Chapter 93: The Old Leader Sets the Tone

“Old Leader, I need to admit a mistake to you first.”

Whatever happened, he had to take the blame himself and shoulder the matter at once.

He had just spoken with Yin Tiejun and learned the truth of the conflict between Yang Dong and Su Muyun, and only then did he understand.

In truth, it was hardly even a real matter at all. It was only that Yang Dong was too stubborn, and Su Muyun too cold.

Two people who should never have crossed paths had been drawn together because of Yin Tiejun’s case.

The fault was certainly not Yang Dong’s. He had been doing everything he could to clear Yin Tiejun’s name.

So this mistake had to be taken on by him.

That way, Yang Dong would be protected, and the Old Leader would also understand the full chain of events.

“Mushan, I know that girl Muyun. She’s cool by nature, but she has no wicked heart. If she did something wrong, don’t be too hard on her just because you’re her brother.”

The Old Leader’s words made Guan Mushan hurry to explain, “No, no, Old Leader, you’ve misunderstood. Miss Muyun has no problem.”

“The thing is like this, Old Leader.”

“Tiejun’s case, you know about it.”

“Some time ago, didn’t Tiejun have a young comrade from the city government office call you to report the matter? He left Miss Muyun’s number.”

“This young comrade took a huge risk to pass the message for Tiejun.”

“The first time he called, there was no problem.”

“It was only the second time that the young comrade felt Miss Muyun was a little too lofty, as if she didn’t take him seriously at all. That young man was also quite obstinate, quite stubborn.”

“But I still admire that stubbornness of his. Otherwise he wouldn’t have dared to report the matter for Tiejun, would he?”

“Miss Muyun’s temperament, the few of us understand, but this young comrade did not, after all.”

“Not understanding it is no fault of his.”

“This wasn’t the young comrade’s mistake. At the banquet, Chonghu was also trying to preserve Miss Muyun’s dignity and wanted the young comrade to apologize.”

“The young man was already aggrieved. He had gone all out to help clear Tiejun’s name, and had even helped our city discipline commission investigate the case. After being treated so unfairly, how could he possibly agree?”

“That’s all there is to it. Nothing serious, Old Leader, and it really doesn’t require your intervention.”

Guan Mushan spoke slowly, laying out the entire sequence of events from beginning to end. His report was sincere and true, with neither exaggeration nor embellishment.

“Oh, so that’s what happened.”

“What is that young comrade’s name?”

The Old Leader laughed on the other end of the line.

Hearing him laugh, Guan Mushan finally relaxed. The matter had passed.

It could not become a thorn in the Old Leader’s heart. After all, the Old Leader felt he owed Su Muyun, and now treated that only daughter like a priceless treasure.

If Yang Dong were truly wronged because of private feelings, that would become a lifelong matter.

It was easy enough for a county leader to remove a small-level cadre, let alone a provincial leader, and one who was a member of the provincial standing committee and secretary of the provincial discipline commission at that.

“The young comrade’s surname is Yang, given name Dong. Yang Dong, from the comprehensive office of the city government.”

“Oh, I have some recollection. Is he the Yang Dong I asked you to arrange, the one you put into the municipal discipline commission investigation team?”

“Yes, yes, Old Leader. Your memory is truly remarkable.”

Guan Mushan was completely at ease now.

“Then how is Tiejun?”

The Old Leader changed the subject and asked about his former secretary, Yin Tiejun.

“Please rest assured, Old Leader. Tiejun is fine now. Tomorrow the municipal party committee will hold a standing committee meeting, and at the end of the session they will discuss Tiejun’s situation. I will personally go to the city government and restore his reputation.”

Guan Mushan answered at once, not daring to show the slightest neglect.

Speaking of how the Old Leader treated his three former secretaries, Guan Mushan, Wei Chonghu, and Yin Tiejun, it was actually Yin Tiejun whom he cherished the most.

First, there was the matter of age.

Yin Tiejun was only forty this year, fully young enough to be the Old Leader’s son, which was why the Old Leader cared for him so much.

Second, Yin Tiejun had stayed by the Old Leader’s side the longest. From 1999 to 2004, Yin Tiejun served as the Old Leader’s secretary, a full five years.

By contrast, Guan Mushan had served as secretary for only two and a half years, back when the Old Leader was still merely the secretary of the Lingyun City discipline commission, the very post he held today.

