"I understand," Lu Hao said earnestly.
"Have you thought about who to give gifts to? How about we ask Wang Shaojie to plead with County Chief Li? Or..." Listening to Fang Jing's one bad idea after another on the other end of the phone, Lu Hao frowned and said, "It's okay, don't worry, I'll figure something out."
"Alright, in any case, you hurry up and get things moving. Wang Shaojie is now your boss, and he's going to report to your Fangshui Township tomorrow. You'll have to call him Deputy Township Head now. When officials are one rank higher, they can suppress you. If you don't get promoted to deputy section chief, you'll always have to look up to him. How awkward it will be when you meet," Fang Jing grumbled.
Hearing the name Wang Shaojie, Lu Hao's face became even more unsightly.
In front of Xiao Yue, he didn't get angry, but just dealt with Fang Jing by saying he would find connections and hung up the phone.
Thinking about getting promoted to deputy section chief within a month, how could it be easy? For a while, Lu Hao lost his appetite for dinner.
Xiao Yue naturally heard what Fang Jing said on the other end of the phone, but she didn't ask much, instead continuing the previous topic: "Yes, I'm not a local, I came here to work from the provincial capital."
"Are you a teacher?" Lu Hao was surprised.
"What I do is not important, what's important is that I have a reason to come here. On the contrary, why are you here?" Xiao Yue did not answer Lu Hao's question directly, a faint smile appeared on her face, full of meaning.
Lu Hao said with a wry smile, "It's a long story. I thought my career would be smooth sailing, but I didn't expect that I was unlucky. Maybe I really don't have the fate to be an official."
"That's not necessarily true, maybe you just haven't met your benefactor yet," Xiao Yue said meaningfully.
Lu Hao shook his head, naturally not taking the other party's words seriously.
...
The next morning, in the poverty alleviation office, several colleagues started whispering as soon as they arrived.
"I heard that a deputy township head was transferred from the county?"
"He was just promoted and is the youngest among the deputy section-level cadres in the county."
"I heard that Secretary Zhao sent Director Deng to pick him up, and the leaders are going to have a meeting later."
Lu Hao listened, not too surprised, because Fang Jing had already told him yesterday that Wang Shaojie was coming to Fangshui Township today.
As the roar of cars and conversation sounds rang in the township government courtyard, Lu Hao knew that Wang Shaojie was likely here.
Downstairs, Deng Song, who also serves as the propaganda committee member and director of the party and government office, personally greeted him, and middle-level cadres from various departments such as Song Bo also accompanied him.
"Deputy Township Head Wang, your arrival at our Fangshui Township is like adding wings to a tiger."
Deng Song took the initiative to shake hands with Wang Shaojie and said, "Secretary Zhao has notified that there will be a meeting of the township leadership team at ten o'clock, and you can participate together to get familiar with the affairs of the township."
As far as he knows, Wang Shaojie has a background in the county, and coming to Fangshui Township is just to get some experience. It is likely that he will be promoted to the executive or even the township head in the near future. He is a potential stock and must be befriended.
"You are too polite, Director Deng. Since there is still time now, please take me to visit each department first, so that I can take this opportunity to get to know everyone." Wang Shaojie looked at his watch and said with a smile.
"So, which department would you like to visit first?"
"Our Fangshui Township's most important task is poverty alleviation. Let's go to the poverty alleviation office first."
Wang Shaojie's mouth corner rose, full of smiles.
He took office and, of course, wanted to see the down-and-out Lu Hao. After all, he is now Lu Hao's leader, and he is looking forward to Lu Hao's expression when he sees him inspecting work as the deputy township head.
"Deputy Township Head Wang, please follow me."
Song Bo, upon hearing that they were going to the poverty alleviation office, hurriedly ran ahead to lead the way.
Wang Shaojie followed with a proud look, and the directors of other departments also accompanied him.
This made Wang Shaojie even more elated. He really likes this feeling of being the center of attention. Even as a deputy section chief, he can suppress Lu Hao.
In the office, Lu Hao was looking through poverty alleviation materials.
This morning, before Song Bo went downstairs, he specifically instructed that he would be in charge of managing the poverty alleviation materials.
This work used to be the responsibility of Niu Dashan, but now it suddenly became him, and Lu Hao always felt a bit strange.
But he also knew that he is now in the poverty alleviation office, and he has no right to refuse the work assigned by Song Bo.
"The newly arrived Deputy Township Head Wang is here to inspect, get up and welcome him."
At this time, Song Bo came to the door first and waved his hand inside.
Several colleagues in the poverty alleviation office, including Lu Hao, all stood up.
Soon, Wang Shaojie appeared, walking into the poverty alleviation office with a smile and his hands behind his back.
"Deputy Township Head Wang, this is our deputy director of the poverty alleviation office, Niu Dashan, an old comrade."
"This is the youngest clerk in the poverty alleviation office, Tang Chunyan."
Song Bo introduced each person one by one, and of course, he did not forget to introduce Lu Hao at the end.
"This is Lu Hao, who was transferred from the county to our poverty alleviation office and is now also a deputy director."
"The introduction is over, please Deputy Township Head Wang give instructions."
Wang Shaojie glanced at Lu Hao and the piles of materials next to him, with a bit of complacency in his smile: "Instructions are out of the question. Seeing so many poverty alleviation materials, I know you guys are doing a good job. Poverty alleviation work is the most important task for our township and even the county. Everyone must pay attention."
After his speech, Song Bo took the lead in clapping, and everyone else followed suit.
"You may not know, I used to be a colleague with Lu Hao in the county. Lu Hao is responsible and capable, a rare good comrade. I hope he can also make great achievements in poverty alleviation work in the future."
Wang Shaojie praised Lu Hao and patted Lu Hao on the shoulder with a smile: "Lu Hao, not long ago we were the same, but now... forget it, you work hard, I believe you will be promoted to deputy section chief sooner or later."
These words were said in a grand manner, but everyone could hear the gloating in it, and some old-timers have already guessed that Wang Shaojie may have a grudge against Lu Hao.
"Thank you, Deputy Township Head, for your encouragement, I will not let you down."
Lu Hao said as if nothing had happened.
He knew that Wang Shaojie wanted to provoke him to take the initiative to break his face, but Lu Hao was not so foolish. In this situation, if he quarrels with a deputy township head, others will only scold him for being ungrateful.
"Let's go to the party and government office and take a look."
Seeing that his plan was unsuccessful, Wang Shaojie did not continue to stay.
In the future, he is the deputy township head, and there will be many opportunities to deal with Lu Hao!
Soon, a group of people accompanied Wang Shaojie out of the poverty alleviation office.
Niu Dashan also ran after him, of course, also looking for opportunities to get closer to Wang Shaojie.
"Lu Hao, I think this Wang Shaojie is a bit of a smiling tiger. If you really have a grudge against him, you must be careful in the future."
Tang Chunyan from the poverty alleviation office came over with a worried face and said to Lu Hao, "And Song Bo suddenly handed over the poverty alleviation materials to you for management, I always feel that something is not right, you should be careful."