Chapter 1: When a Tiger is Brought Low, Even Dogs Will Snap at its Heels!
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Finally, he was being transferred from the Bureau for Retired Cadres back to the Secretariat of the Municipal Party Committee Office!
Tang Ye meticulously straightened his clothes.
His wheat-colored skin, short and thick hair, and tall, upright frame, combined with the sharp lines of his jaw and a well-ironed formal suit, gave him a sunny yet composed appearance.
Tang Ye was twenty-seven this year.
He had graduated with a master's degree from the School of Government at Qiongjin University and had entered the Municipal Party Committee Office after placing first in the civil service examination.
His first year of work had not been smooth.
Right after joining, he was transferred to a cushy but powerless post—the Bureau for Retired Cadres.
He later found out that a petty schemer had played a dirty trick behind his back.
The crucial part was that it was an acquaintance—and a knife in the back from an acquaintance cuts the deepest.
As he reached the turn of the staircase, a figure in pink appeared without warning.
Tang Ye had no time to avoid her and collided squarely with the person.
"Aiyo, you'll be the death of me!"
"Be careful!"
Sheets of paper scattered like snowflakes, fluttering through the air.
Tang Ye felt his shoulder sink into what felt like a cloud of cotton.
Looking closely, he saw it was none other than Cheng Lin, the Vice Director of the Bureau for Retired Cadres.
Cheng Lin was thirty-two this year, a classic Jiangnan beauty with an oval face, dark eyes, and red lips that contrasted with her pearly white teeth.
Her voice was crisp, her words tinged with a regional accent.
"Look at me, so clumsy. The more I rush, the more of a mess I make."
Cheng Lin bent at the waist to pick up the documents.
The snow-white, supple skin below her collar was in full view, and as the pleats of her dress swayed gently, a faint pink line from her underwear was faintly visible at the edge of her hips, a barely-there, fleeting glimpse.
Tang Ye squatted down to help gather the papers, lightly blowing off the dust and smiling to ease the awkward atmosphere.
"Sister Lin, you seem really stressed. You're breaking out! Are you not feeling well?"
Cheng Lin subconsciously touched a red spot near the corner of her lips, her fine brows knitting together as she said plaintively, "Is it a lot of breakouts? Ugh, I've been having insomnia lately. I had a check-up last week, and all my indicators set off alarm bells!"
"You have to take even minor problems seriously. I know a particularly skilled traditional Chinese medicine doctor. I can take you to see him when you have time."
"That would be great. I've been wanting to get my health in order for a while now."
Cheng Lin took the documents Tang Ye handed her, tapped the two stacks neatly into alignment, and looked him up and down, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Little Ye, you're dressed so sharply. Are you reporting back to the Municipal Committee?"
"Sister, even though I'm being transferred back, if you need anything, call me anytime!"
"Hah, now that you're back in the Municipal Party Committee Office, you should put your energy into your work. Focus on your career."
Sister Lin's appearance was like a scenic view, but her marriage was a mystery.
She was married, but her husband had never been seen; he was said to be abroad in Canada, pursuing a doctorate.
On Tang Ye's second day at the Bureau for Retired Cadres, a pipe had burst in her home and two lights had broken.
Unable to find a repairman, Tang Ye had rushed over to help after hearing about it.
His practical skills were exceptional, and he fixed the pipe.
Coupled with the fact that Tang Ye was a skilled writer and a dependable worker, Cheng Lin had come to admire him greatly.
She never treated him like a subordinate, and they got along like brother and sister.
The Bureau for Retired Cadres had limited opportunities for advancement and was no place to stay for long.
Cheng Lin had played a significant role in Tang Ye's ability to return to the Municipal Party Committee Office.
***
Just as he entered Building One, a hand landed heavily on Tang Ye's shoulder.
He turned to see a face with narrow eyes and a hawkish nose.
Shao Jinbo was that very "backstabbing schemer."
"Old classmate, long time no see! What have you been busy with lately!"
Shao Jinbo was not only Tang Ye's high school classmate, but they had also passed the civil service exam in the same year.
Shao Jinbo's official position was originally in the Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.
When Tang Ye was seconded to the Bureau for Retired Cadres, he had entered the Secretariat of the Municipal Party Committee Office, taking his place.
It couldn't be helped.
