166: Chapter 166 The Dust Settles

When the phone rang, Xu Weidong was in an apple orchard in Hukuang Township, checking this year's fruit yield.

In the October orchard, bright red apples hung heavy on the branches. The farmers were busy harvesting, and laughter echoed throughout the orchard.

He walked to the edge of the field, took out his phone to glance at the caller ID, then walked under an old apple tree and leaned against the trunk to answer the call.

"Dad."

Xu Tianhua's voice came through the receiver, carrying a sense of relief.

"The matter here in Yancheng has been settled."

Xu Weidong's heart tightened. Since the incident that night, he had been waiting for this call.

He knew his father wouldn't let those who were stirring up trouble behind his back off the hook, but he didn't know to what extent things would be handled.

"Elder Ning and Elder Liu are both angry."

Xu Tianhua's tone was indifferent, as if he were talking about something unrelated to himself.

"They made important directives at several meetings. Some people were sensible and voluntarily resigned from their posts. It happened very quickly—so quickly that even I was a bit surprised."

Xu Weidong gripped his phone, his mind racing.

He knew exactly what it meant for Elder Ning and Elder Liu to take a stance simultaneously.

When these two elders spoke, it was the final word.

The fact that they could both be angered at the same time showed that this incident had truly crossed the bottom line.

"Because of this sudden change, I might have to move as well."

Xu Tianhua paused for a moment and sighed softly, "I may have to hand over the duties that need to be handed over."

Xu Weidong's heart tightened. His first thought was, did Grandpa Ning and the others get angry? Were they taking their anger out on his father?

But he quickly dismissed this thought.

The trust Elder Ning and Elder Liu had in his father wasn't built in a day; they wouldn't turn their backs on him over this.

Then what did his father mean by handing over his duties?

"Dad, I don't understand what you mean."

Xu Tianhua chuckled, a light sound, carrying that peculiar playfulness a father has when teasing his son.

"What, are you afraid that if your old man steps down, there will be no one left to protect you?"

Xu Weidong was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized what was happening.

With his father's tone and attitude, did he look like someone about to be disciplined? It was clearly just teasing.

The stone that had been hanging in Xu Weidong's heart dropped, and the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Dad, that joke wasn't funny at all."

He leaned against the tree trunk, his tone relaxing as well.

"It seems you are moving up in the world? Congratulations in advance, Dad. It looks like I'm going further and further down the path of being a second-generation official."

Xu Tianhua laughed on the other end of the line, his laughter filled with a father's pride and emotion.

"I didn't expect some of those old guys to be so decisive. The position of Deputy Dean in The Government Compound was given up just like that."

"With them retiring, I now have a lot of room for maneuver."

Xu Weidong's heart skipped a beat. He knew exactly what the position of Deputy Dean of The Government Compound meant.

The rank of the person who could give up such a position was far beyond what he could usually reach.

"Dad, you aren't going to attain that position by next year, are you?"

Xu Tianhua didn't answer directly, his tone returning to its usual indifference.

"Everything depends on the organization's arrangements. Wherever the organization wants me to shine and contribute, I will go."

Xu Weidong understood the weight of these words. His father was a man who never spoke about uncertain things.

When he said it depended on the organization's arrangements, it meant the arrangements were already made, just not convenient to disclose.

If it really was that position, then his father would be the youngest one in history.

This thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.

Things like this couldn't be thought about or talked about; one could only wait.

"If this incident hadn't happened, Grandpa Ning originally intended for me to go to the Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

Xu Tianhua suddenly added, his tone carrying an indescribable meaning, as if it were regret, or perhaps a hint of something.

Xu Weidong understood. From the Knife Handle to the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, it would have been a logical and natural progression.

But now that this had happened, with someone stirring up trouble behind his back—trouble that reached him—Elder Ning and Elder Liu were furious. Some people were forced to resign, opening up even more important positions.

His father wouldn't be going to the Political and Legal Affairs Commission anymore; he was going to a higher place.

What was this called?

This was called a blessing in disguise... no, that wasn't right. It should be that The Government Compound was welcoming his true...

"It seems that regardless of whether this incident happened, your promotion was a certainty."

Xu Weidong said with a smile, "It's just that this incident gave you more options for your promotion."

Xu Tianhua didn't pick up on that thread. He was silent for a few seconds, and then his voice suddenly became serious, carrying the unique dignity and deep consideration of a superior.

"Through this incident, it's clear that Fengtian Province is riddled with factions, and it has reached a point where it must be rectified."

"For such a malicious incident to occur, the Governor and Secretary in your area cannot shirk their responsibility."

"They have been up there for so many years, yet they can't even manage their own small plot of land. It's time for them to move."

"These aren't my words; they are Grandpa Ning's."

Xu Weidong silently mourned for those two for three seconds. Their future had been decided in a single sentence...

He hoped their records were clean and that they could withstand investigations after moving to leisurely posts, otherwise...

"The positions of Uncle Zhou and Uncle Ma are still not enough."

"Although they have established a foothold in the province, they are still powerless when facing those deeply entrenched local forces. Next, we need to use a strong dose of medicine."

Xu Weidong's mind raced. His Uncle Zhou was already the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Uncle Ma was the head of the Provincial Organization Department.

If their positions weren't enough, then higher positions were needed.

A strong dose of medicine—it wasn't about slow treatment; it was about performing surgery directly.

He suddenly thought of a possibility, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Dad, are you saying that Uncle Zhou and Uncle Ma might..."

"I didn't say anything."

Xu Tianhua interrupted him, his tone returning to its usual indifference.

"You just focus on your work down there and ask less about other things."

Xu Weidong smiled. He knew he had guessed correctly.

If the Governor and Secretary were to move, Governor Zhou Wenbin's position would have to move along with them.

One more step up for the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and that would be the Governor.

His father said he didn't say anything, but in reality, he had said it all.

"Dad, don't worry. I'm doing just fine in Hukuang Township. The roads that needed to be built have been built, and the projects that needed to be constructed are underway. You just focus on your work up there; you don't need to worry about things down here."

Xu Tianhua gave a hum of acknowledgment, his tone filled with a father's satisfaction and trust in his son.

"Alright, then I'll get back to my work. Stay safe down there, and don't let anyone plot against you again."

"I know, Dad. You take care too."

The call ended. Xu Weidong took the phone away from his ear, held it in his palm, and stared at the orchard full of apples, lost in thought for a long while.

He tucked his phone into his pocket, turned around, and strode toward the depths of the orchard.

The farmers were busy at work, and when they saw him coming, they greeted him one after another.

He nodded with a smile, walked over to an old farmer who was picking fruit, reached out to take the basket from his hands, and helped him load it onto the truck.

The old farmer was flattered and said repeatedly, "Secretary Xu, please don't tire yourself out."

Xu Weidong said with a smile, "It's fine. Doing a little work and breaking a sweat is comfortable."

After moving a crate of apples, he straightened his back, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked at the rolling mountains in the distance.

His father's high-level political game was too far away from him; it wasn't something he should be worrying about at his stage.

His top priority was still to turn those investments into tangible political achievements, so that he could step by step move toward his father's high-level political game.