37: No other choice

The Party Committee Meeting ended on a sour note. Although nothing was finalized, Lin Zifeng had achieved his goal.

He had intended to expose the issues regarding the school playground renovation and the special poverty alleviation funds.

Others knew full well about these two matters but dared not speak up. As the Town Mayor, he had to lance these two boils.

Otherwise, if problems arose later, he, as the Town Mayor, would not be able to escape responsibility.

Furthermore, given Lin Zifeng's character, he could not watch Yu Hualin act recklessly, unless he wanted to be a puppet Town Mayor like Wang Yongfa.

The news that the Town Mayor and the Secretary had a huge argument at the Party Committee Meeting quickly spread throughout the Town Government compound.

Some who knew the inside story felt that the new Town Mayor was responsible and unafraid of the overbearing Secretary, Yu Hualin. He spoke out against unreasonable work arrangements in the town, risking his own future to argue his case, which was admirable.

If this continued, it would end the status quo of Heping Town being run by a single voice, and many things could change as a result.

Others believed that Lin Zifeng was simply too young—a newborn calf unafraid of tigers—and that daring to challenge Yu Hualin at the Party Committee Meeting was an absolutely irrational act that would bring serious consequences upon himself.

Most people were even less optimistic about Lin Zifeng, because many knew that Yu Hualin was the favored subordinate of the County Party Secretary. Offending Yu Hualin was equivalent to offending Yu Guodong.

Everyone predicted that Lin Zifeng's path would not last long and that he would soon be driven out of Heping Town.

However, regardless of which view they held, no one dared to treat the young Town Mayor, Lin Zifeng, as a mere figurehead anymore.

When facing Lin Zifeng, their attitudes became more respectful.

Lin Zifeng returned to his Office. Shortly after he sat down, Wang Zhongyu knocked and walked in, with Wang Yuqing following behind.

After Wang Zhongyu poured the water and left the Office, Jiang Yufei said with a worried expression, "Town Mayor, weren't you a bit too impulsive at the meeting just now?"

"You've completely burned your bridges with Yu Hualin now."

"Didn't you always emphasize that work requires strategy and method? Now that it's your turn, why are you being so impulsive instead?"

"Committee Member Jiang, some things require methods and strategies, but others do not."

"Think about it. If I hadn't put the issues on the table and argued my case at the Party Committee Meeting today, I would have had to compromise with Yu Hualin."

"I can make concessions and compromises in other areas, but on these two matters, I absolutely cannot."

"You and I both know that there are definitely many problems regarding the school playground renovation and the special poverty alleviation funds."

"If I knew there were problems and still compromised by signing, wouldn't I be aiding the evildoer and becoming an accomplice to certain people?"

"Therefore, I had already made up my mind before the meeting. I have no way out; I can only face it head-on. There is no other way."

Lin Zifeng said calmly.

"Hmph, seeing how Yu Hualin behaved at the Party Committee Meeting, it's not hard to deduce that he is definitely a beneficiary of these two matters."

"I can guarantee that Yu Hualin has absolutely lined his own pockets. Otherwise, he wouldn't have acted so agitated."

Jiang Yufei said indignantly.

"Committee Member Jiang, don't say things without evidence in the future; it's easy for people to use it against you."

He quickly reminded her.

"I'm not saying it in front of others. I still have that much vigilance."

"From now on, can you stop calling me Committee Member Jiang all the time? Besides being colleagues, we should count as friends, right?"

"When there's no one else around, just call me by my name! Otherwise, it always feels a bit strange."

"Sure! Then you can call me by my name when no one is around too!"

"Great! Then I'll call you Zifeng, and you call me Yufei!"

"By the way, Zifeng, you have completely offended Yu Hualin now. If I'm not mistaken, he will soon go to the County Party Committee to see Secretary Yu Guodong and report you. Have you thought about how to handle that?"

"What kind of countermeasures could I possibly have! All I have left is a clear conscience."

"If I become the shortest-serving Town Mayor in Heping Town, but manage to stir up a few ripples in this stagnant pool, it can still be considered of some value."

"I don't have any backing to rely on. At worst, I'll just get kicked out of Heping Town. What's the big deal?"

He said calmly.

"Since you knew it could cause such serious consequences, why did you still do it?"

Jiang Yufei asked, puzzled.

"The position I hold forces me to do this. If I truly compromised and became Yu Hualin's signing machine, not only would I have no say in Heping Town in the future, but I would also be held jointly liable."

"I have always believed that evil cannot prevail over good. Sooner or later, some people will pay the price they deserve for their wicked behavior."

"Being kicked to the sidelines and losing this Town Mayor position is better than being dismissed from both their posts along with them, right?"

"Even if I could find a thousand reasons to absolve myself, as long as I didn't take any benefits and didn't end up in jail with them, being fired for dereliction of duty is unavoidable."

"Otherwise, the Former Town Mayor, Wang Yongfa, wouldn't have been in such a hurry to retire early."

"Now do you understand my helpless move?"

Lin Zifeng said with a sigh.

Hearing his explanation, Jiang Yufei thought to herself that the saying "it's easier to be an official when you have connections in the imperial court" was absolutely true.

Originally, Zifeng was completely justified and had evidence; the one who might have committed wrongdoing was Yu Hualin.

However, because Lin Zifeng lacked connections, he had to bitterly accept a result he shouldn't have to.

Look at Yu Hualin, on the other hand. Because of his close relationship with Yu Guodong, he could downplay serious matters and pin fabricated charges on Lin Zifeng.

Thinking of this, she tentatively asked, "Zifeng, if that situation really happens, will you be resigned to it?"

"What can I do even if I'm not resigned? I have already made the most correct choice, so I can calmly accept any consequences that may arise."

"However, if I am really transferred away from Heping Town, I hope you will continue with the tourism development plan."

"If this plan is realized one day in the future, it will benefit the common people of Heping Town."

He said with a carefree expression.

"This tourism development plan was something you gave me constructive suggestions for; it's a goal we both want to realize together."

"I will continue to work on it, and I also believe in what you said: evil cannot prevail over good. You definitely won't be transferred away from Heping Town."

"Just wait for us to realize this plan together!"

Jiang Yufei said firmly.

"I'll take your kind words for it. I hope so!"

After Lin Zifeng said this, he couldn't help but think that from now on, it would depend on his luck.

If Yu Guodong fell from power sooner and was invited for tea by the Discipline Inspection Commission before he could deal with him, only then would he be safe.

Otherwise, he still wouldn't be able to escape the fate of being suppressed and squeezed out.

But he did not regret what he did today, because just as he had said himself, he had no other choice.