127: Chapter 127 Chen Ruo's Defection

When Committee Member Chen Ruo walked out of Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's office, his steps were unsteady.

In the end, he gritted his teeth, turned around, and walked toward the west, where Xu Weidong's office was located.

"Come in."

When he pushed the door open and entered, Xu Weidong was sitting behind his desk, reading documents.

The potted plant on the windowsill was a vibrant, glossy green, the teacup was steaming, and the desktop was so clean it could reflect one's image.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming was not there; Xu Weidong was the only person in the office.

Committee Member Chen Ruo suddenly felt his knees go weak; he took two steps forward, stood in front of the desk, and his lips trembled slightly.

If it weren't for the fact that the times were different, Committee Member Chen Ruo would have truly knelt before Xu Weidong.

"Secretary Xu."

Xu Weidong looked up and glanced at him.

"Comrade Chen Ruo, sit down. Is something the matter?"

Committee Member Chen Ruo did not sit; he took another half-step forward, his body leaning slightly forward as if he were about to kneel.

"Secretary Xu, I beg you, please leave me a way to survive."

Xu Weidong's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he did not speak.

Committee Member Chen Ruo's voice began to tremble, as if something he had held back for a long time had finally found an outlet.

"Secretary Xu, I know I haven't done well in the past."

"It is a fact that I have been close to Township Head Jiang."

"I admit that Township Head Jiang used his influence to get me transferred to the position of Organization Committee Member; this is also a fact."

"But Secretary Xu, I am here to do work, I am not anyone's personal possession."

"Secretary Hu is watching me every day now—checking ledgers today, reviewing files tomorrow, examining materials the day after; I really cannot hold up anymore."

His voice grew lower and lower, until it was like he was talking to himself.

"Regarding the matter at the meeting today, you saved me some face, and I am aware of that."

"I know it was you who considered the overall situation and did not let Secretary Hu finalize the matter of the written self-criticism."

"But Secretary Xu, I cannot keep living on your charity."

"I need to have some sort of explanation for Secretary Hu."

Xu Weidong picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down unhurriedly.

He did not respond to Committee Member Chen Ruo's words but instead asked another question.

"Comrade Chen Ruo, what do you think is the core of organizational work?"

Committee Member Chen Ruo was stunned; he had not expected Xu Weidong to ask him this question at this moment.

He opened his mouth, ran through a few answers in his mind, and finally chose the safest one.

"To guard the entrance for party membership and ensure the purity of the party member ranks."

Xu Weidong nodded and asked again, "Then do you think Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's direction in handling organizational work during this period is correct?"

Committee Member Chen Ruo fell silent; this question was difficult to answer.

To say Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's direction was correct would be equivalent to admitting that he himself had not done well in the past.

To say Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's direction was incorrect would be to lodge a complaint, and against his direct supervisor at that.

He gritted his teeth and chose a compromise.

"Secretary Hu is very meticulous, and in some areas... he is indeed stricter than I was."

Xu Weidong looked like a teacher listening to a student answer a question, completely composed.

"Being meticulous is not a bad thing."

Xu Weidong said in an unhurried tone, "There are no small matters in organizational work."

"An application for party membership, an investigation document, an application for full party membership—every step concerns a person's political life and also concerns the quality of our party's ranks."

"Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's strict requirements in this regard are being responsible to the organization and responsible to the party members."

Committee Member Chen Ruo's face turned even paler; he thought Xu Weidong was speaking on behalf of Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, and the tiny flame of hope in his heart was about to be extinguished.

However, Xu Weidong suddenly changed the subject, saying, "But strictness does not mean harshness, and being meticulous does not mean nitpicking."

He picked up his teacup, took another sip, and said, "Organizational work must have standards, but it must also have warmth."

"Standards are the bottom line; warmth is the method."

"If you only have standards without warmth, cadres become machines."

"If you only have warmth without standards, the work becomes just going through the motions. This balance is something Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming still needs to slowly explore."

Committee Member Chen Ruo looked up, and there was a glimmer of light in his eyes.

Xu Weidong put down his teacup and looked at him, his gaze carrying the gentleness of an elder looking at a junior, even though he was more than a decade younger than Committee Member Chen Ruo.

"Comrade Chen Ruo, what do you want to say by coming to see me today? Do you want me to help you deal with Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, or do you want me to help you adjust your division of labor?"

Committee Member Chen Ruo's lips trembled; he knew this was a critical moment. What he said and how he said it would directly affect his political future.

He took a deep breath and bowed his waist.

"Secretary Xu, I am not here to lodge a complaint; I am here to admit my mistakes."

