Chapter 21: Who Will Benefit from the Fisherman's Gain

  (One day, two updates)

  After the car started moving, Tan Qiping still waved goodbye to Wu Haifeng and Gao Tianhe through the rear window. After a while, he turned back and said to Shen Huai:

  "The provincial government called me this afternoon and asked about the adjustment of the team in Donghua City..."

  "Ah!" Tan Qiping said this, Shen Hua was both surprised and delighted. He had never thought that the one who would benefit in the end would be Tan Qiping. He hastily turned his body to the side and said, "Then I should congratulate Uncle Tan..."

  Tan Qiping is only the deputy head of the provincial organization department, and when discussing the new team in Donghua City, there is no need to consult with him unless he is directly placed in this team.

  As for what position, Shen Hua didn't need to ask much. Tan Qiping came to Donghua, definitely to replace Wu Haifeng as the first secretary of the municipal party committee. Tan Qiping is a provincial party committee member, and his ranking is already ahead of Wu Haifeng's, he just hasn't had the opportunity to grasp local power yet.

  It seems that some people in the province have very clear eyes; Shen Huai was worried that Gao Tianhe would be let off easy before.

  This also shows that when the province started sending Tan Qiping to Donghua to handle this matter, it was also considered. However, Tan Qiping's ability to solve this matter so efficiently is probably also a key reason why the province made up its mind so quickly.

  I thought: No wonder Tan Qiping was cold and distant towards me for the past two days, but suddenly became affectionate today. It turns out I've made a great achievement.

  Tan Qiping saw Shen Huai and was immediately impressed, nodding his head in appreciation. "The situation in Donghua City is very complicated," he said. "To be honest, after handling this case, I also had some doubts about whether to come to Donghua." He smiled again, "But you insisted on staying in Donghua, which is good news for me. Are you interested in being my secretary?"

  Shen Huai thought for a moment and said: "Tan Uncle, I still think I should go down to the countryside..."

  "Why?"

  Shen Hua had previously told him about going to Mei Xi Town for work, but at that time he did not know about the provincial arrangement of sending Dong Hua as the municipal party secretary. Since Shen Hua insisted on staying in Dong Hua and going to a township for training, leaving the city's right and wrong circle is also an option.

  However, since he is coming to Donghua University and has explicitly asked for Shen Hua's help, it doesn't make sense that Shen Hua still insists on going down to the countryside.

  Tan Qiping has been in contact with Shen Hua for the past few days and has come to realize that he has his own ideas, although he finds his decisions strange, he still patiently listens to him explain.

  "I guess the provincial government won't rush to adjust personnel in Donghua," Shen Huai said, "By the time Uncle Tan arrives at Donghua, I'm afraid I'll have already been sent to work in a rural town. To suddenly be transferred back to the city would be quite abrupt."

  Shen Huai also secretly felt lucky that the matter of going to Mei Creek Town had been settled long ago, otherwise it would be really hard to refuse Tan Qiping's suggestion.

  "Also, during this period under Mayor Chen's care, I found that I have many shortcomings, my temper is a bit impatient, and I'm also impulsive when doing things. Going to the countryside for some tempering is something I've considered for a long time," Shen Hua's brain quickly turned, thinking of reasons that could convince Tan Qiping, saying "The situation in Donghua is relatively complicated, standing too high makes it easy for some people to deceive and cheat, maybe going to the grassroots level can see things more clearly. Uncle Tan, if you really want me to be helpful to your work, I still insist on going to the countryside..."

  Although being with Tan Qiping can quickly gain experience and upgrade, Shen Hua needs a sense of accomplishment.

  In Shen Hua's opinion, even if he starts from Meixi Town at a lower point, it feels better than serving the leader.

  Moreover, if you really want to get the understanding of the Song family, then there is no need to worry about starting from a low point.

  "Alright," Tan Qiping said with a smile, "I admit you've convinced me, I support your decision."

  It's not hard to find a qualified secretary; Chen Mingde's experience made Tan Qiping extremely cautious about the upcoming job at Donghua. Compared to taking care of his own secretary, he needed an assistant who could see through the complex situation at Donghua and even help break the deadlock.

  Although in the eyes of others, Shen Hua's choice to go to the countryside is absolutely foolish compared to being a secretary to the municipal party committee, but Shen Hua's words made Tan Qiping think that his ideas are mature.

  At this time, Tan Qiping only thought that Shen Hua was useful to him and completely forgot about Song Qiaosheng's indifference to his nephew. He thought that Shen Hua could really work hard in the county for three years, and then directly transfer him to the municipal party committee office as deputy director, without fear of others gossiping.

  "This," Shen Huai said with a slightly embarrassed smile, "when I was young, my dad and second uncle would say that I'm the troublemaker. After I went to the countryside, if I were to cause any trouble, it wouldn't be hard to implicate Uncle Tan in it; however, when Uncle Tan wants to spank me, he should still show some mercy..."

  "Now you're getting a preventive shot with me," Tan Qiping burst out laughing, and then felt that Donghua was a stagnant pool of water, which couldn't be stirred up without effort. He didn't think that Shen Hua was giving him a preventive shot for the rumors that might reach his ears, patted Shen Hua's shoulder and said, "You go ahead and stir up some trouble, as long as you don't kick the sky down, we can talk business."

  He chatted some more about family matters, Tan Qiping was in a great mood, and even shared his own experiences of going to the grassroots level in his early years with Shen Hua. Finally, he said: "There's one more thing, you help me get it started first."

  "En, Tan Uncle, you speak."

