Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 107 Extreme Pain Leads to Rebirth

"Zhiyuan," Xu Youwei said without turning around, his voice calm but tinged with weariness, "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. What was bound to happen has finally arrived."

Wu Zhiyuan responded softly, "Secretary Xu, no matter how the wind blows, we still have to do what needs to be done."

Xu Youwei turned around, a hint of approving smile on his face: "That's right. It's precisely at times like these that we need to stay calm."

Comrade Jiang Jun has just taken office and has many things to do, so he is unlikely to make any major adjustments at the prefecture-level city level in the short term.

We can take advantage of this window of opportunity to expedite several practical matters, such as the aftermath of the Yinnong Cooperative case and the implementation of several key livelihood projects.

After a pause, Xu Youwei said with some sadness, "Zhiyuan, there's something I need to tell you in advance. My time in Longcheng may not be very long."

Although Wu Zhiyuan had a premonition, his heart sank when he heard Xu Youwei say it out loud.

"Secretary Xu, the situation can't be that bad, can it...?"

Xu Youwei waved his hand to interrupt Wu Zhiyuan: "This is normal. A new emperor brings a new court."

What I'm thinking about now isn't whether I stay or leave, but what I can do for Longcheng before I go.

The case of the Yi Nong Cooperative, in particular, requires a phased explanation.

Wu Zhiyuan felt heavy-hearted. Xu Youwei was one of the few leaders he had ever met who he truly respected from the bottom of his heart.

Unlike some officials who are aloof and boastful;

He was decisive and efficient in his work, but he always kept the well-being of the people in mind.

He dared to confront evil, which offended Jiang Jun, Zhou Mingxuan and others.

He was as incorruptible as water, and while he was strict with his staff, he was also very caring.

In Wu Zhiyuan's view, Xu Youwei was a textbook example of a good official who cared about the people and was able to get things done.

Yet this good official is now facing the possibility of being reassigned or marginalized due to the change of power at the top.

Should he be punished like this simply because he adhered to his principles and did not succumb to certain unspoken rules?

Xu Youwei gestured for Wu Zhiyuan to sit down, and he sat down next to Wu Zhiyuan.

"Zhiyuan, you've been working with me for a while now. At work, we're in a superior-subordinate relationship."

But today, behind closed doors, I want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you, as an older brother who's more than ten years your senior.

He picked up the teacup on the table and gently blew on it to cool it down: "The path of officialdom may seem glamorous, but it is actually fraught with danger at every turn."

When I was young, I was just like you, full of enthusiasm, believing that as long as I worked hard and acted with a clear conscience, I could make a name for myself.

But reality is often more complex. Sometimes, you might do the right thing but end up on the wrong side; sometimes, you might stick to your principles but offend the wrong person.

Xu Youwei took a sip of tea and continued, "In officialdom, what is the most frightening thing? First, it is not having a powerful backer, having an unstable foundation, like a tree without roots, unable to withstand the storms."

Secondly, not only do they lack powerful backers, but they may also inadvertently offend people they shouldn't or shouldn't offend.

Xu Youwei looked at Wu Zhiyuan and solemnly said, "Zhiyuan, no matter what position you are in or what storms you encounter, there are two bottom lines you must uphold:

First, there is the bottom line in politics: one must always be loyal to the Party and have the people in one's heart; this is the foundation of one's character.

Secondly, there is the bottom line of being a good person: be honest and clean, don't take a penny of money that you shouldn't take, and don't go to places you shouldn't go.

As long as you adhere to these two principles, even if you experience setbacks, you can sleep soundly and always have a chance to make a comeback.

Conversely, if you lose your bottom line, no matter how high you climb, the fall will be even more devastating.

Xu Youwei paused for a moment, then said earnestly, "Zhiyuan, you are still young and have great potential."

I value you not only because you are capable, but also because you have a strong sense of justice, are willing to use your brain, and value relationships.

This is a very valuable quality, and it must be maintained.

What you need to do is continue to be down-to-earth, do your job well, unite with your colleagues, observe and learn more, and talk less. Gold will always shine.

If I leave Longcheng, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection would be a good place for me.

