239: Chapter 239 The Desperate Standing Committee

Three days later, the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee met.

The atmosphere in the conference room felt wrong from the very first minute; the Standing Committee members had arrived earlier than usual.

Once seated, no one made small talk, no one looked down at their phones, and no one even flipped through their notebooks.

They sat in their respective seats, eyes downcast, like a group of animals sensing something before a storm.

Instinctively shrinking back into their own territories, waiting for the inevitable thunder.

The Director of the County Party Committee Office stood at the door for a moment, counted the attendees, and turned to leave.

The sound of footsteps faded away in the corridor, making the conference room even quieter.

Secretary Wei Kuan entered on time. He was wearing a dark jacket, his hair was combed meticulously, and the expression on his face was no different from usual.

He sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. It paused for a moment on the faces of County Mayor Bai Weijun and Xu Weidong, then moved away.

"Comrades, the main agenda for today's Standing Committee meeting is the advancement of several key tasks in the near future."

He paused and opened the folder in front of him.

"The provincial authorities attach great importance to work in science, education, culture, and health. They have issued several documents in succession, requiring all localities to strengthen overall coordination, integrate resources, and form a joint force."

"In order to implement the spirit of the provincial directives, the County Party Committee has studied the matter and suggests establishing a Leading Group for Special Work in Science, Education, Culture, and Health to oversee all such work in the county."

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze for a moment. Everyone present was a veteran of the officialdom; they knew better than anyone the blade hidden within such boilerplate language.

Overseeing all science, education, culture, and health work in the county was originally Xu Weidong's area of responsibility.

After Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde was sentenced, that entire portfolio was assigned to Xu Weidong. Now, for Secretary Wei Kuan to establish a special leading group to "oversee" it meant that a large portion of the cake in Xu Weidong's hands was about to be cut away.

Secretary Wei Kuan's gaze fell on Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo.

"Comrade Baizuo is a Standing Committee member and Vice County Magistrate. He has worked in the county for over twenty years, is rich in experience, and is very familiar with work in science, education, culture, and health."

"The County Party Committee suggests that Comrade Baizuo serve as the leader of this group. Let's see, does anyone have any opinions?"

County Mayor Bai Weijun's fingers tightened around his pen. If Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo becomes the leader, what happens to Xu Weidong?

He did not rush to speak, his gaze sweeping across the table, trying to read something from the faces of the others.

The other Standing Committee members were looking out the window, staring at the table, or writing something in their notebooks; not a single one made eye contact with him.

His heart sank.

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo was the first to state his position, saying in a low voice, "I thank Secretary Wei for his trust."

"Work in science, education, culture, and health concerns thousands of households and relates to the future development of Changyuan County."

"I will definitely do my best to do a good job and not fail the expectations of the County Party Committee."

County Mayor Bai Weijun's fingers gripped the pen tightly. He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calmer, but everyone could hear the coldness in his words.

"County Magistrate Mi is experienced and capable; I have no objection to him being the leader. However, work in science, education, culture, and health has always been under the purview of Xu Weidong. Now that a special leading group is being established, how will Comrade Weidong's role be arranged?"

"We can't just have an Executive Vice County Magistrate be a regular member of a special working group, can we?"

The conference room was silent for a moment. Everyone knew County Mayor Bai Weijun was fighting for Xu Weidong, and they also knew he was fighting for himself.

Xu Weidong's portfolio being cut meant that County Mayor Bai Weijun's power was also being weakened.

This was a game of chess; Secretary Wei Kuan was playing, and County Mayor Bai Weijun was responding.

Secretary Wei Kuan leaned back in his chair, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and let his gaze fall on County Mayor Bai Weijun's face.

"County Mayor Bai is right; Comrade Weidong's work must certainly be arranged well."

"My idea is for Comrade Weidong to serve as the deputy leader of the group, assisting Comrade Baizuo in carrying out the work."

"After all, Comrade Weidong is young; learning more from veteran comrades will also be beneficial for him."

"Deputy leader, assist in carrying out work, learn more from veteran comrades."

County Mayor Bai Weijun sneered inwardly.

Deputy leader, assist, learn.

When these words are put together, they translate to being sidelined.

He glanced at Xu Weidong, who sat there with a calm expression, showing no emotion.

The head of the Organization Department was the first to express support for Secretary Wei Kuan's proposal.

Having worked in the county for so many years, he was most skilled at reading the direction of the wind.

Secretary Wei Kuan's recent moves in the county had become increasingly bold, and he had people in the city and province backing him. No matter how capable County Mayor Bai Weijun and Xu Weidong were, they were just two young men; no matter how deep their backgrounds were, distant water cannot quench a near thirst.

"I agree with Secretary Wei's opinion. Work in science, education, culture, and health requires overall coordination, so establishing a special leading group is very necessary."

"Comrade Baizuo as the leader and Comrade Weidong as the deputy leader—such an arrangement both utilizes the experience of veteran comrades and trains young cadres; it kills two birds with one stone."

The Minister of Propaganda followed suit, and the head of the United Front Work Department followed as well.

Deputy Secretary Qian Taifeng was originally considered to be on County Mayor Bai Weijun's side, and logically, he should have spoken up for him.

