Chapter 4

Adequate updates, can I get more support from my brothers?

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What a coincidence!

Su Mu looked at the man in front of him, who was wearing a police uniform, had a robust build, and prominent cheekbones. He put on a formal smile, "Director Yang, here to report work?"

"Yes, I'm here to report the police station's work situation to the mayor. Deputy Mayor Su, I haven't seen you for several days, where have you been?" Yang Hu said loudly, as if he was afraid someone wouldn't hear him.

"Doing business!" Su Mu replied calmly. What a joke, I'm still a deputy mayor, do I need to report to you where I go? Who do you think you are?

"Doing business? Official business or personal business?" Yang Hu said with a fake smile.

Cough!

At this moment, a coughing sound suddenly came from inside the office. Yang Hu swallowed the rest of his words and stepped aside, whispering to Su Mu as they passed, "Deputy Mayor Su, you'd better be reasonable. In Heishan Town, you can't just go wherever you want."

Hmph!

Su Mu sneered inwardly, not bothering to respond to Yang Hu. He pushed the door open and politely said to Yang Song, who was sitting behind a large desk, "Mayor Yang, you wanted to see me?"

Unlike Yang Hu, Yang Song was very thin, wearing a dark gray shirt, with a very fine and light eyebrow, giving a first impression of being sullen and shrewd.

However, what happened next really surprised Su Mu. He didn't expect Yang Song, known for his cunning, to act this way.

Bang!

Yang Song stood up abruptly, slammed the table hard, and glared at Su Mu, shouting, "Su Mu, do you have any sense of organization and discipline? As the deputy mayor of Heishan Town, you've been absent for eight days. What do you want? Even if you have a reason, can't you take leave in advance? Are the party's rules just for show? Missing for eight days and not reporting back immediately, who do you think you are?

I've never seen anyone as lax and disrespectful to the organization as you! Do you even deserve to be a civil servant? Can someone like you be a deputy mayor of Heishan Town? That's enough, don't say anything more, go back and wait for the notice. I won't let this go, you'd better be prepared!"

Being prepared is a very peculiar phrase in the political arena. You can interpret it as the organization considering your promotion, or as planning to take you down. In this situation, Yang Song's intentions are very clear: to remove Su Mu from his position.

So, this is your perfect plan!

Su Mu didn't even get a chance to report before being scolded by Yang Song. His goal was to take the initiative. No matter what your reasons are, you have to take the blame. I've wanted to deal with you for a long time, and now that you've come to me, how can I let you off?

If it were in the past, Su Mu might not know what to do, but after absorbing so many political strategies, he has completely transformed. If he can't handle a small town mayor, how can he deal with county, city, or even provincial officials?

Su Mu listened quietly to Yang Song's scolding and then said calmly, "Mayor Yang, I think you've misunderstood. I didn't disappear; I went to Shengjing. As for the eight days, I can explain. I've already taken leave from Secretary Liang. If you don't believe me, you can verify it with him. As for the mental preparation you mentioned, I've always been prepared. But I don't think Mayor Yang represents the party or the organization, do you?"

A subtle and sharp rebuttal!

If you, Yang Song, don't want to listen, that's your problem. I need to explain. If you really want to make things difficult for me, sorry, I'm not someone who can be pushed around.

You, Yang Song, don't have the qualifications to remove me!

"What attitude is this?" Yang Song shouted angrily.

"What attitude? I'm being fair and just. I'm reporting the situation truthfully, is there something wrong with that? Mayor Yang, I'm sorry, but I have some things to report to Secretary Liang, I'll go now." Su Mu turned around calmly and walked out, closing the door behind him.

Bang!

As Su Mu left, a clear sound of a cup breaking came from inside the office. Yang Song, furious, had smashed the cup.

"Arrogant! Too arrogant! Su Mu, you young punk, daring to talk to me like this. Do you really think that with Liang Changgui as your backer, I can't do anything to you? Just wait, you won't be able to jump around for much longer. When Liang Changgui falls, I'll see who can save you!" Yang Song's face was full of malice.

The Heishan Town government and the town committee are in the same building, but the committee is on the left and the government on the right, clearly separated, not interfering with each other.

The office of the town committee secretary.

"Secretary Liang, I've caused trouble again!" Su Mu, who was completely different from his encounter with Yang Song, said very respectfully.

Sitting behind the desk was the town committee secretary, Liang Changgui, an elderly man with gray hair, wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt. His somewhat aged face exuded a strong and upright demeanor. No matter what, Liang Changgui gave the first impression of being tough and honest.

