171: Chapter 171 Transferring the Night-Shining Pearl

The atmosphere at the Standing Committee meeting the next day was a bit heavier than usual.

Secretary Wei Kuan sat at the head of the table, with County Mayor Bai Weijun to his right. Steaming tea cups sat in front of both men, and their files were stacked neatly.

The other Standing Committee members took their seats one after another. The head of the Organization Department entered last, holding a thick folder. At a gesture from Secretary Wei Kuan, he sat down in his place.

Secretary Wei Kuan scanned everyone present, then picked up his tea cup and took a sip.

"Comrades, today we have an agenda item regarding personnel adjustments. Comrade Lao Zhou, the Party Committee Secretary of Shangouzi Township, will reach retirement age next month, and we need someone to take over."

"The Organization Department has a proposal. Let's hear it first."

The head of the Organization Department opened his folder, cleared his throat, and read a string of grandiose rhetoric before finally settling on the name of Director Ye Mingzhu.

"We propose that Director Ye Mingzhu of the County Education Bureau serve as the Party Committee Secretary of Shangouzi Township. During her time at the Education Bureau, Director Ye Mingzhu has been conscientious and capable, but her experience at the grassroots level is relatively weak. She needs to go to the front lines to gain some experience."

"Although conditions in Shangouzi Township are difficult, it is precisely a good place to train cadres."

After finishing, he closed the folder, glanced between Secretary Wei Kuan and County Mayor Bai Weijun, then lowered his head to drink from his tea cup.

The conference room was silent for a few seconds before County Mayor Bai Weijun spoke first.

He leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen in his hand.

"I agree with the Organization Department's proposal. Director Ye Mingzhu is young and driven, but she has always worked in government offices and lacks sufficient understanding of grassroots conditions."

"The conditions in Shangouzi Township are tough and the conflicts are complex; it is the perfect place to hone a cadre. Letting her serve a term there will be beneficial for her future development."

The Executive Deputy County Magistrate nodded in agreement, his voice low but his stance clear: "County Magistrate Bai is right. It is a common phenomenon for government officials to lack grassroots experience; it is very necessary to go down and make up for that."

"Director Ye Mingzhu is capable, and I believe she can achieve results in Shangouzi Township."

Deputy Secretary Qian Taifeng was the third to express his position, saying in a flat tone: "I agree. Shangouzi Township truly needs a bold and capable secretary. Director Ye Mingzhu is a suitable candidate."

Secretary Wei Kuan listened to their statements, took another sip of tea, then said unhurriedly: "What everyone has said makes sense. Director Ye Mingzhu has worked at the Education Bureau for two years and has done solid work, but her lack of grassroots experience is indeed a weakness."

"Although Shangouzi Township is remote, it is a platform for training cadres. I agree with the Organization Department's proposal."

With his final word, the other Standing Committee members nodded in agreement.

It passed unanimously, with no dissenting opinions.

The entire process took less than twenty minutes—clean and efficient, like a well-rehearsed performance.

When the news reached the Education Bureau, Director Ye Mingzhu was in her office reviewing documents.

Her liaison officer pushed the door open, wearing a subtle expression, and spoke in a very low voice.

"Director Ye Mingzhu, the results of the Standing Committee meeting are out. You are to be the Party Committee Secretary of Shangouzi Township."

The pen in Director Ye Mingzhu's hand froze in mid-air, remaining motionless for a full five seconds.

She set the pen down, leaned back in her chair, stared at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.

She said nothing. Her expression was calm, but her hand gripping the folder was tight.

The liaison officer stood at the door, unsure whether to leave or stay, caught in a dilemma.

"I see. You may leave."

The liaison officer, feeling as if granted an amnesty, turned and closed the door.

Director Ye Mingzhu sat in her chair for a moment, then stood up abruptly, grabbed her phone from the desk, and strode out of the office.

People in the hallway saw her livid expression and quickly stepped aside; no one dared to greet her.

She entered the elevator, pressed the button for the floor where the County Magistrate's office was located, and stared at her reflection on the elevator door, her lips pressed tightly together.

The door to County Mayor Bai Weijun's office was half-open. Director Ye Mingzhu did not knock; she pushed the door open and walked right in.

County Mayor Bai Weijun was leaning back in his chair, reviewing documents. He looked up and saw her, but his expression did not change at all, as if he had known she would come.

"Director Ye Mingzhu, is something the matter?"

Director Ye Mingzhu stood before him, looking down at him. Her chest heaved violently, and her voice carried a repressed anger.

"County Magistrate Bai, what is the meaning of this? Shangouzi Township—is that a place for a human to stay? I have been doing just fine at the Education Bureau, so why on earth are you exiling me to a place like that?"

County Mayor Bai Weijun put down his pen and leaned back in his chair, watching her.

He was neither angry nor flustered. His tone was as flat as if he were reasoning with an unreasonable child.

"Director Ye Mingzhu, that is not the right way to put it."

"Why wouldn't Shangouzi Township be a place for humans to stay? Are the common people there not human? Are the cadres there not human?"

"You have worked at the Education Bureau for quite some time, but your grassroots work experience is weak. The organization is sending you down to gain experience; this is training for you, not exile."

Director Ye Mingzhu was choked up by his words, and her face darkened even further.

