Chapter 10

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Ye Ziran arrived at the County Party Committee Organization Department on time and was sent to his new post by Deputy Minister Fu Bin.

Mashi Town was not large. The Changjia County Party Committee, County Government, Mashi Town Party Committee, Town Government, and Mashi Township Party Committee, Township Government were all on "Donglin Street," just a few hundred meters apart. As soon as the Santana sedan started, it arrived in no time.

Secretary Qin had been informed in advance and led all the deputy department-level officials and above to welcome them at the township government gate. A large sign read, "Welcome Deputy Minister Fu to Mashi Township for guidance."

Deputy Minister Fu got out of the car at the gate, smiling and shaking hands with Secretary Qin, saying, "Secretary Qin, you're too polite. Let's go inside, don't let the comrades stand guard."

Although Secretary Qin always kept a stern face at the township party committee and township government, he was all smiles in front of Deputy Minister Fu. "You're sending me a comrade-in-arms, it's only right, it's only right."

"Xiao Ye has been working at your township party committee and township government, so there's no need for me to introduce him, right?" Deputy Minister Fu looked at the welcoming crowd and said in a very amiable manner.

"There's no need for an introduction. With Xiao Ye taking on more responsibilities, my burden will be much lighter." Township Chief Li took over from Deputy Minister Fu and came forward to shake hands with him.

Ye Ziran noticed that the various leaders of the township had different ways of shaking hands with Deputy Minister Fu. Secretary Qin shook hands with his right hand and then lightly placed his left hand on Deputy Minister Fu's hand, showing both enthusiasm and steadiness; Township Chief Li almost simultaneously used both hands to shake Deputy Minister Fu's hand, showing even more enthusiasm; Deputy Secretary Wang, being a female official, had the most graceful gesture, extending her arm the straightest, and Deputy Minister Fu shook hands with her for the longest time.

The group then walked towards the township government auditorium.

The auditorium was already filled with officials from the township party committee and township government, including clerks from various offices, heads of the township industrial company, township agricultural company, finance office, police station, health center, and other departments and institutions.

The meeting was chaired by Township Party Secretary Qin Daming. Deputy Minister Fu Bin of the County Party Committee Organization Department read out the appointment of Ye Ziran by the Changjia County Party Committee. He also highly praised the work of the Mashi Township Party Committee and Township Government, hoping that they would unite and work hard with the newly appointed official to do a good job.

Ye Ziran sat on the stage, listening to Deputy Minister Fu's powerful speech, carefully noting every word and the techniques he used. While praising the contributions of the old comrades to Mashi Township, Deputy Minister Fu also expounded on the concept of knowledge-based and youthful leadership advocated by the Jiannan Municipal Party Committee. He affirmed the work of Secretary Qin and Township Chief Li, and hoped that the newly appointed Deputy Township Chief Ye would bring new changes to Mashi Township. The underlying message seemed to be quite optimistic about Ye Ziran.

Secretary Qin and Township Chief Li then spoke one after another, firmly supporting the appointment decision of the County Party Committee, and expressed their commitment to maintaining unity within the leadership team and leading the people of the entire township to continue working hard to change the face of Mashi Township.

Deputy Secretary Wang's speech was brief but profound, expressing support for the knowledge-based and youthful leadership advocated by the Jiannan Municipal Party Committee and the appointment by the Changjia County Party Committee. She pointed out that the knowledge-based and youthful leadership and the recent promotion of female officials by the Jiannan Municipal Party Committee were all very correct and in line with the requirements of the times.

Hearing Deputy Secretary Wang naturally link the promotion of female officials with the knowledge-based and youthful leadership, Ye Ziran knew that this Deputy Secretary Wang was not a simple person.

Mashi Township, small as it was, was full of hidden talents.

When it was Ye Ziran's turn to speak, he was even more concise. He only expressed his intention to work under the leadership of the township party committee, assist Township Chief Li in government work, and lead the people of the entire township to achieve a well-off society as soon as possible.

The officials in the audience gave enthusiastic applause after each leader's speech (unlike in foreign parliaments where the audience throws shoes and smelly socks at the speakers, China is a land of etiquette). However, what the officials were thinking as they looked at the young face of the 26-year-old sitting on the stage, Ye Ziran could not know.

Ye Ziran was promoted from the director of the township party and government office to deputy township chief. The work of the party and government office was to serve the leaders of the township party committee and township government, so he had a good understanding of the temperaments, work styles, and abilities of the main leaders. These people would be his future work partners and competitors, and he needed to get along well with each of them to carry out his work. Ye Ziran revised his understanding of Deputy Secretary Wang, realizing that this woman was not just the plain and low-key person she usually appeared to be. She would step forward when necessary and could be assertive when needed.

This was also confirmed at the dinner table.

Deputy Minister Fu could not resist the enthusiasm of everyone and joined them for a meal at "Chunfulou" on Donglin Street. Deputy Minister Fu had said he would not drink before the meal, but Deputy Secretary Wang was the first to fill her glass and step forward, saying, "Deputy Minister Fu rarely comes to the countryside. Although Mashi Township is poor, we can still treat the county leaders to a meal. Let me drink three glasses to thank Deputy Minister Fu for his care for Mashi Township. If Deputy Minister Fu looks down on us township officials, it's fine not to drink." With that, Deputy Secretary Wang indeed drank three glasses in one go.