After Guan Mushan left, Wei Chonghu continued as the Old Leader’s secretary.

Even if the time Guan Mushan and Wei Chonghu had spent together was added up, it only barely matched Yin Tiejun’s tenure.

So it was easy to imagine how deep the Old Leader’s feelings for Yin Tiejun must have been.

“Mushan, to be honest, Tiejun’s case was hanging by a thread.”

At that moment, the Old Leader sighed and did not hide it from Guan Mushan.

He went on, “This time, someone in the province seized on Tiejun’s case and would not let go. I had no real confidence. Luckily, your Lingyun City discipline commission cleared Tiejun’s name, or else he would have been in grave danger.”

If Yang Dong had been there at that moment, he would have understood why Yin Tiejun’s previous life had been so miserable, why he had been sentenced to ten years in prison and left with no one to help him.

Because even his Old Leader was not all-powerful. In the province, even the Old Leader had his helplessness.

“So, Old Leader, to put it another way, we really ought to thank Comrade Yang Dong. Without him, we would all have been in a passive position.”

Guan Mushan cleverly steered the conversation back again.

“Mm, yes, he should be thanked. One should never forget the person who dug the well after drinking the water, nor the one who chopped the firewood before the meal.”

“Let this be done. When you have time, speak with Hou Yong and have him first resolve that young comrade’s deputy-section-level status. After that, let him continue his secondment in your city discipline commission.”

“Old Leader, Tiejun was planning to place Yang Dong by Mayor Hou’s side.”

Seeing the Old Leader make this arrangement, Guan Mushan could not help adding a word.

“Tiejun is still too honest. That boy is not suited to be a mayor’s secretary.”

“He’s too impetuous, too proud.”

“He’s better suited for our discipline inspection work. Let him hone himself in the discipline inspection system for two years first, and only then move into the administrative side. That would be more beneficial to his development.”

“The establishment can remain with the city government; move the person, not the post.”

Hearing this, Guan Mushan could not help but inwardly sigh.

What a fine opportunity to be a mayor’s secretary, and the Old Leader had killed it with a single sentence.

But Yang Dong could not be shortchanged.

If he could not be Mayor Hou’s secretary, then he could be the secretary of this municipal discipline commission secretary instead.

“Old Leader, I’ve been in Lingyun City for so many days already, and I still don’t have a secretary. I’ve looked through the discipline commission office over and over, but none of them satisfy me.”

Guan Mushan’s meaning was already very clear.

“That is your own affair. As for choosing a secretary, he must be both virtuous and capable. You decide for yourself.”

“It’s getting late. I still have to go down for field research tomorrow, so I’m going to sleep now, Mushan.”

“Do your work well in Lingyun City. Take another look at the old foundation I left behind there. See which of them have not yet retired. If any can still be brought into use, that would be best.”

After saying this last sentence, the Old Leader hung up.

Only then did Guan Mushan suddenly understand the Old Leader’s real intention.

He had not called to question him on Su Muyun’s behalf at all, nor merely to ask after Yin Tiejun. His true purpose was to have Guan Mushan arrange some of his former subordinates.

After all, the Old Leader had served as secretary of the Lingyun City discipline commission for more than two years, so he must have left behind a body of loyal men.

It was only that, as Gong Hong and later Lu Zheng successively took over as city discipline commission secretaries, that old foundation had never moved any further up.

Among that old group, the one who had done best was probably Xin Yao, the secretary of Kaoyang County discipline commission, already a deputy division-level county standing committee member.

What a mess this had become...

Guan Mushan put away his phone, steadied himself for a moment, then turned and returned to the office.

The eight people who had been drinking tea and chatting before immediately fell silent when they saw Guan Mushan return, their smiles fading as they stopped speaking.

The meeting atmosphere settled once more.

After Guan Mushan sat back down, he said in a deep voice, “Let Yang Dong continue as the leader of Group Ten. That’s settled. It’s late, everyone should go home and rest early.”

“Comrade Xin Yao has to hurry back to Kaoyang County tonight. It’s been hard on him. Remind the driver to pay attention to safety.”

“Meeting adjourned.”

Everyone looked blankly at one another, especially Wei Chonghu, who was even more stunned as he raised his head to look at Guan Mushan.

Hadn’t the two of them just agreed that Yang Dong would be temporarily removed from the municipal discipline commission investigation team for protective reasons?

How had things suddenly changed?

His mind turned. Could it have been because of that phone call?