The sudden transfer from Black Mountain County caught Lu Yiwei off guard. After staying here for more than a year, he had just familiarized himself with the mountains and rivers of this hot land, and now he had to say goodbye. He could not help but feel sad.
The army was like an iron camp, and the soldiers were like flowing water. What was different about officialdom? Just like the platform, it welcomed and sent people off day and night. Some saw their loved ones that they hadn't seen for a long time and their eyes were brimming with tears. Some lovers were about to part ways with each other with tears streaming down their faces. There were endless words to say and endless farewells until the whistle of the train blew. It was the moment when everyone's emotions erupted. There were thousands of words to say, thousands of words to say.
Lu Yiwei did not know how he returned to Black Mountain County. When he arrived at the County party committee, he sat in the car in a daze and refused to get out for a long time.
"Secretary Lu, we are here." Li Ermao thought that Lu Yiwei had fallen asleep, and cautiously reminded him.
Lu Yiwei looked at the familiar grass and trees through the window, and his heart was heavy.
According to the request of Wang Hongbo, the deputy secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, he would report to the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee tomorrow morning. This meant that he would leave Black Mountain County today. It was too rushed, and he did not even have time to say goodbye.
"Ermao, go to my dormitory and pack your things. We are going to leave here."
"Oh." Li Ermao was surprisingly calm, as if he had already realized it.
"Remember, no one is allowed to take anything except what I brought."
Lu Yiwei got out of the car and quickly walked into the County party committee building. Zhao Xiaokang, the director of the County party committee, greeted him and said with mixed feelings, "Secretary Lu, you have been wronged these days."
Lu Yiwei thought that Zhao Xiaokang already knew, so he patted his shoulder and said, "Don't look sad. Inform all the members of the Standing Committee, we will have a short meeting."
Half an hour later, all the members of the Standing Committee except Guo Zhenbiao and Song Defu arrived. Looking at the familiar people, Lu Yiwei did not know where to start. He smiled and said, "Comrades, I, Hu Hansan, am back again."
It was a joke, and he thought that it would make everyone laugh, but surprisingly, no one laughed. All of them looked particularly serious, and their eyes were fixed on Lu Yiwei.
"What's wrong with everyone? Huh? Is everyone unhappy that I'm back? "Lu Yiwei pretended to be relaxed.
Wu Shixun had been sulking. Before the meeting, he had already learned that Lu Yiwei was going to be transferred. He was shocked. But who could disobey the decision made by the Municipal Party Committee?
Lu Yiwei leaned back and said to Zhao Xiaokang, who was taking notes at the side, "Let's go to my office. There are still a few cartons of good cigarettes in the drawer. I've been reluctant to smoke them. Bring them over and let everyone have a taste."
Zhao Xiaokang put down his notebook and walked out of the conference room. After receiving it, Lu Yiwei said, "Distribute it to everyone."
At the end of the distribution, Lu Yiwei suddenly stood up and took out two packets. "I have a presumptuous request. I want Secretary Song Defu to attend today's meeting. Does everyone agree?"
Everyone nodded.
"Alright." Lu Yiwei turned to Zhao Xiaokang and said, "Go and invite Secretary Song Defu over."
Ten minutes later, Song Defu appeared at the door. Lu Yiwei immediately stood up and helped him back to his original position. Song Defu's lips were trembling, and his throat was trembling.
"Alright. Everyone is here." Lu Yiwei pretended to be calm and said, "There is no topic for today's meeting, and we won't be voting on anything. It's just a casual chat. Sigh! What are you guys talking about? Speak. "
Lu Yiwei's words were incoherent. It was the first time that he, who had always been strict, became irrational in this kind of situation.
There was dead silence in the conference room.
