Chapter 10: The First Day at the County Committee

He Shinian rose early for his first day on the job. Arriving at the County Party Committee office at 7:20 AM, he still had forty minutes before the official start of the workday. He deeply cherished this position and the opportunity it afforded him, and as such, he was brimming with enthusiasm, eager to immerse himself in his role as secretary as quickly as possible.

When he reached his own office, the door was ajar. He found it strange; who could have arrived earlier than him? Just then, the sound of someone mopping came from the Secretary’s office. He walked over instinctively and saw a woman with a high ponytail, head bowed, busy at work. As she mopped, her hair swayed rhythmically. Dressed in a white, low-cut T-shirt, she possessed a slender figure that highlighted her graceful waistline. Because she was looking down, He Shinian could not see her face clearly. However, from his angle, he could catch a glimpse of the porcelain-white skin at her neckline, which moved in rhythm with her motions.

"Hello," He Shinian said, averting his gaze.

"Ah!" The woman gasped, clearly unaware of his presence. As she looked up, He Shinian recognized her. "Tian Mi, why are you here?"

"Secretary He, why are you here so early?" she asked in surprise. Due to the exertion, beads of sweat dotted her forehead and the tip of her nose. Her face was flushed, radiant like a peach blossom, giving her an alluring charm.

"Does the County Committee office not have a cleaning staff? Why are you doing the cleaning?" He Shinian asked, puzzled. A flash of annoyance crossed Tian Mi’s brow, though she quickly masked it. "Director Ou said the Secretary’s office is very important and he doesn't trust outsiders to clean it."

He Shinian nodded. "Let me help you."

"No need, I can handle it alone."

He Shinian smiled and picked up a rag, setting to work. "It’s my first day at the County Committee, and I don't know much yet. Taking this time to clean is a perfect opportunity to familiarize myself with the work environment."

Tian Mi watched his back, feeling that he was different from the others—at least, different from Wang Dongge, the County Party Secretary’s former secretary. In her eyes, Wang Dongge had been arrogant and condescending, always looking down on people and never meeting her gaze properly—except when she was cleaning, at which point his eyes would wander like a water snake across her body. He Shinian, however, was devoid of such airs and was incredibly approachable. For that alone, Tian Mi felt a sense of goodwill toward him.

By the time they finished, it was only 7:40 AM. He Shinian returned to his office, grabbed his notebook, and went downstairs to Director Ou Huasheng’s office. Since the door was locked and Ou hadn't arrived yet, he waited outside. Ou Huasheng had served as the Director of the County Party Committee Office for three years, always arriving ten minutes early to plan the day’s work. He Shinian waited for him specifically to learn about Wu Yunqiu’s schedule for the day and the coming week.

Soon, Ou Huasheng’s stout frame appeared at the top of the stairs. He looked surprised to see He Shinian. "Xiao He, you’re here already? Have you handled everything at your old unit?"

He Shinian keenly noticed that Ou had shifted from addressing him as "Comrade Shinian" yesterday to "Xiao He" today. "There wasn't much to hand over, so I finished yesterday. Since I’ve never worked as a secretary before, I’m quite anxious, so I wanted to get an early start."

Ou Huasheng patted his shoulder with a smile. "No rush, take it slow. Getting into the rhythm of the work takes time."

"Director Ou, I’m currently completely in the dark," He Shinian said modestly. "I hope you will offer plenty of criticism and guidance."

"That goes without saying, it’s part of my job," Ou replied. He Shinian then asked about Secretary Wu’s schedule. Seeing how quickly He Shinian had stepped into his role, Ou did not hesitate to open his memo and go over the upcoming work arrangements. He Shinian took careful notes and repeated them back to ensure accuracy.

Ou Huasheng nodded. "That’s the gist of it. If there are any sudden changes, I’ll let you know." After asking a few more professional details, He Shinian took his leave. Watching him go, Ou Huasheng wore a thoughtful smile. He hadn't expected this former soldier to hit the ground running on his very first day—he was miles ahead of Wang Dongge. Why hadn't he discovered someone like this sooner?

Back in his office, there were a few minutes left before the official start time. When the lead car of the County Committee pulled into the courtyard, He Shinian hurried downstairs to wait by the stairs. As Wu Yunqiu approached, he stepped forward and took her briefcase.

Wu Yunqiu looked surprised. "Shinian, you’re here already? I told Director Ou that since this week is quiet, you could finish your handover and start next week."

"There wasn't much to hand over," He Shinian replied. "I just felt uneasy thinking about serving you, Secretary Wu, and wanted to get here as soon as possible to familiarize myself with the work."

"That’s fine," she said. "Use this time to settle in. If you don't understand something, ask Director Ou."

Once inside the office, she noticed a cup of jasmine tea already waiting on her desk. "Did you make this?"

"I saw tea in the box on your desk, so I took the liberty of preparing it."

Wu Yunqiu took a sip; the temperature was perfect. "For work matters, coordinate with Director Ou; he will inform you of my daily schedule."

"I have already met with Director Ou," He Shinian said. Wu Yunqiu’s eyes brightened, though she remained composed. He Shinian then presented his report on the day's schedule. Impressed, she nodded and added, "For the next few days, focus on getting accustomed to the secretarial work. Also, I need to read the People's Daily, Xiling Daily, Donghua Daily, and the Ninghai Weekly every day."

He Shinian had spent the previous night cramming and was well-prepared. "Secretary Wu, I have already prepared those newspapers for you."

Seeing the papers neatly placed on the table, a look of appreciation crossed Wu Yunqiu's face. After He Shinian left, she murmured to herself, "The old commander said that while He Shinian has a distinct personality, he is level-headed, understands the bigger picture, and is quick on the uptake. Based on today's performance, he was absolutely right."