Chapter 2 Chapter two

There are too many high-ranking veteran cadres in the prefectural committee compound.Xizhou was a den of bandits back then, and the campaign against bandits was fought quite fiercely.Later, most of the heroes who suppressed the bandits stayed.And because Xizhou is too poor, it is difficult to get performance, and few cadres go up.Cadres from other places are rarely willing to come in.Many cadres going south enjoy prefectural-level and sub-provincial-level treatment, but they can only end up in Xizhou.No matter who the local party secretary is, they must first stabilize the veteran cadres.It seems to be a Western State tradition.The Bureau of Veterans in the Xizhou District has been rated as advanced in the province every year. Others look envious, but they don't know how helpless they are.The veteran cadres have no position or authority, but their old leaders and comrades-in-arms are now big figures above.They can do nothing but make you miserable.Most of the old people are around seventy years old, which is the time to lose their temper.

Every morning, when Guan Yinda got up for a run, he would meet an old man with long braids dancing his sword.What year is it, and there are still people with long braids?Guan Yinda was inevitably a little curious, and secretly noticed the old man.The old man's braids were off-white and not very neatly combed, like straw ropes twisted indiscriminately.When he danced the sword, he was calm and calm, like a fairy.There are many elderly people doing morning exercises. They will nod when they meet each other, or chat while exercising.Only this old man with long braids always half-closed his eyes and didn't answer anyone.No one bothered him either.The old man with long braids had a radius of thirty meters around, and no one approached him.

Guan Yinda later found out that the old man with long braids was Chen Yongdong, the first prefectural party secretary of Xizhou.This is a legendary and eccentric old man.He was a company commander when Xizhou suppressed bandits.There are many stories about Chen Yongdong among the folks. He captured the leader of the bandit and lived the king of Hades alive, and outsmarted the bandit's nest in the Golden Rooster Realm.Many other people's deeds, or stories in movies, have also been perfunctorily attributed to him by ordinary people.When the bandits were suppressed, Chen Yongdong's name frightened people to death in Xizhou.The child was crying, and as soon as he shouted that Chen Yongdong was coming, he would immediately get into his mother's arms, not daring to breathe.The situation in Xizhou is too complicated, only Chen Yongdong can handle it.He was left behind.Although he was only a company commander, he became the secretary of the prefectural committee.

At that time, his wife and children were still living in his hometown in Shandong, a poor village.He lives alone in a single dormitory and eats in the cafeteria with a bowl.After so many years, I never went home to visit relatives.Later, the leaders of the provincial party committee did a lot of work before he agreed to move his wife and children to Xizhou.But he resolutely refused to let his family settle down in the city, and forced them to become farmers in the suburbs of Xizhou.The family members were all angry and ignored him. The old lady died a few years ago, and his children and grandchildren never came to visit him again.The family members could not enter the city, and they were unwilling to be serious farmers. They lived in a bad mood for decades, so they became very poor.The children and grandchildren complained more and more about him, not treating him as a relative.But the older he got, the weirder he became, and the whole family regarded him as crazy.

People can't remember when Chen Yongdong started to wear braids.I vaguely remember that one year, I haven't seen him for a long time, and I almost forgot about him.He suddenly showed up in the agency, so he wore long braids. The old man still lives in the prefectural committee leader's house built in the 1960s, with three bedrooms and one living room, more than 70 square meters.This building is now occupied by department-level cadres.The leaders of the prefectural committee moved into a new house with four bedrooms and two halls, but the old man just refused to move.He lives on the first floor, the curtains are always drawn, and the door is always closed.Even at night, there is no light inside.No one has ever heard of entering that house, it seems that there is a mysterious thousand-year-old cave.

The old man always walked alone in the yard, or carrying a shining sword, or carrying a vegetable basket.I have never seen him buy chicken, duck and fish, and there are always only vegetables in the vegetable basket.On the morning of the twelfth of every month, he would arrive at the financial office of the government office on time to receive his salary.No matter how busy the people in the financial office are, when they see him go, they will put down what they are doing and pay his salary quickly.The old man took the money, counted it carefully, then took out a few of the latest bills and put them in his hand, then carefully wrapped the rest of the money in a handkerchief and stuffed them into his pocket.No matter how lively the accounting room was, the old man counted the money in his wallet as if no one else was there, and then went out with half-closed eyes.The old man moved slowly, and the girls looked at him, feeling that the process was extremely long.As soon as he went out, the girls breathed a sigh of relief, sticking out their tongues and smiling with their mouths sealed.

