13: Chapter 13 The Storm Rises in Guantian, the High-Ranking Officials of the Kinship Clique

Yet, facing Li Hongji, Secretary Gao Yuliang was as respectful as a student before a mentor.

This was not only because Li Hongji was his former superior, but more importantly, because of that grace of recognition.

Back then, Secretary Gao Yuliang was merely a County Party Committee Secretary in a small county in Shan Province when Li Hongji, then the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, spotted him at a glance, promoting and cultivating him all the way from a member of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee to Vice Mayor, then Mayor, Municipal Party Committee Secretary, and Vice Governor...

It could be said that without Li Hongji, there would be no Secretary Gao Yuliang today.

"I am fine, thank you for your concern," Li Hongji's voice carried a hint of gentleness.

"Yuliang, I am calling you today regarding a private matter."

"Please, old leader, just give me your orders!" Secretary Gao Yuliang replied hurriedly.

"My second son, Li Dakang, has gone to work in your Jiang Province."

The voice on the other end of the line was filled with a father's concern.

"He is serving as the Township Head in Guantian Township, Anjiang County, Xinying City. The boy has no experience with grassroots work, so please look after him for me."

"Rest assured, old leader!" Secretary Gao Yuliang's voice softened in a rare display of emotion.

"Li Dakang will never be mistreated in Jiang Province. It is a good thing to let him gain more experience at the grassroots level; I will manage the situation appropriately."

After hanging up, Secretary Gao Yuliang picked up a pen and heavily wrote the words "Guantian Township, Anjiang County, Xinying City" in his notebook.

This Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, known for his iron-fisted approach, revealed a rare glimmer of warmth in his eyes.

Secretary Gao Yuliang knew clearly in his heart that by entrusting his son to him, the old leader Li Hongji was not just showing trust, but also giving him an opportunity.

Since Li Hongji was transferred to a ministry in the capital, although they often kept in touch by phone and he would visit when on official business in the capital, they eventually lacked the daily companionship they had when working together, and their relationship had inevitably faded somewhat.

This had always been a source of anxiety for Secretary Gao Yuliang; one had to understand that at the vice-ministerial level, without factional support or backing from big figures, it was very difficult to advance further in one's official career.

Now that the old leader's son had arrived in Jiang Province, this was a heaven-sent opportunity!

Taking good care of him would not only strengthen his relationship with Li Hongji but might also, if the opportunity arose in the future, win him the full support of the old leader.

Thinking of this, Secretary Gao Yuliang's gaze became increasingly profound.

He pressed the internal line: "Xiao Liu, help me check the situation in Guantian Township, Anjiang County, Xinying City. I want the most detailed information."

The sun outside the window rose higher, casting a golden light through the glass windows of the Provincial Party Committee building.

Secretary Gao Yuliang stood before the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of buildings and landing on that rugged mountain road leading to Guantian Township.

There, a bumpy Santana was moving forward slowly.

The gears of fate had already begun to turn quietly in a corner unnoticed by anyone.

In the large conference room of the Guantian Township Government, the space meant for a hundred people was occupied by only about sixty, scattered sparsely.

The Executive Deputy Township Head took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat and whispered to the person beside him: "I heard the new Township Head is only in his twenties?"

"Minister Huang Lixin personally escorted him here; his background must be quite significant..." the Head of the Armed Forces Department replied in a hushed tone.

The Township Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary shook his head from the side: "I don't think so. If he really had a strong background, would he come to a place like Guantian?"

The murmurs floated in the sultry air like the buzzing of mosquitoes.

On the mountain road, the Santana carrying Li Dakang had just turned the last sharp bend, and the dusty office building of Guantian Township was already vaguely visible in the distance.

The May sun was scorching; Anjiang felt as if it had been thrown into a furnace, and the sunlight hitting the ground was hot enough to scald.

In the courtyard of the Township Government, the rising heat made people feel suffocated.

Secretary Sun Wei, wearing a light blue shirt, had a large sweat stain soaked into his back, and he occasionally raised his hand to wipe the beads of sweat sliding down to his brow bone.

Beside him, Chairman Shen Dawei kept pulling at his collar to catch his breath, while Deputy Secretary of the Township Party Committee Duan Yongping shifted his feet on the scorching concrete ground, his leather shoe heels making faint scratching sounds.

A little further away, Director Su Zhiguo stood straight, sweat beads from his forehead streaming down his cheeks, though he did not bother to wipe them.

Several of them were looking at the courtyard entrance, their eyes filled with a touch of anxiety.

Finally, the sound of a car engine approached from afar, and as if triggered by a switch, they all straightened their backs in unison, their gazes converging on the entrance.

The black Santana slowly drove into the courtyard, and Secretary Sun Wei immediately hurried to greet it.

As soon as the car stopped, he opened the back door, his face full of warm smiles: "Minister Huang, welcome to Guantian Township to guide our work!"

Minister Huang Lixin climbed out, his suit trouser leg rubbing a light mark against the car door frame.

He smiled and patted Secretary Sun Wei's hand: "Secretary Sun, today I am delivering talent to you."

He turned sideways and pointed behind him: "This is Comrade Dakang, a high-achiever from Shuimu University, who has come down from a ministry in the capital."

As he spoke, he introduced him to Li Dakang: "Comrade Dakang, this is Secretary Sun Wei of the Guantian Township Party Committee. You will be working together as a team from now on."

Li Dakang stepped forward and shook Secretary Sun Wei's hand: "Hello, Secretary Sun, I look forward to your guidance in the future."

Secretary Sun Wei sized up the young man before him; he had fair skin, a straight posture, and his eyes revealed a composure inconsistent with his age.

He was secretly startled in his heart, but his face smiled even more cordially: "Township Head Dakang is truly young and promising! Guantian Township is in need of talent just like you!"