Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

The next day, an enlarged meeting of the county party committee was held.

This is the highest-level meeting in Qingyun County, and all cadres at or above the deputy section chief level in the county must attend.

Liu Ming, as a staff member of the county party committee office, was not originally qualified to attend. However, in order to "keep an eye on" him, Jia Zhengzhi specially arranged for him to be placed at the back of the meeting room, responsible for serving tea and water and distributing documents.

This is a silent humiliation.

The meeting room was packed with people, exuding an air of officialdom. Acquaintances among the officials gathered in small groups, conversing in hushed tones, creating a complex atmosphere in the air.

Liu Ming ignored this, sitting quietly in the corner like an outsider, coldly observing this game of power.

"Comrades, quiet down."

With a dry cough from the deputy secretary of the county party committee, the noisy meeting room instantly fell silent.

All eyes turned to the podium.

"Before we begin today, let me introduce a new colleague to everyone." The deputy secretary, with a formulaic smile, pointed to a seat at the very end of the stage. "Starting today, Comrade Xi Wanqing, dispatched from Beijing, will serve as the acting deputy county head of Qingyun County, in charge of education, culture, health, and investment promotion. Let's give her a round of applause!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than a figure stood up from his seat.

The moment they saw that figure, every male cadre in the entire meeting hall felt their breath catch in their throat.

So beautiful.

It was a beauty that defied description.

A well-tailored women's blazer accentuated her shapely figure. Her long, jet-black hair was simply tied back, revealing her smooth, full forehead and swan-like, slender neck.

Her features were so exquisite that they seemed to be God's most perfect masterpiece, especially her eyes, which were as clear and cold as autumn water and as deep as a cold pool, as if they could see through people's hearts.

She possessed no allure whatsoever; instead, she exuded a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay, like an ice sculpture standing atop a snow-capped mountain—pure, noble, and unattainable.

She is Xi Wanqing.

Sparse applause rang out in the hall, but it was mixed with a variety of complex emotions.

There was amazement, jealousy, and even... rejection.

From the capital?

A deputy county head on temporary assignment?

The job is still in charge of education, culture, health, and investment promotion – the "lucrative positions" where it's easiest to achieve results.

Everyone knew perfectly well that this was just another "superstar" sent down to gain experience. After a year or two, he'd be promoted without a second thought, completely different from the local cadres struggling at the grassroots level.

Li Yuankui sat in the center of the stage, looking at Xi Wanqing expressionlessly, but a faint, almost imperceptible, sinister glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

What he hates most are these "paratroopers" who are beyond his control.

Xi Wanqing seemed to sense the subtle atmosphere in the hall, but her beautiful face remained expressionless. She simply nodded slightly to the audience before sitting down again, her back ramrod straight, like a pine tree braving the cold wind.

The meeting has officially begun.

The first topic is the report on the county's economic data for the previous quarter.

Jia Zhengzhi, director of the county party committee office, personally took a stack of documents and began distributing them.

With a beaming smile, he handed documents to each of the leaders on the podium, and when he passed Li Yuankui, he even nodded obsequiously.

But when he walked up to Xi Wanqing, he seemed to suddenly go blind and walked right past her as if she didn't exist.

Xi Wanqing's desk was completely empty.

Everyone in the venue witnessed this scene.

This is a show of force!

This was the most direct and blatant humiliation and exclusion of the newly arrived "parachuted" officer by Li Yuankui's faction.

They wanted to tell Xi Wanqing that in Qingyun County, even if you are a phoenix from the capital, you still have to be careful here.

Everyone was eager to see how this icy beauty would respond.

Would they immediately erupt in anger and slam their fists on the table?

Or will they still swallow their anger and compromise?

However, Xi Wanqing's reaction once again surprised everyone.

She showed no anger, no resentment, and didn't even furrow her brow. She just sat there quietly, as if she weren't the one being isolated. That composure and calmness made many who were waiting to see her fail feel a pang of shame.

Li Yuankui's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

This woman is no ordinary person.

Just then, a figure stood up from the very back corner of the venue.

It's Liu Ming.

He picked up an extra document from the table and, amidst everyone's astonished gazes, walked steadily step by step toward the podium.

Jia Zhengzhi saw this, his face darkened, and he wanted to reprimand him, but he swallowed the words back. He wanted to see what this reckless brat was up to.

Ignoring everyone's gaze, Liu Ming walked straight to Xi Wanqing's side, bent down slightly, and gently placed the document in her hand in front of her.

"County Chief Xi, your documents." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the quiet meeting room.

The moment the document was placed down, their fingertips accidentally and lightly touched.

Liu Ming felt that the other person's fingertips were icy cold, like the finest jade.

However, Xi Wanqing's body stiffened almost imperceptibly the moment she was touched.

A familiar feeling, like an electric current, instantly spread throughout her body.

She abruptly raised her head, and for the first time, her usually cool eyes flickered with intense emotion. She stared intently at the ordinary yet angular face before her, as if trying to discern something from it.

This face is unfamiliar.

But this back view...

This is the figure who resolutely walked towards her when everyone else hesitated to step forward...

Why does it feel so familiar?

It was just like the same proud and resolute figure who had saved her from several armed thugs in the snow three years ago on a foreign street, without leaving his name!

is it you?

Xi Wanqing's heart was in turmoil.

Liu Ming was completely unaware of the turmoil in her eyes. After putting down the documents, he nodded and turned to leave.

Throughout the entire process, he remained indifferent, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

But to others, this was no less than dropping an atomic bomb on a calm lake!

crazy!

This Liu Ming is absolutely insane!

He just pushed the Party Secretary's son into a soup pot yesterday, and today, in front of all the county's cadres, he openly tried to "please" the Party Secretary's thorn in his side.

What is he doing?

Is he declaring war on Secretary Li?

Jia Zhengzhi was so angry that he was trembling all over. He felt that Liu Ming was not helping Xi Wanqing at all, but was slapping him, the office director, in the face!

Li Yuankui's face was so dark it was almost dripping with gloom. He stared at Liu Ming's retreating figure, his eyes revealing genuine killing intent for the first time.

This kid can't be allowed to live!

The meeting continued in an extremely strange atmosphere, but few people were paying attention to what was being said afterward.

Everyone's thoughts were swirling around Liu Ming and Xi Wanqing.

An hour later, the meeting ended.

Everyone got up and left, avoiding Liu Ming as if she were a plague carrier.

Liu Ming tidied up the teacups on the table, preparing to leave.

"Excuse me, comrade, please wait a moment."

A clear, cold, and penetrating voice came from behind him.

Liu Ming turned around.

He noticed that Xi Wanqing had already walked up to him.

She stood there quietly, looking at him. In her eyes, which were like a cold pool, there was a complex mix of emotions: inquiry, doubt, and a hint of expectation that she herself did not even realize.

The remaining people in the venue wisely quickened their pace, not daring to linger.

Soon, the huge venue was empty except for the two of them.

"What's your name?" Xi Wanqing asked.

"Liu Ming".

"Which 'ming'? The 'ming' in tea?"

"Yes."

Xi Wanqing was silent for a few seconds, seemingly organizing her thoughts.

"Thank you for earlier."

"It was nothing," Liu Ming replied simply.

Looking at his calm and composed demeanor, Xi Wanqing's doubts deepened.

She took a deep breath, as if making a momentous decision, and looked directly into Liu Ming's eyes with her cool, clear gaze, saying each word slowly and deliberately:

Come to my office.