Chapter 3

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Xu Yan really didn't expect that Su Mu, who had been chatting and smoking with him all the way, would be the deputy mayor of Heishan Town. Wait, how old is he? How could he become a deputy section-level cadre?

"Bro, you're not kidding me, right?" Xu Yan laughed.

"What benefit would I get from lying to you?" Su Mu said calmly. "Besides, once we get to Heishan Town, you can easily check my identity. Why would I lie to you now?"

"You have a point!" Xu Yan scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "Bro, no, Deputy Mayor Su, don't take it personally. I'm just used to speaking my mind. Once you report to Heishan Town, I'll treat you to a big drink. You have to give me this face."

"Sure thing!" Su Mu smiled, not really disliking Xu Yan. A person who could stand up in a crisis couldn't be that bad. Moreover, Xu Yan was the deputy chief of the Heishan Town police station. It was normal for him to be surprised by Xu Yan's youth, but he was also surprised by Xu Yan.

Becoming the deputy chief of the Heishan Town police station at the age of twenty-five, a position with real power, was far stronger than his own deputy mayor position!

If Xu Yan didn't have any backing, Su Mu wouldn't believe it!

Unfortunately, the current official ranking system couldn't reveal someone's family background through physical contact. If it could, that would be too cool.

"Everyone, don't panic. I'm Deputy Mayor Su Mu, and this is Chief Xu Yan of the Heishan Town police station. These young hooligans will be dealt with according to the law when we get off the bus. Just sit tight! Driver, let's go!" Su Mu smiled as he scanned the bus.

"Good job!"

"Deputy Mayor Su, I recognize you."

"Chief Xu, impressive!"

...

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, the long-distance bus finally arrived at Heishan Town. After getting off, a few young men didn't leave. They looked at the four men with scars and asked Xu Yan, "Deputy Mayor Su, do you need help to take these scoundrels to the police station?"

"No need! With me here, they won't get away." Xu Yan waved his hand.

"Kid, you really think that just because you beat me, you can do whatever you want. Let me tell you, one phone call and you'll have to let me go. If you know what's good for you, you'll do it now. Otherwise, once I leave the police station, I'll make sure to teach you a lesson." The scar-faced man said viciously.

"In Heishan Town, no one dares to offend me, Scarface, and you're no exception!"

Barefaced intimidation!

"Alright, kid, you're still being stubborn. I want to see who can take you away today. Everyone, stand up and walk!" Xu Yan said loudly, unfazed.

Su Mu's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he looked at the scar-faced man. Unlike Xu Yan, who was new to Heishan Town, Su Mu had been working here for half a year and understood the local dynamics. If the scar-faced man dared to make such threats, did he really have someone backing him?

However, Xu Yan didn't seem to care. Perhaps he really had the ability to deal with the scar-faced man. Regardless, Su Mu decided to take charge of this matter because of Xu Yan's straightforward personality. He couldn't believe that a few robbers could be so brazen!

"Xu Yan, do you know the way?" Su Mu smiled. "From your expression, I can tell you don't. Let's go, I'll lead the way and lock these guys up."

"Haha, Deputy Mayor Su, thank you. Robbery and assaulting a police officer, just these two charges will make you rot in jail!" Xu Yan laughed loudly.

Heishan Town wasn't very big, a narrow strip of land nestled between the mountains. After leading Xu Yan to the police station, Su Mu left without lingering. He had done his part, and the rest was up to Xu Yan.

As for entering the police station, Su Mu never considered it. The reason was simple: the police station was the mayor's territory. Although Heishan Town was poor and backward, wherever there were people, there was struggle. This was no exception. Mayor Yang Song controlled the police station, making it impenetrable.

Even Deputy Mayor Su Mu, who had no real power, or even Party Secretary Liang Changgui, would have to consider Yang Song's mood to make any changes to the police station.

There was no way around it; the police chief, Yang Hu, was Yang Song's nephew.

Speaking of which, it's worth mentioning the basic situation in Heishan Town. Party Secretary Liang Changgui was a local, with significant power. He was a tough character, and in the ten natural villages under Heishan Town's jurisdiction, no one didn't know his name. Several village party secretaries had grown up under his watch.

At fifty years old, Liang Changgui had absolute authority in Heishan Town.

To be precise, the reason Su Mu could become a deputy mayor in Heishan Town from the county government office was through Liang Changgui's connections. In fact, Su Mu's mother and Liang Changgui were distant relatives.

Of course, the deputy section-level position wasn't entirely due to Liang Changgui's help. Su Mu was an outstanding graduate from Jiangnan University, with experience in the county government office. With his education and experience, in a poor and remote area like Heishan Town, a deputy section-level position was easy to obtain. If he had stronger connections, even a full section-level position would be possible.

