Chapter 1022 - 1019: Criticism
Xiao Xue gritted her teeth and said, "Secretary Tang, these days, the City Committee has been talking about you. I heard that some of the standing committee members have reported you to the Provincial Committee."
Tang Yumeng was taken aback and asked, "Why did they report me, and for what?"
Xiao Xue said, "Isn't it because you and Lin Chuan were like that in front of the world's cameras? The committee members are all saying that as a City Committee Secretary, your actions were inappropriate, damaging our government's image."
Tang Yumeng was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "How could this damage the government's image? Even though I am a City Committee Secretary, I am also a woman. I need love too. Let them report me; I have nothing to hide."
Xiao Xue said, "But I heard that the Provincial Committee is sending someone down to talk to you these days."
Tang Yumeng replied, "Don't listen to their nonsense. Go ahead with your work."
After Xiao Xue left, Tang Yumeng sat on the sofa in a daze for a long time. Then she stood up, walked to the desk, picked up the phone, and dialed Secretary Liu of the Provincial Committee.
"Hello, Secretary Liu, this is Tang Yumeng." After dialing, Tang Yumeng said respectfully.
Secretary Liu's voice came through the phone: "Xiao Tang, it's good that you're back. Come over to my office right away."
After hanging up the phone, Tang Yumeng sensed something was off in Secretary Liu's tone. Without delaying, she asked Luo Guoqing to drive, and three hours later, they arrived at the Provincial Committee office building.
In front of Secretary Liu's office door, Tang Yumeng gently knocked a few times.
The door was ajar, and inside, Secretary Liu's deep voice came: "Come in."
Tang Yumeng pushed the door open, went in, and then closed the door softly, calling out, "Secretary Liu."
Secretary Liu raised his head, looked at Tang Yumeng, and said, "You're here, have a seat."
Tang Yumeng sat down on the nearby sofa. Secretary Liu continued, "Comrade Xiao Tang, are you aware that the Provincial Committee has received many complaint letters about you recently?"
Tang Yumeng nodded and said, "I heard."
"Then you must also know the reason for the complaints in these letters," Secretary Liu said.
Tang Yumeng said, "Secretary Liu, you're a reasonable person. Even if I kissed Lin Chuan in front of the world's media cameras, how could that harm our government's image?"
Secretary Liu chuckled and said, "It indeed doesn't count as such. But have you thought about this? You are a dignified City Committee Secretary. Your every word and action represent our party and government. Such actions in a public setting are unacceptable to the vast majority."
"Secretary Liu, first and foremost, I am a woman. I have my own love life. What happens between Lin Chuan and me is personal and doesn't represent the state and government," Tang Yumeng said stubbornly.
Secretary Liu laughed again, saying, "What you said isn't quite right. Your matters with Lin Chuan are indeed personal. No one dictates what you do in private. But this was in public, understand?"
Tang Yumeng pondered for a moment, felt that Secretary Liu made sense, and silently nodded.
Secretary Liu said, "Regarding your issue, I have already communicated with several leaders of the Provincial Committee. Everyone agrees that you need to make a profound self-criticism to the Provincial Committee. Do you accept?"
"I accept the higher-ups' criticism," Tang Yumeng said. "I will make a self-criticism to the Provincial Committee and the Jiangbei City Standing Committee for my mistake this time."
Secretary Liu nodded approvingly and said, "Alright, let's put this matter aside for now. There's something else to discuss with you today. Ever since Song Ming was dismissed, the first deputy secretary position has been vacant. After deliberation by the Provincial Committee, a new deputy secretary will be assigned to your Jiangbei City."
Tang Yumeng did not oppose this matter and said, "Secretary Liu, that's great news."
Secretary Liu smiled and said, "The one assigned to you is a very young cadre named Chen Mingguo, previously the Executive Deputy Mayor of Tongjiang City. I hope you all will cooperate well and strive to create a new prospect for Jiangbei City."
...
Leaving the Provincial Committee office building, Tang Yumeng didn't linger. She had Luo Guoqing take her straight back to Jiangbei City.
Upon returning to her residence in Jiangbei City, it was already past five in the afternoon. Tang Yumeng took a shower, donned a light pink silk nightgown, and sat on the sofa with a glass of red wine.
The nightgown slit opened, revealing her sensual and full legs, exuding a very enticing aura.
Gently swirling the wine glass in her hand, Tang Yumeng slightly closed her eyes as scenes from the public trial day flashed in her mind. Lin Chuan's vows lingered long in her mind, making her feel like the happiest woman in the world.
Although she and Lin Chuan still couldn't be together now, at the moment of parting, Lin Chuan had quietly told her: "Yumeng, rest assured, it won't be long before we are together again. When the time comes, I will make you the happiest woman in the world."
Lin Chuan's words filled Tang Yumeng with unwavering belief. She knew that his words meant he would definitely come out of prison safely.