With a few dollars in his hand, the old man went straight to the prefectural committee and asked the branch secretary to pay the party dues.The branch secretary would always say: "Mr. Chen, you are the first to pay party dues every month! Your party spirit is really strong!" Only at this time, a faint smile appeared on Chen Yongdong's face.But without saying anything, he half-closed his eyes again, turned around and left. When the leaders of the prefectural committee knew that Chen Yongdong had entered the office building, they would pretend not to see him, stay in the office, and never go out.They can't even speak aloud, just look at the documents.They would inadvertently glance out the window, watching Chen Yongdong walk out of the office building, dragging his long braids, his back slowly disappearing.They felt relieved and returned to normal in speaking and doing.No one wanted to meet Chen Yongdong head-on, and couldn't explain why. Of course, no one would publicly mention this topic.

Tao Fan had heard of Chen Yongdong's weirdness for a long time.Coincidentally, it has been several years, and Tao Fan has never met this old man.Chen Yongdong is like a legend, incredibly mysterious.When Liu Jiahou, the director of the Bureau of Veteran Cadres, returned to report on his work, Tao Fan specifically asked Chen Yongdong about it.Liu Jiahou said: "Comrade Chen Yongdong doesn't speak easily, and when he speaks, the world is shaken." Tao Fan didn't understand, and asked, "Why?" Liu Jiahou said: "Old Chen is very prestigious among the old cadres. Believe him. Several prefectural committee secretaries couldn’t stay in Xizhou because Chen Yongdong was annoyed.” Tao Fan could guess what was going on, but he had to say something superficial: “Veteran cadres are the wealth of the party. We must pay attention to and care about them. If they have opinions, it must be because of our own work problems. The key is to contact and communicate more, and win the support and understanding of veteran comrades.”

Tao Fan didn't imagine how terrible Chen Yongdong was.I have no old grudges with him, and he won't make trouble for no reason.I am afraid that someone will find fault and go to instigate him.Veteran cadres usually have an unknown fire buried in their stomachs, and whoever fiddles with it will ignite it.After Tao Fan became the secretary of the prefectural party committee, he would inevitably have to pass the test of veteran cadres.He asked for a list of veteran cadres and pondered them one by one.Looking at their qualifications is really awe-inspiring.Many old comrades came here under the hail of bullets.Tao Fan suddenly felt a little emotional, thinking that these old people had their lives recovered from gunpoint, so they should be kept alive.They want to lose their temper, let them lose their temper.

Tao Fan didn't want to follow the usual practice, but just gave a speech at the veteran cadre work meeting, expressing how he cared about the veteran comrades.He made a schedule and wanted to communicate with the old comrades one by one.He wanted to visit old man Chen Yongdong first.Everyone said that Chen Yongdong was a stubborn old man, and if you wanted to chat with him, you would hit a wall nine times out of ten.But no matter how hard the nail is, Tao Fan has to touch it with his head. But before Tao Fan had time to visit, he bumped into Mr. Chen.The prefectural committee office building is built on the hillside, and there is a small ping outside the building, and the car can drive directly to the ping.There is a wide stone-step road, which goes up the mountain and faces the gate of the office building.That afternoon, Tao Fan took Guan Yinda to the office building.As soon as he climbed up a few steps, he saw Chen Yongdong leave the office building and walk down with his head down.Tao Fan stopped quickly, and greeted: "Old Secretary Chen, hello!"

