4: Chapter 4: Appointed as Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee

"I don't think he has any reason to refuse your recommendation." Zhang Huaijing met the gaze of the Minister of the Organization Department and answered calmly.

At this critical juncture, if the new Provincial Party Committee Secretary continued to leave him idle or even suppress him, it would make the Secretary appear small-minded, and might even provide fodder for accusations of suppressing dissent.

On the battlefield, one should "pursue the routed foe with remaining courage," but in officialdom, one shouldn't push people to the wall; it is necessary to unite all those who can be united.

The old Secretary Jian Weiguo had already completely withdrawn from the historical stage of Haixi Province and could not possibly make a comeback. His close aide, the Secretary, possessed excellent political quality, a high level of theoretical knowledge, and strong professional ability. After review and investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission, his economic record was spotless; he had stood the test. Although there were some flaws in his personal conduct, it did not affect the overall situation.

In that era, the organization was very tolerant of romantic affairs between men and women, far unlike today.

Besides, promoting Zhang Huaijing was a signal—a sign of appointing people on their merits—telling those cadres who had been promoted by Jian Weiguo not to carry any ideological baggage, and to continue working hard, for they too would have their day of promotion.

This tactic was tried and tested in the history of ancient emperors.

"You are quite perceptive, but you should use that on your work, not on other things." Minister Guan Wengao criticized him expressionlessly.

Others might not know about his romantic entanglements, but Minister Guan Wengao knew them clearly, because his most beloved niece was Wang Shuting.

Whenever Wang Shuting felt aggrieved, she would always come to him crying.

"Thank you for the compliment, Minister." Zhang Huaijing smiled, calm and composed.

Minister Guan Wengao let out a faint cold snort and raised his voice: "I called you here today on behalf of Secretary Kang to conduct your pre-appointment interview. I won't say anything flowery. I'll share my thoughts, and then you can state your position."

"Very well, Minister."

"I don't know what you are thinking. Haizhou is the furthest city in the province, ranking second to last in the economy. It is economically underdeveloped, and the local customs are fierce."

Minister Guan Wengao spoke unhurriedly, without emotion. "The political situation is also quite complex. The previous Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee fell from power in July, only half a year after the election last December. The current Municipal Party Committee Secretary was transferred from Dongshan City. You should have heard that the organization's intended mayoral candidate wasn't elected, and the Executive Vice Mayor, Niu Panlong, was elected instead—an unprecedented vote-switching. Regardless, the transition is just finished, and another change won't happen for four or five years. You need to be able to endure the time."

Saying this, he stubbed out his cigarette, took a few slow sips of tea, and continued, "However, there really isn't any other deputy Secretary opening in the prefecture-level cities. Starting last year, the central government required local areas to reduce the configuration of deputy secretaries, in principle to no more than two. Aside from the mayor, each city only has one spot left, so the competition is quite fierce. This time, only Haizhou happened to have a vacancy. The Haizhou transition didn't achieve the organization's intent, leading to a local mayor and an outsider Secretary working together. According to organizational experience, this combination usually doesn't get along. As a full-time deputy Secretary, you might become a mouse in a bellows, suffering from both sides."

Zhang Huaijing had a full understanding of this and nodded: "Thank you for the advice, Minister. I will keep it in mind."

"It is best to be able to navigate both sides smoothly. Even if you can't, don't end up like Pigsy looking in the mirror—not being a person inside or out." Minister Guan Wengao continued to admonish, "Local relationships are complex; do not easily pick a side. Therefore, you need to be clear-headed."

These were pearls of wisdom, and Zhang Huaijing nodded with gratitude in his eyes.

"Third, Haizhou is far from the capital. The officials there are bold, have wild methods, and factionalism and cliquishness are quite prominent. The overall atmosphere is not very good. When you go there, you must not sway with the wind or degenerate. You must keep yourself clean, hold the bottom line, and especially, tighten your belt! That is called holding your ground. Zhang Huaijing, can you do these three things I've said?"

"Minister, rest assured, I can do it!" Zhang Huaijing said with a firm tone. "My application for a downward transfer this time is because I want to go to the grassroots, especially to poor and backward places, to do some solid work."

"You were quite good before, but these past two years you've degenerated, which makes me both hopeful and anxious for you."

"Minister, I have repented and turned over a new leaf. I will definitely not let down the organization or the earnest instructions of the Minister."

Minister Guan Wengao's mood clearly improved; his face was no longer as cold as iron as before. He nodded in a relaxed manner: "The meeting is tomorrow, the public notice period is one week, and then you can go to take up the post."

After speaking, he pulled out a cigarette and tossed it to him: "Come, keep me company for a smoke."

Thus, the two men began to smoke. Soon, the room was filled with smoke, like a fairyland.

