281: Chapter 281 Promise

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan dared not delay; he took a step out the door and beckoned the waiter in the corridor.

"Serve the dishes."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan spoke with great speed.

"The menu I ordered earlier, have the kitchen start cooking immediately. I'll add a twenty percent service fee to the bill; the table must be full within fifteen minutes."

The waiter hurried toward the kitchen.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan retreated into the private room and closed the door firmly again.

He pulled out the chair for the guest of honor, brushed off non-existent dust from the seat with his palm, and stood to the side to wait.

The food didn't make him wait too long.

The hotel kitchen worked efficiently for the sake of this generous rush fee.

In less than fifteen minutes, eight exquisite hot and cold dishes, steaming hot, were arranged attractively on the table.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan stood by the table, his gaze fixed intently on the wooden door of the private room.

He knew well that these dishes on the table were just for show; since Mayor Su Changming had attended the main banquet, he certainly wouldn't be lacking in food, but etiquette could not be neglected.

Five minutes later, there was movement at the door handle.

The private room door was pushed open; Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping stood by the door, turning sideways to clear the path.

Mayor Su Changming stepped inside.

The moment the door opened, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan moved; his timing was impeccable, greeting Mayor Su Changming exactly as he crossed the threshold.

He bowed slightly, extended both hands, and shook Mayor Su Changming's right hand.

"Yuanshan, I've kept you waiting a long time."

Mayor Su Changming's voice was gentle, lacking any condescending airs, and instead exuding warmth.

"That banquet was very important; I really couldn't turn it down. Come, let's go in and talk."

The frustration of Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's bitter wait all night was washed away by these few words.

He not only could not muster any anger, but his throat felt tight, as if he had received a tremendous favor.

"The Mayor is busy with countless official duties; being able to spare a moment to see me is already a great favor. Waiting is only right."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan led Mayor Su Changming inside.

Mayor Su Changming took his seat at the head of the table without hesitation.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan sat down in the seat below him.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping did not sit down; he picked up the serving chopsticks and placed several hot dishes that looked excellent onto the small plate in front of Mayor Su Changming.

Mayor Su Changming picked up his chopsticks, tasted a couple of bites, and then placed the chopsticks on the rest.

Seeing this, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan immediately put down the chopsticks he had just picked up and sat up straight.

Mayor Su Changming picked up the warm water and took a sip.

"Yuanshan," Mayor Su Changming looked directly at him, "I've heard about the matters in the province. Secretary Lei Zhen's case has caused quite a stir."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's back stiffened; he didn't dare to interject.

"You need to rest assured," Mayor Su Changming continued. "The Provincial Party Committee has its own considerations. No matter how tight the rumors are outside, you must trust the organization. Many things, until the final step, no one can say for sure. The organization will provide a fair conclusion."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan nodded heavily: "Mayor, I understand."

Mayor Su Changming changed the subject.

"Yuanshan, I feel that some comrades below have been sticking their heads out quite aggressively recently."

"Cleaning up this person today, cleaning up that person tomorrow."

He looked at the dishes on the table, "A perfectly good place, turned into a mess, with people in a panic. What do you think?"

This "comrade sticking his head out"—who else could it be but Zhu Wenhao?

"The Mayor is right," Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan took up the thread, "Ever since Zhu Wenhao arrived in Heishi Town, that place hasn't had a moment of peace."

He recounted Zhu Wenhao's actions in Heishi Town.

"The person in charge of the health clinic was sent to the Discipline Inspection Commission by him; an entire village family was directly classified as a criminal gang and arrested. Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong was detained, and even the Town Party Secretary Qiu Dehai was toppled."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's tone was filled with indignation: "This isn't rectification; this is clearly a purge to eliminate dissenters. Work below can't be carried out normally now. Cadres are all in fear for themselves; who would dare to do anything?"

Mayor Su Changming listened quietly, without making a judgment.

"However, Mayor, please rest assured," Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan stated his position, "The newly dispatched comrades, Political and Legal Affairs Committee member Secretary Du Changhe, and Executive Vice Town Mayor Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan, are all people with strong ideological grounding."

"These comrades have undergone layers of review and are well-vetted. Once they arrive in Heishi Town, they will absolutely not make mistakes, and they will absolutely not let certain people cover the sky with one hand."

After hearing this, Mayor Su Changming's expression relaxed a bit.

"I told you before," Mayor Su Changming looked at Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping, "New comrades need to be trained more and given more responsibilities."

He turned his gaze back to Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan: "You see, was I right?"

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan immediately replied: "Mayor, rest assured. Qingjiang County has its own rules, and these rules cannot be changed by any individual at will."

Mayor Su Changming nodded with satisfaction.

