I, Qi Tongwei, will never yield, even if it means defeating fate by half a move.

Chapter 48 Personnel Changes

As soon as Wan Jiaxian returned, he asked Huang Youqian and Jiang Yunsheng to come to his office.

"The county is planning to transfer Yu Huadong, and the vacant position will be filled by promoting someone from within our township."

I recommended both of you to Minister Xiong, but it's hard to say who will be promoted in the end.

Don't be arrogant if you get promoted, and don't be discouraged if you don't.

You two need to work diligently during this period and achieve outstanding results.

Wan Jiaxian said that his patron, the propaganda minister Xiong Guangrong, was in a hurry to call him to the county because of this matter.

With Yu Huadong transferred, Wan Jiaxian became the only person in the Party Committee leadership team left.

In order to strengthen Wan Jiaxian's position, Xiong Guangrong, the propaganda minister, persuaded other leaders in the county to promote a cadre from within Gushanling Township.

And this is just the beginning.

Minister Xiong said that he has brought up the issue of expanding the leadership of the Gushanling Township government again at the Standing Committee meeting.

Due to work needs, Gushanling Township applied to add two deputy township heads. Qi Tongwei was promoted, so another person should be promoted.

Secretary Miao felt that simply expanding the township government's leadership was not enough; the township party committee's leadership should also be expanded.

Two more members should be added to the Party Committee, expanding the township Party Committee to seven members.

If the county agrees, then Gushanling Township will have three more members in its Party and government leadership team.

Then he can promote two or three more people.

"Okay, Secretary, thank you for your recommendation!"

Jiang Yunsheng and Huang Youqian were overjoyed. Before long, they would no longer be suppressed by Qi Tongwei, this young upstart.

"If you have money, go and call Qi Tongwei over!"

Regarding the matter of teachers being promoted to permanent positions, he held a meeting privately and decided on the list without consulting me, completely disregarding me, the Party Secretary.

Wan Jiaxian said that Qi Tongwei made the decision without consulting his superiors, which was a serious violation of discipline.

"Secretary, Qi Tongwei isn't in the township; he's gone to the countryside!"

Huang Youqian said that Qi Tongwei is basically not in the office during the day, and it is very difficult to find him.

"When he comes back, tell him to come see me immediately."

Wan Jiaxian said that he had forgotten that Qi Tongwei often went to the countryside.

That evening, as soon as Qi Tongwei returned, Huang Youqian came to find him.

Qi Tongwei simply said "I understand" and then went on to deal with the matters at hand.

Wan Jiaxian just wants to settle scores, right? Just wait and see.

The next day at work, Qi Tongwei went to the countryside early. He had only completed half of his visit to the schools to learn about the education work, and there was still more to be done.

Qi Tongwei needs to get to know all 206 schools and 320 teachers as soon as possible.

For the next three days, Qi Tongwei went to the countryside. It wasn't until the fourth day that he went to see Wan Jiaxian.

"Secretary Wan, I heard from Director Huang that you were looking for me?"

Qi Tongwei went to the secretary's office. The secretary had called him, and it must have been wrong of him not to come.

"Qi Tongwei, do you still have any respect for your superiors? Do you still have any respect for me, the Party Secretary?"

The decision to promote teachers to permanent positions was made in a meeting without my consent!

Wan Jiaxian burst into curses, having held back his anger for several days.

"Secretary Wan, I don't understand what you're saying. Am I in charge of education or are you in charge of education?"

As the supervisor in charge, how come I don't have the authority to hold a meeting to decide on the list of teachers to be promoted to permanent positions?

Moreover, this teacher conversion process was conducted openly and fairly, and I did not engage in any fraud or favoritism.

Moreover, I consulted with Township Head Yan, and he agreed.

In addition, Township Heads Zhiyong and Ziwen also expressed their support.

Qi Tongwei said that he had not done anything wrong in terms of procedure, and to some extent, this was the collective opinion of the township government leadership.

"You! I looked for you three days ago, why are you only coming now?!"

Wan Jiaxian was furious. Qi Tongwei not only refuted him but also mocked him, accusing him of favoritism and corruption.

He could no longer let Qi Tongwei off lightly.

"Because you weren't there when I came back from the countryside, how could I find you if you weren't there!"

Qi Tongwei said unhurriedly, explaining that he had already prepared his reason: every day after returning from the countryside, he would ask others if the Party Secretary was in his office.

Since Wan Jiaxian ran away as soon as he got off work, Qi Tongwei couldn't very well go to his house to look for him.

The two parted unhappily.

For the next two weeks, Qi Tongwei spent his time visiting various villages and groups to learn about schools, teachers, local specialties, terrain, and geology.

"Some Thoughts on Developing Rural Economy" was published in the Masses Daily, Freedom Daily, Hanjiang Daily, Nanbian Daily, Huacheng Morning Post, and Agriculture Daily.

Qi Tongwei received 120 yuan in royalties.

