Chapter 97: The Situation in the Township

"Fengling, I have to go back first. I'll leave the provincial transportation and finance departments to you!" Wang Jian saw that staying in the provincial capital temporarily wouldn't yield any results, and not returning to the township for a long time wasn't a good idea. Although he wasn't afraid of Ning Xingong rallying people to compete for power, he couldn't let him erode his authority.

Ye Fengling thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll keep an eye on things here. If things don't go well, you can come back and deal with it together!"

This was a good plan. Wang Jian nodded, deciding to return first and come back if necessary. Such matters couldn't be rushed and required a process.

"Little Sister Ye, we're leaving!" Jie Lianbing said goodbye to Ye Fengling, showing a reluctant farewell. Ye Fengling held Jie Lianbing's hand tightly. After spending a few days together, they felt a sense of默契 (mòqì,默契 means a tacit understanding or默契) in their hearts, a feeling that twins often share.

"Sister Lianbing, take care when you go back. If Wang Jian bullies you, be sure to call me!" Ye Fengling said with a smile.

Jie Lianbing glanced at Wang Jian and smiled, "No, Wang Jian isn't that kind of person. If you have time, come visit us again!"

"Sure, I'll definitely come if I have time," Ye Fengling promised.

Wang Jian added, "Fengling, be careful in the provincial capital. That Gong Wei might come after you again. If you encounter him, report it to the police immediately!"

Ye Fengling was deeply grateful for Wang Jian's concern. She looked at him affectionately and said, "I know, don't worry about me. I'll handle it. I'll do my best to secure the road construction funds in the provincial capital and resolve this major issue."

After saying this, Wang Jian and Jie Lianbing got into the car and returned together. Lü Jun drove for three hours and they arrived back in the township.

Getting out of the car in the township government compound, Wang Jian's face was serious. He had only been away for a few days, and Ning Xingong was already making moves behind his back, clearly trying to deliberately oppose him. While Wang Jian was working hard in the provincial capital to secure funds, Ning Xingong's actions were extremely unfair.

"Secretary Wang, you're back?" Hu Bin, the deputy director of the finance office, who had just come out of the office, greeted Wang Jian stammeringly.

Hu Bin was an old hand in the finance office, having risen to deputy director solely on his professional skills. He was nearly forty, usually quiet and reserved, and rarely favored by leaders. He was also inflexible, making it difficult for leaders to get their accounts approved, causing them a lot of headaches. If not for his excellent professional skills, he would have been transferred long ago.

Wang Jian was in a bad mood and didn't have the heart to respond to Hu Bin's greeting. He simply said, "Good!" and walked towards the back office.

Hu Bin usually didn't greet leaders, but this time he had a reason to say hello to Wang Jian. He had heard that there would be a major reshuffle in the township, and Yang Juncai was likely to no longer be the director of the finance office. Among all the staff in the finance office, only Hu Bin had the most seniority and the best skills. By seniority, he should be the next director, but after years in the government, he knew that such matters were the least reliable. The more qualified someone was to be a leader, the less likely they would become one, while the least likely to be a leader, who did nothing all day, would often be promoted. Who could you complain to about such things?

After much thought, Hu Bin became smarter. His wife, Xiao Meiyi, worked at the cultural station and had been teaching him, scolding him daily for his stubbornness, saying that someone who couldn't deal with leaders would never become a top official, at most a deputy who would always be working for others. Now that Wang Jian and Ning Xingong had just become the top two leaders in the township, this was the last chance. If he missed it, there might be no more opportunities.

Xiao Meiyi analyzed that between Wang Jian and Ning Xingong, Wang Jian was the most upright and principled, and trying to use underhanded methods probably wouldn't work. Ning Xingong, having worked in the county party committee office for many years, was more adept at networking than the young Wang Jian, and could be considered a seasoned official. Using the current opportunity to use his savings to curry favor with Ning Xingong might get him the position of finance director. The only concern was who would have the final say in the township, Wang Jian or Ning Xingong?

Wang Jian had been in Xianhe Township for a long time, but he had only been a leader for less than a year. Ning Xingong, on the other hand, had been the deputy director of the county party committee office for many years. Although Wang Jian was now the secretary, who knew if Ning Xingong, with his extensive network in the county party committee office, wouldn't overshadow Wang Jian and become the de facto leader of the township? But this was just a possibility. According to organizational principles, Wang Jian should still have the final say, which was a headache for Xiao Meiyi. If you chose the wrong person to curry favor with, it could lead to a completely wrong outcome.

However, during the few days Wang Jian was away, Xiao Meiyi had noticed some patterns. After Wang Jian left, Ning Xingong continuously talked to the township's middle-level cadres. These cadres were not originally promoted by Wang Jian, except for Du Xiaobei and Lu Yongqiang. During Wang Jian's tenure, he managed the cadres strictly. Although the middle-level cadres didn't say much on the surface, they privately criticized Wang Jian and even spread rumors about his relationship with Han Yuting, and even suggested that the owner of Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Xinghua, had a relationship with Wang Jian.