  "The personnel relationships in Donghua are quite complicated, and I couldn't figure them out even when I was in the provincial government. You've been in Donghua for nearly half a year now, you have some connections, can you help me sort it out first?"

  Shen Huai's face turned red with sweat, that previous idiot, more than half a year had been wasted, and he hadn't even figured out the relationship between Zhou Yu and Municipal Party Secretary Wu Haifeng, let alone other twists and turns.

  Fortunately, I have been living in Donghua for nearly thirty years, so even if it's just hearsay, the situation I know is still more than that of a newcomer.

  Shen Huai nodded and seriously recorded Tan Qiping's entrustment.

  Shen Hua sent Tan Qiping to the national highway toll station and got off, returning to the city. Although there were passing cars that could be taken, Shen Hua still chose to walk.

  Merging the memories of two people doesn't feel so bad, it's just that this body is somewhat lacking, and Shen Huan can't be satisfied with it.

  Excessive drinking and long-term irregular life made Shen Hua feel out of breath after running a thousand meters.

  Tan Qiping also reminded him to rest many times during the five days they spent together, and it was clear that he was not very satisfied with his sickly appearance.

  The body has no disease, but is in a sub-healthy state. Exercising more, eating reasonably and having a regular rhythmic life can adjust the body.

  Shen Huai thought: That's the only way I can truly be myself, right?

  Maybe it's because the gloomy clouds that have been weighing on my heart for the past few days have finally cleared, and I'm feeling particularly carefree. From the toll-free station on the national highway to the municipal government dormitory is 15 kilometers, Shen Hua walked for three hours without feeling too tired, and his body still has a light and relaxed feeling.

  Five days ago, Shen Hua just rushed back to pick up a change of clothes and didn't have the luxury of time to fully experience this old building built in the 1960s.

  The sky had completely darkened, and the narrow courtyard was filled with clothes racks stretching out everywhere. Clothes and bedding cut off the light from the street lamps and the lights in the rooms, making the courtyard seem gloomy and old. The once magnificent government building had long since fallen into disrepair.

  Shen Huai initially also feared being controlled too tightly by Chen Mingde, so he moved into this pipe-like building.

  Shen Huai stepped on the stairs with missing steps, walked to the third floor, and just as he was about to take out his key to open the door, he heard the sound of chess pieces coming from next door.

  It so happened that the neighbor was not beside him, but the former director of the municipal steel factory, who is now the deputy director of the policy research office, Xiong Wenbin.

  At this time, Shen Hua was too familiar with Xiong Wenbin. He entered the municipal steel plant and received Xiong Wenbin's strong support. Although both of them suffered extra blows later, they always maintained close contact.

  Even if Xiong Wenbin's circumstances were poor, he was at least an old deputy director and wouldn't have ended up living in a tube-shaped building.

  The city allocated a two-bedroom apartment in Xinjiayuan to Xiong Wenbin, who was in a hurry for his eldest daughter's wedding. The old couple and the young couple couldn't live together anymore, plus there was still their youngest daughter studying at university, so she couldn't live with her sister in the same room either. The original house was no longer enough, so Xiong Wenbin let his eldest daughter and son-in-law live in the Xinjiayuan apartment, while he and his wife moved into a simple two-bedroom apartment in Tongzilou with their youngest daughter.

  Listening to the sound of falling objects coming from next door, Shen Huai didn't know who was visiting Xiong Wenbin's home.

  Then came a violent fit of coughing and the sound of someone being patted on the back.

  Xiong Wenbin's lover said, "You've been dragging this illness for half a month, coughing and coughing, it's become like this, why don't you go to the hospital to take a look? How can people be at ease?"

  "You talk too much." Xiong Wenbin seemed very angry and his words were harsh.

  "Exactly, you talk too much." Then a soft and delicate girl's voice came out.

  Upon hearing this voice, Shen Huan was taken aback: Dai Ling is supposed to be studying in the provincial city at this time, it's not a weekend, nor is it any holiday, how did she come back to Donghua?

  "Alright, alright, you father and daughter want to join forces to drive me mad," Xiong Wenbin's lover said with a tone of both anger and helplessness. "Your dad has been ill for over ten days, Haiwen's funeral, he wanted to go, I didn't stop him at first. But he was weak from illness, as soon as he walked out the door, he fell flat on his face, so I stopped him from going. What did I do wrong? I asked you to come back, it was to persuade your dad to see a doctor, not for you to join forces and give me a hard time."

  "How could something so big happen and no one tell me?" The girl's voice was choked with unspoken resentment.

  At this point, Shen Huan's heart was struck in its softest spot, and his eyes involuntarily became moist.

  Before, Shen Huai, although he was born into a wealthy family, had anyone ever truly cared about him?

  Even if Chen Mingde took on the responsibility of taking care of him, he was actually very cold to him in his heart - this can't be blamed on Chen Mingde, with his previous annoying personality, being able to stay by his side and take care of him was already being exceptionally good to him.

  Shen Hua thought about his true self before, although he couldn't stand out in the municipal steel factory, but at least there were so many real friends and mentors who cared about him.

  "Dai Ling, everyone is heartbroken about this, and Teacher Bai is worried that you'll follow Director Xiong and add to the sorrow," Zhao Dong's voice came out. "Teacher Bai has already asked me twice to send money to Xiao Li, but Xiao Li is as stubborn as Hai Wen. She firmly refused my offer and told me to return the money to Teacher Bai, saying that the factory can provide her with over a hundred yuan in living expenses every month, which is enough..."

  It turned out that Zhao Dong was playing chess with Xiong Wenbin, Shen Huai wiped away the tears on his face, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door of Xiong Wenbin's house.