Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 333 Officials, Actors Too

Ding Yiyi said softly, "Sometimes I wonder, if I hadn't accidentally discovered that 'China Mobile customer service' message that night, would I still be in the dark? Would I still think he's a good husband?"

Wu Zhiyuan chimed in, "These kinds of people are usually very good at disguising themselves and are also masters of time management."

However, the truth will eventually come out. The fox's tail will always be revealed.

You're lucky you were able to spot the problem in time and cut your losses.

Ding Yiyi smiled wryly: "Luck? Maybe. But sometimes I think, if I hadn't discovered it, wouldn't I have been happier?"

"Being foolishly deceived by him for the rest of my life, at least I won't have to endure those disgusting things."

Wu Zhiyuan shook his head: "County Chief Ding, that's not right."

Happiness built on deception is not true happiness.

Think about it, if you were kept in the dark all along, you would think you had a good husband, you would think you had a happy marriage, and you would think you had found your home.

But in reality? They were all fake.

What he gives you is an act, not his true self.

What difference is there between that kind of happiness and a flower in a mirror or the moon's reflection in water?

Ding Yiyi murmured, "Zhiyuan, maybe you're right. Sigh, I had a few drinks tonight and said some things that had been weighing on my mind."

Thank you for listening to my rambling on and on. I'm sorry you had to laugh at my messy marriage.

Wu Zhiyuan realized that Ding Yiyi tonight was a flesh-and-blood woman with grievances who needed to confide in others, rather than a capable and decisive female county magistrate.

"Zhiyuan, do you know? I've never told anyone this much detail before. My parents and best friend only know that he's a womanizer and likes to play around with women."

I don't know why, but I blurted everything out today.

Perhaps it was the atmosphere tonight, perhaps it was the alcohol that made me lower my guard, or perhaps it was because you were the one listening. You made me feel safe.

Wu Zhiyuan was taken aback: "Safe?"

Ding Yi nodded: "Having worked in the system for so many years, I've seen too many people."

Some people get close to you because of your position;

Some people flatter you because of your power;

Some people treat you like a brother or sister because they see you as someone they can use. But you're different.

You never flatter me or try to please me.

You give me a sense of security and comfort.

Therefore, whether at the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection or now, I prefer to treat you as a friend or a younger brother, rather than a subordinate.

"County Chief Ding, I am truly moved by what you said."

It is my honor to have your trust.

I feel very grounded and motivated to work with you and do something practical for Qingshan County.

Ding Yi smiled: "Zhiyuan, you're being very sincere. I can tell."

Wu Zhiyuan smiled calmly: "These are the words from the bottom of my heart."

Ding Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Zhiyuan, do you think that people like us, who have been in the system for a long time, become less genuine?"

Wu Zhiyuan looked at Ding Yiyi: "Really?"

"Zhiyuan, look, every day at work, you have to deal with your superiors, your subordinates, and all sorts of relationships."

Sometimes I want to say something, but I don't dare to; sometimes I have to say things against my conscience and do things against my conscience; sometimes I know I'm acting, but I still have to act.

Over time, sometimes it becomes difficult to distinguish which is the real you and which is an act.

Wu Zhiyuan smiled: "I wholeheartedly agree. Many people say that many officials are highly skilled actors, and upon closer reflection, that's certainly true."

As you said, you know you're acting, but you have to act.

In officialdom, acting too impulsively often leads to difficulties and a short career advancement.

After a pause, Wu Zhiyuan continued, "When facing superiors, one should be respectful and polite, yet not lose one's own opinions."

When dealing with colleagues, it is important to maintain unity while also keeping an appropriate distance.

When dealing with subordinates, one should use both kindness and strictness.

When interacting with the public, one should be approachable and friendly.

Every role requires a different "acting style".

Of course, it might be more appropriate to describe it as role-playing rather than acting.

Often, personal emotions and preferences must give way to responsibilities and the overall situation.

This isn't hypocrisy, it's just a work requirement.

Just like doctors, they shouldn't cry and wail just because a patient's condition is serious, as this could affect treatment;

Judges cannot render unjust judgments simply out of sympathy for the defendant.

"Yes, you make a lot of sense. We are leading cadres, not ordinary people. But many times, I genuinely envy ordinary people."

Because they can cry when they want to cry, laugh when they want to laugh, and say whatever they want to say.

No need to consider the consequences, no need to worry about your image, no need to care about other people's opinions.

But we can't. If we cry, some say we're weak; if we laugh, some say we're frivolous; if we're silent, some say we're aloof; if we speak, some say we sound bureaucratic.

Therefore, we have to continue playing our roles, we have to continue wearing masks.

Wu Zhiyuan continued, "That's precisely why we need moments to be our true selves."

Just like tonight, you are not the county head, and I am not the executive deputy county head.

You are the older sister who tells stories, and I am the younger brother who listens.

