137: Chapter 137 They really are united!

It was already past three in the afternoon when Xu Weidong called Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming to his office.

Sunlight from outside the window slanted in, landing on the potted plant on the desk, its leaves gilded with a golden edge.

When Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming entered, he closed the door behind him, sat down opposite Xu Weidong, and kept his back very straight.

His notebook was open, his pen placed to the side, his posture as upright as a primary school student waiting for a teacher to assign homework.

Xu Weidong leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen in his hand, not in a hurry to speak.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming felt a bit uneasy under his gaze, but he didn't show it on his face, waiting quietly.

"Comrade Hu Ming, things have been quite lively over at the Township Government recently."

Xu Weidong spoke, his voice not loud, his tone as if he were discussing a trivial matter.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface and asked, "Secretary Xu, to which aspect are you referring?"

Xu Weidong put down his pen, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said unhurriedly, "I have received quite a few guests these past few days."

"Luan Ping came, Director Bai Jie came, Deputy Township Head Liu Desheng came, Station Head Zhu Yan came, Station Master Liu Ping came, Station Master Zhao Sen came, Station Head Jin Ming came, and Liu Hao came as well."

"Eight people, coming in a line, one after another, as if they had planned it."

"They all talked about the same thing: Station Chief Sun Changhe of the Forestry Station is ineffective in his work, has piles of problems, and they suggest he be transferred."

As Xu Weidong spoke, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly; the smile was very faint, carrying a playful implication.

"I have worked at the grassroots level for so many years, and this is the first time I have seen such a scene. The comrades at the Township Government are truly united and solid as a rock."

"Eight people, from different departments, in charge of different tasks, usually busy with their own affairs, yet this time they are in perfect step, all coming to me in unison to report the situation."

"It seems Station Chief Sun Changhe is indeed not performing satisfactorily in his work, having offended so many comrades without making a sound."

A layer of fine sweat seeped from Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's forehead; he heard the dissatisfaction in Xu Weidong's words, and it was not dissatisfaction with Station Chief Sun Changhe.

It was dissatisfaction with those eight people, and even more so with the person behind them who instigated them.

Eight people, coming in a line, all saying the same thing; this was not reporting a situation, this was forcing a hand.

Just because Xu Weidong didn't say it didn't mean he didn't understand.

"Secretary Xu, I have also heard a little about this matter."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming carefully weighed his words, each one feeling like stepping on a landmine.

"It is true that Station Chief Sun Changhe has some lapses in his work. However, having eight people come to report the situation one after another, this formation is indeed not very normal."

"I feel that this might not be entirely a matter of work."

Xu Weidong glanced at him, said nothing, and waited for him to continue.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming took a breath and lowered his voice by half a degree.

"Station Chief Sun Changhe has a rather blunt personality and isn't very good at playing the game. Having worked at the Forestry Station for so many years, he has offended quite a few people."

"However, he has one advantage: he is dependable. Last time you asked him to rectify, he didn't say a word, worked overtime to clear up the data, filled in what needed to be filled, and corrected what needed to be corrected."

"This kind of execution is rare among the station chiefs in the township. As for those he offended, some were due to work matters, and some might not be entirely so."

"The factionalism and cliquishness over at the Township Government haven't been a matter of just a day or two. Some people don't have an issue with Station Chief Sun Changhe; they are using him as a pretext."

When Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming mentioned "factionalism" and "cliquishness," his voice dropped even lower, low enough that only the two of them could hear.

This was already very blunt; any more blunt would be calling out names directly.

Xu Weidong's expression darkened, and he put down his teacup.

"Comrade Hu Ming, there is a problem with what you said."

His voice was not loud, but every word carried an unquestionable weight.

"We are all comrades; where do these factions come from? Where do these cliques come from?"

"Our Party's organizational principle is democratic centralism; it is about performing one's duties and taking responsibility under the leadership of the Party Committee."

"If comrades have different opinions, they can express them at meetings, at organizational life meetings, or report them through normal organizational channels."

"However, one cannot form small circles, cannot engage in cliquishness, and cannot turn normal work relationships into personal dependency relationships."

"The words you just said, if spread, would have a bad influence."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming nodded quickly, his posture very humble.

