120: Chapter 120 Testing the Waters

The Party Committee meeting was scheduled for nine in the morning, and Xu Weidong arrived at the conference room ten minutes early.

When he pushed the door open, five or six people were already seated inside.

Smoke filled the air; some were chatting in low voices, while others were flipping through notebooks.

When they saw him enter, several people looked up simultaneously.

"Secretary Xu."

The man sitting closest to the door stood up; he was in his early forties, wore black-rimmed glasses, and had a professional smile.

"I am Hu Ming, Deputy Party Secretary."

Xu Weidong shook his hand and said, "Hello, Secretary Hu."

Hu Ming's hand was dry and firm; as they shook, he applied a little pressure, as if transmitting some kind of signal.

Xu Weidong noticed his notebook was open, filled with dense notes across several pages; he had done his preparation well.

The people behind him stood up one by one to introduce themselves.

Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Zhou Song, forty years old, thin face, serious expression; when shaking hands, he only said the two words "Zhou Song" and not a single extra word.

Committee Member Gao Jin, thirty-five or thirty-six, round face, smiled very amiably, and spoke with a slight local accent.

Deputy Township Head Gong Zizhen, early forties, medium build, hair combed meticulously, spoke in a measured pace.

Xu Weidong sat down in the middle of the conference table; the seat to his left was empty, as that was reserved for Township Head Jiang Tiansheng.

He swept his gaze over those present, matching names to faces.

Committee Member Chen Ruo and Committee Member Luan Ping had not yet arrived, and Renmin University of China Chairman Zhou Lan had not come either.

He made a mental note; being late for the first Party Committee meeting meant either they didn't value it, or they were intentionally testing him.

Footsteps echoed outside the door, and Township Head Jiang Tiansheng pushed the door open, followed by Committee Member Chen Ruo and Committee Member Luan Ping.

The three were chatting and laughing; Township Head Jiang Tiansheng walked in front, Committee Member Chen Ruo leaned to the side to talk to him, and Committee Member Luan Ping nodded in agreement behind them.

Xu Weidong took this scene in; the Township Head bringing two Party Committee members in together, chatting and laughing, seemed to be telling everyone who was on whose side.

"Secretary Xu, we're late, we're late."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng smiled and walked to his seat to sit down.

"Just now, I was talking to Committee Member Chen and Committee Member Luan downstairs, which delayed us."

Committee Member Chen Ruo nodded along and said, "Township Head Jiang was giving us instructions on work matters, so we chatted for a bit."

He appeared to be thirty-seven or thirty-eight; while speaking, his gaze swept over Xu Weidong's face, then quickly turned back to Township Head Jiang Tiansheng.

Committee Member Luan Ping didn't speak, just smiled, and sat down next to Committee Member Chen Ruo.

Xu Weidong's face remained expressionless; he just nodded.

"It's fine, everyone is here now, let's start the meeting."

His voice was not loud, but the conference room fell silent; even the sound of flipping notebooks stopped.

It was a strange aura; a twenty-six-year-old young man sitting in the middle of a group of middle-aged cadres, neither angry nor imposing, but simply making people afraid to be negligent.

"Today is the first time I am officially meeting everyone."

Xu Weidong didn't take any notes, his gaze sweeping over everyone's face.

"I haven't been here long, and I am still in the stage of familiarizing myself with the township's situation; this meeting today is mainly to get to know people and hear everyone's thoughts."

"And incidentally, to convey some of the spirit from the higher-ups."

He paused and took a sip from his teacup.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen in his hand, his expression very relaxed.

Committee Member Chen Ruo looked down at his notebook, Committee Member Luan Ping looked at the tabletop, and Renmin University of China Chairman Zhou Lan sat in the corner, her face carrying a detachment born of having seen it all.

Hu Ming sat straight, his pen resting on the paper, ready to record at any moment.

Secretary Zhou Song's expression remained that serious look, unable to tell what he was thinking.

Gao Jin tilted his head slightly, in a posture of earnest listening.

Gong Zizhen had his hands clasped on the table, his posture impartial.

"Before coming here, I worked at the Public Security Bureau for over two years."

Xu Weidong's voice was measured, as if chatting with someone, but every word landed firmly.

"The Crackdown on Organized Crime, taking down the Sihai Group, that barbecue restaurant case—those were handled by me; I'm not saying this to claim credit, but to tell everyone that I didn't come to Hukuang Township to gild my resume; I came to get things done."

He glanced at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng: "Township Head Jiang has worked in Hukuang Township for over a decade and is more familiar with the situation than I am."

"In future work, I will have to ask Township Head Jiang for more advice."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's pen stopped for a moment, then he smiled and said, "Secretary Xu is too polite; let's learn from each other, learn from each other."

Xu Weidong nodded and changed the subject: "When Secretary Yang Wei sent me here the day before yesterday, he emphasized one thing at the meeting: young cadres must go to the grassroots, go to difficult places, and go to places where the common people need them."

"This is not empty talk; it is a direction being pushed by the provincial, municipal, and county levels; everyone knows the situation in Hukuang Township better than I do—there are coal mines, conflicts between the mines and the masses, a significant volume of petitions, and the economy is in the middle-to-lower tier within the county."

"These are difficulties, but they are also opportunities; if these problems are solved, Hukuang Township can move up a level; if they can't be solved, no matter how much is said, it's all empty talk."

The conference room was very quiet, with only the buzzing of the air conditioner.

Xu Weidong took another sip of tea, his tone relaxing a bit: "This meeting today won't make any resolutions; it's just to meet everyone; next, I invite the comrades to introduce themselves, talk about the work they are in charge of, and feel free to speak your minds."

