The meeting with Tang Wenzhong was very brief, only a few minutes, after which Shen Zili arrived at Xia Lixing's office.
"Come in, Zili," Xia Lixing, with his fair complexion and neatly combed hair, which was all brushed in one direction rather than the common middle part, exuded a strong scholarly aura. This was in stark contrast to Shang Quanzhi, the commissioner of the administrative office, who had a crew cut and a robust build. However, no one had ever underestimated the power and influence of this Party Secretary.
"Zili, I'm sure Old Tang and Old Jiang have already talked to you, and you should have a good idea of the situation. I won't say much more. Nantang is one of the top three most populous counties in Liyang, and it is also a major agricultural county. However, its industrial foundation is weak, and the fiscal situation is difficult, leading to slow improvements in the living standards of the people. This is a common issue in all the agricultural counties in the Liyang region. Although the situation in Nantang has improved somewhat in recent years, it is still far from sufficient."
Xia Lixing was carefully choosing his words. The cadre from the Provincial Propaganda Department, whose organizational relationship was about to be officially transferred, was known to be backed by Shang Quanzhi. Xia Lixing was also aware of Shang Quanzhi's old relationship with Shen Zili's father-in-law, and he understood this.
The possibility of the Liyang region being split had already been placed on the agenda. According to his information, the decision was expected to be finalized by the end of next year at the latest. This largest region in the province, with thirteen counties and cities and a population of eleven million, was indeed not well-suited to the current administrative structure. Shang Quanzhi and he had worked together for three years, and their relationship had been relatively good, so he did not want to create any unpleasantness with Shang Quanzhi over minor issues in the coming period.
"This year, Nantang did an excellent job with the kiwifruit project, which was very innovative. Even the top leaders in the province praised Nantang. I heard from Old An and Old Wang that you were mainly responsible for this project and even established a modern agricultural development company, which also helped Huai and Futou counties solve major problems. I hope you will continue to be bold in innovation and reform in your future work, and work with Comrade An Dejian to make Nantang stand out and be innovative. Do you have the confidence to do this?"
Xia Lixing's gaze was complex. Shen Zili knew he was not Xia Lixing's ideal candidate for the position of Nantang County Magistrate. However, with the imminent split of Liyang, and the trend of the southern seven counties, led by Fengzhou, forming a new region, Xia Lixing did not want to strain his relationship with Shang Quanzhi, especially given that Wang Zirong was set to replace Xin Liyuan as the Party Secretary of Huai County. It was reasonable for Xia Lixing to make a concession to Shang Quanzhi.
There were rumors that Shang Quanzhi would become the Party Secretary of the newly formed Fengzhou region, which made sense. At this critical moment, fulfilling Shang Quanzhi's wishes by appointing Shen Zili as the Nantang County Magistrate was a clever move by Xia Lixing. After all, the future of the Fengzhou region would still be in Shang Quanzhi's hands, and this gesture would facilitate continued good cooperation between them.
"Please rest assured, Secretary Xia. I will position myself correctly and work with Comrade Dejian to carry out all current tasks. I will follow Secretary Xia's requirements, combine them with Nantang's actual conditions, and actively explore development paths suitable for Nantang. Under the unified leadership of the County Party Committee, I will strive to do a better job in Nantang."
Shen Zili's measured response was as expected by Xia Lixing. As a dispatched cadre, he had not been in the position of Deputy County Magistrate for long, and his sudden promotion to County Magistrate left people like Qin Haiji and Cao Gang, who had been waiting for years, feeling resentful. If Shen Zili could maintain a low profile and achieve some tangible results, he might find the position of County Magistrate less challenging. This was also a form of training. An Dejian would not stay in Nantang for long, and whether Shen Zili could establish a foothold or even take control during An Dejian's tenure would depend on his own abilities.
When Lu Weimin heard that Wang Zirong was appointed as the Party Secretary of Huai County and Shen Zili as the acting County Magistrate of Nantang, he knew that the butterfly effect he had hoped for in the kiwifruit project had finally caused a historical shift, giving him a sense of satisfaction.
While Zhen Jingcai's escape from danger only affected his relationship with Zhen Ni, Shen Zili's change in status could have a profound impact on his own future, provided he continued to pursue a career in politics as he had in his previous life.
The changes came quickly. The next day, Deputy Minister Gao Yingcheng of the Regional Organization Department, representing the Regional Party Committee, announced the changes in the Nantang leadership: Wang Zirong was appointed as the Party Secretary of Huai County, Shen Zili as the acting County Magistrate, and the former Deputy County Magistrate Cao Gang as the Deputy Secretary and Executive Deputy County Magistrate. Perhaps the only one who felt disappointed was Deputy Secretary Qin Haiji, but there was no visible change in his demeanor.
Shen Zili's sudden promotion disrupted many people's plans and left many in a state of confusion. No one had expected that Shen Zili, who was supposed to return to the provincial capital in just a few months, would be appointed as the acting County Magistrate. This completely overturned people's conventional thinking. A dispatched cadre was actually staying to take on a substantive position, and his organizational relationship was being officially transferred, which meant that Shen Zili was settling down in Nantang.
At least from Lu Weimin's perspective, the changes were evident. The attitudes of other county leaders' secretaries towards him had shifted from indifferent to slightly more friendly. Wei Peng's gaze towards him had become more meaningful. The Party Secretary and Mayor of Weizhuang Township, his hometown, had started to visit his office more often. Even the leaders of the Commerce Bureau and Agriculture Bureau, who had not paid much attention to him before, now smiled and nodded when they saw him. Xu Xiaochun's gaze towards him was more approving.
The subtle changes in facial expressions were rich in meaning, and the complex emotions they conveyed could only be truly understood by those who experienced them. If you took the time to reflect, you would find that these changes were deeply rooted in the intricate social dynamics of Chinese society.
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