"Secretary Xu is right to reprimand me; I used the wrong words. There are no factions, no cliques; we are all comrades."

"What I meant just now was that some comrades might have issues with poor communication in work coordination, leading to unnecessary misunderstandings."

"I will definitely pay attention to my wording in the future."

Xu Weidong looked at him, was silent for two seconds, then nodded, his expression softening a bit.

He did not continue this topic, picked up his teacup and took another sip, his tone returning to that unhurried pace.

"Alright, you go back to work. As for Station Chief Sun Changhe, I have already asked him to rectify."

"You keep an eye on things on your end too, don't let him make any more mistakes."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming acknowledged, stood up, picked up his notebook, and turned to walk out.

When he reached the door, he paused, wanting to turn back to say something, but ultimately did not speak, pulled the door open, and walked out.

The sunlight in the hallway made him squint; his knuckles gripping the notebook turned white, and he walked with quick strides, as if rushing somewhere.

Back in his office, he closed the door and sat in his chair for a long while.

Xu Weidong's words just now spun around in his mind several times; on the surface, he was criticizing his improper wording, but in reality, he was telling him something.

I know about the situation you reported, but I cannot publicly express my stance.

As for how you do it, that is your business.

As long as you don't leave any evidence or give people leverage, you can go ahead and do it.

This is Xu Weidong's style: never speaking fully, never leaving anyone with leverage.

If you understood, it means you are smart.

If you didn't understand, it means you are stupid.

He picked up his teacup and took a gulp; the water had already gone cold, and the bitterness made him frown.

He threw the teacup on the table, picked up the phone, and dialed a number.

"Committee Member Gao Jin, come here for a moment."

Committee Member Gao Jin arrived quickly; when he pushed the door open and entered, his face wore the kind of expression a storyteller has only when reaching a crucial point.

He closed the door tightly, sat down opposite Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, leaned forward, and waited for him to speak.

"Committee Member Gao Jin, Secretary Xu called me over just now."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping on the armrest one by one.

"He talked about something."

"In the last few days, a few people from the Township Government have been lining up to go to Secretary Xu's office to report the situation."

"Luan Ping, Director Bai Jie, Deputy Township Head Liu Desheng, Station Head Zhu Yan, Station Master Liu Ping, Station Master Zhao Sen, Station Head Jin Ming, and Liu Hao—not one was missing; they all went."

"They all talked about the same thing: Station Chief Sun Changhe of the Forestry Station is ineffective in his work, and they suggest he be transferred."

Committee Member Gao Jin's eyes widened, his mouth opened, wanting to say something but swallowing it back.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming continued, his voice unhurried, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"Eight people, taking turns, in perfect step, with tacit cooperation. Tell me, whose handiwork is this?"

Committee Member Gao Jin certainly knew who it was; in Hukuang Township, besides Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, there was no second person who could mobilize these eight people at the same time.

His expression changed, and he said in a very low voice, "What is Township Head Jiang trying to do? Forcing a hand?"

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming did not answer this question; he put down the phone, stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to Committee Member Gao Jin, and looked at the courtyard outside the window.

People were walking in the courtyard, in twos and threes, not knowing what they were busy with.

"Secretary Xu said something to me today."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's voice was very low, so low it was like talking to himself.

"He said, we are all comrades; where do factions come from, where do cliques come from? Listen to that; how skillful his words are."

"On the surface, he was criticizing me, but in reality, he was telling me that he knows some people are engaging in factionalism and cliquishness."

Committee Member Gao Jin did not speak, waiting for him to continue.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming turned around, walked back to the desk, sat down, and looked at Committee Member Gao Jin.

"Committee Member Gao Jin, think about it: eight people, lining up to go to Secretary Xu's office to report the situation—what a formation that is!"

"This is telling Secretary Xu that in Hukuang Township, it's not just you, the Secretary, who has the final say; I, the Township Head, also have my own people, and I, the Township Head, can also mobilize people."

"This is a demonstration; this is flexing muscles."

"Can Secretary Xu tolerate this? If he tolerates this, who will listen to him in Hukuang Township in the future? Who will take him seriously?"

Committee Member Gao Jin's expression changed; he understood the meaning in Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's words.

Xu Weidong would not tolerate it, and neither would Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming.

Next, it was time for them to make their move.