booktalesy Chapter 311 The Shortcut to Only Lose and Never Win
Chapter 311 The Shortcut to Only Lose and Never Win
Wu Zhiyuan admitted that he is not a saint.
The moment Wang Meili threw herself into his arms, a restless feeling stirred deep within him.
A lone man and a lone woman, in the bitter rain and under a solitary lamp.
However, reason ultimately prevailed over impulse.
This isn't because he was a paragon of virtue, like Liu Xiahui, who remained unmoved even with a woman in his lap, but because he believed not all women were safe to touch.
For example, Wang Meili is someone you shouldn't easily mess with.
"Director Wang, please have some self-respect!" Wu Zhiyuan pushed Wang Meili away and tried his best to sound righteous and stern. "I hope you can take what I just said to heart!"
You were a bit emotional tonight and said some inappropriate things, which I can pretend I didn't hear. But don't let it happen again.
"County Chief Wu, I lost my composure. I'm sorry."
Wang Meili finally realized that Wu Zhiyuan was not Gan Simiao, and it wouldn't be easy to win him over.
A man who can remain unmoved by beauty is a truly terrifying man.
Wu Zhiyuan softened his tone: "It's getting late, you should go back."
If you have work to report in the future, try to come to my office during working hours.
This is better for both of us. You know how powerful public opinion can be.
Fortunately, we're both single now; otherwise, if word got out, even if we hadn't done anything, we'd be in a situation where we couldn't clear our names no matter what.
"County Chief Wu, I didn't understand my place and mindset properly. I'm sorry for causing you trouble. I'm leaving now."
Wang Meili smoothed her disheveled hair and walked away dejectedly.
Wu Zhiyuan closed the door.
Wang Meili, mature and charming, took the initiative to throw herself into his arms, which was undoubtedly a strong test for a young, vigorous man who had been living alone for a long time.
But he knew even better that a woman like Wang Meili, though charming and alluring, was like a rose with thorns, or even more like a trap coated in honey.
If I lose control tonight, although I may gain temporary physical pleasure, endless troubles will follow.
The restraint I showed just now was less a matter of high moral character and more a matter of clear-headedness after weighing the pros and cons.
……
The day before the opening of the county people's congress.
Hu Quanyou has been taken into custody.
Faced with overwhelming evidence and powerful psychological pressure, Hu Quanyou admitted that he had accepted instructions to engage in unauthorized activities to garner votes for Cheng Tanzhi.
Two other people, who were also middlemen like Hu Quanyou, were also taken into custody.
They were also acting under orders to campaign for Cheng Tanzhi.
However, Cheng Tanzhi could not directly solicit votes through them; instead, he used various intermediaries.
With the county people's congress about to convene, there is currently insufficient evidence to prove that Cheng Tanzhi manipulated the election, and therefore Cheng Tanzhi cannot be controlled.
However, Guo Dong still spoke with Cheng Tanzhi on behalf of the supervisory team.
Guo Dong skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point: "Comrade Tanzhi, I've invited you here on behalf of the municipal supervisory team to have a formal talk with you regarding disciplinary issues related to the county people's congress election."
Cheng Tanzhi appeared calm: "Director Guo, please speak. I will definitely report truthfully and understand it thoroughly."
"Recently, the supervisory team has heard some feedback and also learned some information."
This reflects that you engaged in some behaviors that did not conform to organizational principles and could have interfered with the normal conduct of the election on the eve of the National People's Congress.
For example, he had too frequent contact with some NPC deputies, which exceeded the scope of his normal work.
For example, there is suspicion that improper information is being passed to representatives through intermediaries, or even that benefits are being transferred between them.
What do you have to say to the organization about this?
Cheng Tanzhi was prepared and calmly said, "Director Guo, these are not true."
I fully support the decision of the Municipal Party Committee and will resolutely obey the organizational arrangements.
Comrade Ding Yiyi was appointed by the organization as the acting county head. I had no improper thoughts, let alone any intention to interfere with the election.
This is definitely a misunderstanding, or someone has ulterior motives!
He paused for a moment, then continued, "As for the frequent contact with the representatives, Director Guo, you are a city leader and you understand the situation at the grassroots level."
I have a lot of responsibilities. At the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, I visit and comfort people in difficulty, investigate key projects, inspect production safety, and listen to the opinions of enterprises. Which of these tasks can be done without the grassroots?
Can we do without those representatives who are deeply rooted in the front lines?
My interactions with the representatives were all about work, listening to their opinions, and solving problems. The procedures were compliant, the content was transparent, and everything was for the development of Qingshan County.
If this leads to being labeled as engaging in unauthorized activities, I feel it's very unfair, and it would be a heavy blow to the enthusiasm of grassroots comrades.
Cheng Tanzhi's answer was watertight.
However, as the deputy secretary of the county party committee, it is indeed difficult to label him as violating discipline for going to the grassroots level to meet and talk with cadres and the masses, including county people's congress representatives.
Guo Dong pulled out several documents, which were all confessions from Hu Quanyou and others.
Cheng Tanzhi acted like a highly skilled actor, putting on an indignant expression upon seeing the materials.
"Director Guo, I know nothing about these things! I do know Hu Quanyou. He is a farmer-entrepreneur in our county who is involved in animal husbandry and is a representative of the county people's congress. But I have only met him once or twice, and it was just normal work-related interaction."
When did I hint at it to him? When did I instruct him to do so?