But he hesitated for a moment, then picked up his teacup and took a sip.

His gaze swept back and forth between Secretary Wei Kuan and County Mayor Bai Weijun, and in the end, he chose silence.

Silence was taking a side, and the side taken was Secretary Wei Kuan's.

County Mayor Bai Weijun's heart sank little by little. He glanced at Secretary Liu Qingfeng of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, who sat there expressionless.

The other Standing Committee members stated their positions one after another, their reasons even more high-sounding.

For the sake of work, for the sake of the big picture, for the development of Changyuan County.

But County Mayor Bai Weijun knew that they were taking sides not because Secretary Wei Kuan was right, but because someone in the city had sent word and someone in the province had made their stance known; the wind had changed, and they had to follow the wind.

He didn't blame them; in the officialdom, who wasn't like this?

He just felt cold, a coldness seeping out from the marrow of his bones.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng finally spoke. He did not rush to state his position; he first put down the pen in his hand, swept his gaze around the conference room, and spoke unhurriedly.

"Secretary Wei, let me say a few words. I do not oppose the establishment of the special leading group."

"I have no objection to Comrade Baizuo being the leader."

"However, there is one point I must make clear."

"Work in science, education, culture, and health has always been under the purview of Comrade Weidong. From Hukuang Township to the county, he has done an excellent job, which is something everyone has witnessed."

"Now, by creating this group and turning Comrade Weidong into a deputy leader, it appears to be strengthening leadership, but in reality, it is a negation of Comrade Weidong."

"I am not saying that Comrade Baizuo cannot do the job; I am saying that doing this is unfair to Comrade Weidong."

"He has been doing the job well; why should his responsibilities be divided and given to others? Just because he is young?"

"I do not accept this reason."

The air in the conference room felt as if it had been sucked out by something.

Everyone was looking at Secretary Liu Qingfeng, as if watching someone waving a red flag on a mountaintop in the middle of a storm, wondering if he had gone mad.

Secretary Wei Kuan's expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip. His tone remained calm, but there was a hint of coldness.

"Comrade Qingfeng, I have heard your opinion."

"However, this is a collective decision of the County Party Committee, not the opinion of any one person."

"All the other comrades agree; do you think it is meaningful for you alone to oppose it?"

Secretary Liu Qingfeng looked at him and continued, "Secretary Wei, I am not opposing; I am reminding."

"Reminding everyone not to forget what fairness is for the sake of the big picture of the moment."

"Comrade Weidong has worked in Changyuan County for so many years; even if he hasn't achieved great merit, he has put in the hard work."

"If you treat him this way, what kind of bad influence will it have? Which young cadre will be willing to work for Changyuan County in the future?"

"Everyone is not stupid; they can see and they can hear."

Secretary Wei Kuan was silent for two seconds. He did not respond to Secretary Liu Qingfeng's words but turned his gaze to the others, his tone returning to that customary official business manner.

"Are there any other comrades who wish to speak?"

No one spoke; the conference room was so quiet that the humming of the air conditioner could be heard.

Secretary Wei Kuan waited for a moment and then closed the folder in front of him. His voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

"Since there are no other opinions, then it is decided. For the Leading Group for Special Work in Science, Education, Culture, and Health, Comrade Baizuo will serve as the leader, and Comrade Weidong will serve as the deputy leader."

"The list of other members will be drafted by the group itself and reported to the County Party Committee for the record. Meeting adjourned."

He stood up, picked up the folder, turned, and walked out.

The people in the conference room stood up one after another and filed out.

No one spoke, no one whispered, and there was not even any eye contact.

County Mayor Bai Weijun sat in his seat and did not move.

Xu Weidong sat beside him and did not move either.

Secretary Liu Qingfeng stood up, walked to the door, stopped, looked back at them, said nothing, opened the door, and walked out.

The sound of footsteps in the corridor faded away, leaving only County Mayor Bai Weijun and Xu Weidong in the conference room.

County Mayor Bai Weijun leaned back in his chair, looked at the ceiling, and let out a long sigh.

"Comrade Weidong, tell me, have we lost?"

Xu Weidong did not answer. He looked at the gray sky outside the window and remembered the days in Hukuang Township.

At that time, he was the Secretary, and Township Head Jiang Tiansheng was the Township Head.

When he was arranging the division of labor at the Standing Committee meeting, was Township Head Jiang Tiansheng sitting like this too?

Watching his own people fall to the other side one by one, watching his power being eroded bit by bit, watching himself go from a Township Head whose word was law to a figurehead in name only.

Now that he was sitting in the position Township Head Jiang Tiansheng once occupied, he finally truly understood how Township Head Jiang Tiansheng felt back then.

It was not anger, not grievance, but a deep sense of powerlessness.

You watch those who once bowed and scraped to you leave you one by one, throwing themselves into someone else's arms.

You watch the power that once belonged to you being taken away bit by bit.

You watch yourself go from someone whose word was law to someone who is dispensable.

There is nothing you can do…

Powerless…

County Mayor Bai Weijun stood up, picked up the notebook on the table, and walked to the door.

"Comrade Weidong, I will not admit defeat."

"Those projects, I must push them through; no one can stop me!"