"That's what I said," Mayor Su Changming praised, "Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping has a very keen eye for people. He is an old comrade with high ideological awareness; you two have worked together in Qingjiang County before, so you should get closer in the future."

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping picked up the wine bottle at the right moment, filled the wine cup in front of Mayor Su Changming, and then filled Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's cup.

Mayor Su Changming picked up his wine glass.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan raised his glass with both hands, leaned forward, placed the rim of his glass below the rim of Mayor Su Changming's, and tapped it gently.

A crisp sound.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

The pledge of allegiance had been delivered; now, it was time to receive the reward.

Mayor Su Changming put down his wine glass and picked up the wet towel on the table to wipe his hands.

"Yuanshan," Mayor Su Changming's voice lowered slightly, "Secretary Lu Guoliang in your county will be transferred after the beginning of spring."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's breath hitched.

Secretary Lu Guoliang was leaving.

"As for who will take over his post and sit in the County Party Committee Secretary's seat," Mayor Su Changming threw the towel back onto the tray, "it's still uncertain for now."

He looked at Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan.

"Yuanshan, you need to work hard."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's hand holding the chopsticks stopped in mid-air, forgetting to put them down.

He had originally come tonight only asking for Mayor Su Changming to give him a hand, to protect him from being purged in Qingjiang County, and to keep his current position as Deputy Secretary.

A blessing in disguise.

As long as he could hold Zhu Wenhao back in the chaotic situation in Heishi Town and block this wave of attacks for Mayor Su Changming, the seat of County Party Committee Secretary would be his for the taking.

"Mayor!" Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan stood up, without a single word of nonsense, "I, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, will follow you from now on. Wherever you point, I will strike. I will never let you worry about the mess in Qingjiang County."

Mayor Su Changming reached out, patted Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's shoulder, and pressed down.

"Sit down, work hard."

The meal did not last too long.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan walked out of the Huatian Hotel's main entrance, the cold wind blowing on his face.

The last traces of gloom on his face were now washed away by an uncontrollable heat.

Heishi Town.

The night was deep, and the light in the Deputy Secretary's office remained on.

Zhu Wenhao sat there, flipping through the documents in his hands.

The door was pushed open, and Director Xu Jie walked in with a folder.

"Zhu Wenhao," Director Xu Jie placed a printed sheet of paper on the desk.

Zhu Wenhao stopped writing and took a look.

"News from the city. Tonight, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan and Mayor Su Changming met at the Huatian Hotel. Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping arranged the meeting," Director Xu Jie said in a steady tone, "The two talked in the private room for nearly an hour."

Zhu Wenhao pressed the paper under a paperweight.

"A stray dog has finally found a new master."

"Once Secretary Lei Zhen fell, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan lost his backing in Qingjiang County. Secretary Lu Guoliang was suppressing him in the county, and County Head Gu was squeezing him out. To survive, he had to defect to Mayor Su Changming," Director Xu Jie analyzed.

"Mayor Su Changming needs him too," Zhu Wenhao picked up his teacup, "In the situation in Linjiang City, my father has gained a firm footing in the Municipal Party Committee. Mayor Su Changming lost his men in the municipal departments, so he urgently needs to find someone in Qingjiang County who can restrain us. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan holds the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which is a ready-made blade."

"They have formed an alliance. Secretary Du Changhe and Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan, those two people sent down, will definitely not be quiet in the town in the future," Director Xu Jie said.

Zhu Wenhao took a sip of water; the tea was slightly cool.

"Factional struggles have existed in every dynasty," he put down the teacup.

"Mayor Su Changming thinks that by giving Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan a promise, he can turn the tables in Qingjiang County. He thinks too highly of Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan."

Zhu Wenhao stood up and walked to the map.

"People like Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan are too driven by selfish desires and only see the official hat in front of them. If he behaves himself, I don't have time to deal with him for now. If he wants to use Mayor Su Changming's power to cause trouble in Heishi Town, then he is seeking his own death."

"Should we make preparations in advance?" Director Xu Jie asked.

"No need to defend," Zhu Wenhao turned around, "Defense is passive. We must take the initiative. Their alliance relies on the exchange of interests. As long as we destroy the foundation of their interests in Heishi Town, this alliance agreement will be a piece of waste paper."

"There is no need to deliberately suppress the newly dispatched Political and Legal Affairs Committee member and the Executive Vice Town Mayor. As long as they don't break the rules of the three-party supervision account and don't obstruct the common people from building roads and managing water, we will keep them."

Zhu Wenhao took a look at the night outside the window.

"If they reach out, Office Director Chen Jian in Heishi Town has enough case files prepared for them."

"Improving the lives of the common people—this is the foundation of being invincible." Zhu Wenhao tapped his knuckles on the desk twice.

"Rest early." Zhu Wenhao picked up his coat.

The long night has not yet cleared; the game has only just begun.