[Were You From a Traveling Opera Troupe Before?]

Inside the meeting room.

"I support County Chief Jiang's proposal!"

Dong Xuebin's resonant voice immediately stunned the other County Party Committee Standing Committee Members present, as if none of them had expected Dong Xuebin to say such a thing!

Jiang Fangfang slowly glanced at Dong Xuebin.

Meng Rui's face darkened as he looked at him.

Zhang Wanshui and Cheng Fuguang frowned, their eyes flickering.

Ci Boyang and Jiang Hai's expressions changed slightly!

In reality, whether Dong Xuebin took office or not wouldn't have much impact on the situation in Zhenshui County. This was Secretary Meng's domain, so Dong Xuebin's vote at the Standing Committee meeting wasn't particularly necessary for either side. No matter which team he stood on, it wouldn't change Secretary Meng's overwhelming advantage. But unnecessary didn't mean unnecessary; there was still political significance. Of course, people would pay attention to which side Dong Xuebin took. Sometimes attitude was more important than effect. If Dong Xuebin leaned towards Secretary Meng, it would be icing on the cake. If he gained Secretary Meng's support, his path would be smoother and he would go further. This was very important for Dong Xuebin, who was new to the area. But if Dong Xuebin leaned towards County Chief Jiang, he would be in for a rough time. All that awaited him was suppression from Secretary Meng's faction, and his work would definitely be hindered at every turn. This was something even an idiot would know. After all, more than half of the eleven Standing Committee Members were Secretary Meng's staunch supporters. Jiang Fangfang had also lost her only confidant and was now alone. So even though Dong Xuebin was the Executive Deputy County Chief, everyone thought he would remain neutral for the time being and then lean slightly towards Secretary Meng, without making things too awkward with County Chief Jiang, just like Deputy County Chief Ci's strategy.

This was the general trend.

Who didn't need to be a little discerning?

Everyone wanted to move up, so naturally they had to observe the situation and wouldn't court trouble!

So when Dong Xuebin said this, everyone's first reaction was whether County Chief Dong had misspoke. How could he so foolishly support County Chief Jiang at his first Standing Committee meeting? Wouldn't anyone with even a little political wisdom do that? What did this mean?

Jumping into a fire pit?

No one was that stupid, right?

In the few days of contact, Dong Xuebin had still shown a relatively steady demeanor. So they didn't think Dong Xuebin would make this mistake. However, what they didn't know was that what Dong Xuebin showed wasn't his true personality. This guy wasn't without political wisdom, nor did he not know how to be an official. But once Dong Xuebin got emotional, once Dong Xuebin got angry, this guy wouldn't care about anything—what factions, what struggles, what County Party Secretary, screw them all!

Maintain neutrality?

The moment Dong Xuebin stabbed Jiang Fangfang in the back through Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee Chu Peng, he had completely negated his neutral policy!

Earlier, he had seen Chu Peng coming out of County Chief Jiang's office. He and County Chief Jiang didn't seem to have had a pleasant conversation, and he didn't know what it was about. Dong Xuebin didn't want to know either. He only knew that once Chu Peng remained neutral or even leaned towards Secretary Meng, County Chief Jiang's days wouldn't just be difficult, but might even affect County Chief Jiang Fangfang's position. Because once the City knew that County Chief Jiang had lost significance at the Standing Committee meeting—that not a single person supported her—they would definitely doubt Jiang Fangfang's ability. It wasn't impossible that they would remove her and replace her with a new County Chief. So Chu Peng's abstention was likely to be fatal to County Chief Jiang, and that was why Dong Xuebin got angry. To be fair, he didn't want County Chief Jiang to be transferred away, and he really couldn't stand a group of men suppressing Jiang Fangfang.

No one supports her?

Good! I'll support her!

Dong Xuebin's thinking was that simple. When it really came down to it, he still acted entirely according to his personal preferences, and he really did agree with Jiang Fangfang's governing principles.

One second...

Two seconds...

The meeting room was a little quiet, and everyone was looking at Dong Xuebin.

Now that he had spoken, Dong Xuebin didn't regret it. He simply continued to state his position: "County Chief Jiang is right, education funds absolutely cannot be touched!"

If someone else had said it, everyone wouldn't have paid attention. After all, the vote had already ended, and Secretary Meng's view had gained the support of most people. But now the one voting was Dong Xuebin. He was not only the Executive Deputy County Chief of the County Government, but also the leader in charge of finance. Once he and Jiang Fangfang, the top two leaders of the County Government, unified their opinions, even Secretary Meng would have to consider it.

Minister of the Propaganda Department Cheng Fuguang frowned and said, "County Chief Dong, then how do you say we should solve the financial problem?"

Dong Xuebin said carelessly, "I don't care how you solve it, but education funds cannot be touched."

Cheng Fuguang was a little annoyed and said, "You make it sound simple, but without money, how will the County operate? How will salaries be paid? Have you thought about that?"

Dong Xuebin said, "Minister Cheng, you are the leader of the Propaganda Department, so you don't have to bear the responsibility if something goes wrong. But I am in charge of financial work. If the higher-ups investigate, you want me to take the blame?"

Cheng Fuguang angrily said, "You..."

Deputy Secretary Zhang Wanshui said, "This isn't about responsibility right now!"

