In order to avoid being seen, he arranged a special car to take me to his residence in the military sub-district retirement home.
After asking about my recovery with concern, he turned the topic to business: "Hongjun, although the tailings landslide accident occurred in the end of the flood relief work in Tongxiang Town, the overall process was very good. You were in charge of the front line and commanded decisively, minimizing the losses caused by the flood. Two days ago, I accompanied the provincial leaders to inspect the disaster. In Tongxiang Town, the leaders looked at the scene in front of them with deep emotion and said that it was a miracle that there was no one injured in such a severe flood. Hongjun, this is the highest evaluation of you by the leaders."
Facing Hu Haiyang, I no longer wanted to hide my doubts: "Mayor Hu, did the leaders go to the Taixiang Coal Mine?"
Hu Haiyang pondered for a moment and sighed: "Hongjun, I have the determination and courage to expose my family's shame, but this only represents me personally. The leader's inspection route was arranged by the Municipal Party Committee. What can I change with my own strength?"
Yes, in a huge system, the power of an individual is ultimately weak.
I felt depressed, so I just got straight to the point: "Mayor Hu specially called me here tonight for a candlelight chat. It's not like he just wanted to praise me, right? If you have anything to say, please speak up."
Hu Haiyang frowned slightly when he heard my words, and he was obviously uncomfortable with my straightforwardness, but he quickly adjusted his expression: "Okay, brother, I won't beat around the bush. I'll tell you the bottom line in advance so that you can be mentally prepared. The Municipal Party Committee has decided to transfer you from your current position to the Municipal Cooperation Development Zone as the deputy director of the Management Committee."
His words were like a rock thrown into my heart - "Deputy Director of the Cooperative Development Zone Management Committee"? How did the "President of the City Bank" that Lin Xun mentioned earlier suddenly become like this? Did Lin Xun misunderstand Yue Mingyuan's meaning, or... did Yue Mingyuan change his mind?
Hu Haiyang caught the change in my expression and said comfortingly: "I am also the director of the Development Zone Management Committee. What? You are not interested in helping me?" His tone was somewhat intimate, but his eyes were scrutinizing.
I secretly warned myself that I must remain calm in the face of danger, and immediately calmed my mind, saying in a humble and respectful tone: "Of course not! It is my honor to serve you, Mayor Hu."
He laughed out loud and pointed at me in the air: "Guan Hongjun, you are not being sincere."
I straightened my back and said solemnly, "Mayor Hu, as a party member and cadre, I am just a paving brick. I will go wherever the organization needs me to go. I will never care about personal gains and losses."
Hu Haiyang restrained his smile, his eyes became serious and complicated: "Hongjun, I understand your grievances. Transferring you, a director-level cadre, to a deputy director-level position, to put it bluntly, is just to let you drink tea and read newspapers." He changed the subject and lowered his voice, "But you have to understand the difficulties of the municipal party committee and government. The provincial discipline inspection department has received important clues, and the spearhead is pointed directly at your county, and it will take action soon. Transferring you away from the vortex at this time is to protect you. This meaning, do you... understand?"
I can't deny that what he said makes no sense. Once we really get serious with Tian Zhenyu and his gang, they will be desperate and will launch a desperate counterattack. I don't think I'm a perfect person. If they really catch me, I'm afraid it will be difficult to escape unscathed.
However, the municipal party committee's placement of me in the idle position of "deputy director" of the development zone obviously had a deeper purpose. This was a form of quarantine observation - if I was not clean myself and was investigated, then the municipal party committee's move would be "farsighted and wise decision-making" to eliminate hidden dangers in advance; if I was eventually proven innocent, I would be transferred to an important position at that time, which would be a kind of post-event comfort and compensation. This set of official philosophy of advancing and retreating with reason and playing both sides, I am afraid that the leaders of the municipal party committee have long been like a mirror in their minds.
His expression softened, and the majesty of a superior quietly faded away, and he looked more like a concerned elder brother: "You are not the only one who will make personnel changes this time. Tian Zhenyu will also make some moves."
My heart sank: "Oh? Is this really going to happen? Where did you assign him?" My body unconsciously leaned forward slightly.
He waved his hand, and said in a warning tone: "Hongjun, listen to me. Don't get involved in this matter. It will only harm you and not benefit you." Then, he deliberately lowered his voice and his eyes became sharp: "Don't let others use you as a gun. You will just block the firepower for nothing and let others reap the benefits."
I knew what was going on. There were only him, me, and Feng Zi who was resting on the second floor in this room. He lowered his voice like this, so it was obvious who "others" were referring to. It seemed that Hu Haiyang still had some leeway in his relationship with Yue Mingyuan.
I met his gaze, using my eyes to convey gratitude and understanding, indicating that I understood him.
He then continued, "The city has decided to transfer Tian Zhenyu to the Municipal Development and Reform Bureau as deputy director."
Well! Two county party committee members and division-level cadres were demoted to deputy positions in municipal departments at the same time? This signal was so strong that even people who were not sensitive to politics should have smelled the smell of impending storm. Although this outcome was unexpected, it made sense when you think about it.
Hu Haiyang changed the subject and asked, "What are your plans for the next step?"
I looked straight at him, and said respectfully and pragmatically: "Of course I will fully cooperate with you to do a good job in the cooperative development zone. However, most of the development zones are foreign-funded and joint ventures. I am a layman, and I am afraid that I will not be able to do a good job and cause trouble for you."
The corners of his mouth slightly raised, with a smile that showed he saw through everything: "Don't play dumb with me. This position is a transition, and it also gives you a chance to adjust your body. What I want to ask is, have you ever thought about using this relatively free time to enrich yourself?"
"Enrich yourself? Do you mean... improve your academic qualifications?" I tried to guess what he meant.
He chuckled and said earnestly: "Hongjun, you are indeed a leader among young cadres. But the times are developing too fast, and your knowledge structure and ability reserves are about to fail to keep up. I suggest you seize this opportunity to recharge yourself and lay a solid foundation for taking on heavier responsibilities in the future."
I followed his lead and said, "I also thought about studying for a postgraduate degree two years ago. But then things happened one after another and I was delayed."
"That's right!" He nodded approvingly. "Party members and cadres should take the lead in learning and promote the construction of a learning society. What I mean is, you should study for an MBA. It will definitely be useful in the future."
Oh! Finally, the last piece of the puzzle is about to be completed. Letting me study for an MBA is not preparing me to run the "city bank" in the future? After all, it is unreasonable to let a layman who knows nothing about finance run a professional financial institution.
I pretended to be confused and deliberately led him to the other side and said, "I'm not into business management, I think it would be more appropriate for me to study MPA, right?"
He shook his head, his attitude clear: "Public administration is of course good, but I still suggest you focus on business administration, after all, this is your weakness. What the organization needs now is a generalist who is good at many things. Moreover," he paused and threw out a key piece of information, "if you go to study business administration, the person in the province has already found a 'study partner' for you."
Study companion? I almost laughed. Am I the son of a wealthy family? Do I need someone to accompany me when I study? Since Yue Mingyuan arranged it himself, I was really curious about who this "study companion" was.
I deliberately raised my eyebrows and said teasingly, "Beauty?"
Hu Haiyang glared at me helplessly, with a hint of disappointment: "You are really a bad person, and your nature is hard to change. Of course it's a beauty."
"Peng Xiaohui?" I blurted out.
Hu Haiyang's eyes suddenly opened wide, his face full of surprise: "You can guess this?" Obviously he didn't expect that I could accurately choose the name.
I blinked and smiled knowingly, "Is this hard to guess?"
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