36: Chapter 36 Deciding Where to Go

Secretary Wan Xiaohan looked at Minister Lu Ziming and said, "Comrade Lu Ziming, in the Organization Department's proposal, have you considered sending him to Changyuan County?"

Minister Lu Ziming paused for a moment, then quickly flipped through the materials in front of him.

"Secretary Wan Xiaohan, there is indeed an option for Changyuan County in the proposal: Deputy Party Committee Secretary and Organization Committee Member of Hukuang Township."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan nodded and asked, "Deputy Party Committee Secretary of Hukuang Township, how is this position?"

Minister Lu Ziming deliberated and said, "Looking at the job description, the Deputy Secretary is in charge of Party building and organization, while also assisting the Township Party Committee Secretary with daily affairs."

"At the township level, it is considered a relatively core position, where one can both engage with grassroots Party building and participate in administrative management."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan nodded and said, "Grassroots Party building is the foundation."

"Administrative management is the means."

"Both can temper a person."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan looked at Secretary Lin Juncai and asked, "Secretary Lin Juncai, what do you think?"

Secretary Lin Juncai was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I understand Secretary Wan Xiaohan's line of thinking."

"Changyuan County certainly needs people, and Hukuang Township is indeed a place that requires a great deal of effort."

"But I would like to ask one question."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan said nonchalantly, "Secretary Lin Juncai, please go ahead."

Secretary Lin Juncai said slowly, "Xu Weidong has been in Lvjiang City for less than a year."

"He has just familiarized himself with the situation in the city, but knows nothing about the situation in the county."

"If he is sent directly to a place like Hukuang Township, will he be able to adapt?"

"If he cannot adapt, it will delay both his own progress and the work of Hukuang Township."

Executive Vice Mayor Xiong Hui chimed in, "Secretary Lin Juncai's concerns are reasonable."

"The situation in Hukuang Township is indeed complex."

"Public security issues, petitioning issues, development issues—none of them are easy to handle."

"Can a young man who just graduated hold his ground when facing those veteran township officials, old foxes, and long-standing conflicts?"

He looked at Secretary Wan Xiaohan and said with a smile, "Secretary Wan Xiaohan, I am not against sending him to the grassroots level, but I think we can slow down a bit."

"Wouldn't it be safer to let him gain experience in a good place like Pingchuan for a year before sending him to Changyuan County?"

Lvzhou District Party Committee Secretary Qin Yaoyang also spoke up, "Comrade Xiong Hui is right."

"We also have many young cadres in Lvzhou District; before being sent down, they must first be polished in the government offices for a year or two to familiarize themselves with the basic routines before being sent to the grassroots."

"Throwing them directly into the most complex places does not yield a high success rate."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan listened without speaking.

He turned his gaze to Deputy Secretary You Chuan and asked, "Comrade You Chuan, what is your view?"

Deputy Secretary You Chuan was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I understand Secretary Wan Xiaohan's idea."

"Changyuan County needs a breakthrough, and Hukuang Township needs people who can get things done."

"Xu Weidong has high overall quality; if he can achieve results in such a place, it will indeed be beneficial for his growth."

"But the concerns of Secretary Lin Juncai and Comrade Xiong Hui are also reasonable."

"The situation in Hukuang Township is indeed complex."

"Can a young person handle those tangled relationships and long-standing conflicts well?"

"Secretary Wan Xiaohan, you have taken him to Changyuan County; you know his reactions best."

"Do you think he can handle it?"

Secretary Wan Xiaohan did not answer directly; he leaned back in his chair and swept his gaze across the faces of those present.

The conference room was quiet for a few seconds before Secretary Wan Xiaohan spoke, "Comrade You Chuan asks, can he handle it?"

"I took him to Changyuan County, saw Hukuang Township, the mining area, and that dilapidated street."

"He followed behind me, didn't say a word, just watched."

"Later, we stayed at the county guesthouse; that night, someone knocked on his door."

He did not mention the details of the knocking, but Deputy Secretary You Chuan's eyes flickered slightly.

Secretary Wan Xiaohan continued, "He didn't tell me anything."

"The next day, he got up as usual, worked as usual, and organized the materials as usual."

"It was only later that I found out that he had kicked the person out that night."

The conference room was quiet for a few seconds, and Secretary Lin Juncai's expression changed.

Is this something that can be brought to the table?

Deputy Secretary You Chuan's expression also changed; he thought of some things, but said nothing.

Secretary Wan Xiaohan looked at them and said, "Secretary Lin Juncai just asked, can he adapt? Comrade Xiong Hui asked, can he hold his ground?"

"My answer is, yes!"

"A twenty-three-year-old young man, facing that kind of temptation, can resist it."

"Facing those veteran township officials, old foxes, and long-standing conflicts, he will surely be able to handle it too."

"Changyuan County needs a breakthrough."

"Hukuang Township needs people who can get things done."

"Xu Weidong has this potential."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan looked at Secretary Lin Juncai and said in a calm tone, "Secretary Lin Juncai, I understand that Pingchuan is short of people."

"But Pingchuan is the county with the fastest economic growth in the city; it has a good foundation and a solid base. If you send an experienced cadre there, they can still do a good job."

"Hukuang Township is different."

"That kind of place is not for everyone."

"And it is not a place everyone is willing to go to."

Subsequently, Secretary Wan Xiaohan looked at Deputy Secretary You Chuan and said, "Comrade You Chuan mentioned taking things step-by-step; I agree."

"But taking things step-by-step does not mean standing still."

"If you don't go down when you should, it will be too late when you want to go later."

"Xu Weidong is young, driven, principled, and responsible."

"Such a cadre can only play the greatest role if placed where they are needed most."

"This is my thinking."

The conference room was quiet for a long time; no one spoke.

Secretary Lin Juncai picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then put it down.

He looked at the proposal in front of him and was silent for a few seconds.

"Secretary Wan Xiaohan, I reserve my opinion, but I respect the decision of the Standing Committee."

Deputy Secretary You Chuan also nodded and said, "Secretary Wan Xiaohan is right."

"Changyuan County indeed needs people, and Hukuang Township indeed needs people who can get things done."

"Xu Weidong, if he can achieve results in such a place, it will indeed be beneficial for his growth."

"I agree with the assignment."

"But I suggest that the Organization Department pay close attention and provide support to ensure he can carry out his work smoothly."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan nodded and said, "Comrade Lu Ziming, the Organization Department must follow up."

Minister Lu Ziming quickly said, "Understood."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan looked at the other members of the Standing Committee and asked, "Are there any other dissenting opinions?"

No one spoke. Wu Wei opened his eyes, glanced, and closed them again.

Secretary Wan Xiaohan said, "Then let's vote."

Raising hands...

Passed unanimously!

Secretary Wan Xiaohan stood up and announced, "Meeting adjourned."

In the corridor, Secretary-General Fang Zhou followed behind Secretary Wan Xiaohan.

The two walked very slowly.

"Secretary, about that knocking incident earlier..."

"Old Fang, do you think they would have backed down if I hadn't brought that up?"

Secretary-General Fang Zhou nodded with a complex expression; everyone knew that Changyuan County was in a bad state.

But if those rotten matters were really exposed at the Standing Committee meeting, the conservatives would definitely be the first to be unable to sit still.

That was why Deputy Secretary You Chuan chose to voluntarily back down...

"That child is even better than I imagined."

"I can rest assured handing over the mess in Hukuang Township to him."