141: Chapter 141 Luanping's Decision

When Luan Ping hauled Township Head Jiang Tiansheng out of the conference room, Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's legs were still weak.

He had regained some consciousness, but his body wouldn't obey, and he leaned his whole weight on Luan Ping, completely devoid of strength.

Luan Ping half-carried and half-dragged him into the car. Township Head Jiang Tiansheng leaned against the passenger seat with his eyes closed, his face as pale as paper, his lips drained of all color.

Luan Ping started the car without a word, and Township Head Jiang Tiansheng remained silent as well; the only sound in the cabin was the low roar of the engine.

When the car reached the entrance of Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's home, Luan Ping turned off the engine, walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and bent down to help him.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng waved his hand, braced himself against the car door to stand up slowly, swayed twice, and then steadied himself.

His complexion was still terrible, but his eyes were clearer than before.

He looked at his front gate and stood there for a few seconds, as if gathering his strength, before taking a step forward to go inside.

Luan Ping followed behind, ready to reach out and support him at any moment.

Yu Lili was stewing soup in the kitchen. Hearing the door, she came out and saw Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's face, which was as pale as a ghost's, and nearly dropped the soup ladle in her hand.

She hurried over, grabbed Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's arm, and looked him up and down, her eyes full of panic.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

Luan Ping stood at the doorway, not following her in, his face wearing a perfectly measured expression of concern.

"Sister-in-law, Township Head Jiang has been staying up too late these past few days, and his body can't take it anymore. He suddenly fainted during the meeting just now."

"Secretary Xu asked me to bring him back to rest, saying he shouldn't worry about the township's affairs for now and that recovering his health is the priority."

As Yu Lili helped Township Head Jiang Tiansheng into the house, she glanced back at Luan Ping with a hint of suspicion in her eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by her worry for her husband.

She knew Township Head Jiang Tiansheng too well; he valued work more than his own life. He had indeed been pushing himself hard lately, spending every night either reading documents in the study or making phone calls, never sleeping before the early hours of the morning.

She had tried to persuade him many times, but he wouldn't listen and would lose his temper if she said too much. She had thought it was just because he was getting older, never expecting it to be serious enough for him to faint during a meeting.

"Old Jiang, he just won't listen to reason. I've told him so many times, stop staying up late, but he just won't listen."

"Now look at this, fainting at a meeting. Isn't it embarrassing?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng didn't say anything, letting Yu Lili help him into the bedroom and lie down on the bed.

He closed his eyes, appearing as if he had truly fallen asleep.

Yu Lili took off his shoes, covered him with the quilt, and stood by the bed for a while longer. Only after confirming that his breathing was steady did she turn and leave.

Luan Ping was still standing at the door and had not left. Yu Lili walked to the door and said in a low voice, "Luan Ping, Old Jiang has indeed been pushing himself too hard lately, and I couldn't stop him. Thank you for bringing him back today. I'll have a good talk with him later."

Luan Ping nodded and turned to leave.

He didn't return to the Township Government or his own home; instead, he drove to Director Bai Jie's house.

When Director Bai Jie opened the door, she was wearing a casual sweatshirt, her hair let down, and no makeup on her face, making her look a few years younger than usual.

Seeing Committee Member Luan standing at the door, she was stunned for a moment, then stepped aside to let him in.

"Committee Member Luan, why are you here?"

Committee Member Luan changed his shoes, walked into the living room, and sat on the sofa.

Director Bai Jie poured him a cup of tea, sat opposite him, and looked at him, waiting for him to speak.

Committee Member Luan picked up the teacup and took a sip. The water was a bit hot, but he didn't put it down, just held it, as if warming his hands with the steam from the cup.

"Xiao Bai, you must have heard about what happened at the meeting today."

Director Bai Jie nodded. Of course she had heard; the news traveled faster than the wind, and she had known before she even got off work.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had fainted at the meeting, and the Discipline Inspection Commission had announced issues concerning three people: the Water Conservancy Station, the Family Planning Station, and the Statistics Station—all of them targets of investigation.

The wind had completely shifted at the leadership meeting; the people on Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's side were completely suppressed, and Xu Weidong's side had achieved a total victory.

"I've heard. Township Head Jiang Tiansheng fainted, and the Discipline Inspection Commission is investigating Station Head Zhu Yan, Station Head Jin Ming, and Liu Hao."

Committee Member Luan put down the teacup, leaned back against the sofa, and looked at Director Bai Jie.

His gaze held a complex expression, as if he felt heartache, helplessness, and was also making a difficult decision.

"Xiao Bai, I came here today because there is something I want to tell you."

"Find an opportunity and defect to Secretary Xu's side."

Director Bai Jie was stunned. She looked at Committee Member Luan, thinking she had misheard.

"Committee Member Luan, what are you saying? I am a soldier brought up by you. From Politics and Law Officer to Director of the Comprehensive Management Office, every step of the way, you have been the one guiding me."

"At a time like this, you want me to defect to Secretary Xu? What kind of person would that make me?"

Committee Member Luan waved his hand, interrupting her. His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried an unquestionable certainty.

"Xiao Bai, listen to me. The situation now is completely different from the past. Before, Township Head Jiang Tiansheng could summon wind and rain in Hukuang Township; he had seen all kinds of storms and dealt with all kinds of people."

"But this time is different."

"You know what kind of person Xu Weidong is."

"He hasn't even been here for a year, yet he has almost completely reshuffled the situation in Hukuang Township. Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming has been promoted by him, Committee Member Chen Ruo has been controlled by him, and Township Head Jiang Tiansheng has been completely suppressed by him."

"You weren't at the meeting today; you don't know how ugly that scene was."

He paused, as if recalling the scene, and the expression on his face became even more solemn.

"When Township Head Jiang Tiansheng fainted, do you know what Xu Weidong said? He said that for the sake of the township's construction work, Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had been working day and night, overexerting himself to the point where his body couldn't take it, and that he should just rest for a while."

"Township Head Jiang Tiansheng was slumped in his chair like that, his face as pale as paper, and he said he was just asleep. Not a single person said a word against it. Not a single one."

"A whole room of people just watched blankly as Township Head Jiang Tiansheng slumped in his chair, and not one person stood up to say a fair word."

Director Bai Jie's expression changed, but she didn't speak.

Committee Member Luan picked up the teacup and took another sip; the water had cooled down a bit and wasn't as hot anymore.

He put down the teacup, his gaze landing on Director Bai Jie's face with the affection and worry of an elder looking at a younger generation.

"Xiao Bai, you are someone I brought up myself; I watched you grow from a young girl to the Director of the Comprehensive Management Office."

"You've been an advanced worker every year and are an expert at handling mass incidents. In a place like Hukuang Township, where conflicts and disputes are as numerous as ox hair, being able to hold up the Comprehensive Management Office is not something just anyone can do."

"Your ability and your future should not be buried in the quagmire of Hukuang Township."

Committee Member Luan paused, his voice dropping lower as he said, "But you need to think clearly. If you continue to follow me down this dead end, there won't be a good outcome. As for Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's side, the tide has already turned against him."

"Station Head Zhu Yan of the Water Conservancy Station, Station Head Jin Ming of the Family Planning Station, and Liu Hao of the Statistics Station—all three are under investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission."

"Do you think they are only investigating those three? After they are done with them, won't they dig deeper?"

"Won't it implicate even more people?"

"No one knows."

"But I know one thing: Secretary Xu is the type of person who, if he doesn't strike, he doesn't strike, but once he does, it is with thunderous force. He will not give you a chance to catch your breath."

Director Bai Jie pursed her lips tightly, her fingers clutching the sweatshirt on her knees.