His wife Zhao Huizhu got a green card in the United States, and she didn't want to return to China, He Jiaguo has become a happy bachelor in the past three years, never cooks, either eats, or eats, and has a reserved program: eating instant noodles. At noon, on behalf of Xiajiang, he entertained Secretary Lu of the Qinghu Municipal Party Committee, which was regarded as eating the invitation of the state, and in the evening, he wanted to invite Xu Xiaoke to Maxim for a Western meal. Xu Xiaoke didn't appreciate it, and joked, my eldest young master, Mayor He, you can save your Western food, we pig brains are receiving international friends from Russia and Ukraine, Mayor Qian personally presided, I can't leave and don't dare to go. Helpless, He Jiaguo had to stage a reserved program, and soaked a bowl of "Master Kong" with boiling water, which was considered dinner.

After eating "Master Kong", after watching "News Network" and "Focus Interview", He Jiaguo went to Li Dongfang's house again to "worry about the country and the people". When he arrived at Li's house, Li Dongfang had not returned. In the living room of the Li family, only Li Dongfang's wife Ai Hongyan sat on the sofa with the TV on and dozed off, and the food cooked on the table seemed to be cold.

In the past few months, He Jiaguo often came to Li's house to worry about the country and the people, and he and Ai Hongyan were like a family, and they didn't stop when they talked, and they said when they entered the door: "Mrs. Sister-in-law, what time is this?" Are you still waiting for the chief? Let's eat, the chief still doesn't know where to spend his time drinking! ”

Ai Hongyan said: "Boss He, do you think we are like you in the East?" Spend all day drinking?! ”

He Jiaguo sat down on the sofa: "Sister-in-law, how many times have I reminded you?" Don't call Boss He anymore, the impact is not good! I'm going to be an assistant to the mayor soon, and I'm going to take office today! ”

Ai Hongyan was happy: "The province really approved it?" So, you're here to officially shoot a regular sycophant today? ”

He Jiaguo picked up the newspaper on the coffee table and flipped through it, and said, "I don't know if the province has approved it or not, anyway, I have begun to worry about the country today, do you know?" I almost saved the revolution and the party! ”

Ai Hongyan said: "Hey, Xiaohe, don't just save the revolution, you also care about your sister-in-law!" ”

He Jiaguo smiled: "Sister-in-law, do you still want me to care?" It's not enough for the secretary of the municipal party committee to care about you ”

Ai Hongyan complained: "What does he care about me? I suffered a lumbar muscle strain four years ago, and I wanted him to help me change jobs, but he was good and didn't pay attention to it! I'm almost 50 years old, can I always be a nurse in a hospital? ”

He Jiaguo said: "Mrs. Sister-in-law, you are too modest, you have lost a 'long', the head nurse." ”

Ai Hongyan sighed: "Don't be long, the older you get, the older you get, after you become an official, help me change jobs!" ”

He Jiaguo was serious: "Mrs. Sister-in-law, don't be funny, what this chief can't do, I can't do it!" ”

Ai Hongyan said angrily: "You comrade, you can't make sycophants, you do it, what can he say?!" ”

He Jiaguo became more and more serious: "Mrs. Sister-in-law, just joking, you don't want to think about it, even if I want to do it for you, who will listen to me?" Besides, since Secretary Li doesn't agree, there is always a reason for him......"

Ai Hongyan was unhappy: "Okay, okay, I didn't say that!" Xiaohe, you are a person, I can see through it, as long as you get into the officialdom, you are no different from the gang of fart worms under Dongfang, except for blowing, it is shooting! ”

Seeing that the atmosphere was a little stiff, He Jiaguo waved the "Xiajiang Daily" in his hand, and joked again: "Mrs. Sister-in-law, it's not me who blows, it's our newspaper that is always blowing, this bragging has formed a big climate-" read the newspaper in a pinched tone, "...... In the first quarter, the city's economic situation improved markedly, and the total output value of industry and agriculture increased by 2.97 percentage points compared with the same period last year. The consumer market is starting to kick in, and the price index is steadily rising compared to the same period last year......"

