In officialdom: After she left, I rose rapidly through the ranks!

Afterwards, Chen Jingcheng went directly to County Chief Li's office. After entering the room, Chen Jingcheng said with a smile, "County Chief, it's 9:25. We have to go to a meeting in five minutes."

"I have re-verified the data, and there are no more typos, but we cannot obtain the specific and accurate data at the moment."

County Magistrate Li Feitu's gaze towards Chen Jingcheng appears perfectly normal, but in his heart, he already harbors suspicions and doubts about Chen Jingcheng's background.

Chen Jingcheng looks remarkably like the important figure he knows.

He looks exactly like that important person when he was young.

Furthermore, the fact that the important figure had indeed lost or misplaced a child, and that Chen Jingcheng's age matched, made Li Feitu think even more deeply about the matter.

If he had only been taking care of Chen Jingcheng before because of his sister's request, now he had many more reasons for it.

Therefore, his most important task now is to find out Chen Jingcheng's background, which is extremely important for him and his family.

If Chen Jingcheng really does have a connection with that important figure, that would be fantastic news.

Regardless of the outcome, he must take extra care of Chen Jingcheng until the results are in.

Besides, he genuinely liked this young man.

Pointing to the chair in front of him, County Magistrate Li said with a smile, "Come, Jingcheng, sit down."

"I understand about the data. What's your opinion?"

When County Chief Li asked him what he thought, Chen Jingcheng hesitated for a moment before deciding not to be too direct.

His thoughts are his own, but the problem is that he knows very well that what he thinks may not be correct.

What he saw, knew, and even imagined was not as real as what County Magistrate Li experienced firsthand.

He couldn't truly understand County Magistrate Li's situation, nor could he empathize with County Magistrate Li's concerns and considerations.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Jingcheng finally spoke up: "County Magistrate, based on what I just learned, this isn't the first or second time this has happened."

"I think that no matter how many reasons the people below have, they cannot be considered valid reasons."

"You are the county head, the main person in charge of the Linchuan County government. The heads of the directly affiliated units are all your subordinates and the main persons in charge of the constituent departments of the Linchuan County government. Their behavior is somewhat irresponsible."

Is that somewhat irresponsible?

Chen Jingcheng had already been quite tactful in his words.

To put it bluntly, they didn't take Li Feitu seriously. This was a practical way of telling Li Feitu that if they gave him face, they would; if they didn't, so what?

They are Secretary Zhao's men; if you want to touch them, you need Secretary Zhao's permission.

Secretary Zhao clearly has a problem with County Chief Li. Under these circumstances, it is unknown how long County Chief Li can stay in Linchuan County. Is it necessary for them to risk offending Secretary Zhao to please County Chief Li?

It's human nature, and it's understandable.

However, if they don't even bother with the superficial formalities, that's going a bit too far.

After all, Li Feitu is still the county magistrate of Linchuan County and the main person in charge of the county government. He has not been transferred or dismissed.

County Magistrate Li picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea, seemingly not caring much.

"Secretary Zhao has a problem with me, not only because my presence replaced his ideal candidate for county magistrate, but also because I didn't give him much face when I was working in the province."

"There's nothing I can do about it. There are so many counties in a province. I can't possibly know everyone, and I can't possibly agree to help everyone who comes to me."

"Linchuan County ranked at the bottom in the province for a certain indicator, or rather several tasks. As a result, Secretary Zhao was interviewed by the provincial leaders in charge and the provincial department. As a result, he was delayed because he could have been promoted to deputy director two years earlier."

"So, Secretary Zhao has a problem with me, and a very big one at that."

County Magistrate Li's words left Chen Jingcheng dumbfounded; he hadn't expected such a thing to exist.

Because County Chief Li was incorruptible and showed no leniency, Secretary Zhao was summoned for a talk by the provincial authorities, which resulted in the postponement of his potential promotion to deputy director level. It's truly baffling what to say about this situation.

As the saying goes, cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.

In officialdom, cutting off someone's path to advancement has far more serious consequences, leaving behind deep-seated hatred and resentment.

County Magistrate Li didn't take it seriously, smiling and shaking his head, saying, "Linchuan County is nominally in charge, and I'm not entirely unreasonable, but what about the people of Linchuan County?"

"Linchuan County has been lagging behind for more than just a year or two, so what is our Secretary Zhao doing?"

"Therefore, I did not intend to make an exception at the time, and even refused quite firmly, and reported my opinion directly to the provincial leaders."

"At the time, Secretary Zhao intended to be promoted directly to vice mayor, but because of this incident, he stayed in Linchuan County and was not promoted to deputy director level."

"The other person who replaced Secretary Zhao is now a member of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee, so it would be a lie to say that Secretary Zhao isn't angry."

Chen Jingcheng really didn't know what to say.

Seeing that he had lost the position of vice mayor and even a member of the municipal party committee, which should have been his, Secretary Zhao could not help but be annoyed if Li Feitu did not come. But if he did come, it would be strange if Secretary Zhao could not tolerate it.

Chen Jingcheng put himself in his shoes and thought about it. Even if he were in that situation, he probably wouldn't have given her a friendly look either.

However, Chen Jingcheng was not Secretary Zhao's man; he was Li Feitu's secretary. He knew perfectly well whose side he should be on.

Besides, he didn't think Li Feitu had done anything wrong.

In their brief interactions, he couldn't claim to know Li Feitu very well. However, even in that short time, he could tell that Li Feitu wasn't an unapproachable person. But the fact that he directly rejected Secretary Zhao and showed him no respect clearly indicated that Li Feitu genuinely felt that Linchuan County needed to change.

"County Magistrate, so, what do you plan to do?"

Chen Jingcheng did not express his opinion, nor was he qualified to express any opinion at this time.

Why not just ask directly what Li Feitu plans to do?

So they just had to endure Secretary Zhao's suppression like this?

Or should we try to resolve the conflict?

Upon hearing this, Li Feitu remained silent for a moment, then, holding the documents in his hand, said calmly, "I've been in Linchuan County for over a month."

"In the meantime, I tried to talk to Secretary Zhao more than once to resolve the misunderstanding or grievances from back then."

"But unfortunately, Secretary Zhao doesn't seem to have any intention of reconciliation."

"I can endure it for the sake of my job and for the good development of Linchuan County, but now I feel that there is no point in continuing to endure it."

"Besides making him and many other people think I'm weak and easy to bully, it doesn't do me any good at work."

"I came to Linchuan County so that these 800,000 people could live a better life. If it really benefits these 800,000 people, I don't mind suffering some grievances."

"But now, they don't do anything, and they don't let me do anything either. They hinder me at every turn, and they give me all sorts of perfunctory and evasive answers. They don't respect me, the county magistrate of Linchuan County."

"Since that's the case, then I think I don't need to endure it any longer."

"It's not that I'm trying to prove a point, but Linchuan County has reached a point where change is imperative!"

"Everyone, from top to bottom, especially those working within the system, must change!"

"This matter is of utmost urgency; let's begin today!"

As he spoke, Li Feitu slammed the documents onto the table, pointed at them, and uttered a sound like a lion awakening from its slumber.

"Let's start with this!"