Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 188 Endless Longing

During the Qingming Festival, a light drizzle falls.

Wu Zhiyuan walked alone along the mountain path, step by step, uphill.

Han Tingting's voice and smile are still vivid in our memories, but now she is separated from us by death.

A person's life is actually a process of constant separation and death.

Friends, colleagues, and relatives will all disappear one by one, vanishing to the ends of the earth.

Han Tingting's new grave is on a small hillside.

Not far down the mountain is that pond.

The willows by the pond have sprouted new buds, their green color appearing hazy in the rain and mist.

It was there that the little girl with pigtails who insisted on going with him to collect water chestnuts slipped and fell in. He pulled her out, soaking wet, and then the two of them sat together on the bank, one crying and the other helplessly trying to comfort her.

Things remain the same, but people are gone.

Wu Zhiyuan stood quietly, engaging in a celestial dialogue with Han Tingting.

After an unknown amount of time, the rain gradually subsided, turning into an almost invisible mist.

Following folk custom, Wu Zhiyuan lit paper money.

Paper flies and transforms into white butterflies, tears of blood stain the azaleas red.

……

In the past few months, Wu Zhiyuan has been working in the News and Publicity Department of the Provincial Public Security Bureau. He hasn't actually done much work; he's spent most of his time accompanying Han Tingting.

Fortunately, everyone knew that Wu Zhiyuan was Xu Youwei's former secretary, so no one made things difficult for him.

Xu Youwei's office.

Wu Zhiyuan knocked on the door and came in.

Xu Youwei, who was engrossed in reading documents, looked up and saw Wu Zhiyuan. He said warmly, "Zhiyuan, I was just looking for you."

Wu Zhiyuan sat down, and Xu Youwei got straight to the point: "Zhiyuan, I plan to transfer you to the office and make you a deputy director-level secretary."

I understand your situation. Being in the publicity department is a transitional position, and it's also a way to give you some breathing room.

Now, it's time to step into a more important position and take on more responsibility. What are your thoughts on this?

"Governor Xu, thank you for your trust and guidance."

I have learned so much working alongside you.

The fact that you gave me such an important position is a sign of your care for me.

"It is precisely because of this care and concern, Secretary Xu, that I have a preliminary idea to report to you."

Xu Youwei nodded, signaling Wu Zhiyuan to continue.

Wu Zhiyuan calmly said, "Governor Xu, working by your side will allow me to improve my comprehensive coordination and ability to manage complex situations more quickly, which is something many people dream of."

But you have always taught us to go deep into the grassroots, understand the real situation, come from the masses, and go back to the masses.

I think that if I could go back to the grassroots level and apply, test, and solve the big picture perspectives and methodologies I learned from you in the specific contradictions and problems at the grassroots level, it would be a good way for me to temper myself.

This is just my personal, immature thought; in any case, I will resolutely obey the organization's decision.

Xu Youwei was clearly somewhat surprised. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Wanting to go back to the grassroots, to connect with the people, and to gain experience in concrete matters—that's a good idea."

Since you want to go back, do you want to go to the city, or go directly to the county/district?

Wu Zhiyuan did not hesitate: "Governor Xu, if possible, I would like to go to the county or district level."

The conflicts are more concentrated and the situations are more complex in districts and counties, and they are also closer to the people.

I want to go to the place with the most conflicts and the heaviest tasks.

Xu Youwei nodded: "I understand. I will communicate with the relevant departments about your going to the grassroots level."

The grassroots level is a crucible and a touchstone. We must observe, listen, and think more, possessing both the courage to forge ahead and the caution to tread on thin ice.

Transform the high-level vision seen at the provincial level into the depth and strength of problem-solving at the grassroots level.

"Yes, I remember. Thank you for your guidance and care, Governor Xu."

Wu Zhiyuan was unwilling to stay in the provincial government and instead returned to Longcheng, mainly because of Lin Keke.

Lin Keke had asked Wu Zhiyuan to help manage her studio apartment when he had time.

After being injured, Lin Keke fell into the sea and disappeared for more than a year without any news. Theoretically speaking, she is no longer alive.

However, without absolute certainty that she was dead, Wu Zhiyuan refused to believe that she was really dead.

Just like Su Taohong, almost everyone thought she was dead, even Sang Chenglong confessed to hiring someone to kill her, but she was not dead.

Working in Longcheng makes it easier to get to Lin Keke's apartment.

……

There have been significant personnel changes in Longcheng City.

The municipal party secretary remains Ai Kun, and the mayor is Wen Changcheng.

When Xu Youwei served as the Party Secretary of the city, Wen Changcheng was a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and the Executive Vice Mayor.

Zhang Xiaotian, the former deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, has been appointed as the chairman of the municipal people's congress standing committee.

