Volume 1: Against the Tide Chapter 43: The Inescapable Trap

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  Chapter 43: The Inescapable Trap

  After parting with Wang Anna and Wang Biao, Peng Yuanzheng went shopping with Feng Qianru at the mall, bought a few cans of high-quality tea for his mother, and Feng Qianru personally picked out a scarf that was very popular among women at the time. They then took a taxi back to the Feng's home.

  Originally, Feng Qianru meant to buy a lot, but Peng Yuanzheng firmly opposed it.

  That night was uneventful. The next morning, Feng Bota's driver took Peng Yuanzheng to the train station, where he boarded the 7:00 express train back to Xin'an.

  It was already past one o'clock in the afternoon when I rushed back to Xin'an.

  Peng Yuanzheng went home, put down his things, and simply said a word to his mother before riding his bicycle straight to the municipal party committee compound.

  As soon as he entered the office, Gong Hanlin was already waiting for him.

  "Gong Kechang, sorry about that, making the leader wait for so long, I just got off the train." Peng Yuanzheng was about to explain a few sentences, but saw Gong Hanlin's face with a somewhat solemn expression, waving his hand, "Yuanzheng, come here."

  Peng Yuanzheng walked over and sat down opposite Gong Hanlin.

  "Expedition, take a look at the draft that was vetoed by Secretary Xue. Read it from start to finish and then tell me what you think." Gong Hanlin pushed a copy of the material on his desk over to him.

  Peng Yuanzheng took it over and examined it carefully at his desk.

  After finishing, he looked up at Gong Hanlin and frowned, "Director Gong, I think this draft is quite good, moderate and square, with clear views and rigorous logic -"

  Gong Hanlin sighed, "The problem lies here. This was written by Secretary Liu, who has been following Secretary Xue for three years and is a well-known writer in the municipal party committee. To say that Secretary Xue likes what he writes, he should be familiar with Secretary Xue's preferences. If his draft is not satisfactory to Secretary Xue, then - there's no need to mention others."

  "In theory, this kind of speech draft for the big traffic road doesn't have any 'three articles'. But why is Secretary Xue not satisfied? This is the key to the problem. You need to think carefully about it before you can put pen to paper. This is the first point."

  "Moreover, I heard that letting you write this speech draft was a promise made by Minister Zhu in front of Minister Xiao. As the person in charge, why did Minister Zhu take on such an unprofitable task? It's really worth pondering, Far Chong!"

  "Alright, here are some speech materials of Secretary Xue that I've collected, as well as the latest issues of Xin'an Daily from the past month or two. They basically all have records of Secretary Xue's recent daily activities. You can take a look at these basic materials first. Remember my words, think carefully before you start writing, and be extremely cautious!"

  Gong Hanlin sighed and got up, preparing to leave.

  Peng Yuanzheng was somewhat moved to see him off, and he knew that in the organization, Gong Hanlin's candor and repeated reminders were already rare. From this, it can be seen that Gong Hanlin indeed had a loving heart and did not want a young man with great prospects to be buried because of this matter.

  Even being suppressed.

  Such things are not uncommon in government agencies.

  "Thank you for your guidance, I will carefully consider it and strive to complete the task perfectly," Peng Yuanzheng said.

  Gong Hanlin nodded and patted Peng Yuanzheng's shoulder lightly before striding away.

  Actually, Gong Hanlin still had some things he hadn't told Peng Yuanzheng clearly. It wasn't that he was being overly cautious, but rather he worried that Peng, as a young newcomer to the official circle, wouldn't understand if he said too much, and it would have the opposite effect instead.

  After seeing Gong Hanlin off, Peng Yuanzhen locked the office door and his face gradually turned gloomy.

  If the draft is not well written, it will leave a bad impression on the municipal party secretary that he "overstates" things, which will directly affect his future promotion. If the draft is well written and the leader is satisfied, someone else will be dissatisfied. For example, Liu Qiang, the text secretary of Xue Xinlai.

  It's obvious that this matter appears to be a leader's appreciation, but in fact it's a pitfall that can't be avoided. Behind the scenes, even if there is no conspiracy, there is still a certain kind of oppression against new people. Maybe it's because he has been too prominent in the propaganda department recently.

  But at this moment, he couldn't afford to think about these anymore, and had to consider how to get through this pass.

