Chapter 107: Recommending Li Chen

"Let's go. We'll talk outside."

Yin Tiejun walked toward the stairs with his hands behind his back, his expression somber and his head bowed. Yang Dong followed him in silence. The two walked down from the floor housing the mayor's office to the floor where the municipal government offices were located. In reality, it was only one floor apart—the city leaders' offices were upstairs, and the municipal government offices were downstairs.

Back in the office, Yang Dong poured a cup of tea for Uncle Yin and set it on the desk. Yin Tiejun sat in his office chair, looked at him with a complex expression, and finally spoke.

"Xiao Dong, sometimes it's better to hide your light under a bushel. First you handled my case, then you hauled in Tian Guanghan, and now you’ve exposed the corruption of Gu Santong. Just with these three matters, you—a low-level clerk seconded to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection—have already stolen the limelight."

"But I can't blame you for that. The situation forced your hand, and since you were in charge of the Tenth Special Case Investigation Team, you had no other choice. Most importantly, since you were the one who handled my case, it was bound to attract attention."

Yin Tiejun pulled at the tie around his neck; it was suffocating him. Wearing it every day felt like a dog wearing a collar—uncomfortable, yet unavoidable.

"Uncle Yin, please don't say that. I don't regret doing it. To put it selfishly, if you had gone down, my life wouldn't be easy either. Not to mention, you’ve helped me out many times in the past; for that alone, I had to do what I did."

Yang Dong cut him off. He knew Yin Tiejun was in a foul mood; tearing off his tie was a sign of his agitation. Still, Yang Dong had to state his position. He had acted, and he needed his words to match his actions. Doing things without speaking up often led to being overlooked.

"Actually, there was a moment just now when I truly wished you hadn't made that phone call." Yin Tiejun lifted his head, his gaze complex as he stared at Yang Dong’s face. The sudden remark left Yang Dong stunned.

"If you hadn't made that call, although you would still have been implicated by me, it wouldn't have been nearly as dangerous. But by making that call, it meant you stepped into this trap. Trying to get out of it now... it won't be easy."

There were things Yin Tiejun couldn't say too clearly to Yang Dong. It wasn't just a matter of rank and status; he simply didn't want Yang Dong to know the full, ugly truth just yet.

"Uncle Yin, you don't have to be like this. Personally, I think continuing my secondment at the Commission for Discipline Inspection is actually quite good."

Yang Dong smiled. He wasn't trying to comfort Yin Tiejun, nor was he comforting himself. He genuinely felt that continuing the secondment was a solid choice. Being able to guard the final red line for the Party and the country, and helping clear away corrupt, greedy, and derelict officials, gave his work real meaning. At the very least, as he started his career, he was doing substantive work rather than just going through the motions.

If he were in a position like deputy section chief in the municipal government office, or serving as the mayor's secretary, it might look impressive, but it would essentially be performative, offering no real grasp of substantive work. Continuing at the Commission for Discipline Inspection was different; he could actually accomplish something tangible, even if it was only a little.

"What do you know, kid?"

Yang Dong's words stung, reigniting the anger Yin Tiejun had just managed to suppress. Before, his anger was directed at the helpless situation; now, it was directed at Yang Dong.

"How many years of rice have you eaten? How dare you speak so boldly? Do you really think the Commission for Discipline Inspection is a good place? Huh?" Yin Tiejun glared at Yang Dong, his expression fierce.

The sudden outburst and sharp criticism caused Yang Dong to lower his head immediately. He could talk back to Tian Guanghan, and he could afford to disregard a superior like him, but in front of Yin Tiejun—an elder, leader, and superior who genuinely looked out for him—he had to show respect.

"What kind of place do you think the Commission is? It's a giant pot over a blazing fire. It looks good to punish corrupt officials, right? In reality, it’s roasting yourself, too! With a thousand tasks to handle, the biggest one is tied to the Commission. If something truly goes wrong, how could the Commission escape unscathed?"

"Never mind that. Just think: if you spend a few years seconded there, by the time you come out, you’ll be branded as a 'Discipline Inspection' man. Do you think that brand is so easy to scrub off?"

"The reason I insisted on you taking the municipal government path is that once you become the mayor's secretary, in two years you could be sent out to a post, or have the chance to become the secretary to the Municipal Party Committee Secretary. Your future would be boundless. Once you're sent down, at the very least, you’d be the head of a township. Anything less would be an exile. Do you understand?"

"Two or three years to become a township leader, and you'd secure your official rank before you’re thirty. Isn't that good?"

Yin Tiejun was truly speaking from the heart. If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have been so blunt. Especially for an official of his level, one usually keeps half their words to themselves, and even the half they do speak might not be entirely true.

"But there’s no helping it now. It’s a done deal. We’ll take it one step at a time. When the opportunity arises, I will have you transferred back. You can't stay at the Commission forever; it’s bad for your future development."

As Yin Tiejun said this, it sounded like a mutter to himself, yet also like a promise to Yang Dong.

"Uncle Yin, thank you."

No matter how much gratitude he felt, this was all he could say.

"Enough, what are you thanking me for? Spare me the hypocrisy and pleasantries." Yin Tiejun waved his hand. He hadn't done this to receive thanks; he did it to put his own mind at ease. If he hadn't been forced into a corner, he never would have given his personal number to a mere clerk like Yang Dong. Now that Yang Dong was implicated and had caught the attention of his old superiors, these were all troubles Yin Tiejun had brought upon him.

Yes, Yin Tiejun viewed all of this as a burden. He felt he had let Yang Dong down.

"The mayor's secretary position cannot remain vacant for too long. As the Secretary-General of the Municipal Government and Director of the Municipal Office, I must appoint a new chief secretary for the mayor as soon as possible." Yin Tiejun leaned back into his soft leather chair, his expression heavy and complex.

Choosing a secretary required great care. If chosen poorly, it would reflect poorly on the mayor's impression of him.

"Uncle Yin, may I be so bold as to recommend someone to you?"

Seeing that Yin Tiejun had brought up the subject, Yang Dong’s mind stirred. Since he clearly couldn't be the mayor's secretary, it was necessary to secure a situation that would be advantageous to him. Moreover, he truly had a trustworthy candidate in mind.

"You mean Li Chen?"

Before Yang Dong could even speak, Yin Tiejun had already anticipated it. It was clear that he was well-versed in Yang Dong's interpersonal relationships and knew exactly who Yang Dong was closest to in the municipal office.

"Yes. You are wise, leader; you saw it at once." Yang Dong smiled sheepishly, adding a small bit of flattery.

"Li Chen is a good comrade. He joined the municipal office the same year you did. You took first place in the examinations, and he came in second in the written test and third in the interview. Very capable."

"However..."

In all things, the word "however" was the most dreaded. Because whenever it was mentioned, it was the precursor to a refusal.