231: Chapter 231 Fears Come True

The smoke in the Governor's office was thick and wouldn't dissipate. Governor Zhou Wenbin leaned back in his chair, a cigarette clamped between his fingers, the ash a long stalk that hadn't been flicked off.

Minister Ma Fuqiang sat opposite him, also puffing on a cigarette. The two men sat across the coffee table, exhaling clouds of smoke like two volcanoes about to erupt.

Outside the window was the gray, hazy sky of Shengjing City. The early winter sun was tightly obscured by clouds, the light dim.

The lights in the office were on, casting an orange glow over the two older men, stretching their shadows long against the wall.

Governor Zhou Wenbin flicked the ash, a hint of a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

"Old Ma, I have an idea recently that I want to discuss with you."

Minister Ma Fuqiang lifted his eyelids and glanced at him.

"What idea?"

"It's about those two brats. Don't you think they've been living a bit too comfortably lately?"

Minister Ma Fuqiang paused for a second, then laughed out loud. The smile carried the implication of "You really are an old fox."

"You don't mean to… artificially create some hardships for them, do you? You really are quite wicked, Old Zhou."

Governor Zhou Wenbin laughed heartily, his voice echoing in the office.

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands on his knees, unable to suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth.

"Old Ma, that's not the right way to put it. What do you mean by creating hardships? This is called training."

"Young people, how can they see a rainbow without experiencing wind and rain? How can they grow without experiencing setbacks?"

"They are in Changyuan County now, getting whatever they want, with provincial projects delivered to their doorsteps and municipal matching funds sent over proactively. The County Party Committee secretary treats them like ancestors."

"What kind of good cadres can be cultivated in such an environment?"

"They need pressure, they need challenges, they need to know that this world doesn't revolve around them. So, we need to tighten the strings for them."

Minister Ma Fuqiang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and leaned back against the sofa.

"How do you want to handle this?"

Governor Zhou Wenbin also picked up his teacup, drank slowly, set it down, and his gaze fell on Minister Ma Fuqiang's face, carrying the shrewdness and cunning of an old fox calculating its prey.

"I plan to talk to the Secretary of the Changyuan County Party Committee, Secretary Wei Kuan."

"Let him show the mettle of a County Party Committee secretary, clarify that the County Party Committee secretary is the true top leader, and really make those two brats blush and sweat during the Standing Committee meeting."

"Don't let them do whatever they want, don't cater to them on every project, and don't listen to them on every decision."

"Manage what needs to be managed, say what needs to be said, and slam the table when it's time to slam the table."

"At the same time, give Secretary Lin Juncai of Lvjiang City a heads-up, let him exert some pressure from below, and let those two brats know that the city's eyes are on them, and the province's eyes are on them too. They aren't supreme rulers, and they can't do whatever they please."

Minister Ma Fuqiang laughed heartily, the laughter carrying the approval of "You really are an old fox."

"This idea is very interesting, and I support it with both hands. Those two brats really do need a bit of a knock."

"Especially Xu Weidong. He's been in the limelight too much lately, running projects and soliciting investments. The province, the city, and the county are all praising him, and I'm afraid he'll get big-headed."

"Young people, once they get big-headed, it's easy for them to make mistakes. Letting him suffer a bit will be good for him."

"As for County Mayor Bai Weijun, if his father, Secretary Bai, finds out, he'll probably clap and cheer. That old man hates nothing more than his son relying on connections to get promoted."

"If his son can endure some tempering at the grassroots level, he'll be more than happy."

The two men looked at each other and laughed simultaneously.

In that laughter, there was a tacit understanding, a shared joy, and the thrill of a successful prank.

Governor Zhou Wenbin reached out to pick up the phone on the desk and dialed Secretary Lin Juncai's number first.

The phone rang twice before being answered on the other end, the voice respectful and cautious.

"Secretary Lin, this is Governor Zhou Wenbin. I have a matter to coordinate with you. Those two young men in Changyuan County, County Mayor Bai Weijun and Xu Weidong, have performed well recently, but we feel they still need more training."

"Don't be too polite with them. When it's time to add burdens, add them; when it's time to make demands, make them."

"The city needs to strengthen supervision and assessment of Changyuan County, letting them feel the pressure and the responsibility."

Secretary Lin Juncai agreed repeatedly, but his heart was in his throat.

He certainly understood what Governor Zhou Wenbin meant, but he also knew that if these two young masters felt wronged and complained to the province, he would be the one to suffer the consequences.

"Governor Zhou, when you say adding burdens, what specifically do you mean…"

Governor Zhou Wenbin smiled, his tone softening a bit, but the meaning remained unchanged.

"Just normal supervision and assessment. Don't treat them specially, and don't deliberately make things difficult."

"You are the Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee; you must have your own opinions and judgment. You cannot just let those below do whatever they want."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Secretary Lin Juncai took a deep breath and said he understood.

Governor Zhou Wenbin hung up the phone and dialed Secretary Wei Kuan's number.

The phone rang a few times, and it was answered, the voice carrying the respect of a subordinate reporting to a leader.

"Comrade Wei Kuan, this is Governor Zhou Wenbin. I have something to tell you."

"How are County Mayor Bai Weijun and Xu Weidong performing there?"

Secretary Wei Kuan hurriedly reported: "Governor Zhou, County Magistrate Bai and County Magistrate Xu are working very hard, and their achievements are very prominent. The projects approved by the province have all been implemented very well."

