Chapter 7

"Come to the county committee," Yan Wangsong said, and with those words, he decided Xu Junran's position.

Xu Junran thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "I'll follow your arrangements."

This was what he had planned all along. Although working in the government office was not his ultimate goal, before a certain event occurred, Xu Junran still intended to stay by Yan Wangsong's side.

If he wanted to achieve something in Wude County, Xu Junran certainly wouldn't allow any destabilizing factors to exist.

At present, the administrative units under Wude County were all called People's Communes. This situation would only change in October of the following year when the central government officially issued the "Notice on Separating Government and Commune Functions and Establishing Township Governments," which would then be implemented nationwide.

Wude County was a relatively backward area in the entire region, with few resources to utilize and inconvenient transportation. The road to the city was still a bumpy mountain path. Xu Junran vaguely remembered that it wasn't until more than a decade after the reform and opening-up that the county finally solved its food and clothing problems.

But in this life, what he wanted to do was to change this situation.

"Junran, since you're back, when are you going to visit the town?" Long Yinyue asked Xu Junran.

After some thought, Xu Junran said, "Let's wait, Teacher. After I settle down in the county, I want to go back and pay respects to my parents' graves."

Long Yinyue nodded, "It's good that you have this intention."

They chatted for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, Long Yinyue got up to take his leave. He had only come to the county to handle some business and to visit his old friend Yan Wangsong. He still had to return to the town with the young people from the town that evening.

Xu Junran saw the old man off to the entrance of the county committee compound, "Teacher, I'll be back in a few days."

Long Yinyue patted Xu Junran's shoulder with a deep sigh, saying meaningfully, "Don't rush, take things slowly. No matter why you came back, this is your home."

Xu Junran felt a warmth in his heart and almost shed a tear.

He had underestimated his teacher's insight. How could someone who had come from a place like the capital not see that Xu Junran's return to Wude County was due to some unspoken difficulties? But since this was his choice, as a teacher and a relative, he could only silently support and tolerate him.

"Teacher, rest assured, I won't let you down," Xu Junran said to Long Yinyue.

Long Yinyue smiled and nodded gently, "I believe in you. You've never disappointed me from childhood to now."

Watching the old man's figure depart, Xu Junran stood there for a long time. In this world, there were always some people who, regardless of whether you succeeded or failed, achieved fame or remained unknown, would always stand behind you, giving you warmth and strength.

"In this life, I must protect my loved ones," Xu Junran clenched his fist tightly.

"Junran, are you still here?" At that moment, a call from behind made Xu Junran turn around.

It was Li Yifeng. Xu Junran smiled, "Brother Hu, what's up?"

Li Yifeng came up to Xu Junran, "Grandma made dumplings and asked you to come home for dinner. I went to the Yan family to ask, and they said you had sent Grandpa Long here, so I came to check."

Xu Junran nodded, looking at the luggage in Li Yifeng's hand, "Really? You even brought this?"

"Grandma said you should stay at home first, and then move out after your work is arranged."

Thinking of the kind old lady, Xu Junran nodded, "Alright, let's go."

The two of them went to Li Yifeng's house, which was not far from the Yan family. Li Dongyuan, as a member of the county committee and the head of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and with the Li family being one of the major clans in Wude County, held a high rank in the county committee.

"Third Grandpa, Third Grandma, Sixth Uncle, Sixth Aunt," as soon as he entered, Xu Junran greeted the people busy in the house.

Li Yifeng's grandfather was the third in the Li family's genealogy, and Li Dongyuan was the sixth in his generation. Xu Junran had always called them by these names since childhood.

"Hehe, our top scholar is back! Come, come, come, let Third Grandma take a look, has little Junran grown taller?" Third Grandma smiled, pulling Xu Junran's hand, her wrinkles seeming to bloom.

"Junran is back, wash your hands and eat the dumplings," Li Dongyuan's wife, a simple rural woman, said with a smile.

Xu Junran nodded, "Okay!"

At that moment, he felt as if he had returned to his childhood in his previous life. Sometimes, when his adoptive father was busy with work, he would be sent to stay at the Li family, and it was the same people and the same scene.

After dinner, Li Dongyuan inquired about Xu Junran's work arrangements. When he heard that Xu Junran had given up his comfortable job in the capital and voluntarily requested to return to Wude County, the former soldier Li Dongyuan gave Xu Junran a thumbs up, "Good boy! Having this mindset is better than anything. I was wondering, after you graduated, you probably wouldn't have the chance to come back to Wude."

Xu Junran smiled, "Sixth Uncle, I'm not the kind of person who forgets kindness. Grandpa Yan said I should work at the county committee for a while and then look for an opportunity to go to the grassroots."

"Right, the old secretary has thought it through. Your position in the county committee office is well-suited to your abilities," Li Dongyuan nodded, then added with a cold snort, "By the way, when you get to the county committee, don't worry about other things, but be very careful not to offend County Chief Yang."

Xu Junran's eyes lit up, and he involuntarily squinted. County Chief Yang?

It seems he had forgotten about someone.

Yang Weitian, the County Chief of Wude County, was, to be precise, the first cadre sent by the city of Quanzhou after the turmoil. Before that, the administrative system was in chaos, and the county government was mainly run by the Revolutionary Committee. The head of the Revolutionary Committee at that time was the old secretary, Yan Wangsong, and most of the county officials were promoted by Yan Wangsong, such as Li Dongyuan and others.

Now, the only person who could rival Yan Wangsong in Wude County was County Chief Yang Weitian.

Quanzhou was a prefecture-level city, not very prominent in Jiangnan Province. The leaders of the Quanzhou Municipal Committee and Municipal Government were somewhat displeased with Yan Wangsong, who was older than most of the municipal leaders and had more seniority. A position at the county level being occupied by such a person was naturally unsatisfactory, so when the storm came, with a little push, Yan Wangsong fell in the midst of the turmoil.

The one who pushed the wave was Yang Weitian.

After Yan Wangsong stepped down, the one who ascended to the position of county secretary was Yang Weitian. And the one who pushed the issue of individual and private enterprises to Yan Wangsong was also him.

Xu Junran now suddenly had a strong desire to meet this county chief.

Of course, he just wanted to meet him. He didn't have the capital to face him yet.

"By the way, Sixth Uncle, Brother Hu just mentioned that you are the head of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. I remember when I left for school, you were also the police chief?"

Xu Junran thought for a moment and asked Li Dongyuan.

Li Dongyuan's face changed, and he then smiled bitterly, "This matter, I can only blame my own lack of ability."