Chapter 8

The actions of the County Organization Department were swift and decisive. The day after receiving the list of recommendations from the township party committee, the head of the Cadre Section of the Organization Department, along with two others, came down to conduct an assessment.

In the political arena, two types of news always spread quickly: promotions and demotions.

Thus, even before the Cadre Section staff began their interviews, everyone in the township government knew that Ye Ziran was about to be promoted to deputy township head.

Ye Ziran had been the director of the Party and Government Office for two years and was no longer a novice. He controlled his expression, showing no signs of excitement or anxiety. After receiving the notification in his office, he went to the meeting room.

There were about ten people in the meeting room, including three people from the County Organization Department, the township party committee deputy secretary Wang Jingyu, the organization committee member Pan Qiusheng, Yang Zheng, and ten clerks from the Party and Government Office, the Family Planning Office, and the township service center. Ye Ziran greeted everyone with a smile.

Deputy Secretary Wang, seeing everyone had arrived, nodded to the head of the Cadre Section and said to Pan Qiusheng, "Let's start."

Pan Qiusheng introduced the three people from the Cadre Section and then said, "Now, please let the head of the Cadre Section, Mr. Yu, speak and assign tasks."

Ye Ziran had been working in Mashan Township and was not very familiar with the county officials. Seeing that Mr. Yu, though not yet forty, was steady and capable with a sharp gaze, he thought: No wonder he works in cadre affairs; his rank may be low, but his influence is significant.

Mr. Yu spoke succinctly and clearly, "Comrades, today we three represent the County Organization Department to assess Comrades Ye Ziran and Yang Zheng. We will first conduct a group evaluation, followed by individual interviews. The group evaluation will be done through anonymous scoring. Here are the forms."

Ye Ziran took the form and looked at it. The evaluation criteria included "Moral Character," "Work Ability," "Work Attitude," "Public Satisfaction," and "Integrity." The scoring options were "Basically Competent," "Competent," "Good," and "Excellent." He scored himself and Yang Zheng on their respective forms.

After collecting all the forms, Mr. Yu said to Deputy Secretary Wang, "Secretary Wang, thank you. You can go about your business. Now, I will interview with Xiao Wang, and Comrade Pan will interview with Xiao Li. The group evaluation is now concluded."

Everyone left, and as Ye Ziran stood up, Mr. Yu smiled and said, "Xiao Ye, take your time. Let's chat."

Ye Ziran sat down again, took out cigarettes, and offered them to Mr. Yu and Xiao Wang, lighting one for himself. When only the three of them were left in the meeting room, Mr. Yu smiled and said, "Xiao Ye, you are a reserve cadre recruited by the Municipal Organization Department. I have heard a lot about you, and today I finally get to meet you."

Ye Ziran waved his hand and said, "I don't deserve such praise. The Organization Department is like our mother's home. I don't visit often, so I have been negligent. I should self-reflect."

Mr. Yu laughed and said, "Xiao Ye, are you from this area?"

"I am from Jinshan County, Guangbei City, not far from Changjia."

"Oh, I see. You haven't married yet. Where is your girlfriend from?" Mr. Yu continued the casual conversation.

Ye Ziran smiled and said, "I'm afraid I will make you laugh, Mr. Yu. I haven't even started dating."

"Oh? I have to criticize you for that. Work is important, but personal matters should not be neglected. Otherwise, it will be hard to please your parents," Mr. Yu said kindly.

"Yes, I've been given an ultimatum to get married before I turn thirty," Ye Ziran said, scratching his head.

After a bit of small talk, Mr. Yu asked, "Xiao Ye, how do you evaluate Comrade Yang Zheng?"

Finally, the core issue was addressed. Ye Ziran pondered for a moment and said, "Comrade Yang Zheng has done an excellent job in the Family Planning Office. He is energetic and capable, and our township's family planning targets have been met well, thanks to his efforts."

Mr. Yu nodded encouragingly and asked, "Anything else?"

"Comrade Yang Zheng is not only diligent but also well-liked, with a good reputation in the township government," Ye Ziran said carefully. In such an assessment, if he were to criticize his competitor, it would backfire. So, he showed a lot of generosity.

Mr. Yu listened to his evaluation and nodded inwardly. This young man, Ye Ziran, showed a high level of political wisdom despite his age, indeed a mature cadre. He continued, "There must be some shortcomings. What are they?"

"Shortcomings? Comrade Yang Zheng often neglects his family for work. When busy, he often forgets to eat, which is not good for his health."

This was not a shortcoming but a strength. Mr. Yu knew he wouldn't get any more specific criticisms from Ye Ziran. He looked at Ye Ziran with interest and said, "Xiao Ye, what are your plans for your future work?"

Ye Ziran put on a serious face and said, "I will firmly follow the organization's arrangements."

Mr. Yu, impressed by Ye Ziran's steadiness and maturity, put down his pen and smiled, "Good, thank you. We'll stop here today. I've taken up your time."

