Chapter 24

Chapter Sixteen: The First Standing Committee Meeting After Rebirth

In the county party committee meeting room, several standing committee members were whispering to each other, looking at the drafts in their hands and discussing them.

Yang Zixuan's face was as calm as water, looking at the draft in his hand without saying a word.

Sitting at the center of the standing committee was a new face, the county party secretary, Su Nan.

With a fair and clean face, thick black-rimmed glasses, and slightly squinted eyes, Su Nan, who had a background as a secretary, always spoke little and observed much, making it hard for ordinary people to guess what he was thinking.

Previously, both Lin Ruoshui and Yang Zixuan thought that the city party committee would have a difficult time deciding on the county party secretary for Hongshui County.

Unexpectedly, the city party committee's organization minister, Li Li, personally escorted Su Nan to take office yesterday. The county party committee's organization minister, Huang He, also arrived, reportedly recommended by Mo Tianchang as a form of compensation.

Even Lin Ruoshui only received a call from Lin Pei yesterday, where Lin Pei briefly mentioned Su Nan's background.

Su Nan was a secretary to an old leader in the provincial government. The old leader fell ill on the job and was not expected to live much longer, but he had already arranged for his secretary before that.

Therefore, neither the candidate recommended by Lin Pei nor those recommended by Mo Tianchang and Tang Lu were appointed.

The power struggle among the three major figures in the city party committee was also prematurely terminated due to this unexpected event.

The draft in hand was the new round of personnel adjustment plan determined by Lin Ruoshui, including the positions of the Honghe District Party Secretary, the County Audit Bureau Director, the Deputy Director of the County Finance Bureau, and the Township Chief of Liuyaxiang, all important positions.

Lin Ruoshui had privately discussed the detailed details of this plan with Yang Zixuan. For the positions of the Honghe District Party Secretary, the County Audit Bureau Director, and the Township Chief of Liuyaxiang, Yang Zixuan and Lin Ruoshui had already agreed on the candidates. However, today, when the plan was brought to the standing committee meeting, there were many more uncertainties.

Especially with the newly appointed county party secretary, Su Nan, and the organization minister, Huang He, who had significant influence in personnel matters, Yang Zixuan and Lin Ruoshui were both somewhat worried.

Su Nan was about thirty-eight or thirty-nine, nearly forty, with a thick pair of glasses and a poker face. No one knew what he was thinking, but the sound of flipping through the draft could be heard.

Huang He, the organization minister, had his eyes darting around, listening to the discussions of the standing committee members without saying a word.

Huang He gave Yang Zixuan the first impression of being a typical official who had rolled and tumbled in large government agencies for decades. Such a person was not to be underestimated, as they were very quick to adapt to the situation.

Lin Ruoshui gave Yang Zixuan a look, signaling him to speak first.

Yang Zixuan wanted to decline, as the plan was drafted before Su Nan and Huang He arrived. This sudden move was not very fair.

It could easily offend Su Nan and Huang He, making it extremely difficult to gain their support in the future.

Now, Lin Ruoshui wanted to kick this big trouble to Yang Zixuan, like passing a hot potato.

However, Yang Zixuan was not that foolish. After a moment of hesitation, he said loudly, "This is the preliminary personnel adjustment plan drafted by Deputy Secretary Lin and several deputy ministers of the organization department. After drafting it, I discussed and deliberated on it. Now, please, Secretary and all the vice secretaries and standing committee members, share your opinions."

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Su Nan and Huang He's pupils suddenly contracted, staring at Lin Ruoshui, who was wearing a professional suit and was tall and attractive.

The two of them now considered Lin Ruoshui to be the mastermind behind this plan.

Feeling the substantial gaze of Su Nan and Huang He, Lin Ruoshui's face immediately turned red. This was a bad start, as she had already offended them.

Lin Ruoshui, who was in a difficult position, glared at Yang Zixuan but could not find the right words to refute him. She had to awkwardly say, "This is just a preliminary plan. The specifics still need to be discussed based on the opinions of Secretary Su Nan and the other standing committee members. After collecting everyone's opinions, I will coordinate and discuss with Minister Huang."

This statement was tactful, and Su Nan and Huang He's expressions returned to normal.

"Let me say a few words. I am new here and still getting to know everyone and the comrades below. I am not very familiar with the comrades in the plan drafted by Comrade Lin Ruoshui, so I will temporarily refrain from giving any opinions." Su Nan adjusted his glasses, his tone flat and even, and turned to look at Yang Zixuan. "County Chief Yang is an old cadre of Hongshui. Please share your opinion on this personnel plan."

Yang Zixuan smiled faintly.

Su Nan's words were carefully worded, neither revealing his stance nor leaving himself in a difficult position, while also testing the extent of Yang Zixuan's involvement in the initial draft of the plan. It was a good move.

"Since Secretary has called on me, I will share my thoughts," Yang Zixuan stood up and looked around at the standing committee members. Despite his youth, his demeanor was exceptionally steady, and his voice was full. "Actually, regarding the promotion of Comrade Lu De to the position of Honghe District Party Secretary, I have reservations. Comrade Lu De was previously the district chief of Honghe. Although the district has developed steadily over the past few years, it lacks the drive to be the engine of our county's economy. The development of the county-owned enterprises in the district is also unsatisfactory. As for the candidates for the Audit Bureau and the Finance Bureau, I have no objections."

Su Nan gave Yang Zixuan a meaningful look. Before coming to exercise his role, he had reviewed Yang Zixuan's resume, but it was vague and did not provide much insight. Yang Zixuan's background before becoming a standing committee member and vice-county chief was also unclear, adding to his mystery.

Su Nan also noticed that Yang Zixuan spoke very skillfully. He clearly supported the candidates for the Audit Bureau and the Finance Bureau, which were directly under the county government, but his stance on the position of district party secretary was very ambiguous. Although he opposed Lu De's lack of drive in economic development, he clearly left the final decision to others.

This young man is not simple!

This was Yang Zixuan's first impression on Su Nan!

Lin Ruoshui's fair and smooth cheeks turned slightly pale.

When discussing privately with Yang Zixuan, Yang Zixuan had clearly opposed Lu De, on the condition that Lin Ruoshui strongly supported the candidates for the Audit Bureau and the Finance Bureau.

Now, at the standing committee meeting, Yang Zixuan's stance on Lu De was very ambiguous and reserved.

By seniority, Lu De was the most likely candidate for the position of district party secretary. He also had a good relationship with Wang Dongming, the former organization minister, who, although transferred, still had significant influence within the organization department. It was also rumored that Lu De had a good relationship with Fang Ling, the new standing committee member who replaced Yang Zixuan as the standing committee member and vice-county chief.

However, Lin Ruoshui wanted to promote Xu Ke, the party secretary of Nanshan Town, to the position of Honghe District Party Secretary.