Ai Hongyan said angrily: "Don't read it, don't read it, it's still 'steady and rising' - it's a fart, so many units can't pay wages, there are more salespeople than customers in various big shopping malls, I don't think even living people can be sold!" ”

He Jiaguo waved his hand: "Who said that living people can't be sold?" The business of the 50,000 Yellow Women's Army in Xiajiang City is very good! ”

Ai Hongyan said: "You haven't said human trafficking? It's all evil, and the common people are scolding on the bus! ”

He Jiaguo smiled: "Mrs. Sister-in-law, you should say more to the chief, let him keep a clear head!" ”

Ai Hongyan's eyelids rolled: "Do you think I won't say it?" Of course, I have to say what I have to say, and it's his business whether to listen or not. The day before yesterday, I said to Dongfang, you bureaucrats just deceive you layer by layer, deceive us people without confidence, and you will have a better life up and down......"

Speaking of which, Li Dongfang came back, and when he entered the door, he criticized Ai Hongyan and said, "What is it to deceive? Who's cheating? What are you talking nonsense all day long, comrade? Yes? Don't pay attention to the impact at all! Don't think I'm annoyed enough?! ”

He Jiaguo hurriedly played a round for Ai Hongyan: "Hey, chief, what are you angry about, we just expressed some personal opinions on the economic growth data just released in the newspaper, what?" Guangxing you blow above, don't Xing us comment below? ”

Li Dongfang's face looked better: "I can reveal to you: the data published in the newspaper was still forced down by me, and the growth rate reported below was close to five points, and I wiped out two points with a stroke of the pen." After sitting down at the dining table, he sighed, "Talking about political achievements, bragging about being promoted, this level is not for you to brag hard!" ”

He Jiaguo said: "Fortunately, your chief is not confused, you have to make another addition, and the growth rate will be even more outrageous." ”

Li Dongfang didn't talk about this topic anymore, took Ai Hongyan's good meal, ate it in a big gulp, and said: "Jiaguo, you came just in time, if you don't come, I will go to you: you will withdraw from Huamei International Investment Company tomorrow, get rid of all relations with the company, get ready, go to the city to find money and report to the mayor, the provincial document has come down." ”

He Jiaguo said: "I know that Minister Lin Zhiquan has already spoken to me on behalf of the provincial party committee this morning. Then he asked, "Chief, am I really going to be Mayor Qian's assistant?" Follow this cowhide basket and get on the road? ”

Li Dongfang knocked on the table: "He Jiaguo, let me remind you: from now on, your identity is different, and you must pay attention to what you say and do!" What kraft basket? This word reached Mayor Qian, don't do it, you, the mayor's assistant! ”

He Jiaguo also sat down at the table: "I really don't want to do it with Mayor Qian, I want to do it with you." ”

Li Dongfang said: "There is no such position as the assistant secretary of the municipal party committee, so you can make do with it!" ”

He Jiaguo said: "Chief, we have to make this clear: if you want to make do, don't look for me, if I want to do it, I have to be serious, and I have to think about the dead game of Xiajiang!" Your chief knows best what the current situation of the Xiajiang River is. I think the whole mess is in one sentence, and it is difficult to return! When Zhong Mingren was the secretary, he pulled down the pile of in the International Industrial Park, which has been stinky to this day; When my father-in-law, Zhao Qigong, was the secretary, he pulled down a pile of in the Xiajiang New Area, not to mention 30 billion yuan, and also made a big case of public funds being evaded! It is said that what are these political achievements......"

Li Dongfang's already troubled heart was even more disturbed, and the bowl was put down heavily: "Comrade Jiaguo, don't say it, the more you talk about it, the more you don't talk about it!" How did Secretary Zhong and Governor Zhao do in Xiajiang, history and the people have their own evaluations, so you don't need to talk nonsense here! To put it mildly, your He Jiaguo is not qualified yet! ”

He Jiaguo was silent - he really did not have this qualification, and the history of the Xiajiang reform was written by others.

Li Dongfang also talked about the history of Xiajiang's reform, and his tone calmed down a little: "Jiaguo, you don't have a hard time seeing people carry the burden!" Who had the experience when they went to the international industrial park fifteen years ago? Who knew the pollution would be so bad? Not to mention our backward inland areas, even the developed coastal areas have made this mistake of sacrificing the environment to develop the economy! The new area also has to be seen historically, when the real estate in the country was so hot, who didn't want to attract funds? It is great that we can attract 30 billion yuan from Xiajiang, and it is a success! As for the later loss of control, it's another matter. ”

