheng, Huang Yong wanted Mei Ru Xue to understand his difficulties, but she interpreted it as a challenge to her authority, leading to a misunderstanding.

Xu Chunliang could already guess Huang Yong’s mood from his expression. He handed him the fine notice and said, "Director Huang, I think you should discuss this with leadership first. It’s not that we’re not cooperating, but those illegal constructions really have nothing to do with Changxing Hospital."

In his mind, Huang Yong thought, no connection, yet you collect rent from them? I’ve realized you’re the worst one. I don’t know what kind of spell you’ve cast on Mei Ru Xue to make her listen to you.

Huang Yong had completely lost his mood for law enforcement. He got up to leave and told his men to pack up. When they asked if they were still demolishing today, he glared at them and snapped, "If you’re so eager to demolish, go ahead and do it yourself!"

After going back, Huang Yong immediately went to find Secretary Kong Xiangsheng, stating that he couldn’t handle this task anymore. He had been severely scolded by Town Mayor Mei over the demolition issue. He insisted he had no intention of instigating conflict between the leaders, but in his understanding, Kong Xiangsheng was slightly superior to Mei Ru Xue, even though they were both of the same rank.

Leadership issues should be resolved by the leaders themselves, and not make things difficult for someone working at the grassroots level.

Listening to Huang Yong’s account, anger boiled within Kong Xiangsheng.

This Mei Ru Xue was too unreasonable. Previously, in matters concerning the Da Heng Group’s investments, she already opposed him, and now this. Everyone could see the conflict between them.

Young people today lack the proper respect for their seniors. In the past, at least on the surface, things were passable, but now there’s no effort to hide it.

What enraged him the most was the gas tank explosion incident at the restaurant yesterday. This matter had already made its way into both the Dongzhou Daily and the Weishan Daily. While not the main headline, it was quite prominent. The county paper’s headline read, "New generation of cadres bravely shoulder heavy responsibilities, fearlessly charging forward."

Almost all government reports on the incident prominently featured Mei Ru Xue, with accompanying images focused on her.

Kong Xiangsheng admitted she was young and attractive, more photogenic than him, but it shouldn’t mean all reports cast her as the protagonist. Young people need achievements, yes, but isn’t this a bit too impatient? After all, Hu Shan Town also has a party secretary; being selectively ignored is unacceptable.

Kong Xiangsheng believed that Mei Ru Xue was behind the promotion of these news stories. How else could the word get out so quickly?

Burning with anger, he restrained his impulse to immediately confront Mei Ru Xue. As a seasoned official with years of grassroots experience, he eventually managed to control his emotions, realizing he needed a more thorough plan.

Mei Ru Xue wasn’t in a good mood either, with several newspapers laid out on her desk.

Publicity officer Zhang Yiben knocked and entered, smiling, "Town Mayor Mei, you wanted to see me?" He had been a village official fresh from university and was only promoted to the town office after the merger of two towns.

Mei Ru Xue pointed to the newspapers on the desk, "Explain this."

Zhang Yiben smiled and said, "I saw them too, but I don’t know how the reporters got hold of these stories."

Mei Ru Xue’s sharp gaze locked onto his eyes until Zhang Yiben, feeling guilty, lowered his head.

"Comrade Yiben, I am very familiar with your writing style, and these photos were also taken by you on-site."

Zhang Yiben coughed lightly and said, "I believed such positive stories should be well-publicized; it helps to enhance Hu Shan Town’s image, and Town Mayor Mei’s actions have deeply moved the general populace."

"Even propaganda must respect the facts. Why didn’t you capture the volunteers who were at the frontline of the rescue? Why didn’t you tell the full story? Why do you have to emphasize my presence? Don’t think I don’t know who put you here."

"These reports were my own decision, unrelated to anyone else. Town Mayor Mei, I promise not to make the same mistake in the future." Zhang Yiben felt a bit awkward; Mei Ru Xue was too clever, and nothing could be hidden from her.

Mei Ru Xue waved her hand. Zhang Yiben was her elder brother’s college classmate. Although he had purposely concealed this relationship, she had still found it out.

For Zhang Yiben to move from a village official to being responsible for publicity at the town level, there must be her brother’s assistance behind it. Her brother didn’t help him just because of the old classmate bond.

Zhang Yiben was a helper placed around her to escort and safeguard her, and also her brother’s eyes and ears. If there was any movement here, Zhang Yiben would report to him right away.

Mei Ru Xue felt somewhat weary; what she resented the most was her family interfering in her affairs.

