122: Chapter 122 The Part of Flattery

When Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming arrived at the office, the sky was not yet fully bright.

The Township Government building was quiet. One of the voice-activated lights at the end of the corridor was broken, and the remaining one cast a dim, yellow light, stretching his shadow out long.

Clutching the keys in his hand, he walked to the door of Xu Weidong's office; his movements as he opened the door were as light as a thief's.

The door opened, and the morning light filtered in through the window, illuminating the desk, which was covered in a thin layer of dust.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming stood at the doorway for a while, rolled up his sleeves, and went to the washroom to get a basin of water.

He started by tidying the drawers; the documents were stacked neatly, and although a few pens in the pen holder were askew, he straightened them one by one.

He wiped the dust off the desk twice with a damp cloth and then once more with a dry cloth, until his fingers felt no grit when he ran them over the surface.

The teacup was new, only just collected by the Party and Government Office yesterday afternoon; he scalded it with boiling water and poured half a cup to let it cool.

The potted plant on the windowsill was said to have been bought by Xu Weidong from the county seat.

Its leaves were a bit wilted, so he watered it, plucked off the withered leaves, and wiped the leaves clean one by one with a damp cloth.

After finishing all this, he stepped back two paces and surveyed his work.

The desk was gleaming, the documents were neat, the teacup was steaming, and the potted plant was vibrant green.

He nodded with satisfaction, folded the rag, carried away the basin, his footsteps so light as if he were afraid of disturbing something.

At seven-thirty, voices began to echo in the corridor.

When Committee Member Chen Ruo passed by, he glanced inside and saw Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming bending over to straighten the desk calendar; his expression froze for a moment before he quickened his pace and left.

Luan Ping also saw it when he passed by, but he said nothing, although the sound of him closing his door was heavier than usual.

Xu Weidong arrived just before eight o'clock; he pushed open the door and his footsteps faltered.

The office was completely different from when he had left it yesterday: the desk was bright, the documents were organized, the water in the cup was steaming, and the potted plant looked revitalized.

Every detail betrayed a sense of cautious flattery; even the orientation of the pens in the holder was uniform, the calendar was turned to today's date, and the mousepad was placed perfectly straight.

He stood at the doorway, his gaze moving from the desk to the windowsill, then to the teacup, and finally landing on Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, who was standing beside the desk.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming was wiping the already gleaming desk with a dry cloth; hearing the footsteps, he looked up, his face breaking into an eager smile.

"Secretary Xu, you're here?"

"I've prepared your water; it's neither too hot nor too cold, just right."

Xu Weidong looked at him, a complex feeling welling up inside.

He had spent several years in the officialdom and had seen all kinds of people.

There were those who treated him with cold indifference, those who were fiery with enthusiasm, those who tripped him up in secret, and those who flattered him to his face.

But for a Deputy Party Secretary to come over early in the morning to wipe the Party Committee Secretary's desk, fetch water, and water plants—this level of diligence exceeded his expectations.

"Secretary Hu."

Xu Weidong placed his briefcase on the desk, his tone carrying a hint of helpless amusement.

"These tasks should be left to the people in the Party and Government Office; you are a Deputy Party Secretary, how could I let you do this?"

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming put away the rag, his smile remaining unchanged.

"It's just a simple task, no trouble at all. Those young people in the Party and Government Office are clumsy; I was afraid they wouldn't clean it properly."

"Since Secretary Xu has just arrived, the office needs to look presentable."

Xu Weidong sat down in his chair, his gaze lingering on Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's face for a moment.

A man in his early forties, his hair was combed meticulously, his shirt collar buttoned tightly, and his posture carried that unique humility of a subordinate toward a superior.

His eyes were very bright—perhaps too bright—like someone who had been submerged in water for a long time and had finally spotted a piece of driftwood.

"Sit down."

Xu Weidong pointed to the chair opposite him.

"I was just thinking of having a chat with you."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't show it on his face; he sat down opposite and kept his back straight.

Xu Weidong picked up his teacup and took a sip; the water temperature was just right.

He put down the teacup, his tone as casual as if he were making small talk.

"Where are you from, Secretary Hu?"

"I'm a local from Changyuan County; my home is in the county seat."

"I spent over a decade in the county and only came to Hukuang Township the year before last."

"Which department in the county?"

"The County Party Committee Organization Department; I worked there for eight years."

When Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming mentioned this, his tone carried a trace of imperceptible pride, which he quickly suppressed.

"Later, I came to Hukuang Township to serve as the Organization Committee Member, and I was just promoted to Deputy Party Secretary this year."