As these thoughts ran through her mind, she recalled moments together with Lin Chuan, especially the crazy scenes when that jerk was with her, making her face blush involuntarily.
Ripples started to stir in her heart, as if a flame rose from deep within. Tang Yumeng shook her head vigorously and tilted her head back, downing the glass of red wine in one go.
The more she tried not to think about it, the more her mind began to wander. Tang Yumeng felt she was almost going crazy. Ever since she had a substantial relationship with Lin Chuan, the fire deeply buried in her heart had been completely ignited by him.
"Lin Chuan, you bastard," Tang Yumeng blurted out for no reason.
Ring ring ring...
Just as Tang Yumeng was lost in thought, her phone rang.
Tang Yumeng perked up, got up, and picked up the phone.
The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number. Tang Yumeng answered the call, and a strange man's voice came through: "Is this Secretary Tang?"
Tang Yumeng said into the phone, "Yes, it's me. May I ask who you are?"
"You don't need to know who I am, Secretary Tang. I just want to tell you that recently someone plans to harm you. You'd better be careful," the strange man on the phone said.
Tang Yumeng was startled and asked, "Who wants to harm me?"
The strange man's voice replied, "That I can't say. Secretary Tang, you'd better personally visit the Jiangbei Daily office tomorrow."
As soon as he finished speaking, the other party hung up the phone.
Tang Yumeng put down the phone, pondering. According to what the strange man on the phone said, could it be that the person who wants to harm her is at Jiangbei Daily? But she didn't even know anyone from Jiangbei Daily.
After thinking for a long time without coming up with an answer, Tang Yumeng decided to have Xiao Xue investigate it the next day.
Early the next morning, as soon as she got to work, Tang Yumeng called Xiao Xue in and said, "Xiao Xue, go to Jiangbei Daily and help me check on something."
Xiao Xue was slightly taken aback and asked, "What do you want me to check?"
Tang Yumeng whispered a few words in Xiao Xue's ear. After listening, Xiao Xue nodded, turned to leave, but Tang Yumeng stopped her again: "Wait a moment, also call Luo Guoqing, and if necessary, let him use some means."
Xiao Xue nodded in understanding, turned, and walked out, entering the break room where Luo Guoqing was chatting with Song Wen, Song Wu, and others, and called out, "Brother Luo, come out for a moment."
Song Wu whistled and laughed, "Why can't you talk here, have to go outside? Is there something going on between you two?"
Everyone laughed, with laughter sounding a bit lewd.
Luo Guoqing spat at Song Wu, cursing, "Damn, can't you say something decent?"
Xiao Xue blushed, glared at Song Wen and Song Wu, then turned and left the break room.
Luo Guoqing followed her out of the break room to a secluded place, where Xiao Xue relayed Tang Yumeng's assignment to him.
Upon hearing, Luo Guoqing immediately patted his chest and said, "Secretary Tang's matters are my matters. Let's go to Jiangbei Daily now."
At Jiangbei Daily, Li Bingyang had been drafting an article for the past two days, planning to publish a piece about Tang Yumeng. He had already thought of the content, intending to use Tang Yumeng's performance on the public trial day to make a fuss.
Li Bingyang finished a draft but felt that the language wasn't strong enough, so he found his colleague Xiao Mo for help, promising him a substantial writing fee once the job was done.
Xiao Mo looked at Li Bingyang's draft and realized the article was about Secretary Tang. Being a reporter with a strong sense of justice, he felt what Li Bingyang was doing was not right. Thus, the call to Tang Yumeng from that strange man happened earlier.
Luo Guoqing and Xiao Xue arrived at Jiangbei Daily and directly sought out the newspaper's president, Zeng Youfa.
Zeng Youfa, nearing fifty years old, was severely balding, with hardly any hair left.
When Luo Guoqing and Xiao Xue revealed their identities, Zeng Youfa was startled. Although he didn't understand why the two came to the newspaper, since they were sent by City Committee Secretary Tang, he dared not neglect them.
Zeng Youfa warmly and enthusiastically welcomed them to sit down and personally made them tea, nearly fawning as he asked, "What guidance do you two leaders have for our newspaper?"
Xiao Xue coldly smiled and said, "Our Secretary Tang heard someone from your newspaper intends to harm her, so she specifically sent us to investigate."
Upon hearing this, cold sweat immediately appeared on Zeng Youfa's face. To dare intend harm to Secretary Tang—it would cost him the official hat he worked so hard for.
"Who, who is it, having the guts to target Secretary Tang?" Zeng Youfa wiped his cold sweat while speaking.
Xiao Xue said, "We haven't identified the specific person yet, but since it's someone from your newspaper, I think the most they could do is write an article to ruin Secretary Tang's reputation."
Xiao Xue's words made it clear, and Zeng Youfa, being a leader, understood immediately and began investigating. After searching for a while, he finally traced it to Li Bingyang.