He turned his gaze to Hu Ming; Hu Ming understood, cleared his throat, and spoke first.

His speech was not long, but it was organized; he went through the work he was in charge of and finally stated his position: "I firmly support Secretary Xu's work and will implement the tasks assigned by the Party Committee well."

The words were very appropriate; he stated his position without appearing overly eager.

Then it was Secretary Zhou Song; his speech was as brief as if he were reading a script.

"The work of the Discipline Inspection Commission mainly involves daily supervision, verification of petition reports, and integrity education for Party members and cadres; currently, there are a few leads being investigated, which do not involve members of the leadership team."

"The Discipline Inspection Commission will handle things strictly according to procedure."

After saying this, he shut his mouth; there wasn't a single extra word.

Gao Jin spoke third; when he spoke, there was a smile on his face, and his voice was neither high nor low.

"Regarding propaganda, it mainly involves theoretical study and external publicity; the foundation of propaganda work in Hukuang Township is okay, but there are not many highlights."

"Since Secretary Xu has arrived, we must also keep up the pace in propaganda and promptly promote the new atmosphere and new changes in the township."

Xu Weidong nodded and made a note in his notebook.

Next was Committee Member Chen Ruo; he sat up straight, not speaking quickly, as if weighing the importance of every word.

"Organization work mainly involves Party member management, village-level leadership team construction, and cadre assessment."

"The foundation of village-level organizations in Hukuang Township is okay, but the leadership teams in some villages are aging quite seriously and need to be adjusted gradually."

"In this regard, we are currently conducting a preliminary investigation."

After he finished speaking, he subconsciously glanced at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng; Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had no reaction and was looking down, writing a few words in his notebook.

Committee Member Luan Ping's speech was even shorter: "Political and Legal Affairs work mainly involves conflict mediation, public security prevention and control, and the management and control of key individuals."

"The volume of petitions in Hukuang Township has always been relatively high, mainly due to conflicts between the mines and the masses, and issues of land acquisition and demolition."

"We have been working on it, but the results have not been particularly ideal."

When he said the results were not particularly ideal, his tone carried an implication that this was not his responsibility.

Xu Weidong did not reply, just nodded.

Renmin University of China Chairman Zhou Lan spoke last; she was the only woman on the leadership team.

Around fifty years old, hair coiled at the back of her head, wearing a dark jacket, she looked clean and capable.

"The work of the Renmin University of China mainly involves supervision according to law and liaison with representatives; the quality of the Renmin University of China representatives in Hukuang Township is quite good, and the suggestions they propose are grounded."

"I am getting old and don't have many years left to work; all I can do is stand my last post well, not cause trouble, and not hold anyone back."

These words were honest, honest enough to make several people in the conference room glance sideways.

Xu Weidong looked at her; he couldn't see any intention of testing in her expression; it was more like an old comrade laying her cards on the table with a newly arrived young man.

Gong Zizhen was the last one; his speech was standard, going over the economic work, project construction, and investment attraction he was in charge of.

The data was detailed and the logic clear; he neither exaggerated achievements nor avoided problems.

After finishing, he added: "Developing the economy is the hard truth; for the area I am in charge of, all I can do is get things done well."

Everyone had finished speaking, and the conference room fell silent.

Xu Weidong put down his pen, his gaze sweeping over everyone's face.

"I have a general understanding of the comrades' situations."

Xu Weidong spoke, his voice not loud, but every word was very clear.

"The work in Hukuang Township has a foundation, has difficulties, and also has opportunities; I came here not to set 'three fires,' nor to engage in major demolition and construction."

He paused and looked at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng: "Township Head Jiang is an old hand in Hukuang Township; please give me more guidance in future work."

"I am young, and if there is anything I haven't considered thoroughly, everyone is welcome to point it out at any time."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng smiled and waved his hand: "Secretary Xu is too polite; you are the Secretary, I am the Township Head; we just need to coordinate well."

Xu Weidong nodded and closed the notebook in front of him.

"That's all for today; meeting adjourned."

The sound of chairs moving rang out; Committee Member Chen Ruo was the first to stand up, walked to Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's side, and whispered a few words; Committee Member Luan Ping also leaned in.

The three walked toward the door, their pace neither fast nor slow, as if deliberately showing something.

Hu Ming packed up his notebook and walked to Xu Weidong.

"Secretary Xu, I have already had people tidy up the office side; please see if there is anything else you need."

"Good, thank you for your hard work."

Xu Weidong stood up and shook hands with Hu Ming.

Secretary Zhou Song left the room expressionlessly, and Gao Jin nodded at Xu Weidong and left as well.

Renmin University of China Chairman Zhou Lan was the last to stand up; when passing by Xu Weidong, she paused, looked at him, and the corners of her mouth moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just nodded, turned around, and left.

Gong Zizhen packed up his documents, gave Xu Weidong a polite smile, and walked out of the room with a steady pace.

Only Xu Weidong remained in the conference room; he stood by the window, watching the figures dispersing in twos and threes in the courtyard.

Committee Member Chen Ruo and Committee Member Luan Ping followed Township Head Jiang Tiansheng toward the office building on the east side, the three talking about something as they walked; Committee Member Chen Ruo nodded occasionally, and Committee Member Luan Ping followed behind.

Hu Ming and Gao Jin walked toward the west side, their steps faster, as if in a hurry.

Gong Zizhen walked alone in the middle, neither fast nor slow, not following anyone.

The township leadership team is just like this; everyone has their own thoughts, and everyone has their own agenda.