"You're Qin Mu, the county magistrate of Huaining County, Jiangzhou, right?"
Song Jian got out of the car, walked up to Qin Mu, and said calmly, "Come in with me, the leader wants to see you!"
Really?
It worked!
Qin Mu's eyes didn't show much surprise, he just chuckled and said, "Thank you, thank you so much. The leader isn't busy this morning, is he?"
"You can't let seeing me interfere with your official work!"
Huh?
What does that mean?
Trying to be smug after getting the benefit?
Song Jian was speechless. This kid made such a big fuss just to see the leader, and now that he has the chance, he says this?
When isn't the leader busy?
"The leader said that you came all the way from such a remote area as Huaining County, so you must have a very important matter to dare to stop the car. Therefore, he took some time to see you and hopes to hear some important things from you. I think you wouldn't joke about your career, would you?"
Song Jian looked at Qin Mu deeply and said with utmost seriousness.
Understood!
Qin Mu understood the underlying meaning; if he didn't explain himself clearly today, his superiors would likely reprimand him.
Openly blocking a car at the provincial government building entrance!
If nothing crucial came of it, his superiors would definitely hold the Jiangzhou Municipal Party Committee accountable, and the Jiangzhou Municipal Party Committee would certainly punish Qin Mu.
Following Song Jian, he entered the provincial government building.
"The leader has some urgent matters to attend to. Please sit here for a while and have some water. The leader will be here soon," Song Jian said directly, arranging for Qin Mu and Xu Lu to sit in a small conference room.
"Okay, no problem."
Qin Mu readily agreed, then sat down, drinking water and eating snacks.
Xu Lu, standing to the side, felt like she was dreaming.
"County Head, this...how did you do all this?"
Xu Lu felt completely bewildered. "I haven't even realized what's happening yet, how did we end up sitting in the provincial government's conference room?"
"How did you know that car belonged to a leader? And how could you be so sure the leader would see us?"
Everything had happened so fast, Xu Lu hadn't had much time to think. Even now, she still couldn't quite grasp it.
"I did my homework last night."
Qin Mu smiled. "What kind of car a leader drives isn't really a secret. Besides, you can observe the secretary in the passenger seat to determine who's in the back!"
Hearing this, Xu Lu suddenly understood.
The person in the passenger seat is always the leader's secretary. This person is fixed; if the secretary is there, then the person in the back must be their designated leader.
"Stopping the car today was a last resort," Qin Mu sighed.
"We're short on time. If we want to see the leader sooner, conventional methods won't work. We have to try something different."
"Leader Jiang has been in the position of Executive Deputy Director for three years. He definitely wants a promotion. Right now, everything is about stability; we can't afford any mistakes. If I stop the car and he refuses to see me, it'll be easy for someone to use it against me, affecting my promotion."
Xu Lu was stunned by these words.
County Chief Qin's thinking was frighteningly meticulous. He even considered the possibility of affecting the leader's promotion?
"Won't the leader be angry?"
Xu Lu suddenly thought of something and asked instinctively.
"Definitely!"
Qin Mu gave a wry smile. "Few leaders have good tempers. If we can't get a straight answer today, we're both in serious trouble!"
This…
Xu Lu was still basking in the joy of the leader's willingness to see them, when County Chief Qin suddenly said things were likely badly for them…
This left her with mixed feelings!
"Have you thought about what to say to the leader?"
Xu Lu quickly asked.
"Not yet, I'll just improvise. I don't really know what to say."
Qin Mu shook his head and casually said, "I'll answer whatever the leader asks. These things require improvisation."
Improvisation?
This is insane!
Xu Lu was speechless. County Chief Qin's audacity was extraordinary; he was so casual even with provincial leaders!
"County Chief, you're...you're...you're really amazing."
Xu Lu couldn't help but give a thumbs up, saying, "I...I've never seen a leader like you before!"
"Keep an eye on me later, in case I can't answer something, smooth things over and give me some time to react," Qin Mu instructed.
Huh?
Me?
Xu Lu froze for a moment, instinctively replying, "Okay...okay...I'll try my best..."
She agreed verbally, but deep down, she was genuinely unsure.
Her reaction time wasn't exactly fast. Was County Chief Qin overestimating her by entrusting her with such a difficult task?
"Bang!"
A dozen minutes later, the office door was suddenly pushed open.
Song Jian, who had left earlier, reappeared, and behind him entered a middle-aged man with exceptionally sharp eyes.
Jiang Songshan, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangnan Province!
"Huaining County Magistrate, Qin Mu!"
"Transferred from the military to civilian life."
"He didn't bring back the good military conduct, but he did bring back this temper!"
Jiang Songshan glanced at Qin Mu and said coldly, "What, were you just as reckless in the military?"
"Never making appointments to see your superiors, only knowing how to stop cars halfway?"
This…
Upon entering, without giving Qin Mu a chance to speak, he launched into a barrage of questions, his aura overwhelming and oppressive; Qin Mu could clearly feel the air around him solidify.
After all, someone working in the provincial department has an extraordinary aura!
Fortunately, Qin Mu wasn't unfamiliar with higher-ranking leaders, and he could adapt to this kind of oppressive aura.
"Vice Director Jiang, I'm truly sorry. Huaining organized an investment promotion delegation to the provincial capital for investment promotion work, and we'll probably be returning tomorrow. Your time is too busy, so I could only resort to this method. I accept your criticism, and I apologize."
Qin Mu didn't choose to confront him directly but quickly admitted his mistake. After all, his procedure was indeed flawed. If he made a mistake, he had to admit it and apologize sincerely so the leader wouldn't continue to make trouble over the issue.
The other party was, after all, a high-ranking leader; they wouldn't keep making things difficult for a low-level employee like him.
Oh?
Admitting the mistake and apologizing so quickly?
Jiang Songshan was also somewhat bewildered. Wasn't Qin Mu very assertive just now? Why isn't he being assertive now?
With the other party apologizing like this, Jiang Songshan couldn't continue to reprimand him. Leaders, after all, have face.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I'm giving you time now. Tell me, what's the most important thing that you absolutely need to see me about?"
Jiang Songshan immediately changed the subject, returning to today's main point, and asked coldly.
If this kid didn't give a clear explanation, he would still have to teach him a lesson.
In officialdom, such reckless and unruly behavior will only elicit a light lesson. If it really angers Jiang Songshan, he could directly report it to the Jiangnan Provincial Party Committee and the Jiangzhou Municipal Party Committee, and getting them punished would be no difficult task.