Chapter 36

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Target

This year, the director of the Education Bureau is due to retire. What was originally a straightforward matter has now, due to the sudden vacancy, attracted many qualified individuals who wish to fill the position. As the deputy director of the Education Bureau, Tang Taojiang is no exception.

"Director Tang probably doesn't stand much of a chance. I heard that the Party Secretary of Lion Mountain Township has had his eye on this position for a while, and he's been working on it for two years. Director Tang probably can't compete with him," Xu Zhengwu said in a tone that made him sound like an unofficial organizational minister. Although he worked at the grassroots level, he was well-informed about the county's personnel dynamics.

"Two years is nothing. Don't think that moving from Party Secretary to Director is a lateral move; I don't think he stands a chance either. Director Tang has a trump card; he's willing to pay the price," Zhang Zhichun said with a faint smile.

"Principal Zhang, you always have the most reliable information. I wonder how much Director Tang has paid?" Pan Yong asked immediately.

"You can't catch a wolf without risking your child. Director Tang has become in-laws with Secretary Wang; his eldest daughter married Secretary Wang's son. Director Tang's daughter is a college graduate, while Secretary Wang's son didn't even finish high school. Why would they make such a match? It's obvious, no one can outdo Director Tang!" Zhang Zhichun said with a smug smile, as if he were the real unofficial organizational minister.

"Director Tang really is willing to pay the price. I've heard of Wang's son; he's not good-looking and has a limp. But he's quite a playboy. I've heard that many young female teachers in the county have had abortions because of him." Xu Zhengwu shook his head lightly. He never thought Tang Taojiang would sacrifice his daughter's happiness for his career.

"What's the big deal? He has the means to be a playboy. His father is the county's deputy secretary, and everyone wants to get close to him. Besides, Wang's son works at the power bureau, a very lucrative position. Now that Director Tang has taken the lead, many people envy him. His younger daughter, who graduated from a vocational high school, was immediately assigned to the finance bureau. Just for this, the marriage is worth it!" Zhang Zhichun looked at Tang Taojiang with admiration. If he had a college-educated daughter, he might have done the same.

Now it all made sense to Zhu Daodong. It seemed that Tang Taojiang had long decided to marry his daughter into the Wang family. Zhu Daodong had already let go of his feelings for Tang Xiaoli, but hearing the reason now felt like being stabbed by a sharp knife.

How could Tang Xiaoli willingly use her marriage to pave the way for her father? She was well-educated, and even Xu Zhengwu knew what kind of scum Wang's son was. Why would she marry him without a second thought? It was as if she had lost her mind.

If Zhu Daodong had any lingering feelings for Tang Xiaoli, they vanished instantly. Now, he only felt pity and deep disdain. Would she be happy marrying someone like Wang's son? Zhu Daodong could answer that question right away. Thinking about it, he felt a bit of sympathy. If Tang Xiaoli hadn't married yet, Zhu Daodong, with his current mindset, would definitely have tried to win her back. But last year, he fainted at the sight of that note, completely defeated by those few lines of text.

"Secretary Zhu, you look pale. Are you feeling unwell?" Zhang Zhichun quickly noticed Zhu Daodong's discomfort.

"It's nothing, I probably drank a bit too much. I'll be fine after a short rest," Zhu Daodong smiled.

"I don't think Secretary Zhu is drunk. I heard that Director Tang's daughter had a boyfriend before. Was it you?" Xu Zhengwu said with a meaningful tone.

"How could that be? If it were true, would I be here at Shumu Ridge Middle School?" Zhu Daodong quickly replied.

"That's not certain. Last year, all the college graduates stayed in the county, but you were the only one assigned to our school. Maybe it was Director Tang's doing," Pan Yong said with a grin.

"I didn't know about that. Principal Zhang, thank you for your hospitality. The secretary and the township head might return this afternoon, so I'll take my leave." Zhu Daodong didn't want to explain further; the more he explained, the more complicated it would become.

"Secretary Zhu, don't leave so soon..." Zhang Zhichun said hastily as Zhu Daodong stood up to leave.

"You two... what can I say!"

After leaving "Good Again," Zhu Daodong heard Zhang Zhichun still scolding Xu Zhengwu and Pan Yong. He could only smile bitterly, realizing that he still hadn't mastered the art of hiding his feelings. But Zhu Daodong didn't care; he had already let go of the past and was looking forward to the future.

Zhu Daodong's future certainly wouldn't be as a mere secretary in the township government. Since he had already stepped into the township government, he would probably never return to the three-foot platform of teaching. If he were to stay in the township government, his next goal could only be deputy township head.

The leap from secretary to deputy township head would not be easy, filled with difficulties and obstacles. He was just an ordinary township cadre, and there were nearly a hundred like him in Shumu Ridge Township, but only three deputy township heads. He analyzed his advantages: young and educated. Youth was a treasure, and education was essential. However, he also had visible disadvantages: no connections, no backing, and no opportunities.

No connections and no backing were obvious. He wasn't from Shumu Ridge, not even from Yuhua, so how could he have connections or backing in this remote area? Zhu Daodong knew he couldn't change these things now. The only thing he could change was his opportunities, the chance to do things and do them well. Although it might seem greedy to think about advancing another step right after getting a permanent position, Zhu Daodong didn't see it that way. Without goals, one's work loses its drive. Wanting to progress and wanting to excel are natural human desires. If he had the ability to do more work, why not?

However, to achieve this goal, Zhu Daodong still had a long way to go. The office was different from other departments. The amount of work done in a year could be listed in words and numbers, but not in the office. You couldn't just say how many documents you wrote, how many guests you received, or how many toasts you made. That would be a joke!

But soon, Zhu Daodong did receive a task. One day, the township held a cadre meeting to convey the county's spirit of integrity and anti-corruption. Yuan Ping presided over the meeting, and Chen Shuli gave an important speech. At the time, Zhu Daodong was sitting in the back row, with his hearing set to the minimum. Suddenly, he heard his name mentioned by Chen Shuli. He immediately adjusted his hearing and listened carefully to what Chen Shuli was saying...

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