"But I think it is about responsibility!" Dong Xuebin looked at him and said, "Anyway, whoever wants to touch the special education funds, fine, but don't go through the finance account. I definitely won't sign off on it."

Jiang Fangfang nodded slightly, looking at Dong Xuebin with admiration.

Minister of Organization Department Liao Hu said, "County Chief Dong, you have to consider the overall situation!"

Dong Xuebin glanced at him, "Then Minister Liao should consider the overall situation. The special education funds can go through your Organization Department's account, then I won't be able to interfere!"

Liao Hu also got angry, "Since when can it go through the Organization Department?"

Dong Xuebin laughed, "You don't agree either? I don't agree either!"

Director of the County Party Committee Office Jiang Hai looked at him coldly and said, "Secretary Meng has already said it! This is an expediency!"

Dong Xuebin said, "I know it's an expediency, but there must be principles in doing things. How can we touch the children's money? Even if we can pay back the money in the future! But this precedent must never be set! We can't shortchange the children on anything! My view is the same as County Chief Jiang's!"

Deputy County Chief Ci Boyang immediately said, "County Chief Dong, the special education funds won't be needed that much for the time being, we can postpone it and deal with the finances first."

"Postpone it?" Dong Xuebin looked at him and said, "Everything else can be postponed, but how can we postpone the affairs of the common people? Everything else can be delayed, but how can we delay the education of the children? Everyone should know the situation in the townships below better than I do! The children don't have desks! They don't have books! Some places don't even have the money to hire teachers! Once we transfer the money! How can we explain to the children? How can we explain to the common people? After everyone gets their salary, the one yuan they spend might be a textbook for the children! The dozens of yuan we spend! Might be a desk that was originally meant for the children! Can everyone take it easy? Can everyone take it with peace of mind? I can't! I would rather not get paid for a year! I would rather live frugally for a year! I would rather block the entrance of the City Finance Bureau every day to ask for money! I won't use a single cent that is meant for the children!"

This was already raising the stakes!

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.

Minister of the United Front Work Department Jian Xiangrong, who was neutral, glanced at Dong Xuebin and chuckled in his heart, thinking that this newly arrived Executive Deputy County Chief was too good at talking. His verbal skills were simply superb. Could it be that the six County Party Committee Standing Committee Members combined couldn't out-argue him? Had he left them all speechless?

Dong Xuebin was fighting against everyone today!

Everyone was secretly shocked. If directly voting for County Chief Jiang didn't explain the problem, then his words now could be considered a statement!

Dong Xuebin had taken a side!

He had unexpectedly and unhesitatingly stood on County Chief Jiang's side!

And judging from this posture, County Chief Dong was going to act as County Chief Jiang's vanguard? Charging into battle on the front lines for County Chief Jiang? It should be known that even the retired Executive Deputy County Chief and Chu Peng, who had always been close to County Chief Jiang before, only supported Jiang Fangfang with their votes and made simple statements in words, but they had never engaged in such a verbal battle with Secretary Meng at the Standing Committee, because no one wanted to offend Secretary Meng's faction too harshly. They all had concerns, but Dong Xuebin... everyone was already a little speechless.

What kind of person was this?

He was too unconventional!!

Meng Rui was also annoyed, looking at Dong Xuebin and saying, "After talking for so long, I haven't heard how to solve the financial problem. Everyone knows the situation you mentioned, but how do we solve the finances? Huh?"

Dong Xuebin was not afraid at all and said, "I agree with County Chief Jiang's opinion! Let's go to the Central Government to ask for money!"

Many people shook their heads helplessly. Go to the Central Government? It sounded simple! But everyone knew it was impossible to get it!

Meng Rui chuckled and said, "If we could get the money, no one would want to touch the special education funds. Alright, County Chief Dong, I'll give you a week. I hope you don't disappoint everyone!" Anyone could talk big, Meng Rui simply threw the problem to him, which could also be regarded as a show of strength to Dong Xuebin!

Just go to the Central Government to ask for money like that?

How could they possibly give it to you!

However, Dong Xuebin seemed to be at odds with them, and without thinking, he said, "Okay! I'll go myself!"

Meng Rui nodded, "Then that's settled! I hope to hear good news from County Chief Dong in a week! Meeting adjourned!"

Everyone looked at Dong Xuebin with mixed expressions, then packed up their things and left the meeting hall. Because of Dong Xuebin's alignment, many Meng faction cadres who had previously been quite warm to Dong Xuebin were no longer so enthusiastic, coldly brushing past him, each going about their business.

The Standing Committee meeting was over.

The news that Dong Xuebin had joined Jiang Fangfang's camp under immense pressure immediately spread. Many people, upon hearing this, initially thought, Is County Chief Dong out of his mind?

Then, the details of the Standing Committee meeting were also disseminated one by one.

The Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee's defection...

County Chief Dong was going to the Central Government to ask for money...

And Dong Xuebin's verbal battle against the crowd...

After hearing this, everyone broke out in a bit of a sweat, especially the story of this guy's verbal battle against the crowd, which made many people tremble with fear.

What a County Chief Dong!

The majority of the Standing Committee Members combined couldn't out-argue you? Damn! Were you from an opera troupe before!?