32: testing each other

Lin Zifeng and Cao Shuang walked into the Office together and saw a box of pig head meat, a box of canned fish, a box of stir-fried dishes, and a box of peanuts on the coffee table.

He smiled and said, "Town Chief Cao, this food is not bad at all, is it? Now my dinner for tonight is sorted."

"Town Mayor, please have a seat. As long as you don't find it too humble," Cao Shuang said with a smile while grabbing two cups and pouring White Liquor.

"Your food is much better than what I usually have. Every night when I return to the dormitory, I either boil noodles or make instant noodles—just making do for a meal," he said cheerfully, sitting in front of the coffee table.

"That is quite frugal of you. You can't keep going like this in the long run! You can't just keep making do! I think you should settle down and get married soon so you have a woman to take care of you!"

Cao Shuang sat opposite him and handed him a cup of White Liquor.

"That depends on fate; you can't rush it. I know Town Chief Cao is from the neighboring Hetao Town, and you have a happy family. When you're not on duty, you ride your motorcycle to and from work every day. I envy that for now, but I'll have to wait and see what happens in the future."

Just like that, the two drank and chatted about daily life.

Unknowingly, the two finished a bottle of White Liquor, and Cao Shuang took another one out of the cabinet and opened it.

After this conversation, the two became more familiar with each other and slowly opened up.

"Town Mayor, at your age, I had just graduated from college, yet you are already in the position of Town Mayor. People really cannot be compared," Cao Shuang said with a sigh while pouring the drink.

"Town Chief Cao, the corresponding position also implies responsibility! Today, I went to Qianshan Village and happened to meet the Former Town Mayor, which helped me understand many past affairs in Heping Town. It makes me feel that the responsibility is heavy and the road ahead is treacherous!"

Hearing his words, Cao Shuang's eyes narrowed. He gave him a meaningful look before saying, "The Former Town Mayor is a good person, but he is too honest and not suitable for the official career. However, it is precisely because of that that he could safely retire and enjoy his old age. Town Mayor, you are so young and will surely have a great future. In your future work, you must maintain a sense of proportion!"

Cao Shuang was holding back a bit; his words were a test of Lin Zifeng's attitude. How could Lin Zifeng not know?

So he stared at the other person and said, "Town Chief Cao, if one truly wants to go further in their official career, blind compromise might bring peace, but it won't bring progress. In the official world, everyone wants to advance and climb to a higher stage. But what is the difference between blind compromise and acting as an accomplice to evil? At the very least, it is lazy governance and inaction."

Lin Zifeng was also testing the other party. "Thousands of troops are crossing a single-plank bridge; while one must emphasize working methods, one must also have a spirit of forging ahead."

"I agree with the Town Mayor, but some things are deeply rooted. Facing a situation where the arm cannot twist the thigh, even if you want to change something, sometimes you are powerless! If you aren't careful, you could fall into an abyss at any time and be doomed forever. The mountain in front of us is easy to topple, but the big mountain behind the small mountain cannot be shaken!" Cao Shuang sighed softly.

"If the foundation is rotten, even the biggest mountain will collapse one day. Although I, like you, want peace and quiet, the responsibility entrusted to us by the people means we cannot stand by and watch certain things. Even if we ultimately fail, we can still have a clear conscience," Lin Zifeng said with a solemn expression.

Although the two did not mention Yu Guodong and Yu Hualin by name, every word they said revolved around them.

Cao Shuang remained silent for a long while before speaking again: "Town Mayor, what do you want to do?"

"I heard that the primary and secondary schools in the town are renovated every two years. I don't know why, but the quality of each renovation is so poor. It only lasts for a little over a year before it slowly becomes dilapidated. Isn't this a waste of taxpayers' money?"

Facing his non-sequitur, Cao Shuang was shocked and couldn't help but think that this young Town Mayor was even bolder than he had imagined.

Who among the Cadres in Yushu County doesn't know that Yu Dacheng is the son of County Party Secretary Yu Guodong?

That construction company opened by the official second-generation had no professional architectural design talent; it was just a bunch of thugs and some temporarily hired migrant workers.

In recent years, they have not only made a fortune in Heping Town under the guise of construction work, but they have done the same in other townships. It's just that with Yu Hualin in charge in Heping Town, they act even more unscrupulously.

It is said that in just a few years, Yu Dacheng's assets have reached hundreds of millions.

Who would have thought that this Lin Zifeng would dare to poke this hornet's nest? Should one say he has a fearless spirit, or that he is just foolishly bold?

If he dares to expose this, he will not only offend Yu Hualin but also directly offend Yu Guodong.

Thinking of this, Cao Shuang hesitated for a moment before tentatively asking, "Town Mayor, do you understand the intricate relationships here?"

He nodded and said, "I have always believed that Yushu County belongs to the people of Yushu, not to any single individual."

Hearing what he said, Cao Shuang knew that he was aware of the interpersonal relationships here.

So he said, "Town Mayor, I have to admire your courage, but as your deputy and elder brother, I must remind you: think twice before you act! Don't be careless and, in a moment of impulse, ruin your bright future!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Town Chief Cao. Everyone has their own aspirations, thoughts, and concerns. I will not force you to pick a side. As long as you can provide me with appropriate support without being affected, that is enough. Some things must be done by someone, right?"

Lin Zifeng picked up his wine glass and looked at the other person.

Cao Shuang clinked glasses with him, nodded, and said, "Thank you for your understanding and consideration, Town Mayor."

After interacting with Cao Shuang, Lin Zifeng felt that although his deputy was a bit cautious and quite slick, he still had a sense of justice.

Although he didn't dare to confront people like Yu Hualin head-on, he was also very angry at their actions.

Lin Zifeng felt that although this contact did not yield much, the other party was still someone who could be won over.

Walking on the way back to the dormitory, he kept thinking about the plan in his mind.

It wasn't until he returned to the dormitory that the ringing of his mobile phone brought his thoughts back.

Seeing that it was a call from his mother, he immediately answered the phone.

"Mom, is there something wrong with you calling so late?"

"Son, you've been in Heping Town for more than half a month now. How are you doing there? When can you come home for a visit?" Zhang Chunhua asked two questions in a row.

"Mom, don't forget, your son is a Town Mayor now. Could life be bad here? Don't worry! Don't fret over me. I just arrived in Heping Town, and there are a thousand things to do. Once I get the work sorted out, I'll come home to see you and Dad."

Like most sons, he chose to report only the good news and not the bad.

The mother and son chatted for more than ten minutes before hanging up.

Lin Zifeng washed up and went to bed.