Wang Jian's conduct was not exemplary, but he was very strict in managing them. Many of their extravagant expenses and reimbursements didn't pass through Wang Jian, making them feel that he was too hypocritical. How could they follow such a leader?

In addition to courting the middle-level cadres, Ning Xingong also began to work on the members of the township committee. First, he won over Fang Zhiming. Fang Zhiming had no strong principles and only revered power. He had always been at odds with Wang Jian and only joined Wang Jian's camp out of necessity. Seeing Ning Xingong actively courting him, he naturally hoped to benefit from both sides and immediately agreed to Ning Xingong's proposal to work together.

Han Yuting had always been Wang Jian's supporter. Ning Xingong originally had a good relationship with her and initially tried to win her over. However, Han Yuting couldn't let go of her feelings for Wang Jian. Although she wanted to break ties with him and even considered transferring back, she was unwilling to betray Wang Jian. When Ning Xingong approached her, she pretended not to understand, and Ning Xingong, seeing this, gave up on her. Han Yuting, seeing Ning Xingong's continuous efforts to undermine Wang Jian, quickly called Jie Lianbing to inform her of the situation.

Zheng Qingzhi was very stubborn and had always followed Zheng Shiguang. Even after Zheng Shiguang fell, he still opposed Wang Jian, harboring deep resentment. Wang Jian often wondered if he had offended him early in his career, which had left a lasting grudge. Otherwise, there was no other reason to explain his behavior. Since he was at odds with Wang Jian, Ning Xingong naturally leaned towards him when they contacted each other.

Liu Fang's husband and Ning Xingong both worked in the county party committee office, giving them a connection. Although Liu Fang was usually neutral, with this connection, she might find it difficult to stand by Wang Jian in critical moments.

Cao Guoqing and Zhu Zhaoming joined Wang Jian later. As the discipline inspection commission secretary, Wang Jian had always supported Cao Guoqing's work. However, Cao Guoqing's father and Ning Xingong's father had worked together and were even childhood friends. Now that they were working together, Cao Guoqing found it difficult to firmly stand by Wang Jian. Zhu Zhaoming, after Zheng Shiguang's fall, became smarter and no longer firmly aligned with any particular faction. Although Wang Jian treated him well, he couldn't wholeheartedly follow Wang Jian.

Therefore, the only people Wang Jian could fully control were Han Yuting and Li Xiangshan. Tang Linzheng, as the armed minister, often remained neutral. Ning Xingong had Fang Zhiming and Zheng Qingzhi on his side, and Liu Fang and Cao Guoqing might also support him. As a result, during the few days Wang Jian was in the provincial capital, the political situation in Xianhe Township might have undergone subtle changes.

Xiao Meiyi's analysis was correct. To help Hu Bin advance, she wanted him to approach Ning Xingong. She believed that only Ning Xingong would firmly remove Yang Juncai, while Wang Jian, having worked with Yang Juncai for some time, might not be willing to replace him.

However, Hu Bin was stubborn and unwilling to engage in underhanded methods. He refused to give gifts to Ning Xingong, which greatly upset Xiao Meiyi. She was frustrated that he wouldn't take the path she had laid out for him and wait for a position to fall from the sky, which was an unrealistic expectation.

With no other choice, Xiao Meiyi punished Hu Bin by not letting him sleep in bed at night, even if he did get into bed, she wouldn't let him get close. This left Hu Bin listless for several days, unable to focus at work. When he encountered Wang Jian, who had just returned from the provincial capital, he suddenly perked up and greeted him, but Wang Jian ignored him, breaking his heart. No matter what he did, he couldn't win the favor of the leadership.

After work, when he returned home, Hu Bin sighed. Xiao Meiyi scolded him, "Look at you, you'll be a deputy director for life. See how many of your classmates have already become directors!"

Hu Bin was most upset when Xiao Meiyi compared him to his classmates. He immediately became furious, "Don't mention those things to me. I became a deputy director through my own abilities. They became directors by flattering and fawning. I wouldn't take such a position even if it were offered to me!"

Seeing Hu Bin's anger, Xiao Meiyi also became furious and scolded him, "If they can become officials, they have the ability. Your abilities are nothing. Leaders will use you if they want to, and won't if they don't. What abilities do you have?"

"You—!" Hu Bin was greatly upset. As a man who doesn't fight with women, he angrily stood up and went back to the finance office to sleep on the sofa.

Xiao Meiyi's life at the cultural station was also difficult, with the station chief always putting pressure on her. If Hu Bin could become the director of the finance office, the station chief would be nothing. But how could Hu Bin be so unambitious? After Hu Bin left, Xiao Meiyi secretly shed tears.