  Peng Yuanzheng patiently went through all the materials given to him by Gong Hanlin, sorting out Secretary Xue's speeches at all public events over the past six months and reports published in the Fangshan Daily. He didn't find anything that made his eyes light up.

  Turning back to look at the speech draft written by Liu Qiang, the head of the first section of the municipal party committee office, his brow furrowed even more: The draft itself had no problem, whether it was the framework, height, logic or language style, all matched Xue Xinlei's previous speeches - but why would Secretary Xue be dissatisfied and publicly deny it?

  After some deliberation, Peng Yuanzhen felt at a loss for words.

  Suddenly, he thought of a neglected detail: the municipal party secretary Xue Xinlai is currently in a sensitive and critical moment. According to his memories from past lives, shortly after Peng Yuanzheng started working, which was this November, Xue Xinlai was transferred by the provincial party committee from Xin'an City to Lin City to serve as the municipal party secretary. Although it was a lateral transfer, Lin City is an economically strong city and a national-level open city, so it's equivalent to a promotion.

  But whether Xue Xinlei was transferred or not had no necessary connection with his veto of Liu Qiang's manuscript. Why was this the case? Peng Yuanzhen couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he thought.

  At a little past four in the afternoon, the phone on the office desk suddenly rang, and Peng Yuanzheng was startled while concentrating on thinking about the problem. Today is Saturday, a rest day, who would call the department at this time?

  Peng Yuanzheng thought it was Gong Hanlin, so he picked up the phone. It wasn't until the voice of Zhou Dayong, the director of the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department's Cadre Division, came through on the other end that he unexpectedly let out a sigh of relief.

  "Comrade Xiao Peng, come down to my office for a moment, I have something to discuss with you."

  Peng Yuanzheng was taken aback, "Director Zhou, you're working on Saturday too..."

  "Heh heh, I'm working overtime to get some materials ready - huh, why don't you come down for a bit? The leader wants to see you." Zhou Dayong said in a hushed tone, "It's Director Song!"

  "Minister Song?" Peng Yuanzheng was startled and didn't dare to delay, immediately hung up the phone and went downstairs to Zhou Dayong's office.

  Zhou Dayong was standing at the office door to greet him, with a thick smile on his face.

  "Director Zhou!"

  "Come, Comrade Peng... please sit down, would you like to drink tea or water? Come on, have a cigarette!" Zhou Dayong's enthusiastic attitude made Peng Yuanzheng somewhat vigilant. He wasn't some rookie who had just entered the official circle and knew that the usually stern Organization Department cadre was being unusually warm towards him, which definitely meant there was something behind it - judging from various signs, it should be related to Director Song.

  Peng Yuanzheng smiled proudly and thanked him repeatedly.

  "It's like this, Comrade Xiao Peng. Just now Minister Song called me and asked me to call you down. The leader might want to have a talk with you - you wait for a moment!" Zhou Dayong said as he dialed the phone number of Song Bingnan, the Standing Committee member of the Municipal Party Committee and the head of the Organization Department.

  "Director Song, Comrade Peng has come down... What do you think?" Zhou Dayong's eyebrows and eyes were all smiling, although it was just a phone call and not in person, but facing the powerful Organization Department Director of Xin'an City, he was still very respectful.

  "Hmm, let him come over." Song Bingnan's words were stern and low, and he hung up after saying just one sentence.

  Zhou Dayong hung up the phone, his face surprisingly showing a hint of respect, "Comrade Xiao Peng, I'll take you to Director Song's office."

  "Alright, Director Zhou." Peng Yuanzheng didn't understand why the high and mighty Minister Song suddenly wanted to talk to him, but his facial expression remained extremely calm. This calmness fell into Zhou Dayong's eyes, deepening a certain speculation and judgment of his.

  Zhou Dayong took Peng Yuanzheng to the end of the corridor, to the "No. 1" office of the Organization Department, and said in a low voice, "Comrade Peng, this is Minister Song's office, you knock on the door and go in yourself."

  "Thanks, Zhou Ke." Peng Yuanzheng nodded and smiled slightly.

  Zhou Dayong turned and left. Actually, he had originally wanted to personally knock on the door and bring Peng Yuanzheng in, also taking the opportunity to show his face in front of Minister Song, but after thinking again, he feared it would cause Minister Song's displeasure, so he didn't dare.