Chapter 8: Transferred Back Again

“But now he’s gone, transferred without my knowledge. I feel that as the acting organization committee member, I am incompetent. It’s better to have a more capable comrade take over and ease Secretary Zhao’s burden,” Lin Xiyue said coldly.

Zhao Gang immediately furrowed his brows.

As a seasoned veteran in officialdom, he could easily detect the underlying message in Lin Xiyue’s words—she was clearly hinting at someone acting arbitrarily, transferring personnel without following proper organizational procedures.

“Secretary Lin, I truly wasn’t aware of this matter, nor did I arrange it. Since you oversee organizational affairs, I’ll look into the situation shortly and will definitely provide you with an explanation,” Zhao Gang said earnestly.

“Secretary Zhao, you’re mistaken. You are the secretary; there’s no need to explain to me. However, since this bypassed the organizational process and doesn’t comply with regulations, the transfer is invalid,” Lin Xiyue emphasized firmly.

Township administration was rather chaotic, especially in remote places like Fangshui Township, where leadership directives often outweighed formal rules. Yet Lin Xiyue’s invocation of organizational protocol clearly signaled her stance.

“I’ve already sent Xiao Sun to fetch him. Once he’s back, how to arrange things is entirely up to you, Secretary Zhao,” Lin Xiyue said without further ado and left Zhao Gang’s office.

As soon as she left, Zhao Gang’s expression darkened. He immediately called Sun Xiaolei to inquire about the situation.

After clarifying matters, Zhao Gang snorted coldly. “Li Haotian, you’ve overstepped far too much. You’re practically disregarding me.”

“Xiao Sun, Lu Hao was transferred here from the county, after all, and he’s a graduate from a prestigious 985 university. Once you bring him back, create a deputy director position in the Poverty Alleviation Office and appoint Lu Hao to it. Just say it’s my decision.”

Zhao Gang called Sun Xiaolei again to give these instructions.

The secretary controlled titles, while the township head managed finances. Usually, they tacitly avoided undermining each other.

But this time, Li Haotian, the township head, transferred Lu Hao without informing Zhao Gang, crossing his bottom line.

Zhao Gang’s move was a subtle rebuke to Li Haotian, telling him not to overreach and reminding him who was truly in charge.

As for the deputy director position in the Poverty Alleviation Office, it didn’t originally exist; it was created by the township itself. Adding one more was just a matter of Zhao Gang’s word, and he had no intention of offending the enigmatic Lin Xiyue over such a detail.

Meanwhile, at the township middle school.

Sun Xiaolei hung up the phone and hurriedly relayed Zhao Gang’s message to Lu Hao.

Upon hearing that the party secretary had intervened and was appointing him deputy director, Lu Hao, sensing advantage, agreed to return with Sun Xiaolei.

Soon, Lu Hao walked back into the Poverty Alleviation Office.

Everyone was busy at work; even Niu Dashan’s feet remained propped on the desk, his smoking posture unchanged.

Seeing Lu Hao return, everyone was stunned.

Niu Dashan’s expression stiffened; he snorted coldly, “Why are you back again? Get out of here!”

Lu Hao smiled but said nothing.

The next moment, Sun Xiaolei entered and said, “Niu Dashan, Lu Hao has already been transferred back to the Poverty Alleviation Office.”

“What? Transferred back? Who the hell authorized that? The township head personally ordered him transferred out. What right do you have to bring him back?” Niu Dashan slammed the desk, shouting.

“I have no authority, but Secretary Zhao does. If you have a problem, go bang your fists in Secretary Zhao’s office. Don’t act tough in front of me!” Sun Xiaolei retorted.

Niu Dashan had been a local thug who rose to village cadre by oppressing villagers.

Back when the system was more relaxed, he currying favor with the township head got himself into the township government.

Later, when the national poverty alleviation campaign began, Niu Dashan leveraged his ties with the township head to become deputy director of the Poverty Alleviation Office.

Backed by the township head, Niu Dashan was notoriously arrogant and domineering in the township government, and Sun Xiaolei had long disliked him.

Now that Zhao Gang personally intervened, Sun Xiaolei didn’t spare Niu Dashan any face.

Hearing that Zhao Gang was involved, Niu Dashan’s face flushed red, and he dared not retaliate.

“By the way, from now on, Lu Hao is also deputy director of the Poverty Alleviation Office,” Sun Xiaolei announced before leaving.

Everyone in the office was shocked.

“What? Him? Deputy director? Are you kidding me?” Niu Dashan reacted in disbelief.

“Whether I’m kidding or not, you’ll see the official documents soon enough.”

Sun Xiaolei was pleased with Niu Dashan’s reaction and walked out of the office proudly.

Niu Dashan’s face shifted between red and pale, looking worse than if he had eaten something foul.

“Deputy Director Niu, sorry to bother you again. I remember when I left, you said if I came back, you’d take my surname. When are you planning to change it to Lu Dashan?” Lu Hao said with a smile.

Niu Dashan was furious, his face crimson. He gritted his teeth, “You... just you wait.”

Then he strode outside.

Lu Hao’s return as deputy director, standing on equal footing with him, was a deep humiliation for Niu Dashan. He felt utterly disgraced, fearing how others at the office might mock him.

Sure enough, after Niu Dashan left, the people in the Poverty Alleviation Office burst into laughter.

“He’s probably going to find the township head now.”

“Definitely. Kids always run to their dad to complain when they get hit.”

The others felt relieved; evidently, Niu Dashan often bullied them.

At that moment, Song Bo also entered the office. Seeing Lu Hao, he immediately smiled brightly.

“Xiao Lu, since you’re back, dive right into the poverty alleviation work.”

“First, work seriously with your colleagues to organize the financial records and files. The office can’t do without you. I have high hopes for you.”

With Secretary Zhao personally involved in Lu Hao’s affairs, Song Bo naturally had to curry favor.

Though Lu Hao despised Song Bo’s insincerity, he politely replied, “Director Song, you flatter me. The world keeps turning regardless of me, but I’ll do my best.”

Song Bo nodded and, before leaving, patted Lu Hao’s shoulder warmly, reminding him to work hard.

Watching Song Bo’s retreating figure, Lu Hao sneered inwardly.

From Niu Dashan’s repeated attacks to Song Bo’s constant interference, Lu Hao already knew Song Bo was a hypocrite.

Hypocrites were worse than outright villains—harder to guard against—so Lu Hao didn’t believe a word he said.

Upstairs, in the township head’s office.

Li Haotian, now middle-aged, listened to Niu Dashan’s complaints and immediately grew cold.

“I wanted to deal with that kid, but Zhao Gang deliberately transferred him back and even made him deputy director. He’s using this as an excuse to pressure me and retaliate for my interference in personnel matters.”

“That’s right, Township Head. We absolutely can’t let this slide. If we don’t take some measures, Secretary Zhao will think we’re afraid of him.”