Ding Yiyi murmured, "Yes, I haven't felt this real in a long time."

Living with a mask on every day, over time, the mask becomes like it's grown onto your face, and you can't take it off.

Occasionally, when I take it off, I feel uneasy, a sense of emptiness.

Wu Zhiyuan said, "That's because we're so used to that role."

Just like actors, after playing a role for a long time, it takes some time to get over it after filming wraps up.

Some actors, like Chen Xiaoxu who played Lin Daiyu in "Dream of the Red Chamber," became so immersed in their roles that they never truly escaped the character.

The two chatted for a while longer before Wu Zhiyuan stood up and said, "County Chief Ding, I have to go to Dingyue tomorrow, so I won't disturb your rest any longer."

Ding Yiyi seemed to want to say something, her lips moved, but in the end she didn't say anything.

A strange thought suddenly flashed through Wu Zhiyuan's mind.

If he stays, if he says something, if he acts like those men who act recklessly under the influence of alcohol, what will happen?

Ding Yiyi might not refuse, and might even go along with it.

After all, one was a lonely man and the other a widow; the two lonely individuals had just had a heart-to-heart talk in a hotel in a foreign land.

The atmosphere was just right, the ambiguity was just right, and the timing was just right.

Ding Yiyi was probably waiting too, waiting for him to speak, waiting for him to get closer, waiting for him to do something.

Wu Zhiyuan ultimately did not do anything out of line.

If he does it, how is he any different from Qian Jin?

Besides, if he were the same kind of person as Qian Jin, then at this moment, he wouldn't be in Ding Yiyi's room, but lying on top of Hu Lijin.

Hu Lijin entered his room tonight specifically to get revenge on her ex-husband, Zhou Tianming.

He can actually do anything he wants.

……

Dingyue Group.

Shen Yuwei greeted them at the entrance of the group's headquarters.

Today, Shen Yuwei wore a well-fitting light blue business suit, which perfectly outlined her voluptuous yet not fat figure. Her body was full where it should be and slender where it should be.

In the group's conference room, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Ding Yiyi gave a brief introduction to Qingshan County's basic situation, resource endowment, and current development strategy, highlighting the county party committee and government's overall approach of "strengthening the county through industry, enriching the county through agriculture, and revitalizing the county through culture and tourism."

Then she said, "President Shen, friends of Dingyue, Qingshan County is a poor mountainous county with a weak foundation and weak industry, which is its weakness."

However, we also have advantages: a good ecology, abundant agricultural resources, a profound cultural heritage, and relatively low labor costs.

More importantly, the new county government leadership is determined to optimize the business environment, sincerely serve enterprises, and make friends with entrepreneurs.

Our previous cooperation in Xindian Town is a good example of this.

The brewery restructuring project, from negotiation to implementation, and now to normal production and operation, took only a few months, solving the employment problem for hundreds of employees and revitalizing existing assets.

The agricultural product deep processing project in Xindian Town Industrial Park is progressing smoothly and is expected to be put into production in the first half of this year.

The success of these two projects is inseparable from the foresight and boldness of Dingyue Group, and it also proves that Qingshan County is a promising land for investment and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Shen Yuwei listened attentively, nodding from time to time.

After Ding Yi finished speaking, he gestured for Wu Zhiyuan to continue.

Wu Zhiyuan first opened the PowerPoint presentation, and a map of Qingshan County and various resource distribution maps appeared on the screen.

"President Shen, everyone, Qingshan County is rich in resources, including not only abundant cultural and tourism resources, such as Qingshan Ancient City and Qingshan Gorge Scenic Area, but also rich agricultural resources."

Wu Zhiyuan switched slides to introduce the rich variety and output of agricultural products in Qingshan County.

Next, the county's economic development zone will be introduced in detail.

"Our vision is to leverage the strong capital strength, market channels, and brand operation capabilities of Dingyue Group, combined with the abundant high-quality agricultural resources of Qingshan County, the preferential policies of land and taxation in the Economic Development Zone, as well as the advantages of logistics, transportation, and location, to create a modern agricultural industrial demonstration park in the Economic Development Zone that integrates deep processing of agricultural products, R&D and testing, cold chain logistics, and brand marketing."

Wu Zhiyuan further explained: "This industrial park can be more than just a processing plant."

It can be deeply integrated with the cultural and tourism industry.

For example, developing high-end souvenirs, health foods, and food-medicine homology products with Qingshan characteristics;

Tourist experience workshops can be set up to allow tourists to see and experience the processing of high-quality agricultural products firsthand.

It can also be combined with ecological tea gardens and orchards to develop sightseeing agriculture, fruit picking experiences, and rural complexes.

Achieving true integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, and connecting agriculture with other sectors, will not only enhance industrial value and boost farmers' employment and income, but also enrich the supply of tourism products, creating a virtuous cycle.