233: Chapter 233 Reflection!

Secretary Wei Kuan stood up, picked up his folder, turned, and walked out.

The sound of the door closing was very soft, but that slight noise struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer, dull and oppressive.

The people in the conference room seemed to have been released from a freezing spell and began to move slightly.

Some let out a long breath, some wiped the sweat from their foreheads, and some stood up and pretended to organize their documents, but were actually hiding their still-trembling hands.

County Mayor Bai Weijun sat in his seat, motionless, his face ashen, his chest heaving violently.

Xu Weidong sat next to him, head lowered, looking at the notebook in front of him, which didn't have a single word written in it.

He had just taken that notebook out of the drawer this morning; when he opened it, he had intended to record something important, but ended up recording nothing because he was being scolded the entire time.

County Magistrate Bai finally stood up, closed his notebook, and stuffed it into his briefcase; his movements were heavy, and he had to pull the zipper several times before it finally closed.

He didn't look at anyone, turned, and walked out.

County Magistrate Bai's office was at the other end of the corridor; he pushed the door open and went in, leaving it open.

Xu Weidong followed him inside and closed the door.

County Magistrate Bai stood by the window, his back to him, holding an unlit cigarette.

He stood there, looking at the gray sky outside the window, motionless, like a lifeless sculpture.

"County Magistrate Bai..."

County Magistrate Bai did not turn his head, his voice very calm.

"Comrade Weidong, tell me, have we been having too smooth a ride?"

Xu Weidong was stunned for a moment and said, "County Magistrate Bai, what do you mean by that?"

"I mean, have we been having too smooth a ride?"

"From the day we arrived in Changyuan County, we've had Uncle Zhou, Uncle Ma, Uncle Chen, and the others covering for us at the provincial level, Secretary Lin and Mayor You supporting us at the municipal level, and Secretary Wei protecting us at the county level."

"Whatever project we wanted, the province gave it to us. Whatever policy we wanted, the city gave it to us. Whatever personnel we wanted, the county gave it to us."

"Have we ever considered whether these projects, policies, and people are truly what we deserve?"

"Is it really because we are capable, talented, and work hard? Or is it because of our surnames?"

Xu Weidong was silent; he knew that what County Magistrate Bai said was right.

All these years, he had enjoyed too many privileges that did not belong to him.

Those projects—if it weren't for his surname Xu, would the province have approved them so readily?

Those funds—if it weren't for him calling Governor Zhou Wenbin "Uncle Zhou," would the Finance Department have allocated them so promptly?

Those policies—if it weren't for his father being Xu Tianhua, would the province have spared no effort to favor Changyuan County?

No...

Definitely not...

But they had become accustomed to this kind of preferential treatment, accustomed to being flattered, accustomed to getting whatever they wanted, forgetting how all this came about, forgetting how long all this could last, and forgetting that all this could be taken away at any time.

County Magistrate Bai put down the unlit cigarette in his hand, turned around, and looked at Xu Weidong.

"Regarding today's matter, I will not go to argue with Secretary Wei, nor will I complain to the province, and you shouldn't either."

"The problems he pointed out, although slightly exaggerated, are not completely unreasonable."

"The Agriculture Bureau matter was indeed not handled thoroughly by me. When the company complained, I sent the office director to apologize, which really lacked sincerity."

"The supporting plan for the special funds could indeed be faster. We admit to these."

"But..."

He paused, his voice lowering, and his gaze fell on the gray sky outside the window.

"But we cannot hold grudges, have negative views, or even think of revenge against Secretary Wei just because of today's matter."

"He is the Secretary of the County Party Committee, the top leader. His criticism of us is a normal requirement of the job, not a personal attack."

"If we can't even accept this bit of criticism, how can we accomplish bigger things in the future?"

"We must learn to endure grievances, learn to remain calm when misunderstood, and learn to reflect on ourselves when criticized."

As County Magistrate Bai finished speaking, the office fell into a brief silence.

Xu Weidong leaned back in his chair; he was digesting what County Magistrate Bai had just said.