Suddenly, Minister Guan Wengao sighed softly: "Are you sure you want to divorce?"

"Yes."

"If it's over, then it's over. It's a relief for both." Minister Guan Wengao sighed again.

This marriage was manipulated by him single-handedly, and the result proved to be a serious mistake. Zhang Huaijing, Wang Shuting, and Lin Qianwei (Zhang Huaijing's first love) were all hurt. The only one who seemed to win was himself.

Under Zhang Huaijing's matchmaking, he had latched onto the big tree that was Secretary Jian Weiguo. Very quickly, he was transferred from the peripheral Provincial Women's Federation into the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee. After a transition, he became the director of the Cadre Division One and had been on a smooth official path ever since, until his current position as a deputy provincial-level official with real power.

"May we both be free and happy after parting." Zhang Huaijing smiled faintly, quoting a line from "A Letter of Release" by Zhao Zongmin of the Tang Dynasty.

"I watched Shuting grow up; she is such a good child, just stubborn and hot-tempered. I don't know why her attitude suddenly turned 180 degrees? Speaking for you, pleading for you, and even dividing so much property with you—perhaps that is what a husband and wife are. In the future, even if you are separated, you should take more care of her."

"Yes, I know, I will." Zhang Huaijing bowed his head in submission.

Wang Shuting would not tell her second uncle about the attempted "murder of her husband," so Minister Guan Wengao naturally would not understand the reason behind it.

"I won't say anything more; I have a meeting later. Go ahead and work boldly, don't have any psychological burden." Minister Guan Wengao stood up and walked around, both to see him out and to show closeness.

"Second Uncle, thank you." Zhang Huaijing suddenly changed his form of address, his tone intimate.

Minister Guan Wengao was stunned for a moment, his eyes suddenly feeling a bit sore. How many years had it been since this kid called him Second Uncle? Was he really, as Shuting said, changed?

On Sunday night, when Wang Shuting spoke with such certainty, he didn't believe it. But today, the moment Zhang Huaijing walked in, he actually felt that something was different, because his eyes were clear and his attire was fresh, as if he had returned to the image of the elegant scholar from ten years ago.

"Work hard!" He didn't say much more, patted Zhang Huaijing's shoulder firmly, and watched him walk out of the office.

The Provincial Party Committee compound used the concession area left over from the Republic of China era. They were all small Western-style buildings; the exterior was marble, and the interior was basically wood, a combination of Chinese and Western styles.

The Organization Department, the Propaganda Department, and the General Office of the Provincial Party Committee each occupied a building, all three stories high.

Leaving the Organization Department, Zhang Huaijing went to the General Office of the Provincial Party Committee nearby. The Secretary-General of the Provincial Party Committee was away with Secretary Kang Zheng, so he went to visit the two Deputy Secretaries-General who were in the office, as well as two Deputy Directors with whom he had a decent relationship.

Having been a Secretary for major provincial leaders for many years, as the saying goes, "it is cold at the top," he had to be cautious and tight-lipped about everything, and he was very prudent in making friends, which resulted in him having very few friends after many years in officialdom.

A Secretary to the Provincial Party Committee Secretary is not as powerful and awe-inspiring as people imagine; in fact, it is very boring, cautious, and low-key. There is no freedom, especially when encountering a leader like Secretary Jian Weiguo, who was overly simple, honest, and upright. The Secretary lived the life of an ascetic.

There are no secrets in officialdom, especially regarding personnel issues. The personnel adjustment concerning Zhang Huaijing had already spread within a small circle before it was even discussed at the meeting.

Everyone was still a bit surprised that he was about to go far away to Haizhou. From the perspective of the General Office, this path was obviously taking a long way around, but they all politely and warmly expressed their congratulations and blessings to him.

The people in the General Office were all high-achieving students with high quality, and their personalities had long been smoothed out; most had become slick and sophisticated.

Even the coldness of human relationships was hidden behind smiles.

Relatively speaking, there were more people in the Policy Research Office of the Provincial Party Committee who dared to show their true nature. If I'm not close to you or I don't like you, there's no need to waste words with you; we'll just go our separate ways.

Zhang Huaijing was in charge of cadres, the Party Committee of the organs, and retirees, but in reality, the division chiefs were doing the work. The director of the Policy Research Office was concurrently the Deputy Secretary-General of the General Office of the Provincial Party Committee; he had an overbearing style and personally handled personnel issues, so Zhang Huaijing was left idle, or rather, sidelined.

Therefore, there was nothing to hand over regarding work.

After eleven o'clock, just as Zhang Huaijing left the Provincial Party Committee compound, he received a call from the old Secretary's daughter, Jian Yun:

"Brother Jing, you haven't forgotten, right? Take me to school tomorrow."