142: Chapter 142 Bai Jie's Touching Moments

She remained silent for a long time, so long that Luan Ping thought she would not speak.

"Committee Member Luan, I am not afraid."

Her voice was very soft, but very firm.

"I have worked in the Comprehensive Management Office for these years, and every matter I have handled can withstand scrutiny. The ledgers, case files, and petition records are all standardized and complete."

"I have never taken a single cent from anyone, nor have I accepted a meal from anyone."

"Even if Secretary Xu wants to investigate, I am not afraid."

Luan Ping looked at her and suddenly smiled.

That smile was faint, carrying a sense of heartache, like a father looking at an innocent daughter.

"Little Bai, you are too naive."

His voice was very soft, so soft it was like he was talking to himself.

"Do you think that as long as there are no financial problems, everything will be fine? Do you think that as long as you do your job well, the organization will promote you?"

"You have been in Hukuang Township for several years now; how many capable cadres have you seen buried? How many people who know how to play the game have you seen promoted?"

"I tell you, this Secretary Xu, don't look at the fact that he is even a bit younger than you, his political maneuvering skills are absolutely not soft."

"He doesn't need you to have financial problems, he doesn't need you to do your job poorly; he only needs a reason, a reason within the rules, to have you firmly in his grasp."

He paused, looked into Director Bai Jie's eyes, and said word by word, "Today at the leadership meeting, he dealt with Station Head Zhu Yan, Station Head Jin Ming, and Liu Hao—which one of those wasn't within the rules?"

"But think about it, Station Head Zhu Yan's project funds were non-compliant—did no one know before? Station Head Jin Ming's family planning funds were delayed—did no one report it before? Liu Hao's statistical data errors—did no one discover them before?"

"Why didn't anyone investigate before? Why investigate now? Because before, whether or not to investigate was up to Township Head Jiang."

"Now, whether or not to investigate is up to Xu Weidong; this is power within the rules."

Director Bai Jie fell silent. She thought of the disputes, the mediations, and the petition letters she had handled over these years.

She felt that every single one had been handled without issue, with compliant procedures and fair outcomes.

But if someone wanted to find fault with her within the rules, could they?

She dared not be certain.

Luan Ping saw her hesitation, and his tone softened a bit, no longer as heavy as it had just been.

"Little Bai, you are still young, you are only twenty-eight, you still have a bright future ahead."

"You have worked in the Comprehensive Management Office for four years, been named advanced every year, and have rich experience in handling mass incidents; this is your capital."

"If you can defect to Secretary Xu's side, he will not make things difficult for you. He needs someone like you."

Director Bai Jie raised her head, looked at Luan Ping, her eyes slightly red as she said, "Committee Member Luan, what about you? Can't you come with me?"

Luan Ping shook his head and smiled bitterly.

That smile carried a deep sense of helplessness, as if he had seen through everything but was powerless to change anything.

"Little Bai, I am too deeply bound to Township Head Jiang. Over these years, I have followed him and helped him do so many things that I can't even remember them all myself."

"Even if I defected, Xu Weidong would not accept me. He would use me, but he would not trust me."

"He would put me in an insignificant position and let me wither away. Rather than that, it is better to step back with dignity and make way for you young people."

Director Bai Jie's tears finally fell. She had followed Luan Ping for four years; from political and legal clerk to Director of the Comprehensive Management Office, every step had been pushed by Luan Ping from behind.

When she handled disputes, Luan Ping supported her from behind. When she was questioned in meetings, Luan Ping spoke up for her. When she was ostracized, Luan Ping helped shield her.

In her heart, Luan Ping was not just a leader, but a mentor, an elder, and her most solid backer in Hukuang Township.

"Committee Member Luan, please don't say that. You are still young, you are only in your forties, you still have opportunities."

Luan Ping waved his hand, not taking up that topic.

He took a USB drive out of his pocket, placed it on the coffee table, and pushed it toward Director Bai Jie.

The USB drive was very small, black, and inconspicuous, but as Director Bai Jie looked at it, a sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in her heart.

"Little Bai, there is some material in here—things I have handled over these years."

"It's not serious, but it wouldn't look good if it got out. You take it and go find Xu Weidong. Just say it is material you compiled, and it has nothing to do with me."

"This is a greeting gift I have prepared for you. With it, Xu Weidong will treat you as one of his own."

Director Bai Jie was stunned. She looked at the USB drive, then at Luan Ping, her tears flowing uncontrollably.

She knew what was inside; it was the path Luan Ping was paving for her with his own future.

He had compiled the problems that might exist from his own years, letting her use them as a pledge of allegiance, giving her a justifiable reason before Xu Weidong.

She opened her mouth to say something, but her throat felt blocked by something, and she couldn't say a single word.

Luan Ping stood up and patted her shoulder. The movement was very light, carrying the affection and entrustment of an elder to a younger generation.

"Little Bai, you are still young, and the road ahead is long. Do not be like me and get stuck too deeply in this quagmire of Hukuang Township."

"If there is an opportunity, leave; if there is an opportunity, rise; do not hesitate. You are a person who gets things done; you deserve a better future."

After speaking, Luan Ping turned and walked toward the door. Director Bai Jie stood up to see him off.

He waved his hand, changed his shoes himself, opened the door, and walked out.

The sound of the door closing was very soft, so soft it was like a sigh.

Director Bai Jie stood in the living room, looking at the closed door for a long time.

The black USB drive lay quietly on the coffee table, like a small black seed.

She bent down, picked it up, and clutched it in her palm; the metal edges pressed painfully into her palm.

This was the opportunity Luan Ping had exchanged for her with his own future!

She did not know if Xu Weidong would accept her, but she knew she could not let down Luan Ping's intentions.

She walked back to the sofa, sat down, plugged the USB drive into her laptop, and opened the files inside.

Densely packed text jumped out. She read it line by line, tears dripping onto the keyboard one by one.

Having worked for so many years, Luan Ping had been like a kind father, shielding her from many open attacks and secret arrows.

Now at the crossroads of fate, he had also resolutely chosen to sacrifice himself to fulfill her...

Thinking back to how she had once thrown a tantrum with Luan Ping because of that good-for-nothing boyfriend, she fell into deep self-reproach.

At first, Director Bai Jie had thought that he would take advantage of her like the old bureaucratic foxes she had imagined, but four years of time had proven his integrity.

Who wouldn't want such a good leader?

Thus, Director Bai Jie decided to make a bold choice!