Zhang Yiben’s original intention must have been to help her accumulate political performance, but did he not consider that this report might bring her trouble? With all the spotlight cast on her, where did that leave Secretary Kong Xiangsheng?

Mei Ru Xue knew that her brother was the real mastermind behind these reports. With his intellect, how could he neglect such details? If he considered them and still acted this way, there were two possibilities left: one, he simply didn’t regard Kong Xiangsheng seriously, or two, he was testing her capacity to withstand pressure through this manner.

Regardless of whether he acted out of goodwill, Mei Ru Xue didn’t like it. The fundamental reason she left the better environment of the metropolis for this remote island was her desire to escape her family; she didn’t want every move of hers monitored by her family; she needed freedom.

Indeed, those reports highlighting her personally had side effects. That afternoon, Kong Xiangsheng convened a semi-public symposium.

Besides the main leaders of Hu Shan Town, the heads of major enterprises and institutions in Hu Shan Town were also invited. The topic was to promote safety production and clear illegal buildings and constructions.

Director Huang Yong of the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Office felt very embarrassed; he really didn’t want to attend this meeting.

The intention behind Kong Xiangsheng convening this meeting was obvious. This cleanup and rectification action was initiated by him, and he must carry it out. As the top official of Hu Shan Town, if he couldn’t implement even this matter, others would think he was just a titular secretary.

Furthermore, advocating for safety and clearing illegal constructions was based on justice. He wanted to see what reasons Mei Ru Xue could come up with to oppose.

Inviting these main leaders of enterprises and institutions to attend, the real target was only one, which was Changxing Hospital.

Kong Xiangsheng had a bad premonition; now Changxing Hospital was forming an alliance with Mei Ru Xue. They had a common interest; they wanted to prevent Da Heng Group from settling in, something Kong Xiangsheng could not tolerate.

In his long grassroots leadership career, this might be his best chance. If the investment from Da Heng Group could be realized, it would add a significant note to his political career, marking a successful conclusion to his grassroots journey.

Everything Mei Ru Xue did was cutting off her retreat. Other matters Kong Xiangsheng could tolerate, but on principle issues, he wouldn’t budge an inch.

Changxing Hospital’s representative was still the special assistant to the director, Xu Chunliang. The representative from Xianhong Farm was Wang Jinwu. Compared to Xu Chunliang, a latercomer, Wang Jinwu was very familiar with the town’s main leaders and other enterprise and institution heads. He greeted everyone upon arrival.

Xu Chunliang came dressed in work clothes. Although some people didn’t know him, they could tell his identity by his attire.

After much deliberation, Mei Ru Xue still decided to attend the symposium. She was well aware of the motivations behind Kong Xiangsheng hosting this meeting. It was very likely that he would make an issue of Weishan Island Hospital’s illegal construction, with the real intention of using it to admonish her.

When Mei Ru Xue first came to work in Hu Shan Town, she never thought she would end up in a direct confrontation with Kong Xiangsheng, believing that with her wisdom, she should be able to handle relations between the party and government. However, things didn’t develop as she had imagined.

This illustrates the logic of governing by inaction; sometimes the top leader must not be too diligent. If he exerted a little less effort, Hu Shan Town’s development would be much smoother than it is now.

Mei Ru Xue believed Kong Xiangsheng’s efforts were in the wrong direction. Once the main leader chose the wrong direction, the harder he worked, the lower the government’s efficiency.

Kong Xiangsheng first emphasized the importance of safety; it was the same old rhetoric. It had already been mentioned in the town leadership meetings, but he had to repeat it before these enterprise and institution heads.

He brought up the higher leadership, telling everyone that the gas leak explosion at Yu Shuqing Restaurant yesterday had already alarmed the county. The superior leaders had attached great importance to this incident, requiring them to conduct a deep self-reflection, take severe action against those responsible for the accident, eliminate potential hazards at all levels, and prevent such incidents from happening again.

Kong Xiangsheng naturally transitioned the topic to the action of rectifying illegal buildings and constructions.

"I’ve gathered the heads of major units here for this symposium, hoping everyone can understand and cooperate with the town’s work. If you have any difficulties, speak up; if there’s any confusion, tell us. Feel free to express your opinions. As long as it’s beneficial to Hu Shan Town and advantageous to the people of Hu Shan Town, we will spare no effort to accomplish it, right, Town Mayor Mei?"

Mei Ru Xue smiled faintly and didn’t speak, just watching to see how this old fellow would perform next.