The greatest sorrow in life is not the fear of an unknown outcome, but the fact that one has quietly lost the way home in the long river of time.
I stared at the snow scene flashing quickly outside the car window, my mind was full of thoughts.
Fate was playing a joke on me. More than a year ago, it was Section Chief Zhang from the Organization Department of the County Party Committee who sent me to Tongxiang Town to take up my post. More than a year later, it was he who brought me back from Tongxiang Town.
During the meeting with the Tongxiang Town leadership team, he no longer flattered me, but simply said: "In order to strengthen the leadership team of the Economic Development Zone, the County Committee has decided to transfer Comrade Guan Hongjun to work in the development zone. For reasons known to all, his position as deputy mayor of Tongxiang Town will be temporarily retained, and adjustments will be made later."
Now that he had turned from a village head into a fat man, he had not forgotten to give him another blow on the head.
He went on to say, "I have a message for you all. I hope everyone here will keep it in mind. A team is a key minority in starting a business. Whether they can be united is the most important factor that overrides everything else. I hope everyone will take this as a warning and not act in a hypocritical manner and do something behind the scenes again."
I am no longer the "young horse" of the Organization Department. The only thing left for you to do is point your finger at me and scold me.
I pretended to be nonchalant and glanced at Tian Zhenyu and Zhang Weiguo. Their faces were full of complexity and subtlety.
Neither of them expressed their views, and of course there was no need for them to do so.
I packed my things and just walked to the door when I heard Tian Zhenyu muttering to Section Chief Zhang.
Zhang said: "Comrade Zhang Qiming is a good comrade who can stand the test. The Discipline Inspection Commission did not know this until they investigated. Once they investigated, they found that he is very honest. He holds power and can still keep the bottom line. He is not like some people who always act rashly. This is very rare and precious. Such a good comrade must be promoted. You fully recommend him as a candidate for deputy mayor. I think he is very suitable. Of course, of course, this is my personal opinion, and it must be implemented. You understand this better than me."
Tian Zhenyu expressed his gratitude repeatedly.
Hey! Sometimes the butt is more useful than the head. If the butt is in the wrong direction, no matter how capable you are, you have to stand aside. Zhang Qiming was taken away by the Commission for Discipline Inspection for investigation. Not only was he unscathed, but he was promoted to a higher position.
I heard everything I should and shouldn't have heard. I deliberately cleared my throat to signal to them that I was coming out.
When they saw me, they looked very embarrassed, but immediately smiled.
Zhang asked me, "Have you packed all your things?"
I said, "Okay."
He said, "Then let's go. We still have to go to the development zone."
Tian Zhenyu and Zhang Weiguo, one in front and one behind, hypocritically escorted me to the door. There was no one around, and their figures seemed particularly abrupt.
Others either dared not or were unwilling to get involved in this silent contest. After all, the choice of stance is often more subtle and complicated than superficial farewell. At such a moment, any form of intervening farewell would be redundant and would only make Tian and Zhang more embarrassed.
Arriving at the Economic Development Zone, it was a completely different scene. Before we even got close, we could hear the sound of gongs and drums in the distance. A large banner was held high in the crowd, with the words "Warmly welcome Deputy Director Guan to the Economic Development Zone" written on it.
This grand welcome was like a warm current flowing into my heart, and I was deeply moved.
A long journey reveals a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's heart. Sister Wang Yanshu, the woman who always shields me from the wind and rain, is now standing at the front of the crowd, her eyes full of warmth.
When getting off the car, Wang Yanshu deliberately ignored Section Chief Zhang's presence and walked straight towards me. I held her hands tightly.
She said: "Comrade Guan Hongjun, welcome to work in the development zone. Your arrival will definitely inject new vitality into the development zone, making it a brand new place and thriving. It will also be a great help to me. Let us fight side by side for our common ideals."
Section Chief Zhang was so embarrassed that he was obviously dissatisfied with Wang Yanshu's behavior. He said unhappily, "Director Wang, this is a bit too much."
Wang Yanshu's eyes instantly turned cold and fierce when she heard this. She said without giving in, "This is a spontaneous organization of the masses. They are expressing their welcome and expectations for the new leader in their own way. Do you want me to dampen their enthusiasm?"
After seeing everyone off, I chatted with Wang Yanshu, Lao Wu and I in her office for a while. The two of them tried to pick up some cheerful topics and deliberately avoided the matter of Qingwan's illness.
When the time came, Lao Wu took out a thick red envelope and handed it to me: "Brother, the factory is busy installing and debugging equipment, and I can't spare the time. Please convey my thoughts to my brother and sister-in-law, and congratulate you two on increasing imports and earning money."
I instinctively wanted to refuse, but Wang Yanshu quickly took it and said, "You are in need of money now. This is your brother's support for you. Don't act so arrogant."
A warm feeling surged in my heart.
After sending Old Five away, Wang Yanshu stretched his back, with a tired but smug smile on his face: "I've been busy since this morning, and my old bones are almost falling apart. Just tell me if Sister Tian is giving you enough face, right?"
I said, "Sister, I will never forget your kindness."
She curled her lips and said, "The office building in our development zone is still under interior decoration, and the space in this simple room is really limited. I'm sorry to bother you, but you don't mind if I squeeze into one room to work first?"
I said, "I don't mind, as long as you don't worry that I'll take advantage of the opportunity to do something naughty."
Her face turned red with embarrassment, and she threw the red envelope in her hand at me as a weapon.
I had no choice but to take it and said, "Sister, you understand my situation. I'm afraid I won't be able to report on time recently. I hope you can understand."
She said, "Don't do those useless things, and you don't have to pretend to be on vacation. The first job I will give you is to attract investment. You don't have to sit in the office and be bored."
She went on to say, "Qingwan's hospitalization this time, plus Xixi's, must have cost a lot. Don't try to save face in front of me. I'll make up for the difference. I've discussed it with Xu Shaojia, and I don't have any more. Here's 100,000 yuan in this bank card. The password is 168816."
As she spoke, she took out a bank card from her pocket and handed it to me. I wanted to refuse, but seeing her unquestionable look, I had to take it.
At that moment, my heart was tightly wrapped by a warm current, and I was so moved that I almost shed tears. But in order to hide my inner turmoil, I deliberately made a joke: "So you are also superstitious, isn't this password just a lucky draw?"
She also laughed out loud and said casually: "It's just for good luck. Who doesn't love money?"
I said solemnly, "This money is a loan from me. I will pay it back in full when I have it."
She waved her hand lightly, with a nonchalant look on her face: "As you wish."
When I returned home in the evening, I saw my mother-in-law curled up in a corner of the living room. Her back looked particularly thin, her hands gently covering her face, and she was crying secretly.
My heart suddenly tightened. Without asking any more questions, I knew Qingwan must have lost her temper.