Chapter 6: Selected and Transferred Cadres

  As the Spring Festival approaches, everyone is busy preparing for the holiday. Some families with many relatives and friends have already started taking turns having reunion dinners. Although units have not yet begun their holidays, many people are coming late and leaving early, and officials are turning a blind eye.

  The Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department was a scene of intense activity at this time, with the conference room packed to capacity. Yang Zhengqi, the head of the Organization Department and a member of the provincial party committee's standing committee, was speaking:

  "Our cause requires a large number of young cadres who are both culturally knowledgeable and have practical experience. Assigning outstanding young university graduates to grassroots work is an important strategic measure to accelerate the selection of outstanding young cadres, build a high-quality cadre team, and speed up the realization of the youthification and intellectualization of the cadre team, as well as accelerate the growth of leading talents."

  It has been decided at the organizational level to select a batch of outstanding students from among the graduates of universities to enrich our team of cadres. Our province, Four Rivers Province, is one of the pilot areas for this initiative. The requirements have already been clearly stipulated by higher authorities, and the specific implementation measures for our province will be organized and formulated by Vice Minister Wang. This work needs to be quickly disseminated to all cities, states, and institutions of higher learning, and we need to get moving right after the Spring Festival.

  Comrades, the selected students are being cultivated as reserve candidates for party and government leadership positions and high-quality personnel for county-level and above party and government organs. Those who perform exceptionally well after working at the grassroots level for a period will be entrusted with important responsibilities, and their organizational relationships will also be retained in the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department.

  The fact that higher authorities have entrusted us with this pilot work is a sign of trust and support for our work. Comrades must have a strong sense of political responsibility and fully recognize the importance of this selection process. We need to adhere to principles, strictly control the selection process, and select only those who excel in both moral character and academic performance.

  We only have several months' time, and the timeframe is quite tight. I hope everyone will seize the opportunity and do a good job, living up to the heavy trust placed in us by the central authorities.

  The origin of the selected students has been a long time, but the scale has always been very small. Yanhuang has been carrying out the construction of young and knowledgeable cadres for a long time, but the progress is slow. In order to speed up the progress, the high-level decided to expand the scale of selected students, and there are only three pilot provinces and cities, and Four Rivers is one of them.

  Zeng Si-tao didn't know about the news until two days later, when Zeng Zhi-rong returned to school from out of town and heard from people at school that Zeng Si-tao was injured. He bought some things and came to see him, telling Zeng Si-tao that the school wanted to commend him, and casually mentioned the selection and appointment matter. Zeng Zhi-rong was not only the counselor of Zeng Si-tao's class but also the secretary of the department office. When Zeng Si-tao heard this news, he was somewhat moved, as being selected by the organization department was equivalent to taking a shortcut on the path to officialdom.

  "Teacher Zeng, I also want to participate in that selection and appointment."

  "Do you want to participate too? You're suitable, as a probationary party member, student union cadre, and three-time excellent student. The conditions are fully met. I'm worried that once you sign up, the organization department will snatch you away, and you won't have other choices. As a selected graduate, you'll be sent to the grassroots level. If things go well, you might get promoted to the county or municipal level in a year or two. But if not, who knows how long you'll stay at the grassroots level? Your economics major is in high demand, and you can all get assigned to good units. Moreover, the treatment of national cadres isn't great now, so think carefully."

  "Exactly, why do you want to be an official? What's good about being an official? Now so many national cadres are going into business. With your conditions, you can totally stay in Rongcheng."

  "I think going down to the grassroots level is no big deal, with my abilities, I can quickly stand out." Zeng Sitao said somewhat boastfully.

  "You decide your own affairs, just think carefully and don't regret it later."

  Like Zeng Sitao, those in their school's major think that the treatment of civil servants is not high, far less than some good companies. Zeng Zhongrong and Liu Yun's views are not wrong, but Zeng Sitao knows that it won't take a few years for the country to improve the treatment of civil servants, at which point it will be difficult to become a public servant, let alone a selected student. Moreover, selected students are the organizational department's key training reserve cadres, with natural advantages in promotion and transfer. Zeng Sitao seems to have a strong urge in his heart, wanting to take this path of being an official.

  "Moreover, the more professional people are reluctant to go, the more attention I will get if I go."

  "Alright, just think carefully then."

  "A man fears entering the wrong profession, a woman fears marrying the wrong husband. I'm serious." Zeng Sitao finished speaking and then thought he had misspoken, but seeing that Liu Yun hadn't noticed, he felt relieved.

  "Alright, Xiaoyun, I'll leave Zeng Sitao to you. My husband and I are going back to our hometown tomorrow for Chinese New Year. I still need to go back and pack some things, goodbye."

  Zeng Zhirong hastily left.

  Zeng Zirong left, and Liu Yun also closed the door. It was already December 28th. The employees at Liu Yun's store had all taken time off yesterday, but Liu Yun still had to work. Those who owed money in the city had to pay before the new year, so they let Liu Yun collect it herself. In 1990, many businesses were still cash-based, especially individual households. Many people owed debts this year, and Liu Yun's company was no exception. However, according to custom, all debts had to be settled before the Spring Festival every year.

  The night before last, the two people also felt a bit awkward. Liu Yun didn't say anything to Zeng Sita, but when they were alone together, Liu Yun's attitude was somewhat distant, not as close as before. Zeng Sita guessed that she was struggling internally, and since he hadn't asked her to leave, she just pretended to be calm and stayed put. Zeng Sita wasn't a gentleman, but he also didn't want to force things, thinking it best to let things develop naturally.

  At the end of the day, I earned a whole lot of money, enough to fill two large cowboy bags.

  "Sit for a while, I'll go cook."

  Back at her residence, Liu Yun went to cook dinner. Many restaurants outside had closed, and the only option was to go home and cook. Zeng Sitao didn't sit down either, pouring money onto the sofa to sort it out. They collected around 200,000 to 300,000 yuan. The 20- and 50-yuan bills had already been issued but were not yet in circulation. The largest denomination of the collected money was still 10 yuan. With Chinese New Year approaching, there would be more people depositing and withdrawing money, making it difficult to sort out the money properly, which would delay the process of storing the money.

  Two people wolfed down two large bowls of noodles and then hurriedly continued to clear up the money together.

  Before going to sleep, Zeng Sitao carefully checked and locked all doors and windows, using a sofa to block the door.

  "Money under the sofa, you're not worried I'll roll up and escape in the middle of the night?" Zeng Si-tao muttered.

  Because they were too tired, the two people took a bath and went to bed separately afterwards.