Xu Weidong did not speak, waiting for him to continue.

"Previously, in the position of Publicity Committee Member, I did not pay enough attention to party-building work."

"After arriving at the position of Organization Committee Member, I did not change my role in time; I was unfamiliar with the business and my work style was not solid, which caused passivity in organizational work."

"I acknowledge the problems pointed out by Secretary Hu. I will implement the requirements proposed by Secretary Hu."

Committee Member Chen Ruo looked up at Xu Weidong, his eyes reddening.

"But Secretary Xu, I want to do a good job."

"I want to do organizational work well."

"I don't want people to say that I, Committee Member Chen Ruo, am anyone's appendage. I, Committee Member Chen Ruo, am a cadre of the Party, a cadre of the organization."

"Who does well and who doesn't should be decided by the organization, not by any single person."

These words were spoken with skill; he did not complain, did not shirk responsibility, and did not pass the buck, but instead lowered his own posture and elevated the authority of the organization.

This was an indirect declaration of loyalty, but it was subtle and measured.

After all, where was the organization of Hukuang Township?

It was right there in front of Committee Member Chen Ruo...

"You want to do a good job; this attitude is good."

Xu Weidong leaned back in his chair, his tone relaxing slightly.

"But Comrade Chen Ruo, you need to think clearly about one question."

"You are the Organization Committee Member; who is your direct leader?"

Committee Member Chen Ruo's heart skipped a beat; this question was too direct, so direct that he could not avoid it.

His direct leader was Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, the Deputy Party Secretary in charge of organization and personnel.

If he answered "it is Secretary Hu," then his trip here today would have been in vain.

If he answered anything else, it would be openly denying organizational principles.

He thought for a few seconds and chose a clever way to phrase it.

"My direct leader is the Deputy Party Secretary in charge of organization."

"However, my work must be responsible to the Party, responsible to the organization, and responsible to you, Secretary Xu."

"You are the top leader; all work in Hukuang Township is ultimately responsible to you."

"Comrade Chen Ruo, what you said is not entirely correct."

"All work in Hukuang Township is ultimately not responsible to me, but responsible to the Party and responsible to the people."

"I am merely in this position to act as a gatekeeper on behalf of the Party and the people."

Committee Member Chen Ruo nodded quickly and said, "Secretary Xu is right; it is my phrasing that was inaccurate."

Xu Weidong waved his hand, signaling him not to be so nervous.

"It is not convenient for me to intervene in the matters between you and Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming. He is your direct supervisor, and you are the person specifically in charge; the working relationship between you must be sorted out by yourselves."

"But I can give you a suggestion."

Committee Member Chen Ruo perked up his ears.

"Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming has strict requirements; you should just follow his requirements. If he asks you to rectify, you rectify."

"If he asks you to standardize, you standardize."

"Once the work is done well, the processes are smoothed out, and the ledgers are completed, what faults could he still pick?"

Xu Weidong paused and said, "As for Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, you were close to him in the past, but that is a thing of the past."

"Now your position has changed, your work responsibilities have changed, and your reporting relationship has also changed."

"You should know in your own heart who you should report to and whose commands you should listen to."

These words were spoken implicitly, but the meaning was very clear.

Committee Member Chen Ruo was half a smart man; he understood.

Xu Weidong was telling him that his current leader was Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, and his work had to be responsible to Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming.

As for Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, he was the Township Head, in charge of government-related work, and could not control matters in your party-building sector.

If you still keep running to Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, then that is you not knowing what's good for you.

"Secretary Xu, I understand."

"After I go back, I will first reorganize the work of the Organization Office. I will rectify what needs to be rectified and standardize what needs to be standardized."

"I will take the initiative to report and seek instructions from Secretary Hu. If there were areas where I did not do well in the past, I will explain them clearly to Secretary Hu."

Xu Weidong nodded and said, "That is correct."

"You are the Organization Committee Member, a cadre in the party-building sector."

"A cadre in the party-building sector must have the awareness of a party-building cadre."

"If there are differences in work, you can communicate and discuss them, but you cannot form small cliques or engage in factionalism."

"You must be aware of this."

Committee Member Chen Ruo nodded repeatedly; he knew this was also a warning to him, reminding him not to get together with Township Head Jiang Tiansheng again.

"Alright, go back."

Xu Weidong picked up the documents on the table and opened them again.

"Implement the matters discussed at the meeting today well."

"Write the rectification report more realistically; do not just go through the motions."

Committee Member Chen Ruo acknowledged it and turned to walk out.

When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Xu Weidong.

His lips moved a few times as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just bowed deeply and pulled the door open to walk out.