Right path to power

"The rain has stopped, let's go!"

Seeing Lin Xiao standing there in a daze, He Saihua gently nudged him, which made Lin Xiao suddenly shudder.

"What's wrong? What are you thinking about so intently? The rain has stopped, we need to hurry back. We can't keep wearing these wet clothes. Let's go."

After saying that, He Saihua got up and walked out the door, and Lin Xiao, having recovered her senses, followed her out.

After a while, the two arrived at the intersection of the village street. Lin Xiao stopped and said, "Sister Hua, I have something to do in the county."

"Oh, okay, then I'll head back to my hometown by myself. Xiaolin, thank you for today."

"I'm the one who should feel embarrassed, but Sister Hua, I sincerely hope you can live for yourself for once."

"Okay, I understand."

"Okay, I'm going to the station now."

Watching Lin Xiao's departing figure, He Saihua couldn't help but sigh again. Lin Xiao rode his bicycle towards the station, while she herself was heading back to the countryside in the opposite direction. The two of them were on different roads, going in different directions.

After arriving at the station, Lin Xiao bought a ticket for the earliest bus to the county town.

While waiting for the train, he couldn't help but recall everything that had happened in the cabin. He realized that if his willpower had been even slightly weaker, he could have plunged himself into an abyss.

Not only will they not be able to get justice for Gao Dayong, but their own future will also be ruined!

In just a few days, he truly experienced the feeling of "everyone kicking a man when he's down." Now that he has the opportunity to "turn the tables," he must be even more focused. Even if it's not for anything else, he must at least prove himself.

However, he wasn't sure what kind of faces those people would have at that time, since he had almost never experienced being "slapped in the face".

After arriving in the county town, Lin Xiao went home to change her clothes, and then remembered to call Ding Shangkun.

"You just got back, what's wrong that you need to take leave again? Do you really think working in the village is like going to the market to buy groceries?"

"The county leaders talked to me about some work."

"Heh, you don't want to be stationed in the village, do you?"

Ding Shangkun laughed, thinking he had seen through Lin Xiao's thoughts: "Have you forgotten who sent you back? Who would even glance at you in the county now? Do you still think you're the county magistrate's secretary? Wake up, this is just the beginning. The real show is yet to come. Don't waste your energy. Just focus on doing your job in the village. Maybe you'll have another chance in the future."

You're a selected graduate, a top student from a prestigious university, so what? That's not what matters in the system. As someone who's been there, I'm telling you honestly, someone like you from humble beginnings has to learn to be humble, respect superiors, and know how to get along with colleagues. Then you have to do every task assigned by your superiors well. Otherwise, you're nothing, not even…”

"Thank you for your guidance, Director Ding. I will keep it in mind and will never let down the leaders' expectations."

Listening to Ding Shangkun's endless lectures on "how to be a good person," Lin Xiao took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and interrupted him.

"Hmph, I've said my piece. You'd better watch yourself." With that, Ding Shangkun hung up the phone.

Lin Xiao shook his head, looking unconcerned. He glanced at the clock and realized it was still early before the appointed time, so he lay down on the bed for a short nap.

Just before four o'clock in the afternoon, Lin Xiao arrived at the county government gate as agreed. After waiting for a short while, a black sedan drove out of the county government compound, stopped by the roadside, and rolled down the rear window. A smiling face popped out and said, "Xiao Lin, over here!"

Lin Xiao jogged over to the passenger seat, and just as she opened the door, a voice came from the back seat: "Sit in the back."

"Okay, Secretary Gong." Lin Xiao quickly came around to the back seat.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"No, Secretary Gong, I'm currently stationed in the village. It takes me a while to get back, and I got soaked in the rain and had to go home, so I just arrived."

"Stationed in a village? You're saying they're arranging for you to be stationed in a village? Isn't that ridiculous? I'll call Yan Zhao right now."

The next second, Gong Lei picked up the phone and called Yan Zhao. After the call connected, he said without any politeness, "I have to say, Secretary Yan, you're really something. You've really surprised me."

Yan Zhao, who was on the other end of the phone, was talking to Wei Shaogong. When he saw that it was Gong Lei calling, he immediately stopped the conversation and answered the phone with a smile on his face.

To his surprise, Gong Lei immediately poured cold water on his enthusiasm, freezing his smile instantly.

"Secretary Gong, I haven't done my job well. Please give me your instructions and criticism."

Although it was quite inexplicable, Yan Zhao's attitude was still very appropriate. Even though he was Huang Zaichuan's man, the county party secretary, Gong Lei was still the deputy county party secretary. Even if he couldn't help him, it would be easy for him to sabotage his plans.

In officialdom, it's best not to offend anyone unless absolutely necessary. After all, fortunes can change in thirty years, let alone county leaders.

Gong Lei sneered and said, "You actually assigned selected graduates from the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department to be stationed in villages? You have quite the nerve!"

So that's what they were talking about. Yan Zhao naturally knew what was going on, and immediately smiled ingratiatingly, "Secretary Gong, so you're referring to Lin Xiao's situation. It's like this: the original village-based cadre suddenly got injured and couldn't work properly. You know, village-based work can't stop, but the township is short-staffed. Luckily, Lin Xiao returned to the township at this time, and since he didn't have any specific work assigned to him, we let him temporarily take charge of the village-based work. At the same time, for him, this is an excellent opportunity to gain grassroots experience, and the township also consulted his opinion!"

In fact, this argument is quite convincing, and the content is true; there should be no reason to refute it.

However, Yan Zhao was facing the third-in-command of the county party committee, who was far more familiar with official jargon and bureaucratic routines than he, the township party secretary.

"Is that really the case? How come it's a bit different from what I know? But you know the specifics better than I do. I just want to ask you, if Lin Xiao can do a good job in the county government office, is he incapable of doing a good job in your party and government office?"

Also, is Lin Xiao the only one in the entire Party and government office who is capable of handling the work of being stationed in the village? If that's the case, I think the Party and government office needs a major overhaul.

Provincial and municipal leaders have repeatedly emphasized the importance of selecting and assigning outstanding graduates to key positions, urging them to leverage their abilities and contribute effectively. Is this how you respond to the leaders' call? This demonstrates negligence in the selection and assignment of outstanding graduates and a lack of respect for talent.

After saying that, he hung up the phone with a "snap," but a huge accusation was now being leveled against Yan Zhao. How he would respond remained to be seen.

After Gong Lei calmed down, Lin Xiao said with a smile, "Secretary Gong, being stationed in the village isn't actually a bad thing. On the contrary, it gives me the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the real situation in rural areas."

"Haha, Xiao Lin, I'm relieved to see you have this mindset. However, I'm also aware that what Yan Zhao said isn't unfounded. The reason I said that is mainly to give him a warning, to let him know that this matter is inappropriate, and at the same time, to let him know that you, as a selected graduate of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, are not so easily bullied."

"Thank you, Secretary Gong, for your trouble."

Having said all that, Lin Xiao naturally understood that Gong Lei was trying to support him.

Gong Lei then added, "Xiao Lin, I'll say it again: I respect your choice. If you encounter any problems you can't solve, just call me."

However, while I was initially touched by these words, I was mostly filled with emotion afterward.

After all, none of this would have happened without that meeting.