They had indeed been having too smooth a ride; those privileges were not deserved, and one must learn to endure grievances.

He knew County Magistrate Bai was right; he had indeed been having too smooth a ride all these years, so smooth that he forgot who he was, forgot how all this came about, and forgot that there were people behind him shielding him from the wind and rain.

However, there was one thing he had to make clear—not to shirk responsibility, but to speak the truth.

"County Magistrate Bai, I admit to what you just said."

"The approval from the Agriculture Bureau was delayed for half a month, the follow-up tracking for investment promotion was indeed not tight enough, and the time for submitting the supporting plan could also be compressed."

"I will rectify these problems one by one after I go back, and I will come up with specific measures before next Monday."

He paused, picked up the water cup on the table, and took a sip, his gaze falling on County Magistrate Bai's face.

"However, I have to say a few words about the Cuican Fireworks matter. I have been the Executive Deputy County Magistrate of Changyuan County for less than half a year to this day."

"Previously, I was the Secretary of Hukuang Township, managing the affairs of one township, and I did not have a grasp of the overall situation of the county's fireworks industry."

"The hidden dangers of Cuican Fireworks were not formed in a day or two, nor did they appear after I arrived."

"The Safety Supervision Bureau has checked it many times before. Every time there was an inspection record, and every time the conclusion was that it basically met the requirements."

"I have retrieved and read those records; the people who signed them include previous deputy county magistrates in charge and past directors of the Safety Supervision Bureau, and none of them is my name."

"I didn't argue with Secretary Wei at the meeting because he is the leader; he criticized me, so I listened."

"But if the responsibility is completely pinned on me because of this, I think it's unfair."

His voice was not loud, but every word carried a kind of restraint and calmness after being wronged.

He wasn't slamming the table, smashing a cup, or shouting grievances at the top of his lungs; he was stating facts and reasoning.

County Magistrate Bai looked at him, was silent for a few seconds, and the corners of his mouth moved slightly.

He reached out and picked up the unlit cigarette on the table, turned it twice between his fingers, then put it down again.

"Comrade Weidong, I know all of what you said."

"The hidden dangers of Cuican Fireworks are not your responsibility. After you arrived, you discovered the problems, sealed and rectified them, and reorganized production. You did every step very well, and no one else could necessarily have done better than you."

"But have you ever thought about why Secretary Wei wanted to bring this up at the meeting?"

"It's not that he doesn't know you are new, or that he doesn't know those hidden dangers have nothing to do with you."

"He brought this up not to pursue anyone's responsibility, but to let us know that in Changyuan County, he is not a figurehead."

County Magistrate Bai leaned back in his chair, his eyes falling on the ceiling, his voice lower.

"We had too smooth a ride before, and Secretary Wei was too polite to us—so polite that we thought he didn't need to express his position or let us know who the top leader really is."

"Today he is reminding us, and he is also keeping us in check. He is not targeting Cuican Fireworks, nor is he targeting you; he is telling us."

"When it's time to restrain yourself, you must; when it's time to bow your head, you must; when it's time to admit your mistakes, you must."

"As for those responsibilities that truly don't belong to us, he knows it, and we know it, so there is no need to argue at the meeting."

"If you win the argument, you lose the hearts of the people."

"If you lose the argument, you lose the substance."

"Not arguing is the biggest argument."

Xu Weidong was silent for a long time, then said, "County Magistrate Bai, I understand."

He stood up, picked up the car keys on the table, and his voice returned to its usual calmness.

"I will report the rectification measures for next week to you on time. I will not mention the Cuican Fireworks matter again."

"As for Secretary Wei, I will find an opportunity to report my work; I will state my position and admit my mistakes as needed."

County Magistrate Bai nodded and did not get up to see him off.

"County Magistrate Bai, thank you."

"Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for telling me these things. Some things, others wouldn't tell me, and wouldn't dare to tell me."

It is only County Magistrate Bai who has the background and capital to say this. As for Secretary Wei Kuan...

I don't know how long his current state will last...