Chapter 40: Promoted to First Deputy Mayor!

By late November, the fate of Xu Yiping and his associates had been finalized. The County Commission for Discipline Inspection issued a notice regarding Xu Yiping’s dismissal. Xu was not the only one to suffer; Xia Haiqiao was also caught in the fallout.

The County Party Committee Organization Department announced the new appointments: Chen Zhiyuan would serve as the Party Secretary, and Wang Kaicheng would serve as the Town Mayor. With Xu Yiping and Xia Haiqiao vacated, two deputy-section-level cadres from the county bureau were brought in to fill the vacancies.

During the subsequent meeting to allocate responsibilities among the Party leadership team, Chen Zhiyuan announced the assignments. "Comrade Tang Ye has shown outstanding work ability. After coordinating with leadership at the higher departments, it has been decided that he will serve as the Executive Deputy Mayor, responsible for finance, taxation, industry, service sectors, and other aspects of economic development."

The announcement left everyone in shock, particularly Cao Debiao, who had been eyeing the position of Executive Deputy Mayor for himself. Xia Haiqiao had originally been a strong contender for the role, and with his departure, the position should have naturally fallen to Cao. Cao had researched the two incoming cadres from the county bureau and felt confident he held a competitive advantage. He never expected Tang Ye to leapfrog over him.

Tang Ye was equally surprised. Chen Zhiyuan had mentioned it to him in passing, but Tang had not taken it seriously. Though it was only the addition of the word "Executive," the nature of the role was entirely different. Of the four deputy mayors in Pinghu, the Executive Deputy Mayor ranked first; when the Mayor was away, the Executive Deputy Mayor held the reins. Considering Tang Ye was a cadre on secondment, being placed in such a core position was surprising, yet upon reflection, it made sense. Tang Ye’s achievements as a deputy mayor were visible to all, and he had played a pivotal role in the power struggle between Chen Zhiyuan and Xu Yiping.

The meeting was tedious. Tang Ye took his pen and scribbled in his notebook: "To thrive in officialdom, never carry two things when you step out: a mask and a lie. Without these two tools, it is impossible to take a single step on the official path!"

"One must calm the heart, grounding oneself in rigor and hard work. Focus on every detail, advance step by step, and stay steady. Do not speculate, do not take shortcuts, do not fear hardship, and do not play to the gallery."

"If you want to achieve something meaningful, your heart must be as vast as the ocean. If you are petty, vindictive, and harbor grudges, you won't even be able to manage a village..."

The leaders from the County Organization Department, assuming Tang Ye was taking careful notes, wore satisfied smiles. This young cadre was so diligent and focused—truly a rare and exceptional talent.

***

After the meeting, Wang Kaicheng had just returned to his office when a knock sounded. He called out, "Come in." Deputy Mayor Cao Debiao entered, his face full of resentment. Wang, aware of Cao’s grievances, smiled. "Old Cao, you seem to be in low spirits."

Cao sat on the sofa, dejected. "I’ve worked hard in Pinghu for so many years; if I haven't earned credit, I’ve at least put in the effort. Chen Zhiyuan is so small-minded. Didn't I just have a few arguments with him back when he was down on his luck? Now, he promotes a young cadre who hasn't even been seconded here for three months—isn't that just a slap in the face?"

Wang tossed a cigarette to Cao, lit his own, and took a deep drag. "Haste makes waste," he said slowly.

Cao looked at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Wang patiently analyzed the situation. "Why was Chen Zhiyuan able to take Xu Yiping down?"

Cao frowned, cigarette dangling from his lip. "Blind luck. He just happened to get caught in the middle of Du Chengfeng and Gao Zhanjun’s struggle for the County Party Secretary position."

Wang shook his head. "You’re wrong. The key is Tang Ye. Tang Ye is no ordinary seconded cadre. How many seconded cadres can bring in hundreds of millions in investment projects overnight?"

Cao gritted his teeth. "I know he has a deep background, but he’s blocking my path! I can’t stand it!"

Wang shot him a sharp look, his thumb habitually rubbing his prayer beads. "You need vision. Tang Ye’s secondment is only for one year. Chen Zhiyuan played the long game for four years; can’t you wait one year? Tang is destined to move up. Just wait a year and reap the benefits."

