46: Chapter 46 Chen Qunfeng Takes Office in Dahe Township

Inside the office.

Director Hu Qibin came over to report, "Secretary, we have received official notification from the County Committee Organization Department. Township Head Chen Qunfeng will take office tomorrow. He will be escorted by a deputy minister from the Organization Department named Minister Wang. They should arrive at our township around ten o'clock tomorrow morning..."

Qin Chuan remained calm while listening to the report, though he was actually overjoyed inside.

When he first arrived in Dahe Township to take office, he was accompanied by Organization Minister Sun Zhen, a member of the County Party Committee Standing Committee.

As for Township Head Chen Qunfeng, he was merely being escorted by Minister Wang.

Minister Wang was just the lowest-ranking deputy minister in the Organization Department, mainly in charge of logistics—handling sanitation work and distributing holiday gifts. She was already in her fifties and would retire in two years.

Within the system, who escorts a new official to their post is a matter of great significance. The higher the official's rank, the more the organization values you. Conversely, it acts as a slap in the face and is quite embarrassing.

After finishing the report, Director Hu Qibin asked for instructions, "Secretary, how should we arrange things for tomorrow?"

Qin Chuan said, "You represent Dahe Township and greet them at the entrance of the Township Government. The rest of the township leaders will not be appearing."

Ah!

Director Hu Qibin was slightly startled. He had worked in Dahe Township for over a decade and had seen several Party Committee Secretaries and Township Heads take office; he had never seen such a procedure before.

Even if it wasn't a Party Secretary taking office, but just a new Township Head, the entire leadership team would usually greet them at the entrance.

Having only one person represent Dahe Township to greet them—such a situation had never happened before.

This was too shabby, too cold!

He paused for a moment before realizing that Secretary Qin was openly expressing an attitude, telling everyone: "I don't care for Township Head Chen Qunfeng, so you all handle it as you see fit."

Director Hu Qibin said, "Secretary, what about the cadre meeting? Should we hold it?"

Qin Chuan said, "The cadre meeting must be held. Minister Wang still needs to announce the appointment of Township Head Chen Qunfeng at the meeting and deliver a speech on behalf of the County Party Committee."

"However, there is no need to make a big fuss about the welcome luncheon at noon. Just one table is enough. Keep the standard a bit higher, and we township leaders will just have a meal with the people from the Organization Department."

The meaning was obvious.

Township Head Chen Qunfeng could be offended, but the people from the Organization Department needed to be treated well with good food and drink.

This was likely the first time such a situation had occurred in Sanjiang County—a new Township Head taking office without even a meal. If he knew about this, Township Head Chen Qunfeng would probably be fuming internally.

Regarding Qin Chuan's words, Director Hu Qibin naturally followed them implicitly, keeping everything in mind and following them one by one.

The next day.

Two cars drove one after another to the Dahe Township Government. Inside one of the cars, Township Head Chen Qunfeng thought to himself, "Taking advantage of the momentum of being a new official, I must strike a blow at Qin Chuan, embarrass him, and make him look bad."

He had already thought through exactly how to execute this. Seeing the Dahe Township Government ahead, a cold smile crept onto the corner of his mouth.

"Heh, Qin Chuan, just wait to make a fool of yourself."

However...

The situation seemed a bit off.

Today was his first day in office, and according to custom, the entire Dahe Township leadership team should have been lined up at the entrance to welcome him.

Yet there was not a single person there, as if they didn't know he was taking office today at all.

What was going on???

The cars finally drove up to the entrance of the Township Government. Everyone got out one by one. Director Hu Qibin took the initiative to go up and greet them, "Hello, Minister Wang. I am Director Hu Qibin from the Dahe Township Party and Government Office."

Minister Wang asked, "Are you the only one here? Where is Secretary Qin and the others?"

Director Hu Qibin said, "Qin Chuan instructed me to represent Dahe Township and greet you here. All the township leaders are already waiting in the Auditorium."

Having spent so many years in the system, Minister Wang saw through everything at a glance. She wasn't angry, knowing that Qin Chuan wasn't targeting her, but rather trying to give Township Head Chen Qunfeng a stern warning.

"Let's go, then. We'll head to the Auditorium," Minister Wang said with a wave of her hand.

As for Township Head Chen Qunfeng, he was completely dumbfounded!

"Damn it, don't I have any dignity? There isn't even a single person here to welcome me!"

He was furious, but he couldn't show his anger because Minister Wang hadn't gotten upset. He had no choice but to swallow his rage and finally walk into the Auditorium.

Qin Chuan and the others were already seated on the podium. Below in the Auditorium, a sea of at least two or three hundred people sat packed together; every village director and village party secretary had come.

"Hello, Minister Wang."

Qin Chuan took the initiative to walk over and shake hands with Minister Wang, exchanging a few polite pleasantries.

Minister Wang also introduced him, "Secretary Qin, this is Comrade Township Head Chen Qunfeng. The organization has sent him to Dahe Township to serve as Deputy Secretary and Acting Township Head."

Qin Chuan acted very enthusiastically, as if nothing had ever happened before and the two were meeting for the first time today.

He took the initiative to extend his right hand and said enthusiastically, "Comrade Township Head Chen Qunfeng, welcome to Dahe Township."

Since the other party had extended his hand in welcome and so many people were watching, Township Head Chen Qunfeng couldn't show his anger in front of everyone, even if he was fuming inside. He put on a fake enthusiastic look and shook hands with Qin Chuan with a full smile.

Their hands were tightly clasped together.

"Secretary Qin, I hope that in our future work, we can cooperate with each other and strive to..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he couldn't go on.

Because he felt that Qin Chuan's hand was like an iron clamp, exerting such tremendous force that it felt as if the bones in his hand were about to break.

Because of the excruciating pain, he almost cried out.

But he knew he absolutely could not shout in pain. There were so many people present, and it was his first day as a new official; if he really started screaming, he would be the one losing face.

He could only grit his teeth and endure it.

But it was hard to endure. How could his strength be this great? No, no, my bones are really going to break.

The words he had half-spoken couldn't continue; cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his face was even becoming slightly distorted.

As for Qin Chuan.

He was beaming with enthusiasm and looked as bright as spring, showing no signs of anything unusual. He gave the impression that everything was perfectly normal; Minister Wang even felt slightly relieved.

She thought to herself, "I was worried that Qin Chuan and Township Head Chen Qunfeng wouldn't get along, but now it seems they are at least very harmonious on the surface. Secretary Qin still has a sense of the big picture; he's very enthusiastic."

However...

She finally realized something was wrong—specifically, she noticed that Township Head Chen Qunfeng was acting strange.

With cold sweat pouring down and his face contorted, what on earth was going on?

"Comrade Township Head Chen Qunfeng, what's wrong? Did you have a sudden illness? Do you need to be sent to the hospital?"

Township Head Chen Qunfeng had suffering that he couldn't speak of. He couldn't exactly say that Qin Chuan was playing dirty and had almost crushed his bones, could he?

A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. Township Head Chen Qunfeng immediately looked at Qin Chuan with a pleading expression, meaning for him to let him off the hook and show mercy.

Qin Chuan felt disdain in his heart. "Damn it, what a weakling. I didn't even use thirty percent of my strength, and he's already failing."

After holding for another three or five seconds, Qin Chuan finally let go.

Instantly, Township Head Chen Qunfeng felt like he had been granted a reprieve. He secretly looked at his right hand and noticed it swelling and bruising at a speed almost visible to the naked eye.

"Damn it, it really hurts. It still hurts now!"