In fact, if it weren't for Liang Changgui, Heishan Town would have become unrecognizable, probably even more impoverished and destitute.

"Deputy Mayor Su, you indeed handled this matter poorly. Although you took leave from me, you are still a public official. How could you be absent for eight days? Tell me, what did you do in Shengjing during this time?" Liang Changgui asked with a stern but not angry tone.

"Secretary Liang, I have a reason for not returning for these eight days. I was hit by a car in Shengjing while saving a girl," Su Mu explained.

"What? How serious is it?" Liang Changgui stood up abruptly, his face full of concern.

Liang Changgui actually had a good impression of Su Mu, not for any other reason but because he was talented. Although he had only been in Heishan Town for a short time, he had visited all ten villages in the town. Just for this, he was much better than people like Yang Song, who never left their offices. Sometimes, his suggestions were so insightful that Liang Changgui felt enlightened.

Of course, the most important thing is that Su Mu is one of his own!

As an old party member, Liang Changgui knew the importance of having loyal people. When he strongly recommended Su Mu as deputy mayor, it proved to be the right decision. In many matters, Su Mu followed his lead.

Despite Yang Song's obstruction, Su Mu currently had no real power, as overseeing culture and health in Heishan Town was a thankless job. But Liang Changgui had already planned to use his connections to get Su Mu out of Heishan Town once he had enough experience.

Heishan Town was too poor and backward. As a native of the town, Liang Changgui wouldn't leave, but he wouldn't block Su Mu's path.

When he suddenly heard that Su Mu had been hospitalized in Shengjing for saving someone, Liang Changgui couldn't help but worry and asked anxiously.

"Old Secretary, I'm fine!" Su Mu smiled, feeling Liang Changgui's genuine concern, deeply moved. In Heishan Town, if it weren't for Liang Changgui's protection, his position as deputy mayor would be very difficult.

"Good, good." Liang Changgui sat down and took out a cigarette. Su Mu walked over and lit it for him, then quickly refilled the empty teacup with water. After doing all this, he sat back down, ready to listen to his instructions.

"You, what can I say about you? You're always so rash. Fortunately, you're fine. If something had happened, how could I explain it to your mother?" Liang Changgui took a puff of the cigarette and said, "Alright, let's put this behind us. You're back just in time. The county will hold an expanded meeting on cultural and educational affairs the day after tomorrow. As the deputy mayor in charge, you must attend. If you had returned any later, Yang Song would have seized on this."

"Yes, I'll pack up tomorrow and go, I promise not to delay anything," Su Mu said.

"That's good, go and rest well after you return," Liang Changgui said with a smile.

"Then I'll leave now, Secretary." Su Mu didn't linger, got up, and left. Liang Changgui watched Su Mu's back and smiled.

"Yang Song, you'd better not challenge my limits. Su Mu is a good seed. If you dare to cause trouble and ruin him, don't blame me for being harsh on you!"

After leaving the town committee secretary's office, Su Mu didn't listen to Liang Changgui's advice to rest. Instead, he returned to his office and organized the cultural and educational materials related to Heishan Town, leaving only after work.

Unlike the people in the government, Su Mu didn't live in the dormitory but rented a room outside. Although it wasn't large and the conditions weren't great, it was at least free and quiet. Su Mu didn't want to live in the government building after work.

Summer nights come late. Su Mu returned to his place, tidied up, and then picked up a large bag and left. In Heishan Town, the roads were full of mountains, and bicycles were useless. Walking was faster.

Fortunately, Su Mu's physical condition was good, thanks to his training in the martial arts association at Jiangnan University. Even compared to the local mountain people, he wasn't far behind.

Monkey Back is a natural village under the jurisdiction of Heishan Town, the closest to the town. After walking for about ten miles, Su Mu arrived there.

It was already dusk.

Under the starry sky, houses were scattered, some in the mountain valleys, some on the hillside. No matter where they were, none of the houses were built with bricks, but with wood or stone. Under the night sky, the rooms were lit with scattered lights.

Woof woof!

Domestic dogs barked happily as the smoke from cooking rose. Before Su Mu even entered the village, a figure suddenly jumped out from the front, accompanied by an old yellow dog.

This was a little boy, dressed simply, with slightly dark skin, and eyes that sparkled like stars.

"Uncle Su, I knew you were coming, otherwise Old Yellow wouldn't have run out so quickly!" The little boy's face was red with excitement as he shouted.

Woof woof!

Old Yellow jumped up and pounced into Su Mu's arms, trying to lick him. Su Mu laughed and dodged, holding Old Yellow in