Ye Ziran stood up, shook hands with both of them, and said, "Thank you, leaders from the Organization Department. I have learned a lot."

Back in the Party and Government Office, Ma Yanli winked at him playfully, her bright eyes full of meaning.

Ye Ziran knew that his colleagues in the office had a good relationship with him and would not say anything bad about him to the Organization Department. Ma Yanli's wink conveyed the same message. He looked around the office; He Guitian had already left, while Zhong Ping and Chen Xiaoyu were as usual, buried in their work. Only Wang Peipei was nowhere to be seen.

"Ma Yanli, where is Wang Peipei?" Ye Ziran asked.

"Wang Peipei is delivering materials to Secretary Qin," Ma Yanli replied.

Ye Ziran nodded, picked up the meeting schedule on his desk, and remembered that Lin Chang's memorial service was scheduled for the next day, which seemed to conflict with other arrangements. He instructed Zhong Ping to renotify everyone. Zhong Ping agreed and started making phone calls or leaving messages.

A while later, Wang Peipei returned and told Ye Ziran that Secretary Qin wanted to see him.

Secretary Qin's office was on the fourth floor, the first room on the east side. In township government offices, the top floor was usually reserved for the secretary, with the first room on the east side being the secretary's office, followed by the deputy secretary's office, and then the offices of the party committee members, such as the organization committee member and the propaganda committee member. The floor below was for the township heads, with the first room on the east side being the office of the township head, followed by the offices of the deputy township heads.

Ye Ziran walked to Secretary Qin's door, knocked lightly, and, hearing Secretary Qin's booming voice say "Come in," slowly pushed the door open.

Ye Ziran paid attention to these small details. When entering a leader's office, one should not knock too urgently or too loudly, and only enter after hearing the leader's response. The speed of pushing the door should also be moderate, as leaders judge one's steadiness from these small details. As the saying goes, the constitution is not as important as the leader's opinion.

"Secretary Qin, you called me?" Ye Ziran asked with a smile.

"Xiao Ye, come, come, sit down," Secretary Qin stood up unexpectedly, his expression very kind.

As the top leader of Mashan Township, Secretary Qin usually had a stern face and a commanding presence. His naturally dark, square face added to his official air.

Ye Ziran sat down in front of Secretary Qin's desk.

"Xiao Ye, you've been in Mashan Township for more than two years, right? Are you used to the work?"

"Yes, more than two years. Thanks to Secretary Qin's guidance, I haven't made any major mistakes in these two years," Ye Ziran said modestly, his expression showing gratitude.

Secretary Qin then pointed out some shortcomings in Ye Ziran's work, which left Ye Ziran puzzled. In fact, this was a common pattern when good news was about to come: if a leader praises you, it's often a sign of trouble, such as assigning you a difficult task or transferring you to a less important position. If the leader starts with criticism, it usually means that after the criticism, there will be a turning point, and a significant responsibility will be given. Sure enough, Secretary Qin soon changed his tone.

"However, it's normal for young people to have some minor flaws. I was the same when I was young. Overall, I have high hopes for you, Director Ye. You are a reserve cadre recruited by the Jia'nan Municipal Organization Department, and your placement in Mashan Township is a sign of the organization's trust in the township party committee. Your work over the past two years has been commendable. The township party committee's recommendation for you to become deputy township head is also a sign of trust. You must overcome your shortcomings, maintain your strengths, and do even better in your work."

Hearing this, Ye Ziran immediately stood up, his expression showing gratitude and slight excitement. He said, "Thank you, Secretary Qin. Over the past two years, you have taught me many good methods for work. In the future, I will continue to work under your guidance."

When Ye Ziran emphasized the words "under your guidance," Secretary Qin understood that Ye Ziran was expressing his loyalty. He nodded and praised, "Director Ye is young and capable, unlike us old folks."

Ye Ziran quickly flattered him, "Not at all, Secretary Qin is in his prime and has great potential. A promotion to county leadership is just around the corner."

Secretary Qin laughed and changed the topic, asking, "Director Ye, who do you think can take over He Guitian's position in the Party and Government Office?"

This was a favor being offered. It was also one of Secretary Qin's tactics, aimed at maintaining consistency with Ye Ziran after his promotion to deputy township head. Ye Ziran thought for a moment and said, "Ma Yanli and Zhong Ping in the Party and Government Office are both good. They can both excel as deputy directors."

Secretary Qin pondered for a moment and said, "Let's go with Zhong Ping. Ma Yanli is capable, but she is too beautiful, and her marriage is not stable, which could cause problems."

Ye Ziran sighed inwardly for Ma Yanli. Beauty is often an advantage in many areas, but in the political arena, it can be a disadvantage. The reason is that the political arena is dominated by men, and male leaders promoting young, beautiful female subordinates can easily lead to speculation.