Shao Jinbo had powerful connections; his uncle was the Deputy Secretary of the Hanzhou Political and Legal Affairs Commission.
Tang Ye forced himself to swallow, revealing a set of perfectly white, even teeth.
"Just keeping busy. Thanks for your concern."
Shao Jinbo's fake smile was clumsy.
He said in a snide, passive-aggressive tone, "Working at the Bureau for Retired Cadres must be incredibly dull, right? Those old men and women love to tattle when they have nothing better to do, and sometimes they're especially stubborn and love to pester unreasonably. For you to be able to crawl out of that pit, your luck must be something else!"
Tang Ye disliked his condescending tone towards the veteran cadres and frowned slightly.
"The retired cadres are very straightforward, just a bunch of old kids. If you find the right way to approach them, they're quite easy to get along with. As for luck, I can't compare to you!"
Shao Jinbo tilted his chin up, holding a file folder in his hand and gesturing with it in the air.
"Work at the Municipal Party Committee Office is certainly busy, and the pressure is immense. I stayed up until the early hours of the morning yesterday just to write a speech, and I'm still walking around with two panda eyes. I'm quite happy you're back. At least now there's someone with less seniority to help share my burden!"
Shao Jinbo was already putting on the airs of a veteran, starting to "give orders" before Tang Ye had even officially returned to his post.
Instead of getting angry, Tang Ye laughed.
"Hey, the capable should do more work. I could never handle your tasks. You really do look terrible, though. Your hairline has receded so much it's become a middle part. I wonder if that counts as a workplace injury! You should take care of yourself."
"Your mouth is as venomous as ever!"
Shao Jinbo's expression twisted for a moment before he changed the subject.
"Do you remember our high school classmate, Xiao Hui?"
Tang Ye sensed Shao Jinbo's ill intentions and gave a half-smile.
"Of course! The class beauty."
A smug look appeared on Shao Jinbo's face.
"We're engaged. We should get together for a meal sometime, what do you say? You did chase after her back in the day, after all. I only dated her for two months, didn't even have to try that hard, and it just happened."
A wave of inexplicable irritation rose in Tang Ye's heart, but his expression remained as calm as still water.
"Three's a crowd. Why not invite a few more people and make it a class reunion?"
Tang Ye managed his emotions as if they were behind an iron wall.
Finding it all rather dull, Shao Jinbo lowered his voice and said abruptly, "I wish you the best of 'luck' from here on out!"
As he watched Tang Ye disappear into the elevator, a cold sneer formed on Shao Jinbo's lips.
Tang Ye first reported to the Human Resources department and then went to Yang Yuan's office.
A four-foot-long vertical scroll painting of a lotus flower, titled 'Green Pond's Shimmering Ripples', came into view.
Yang Yuan was the Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee and concurrently served as the Director of the Municipal Party Committee Office.
Upon seeing Tang Ye, Yang Yuan took off his glasses and squeezed a smile onto his face.
"Little Tang, please, have a seat."
Yang Yuan's tone was unusually friendly.
Tang Ye felt a vague sense of unease.
"Little Tang, you've done excellent work at the Bureau for Retired Cadres. You've earned the recognition of many veteran cadres, and the leadership there also speaks of you with endless praise. This shows that the organization's arrangement for you was extremely correct."
"Thank you for the organization's guidance!"
"The Municipal Party Committee Office has an opening for a temporary assignment in Pinghu Town, Jinyang County. You can rest at home for a few days and report there next week."
Tang Ye's entire body went rigid, his mood plunging into an abyss.
Pinghu Town was a notoriously poor town in Hanzhou.
It bordered Runjiang City and was located in a rather remote area, which was why no one was willing to go there.
Yang Yuan's "good intentions" were certainly painstaking.
Shao Jinbo had his uncle as a backer.
If Tang Ye returned to his post, wouldn't Shao Jinbo have to go back to the Environmental Protection Bureau?
Thus, Yang Yuan had come up with a solution that was the "best of both worlds"—sending him down to the grassroots of a township.
'Isn't he supposed to be outstanding?'
'He'll surely be able to "shine" there too.'
"Director Yang, your decision is a bit sudden. How about I work in the Secretariat for a year first, and then go down to a township for a temporary post to gain experience?"
Although the matter was already set in stone, Tang Ye still tried his best to fight for it.