Rank and real power were never equivalent. Just because you had the benefits of a full section-level position didn't mean you had the power. From this perspective, Xu Yan's surprise at Su Mu's position was genuine, but Su Mu knew what kind of deputy section-level position he held.

Besides Liang Changgui, there was another person in Heishan Town who couldn't be ignored: Mayor Yang Song. Although not as powerful as Liang Changgui, Yang Song was adept at scheming. As someone who came from the county to gain experience, his primary goal was to push Liang Changgui out and become the top leader of Heishan Town.

Once he became the party secretary, Yang Song could use it as a stepping stone to enter the county government with the support of his backers.

With this goal in mind, Yang Song started scheming from the moment he took office. Currently, there were seven standing committee members in Heishan Town, two of whom he had already won over.

This was common knowledge in Heishan Town, but Liang Changgui was deeply rooted, and Yang Song couldn't easily push him out.

Besides these two, the other members of the leadership team in Heishan Town were: Party and Government Office Director He Chengli, Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Dong Xiangrui, Deputy Party Secretary Zhang An, Deputy Mayor Ma Yangfan, and Deputy Mayor Su Mu, who ranked last.

This was the leadership structure of Heishan Town!

This leadership team managed Heishan Town and its ten natural villages!

"Deputy Mayor Su, you're finally back!"

Just as Su Mu was pondering how Deputy Chief Xu Yan would handle the four men with scars, a man walked out from the hallway as he entered the government building.

The man wore a white short-sleeved shirt, black pants, and polished black shoes. His slightly parted hair and sharp eyes gave him a shrewd appearance.

He was Lin Chen, a minor clerk in the Heishan Town government office, without a formal position, just a helper.

Lin Chen and Su Mu had a good relationship in the Heishan Town government, perhaps because they both felt unappreciated and could relate to each other.

"Lin Chen, what's up? Has anything happened in town these past few days?" Su Mu smiled.

"Deputy Mayor Su, let's talk in private!" Lin Chen cautiously scanned the surroundings, ensuring no one was around, and gestured to a corner on the first floor.

Su Mu was curious about Lin Chen's behavior. Could something really have happened? Without hesitation, he walked to the corner with Lin Chen and said calmly, "Speak up!"

"Deputy Mayor Su, be careful. I heard that Mayor Yang is planning to cause you trouble. You've been away for so long, giving him an excuse. Now, everyone in the government is saying that you won't last long." Lin Chen whispered.

So that's it!

Su Mu smiled inwardly with disdain. Yang Song, you're only capable of this. As the mayor, you should be thinking about the welfare of Heishan Town, finding ways to boost the local economy, and improving the lives of the struggling residents. Instead, you're scheming to get rid of me.

Ha, you're dreaming!

Su Mu had long known Yang Song's intentions. If he left, a deputy mayor position would be vacant, giving Yang Song a chance to grab it, thus gaining an additional vote in the standing committee meetings.

But this time, Yang Song will be disappointed. I won't leave, and with the official ranking system, I certainly won't leave. Want to play political games? I'll play with you to the end! I want to see how you, Yang Song, can control everything in Heishan Town.

These thoughts flashed through his mind, but Su Mu's expression remained composed, showing no signs of abnormality. This was thanks to his experience in the student council at Jiangnan University.

They say university is a microcosm of society, and this was true. When Su Mu was at Jiangnan University, he held several positions in the college and university student councils, even serving as the student council president before graduation. He was most proud of being the secretary of the Communist Youth League from his sophomore year.

In this environment, Su Mu had been through many battles and had a precise understanding of human nature. He could control his emotions, at least his basic expressions.

"Lin Chen, I'm sure you haven't been comfortable these past few days either," Su Mu changed the subject.

"Ah!" Lin Chen sighed, lowering his head.

"Just wait, there will be a day when you'll make it," Su Mu said with a smile.

"Deputy Mayor Su, if that day comes, I'll rely on you. By the way, Mayor Yang said that if you return, you should go to his office immediately." Lin Chen slapped his forehead.

"Is that so? Then I'll go see Mayor Yang!" Su Mu patted Lin Chen's shoulder and walked calmly towards the stairs without hesitation.

Lin Chen stood behind, watching Su Mu's back, his brows slightly furrowed. For some reason, he felt that Su Mu was different now, with an indescribable aura.

"Maybe I'm overthinking it."

Lin Chen shook his head and walked away to do his work. By then, Su Mu was already standing in front of the mayor's office on the third floor of the government building.

Su Mu took a deep breath and was about to knock when the closed wooden door opened, and a man with a smiling face walked out.

However, when the man saw Su Mu, his brief surprise was quickly replaced by a cold look, and his smile became even more enthusiastic.

"Deputy Mayor Su, good day!"

A simple greeting, but it contained a barefaced challenge!