Meanwhile, the People's Daily, Freedom Daily, and Hanjiang Daily also sent the expanded manuscript fee for "The Rise of a Great Power"—a few dollars—and the first sample copy.

Thus, Qi Tongwei became a household with 100,000 yuan.

Qi Tongwei finally received his admission letter from Beijing University, which made him extremely excited.

I can finally start my PhD in economics, which I've been longing for for a year.

Of course, this economics PhD is for those who are employed, and Qi Tongwei cannot take time off to pursue his doctorate, so the county would not approve it.

Once I obtain a PhD in Economics from Peking University, my dream of becoming a division-level official is secure.

Although Qi Tongwei was trying to resist the Liang family's suppression, it was quite difficult for him to be promoted from deputy section chief to section chief.

That old woman Liang Lu definitely won't give up easily. If she tries to destroy what she can't have, then I'll be in big trouble.

Party Secretary Jin Yang, County Head Lei Yaohua, and Organization Minister Luo Chengcai would not continue to offend Liang Qunfeng for his sake.

His promotion to deputy township head was based on policy, and there was nothing Liang Qunfeng could do about it.

But promoting Qi Tongwei to the rank of section chief is a different story; many excuses can be found to obstruct it.

Once Qi Tongwei obtains his doctorate in economics from Peking University, he will not only be able to easily cross the threshold of becoming a section chief, but he will also be able to smoothly become a deputy director.

Most importantly, Qi Tongwei can gain access to connections at Peking University.

Because of Liang Lu, Qi Tongwei has little opportunity to utilize the connections with Handong University.

The only option is to leverage connections with other universities.

Qi Tongwei will also strive to become a full section chief before completing his doctoral studies, and then aim for deputy director level.

A PhD from Peking University is better used to aim for a position as a full-fledged department head.

At the end of August, a major personnel change occurred at Gushanling.

Deputy Secretary Yu Huadong was transferred to another township to serve as township head.

Executive Deputy Township Head Zhu Zhiyong took over as Deputy Secretary and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, Deputy Township Head Wang Ziwen took over as Deputy Township Head and Minister of Armed Forces and became Executive Deputy Township Head, and Organization Committee Member Jiang Yunsheng was promoted to Deputy Township Head.

Jiang Yunsheng was very happy, but Huang Youqian was very disappointed.

In terms of importance, Huang Youqian felt that his position as director of the Party and Government Office was more important than Jiang Yunsheng's position as organization committee member.

Wan Jiaxian was also disappointed, because Jiang Yunsheng was only promoted to deputy township head, not deputy secretary, nor deputy township head and armed forces minister.

Now, he was truly all alone at the township party committee meeting.

From then on, Yan Maoqing had the final say over Gushanling.

The village held a grand farewell banquet for Yu Huadong and Jiang Yunsheng.

Before leaving, Yu Huadong transferred his nephew Yu Pengfei to a formal cadre position.

A few days later, the vacant position of organizing committee member was filled at the meeting, and Qi Tongwei and Jiang Yunsheng also attended the meeting.

"Comrade Liu Jiahao has been in charge of the education office for many years, and the township's education work has achieved many results. The township should give him an important position."

At the meeting, Wan Jiaxian proposed that Liu Jiahao, the director of the Education Office, be appointed as the organization committee member.

"Since Comrade Yan Shihai took charge of the agricultural technology station, his work achievements have been remarkable."

Secretary Zhiyong was given an important position by the county government because of his excellent work in agriculture.

Comrade Yan Shihai, as the specific implementer of agricultural work, should also be given important responsibilities by the township.

This will also motivate the staff at the agricultural technology station.

Yan Maoqing proposed that Yan Shihai, the head of the agricultural technology station, serve as the organization committee member.

Both were given important positions but not promoted, mainly because the organization committee member was only a section-level cadre.

If the cadre is at the deputy section chief level, the township only has the right to recommend, not the right to decide.

Ultimately, Yan Shihai, the head of the agricultural technology station, won.

The position of director of the agricultural technology station was taken over by deputy director Tian Xiaojuan, with Zhang Tianya serving as the deputy director and Cao Aikang serving as the secretary.

The results sparked a heated discussion after they were announced.

The fact that three people from the agricultural technology station were suddenly given important positions and promoted has changed the perceptions of many cadres regarding the station.

Including Qi Tongwei, four cadres were promoted and given important positions in just two months, with only a month or so in between.

In the past, no one wanted to go to the agricultural technology station because the work was difficult and there was little future in it.

But it's different now.

Yan Shihai went from being the head of the agricultural technology station to the organization committee member, Tian Xiaojuan went from being the deputy head to the head, Zhang Tianya went from being the secretary to the deputy head, and Cao Aikang went from being a clerk to a secretary.

Although Yan Shihai's rank has not changed, if he were in another township, he would be a deputy section chief.

Yan Shihai's appointment as the organization committee member at this time was tantamount to a pre-determined deputy section chief position.