Morning.
Small Conference Room of the County Party Committee.
After everyone had taken their seats, County Party Secretary Meng Rui and County Chief Jiang Fangfang were the last two to enter. Secretary Meng was speaking to County Chief Jiang about something with a less-than-pleasant expression. She nodded from time to time and occasionally replied, her expression and bearing both calm, giving no hint of joy or anger. Dong Xuebin looked over. Although Secretary Meng held absolute power in Zhenshui County, Dong felt from this alone that Jiang Fangfang was actually far more inscrutable than him. Remaining unmoved by external things was not something most leading cadres could achieve. Thinking of it that way, County Chief Jiang's calmness was itself a kind of realm. At the very least, Dong greatly admired her temperament.
"Have the documents been handed out?" Meng Rui looked at a young man.
Zhang Feng immediately answered respectfully, "They've all been distributed."
Meng Rui gave a grim nod. "Then let's begin."
Zhang Feng was Secretary Meng's secretary and also the County Party Committee's First Secretary. He looked to be twenty-six or twenty-seven, and he handled the meeting preparations and minutes.
The two leaders took their seats.
The Standing Committee meeting officially began as well.
Dong Xuebin could not help sneaking a glance at Jiang Fangfang.
County Chief Jiang sat there calmly drinking tea, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
Normally, since this was Dong Xuebin's first time attending a County Party Committee Standing Committee meeting, Secretary Meng should have introduced him. Even if he did not, he should at least have said something like, "Welcome our new comrade." But everyone could see that Secretary Meng was in a terrible mood, as though something had happened. So when he did not introduce Dong to the others, no one found it