"Investment promotion has also made breakthrough progress, and the cadres in the whole county have a very high opinion of them."

Governor Zhou Wenbin gave a grunt, his tone neither salty nor bland, making it impossible to tell if he was satisfied or not.

"Comrade Wei Kuan, I'm calling you today not to listen to you praise them. It's to remind you that you are the County Party Committee secretary, the top leader."

"You must show the mettle of a County Party Committee secretary and clarify that the County Party Committee secretary is the true top leader. Don't let them do whatever they want, don't cater to them on every project, and don't listen to them on every decision."

"Manage what needs to be managed, say what needs to be said, and slam the table when it's time to slam the table. You need to let them know that in Changyuan County, you are the one in charge."

Listening to Governor Zhou Wenbin's words, cold sweat broke out on Secretary Wei Kuan's forehead, layer by layer.

He certainly understood what Governor Zhou Wenbin meant. The provincial leader felt he was too indulgent toward the two young masters and wanted him to play the bad guy, create some trouble for them, and let them grow through setbacks.

But the problem was, if he really did that, would the two young masters hold a grudge against him?

County Mayor Bai Weijun's father is Secretary Bai, an old subordinate of Xu Tianhua.

Xu Weidong's father is Xu Tianhua, a junior watched over by Ning Anbang and Liu Dehai, and an old leader of provincial bigwigs like Governor Zhou Wenbin, Minister Ma Fuqiang, and Secretary Chen Liang.

If he offended these two young masters, how would he survive in the officialdom in the future?

He opened his mouth, wanting to explain a few things.

"Governor Zhou, I…"

Governor Zhou Wenbin interrupted him, his tone unquestionable.

"Comrade Wei Kuan, this is the organization's trust in you, and it is also the organization's test for you."

"County Mayor Bai Weijun and Xu Weidong are excellent young cadres, but no matter how excellent a cadre is, they need to grow through tempering."

"You cannot always protect them and spoil them. You need to let them know that grassroots work is not about banquets and dinners, nor is it about everyone getting along nicely."

"Grassroots work involves contradictions, struggles, and pressure. You need to let them learn to work under pressure, move forward amidst contradictions, and grow through struggle."

Secretary Wei Kuan held the receiver, his heart bitter.

Yesterday, he was still worried about whether the provincial leaders would think he was too indulgent toward the two young masters and use him as a whetstone to sharpen their edges.

Unexpectedly, the leader called personally today… He had to be this whetstone, whether he wanted to or not.

He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calmer.

"Governor Zhou, I understand. Please rest assured, I will definitely follow your instructions. I will manage what needs to be managed, say what needs to be said, and slam the table when it's time to slam the table."

"I will let County Magistrate Bai and County Magistrate Xu grow through tempering and make progress under pressure."

Governor Zhou Wenbin hung up the phone, leaned back into his chair, looked at Minister Ma Fuqiang, a hint of calculating smile appearing on his face.

Minister Ma Fuqiang also smiled, picked up his teacup, used tea instead of wine, and clinked it with his.

"Old Zhou, this move of yours is really underhanded. That kid Wei Kuan probably wants to die right now."

Governor Zhou Wenbin laughed heartily and finished the tea in one gulp.

"He won't die. He's a smart man and knows what to do."

"Besides, we aren't harming those two brats; we're helping them."

"Young people, how can they know what sweetness tastes like without suffering a bit?"

"Without experiencing some grievances, how can they know what generosity is? Without experiencing some wind and rain, how can they know how beautiful the rainbow is?"

"How many more years can we old guys work? When we retire, who will shelter them from the wind and rain? They can only rely on themselves."

"So, while we are still here, let them suffer a bit more, endure a bit more, and gain more skills. This only benefits them; there is no harm."

Minister Ma Fuqiang nodded and said nothing more.

He leaned back in the sofa, his gaze falling on the gray sky outside the window, wondering what he was thinking.

The smoke in the office gradually dissipated, and the air became clearer, but the oppressive atmosphere remained, like the calm before a storm, so suffocating that it was hard to breathe.

Secretary Wei Kuan hung up the phone and sat in his chair, motionless.

He took a deep breath, picked up the phone on the desk, wanted to call County Mayor Bai Weijun, but hesitated and put it down.

The door was knocked twice, and the Director of the County Party Committee Office pushed the door open, holding a folder, with an expression of not knowing whether he should speak.

Secretary Wei Kuan opened his eyes, looking at his hesitant face, feeling very annoyed, but he didn't lose his temper.

"What is it?"

"Secretary Wei, County Mayor Bai said, for this afternoon's Standing Committee meeting, would you like to review the agenda first?"

Secretary Wei Kuan was silent for a moment and said: "No need. I will preside over this afternoon's meeting. They can decide the agenda; no need to ask me."

The Director of the County Party Committee Office responded and turned to walk out.

Secretary Wei Kuan sat in the chair, looking at the closed door.

At this afternoon's Standing Committee meeting, how should he start? What should he say?

How could he make County Mayor Bai Weijun and Xu Weidong blush and sweat without making them hold a grudge against him?

He thought for a long time but couldn't find an answer.

The sunlight outside the window shone on the potted plant, the leaves bright green. He looked at the potted plant, the irritation in his heart unable to be suppressed.