Chapter 27: People Coming to Form Connections

After the meeting dispersed, Wang Jian stood up from the podium and spoke softly to Zheng Shiguang, appearing very reserved and steady. The men and women in the meeting room walked out, whispering to each other, clearly discussing the topic of the new township chief. In just over a year, when others were still nothing, Wang Jian had already become the township chief.

Everyone was recalling their interactions with Wang Jian over the past year. Some felt regretful, as they had a good relationship with Wang Jian when he first arrived but later became distant. Some shook their heads in sighs, as they had never had any close contact with Wang Jian over the past year. Some were secretly pleased, as they had done things together with Wang Jian and got along quite well. In short, they hoped to analyze Wang Jian's opinion of them from past interactions so that they could gain his favor in the future. Of course, those who had a bad relationship with Wang Jian were uneasy, wondering if Wang Jian would take the opportunity to retaliate against them.

The people in the Party and Government Office were the most excited. Du Xiaobei and Wu Lei were more excited than Wang Jian himself when they learned he had become the township chief. With their boss promoted, these close old colleagues were naturally overjoyed. As soon as Wang Jian became the township chief, who would take over the position of Party and Government Office Director was also on their minds.

Wang Jian and Zheng Shiguang walked out of the meeting room, chatting as they went. Zheng Shiguang asked, "Township Chief Wang, where do you plan to set up your office? I can stay in my original office!"

Zhang Zeguang and Li Jiarong each had a large office, but after their deaths, no one dared to enter their offices. Zheng Shiguang clearly did not want to move into Zhang Zeguang's office. Although Wang Jian did not mind much, he could not stop others from being superstitious. Zheng Shiguang was originally the deputy secretary, so his office was naturally smaller. Now, staying in his original office would not be appropriate for his new position. Zheng Shiguang was just trying to see Wang Jian's attitude. Wang Jian did not have a separate office before and would definitely need to find a new one. If Wang Jian moved into Li Jiarong's office, Zheng Shiguang would have to move into Zhang Zeguang's office, otherwise, others would say he was superstitious.

Considering the old and dilapidated state of the township party committee building, Wang Jian thought for a moment and said, "Secretary Zheng, the building is in need of repair. Should we renovate all the offices? Your office should be larger. I will temporarily use Feng Guoqiang's office, and once the renovation is complete, we can rearrange the offices."

Feng Guoqiang had been removed from his position and moved out of his office. He was now just an ordinary village cadre, and his office was still unused. Wang Jian wanted to use it temporarily while renovating the building. After the renovation, perhaps the bad luck would dissipate, and Zheng Shiguang's concerns might be alleviated.

Furrowing his brows, Zheng Shiguang thought for a moment and nodded, "That's a good idea. As a new leadership team, we should present a new image. We should beautify the building's facade. You can arrange for the renovation, Township Chief Wang!"

"No problem, I'll arrange it right away!"

After parting ways with Zheng Shiguang, Wang Jian walked into the Party and Government Office. Wu Lei and Du Xiaobei immediately came over.

"Township Chief Wang!"

"Township Chief Wang!"

They called out one by one.

Wang Jian nodded and said to Wu Lei, "Wu Lei, clean up Feng Guoqiang's old office. I will temporarily use it. Then, pack up the things in Secretary Zhang's and Township Chief Li's offices. Return the personal items to their families and store the non-personal items in the warehouse. We will renovate the building next."

"Sure thing!" Wu Lei agreed readily.

Just as Wu Lei was about to leave, Wang Jian called him back and asked, "Wu Lei, do you know any contractors who can do the renovation?"

"I know a few. Are you thinking of hiring them for the renovation?" Wu Lei's heart stirred; there was some profit to be made from such projects.

"Contact a few and see who offers the lowest price. Recommend a good one for the renovation!" Wang Jian instructed.

"No problem!"

After Wu Lei left, Wang Jian turned to see Du Xiaobei standing beside him, smiling gracefully. Wang Jian smiled and said, "Do you still talk to Liu Yan?"

Du Xiaobei replied, "Not much, just a greeting when we meet."

"Go and talk to her, see if she's willing to return to the Party and Government Office. Also, call Feng Guoqiang and tell him I want to talk to him," Wang Jian instructed.

Du Xiaobei didn't know what Wang Jian was up to, why he wanted Liu Yan back, or why he wanted to talk to Feng Guoqiang, who was now in a lowly position. But she knew Wang Jian was very cautious, so she didn't ask more.

Without an office to use, Wang Jian sat in the Party and Government Office for a while. After a few minutes, some middle-level cadres from the township came to see him. They all wanted to pay their respects, even though they had previously worked against him with Fang Zhiming. Most of them were not openly hostile to Wang Jian, so it was natural for them to show goodwill now.

Seeing Wang Jian still in the Party and Government Office, Xu Dongqiang, the director of the Economic Management Station, smiled and walked in, asking, "Township Chief Wang, your office isn't ready yet?"

Wang Jian glanced at Xu Dongqiang but did not stand up. In front of these old, cunning middle-level cadres, it was time to put on a show of authority, or they would not take him seriously.