Xu Weidong nodded. Cadres from the Organization Department had a keener sensitivity to personnel matters than the average person; they knew who to get close to and who to distance themselves from.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's actions today were not impulsive; they were a carefully calculated move to pledge allegiance.

"Having spent eight years in the Organization Department, your grassroots experience is sufficient."

Xu Weidong said in an unhurried voice, "How has your work been in Hukuang Township over the past two years?"

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's smile stiffened slightly; he understood the subtext of this question.

It wasn't asking if his work was going smoothly; it was asking if he got along with Township Head Jiang Tiansheng.

"It's alright."

He weighed his words, not wanting to appear too eager, but also not wanting to miss this opportunity.

"Township Head Jiang is a veteran of Hukuang; he knows the situation in the township better than I do. When I first arrived, I had to consult him on many things."

This was said flawlessly; it didn't speak ill of Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, yet it conveyed the message that Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had very deep roots in Hukuang Township.

Xu Weidong understood and didn't follow up; he picked up his teacup and took another sip.

"I've just arrived in the Hukuang Township leadership team, and I don't quite have a handle on it yet."

He put down the teacup and looked at Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming.

"You are the Deputy Party Secretary; you've been in the township for two years and understand the situation with our comrades better than I do."

"In future work, I will have to rely on you a lot."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's heart skipped a beat; he could hear the weight of these words.

It wasn't just courtesy; it was a probe, and it was also an opportunity.

He steadied his emotions and said in a solemn tone, "Secretary Xu, you are too kind."

"I am the Deputy Party Secretary; it is my duty to assist the Secretary in his work."

"If you have any tasks, please feel free to instruct me at any time."

Xu Weidong smiled and didn't say anything further.

Some things are better left unsaid; saying too much would make it seem deliberate.

He picked up the document on the table and flipped through two pages, as if suddenly remembering something.

"Are you free tonight? Let's have a meal together."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming was stunned for a moment, then reacted, his voice filled with irrepressible joy.

"Yes, I'm free! Secretary Xu, you pick the place."

"Just the two of us, let's just have a casual meal, no need for anything fancy."

Xu Weidong looked down at the document and said, "You find somewhere quiet."

"Alright, alright, I'll handle the arrangements."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming stood up, his steps much lighter than when he had come in; he stopped when he reached the door.

"Secretary Xu, enjoy your tea; if it gets cold, I'll change it for you."

"No need, this temperature is just right."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming closed the door and took a deep breath in the corridor.

This morning's work wasn't in vain!

All in!

Going all in is a kind of wisdom!

He walked quickly back to his own office, closed the door, sat in his chair, and calmed his racing heart.

He took out his phone and sent a message to his wife: "I won't be home for dinner tonight; I'm having dinner with the Secretary."

His wife replied with a question mark; he didn't explain, just placed the phone face down on the desk, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long breath.

He had been stifled under Township Head Jiang Tiansheng for two years, enduring the cold looks, swallowing his pride, and suffering the exclusion.

Now that the new Secretary had arrived, he had to seize this opportunity.

It wasn't that he had a weak spine; it was that Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had pushed him to this point.

Back when he was at the County Party Committee Organization Department, although he wasn't a high-ranking official, he was at least a legitimate government cadre, and township leaders were always courteous when he went down for inspections.

When he came to Hukuang Township to serve as the Organization Committee Member, he thought he would be able to make a name for himself, but then he encountered Township Head Jiang Tiansheng.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng was that type of old-school township cadre—rough, overbearing, and dictatorial; in his eyes, cadres from the county were all high-handed and incapable.

The proposals he submitted were rejected, his recommended candidates were replaced, and even his office was arranged in a cramped corner at the end of the corridor.

He had endured it for two years, until his sister married Jia Ming, and until he finally sat in the position of Deputy Party Secretary.

Now, he didn't want to endure it anymore.

And Xu Weidong was his opportunity.

Inside the office, Xu Weidong stood by the window, watching Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's retreating figure.

The figure was straight, the steps quick, like someone who had been stifled for too long and had finally seen an exit.

He recalled how Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming had been wiping the desk just now—bending over, head bowed, fingers wiping the surface bit by bit, as earnest as if he were performing a ritual.

That posture wasn't cleaning; it was offering a pledge of allegiance.

Xu Weidong sighed softly; he had probably guessed why Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming was so eager.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had been operating in Hukuang Township for over a decade, and the people in the leadership team all had their own agendas; Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming needed a backer.

And he, the new Secretary, was a ready-made backer.