169: Chapter 169 He's not even going to act anymore.

By the time the news reached Secretary Wei Kuan's ears, it was already afternoon.

The director of the County Government office returned from Hukuang Township and, without even stopping by his own office, went straight to knock on Secretary Wei Kuan's door.

His expression was somewhat subtle, as if he had eaten something that did not sit well with his stomach. He hesitated several times before finally recounting exactly what he had witnessed in Hukuang Township.

"Secretary Wei, after County Magistrate Bai arrived in Hukuang Township, he began calling Secretary Xu his brother the moment he stepped out of the car."

"County Magistrate Bai said that since they were about the same age, he asked Secretary Xu to call him 'Brother Bai,' while he would call Secretary Xu 'Brother Xu.'"

"He also said that the relationship between the Xu Family and the Bai family has been excellent since the previous generation, and that his father specifically arranged for him to be stationed in Changyuan County so they could visit each other more often."

Secretary Wei Kuan's hand, holding his teacup, froze in mid-air. He remained motionless for several seconds, as if he had been struck by a paralysis spell.

Afterward, he set the teacup down, leaned back in his chair, stared at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.

Absurd, simply absurd.

He had been an official for so many years; he had seen parachute cadres forming cliques, local officials ostracizing outsiders, superiors acting bossy, and subordinates paying lip service while acting differently behind their backs.

But this was the first time he had seen someone like County Mayor Bai Weijun, who, on his very first day in office, ran off to a subordinate unit to fraternize with someone and even openly flaunted the family friendship between the two.

This was not just 'not even pretending'; it was like slamming the script onto the table and telling everyone, 'This is how the play is written, take it or leave it!'

Young Master, this old servant is truly impressed...

"Alright, I understand. You may leave."

The director of the County Government office acknowledged the order and turned to leave. The sound of the door closing was very soft, so soft it was as if nothing had happened at all.

Secretary Wei Kuan sat in his chair, lit a cigarette, and took a drag.

He recalled when he first started his career—he had been cautious everywhere, calculated every step, terrified of saying the wrong thing or offending the wrong person.

At that time, he thought being an official was about how to conduct oneself, and that one should keep a low profile to go far.

Later, he realized that was only because he had no backing.

People without backing could only survive by keeping a low profile.

People with backing did not need to keep a low profile; they were the backing themselves.

He remembered what Secretary Yang Wei had told him before he left...

Secretary Wei Kuan figured Secretary Yang Wei had good intentions, but he probably had not expected that this new County Magistrate, who had arrived with ill intent, was not targeting Secretary Wei Kuan—he was targeting Xu Weidong.

He had not come to work alongside Secretary Wei Kuan; he had come to be brothers with Xu Weidong.

He took another drag, and ash fell onto the table; he did not bother to wipe it off.

Secretary Wei Kuan had originally thought he would have to maneuver between the two, playing both sides and carefully maintaining a balance.

He had even prepared himself for how to mediate and which side to take if County Mayor Bai Weijun and Xu Weidong came into conflict.

Now, it turned out they did not need his mediation at all; they were on the same team.

He, the Party Secretary, had become the outsider instead.

On the other side, Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had locked himself in his office.

When Luan Ping followed him in, he was sitting in his chair with a document spread out in front of him, but he had not taken in a single word.

"Township Head Jiang, what is wrong?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng looked up and glanced at him.

"Luan Ping, do you think I chose the wrong path in life?"

Luan Ping was stunned, not knowing how to answer.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng did not wait for an answer, continuing to himself: "The new County Magistrate, the moment he stepped out of the car, started calling Xu Weidong his brother. 'Brother Bai,' 'Brother Xu,' they were so affectionate."

"Luan Ping, tell me, do I even have a way out?"

Luan Ping remained silent. He recalled the scene at the gate of the Township Government earlier that day—County Mayor Bai Weijun patting Xu Weidong on the shoulder, laughing so happily, with so many county officials watching. They were not even pretending.

Standing in the back row, his heart, as a member of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, had turned ice-cold.

He had followed Township Head Jiang Tiansheng for so many years; if Township Head Jiang Tiansheng fell, would he have a good ending?

"Township Head Jiang, how about we lay low for a while?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng looked up at him and sighed, "Lay low? How?"

Luan Ping said in a low voice, "Take sick leave."

"Just say you are not feeling well and need to recuperate."

"I will find an excuse to stay in the hospital for a few days too."

"As for Secretary Xu, let him fuss about on his own."

"When the storm passes, we will see what the situation is."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng listened, then remained silent for a long time.

"Alright, let us do that."

"How long do you think I should request?"

Luan Ping thought for a moment and said, "Request a month first. If a month is not enough, extend it."

"Anyway, Xu Weidong calls all the shots in the township now, so it makes no difference whether you are here or not."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's mouth twitched. The words were too blunt, blunt enough to sting, but they were the truth.

He nodded, picked up the phone, and dialed Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's number.

"Comrade Hu Ming, this is Township Head Jiang Tiansheng."

"I have not been feeling well lately. I want to go to the hospital for a check-up, so I am requesting a few days of leave."

"Please take care of the township affairs."

There was a second of silence on the other end of the line, then Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's voice came through, carrying a perfectly measured note of concern.

"Township Head Jiang, are you alright? Is it serious? Should I arrange for someone to take you to the hospital?"

"No need, I can go myself. Just let Secretary Xu know I am taking leave."

"Alright, please take care of your health. Do not worry about the township affairs; we will handle them."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng hung up the phone, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh.

"Luan Ping, do you think I am pathetic? I have spent so many years in Hukuang Township, and in the end, I have to rely on faking an illness to avoid trouble."

Luan Ping shook his head, a bitter expression of mutual sympathy on his face.

"Township Head Jiang, you are not pathetic; you are just sensible about the situation."

"We cannot fight them; holding out will only make us look worse. It is better to step back for now and wait to see which way the wind blows."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng nodded, then asked, "What about you? When are you requesting yours?"

Luan Ping thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow."

"I will arrange the matters on hand today, then go to the hospital to register early tomorrow morning. I will just say my old ailment has flared up and I need to be hospitalized for observation."

"Alright, then we shall fake illness together."