This scene imdiately shocked everyone present.
Why were they shocked?
Ren Qing'an had just left the room at a light run when Fu Zhiquan appeared. What does this imply?
It implies that Fu Zhiquan had actually been waiting at the door all along.
He is the top leader of the province.
Normally, he should have entered first and then asked his secretary to call in Chen Fang; that would have been appropriate.
But now, Fu Zhiquan was obediently waiting outside for Chen Fang's "summons." This is unreasonable, this is a reversal of priorities, a switch of identities.
The bureaucracy is where details matter the most.
Sotis, minute details can reflect a lot of situations.
For example, on provincial TV.
If a leader frequently appears on screen, it ans that this leader's position is secure, at least for the ti being, with a trend towards promotion.
But once a leader who often appears suddenly vanishes from the screen,
this also indicates that the leader is either about to be sidelined or is about to have an incident.
Similarly.
This scene before them seems to also indicate that in certain areas of power, Chen Fang has already overshadowed Fu Zhiquan.
What happened next further confird this point.
After Fu Zhiquan entered.
Almost everyone stood up to welco him, and applause like thunder erupted on the scene.
Only Chen Fang remained seated, not moving at all.
Fu Zhiquan, still with a serious expression, walked to Chen Fang's side, first nodding to him, then waving to everyone, signaling them to sit down.
With a swish.
Everyone sat down.
Only Wang Guoxiang remained standing because his seat had been taken by Chen Fang.
So people still had sharp insight.
For example, Liu Fanshu, the City Committee mber and Secretary of the High-tech Zone Party Working Committee.
He imdiately stood up and said to Wang Guoxiang, "Mayor Wang, you sit, I'll go find a seat below."
After saying this,
he quickly left the stage and found an empty seat below to sit down.
Though it was just a marginal seat, it was much better than standing awkwardly alone.
"Comrade Chen Fang, shall we begin the eting?"
Fu Zhiquan asked Chen Fang.
Chen Fang nodded and said, "Secretary Fu, please go ahead."
Though the dialogue was only brief, those with keen insight still spotted a hint.
What is going on?
Does Fu Zhiquan need to consult Chen Fang before starting the eting?
What exactly is the situation?
"Ahem..."
Fu Zhiquan cleared his throat and said, "I brought everyone together today mainly to announce one thing. As for Comrade Chen Fang's situation a while back, I think everyone is clear about it, so no need for to elaborate. Today, the main thing is to announce a piece of good news to everyone: after a few days of recuperation, Comrade Chen Fang has regained his ability to work. On behalf of the Provincial Committee and Provincial Governnt, I welco Comrade Chen Fang back to work. Everyone, applause..."
End of recuperation?
Wasn't he supposed to be on leave for a month?
Everyone knew that Chen Fang's so-called leave wasn't really for recuperation; it was plainly a retreat due to power being squeezed out. In just four or five days, not only was his leave over, but also the Provincial Secretary personally announced his return to work, which makes the situation quite intriguing.
Applause broke out.
But so people's faces didn't look good.
For example, Wang Guoxiang and Peng Qiuli.
After the applause stopped,
Fu Zhiquan gestured invitingly to Chen Fang.
Chen Fang turned on the microphone in front of him.
He said, "Gathering everyone here to et today, there are several issues to discuss. Let's address them one by one. The first and most important issue is regarding the bat virus. As of today, Taijiang Hospital has treated 2,587 cases of bat virus infection, with 22 deaths reported. Given this situation, I have decided to implent a city lockdown and epidemic prevention policy in Jindu City..."
"Ah..."
Upon hearing this,
the entire room gasped in shock.
Everyone looked at each other, and whispered conversations quickly filled the room.
Wang Guoxiang, initially in a lazy manner,
straightened up imdiately upon hearing this.
He disregarded the eting procedure,
directly turned on the microphone, and said, "Secretary Chen, what do you an by 'you decide'? Such a major issue, how can you make the decision alone? Regarding this matter, last ti the Standing Committee already drew a conclusion, Secretary Fu was also present at that ti. I think you, being so young, shouldn't be so forgetful, right?"
Wang Guoxiang still had so skill.
He imdiately dragged Fu Zhiquan into the situation.
A Provincial Secretary could hardly go back on his word and admit publicly to being untrustworthy, couldn't he?
Indeed.
After this comnt,
Fu Zhiquan's face turned a bit unpleasant.
Of course, he did not vent his anger on Chen Fang, because this subordinate held leverage against him.
He kept muttering to himself about how stupid Wang Guoxiang was, raising the very issue that put him, as the Provincial Secretary, in a tough spot.
Since Wang Guoxiang had already initiated the challenge,
Peng Qiuli felt he should help handle the situation too.
He quickly said, "Yes, Secretary Chen, we already discussed this issue last ti, and a conclusion was reached. Bringing it up again at this eting is aningless. Locking down a city is no small matter. Even if our Standing Committee agrees, implenting it across departnts won't be easy. Acting on your own will surely cause backlash."
"What if I insist on implenting it?"
Chen Fang asked Peng Qiuli.
Peng Qiuli's lips curled into a faint, hard-to-see sneer.
He said, "Secretary Chen, our organization has always emphasized collective decision-making. Autocracy in the party has been repeatedly prohibited. If you insist on going through with it, that would be acting against the organization, wouldn't it?"
This comnt.
Imdiately ignited the atmosphere in the eting room.
Everyone seed to already sll a tense and confrontational atmosphere.
"Mayor Wang, is that how you feel too?"
Chen Fang asked, turning towards Wang Guoxiang.
Wang Guoxiang sneered, "Secretary Peng is right. Jindu City belongs to all its citizens, not just to you, Chen Fang. I don't think a virus transmission warrants such exaggeration. Perhaps Secretary Chen has his personal agendas, but ultimately, he cannot oppose the greater trend, right?"
Wang Guoxiang's words were indeed skillful.
He directly frad Chen Fang's behavior as personal conduct,
making everyone think he had ulterior motives.
Chen Fang naturally picked up on the underlying implication.
He smiled slightly.
Said, "Well, I hear your suggestions. However, I will retain your opinions; the city lockdown and epidemic prevention policy must be implented imdiately, without a mont's delay."
Chen Fang's words were firm and irrefutable, with a sense of finality.
Wang Guoxiang could not care anymore.
He stood up with a jerk,
and said loudly, "Secretary Fu, I object! I object to Comrade Chen Fang's obstinacy and self-will!"
Upon hearing this, Fu Zhiquan
imdiately looked towards Chen Fang, his expression seeming to ask what he should do.
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