Chen Yongdong was already standing above, and his aura was even more condescending.He half opened his eyes and glanced at Tao Fan: "Who are you?" Tao Fan smiled and went up to shake hands: "I'm Tao Fan." It took Chen Yongdong a long time to reach out his hand, put it on lightly, and then slid over, and said lightly, "Oh, new secretary?" Tao Fan said, "I just took over this stall, and I need your support." "You tell lies, what can I support? I'm afraid that our old bones will do something bad!" Chen Yongdong said. Tao Fan smiled, avoided the sharp edge, and said, "Secretary Chen, I'll come to your place someday, okay?" Chen Yongdong said: "I don't welcome others to sit in the house. I heard that you also have this problem?" "I only talk about work in the office." Tao Fan said. "You are still different from me." After Chen Yongdong finished speaking, he bowed his head and left. Tao Fan didn't understand what Chen Yongdong meant.Afraid of Tao Fan's embarrassment, Guan Yinda said, "Old Chen is really weird." Tao Fan said seriously: "Xiao Guan, don't talk nonsense." Tao Fan entered the office, turned around and shouted, "Xiao Guan, come in and have a seat." Tao Fan had never asked Guan Yinda to sit in the office before, what's the big deal today?Guan Yinda looked at Tao Fan, his chest couldn't help thumping.Tao Fan didn't speak for a long time, his eyes were looking out of the window.Outside the window was the stone staircase where he met Mr. Chen just now.The stone ladder divides the rest platform into two sections, each section has nine steps, a total of eighteen steps.Tao Fan counted them inadvertently.Just now, Mr. Chen happened to be standing on the first level below the rest platform, so Tao Fan had no choice but to stand still below.If he took another step up, Mr. Chen would probably pass his shoulder and go down.Standing below, he looked humble and blocked Old Chen.But old Chen didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, it was really uncomfortable. "Xiaoguan, guess why Mr. Chen has braids?" Tao Fan asked suddenly. At this time, Wu Mingxian knocked on the door and came in, smiling.Tao Fan said, "Old Wu, just wait." Wu Mingxian was still smiling, and withdrew. Seeing this situation, Guan Yinda understood the importance of this issue, thought it over, and said, "I can only guess. I think Mr. Chen is either not used to the new situation, and growing his hair is his way of protest. Like some young people in the West, if they want to rebel against the mainstream society, they deliberately wear exotic clothes. Either Chen Lao imitates young people and wants to change the way of life. The so-called old man is talking about teenage madness. Neuropathy." "Which situation do you think is most likely?" Tao Fan asked again. Guan Yinda said: "I think nine times out of ten it is the first situation. Most old comrades have complaints. He used to be the secretary of the prefectural party committee, and he was the first secretary of the Xizhou prefectural party committee. Anyone with the same qualifications will not become a provincial party committee. A cadre above the ministry? He has retired for many years and only received a sub-provincial salary, and it is just a false name. In addition, he may not understand some things in the current society, which makes him more and more weird. Maybe he has some brains Question, otherwise, what are you doing with such long braids?" After hearing this, Tao Fan didn't show any attitude, he just said: "You go. Call Wu Mingxian." Guan Yinda went to Wu Mingxian and said, "Secretary Wu, Secretary Tao invites you." Wu Mingxian was still smiling as before, and spit out two words inexplicably: "Xiaoguan!" Wu Mingxian called the word "Xiaoguan" in a meaningful way, even like giving a glance at a man and a woman.Guan Yinda smiled and returned to his office.He looked down on Wu Mingxian more and more.This person was always picking on him at the beginning, but now that Tao Fan is very satisfied with him, he is very warm to him.I thought you, Wu Mingxian, a dignified committee member, don't need to be careful in front of me! Every day after get off work, Guan Yinda had to ask Tao Fan if there was anything to do tonight.If Tao Fan worked at night, Guan Yinda couldn't rest.Today Tao Fan said that he was fine tonight, Guan Yinda secretly breathed a sigh of relief, he really wanted to relax. Sending Tao Fan back, Liu Ping said: "Chief Guan, I will send you off." Guan Yinda hurriedly said: "Don't send it off, I'll walk, a few steps." Guan Yinda got off the car on the way.He can't let people gossip, a secretary needs a car to pick him up.I go with the car to work, just to pick up Tao Fan, and I can't let the car go downstairs after get off work.But every time Liu Ping couldn't help saying send him off, it seemed respectful. Tao Fan was fine at night, he wanted to meet Mr. Chen alone, but