He Jiaguo was unconvinced, but he was smiling: "So, the reform situation in our Xiajiang is very good, and my father-in-law also enlightened me like this morning, you really deserve to be an old partner, so coincidental!" ”

Li Dongfang ate again: "It should be said that the situation is very good, and there are many problems!" As far as the present situation is concerned, there are many unsatisfactory points, but this does not affect our overall evaluation of the achievements of reform and opening up. You were born in this city, you are the mayor of this city, I ask you to recall, before the reform and opening up, what was this city like? What does it look like now? Without the unremitting efforts of Secretary Zhong, Governor Zhao and the cadres and masses of the city, would we be able to have today? As a Xiajiang person, shouldn't you be a little grateful? ”

He Jiaguo became impassioned again: "Secretary Li, what do you want me to be grateful for?" The times are progressing, China is rising, Secretary Zhong, Governor Zhao, including you, Secretary Li and I, Assistant He in the future, no matter what contribution they have made to the development of Xiajiang, they are all their duty and should be! If we don't work hard in a down-to-earth manner and behave well in front of the people, how can the people feed us? Someday you're going to tell us to fuck off! ”

Ai Hongyan sat on the opposite side and looked at He Jiaguo with appreciative eyes: "Xiao He's not bad at all!" ”

Li Dongfang waved his hand: "It's hard to talk about big things, He Jiaguo, please don't make these noble declarations yet, I want to see what you can do!" Don't wait until one day, Mayor Qian and I will scold you first! ”

He Jiaguo joked: "Chief, don't wait for me to get out of the way in the future, it's too late to regret it now!" ”

Li Dongfang said: "I won't regret it, I hope you don't regret it either, if after three years as the mayor's assistant, you can still maintain today's sharpness, and you can be so impassioned, I will definitely reward you well, talk counts!" ”

After eating, the two sat on the sofa and drank tea, as usual, and officially began to "worry about the country and the people".

He Jiaguo was worried about Times Avenue and said, "Chief, I don't know if you have heard some words?" Now everyone is rumoring, saying that you, a good old man, have survived in the end, become the leader of our Xiajiang City, and want to enter the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, and you need political achievements very much. ”

Li Dongfang listened very unpleasantly, because it was to He Jiaguo, not Zhao Qigong or Qian Fanxing, so he didn't hide his joy and anger much: "Hey, I said, are you talking like an assistant to the mayor and a secretary of the municipal party committee?" Talking about Times Avenue is talking about Times Avenue, what take off your pants? What? Also a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee? Who is going to be a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee! ”

He Jiaguo said: "Hey, this is not what I said, it is the reflection of the comrades below, don't you say that you want to listen to the truth!" ”

Ai Hongyan was cleaning up the dishes and chopsticks on the dining table, and also plugged in and said: "Dongfang, Xiaohe is right, someone said so!" What's worse than this is that scolding you and Mayor Qian only needs to be faced, don't have ass, and don't care about the lives of the people at all! A mine manager in the Coal Bureau who was injured and hospitalized told me, don't lose your political achievements, and then make an official to force the people to rebel! ”

Li Dongfang was stunned: "Is this mine manager a member of the Communist Party?" How can the speech be so irresponsible! ”

He Jiaguo said: "Secretary Li, this is a bit intense, but does it also make people sober-minded?" ”

Ai Hongyan also said: "Dongfang, don't be angry, I'll tell you something I heard in the hospital: do you know?" Today, the news came again, saying that Tian Zhuangda of the Municipal Investment Company was captured from abroad, and he confessed as soon as he got off the plane at Xiajiang Airport, and he gave you hundreds of thousands, millions of dollars, and the provincial party committee and the central government have already issued a message to arrest people! ”

Li Dongfang was annoyed in his heart, but his face was not revealed, his hands were spread, and he said to He Jiaguo with a wry smile: "Did you hear that?" Yes? This is the reality I have to face every day, and I'm afraid you'll have to face it often in the future! According to rumors, I have been arrested at least eight times out of ten times in the past few years! patted He Jiaguo on the shoulder, and said in the tone of the leader and brother, "Jiaguo, don't blame me for being verbose, after taking office, you must disassociate yourself from Xichuan University and the original company, don't go, you have to fight on this, no one can save you, first of all, I have to do business!" ”

