122: Chapter 122 Taking Office as a Member of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee

There is no such thing as an airtight wall in this world.

Not long after the County Party Standing Committee meeting concluded, many people heard the news and felt a wave of envy. Entering the County Party Standing Committee at such a young age was a journey that others would take twenty or thirty years to complete.

"I really envy Secretary Qin. He is only twenty-five or twenty-six, and he is already going to be a member of the County Party Standing Committee!"

"I have slogged away my whole life, and now, in my fifties, I am only a deputy section-level officer. I cannot even compare to Secretary Qin!"

"..."

Ma Zhengnan also heard the news quickly, and he was the first to come and congratulate Qin Chuan.

"Qin Chuan, congratulations, congratulations!"

Qin Chuan smiled happily. "It is not set in stone yet; your congratulations are a bit premature."

Ma Zhengnan said, "The County Party Standing Committee has already passed it, so the Municipal Party Committee is just going through the motions. Qin Chuan, you should get ready to host a celebratory dinner."

Following Ma Zhengnan, other township leaders came one after another to express their congratulations. They all seemed even happier than Qin Chuan, as if they were the ones getting promoted, not him.

Soon, the recommendation from Sanjiang County was placed on Secretary Guo Shunmin's desk.

After looking over the recommendation, Secretary Guo Shunmin picked up his fountain pen to sign off on it, writing the two large characters for "Approved" with a flourish.

Then, he wrote a line of smaller text below: "Please have the Organization Department bring this up at the Municipal Standing Committee for discussion and decision."

With the Municipal Party Secretary explicitly expressing his approval, the Standing Committee was just a formality; no one would raise an objection over a minor County Party Standing Committee seat.

Provincial Party Secretary Qin Zhendong quickly received the news as well.

He just smiled, looking quite pleased and gratified, without the slightest intention of interfering.

He was truly happy that Qin Chuan could be promoted to the County Party Standing Committee on his own merits, without using a shred of his background.

Within a few days, the appointment from the Municipal Organization Department arrived in Sanjiang County, announced in person by the Executive Deputy Director of the Municipal Organization Department.

For this reason, County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong specifically convened a meeting of cadres at or above the deputy division level and delivered a speech, firmly supporting the Municipal Party Committee's decision and welcoming Comrade Qin Chuan as a member of the County Party Standing Committee.

After the cadre meeting concluded, Qin Chuan officially took office as a member of the County Party Standing Committee.

For this, County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong specially convened a County Party Standing Committee meeting to formally introduce the newly promoted member to everyone.

Actually, they were not strangers to one another, but being formally introduced at the County Party Standing Committee held a completely different significance.

After the County Party Standing Committee meeting ended, the new Director of the County Committee Office, Zhang Chaoyang, led Qin Chuan to his new office.

Since he was a member of the County Party Standing Committee, he naturally would have his own office in the county.

The office was quite nice, fully meeting the standards for a Standing Committee member, being slightly larger and of a higher grade than the offices of ordinary deputy county magistrates who were not on the committee.

"Qin Chuan, this is your office. If there is anything that needs to be adjusted, you can tell me directly."

Zhang Chaoyang was the new Director of the County Committee Office and was also one of County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong's people; since they were in the same faction, he appeared quite enthusiastic.

Secretary Qin Chuan said with satisfaction, "The office is very nice. No need to make any changes; it is fine as it is."

Seeing that Secretary Qin Chuan was satisfied, Zhang Chaoyang was relieved. He did not rush to leave, but chatted with Qin Chuan for a while before taking his leave.

From today on, Qin Chuan would work in two places, sometimes in the county and sometimes in the township, and his residence was moved from the township to the County Party Committee Guest House.

He had a dedicated suite, with someone responsible for tidying and cleaning every day. He could also dine directly at the County Party Committee Guest House, where he could request special meals prepared by a dedicated chef; if he wanted to eat, he could just order.

Two days after his formal promotion to the Standing Committee, Zhang Chaoyang came to ask if he had a suitable candidate for a secretary.

Theoretically, county-division-level leaders did not have full-time secretaries, but where there is a policy above, there is a countermeasure below. To better serve the work of the leaders, they were generally called correspondents.

Qin Chuan did not have a suitable candidate for the time being, so he said quite casually, "You all arrange it; I am a fairly easygoing person."

Zhang Chaoyang nodded, and in the afternoon, he brought someone over—a young woman, and quite a pretty one at that.

Qin Chuan was slightly surprised.

"Xie Xiaoyu, it is you!"

Xie Xiaoyu was clearly a bit excited. "Secretary Qin, hello!"

Now it was Zhang Chaoyang's turn to be surprised. "Qin Chuan, you know each other?"

Qin Chuan nodded.

His mind could not help but drift back to the scene of when he first went to take office in Dahe Township. He had met Xie Xiaoyu for the first time on the train, and the girl had seemed to have a favorable impression of him.

In the blink of an eye, more than a year had passed. He had not expected that Zhang Chaoyang would bring Xie Xiaoyu over, intending to arrange for her to be his secretary.

Male leaders with female secretaries were relatively rare within the system; to avoid suspicion, many leaders would not use female secretaries.

However, female secretaries also had a natural advantage: they were attentive and considerate, qualities that were hard for male secretaries to possess.

At this moment, Xie Xiaoyu was both a bit excited and a bit nervous.

She certainly wanted to be Qin Chuan's secretary, but she was worried that Qin Chuan would not use her.

Zhang Chaoyang, amidst his surprise, explained, "Secretary Qin Chuan, Xie Xiaoyu used to work in the County Committee Organization Department and only recently transferred to the County Party Committee Office."

In fact, there was one thing he had not mentioned.

That was that Xie Xiaoyu was his niece. He had specifically transferred her to the County Party Committee Office to take better care of her, and bringing her along was also out of self-interest.

Zhang Chaoyang believed that since Qin Chuan was a member of the County Party Standing Committee at such a young age, and it was rumored that he had background and connections in the provincial capital, his future was bright. Xie Xiaoyu working as his secretary would not be a loss; she would only benefit from it.

"Secretary Qin Chuan, Xie Xiaoyu is very outstanding. Not only did she graduate from a prestigious university, but she is also very sharp. In any case, I think she is great. I wonder what you think?"

Qin Chuan, having a clear conscience, nodded and said, "Then let us give it a try."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chaoyang was relieved and instructed, "Xiaoyu, work hard, work with your heart, and serve the leader well."

"Mm!"

Xie Xiaoyu nodded vigorously, thinking to herself, I will definitely work hard, and I will definitely make Secretary Qin Chuan satisfied.

Having a secretary felt pretty good. The office was tidied and cleaned every day. Xie Xiaoyu would organize the documents that needed to be processed into categories and place them on the desk. She would remind him of meetings in advance, and Qin Chuan's daily schedule was arranged perfectly.

In any case, this secretary was very handy, and Qin Chuan was very satisfied.

Next, the Standing Committee would occasionally convene to discuss some important matters, including some personnel appointments and adjustments.

Qin Chuan generally rarely expressed his opinion. If it was truly necessary to raise his hand for a vote, he would do so, and naturally, he would support County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong, which made County Magistrate Zhou Tiansheng very dissatisfied.

Days passed by one by one. After the National Day holiday ended, they officially entered the golden autumn of October. The first generator set of the Thermal Power Plant under construction in Dahe Township finished installation and commissioning, and it was about to be connected to the grid for power generation.

But at this time, a major event that shocked the entire province occurred in Sanjiang County!

Even Provincial Party Secretary Qin Zhendong was alarmed. If he had not happened to be in the capital attending an important meeting, he might have rushed to Sanjiang County immediately.