As a county leader, I am busy with official duties every day, and it is impossible for me to monitor everyone's every move, let alone instruct them to do anything against regulations or discipline.
Cheng Tanzhi returned the materials to Guo Dong and began to defend himself:
"As for why they did this, I have no way of knowing."
Perhaps they are acting out of personal motives, trying to exploit the election for personal gain;
Perhaps they thought they understood my thoughts and took it upon themselves to curry favor;
It cannot be ruled out that someone deliberately set a trap to frame me and throw dirty water on me.
But in any case, these were neither my instructions nor my actions.
Guo Dong watched his performance quietly without interrupting.
Cheng Tanzhi became more and more enthusiastic as he spoke: "Director Guo, we must clarify a most basic fact—NPC deputies enjoy independent voting rights and the right to be elected in accordance with the law. This is a sacred right granted by the Constitution and the law."
It is the delegates' freedom to choose which officials they want to know, which officials they want to approve of, and who they want to vote for. This is a manifestation of their democratic rights, and no one has the right to interfere or accuse them of vote-buying or bribery.
My recent visits to grassroots communities, townships, and enterprises are to advance our work and solve problems, not to garner votes.
Some representatives recognized my work ability, felt that I was familiar with the situation in Qingshan County, understood the economy, and was capable, and were willing to support me. This is the recognition of the masses and the choice of the representatives. How can it be considered interference with the election?
I will resolutely obey the organization's intentions, but the organization's intentions cannot override democracy, nor can they deprive representatives of their right to vote.
If simply because representatives have different opinions on candidates and have the autonomy to choose, it is labeled as unauthorized activity or vote-buying, then what is the point of the people's congress system? What is democracy?
Director Guo, I can accept any investigation by the organization and am willing to cooperate with the supervisory team to verify every detail, but I absolutely cannot accept this unfounded accusation.
"I, Cheng Tanzhi, have worked diligently and conscientiously for many years, and have never done anything to betray the organization or the people, much less risk my political life!"
Cheng Tanzhi's words were grand and righteous, but he not only absolved himself of all responsibility and pushed all the problems onto others, claiming that he was making an independent choice and even standing on the high ground of democracy and law, thus turning the tables on Guo Dong.
After Cheng Tanzhi finished speaking, Guo Dong slowly said, "Comrade Tanzhi, I heard your explanation."
Representatives have the right to vote in accordance with the law, a sacred right granted by the constitution and laws, a fact that no one denies.
Democracy must be respected, and procedures must be followed. These are fundamental principles that we all understand without you having to explain them.
However, please answer me directly: regarding the situation reflected in the materials I just showed you, was it truly the representatives exercising their democratic rights independently in accordance with the law, or was it meticulously orchestrated behind the scenes?
Cheng Tanzhi remained unfazed: "Director Guo, as I just said, I have absolutely no knowledge of these matters."
What Hu Quanyou and others said and did was their personal behavior and has nothing to do with me.
If anyone uses my name to engage in underhanded activities, I am also a victim.
Guo Dong said coldly, "Comrade Tanzhi, you used the word 'victim.' Then let me ask you, who is the perpetrator?"
Cheng Tanzhi was taken aback, and then explained, "I meant, if someone—"
Guo Dong interrupted him: "If someone is doing things under your name without your knowledge, you are the victim."
If someone passes inappropriate information to your representative without your knowledge, you are the victim.
If someone arranges a dinner for you, sends you shopping cards, or makes a wish on your behalf without your knowledge, you are a victim from beginning to end.
So, Comrade Tanzhi, in your narrative, do you, as the deputy secretary of the county party committee, have even the slightest influence over your work circle, social circle, and the people around you?
Everyone around you is keeping it from you, acting behind your back, and making decisions for you—are you being sidelined, or are you deliberately maintaining this ignorance?
Cheng Tanzhi was startled; it seemed Guo Dong was not someone to be trifled with. Experience truly does matter.
"Director Guo, that's not what I meant. Of course I have a responsibility to manage the people around me, and I will never shirk that responsibility."
However, management and instruction are two different things.
If someone disobeys my management or violates discipline, that's their individual behavior and cannot be directly equated with my instructions.
"Then what were your instructions?" Guo Dong asked coldly. "You just said that the representatives have the right to vote independently according to law, and no one has the right to interfere. That's correct."
You also said that organizational intentions cannot supersede democracy. That's not wrong either.
You are very eloquent, Comrade Tanzhi. Every word you utter is from a high vantage point, and every word puts you in an invincible position.
But you didn't mention one thing—what did you do yourself?
Guo Dong continued, "You package yourself as someone being represented and chosen, as a passive recipient of the democratic process."
However, Comrade Tanzhi, let me ask you: If it weren't for your tireless work at the grassroots level for nearly a month, if it weren't for your repeated emphasis on your economic expertise and competence wherever you went, if it weren't for your intentional or unintentional comparisons with Comrade Ding Yiyi on various occasions;
Why would those middlemen run errands for you? Why would those entrepreneurs make arrangements for you? Why would those representatives accept shopping cards, believing that voting for you will bring rewards?
You gave them enough hints while leaving yourself a wide enough way out.
You can advance or retreat to defend. If you get selected, it's your ability; if you don't, it's because someone made the decision on your own.
You've calculated things very cleverly; you're using this carefully crafted scheme of ignorance to pave a shortcut for yourself where you can only win and never lose.