Yang Yuan tapped the desk twice with his hand, the smile on his face growing even softer.
"The new Municipal Party Secretary is about to take office. You aren't familiar with the work in the Secretariat, so now is not a good time to come back. Pinghu Town is a little poor and a little dilapidated, but this is a rare opportunity. After you return, it will be perfectly logical to promote you.
"Young people can't be too ambitious and look down on grassroots work. Striving is the essence of youth. Shedding sweat and struggling in hardship posts and on the front lines is the most beautiful story of youth. Believe me, the townships are a vast world with many opportunities. You will definitely achieve great things.
"If you encounter any problems in your new post, you can always come to me. The Municipal Party Committee Office will always be your support."
Tang Ye was disgusted!
It was one thing to banish him to the poorest township, but to do so while feigning sincerity and putting on a show of looking out for his best interests, using all sorts of empty platitudes and clichés to guilt-trip him, was another.
Tang Ye was incredibly frustrated.
He wanted to retort but didn't know how to begin, so he could only reply with a formulaic answer, "Thank you for your advice and guidance, Director Yang. Please rest assured, I will definitely be diligent and responsible in my new post and will not let down your and the organization's expectations."
Yang Yuan put his glasses back on, issuing a clear dismissal.
"Go on, get to your work!"
After Tang Ye left, Yang Yuan used his landline to call Shao Jinbo.
"Jinbo, your classmate's new job has been arranged."
"Heh, thank you for your trouble, Director Yang. Under your guidance, I'm sure he'll achieve eye-opening results in his new post."
***
Leaving Building One, Tang Ye headed back to the Bureau for Retired Cadres.
He had barely sat down when he received a call from his mentor.
Tang Ye's master's thesis advisor was Jiang Jinpeng, the dean of the Qiongjin School of Government.
"Are you back at the Municipal Party Committee Office?"
"It was a false hope. I've been assigned to a temporary post in Pinghu Town," Tang Ye's voice was tinged with disappointment.
Jiang Jinpeng's brows furrowed deeply.
"This is just damn bullying! Why don't you just resign? My research group needs you!"
"Thank you for your concern, Professor. In my graduation thesis, I used Hanzhou as the urban model for my research. The reason I came back to Hanzhou to take the civil service exam was in the hope that I could apply what I learned and validate the concepts in my thesis. I can't give up halfway!"
Jiang Jinpeng was indignant on Tang Ye's behalf, but at the same time, he admired the resilience and tenacity his star student showed in the face of setbacks.
It was just that the world of officialdom was different from other professions.
Talent alone was not enough; opportunity and a platform were far more important.
"My door is always open for you."
***
As he was about to leave the Bureau for Retired Cadres, Tang Ye began to pack his personal belongings.
On his desk was a letter, addressed for mailing to Hong Ruilin.
Tang Ye decided to deliver the letter to him personally and say his goodbyes at the same time.
The government provided preferential treatment for old comrades, allowing them to live in pleasant residential compounds, but Hong Ruilin was an eccentric who chose to live in an ordinary neighborhood.
Hong Ruilin was originally the Deputy Secretary of the Hanzhou Municipal Party Committee.
He had a peculiar personality, and the colleagues at the Bureau for "Retired Cadres both respected and feared him.
The old man was an avid Go player, but his skill at the game was inversely proportional to his sportsmanship.
He liked to take back moves and would lose his temper when he lost a game.
Tang Ye knew a little about Go and would play a few games with the old man when he was free.
Out of respect for the old and care for the young, Tang Ye would always greet him with a smile, even if he was scolded a couple of times.
However, there are no fathers and sons on the battlefield, and no grandfathers and grandsons on the chessboard.
When it was time for Tang Ye to trounce him, he never held back, thrashing him soundly.
Hong Ruilin discovered that Tang Ye was different from the others, who were either afraid of him and acted timidly, or tried to curry favor by deliberately playing poorly.
Though he often called Tang Ye a little rascal, deep down he regarded him as an ageless chess companion.
He rang the doorbell several times, but there was no sound.
Tang Ye took out his phone and dialed the number.
The ringtone could be heard from inside the apartment, but after waiting a long time, no one opened the door.
Tang Ye sniffed the air.
The acrid smell of something burning was seeping out from under the door.
Something was terribly wrong!
There was a fire!
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