He Jiaguo said: "Secretary Li, please believe that my character is good, since I have agreed to be the mayor's assistant, I will be fully mentally prepared, and I will be able to stand the test both in work and morality!" From now on, I will not say what I should not say, I will not do what I should not do, and you and the comrades of the Xiajiang Municipal Party Committee will see a standard image of leading cadres. ”

Li Dongfang nodded first, and then shook his head: "My family and country, it's good to be mentally prepared and strict with yourself." However, what I want to see is not the image of a standard cadre, there are many standard cadres in this kind of computer, and there is no shortage of you. I hope to see a cadre who has both a scientific spirit and an eclectic approach, and who can get things done under intricate circumstances! A cadre with a spirit of struggle and dedication! As long as you stress principles and do good things for the people with your conscience, you will be out of line, and I and the Xiajiang City Party Committee will not pursue it. ”

He Jiaguo was happy: "A word is a certainty, chief, then you and the Xiajiang Municipal Party Committee will boldly delegate power!" ”

Li Dongfang glanced at He Jiaguo meaningfully: "However, you young man should also learn to be smart, don't go around pulling my broken flag, don't get some things in front of me, and don't force the municipal party committee to express its position, do you understand what this means?" ”

The He family will be satisfied, and said with a smile: "How smart am I, He? Still don't understand this? I'll take care of the trouble, and I won't embarrass you! If necessary, you can also slash the horse with tears, borrow my head to sacrifice the flag, and appease the anger of the official! ”

Li Dongfang smiled with relief, tears flashing in his eyes: "That's good, that's good!" Jiaguo, when the time comes to really borrow your head to calm the anger of the official, I may borrow it! Don't feel aggrieved, for the sake of the people, I won't back down when it's time to fill in my Li Dongfang! I've thought about it for a long time! ”

He Jiaguo was excited, and he took the case: "Secretary Li, what you said is so happy, it's so happy!" It's been three years, and it's the most spleen-friendly word I've ever heard from your mouth! Secretary Li, what do you say? I'll listen to your arrangement! ”

Li Dongfang subconsciously responded with "good, good", but he didn't speak, he sat down on the sofa with a tired and tired look, his two hands were tightly twisted together, and he fell into deep thought, the corners of his eyes full of crow's feet were wet, and the two sword eyebrows were almost upside down.

He Jiaguo sat down beside Li Dongfang: "Secretary Li, why don't you speak?" Are you hesitating again? ”

Li Dongfang let out a long breath, let go of the tightly twisted hands, forced his eyes to look at He Jiaguo, and said with a heavy heart: "Jiaguo, have you thought about it?" Maybe...... Maybe I'm pushing you into the fire pit today......"

He Jiaguo smiled: "Secretary Li, you are already in the fire pit, I should jump down to help you!" ”

Li Dongfang's spirit was obviously lifted, and then he explained: "Okay then! My family and country, after taking office, I will first run down and help me solve some problems that need to be solved urgently but have not been solved as soon as possible. I suggest you start with Hongfeng Mall and International Industrial Park. In addition, you should also try to take the time to participate in the new round of argumentation of Times Avenue, show the spirit of seeking truth from facts, and give me a few shots, don't care who he is! ”

He Jiaguo nodded in response, and immediately realized: Xiajiang's game of dead chess may have reached the point where a group of party members and cadres are staking their lives! With the steadiness of the secretary of the municipal party committee, who was born in a commoner, and the temperament of bearing the burden of humiliation, he would never talk to him like this unless he had to, and he would never use a cadre like him who was full of monkey nature and was very restless. Based on his understanding of Li Dongfang, this judgment will not be wrong nine times out of ten. In the face of Xiajiang, a mess that is outside the gold and jade and ruined inside, the secretary of the municipal party committee may have to fight hard regardless of life and death.

For a time, a sense of tragedy arose. He Jiaguo really wanted to say to Li Dongfang: Secretary Li, this time, I, He Jiaguo, will accompany you to bet on your life! No matter whether there is a ** array or an abyss in front of you, I will rush forward with you without hesitation,—— this is very familiar, as if who said it? Oh, by the way, Premier Zhu said it to the people of the whole country on television. He Jiaguo is not the prime minister of a country, but just an assistant to the mayor of a provincial capital city in central and western China who has just been hired to power.

That night, when he shook hands with Li Dongfang, He Jiaguo only said: "Secretary Li, take care!" ”

Li Dongfang took He Jiaguo's hand and said: "You can do it yourself, don't let me and my comrades down!" ”