he didn't want Guan Yinda to follow him.He didn't take the secretary with him, one didn't put on airs in front of the old secretary, and the other didn't have anyone present when he was embarrassed. After dinner, Tao Fan told his wife Lin Jingyi to go for a walk, and then went out.He walked down the winding path slowly.After more than two years, the peach trees on the mountain have grown well.It is late spring, and the mountains are full of red.In the twilight, the falling flowers are a little more miserable.For some unknown reason, Tao Fan just likes peach trees.He goes to and from get off work every day, and he has to pass by Taolin several times.The shadows of the trees are whirling, and the houses are faint.He couldn't help but take a deep breath, feeling a fresh air flowing all over his body. After descending the mountain, Tao Fan went straight to the building where Mr. Chen lived.After thinking about it, it is estimated that the apartment on the first floor to the south is Mr. Chen's home.But there was no light in the house.Tao Fan tried to knock on the door, but no one answered.After several knocks, the door finally opened. Sure enough, it was Mr. Chen who asked, "Who are you looking for?" "Secretary Chen, I'm Tao Fan. I'm here to see you." Tao Fan said. Chen Lao didn't speak, turned around and walked inside.Seeing that he didn't close the door, Tao Fan followed him in.The lighting was dim and the curtains were covering it, so no wonder there was no light outside.There was a musty smell in the room, very pungent.There is almost no furniture in the living room, just a table and two long wooden chairs.The table is an old-fashioned desk, with the words "Designed by the Xizhou Prefectural Committee" faintly visible on it, I am afraid it is quite old; the wooden chair is also the kind commonly used in conference rooms in the past, but it is painted with "Designed by the Xizhou Commissioner's Office" , it was actually an object from the 1950s.There are no household appliances, the only valuable thing is the small radio on the table, and the paint is already mottled. "Old Chen, you are still in good health." Tao Fan sat down by himself, taking care not to let himself pick his legs. "Are you here alone?" Mr. Chen answered the wrong question. Tao Fan said: "I came to see you alone, and I want to hear your opinion. It would be inconvenient to have other people present." "I don't speak reactionary words, what's the inconvenience?" Chen Lao said. "That's true. I'm not working, so I'm going out for a walk..." Before Tao Fan could finish speaking, Mr. Chen took over the conversation: "In your hands, public and private are clear. No wonder you have to go to the office to talk about work. After eight hours, it's your own time." Tao Fan said: "Mr. Chen, let me tell you, the atmosphere is not as good as before. People who come to your house are always asking for something, and they always have to send this or that. It seems that you can't enter the door empty-handed. So Ah, I made a dead rule never to receive guests at home." Old Chen opened his eyes, then half closed them again, and asked, "Is this really the case?" Tao Fan laughed and said: "I have offended many people because of this. Some people say that entering my door is more difficult than entering the palace. Let them say so." Mr. Chen said: "So, we both have the same problem. I thought it was different. At that time, it was nothing to give gifts to my door. But when I got home, they would make friends, old leaders, old comrades-in-arms. I It’s annoying to hear these words. I will not let them enter my house even if I die. It’s been almost thirty years, and few outsiders have entered my house. Some people say that my house is the Palace of the King of Hell, and I will let them say it.” Tao Fan inadvertently picked up Erlang's leg and put it down again.Hearing what old Chen said, he thought that the old man was not unkind. "Old Chen, do you have any difficulties in life? If you need anything, you can come to me. Don't go to anyone else, just go to me." Tao Fan said. "I have no difficulties, the masses have difficulties, and many of them are still suffering. You are the secretary, and you must do more practical things for the masses." Old Chen's eyes were always half-opened and half-closed. Tao Fan said: "Mr. Chen's warning is correct. Some comrades now have a weak sense of the masses, which is contrary to the purpose of the party." Mr. Chen lowered his head, as if talking to himself: "We are all Communists, and we serve the people. We come from all corners of the country, and we have come together for the same revolutionary goal. This, this... policy decisions After that, cadres are the decisive factor. We must listen to the opinions of the masses, even if they have opposed our opinions. Mr. Li Dingming, a democrat, put forward his opinions well, and we accepted