31: Chapter 31 Wan Xiaohan's Intentions

It was already 4:30 PM when Secretary Wan Xiaohan returned to his office.

Secretary-General Fang Zhou followed him in and closed the door.

Secretary Wan Xiaohan sat down in his chair and picked up his teacup, only to find it empty.

He didn't put it down, just held it as it was.

Secretary-General Fang Zhou stood opposite the desk, looking at him.

"Secretary, I've been pondering your trip to Changyuan County for several days now, and I still can't quite figure it out."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan set down the empty teacup and chuckled, "What are you pondering?"

"Everyone knows that Changyuan County is a complete mess."

"The previous two secretaries steered clear of it, yet you insisted on diving right in."

"And you even brought that kid along."

Secretary-General Fang Zhou paused, then said, "I've been with you for so many years, but this is the first time I can't read your intentions."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan didn't speak; he leaned back in his chair, gazing at the old locust tree outside the window.

"Old Fang, have you looked at the GDP growth rate of Lvjiang City over the past few years?"

Secretary-General Fang Zhou was stunned for a moment, then replied, "I have. It's ranked fourth in the province."

"Ranked fourth—sounds decent."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan turned his head to look at Secretary-General Fang Zhou.

"But you have to look at the structure."

"Changyuan County is such a drag on our progress."

Secretary-General Fang Zhou remained silent.

"If Changyuan County doesn't move, Lvjiang City will have no momentum."

"Everyone understands this logic."

"But why didn't the previous two secretaries take action?"

Secretary-General Fang Zhou thought for a moment and said, "Because the connections are too extensive?"

"Correct."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan nodded and said, "Too extensive."

"People from the county, people from the city, retired veterans, and subordinates still in office."

"Pull one thread, and the whole fabric moves."

"No one wants to be the one to make the first move."

"But I don't have time to wait."

"Secretary..."

"I know what you want to say."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan interrupted him, "I've been here for nine months. My position isn't stable, and my foundation isn't firm. Taking action on Changyuan County now is too risky."

"But if I don't act, two years from now, Changyuan County will still be Changyuan County."

"What difference would I, as Secretary, have from the two before me?"

Secretary-General Fang Zhou fell silent. Secretary Wan Xiaohan stood up and walked to the window.

"Old Fang, do you know why I wanted to bring Comrade Weidong along?"

Secretary-General Fang Zhou thought for a moment, then said, "Because of his background?"

"Yes, but not entirely."

"His background is a nuclear weapon."

"The greatest use of a nuclear weapon isn't to launch it, but to keep it there for people to see."

"I brought him to Changyuan County precisely to let those people see it."

Secretary-General Fang Zhou's eyes flickered.

"Are you implying, Secretary..."

"People like Secretary Chen Tianci are capable of anything."

"They offer women, shares, houses, and cars."

"If they succeed, you're on their boat."

"But they wouldn't dare touch Comrade Weidong."

Secretary-General Fang Zhou nodded and said, "Because touching him means touching the people behind him."

"Exactly."

"So they can only steer clear."

"They can only cajole, flatter, and treat him with reverence."

"Even if they don't know Comrade Weidong's background for the moment, the people behind them will find ways to tell them, so as to keep them from acting rashly."

"After all, the people behind them know exactly what kind of characters they are."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan sighed, "Of course, my main purpose was to let him see it with his own eyes."

"To see what Changyuan County is like."

"To see how those people treat the common folk."

"To see that gray, hazy sky over the mining area, that bumpy, pothole-ridden road, and that old man sitting at the entrance of the convenience store with a vacant look in his eyes."

"Only after seeing it will he want to take action."

"Secretary, are you planning to... put him down there?"

Secretary Wan Xiaohan didn't answer directly; he walked back to his desk and sat down.

"Old Fang, tell me, what is a young person most afraid of?"

"Afraid of having no opportunities?"

"Incorrect."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan shook his head, "It's the fear of having an opportunity but not knowing how to use it."

"He spent four years at Civil Engineering University, personally guided by President Chen Bing."

"He's been in Lvjiang City for a month, with Minister Sun Ping personally backing him."

"Now he's my secretary, by my side every day."

"Is he lacking opportunities?"

"No."

"Then what is he lacking?"

"Lacking... experience?"

"Correct, he lacks real experience."

"He lacks the things he has seen with his own eyes, heard with his own ears, and felt with his own heart."

"I brought him to Changyuan County to give him that lesson."

"I understand."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan leaned back in his chair and said, "Changyuan County has piles of rotten debts accumulated over many years."

"Just relying on directives from above, meetings, and supervision is useless."

"Someone has to dig in and excavate it inch by inch."

"This person must have a background that makes those people afraid to act."

"They must have the determination to ensure those people cannot cover it up."

"They must be young, driven, and unafraid of offending others."

"And they must be trustworthy."

Secretary-General Fang Zhou looked up and said, "You mean him."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan nodded, "Yes."

"But not yet."

"For now, he stays by my side to watch more, listen more, and learn more."

"When the time is right, sending him down there will be like wielding a blade."

"By then, even if those people want to cover it up, they won't be able to."

Secretary-General Fang Zhou looked at Secretary Wan Xiaohan and asked, "Secretary, do you have any other instructions?"

Secretary Wan Xiaohan turned around and chuckled, "Nothing else. You go ahead and get busy."

Secretary-General Fang Zhou nodded and walked toward the door.

When he reached the door, he stopped.

"Secretary, does that kid know?"

Secretary Wan Xiaohan looked at him, maintaining his smile, "Know what?"

"Know that you intend to... use him as that blade?"

Secretary Wan Xiaohan was silent for two seconds, then said, "He doesn't know now, but he will in the future."

"When he finds out, if he's willing, this blade can be used. If he isn't willing..."

"That's fine too."

"He doesn't owe Lvjiang City anything to begin with."

Secretary-General Fang Zhou nodded. A family like Comrade Weidong's was not something they could manipulate at will.

If they truly angered the big figures behind him, the entire Lvjiang City would face a major reshuffle.

So he pushed the door open and left, leaving Secretary Wan Xiaohan alone in the office.

After Secretary-General Fang Zhou left, Secretary Wan Xiaohan let out a long sigh of relief.

To be honest, he himself was breaking out in a cold sweat.

Having been in officialdom for so many years, he knew all too well that these scions of powerful families were often double-edged swords.

Used well, they might be grateful to you.

But if used poorly, their parents could turn around and have you thrown in jail.

He wasn't Nezha; he didn't have three heads.

Therefore, before using him, he had to be extremely cautious and plan carefully.

This time was merely laying the groundwork; the specifics would depend on whether that kid was willing to commit himself to the struggle against darkness.

If he was willing, it would naturally be a happy ending for everyone.

If he wasn't willing, he couldn't force him.

What he told Secretary-General Fang Zhou was half-truth, half-fiction; he did indeed have ideas for the development of Lvjiang City.

But just as mentioned before, at the end of the day, he wasn't Nezha—no matter how much he talked, he only had one head.

Therefore, tearing through the darkness of Changyuan County had to be done slowly.

The economic slowdown in Lvjiang City wasn't just a problem with Changyuan County, but the key issue was that if they couldn't handle Changyuan County, other places would follow suit.