"Director Xu, the office will be ready soon. What do you need to say here?" Wang Jian said calmly.

Xu Dongqiang chuckled and said, "Nothing much, just wanted to invite Township Chief Wang for a meal and to inspect our work at the Economic Management Station."

"Sure, no need to be formal. We need to strengthen rural auditing. There are many issues with village cadres, and we need to give the people an answer," Wang Jian said, adding a few words about work.

The Economic Management Station was responsible for rural financial auditing and was a very important department in the township. Xu Dongqiang understood that Wang Jian wanted to use him to audit the accounts of village cadres to show his authority. He also knew about Lü Fang and Fang Zhiming's plot to frame Feng Guoqiang and Wang Jian. Now that Wang Jian was the township chief, he would not let Lü Fang off easily.

"No problem, Township Chief Wang. I will do as you say. When is a good time for the meal?" Xu Dongqiang asked carefully.

"The meal can wait. I'm busy these days. I'll call you when I have time," Wang Jian said, looking at Xu Dongqiang.

"Alright, we're set then!" Xu Dongqiang left satisfied.

Soon, Wu Lei had cleaned up the office, and Wang Jian moved into Feng Guoqiang's old office temporarily. As soon as he sat down, several members of the township committee came to see him. Liu Fang, the propaganda commissioner, was originally an ordinary cadre at the county Youth League Committee. She was transferred to Xianhe Township as the propaganda commissioner before Wang Jian started working. She was young, recently married, and the daughter-in-law of an old director of the county People's Congress.

Now, she came to Wang Jian's office to chat and deepen their relationship. In the past, Liu Fang, being a young deputy section-level cadre with a strong family background, looked down on most people. Her relationship with Wang Jian was average, though she sometimes glanced at him because of his good looks. However, her husband, who worked at the county party committee office, had a higher status, so she didn't pay much attention to Wang Jian. Now that Wang Jian had suddenly risen to become the township chief, she couldn't help but look at him with new eyes and felt it necessary to form a connection with this young township chief.

Wang Jian's impression of Liu Fang was that she liked to be high and mighty, with a lot of cosmetics and jewelry, typical of a city official's daughter. She had very fair skin and looked very beautiful, giving the impression that she was to be admired from a distance but not to be approached.

Now that she came to him, Wang Jian felt very satisfied. He knew he needed some allies. As a young person, he had more in common with her, making it easier to form an alliance. Otherwise, if all the township committee members were Zheng Shiguang's people, he would be insignificant.

"Commissioner Liu, hello!" Seeing Liu Fang walk in with a refined demeanor, Wang Jian quickly stood up to greet her.

Liu Fang laughed with a silver bell-like voice and said, "Congratulations on your promotion, Township Chief Wang!"

"Thank you, Commissioner Liu. I need everyone's support as the township chief. I hope you will continue to support my work," Wang Jian said politely.

"Hehe, no problem. We should support each other. We are both young, so let's skip the formalities," Liu Fang said, closing the distance with Wang Jian, making him feel warm.

"Yes, yes, you're right. We are both young, so we have a lot in common. Let's not be so formal," Wang Jian agreed.

"Hehe, if we're not being formal, why are you still calling me Commissioner Liu? Just call me by my name," Liu Fang laughed.

"Um..." Wang Jian was a bit hesitant. Liu Fang was a married woman, and getting too close might not be good. But since Liu Fang wasn't afraid, why should he, a man, be afraid? "Alright, I'll call you Sister Liu Fang. You can call me Wang Jian directly."

"That's better. I'll call you Brother Wang Jian in private," Liu Fang said generously.

"Alright, let's agree on that. We won't be so formal in private."

Wang Jian and Liu Fang had a very pleasant conversation, which was beyond his expectations. Liu Fang was a cold exterior but warm interior person. Before interacting with her, she seemed unapproachable, but once they got closer, she was very warm. Liu Fang genuinely wanted to form a connection with Wang Jian and told him about the situation within the township committee. Wang Jian was very happy. Although Liu Fang was just a woman and not a very powerful figure in the township committee, her family background was strong, and Zheng Shiguang usually gave her some face. Now that she was on his side, it was a very good thing.

After chatting for a while, they heard a knock on the door, and Liu Fang said, "I'll leave, Brother Wang Jian!"

"Alright, Sister Liu Fang, let's chat again when you have time."

---

The conversation between Wang Jian and Liu Fang was very pleasant, truly beyond his expectations. Liu Fang was a cold exterior but warm interior person. Before interacting with her, she seemed unapproachable, but once they got closer, she was very warm. Liu Fang genuinely wanted to form a connection with Wang Jian and told him about the situation within the township committee. Wang Jian was very happy. Although Liu Fang was just a woman and not a very powerful figure in the township committee, her family background was strong, and Zheng Shiguang usually gave her some face. Now that she was on his side, it was a very good thing.

After chatting for a while, they heard a knock on the door, and Liu Fang said, "I'll leave, Brother Wang Jian!"

"Alright, Sister Liu Fang, let's chat again when you have time."