them. Tao Fan kept nodding without interrupting the old man's words.What Mr. Chen said were all quotations from Chairman Mao, but he sang like some people, running from one song to another.Seeing Mr. Chen paused, Tao Fan said, "I will do what you want. Mr. Chen, I want to see your house, can I?" "There's nothing to see." Mr. Chen stood up as he said that, and led Tao Fan inside, adding, "I only use the living room, one room, the kitchen and the toilet. Those two rooms are not needed, lock them. For many years." When I entered the room, I saw that there was only one bed inside, not even a stool.That bed also belonged to the public house, and it had "Reserved by the Xizhou Regional Revolutionary Committee" written on it.The quilt on the bed was neatly folded, like a military bed in a barracks. Tao Fan's chest couldn't help but feel numb: "Old Chen, your life is too poor." Old Chen didn't seem to hear, and came out without saying anything.Tao Fan followed and said, "Mr. Chen, are you healthy? I asked the Veteran Bureau to organize regular physical examinations for veteran comrades. Have you always participated?" Mr. Chen said, "I'm fine." "You arrange a time, and I will accompany you to the hospital." Old Chen looked at Tao Fan, and said again: "I'm fine." Although Mr. Chen is not as unapproachable as people say, he is always cold.The two talked a lot, but in fact it was just you talking yours and I talking mine.Tao Fan always followed what Mr. Chen said, or listened to what he had to say.It is definitely impossible to fully communicate with Mr. Chen.If you think of Mr. Chen as a very knowledgeable old leader who can put forward some good opinions with sincerity, or imagine him as a hidden expert who utters good strategies for governing the world in one sentence, then it is a movie cliché and a popular novel.Mr. Chen is sincere, kind, and simple, but what he speaks are words from another world.This is the so-called generation gap.The generation gap is not estrangement, but progress.Of course progress comes at a price.A lot of things that Mr. Chen is not used to have happened, and that is the price.Tao Fan could only express his deep respect to Mr. Chen, that's all. Coming out of Chen's hometown, Tao Fan wandered on Taoling.People have agreed to call this mountain Taoling for a long time.Tao Fan was haunted by some heavy emotion, his chest was congested.He thought that history can play tricks on people, so he made a big joke with Mr. Chen.Who can guarantee that the job I am doing now will be a joke again in a few decades?He had no doubts about the authenticity of Chen Lao's feelings, but the old man could only belong to another era. The night wind blows, and the peach blossoms fall colorfully.Another spring is getting old.Tao Fan feels that there are so many things in his hands, and time is so hasty.It is useless to be anxious, no matter how many things there are, you have to do them one by one. For the next few months, no matter how hard Tao Fan worked during the day, he still had to find time to visit veteran cadres at night.He no longer went alone, he always brought Guan Yinda with him.It is said that Guan Yinda was specially brought here. In the future, if the old leader has something to do, he can talk to Tao Fan, or he can ask Guan Yinda to bring a message.The other old comrades are not like Mr. Chen, no matter how much they put on airs, they are still grateful in their hearts.Tao Fan hadn't gone to a few households before the news had already spread.Later, when Tao Fan went to another house, they made preparations and handed in the report.Or transfer jobs for their children, or ask for a bigger house, or sue a certain cadre in office.Tao Fan almost always stated his position on the spot, and agreed to resolve all requests.Only those who complain, he is more cautious.He spoke harshly, but his instructions were by no means arbitrary. He only asked the relevant departments to seriously investigate and implement them. When the old man is happy, he is almost like a child.Everyone they met said that Secretary Tao was a good secretary, and Xizhou had hope.Several veteran cadres even jointly wrote a letter of thanks and posted it in front of the prefectural committee office building.Looking at the big red paper, Tao Fan felt indescribably embarrassed.He didn't want to be so ostentatious, it would cause trouble. Sure enough, within a few days, someone said that Tao Fan's skills in winning people's hearts are really powerful, and he might not be a good person.It turns out that there are factions among the veteran cadres.Years of political struggles, all over the place, made the grudge between them too deep.Their support or opposition seems to be very principled, but in fact there is no principle.The classic teaching is still at work: whatever the enemy opposes, we support; whatever the enemy supports, we oppose.