Deputy Minister Fu was somewhat at a loss. She was a female official, and he couldn't just put on a stern face. Moreover, there was no way out of her words. If he didn't drink, he would leave a domineering impression on the township officials.

Deputy Minister Fu, being open-minded, laughed and drank one glass.

Ye Ziran, watching this, found Deputy Secretary Wang even more interesting.

With the ice broken, the remaining township officials naturally rushed forward to take turns toasting Deputy Minister Fu, making the atmosphere lively. Seeing Ye Ziran sitting still, Deputy Secretary Wang glanced over and said, "Xiao Ye, why don't you go and toast Deputy Minister Fu? Don't forget the matchmaker once you're in the bridal chamber."

Ye Ziran noticed that the usually dignified Deputy Secretary Wang, after drinking three glasses, had a rosy complexion and a watery gaze. At 37 or 38, she was a slender beauty. He sighed inwardly, "This woman really knows how to handle things."

Ye Ziran stood up, raised his glass, and respectfully said to Deputy Minister Fu, "Deputy Minister Fu, I'll drink a full glass, you drink as you please." With that, he finished the glass in one go.

Under the gaze of everyone, Deputy Minister Fu drank another glass, and the alcohol was starting to take effect. He turned to look at Deputy Secretary Wang and said, "Xiao Wang, your metaphor is a bit inappropriate. How did I become the matchmaker?"

Deputy Secretary Wang glanced at Deputy Minister Fu, smiled, and said calmly, "Deputy Minister Fu, don't look down on matchmakers. Most matchmakers are capable and highly skilled."

Deputy Minister Fu knew she was trying to liven up the atmosphere and found Xiao Wang interesting, so he asked, "There should be more to this, right?"

"Let me tell a story," Deputy Secretary Wang said calmly. "There was a matchmaker who arranged a marriage for a college student. The matchmaker said to the student, 'Student, I'll find you a wife.' The student replied, 'Nowadays, people fall in love freely, I'd rather find my own wife.' The matchmaker said, 'But this girl is the mayor's daughter!' The student said, 'In that case, it's fine.'

"Then, the matchmaker went to the mayor and said, 'I've found a husband for your daughter.' The mayor said, 'No, my daughter is too young!' The matchmaker said, 'But the young man is the vice president of a listed company.' The mayor said, 'Ah, in that case, it's fine!'

"Finally, the matchmaker went to the chairman of the listed company and said, 'I recommend a vice president for you!' The chairman said, 'But I have too many vice presidents, it's redundant.' The matchmaker said, 'But the young man is the mayor's son-in-law.' The chairman said, 'In that case, it's fine!'"

Everyone praised her story.

Deputy Minister Fu pointed at Deputy Secretary Wang, imitating her tone, and laughed, "Fine! Fine! Xiao Wang is also fine." He then turned to Ye Ziran and said, "Xiao Ye, did you learn something? Do you know how to find a wife now?"

Ye Ziran laughed. Noticing that Deputy Minister Fu's speech was already a bit slurred and his logic a bit unclear, he thought that he was almost drunk. He thought, if Deputy Minister Fu passed out, it would be a bit too much, so he said, "Secretary Wang's story is interesting. I'll join in and tell an office joke."

Deputy Minister Fu, in high spirits, said, "Good, let's all tell one. Let's liven things up. Those who don't tell a story will drink three glasses."

Ye Ziran then told a story: "There was a beautiful white-collar woman at work. One day, the weather was particularly nice, and she was so focused on her work that she didn't notice her skirt was caught in the drawer. When she stood up, her skirt tore with a rip. Her colleagues looked over, and she quickly grabbed a magazine to cover herself. However, her colleagues burst into laughter, as the magazine cover was an advertisement for a supermarket: 'Super large area, can accommodate 2,000 people at once.' She grabbed another magazine, and her colleagues laughed again, as the cover was an advertisement for antivirus software: 'Beware of virus attacks.' She was almost fainting. When she grabbed the third magazine, her colleagues were stunned, as it was a movie advertisement: 'The Tyrant's Forceful Advance.'"

At the dinner table, Wang Jingyu was the only female, and the leaders were all experienced in social situations, so they did not feel awkward. Deputy Secretary Wang, who had seen many scenes, did not change her expression at all.

Deputy Minister Fu then told a story: "A certain young woman was always independent, even breastfeeding in public without any shyness. Once, she and her husband took their child to a restaurant, and the child started crying from hunger. The young woman unbuttoned her shirt to feed the child. A restaurant waiter approached her and politely asked her not to breastfeed in public. The young woman was furious and said, 'What kind of person are you? Do you think breastfeeding is obscene and vulgar?' The waiter pointed to a sign on the wall and replied, 'No, but eating food not supplied by this restaurant is prohibited.'"

Secretary Qin, Township Chief Li, and others all burst into laughter, and Deputy Secretary Wang could not help but laugh as well. Everyone was very satisfied with the meal.

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