124: Chapter 124 The Personnel Game

County Party Secretary Yuan Kai stood by the window. When he turned around, a meaningful smile hung on his face: "I have carefully reviewed the economic data for Guantian Township for the first quarter. All the indicators are quite impressive."

Li Dakang bowed slightly, his hands hanging naturally in front of him: "This is the result of the correct leadership of the County Party Committee and the County Government, and also the credit of the united efforts of the cadres and masses of Guantian Township."

His tone was sincere yet measured, while his gaze keenly captured the subtle changes in County Party Secretary Yuan Kai's expression.

County Party Secretary Yuan Kai gently patted Li Dakang on the shoulder; this intimate gesture added a touch of subtlety to the air: "Achievements must be acknowledged, but work must continue to advance. Considering the development needs of Guantian Township, the County Party Committee has decided to appropriately adjust your township's leadership team."

Li Dakang's pupils constricted slightly, but a proper smile still hung on his face.

"I will give you two nominations for deputy section-level positions, one of whom will be a member of the Party Committee."

County Party Secretary Yuan Kai turned around, his gaze like a torch: "Go back and carefully deliberate, and submit the list to Minister Huang as soon as possible."

When he walked out of the County Committee Building, the night was already deep.

Li Dakang stood on the steps and lit a cigarette. The bluish-white smoke rose curling into the night, like his complicated state of mind at this moment.

Guantian Township's rapid development had, after all, touched some people's nerves.

Those leadership team members without backers were destined to make way for the career paths of certain people.

Li Dakang stubbed out the cigarette butt, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. In this power arena, cadres without backgrounds were like pawns on a chessboard, liable to become discarded pieces at any time.

Fortunately, his own foundation was deep enough; otherwise, he would have likely been transferred away from this hot seat long ago.

However, thinking about it again, those cadres about to be transferred might not be unlucky.

With this impressive report card from Guantian Township, the County Party Committee would surely give them a decent place to go; this was the most basic rule of the game in officialdom.

Otherwise, who would be willing to work desperately at the grassroots level in the future?

And where would the credibility of the County Party Committee be?

A night breeze blew past. Li Dakang straightened his suit collar and walked with long strides toward the parking lot.

He knew that perhaps before long, the cadres of Guantian Township would hear the wind of it.

And what he had to do was, before the storm arrived, secure the best arrangements for these cadres who were about to leave.

After all, this was politics—cruelty mixed with warmth, and morality hidden within calculation.

...

Just after starting work on Monday, the courtyard of the Guantian Township Government was still drifting with the tranquility of the weekend.

Li Dakang had just finished reviewing a document when the door was knocked three times lightly, and Director Su Zhiguo of the Party and Government Office walked in, bowing his body.

"Secretary, did you look for me?"

Director Su Zhiguo's voice was an octave lower than usual, his waist bent just right—respectful, without being too sycophantic.

Ever since Li Dakang entered the Standing Committee, this Director of the Party and Government Office's speech and conduct had become increasingly cautious, and he even changed his knocking from the original two taps to the standard three.

As the Director of the Party and Government Office of the township, Director Su Zhiguo was clear about the special nature of his position.

Spending time with the leader day and night, holding the important channel for communicating upwards and downwards, it was simply a case of being near the water to get the first moon.

As long as he served Li Dakang properly and kept the leader satisfied, that deputy section-level treatment that had kept him tossing and turning for many years might just become a reality.

Thinking of this, Director Su Zhiguo unconsciously straightened his back.

He understood what a recommendation from a member of the County Party Committee Standing Committee meant; it was simply a sure thing.

But the more this was the case, the more he had to appear steady and reliable; he couldn't let the leader see even a hint of eagerness for quick success and instant benefits.

Having struggled at the grassroots level for so many years, Director Su Zhiguo knew too well how precious this current opportunity was; serving the member of the County Party Committee Standing Committee well was equivalent to clutching the pass to the deputy section level.

"Comrade Su Zhiguo, sit."

Li Dakang took a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from the drawer, pulled one out, and tossed it over.

Director Su Zhiguo hurriedly reached out to catch it, a smile immediately piling up on his face: "Thank you, Secretary! You are still the one who empathizes with us grassroots comrades."

While speaking, he took out matches from his pants pocket, but he didn't light it immediately, instead respectfully waiting for Li Dakang to light his cigarette first.

Li Dakang struck a match, the orange-red flame dancing in the slightly dim office.

He took a deep puff, the smoke he exhaled slowly dispersing in the sunlight: "Comrade Su Zhiguo, how long have you been working?"

"Secretary, I started working in '76."

Director Su Zhiguo leaned his body slightly forward, his voice filled with a hint of emotion: "At that time, Guantian Township was still the Guantian Commune. Counting it up, it's been a full eighteen years."

As Director Su Zhiguo spoke, his gaze drifted unconsciously toward the window.

Eighteen years of time, from a high-spirited youth to a middle-aged man with slight frost on his temples, from a commune clerk to the Director of the Party and Government Office—only he himself knew the storms and rains within.

In grassroots townships, there were simply too many people like Director Su Zhiguo who had toiled for over a dozen years without making it to the deputy section level.

Director Su Zhiguo withdrew his gaze and gently stroked the cigarette in his hand; on the filter of the Zhonghua cigarette, the temperature of Li Dakang's fingers still remained.

"Eighteen years, that is not a short time."

Li Dakang slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze looking out the window through the curling smoke.

He could empathize with Director Su Zhiguo's current mood too well; in his previous life, he had also walked this path step by step.

Those days struggling at the grassroots level, those nights tossing and turning for a single appointment document, were all still vivid in his mind.