Comrade Lin Xue is a principled and responsible leader. Working in the Discipline Inspection Commission is very good for personal development and also protects you.

As Wu Zhiyuan listened, a warm current surged through his heart, mixed with a bittersweet feeling.

He deeply felt Xu Youwei's care that transcended the superior-subordinate relationship, and also became more clearly aware of the severity of the current situation.

He nodded emphatically: "Secretary Xu, I have kept every word you said in mind!"

Wherever you are, you will always be my respected leader and elder brother!

Xu Youwei nodded with satisfaction, patted Wu Zhiyuan on the shoulder, and everything was understood without words.

……

Before heading to Institute 942, Lin Keke finally located Peng Dafu's hiding place through technical reconnaissance methods—a villa area called Biyuntian in Jiangzhou, the provincial capital.

This villa was bought by Peng Dafu in the name of his mistress.

Shortly after Peng Dafu was arrested, Lin Keke was to be transferred to Institute 942.

In Lin Keke's apartment, the two had just been intimate, and the air was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere, but even stronger was a sense of sorrow and parting.

"Zhiyuan, after I went to Institute 942, I rarely came back to the apartment." Lin Keke took out an access card and handed it to Wu Zhiyuan. "You can come and stay here anytime from now on."

She paused for a moment, then said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "But let me make it clear, you're not allowed to bring other girls to stay overnight."

Wu Zhiyuan gripped the access card tightly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He understood that this was not just the handover of the key, but a symbol of extreme trust, a coordinate of a "home" she had reserved for him in an uncertain future.

He nodded solemnly and promised, "Fool, who else could I bring besides you?"

Lin Keke chuckled: "That female reporter named Ye Xiaoman."

Wu Zhiyuan gently hooked Lin Keke's nose with his hand, then pointed to his heart: "Since I've had you, there's no room for anyone else in my heart, no matter how good she is."

Lin Keke suddenly became sad: "Zhiyuan, I have never asked you to be faithful to one person, never, right?"

I never promised to marry you. Besides, if I die one day, are you going to never marry again...?

Wu Zhiyuan covered Lin Keke's mouth with his hand: "Keke! Don't talk nonsense! What do you mean by 'death'? I won't allow you to say that!"

"Zhiyuan, I'm not talking nonsense, because you never know whether tomorrow or an accident will come first."

Speaking of death, let me tell you a sad story, a true story, about my cousin and his girlfriend.

Wu Zhiyuan hugged Lin Keke tightly and said softly, "Keke, you can talk, I'm listening."

Lin Keke slowly said, "At the time of the Wenchuan earthquake, my cousin was still working in another city."

He had a girlfriend with whom he had a very good relationship at the time, and her family lived in Beichuan.

After the earthquake, all communications were cut off, and my cousin was frantic, desperately trying to call but couldn't get in touch.

He had a very bad feeling at that time.

Later, beneath the rubble, his girlfriend's phone miraculously regained a faint signal and sent him her last message…

Lin Keke's voice choked with emotion. She paused for a moment before continuing, "The message read: 'Husband, I can't hold on any longer... (My cousin later told me that it was the first and last time she called him husband.) If I can make it out alive, will you marry me?'"

"When my cousin saw this message, he was completely devastated. He immediately dropped everything he was doing and rushed to Beichuan without hesitation."

Along the way, he still held onto a sliver of hope, hoping it was just a bad signal, hoping she was still waiting for him.

Lin Keke's tears fell silently: "But when he finally arrived at the ruins of her home after going through all sorts of hardships, what he saw was rescue workers carrying her body out."

"My cousin just stood there, frozen in place, feeling like his whole world had collapsed."

When your heart aches to the extreme, you can't cry anymore; it's just a suffocating numbness.

A firefighter walked over, sighed, patted him on the shoulder, and handed him a blood-stained cell phone.

My cousin took the phone and saw that in her already cold hand, she was still tightly clutching a necklace—the birthday gift he had given her last year.

When he went to get the necklace, he found that her fingernails, from her final struggle and exertion, were deeply embedded in the flesh of his palm.

I turned on my phone and found another message that failed to send. It read: "Goodbye, my dearest husband. I just can't take it anymore. See you in the next life, my husband. I miss you so much..."