77: Chapter 77 Promotion to Secretary

When the clock struck ten, the meeting entered its final and most critical agenda item: the candidate for Secretary of the Guantian Township Party Committee.

The incumbent Secretary of the Guantian Township Party Committee, Secretary Sun Wei, had already been transferred to the County Education Bureau as director in a previous adjustment, fulfilling his dream of moving to the city to become a bureau director.

Ordinarily, given Secretary Sun Wei's qualifications and background, he would never have landed such a lucrative position as director of the Education Bureau.

However, for one thing, the results in Guantian Township last year were truly impressive, and the credit due to Secretary Sun Wei as Secretary of the Township Party Committee could not be erased; for another, Li Dakang had spoken many good words on behalf of Secretary Sun Wei before County Party Secretary Yuan Kai, which served as repayment for the support and cooperation he had received over the past six months or more.

That was why County Party Secretary Yuan Kai proposed appointing Secretary Sun Wei as director of the Education Bureau, which was both an affirmation and a reward for him.

But at this moment, the meeting room suddenly fell silent.

Everyone's gaze turned towards County Party Secretary Yuan Kai, as if waiting for him to express his position.

Everyone knew that Guantian Township was a hot commodity right now, and whoever became its Secretary of the Township Party Committee would basically be sitting back and enjoying the fruits of others' labor.

Before County Party Secretary Yuan Kai could speak, County Magistrate Zeng Xuejun broke the silence first: "Let me say a few words first!"

"The achievements of Guantian Township last year were plain for all to see," County Magistrate Zeng Xuejun said, getting straight to the point.

"But I want to emphasize that Li Dakang played an indispensable role in achieving these results."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over every member of the Standing Committee present: "Although Li Dakang is young, he has outstanding ability, broad vision, and high prestige among the cadres and masses in Guantian Township."

"Therefore, I propose that he succeed to the position of Secretary of the Township Party Committee."

County Magistrate Zeng Xuejun, a county magistrate who usually kept a low profile, displayed a rare sense of assertiveness at this moment.

Before anyone could react, County Magistrate Zeng Xuejun continued: "Comrades, although Li Dakang is young, his work ability is plain for all to see. Guantian Township is currently at a critical period of development, and we need a helmsman who is familiar with the situation and dares to innovate."

These words seemed to be spoken to everyone, but in reality, they were directed at County Party Secretary Yuan Kai, who was sitting at the head of the table.

As a veteran of officialdom, County Magistrate Zeng Xuejun knew the timing of advance and retreat all too well.

His strong support for Li Dakang this time, in addition to fulfilling his original promise, had deeper considerations.

Seeing that even the number two official was offering such strong support, no one else naturally had any objections.

Everyone knew that Li Dakang was County Party Secretary Yuan Kai's man, and it was precisely County Party Secretary Yuan Kai who had overcome opposition to appoint him as the township head of Guantian Township.

No one dared to oppose something that both the number one and number two officials agreed on, unless they didn't want to stay in Anjiang County anymore.

Everyone present was an old hand in officialdom, so naturally, they wouldn't make such a low-level mistake.

Consequently, the proposal to appoint Li Dakang as Secretary of the Guantian Township Party Committee was passed unanimously without a ripple.

Tonight's Standing Committee meeting had long been secretly watched by many, as the scale of the adjustments was significant, especially for the cadres involved in the changes.

It is often said that secrets cannot be hidden in government offices, and sure enough, as soon as the County Standing Committee meeting ended, someone called Li Dakang to offer congratulations: "Secretary Li, congratulations!"

Li Dakang held the phone, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

Although this result had been expected, a surge of warmth still welled up in his heart when he actually heard it.

A twenty-three-year-old Secretary of the Township Party Committee (not yet twenty-four) was probably the first in the history of Anjiang County.

Li Dakang quickly figured out the complete personnel adjustments: the former Secretary of the Township Party Committee, Secretary Sun Wei, was transferred away; in addition, Chairman Shen Dawei of the Township People's Congress, Deputy Secretary of the Township Party Committee Duan Yongping, the executive deputy township head, and others were also transferred.

Nearly half of the members of the Guantian Township Party Committee had been replaced, which could be called a major reshuffle.

Fortunately, the several newly appointed members of the Township Party Committee were all from the faction of County Party Secretary Yuan Kai.

Seeing that Guantian Township was about to "take off" this year, County Party Secretary Yuan Kai naturally wouldn't let such a good opportunity to pad his political achievements go to anyone else.

More importantly, this was to help Li Dakang consolidate his influence; with his own people supporting him in the township, his future work would be smoother.

Regarding this adjustment, Secretary Sun Wei felt a mix of satisfaction and regret.

What he was satisfied with was returning to the county seat and becoming the director of a major bureau like the Education Bureau, something he had never dared to imagine before; those with a discerning eye knew that for someone like him without connections to sit in this position, it was Li Dakang working behind the scenes.

The regret was that the development momentum of Guantian Township was just right, and it might even launch a "great satellite" this year; as the Secretary of the Township Party Committee, he should have been the one to take the spotlight, so it was inevitable that he would be reluctant to leave at this time.

But regardless, being able to be the director of the Education Bureau was enough to be satisfied.

The county was clearly asking him to make way for Li Dakang; if he didn't even have that much insight, Secretary Sun Wei wouldn't have been able to sit in the position of Secretary of the Guantian Township Party Committee, even if no one had been willing to come to this township before.

...

Guantian Township, office of the Secretary of the Township Party Committee.

Secretary Sun Wei, the outgoing Secretary of the Township Party Committee, was organizing documents and hurriedly stood up to welcome Li Dakang when he saw him enter.

"Brother, you're finally returning to the city to enjoy life," Li Dakang joked with a smile.

Secretary Sun Wei shook his head, his expression complex: "Little brother, what kind of enjoying life is this? It's clearly making room for you!"

He patted Li Dakang on the shoulder: "Seriously, I really hate to leave. But for the sake of your future, your brother accepts it!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, understanding each other without words.

Over the past six months or more, Secretary Sun Wei had fully supported Li Dakang's work, and Li Dakang had reciprocated by speaking good words for him before County Party Secretary Yuan Kai. This kind of tacit understanding in officialdom was often more reliable than contracts written in black and white.