Lang Yuanyuan, the former member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Minister of Publicity, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Shen Chenlin, the former member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Minister of the Organization Department, was appointed as the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee.

The current Party Secretary of Qingshan County is Gan Simiao, and the County Head is Geng Dongqing, both of whom are Wu Zhiyuan's former superiors.

Although he was a former leader, Wu Zhiyuan's relationship with them was complicated.

Gan Simiao became the director of the municipal forestry bureau and sent Wu Zhiyuan to Qinglongshan Forest Farm.

After Wu Zhiyuan became Xu Youwei's secretary, Gan Simiao curried favor with Wu Zhiyuan and was thus promoted to deputy director of the Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department and director of the Municipal Cyberspace Administration.

After Xu Youwei was demoted to the Provincial Political Consultative Conference, Gan Simiao then sought refuge with Ai Kun and was able to become the secretary of the Qingshan County Party Committee.

Geng Dongqing once served as the deputy secretary-general of the municipal party committee and director of the municipal party committee office. He was Wu Zhiyuan's superior. However, because of his close relationship with Ai Kun, Xu Youwei transferred him to the position of deputy minister of the municipal party committee's United Front Work Department. Although it was a lateral transfer, it was a demotion.

Not long after Ai Kun became the municipal party secretary, Geng Dongqing was given an important position and was appointed as the county magistrate of Qingshan County.

A month later, Wu Zhiyuan's official appointment was issued: to serve as a member of the Standing Committee of the Qingshan County Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of Xindian Town.

Xindian Town is a sub-county-level town, with its Party Secretary and Mayor holding positions at the sub-county level.

Before taking office in Xindian Town, Wu Zhiyuan learned about the basic situation of Xindian Town through various channels.

Xindian Town is a long-established economic powerhouse in Qingshan County, but in recent years it has fallen into a predicament of stagnant development and lack of vitality.

Industrial enterprises that once contributed nearly a quarter of the county's total industrial output have mostly lost their former glory.

The most representative example is the county-owned state-owned enterprise, Qingshan Brewery.

This old factory, with a history of more than 20 years, was once the pride of Qingshan County. Its Qingshan Spring Beer not only sold well in the province, but also went to several surrounding provinces.

At its peak, the factory had nearly a thousand workers, and trucks lined up to pick up goods every day.

However, although the brewery buildings still exist, the production lines operate intermittently.

The products lack innovation, the packaging is outdated, and the taste has remained unchanged for decades.

In the face of fierce market competition, it suffered repeated defeats, and its market share was eroded by foreign brands.

Sales were dismal, losses continued for years, and workers' wages could not be paid.

Most of the other key enterprises are also in a state of shutdown or partial shutdown.

Xindian Town boasts abundant tourism resources, with the famous Qingshan Canyon located within its boundaries.

The canyon stretches for more than ten kilometers, featuring unique peaks and rocks, waterfalls and deep pools, and beautiful natural scenery.

A few years ago, some businessmen from outside the province took a liking to this place and invested tens of millions of yuan in tourism development. However, due to various reasons, the project failed, the businessmen lost their investment, and left in disgrace.

Economic stagnation, growing public discontent, and low morale among officials.

This is the Xindian Town that Wu Zhiyuan is about to face.

……

Before taking up his post, Wu Zhiyuan made a special trip to Lin Keke's single apartment.

Use the key she left behind to open the door. Everything in the room was the same as before, except that it was covered with a layer of dust.

Wu Zhiyuan began cleaning.

From the coffee table and TV cabinet in the living room, to every shelf of the bookshelf, and then to the dressing table and bedside table in the bedroom.

He wiped very slowly and carefully, as if touching fragments of bygone days.

He opened the wardrobe, and Lin Keke's clothes were hanging inside.

Wu Zhiyuan took out each piece of clothing, gently shook it out, and hung it on the clothes rack on the balcony.

The sheets, duvet cover, and pillowcases were all removed and put into the washing machine.

In front of the bookshelf, the book "The Silent Moon: The Biography of Wu Shi" stands quietly among the books.

On a framed photo in the corner of the desk is a picture of Lin Keke.

She stood by the lake, facing the wind, with a bright smile, clear eyes, and her ponytail flying behind her, full of vitality and energy.

Wu Zhiyuan picked up the photo frame and gently wiped away the dust on the glass with a soft cloth until it was as clean as new.

Gazing at Lin Keke in the photo frame, Wu Zhiyuan speaks to her:

Coco, I always felt that you just went on a long trip, a rather long one.

I will come and tidy up this room from time to time.

I always believe that one day you will come back.

Maybe on some ordinary afternoon, like today, the sun is shining and the breeze is gentle, you open the door, suddenly appear in front of me, hug me, and excitedly say: Zhiyuan, I'm back, we'll never be apart again...