Chapter 25: Provocation at the Start of the Meeting

When Shi Nian returned home, Joanna was there.

“Shi Nian, why are you home so late?”

“Had a lot to do today.”

Joanna took the initiative to hand him a pair of slippers to change into, then brought over a plate of fruit and placed it on the coffee table.

“You’ve worked hard; have some fruit.”

Shi Nian thanked her and sat down on the sofa. Soon, his gaze was drawn to several gift boxes tucked away in a corner not far off.

He looked at Joanna and asked, “What’s that?”

Joanna didn’t hide anything. “They were from my colleagues at work. I said not to accept them, but they insisted, and I couldn’t refuse, so I brought them back.”

Shi Nian sighed softly, a bit helpless.

He certainly understood the saying that water too clear has no fish.

In officialdom, some things must be accepted.

If you don’t accept them, people won’t consider you one of their own.

And in official circles, if you’re not one of their own, then you’re an enemy.

There’s never a third option.

Shi Nian’s career was just beginning, and he didn’t want to make enemies—that would only bring harm and no benefit.

“Yi Na, try not to accept these kinds of things in the future. Even if you have to accept them, make sure to return gifts of equal value. That way, it maintains proper etiquette and no one loses face.”

Joanna nodded. “Got it. I’ll make sure to return them next time if I get the chance.”

“By the way, Shi Nian, my colleagues heard you’re now the secretary to the county party committee secretary. They all want to congratulate you. When would be a good time to invite them out for a meal?”

“Tell your colleagues I appreciate their kindness, but I’m quite busy at work. Maybe another time.”

Joanna looked a bit disappointed but didn’t press the matter further.

“Shi Nian, my father just called. He said you and the secretary went to Nanping Town today and immediately removed the county party branch secretary from his post?”

Upon hearing this, Shi Nian looked at Joanna, thinking: It seems this matter has spread throughout Ninghai’s political circles.

Seeing him nod, Joanna came over and linked her arm through his.

“However, I’ve also heard some unfavorable rumors.”

“Oh?”

Shi Nian furrowed his brow and asked, “What kind of rumors?”

Joanna said, “They say Secretary Wu was parachuted in from the provincial party committee, doesn’t understand democratic centralism, and is acting with personalism.”

“They also say that although the county party secretary handles personnel matters, removing a township party secretary isn’t something she can decide on a whim, and that she’s acting recklessly, destined for a more miserable end than the previous county party secretary.”

“They say Secretary Wu is all style and no substance, playing discordantly. Using this kind of approach to assert her authority is typical bureaucratic self-interest and factionalism.”

“They say with this kind of conduct, she won’t last long and will have to leave in disgrace.”

Joanna went on at length, all criticisms whispered behind Secretary Wu Yunqiu’s back.

Hearing terms like “all style and no substance” irritated Shi Nian.

Others might not know, but he was well aware that Wu Yunqiu was politically savvy and understood the system’s rules.

She possessed a political wisdom beyond her years.

At the time, removing Qian Dazhi was procedurally irregular.

But from another perspective, as the top leader of Ninghai County, if she lacked that kind of resolve, then anyone could easily challenge the authority of the party secretary.

“Yi Na, just listen to these rumors but don’t get involved,” Shi Nian said calmly.

Joanna looked worried. “Are these rumors true? Can Secretary Wu really not last in Ninghai? If that’s the case, what will you do?”

“You’re her secretary now, bearing her mark. If she leaves as ignominiously as former Secretary Jin Yuxiang did, your situation will only become more difficult.”

“Shi Nian, shouldn’t you start planning a fallback option?”

These words were not really Joanna’s own but came from her parents.

Shi Nian remained silent.

Though he hadn’t served as Wu Yunqiu’s secretary for long, as Joanna said, he was already clearly marked by her.

And after the Qian Dazhi incident today, that mark had only deepened.

He hadn’t yet had time to carefully consider his political future.

In his heart, there was only one voice: to do his best at his secretary duties.

As for the outcome, it was beyond his control for now.

On Friday, the routine standing committee meeting took place.

Wu Yunqiu, as the top leader, was the last to enter the meeting room.

By the time she arrived, all other standing committee members were present, quietly chatting.

Upon seeing Wu Yunqiu enter, they instinctively fell silent and sat upright.

Wu Yunqiu took her seat at the head of the table, her expression solemn.

“All right, let’s begin the meeting. Shi Nian, you will attend and take minutes.”

Shi Nian responded and took a seat at the back, feeling somewhat excited.

This was his first time sitting in on a standing committee meeting.

By having him record the meeting, Wu Yunqiu was sending a message to some people—or more precisely, to Ou Huasheng—that Shi Nian was her personally chosen secretary.

She trusted him, and they should stop targeting him.

As Shi Nian anticipated, once the meeting began, Sha Junhai was the first to speak.

“Secretary Wu, there’s something I don’t understand. I hope you can clarify it for me.”

Wu Yunqiu glanced around at everyone and then fixed her gaze on Sha Junhai.

“What doubts do you have, County Mayor Sha? Please speak up; everyone can hear.”

Sha Junhai said, “Before the meeting this morning, Qian Dazhi, the party secretary of Nanping Town, came to my office, tearfully complaining that you had removed him from his post.”

“I was very surprised. My first thought was that this couldn’t be true. The party manages the party, the government manages government, but the standing committee is the permanent decision-making body for both.”

“Qian Dazhi is a cadre at the division level. His personnel appointment or removal, procedurally, requires a standing committee resolution.”

“While Secretary Wu oversees personnel, she shouldn’t disregard the standing committee’s rules just because a lower-level cadre made a minor mistake.”

“Such a basic error—no one, not even a regular civil servant, is ignorant of the procedures, let alone Secretary Wu.”

Well then.

Sha Junhai immediately turned the tables, transforming a defensive position into an offensive one.

If Wu Yunqiu answered “yes,” Sha Junhai’s words would pit her against the standing committee.

If she backed down and answered “no,” her action would become a laughingstock.

Wu Yunqiu remained composed and said, “Today’s standing committee did have an agenda item to remove Qian Dazhi from his post as Nanping Town party secretary.”

She sidestepped Sha Junhai’s question and directly stated the agenda.

The moment her words fell, Sha Junhai launched his assault.

In Ninghai County, Nanping Town and Kelong Town were Sha Junhai’s strongholds.

They were the birthplace of the Sha faction.

He had been mayor of Nanping Town and party secretary of Kelong Town.

It was from these two places that he built his Sha faction.

Qian Dazhi, as Nanping Town party secretary, was one of Sha Junhai’s men.

Removing Qian Dazhi was a slap in Sha Junhai’s face.

How could he tolerate this?

“Secretary Wu, I don’t know the reasons behind your decision to remove Qian Dazhi, but personally, I oppose it.”

“To remove a division-level cadre just over a land transfer issue is not only frivolous but also reckless.”

Sha Junhai’s tone was fully one of accusation.