She gritted her teeth and raised her voice a few notches. "County Magistrate Bai, don't give me that flowery rhetoric. You know the situation in Shangouzi Township better than I do."

"The transportation is inconvenient, the clan mentality is strong, and there is a rampant bias against women. Even the local cadres don't want to stay there long. Asking me, a female comrade, to be the secretary—this isn't training, this is targeting me!"

County Mayor Bai Weijun's brows furrowed slightly, but quickly smoothed out.

He picked up his tea cup, took a sip, and said unhurriedly: "Director Ye Mingzhu, the decision of the Standing Committee was not made by me alone. Secretary Wei Kuan and the other Standing Committee members all agreed, and it passed unanimously."

"It is useless to tell me these things. This is the organization's decision, and you must obey."

Director Ye Mingzhu's fingers tightened around her phone. She looked at County Mayor Bai Weijun's calm face, and the rage in her heart burned brighter, but she knew she couldn't lash out here.

This person was not afraid of her, and the forces behind him were not afraid of her either.

She took a deep breath and swallowed the profanities that had risen to her throat.

"County Magistrate Bai, don't forget, my surname is Ye."

County Mayor Bai Weijun looked at her, his lips curling slightly. The smile was faint, carrying an indescribable meaning, as if to say: "Do you think I'm afraid of that?"

"Director Ye Mingzhu, my surname is Bai, and it can also carry the weight of Xu. The decision of the Standing Committee is an organizational decision; it is not determined by any one individual."

"What your surname is doesn't matter. What matters is that you are in this position and must obey the organization's arrangements."

"If you have objections to the organization's decision, you can report them to the higher authorities; that is no problem."

"But here, there is no room for negotiation."

Director Ye Mingzhu was left speechless by his words. Her lips trembled several times, her eyes reddened, but she gritted her teeth and didn't let the tears fall.

She had never been handled like this by a man. Growing up, she was the apple of The Ye Family's eye, able to get whatever she wanted.

Arriving in Changyuan County, although it didn't compare to her life at home, no one had ever dared to treat her like this.

But County Mayor Bai Weijun was different. He was not afraid of The Ye Family; he didn't even take The Ye Family seriously.

"Fine, County Magistrate Bai, you win. I accept it."

She turned and walked out, slamming the door so hard it shook the whole hallway.

County Mayor Bai Weijun watched the door that had been slammed shut. He was expressionless, lowered his head, and continued reading his documents, as if nothing had happened.

Director Ye Mingzhu returned to her office, locked the door, sat in her chair, and finally burst into tears.

She was not someone who cried easily. Having worked for so long, what kind of grievances had she not endured?

But today was different. Today, she had been kicked from a high place into a mud pit, with no room to even struggle.

She picked up her phone and dialed home. After a few rings, it was answered; it was her father's voice.

"Mingzhu, what's wrong?"

Director Ye Mingzhu's voice had a crying tone; she felt as aggrieved as a little girl.

"Dad, they are bullying me."

"The Changyuan County Standing Committee has exiled me to Shangouzi Township. That place is dirt poor; even the local cadres don't want to go there, yet they are making me the secretary."

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds. Ye Yuanshan's voice was calm, so calm it was as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"Mingzhu, this is a sensitive period. The people on Xu Tianhua's side are in the spotlight right now. You must not create any conflict with them."

"County Mayor Bai Weijun is the son of Secretary Bai. Secretary Bai was recommended by Xu Tianhua; they are on the same line."

"If you fight them, you will only give them an excuse to make an issue out of it, and in the end, you will be the one who suffers."

Director Ye Mingzhu's tears flowed even more heavily, her voice choked up as if she were sobbing.

"Dad, what should I do then? Should I just accept it? Go to that godforsaken place and be the secretary?"

Ye Yuanshan was silent for a few more seconds, his voice lowering, carrying a father's heartache and helplessness for his daughter.

"Mingzhu, if you really don't want to go, just resign. The family will arrange for you to join the management of the company; the compensation won't be worse than in the system."

"Your mother has long wanted you to come back. Being out there alone, we are worried."

Director Ye Mingzhu wiped her tears, bit her lip, and was silent for a long time.

Resign, go home, work for the company.

It sounded good, but she knew what that meant.

Returning to The Ye Family's company, she would no longer be the independent Director Ye Mingzhu; she would be the daughter of The Ye Family, a bargaining chip for The Ye Family's marriages.

Her father said it lightly now, but after she spent a year or so at the company, people would come to propose marriage—the son of this family, the young master of that family, one after another lining up.

She did not want to marry those playboys; she did not want to become a sacrifice for family interests; she did not want to live a life of luxury but without freedom.

"Dad, I won't resign. I have worked in Changyuan County for so long; I cannot just leave with my tail between my legs."

"If it's Shangouzi Township, then so be it. I don't believe that place can eat me alive."

Ye Yuanshan sighed on the other end of the line, his tone carrying an indescribable complexity.

"Mingzhu, you've grown up. Since you've decided, Dad supports you."

"If anything happens, call home at any time."

"Mm, Dad, don't worry, I'm fine."

After hanging up the phone, Director Ye Mingzhu placed it on the desk, leaned back in her chair, stared at the ceiling, and zoned out for a long while.

Bastard!

Bastard County Mayor Bai Weijun!

Bastard Xu Weidong!