Cao’s expression cleared. "When you put it that way, I feel much better."

After Cao left, Wang’s smile faded, his eyes turning profound. Who would have thought Xu Yiping would fall so quickly? The once-arrogant Xu faction had become like a rat crossing the street, shunned by all. Analyzing the cause, it was Tang Ye’s arrival that had shattered the original balance. If Xu Yiping had shown goodwill toward Tang from the start, his end might not have been so tragic. As for Chen Zhiyuan, he was the truly wise one.

Wang believed in Feng Shui and destiny. Tang Ye was someone blessed with good fortune. In private, he liked to study the traditional almanac. He held a theory unknown to others: whether it was the national or provincial civil service exams, the almanac often marked these days as "unfavorable for all activities." Yet, it was precisely on such days that people with genuine luck were filtered out. As a top scorer in the provincial exam, Tang Ye was a dragon among men who had emerged from hundreds of thousands of elites—a chosen one, a child of destiny. When working with such a person, one must never be an adversary, but one could appropriately borrow their fortune to influence one's own.

***

With the appointment official, Tang Ye immediately sensed a change in the attitudes of those around him. People who used to take a detour to avoid him now greeted him with deep respect: "Good day, Mayor Tang!"

Facing their fawning smiles, Tang Ye found it hard to adjust. What he found most uncomfortable was Wang Kaicheng’s change in attitude. Wang’s ability to flip his demeanor was staggering; he had been arranging drinking parties for several days, insisting Tang accompany him. At the table, Wang would clap Tang on the shoulder, proactively offering goodwill, claiming he had wanted to get to know him sooner but never found the right time, and that they were all one family now who should work together for the development of Pinghu.

Tang Ye felt as though he had been a stray dog that no one glanced at, suddenly transformed overnight into a prized steed in the spotlight. When he went out for wontons in the morning, the landlady tried to refuse his money, clearly aware of his new status. Tang, naturally not wanting to take advantage, tossed the money into the box and walked away without looking back. The landlady chased after him for ten meters but couldn't catch up, muttering to herself, "What a decent person... wait, how did he disappear in the blink of an eye?"

Fearing he would be caught, Tang ducked into a corner, only to find it was the back alley of the market’s public restroom. He was immediately overcome by the stench. Exploring the area, he realized the sanitation in Pinghu Town was in dire straits, with plastic bags and broken bottles littering every corner. He finally saw the true face of this impoverished town: dilapidated brick houses on both sides of crumbling streets, some still unfinished, the roads pitted with stagnant water that emitted a foul odor.

Back at the office, Tang Ye found Chen Zhiyuan. "Secretary, I just walked through the town. The sanitation is appalling. The state of the environment is like a person’s face; we don't need high-end cosmetics or designer clothes, but at the very least, we should wash our faces with clean water and keep our clothes tidy."

Chen nodded slightly. "I’ve noticed this as well. I wanted to address the sanitation earlier, but while Xu Yiping was in office, the policy was to avoid trouble at all costs. I will have the Comprehensive Management Office handle the sanitation later. We’ll increase the budget and hire more environmental workers."

Tang thought for a moment and said softly, "I suggest we start with the cadres. From tomorrow, all Party and government officials will participate in street cleaning. Let’s strive to give Pinghu Town a fresh look within a month."

Chen understood Tang’s intent. *If you cannot sweep a single room, how can you sweep the world?* It might seem like formalism, but in reality, it was about rectifying the spirit and morale of the government staff, gradually influencing and permeating the very bones of the townspeople.

When Chen announced the decision at the Party leadership meeting, it sparked widespread anger, especially from Cao Debiao, who cursed the decision in his office after the meeting. A new official might have three fires to light, and it was understandable to vent frustrations from the past few years, but this was too much! The government staff had grown accustomed to a life of ease; Chen was making them sweep the streets at the crack of dawn! How could he treat people this way? Rumor had it that it was that dog Tang Ye who had come up with the wretched idea.

"At the next Party and government joint meeting," Cao muttered, "I’ll make sure Tang Ye learns that ginger is indeed spicier when it’s old!"