Lu Yiwei saw that no one was talking, so he forced a smile and said, "Since no one is saying anything, I will say a few words. Today is the 399th day since I came to Black Mountain County. In other words, tomorrow will be my 400th day. It's not long, but it's not short either. Anyway, I get along with everyone very well, especially when it comes to major events. Everyone can think from the big picture and the interests of the people of Black Mountain County, and maintain a high degree of unity in thinking and action. I am very touched, really.
"Especially in this on-site meeting, everyone here is extraordinarily diligent. Each of us performs our own duties and responsibilities. We have a clear division of labor and are in sync. All our work has been recognized and praised by the leaders of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Government, and the Municipal Party Committee. This is very rare. There may have been a small interlude in the middle, but it is completely negligible. At least I think everyone is the hero of Black Mountain County. "
Lu Yiwei suddenly softened his tone and said, "Some time ago, I was away for more than ten days. But to my relief, the leaders of our Black Mountain County showed unprecedented fighting spirit and continued to push forward the silkworm rearing plan. This is very rare. I am very happy, really."
"I've been with everyone for such a long time. There have been frictions, collaborations, stumbles, and interactions. Overall, in the face of major issues, everyone has always been able to stand together and overcome difficulties. This can be seen from the fight against SARS. I'm very gratified, really."
"Touched, happy, and gratified are my summary of everyone. Of course, I also have some shortcomings. What saddens me the most is that six students from Maihe Middle School died, and eight people died during SARS. The former was completely my fault, which led to the tragedy. The latter, if treated early, could have been saved from the brink of death. However, I did not do it. "
"This may be the last standing committee meeting in Black Mountain County. There is still too much to say, but …" Lu Yiwei's eyes were red, and he couldn't say what he wanted to say next. After a long time, he said, "I have said what I want to say. If there is anything else, let's end the meeting."
"Let me say a few words." Song Defu was the first to speak. "I am not qualified to speak, but it is uncomfortable to keep some words in my stomach. Let me say them."
"Comrade Lu Yiwei is young and promising. He has brought vitality and vitality to our dead Black Mountain County. Even an old antique like me has been influenced by him. As I have said before, I am a native of Black Mountain County, and I have not made any great contributions to my hometown. After Comrade Lu Yiwei came, he has made great achievements for Black Mountain County. There has been a major change in the backward education. Maybe everyone here has realized it, but who has taken action? No, not a single person. Comrade Lu Yiwei has done it. "
Following that, Song Defu commented on Lu Yiwei's achievements one by one. Finally, he said, "I have also retired now. There is nothing else to do. Next, I plan to carry out a major revision of the county records of our county. Comrade Lu Yiwei's every deed will be recorded in the history of Black Mountain County, and it will be remembered by future generations."
Song Defu's evaluation was too high for Lu Yiwei to accept. He quickly said, "Secretary Song, I really don't dare to accept your words. I just did what I should do. It is not a big deal. Maybe the next secretary will do better than me."
Wu Shixun said, "Comrade Song Defu is right. I completely agree. I suggest that everyone make an objective evaluation of Comrade Lu Yiwei, starting with me … "
Following that, every member of the standing committee made an objective evaluation, which made Lu Yiwei very touched. The more it was like this, the more uncomfortable he felt. He knew that if he did not end the meeting in time, it might be extended indefinitely.
Lu Yiwei concluded, "Originally, I wanted to hold a county-wide meeting of cadres today. But I did not make any outstanding contributions. It is enough for a small group to be known. What should be said has been said. It is time to talk about something else. Meeting adjourned! "
After that, Lu Yiwei stood up and bowed deeply to everyone. There was a thunderous applause that lasted for five to six minutes.
After the meeting ended, Lu Yiwei invited Song Defu to his office. When he was about to speak, Song Defu stretched out his hand to stop him. "Don't say anything. I have done what should be done and what should not be done. Don't worry, I have no regrets. In fact, my conscience is very clear."
Lu Yiwei originally wanted to say a few words of comfort, but seeing that Song Defu was so open-minded, he did not say anything else. He smiled and said, "Secretary Song, I have been here for more than a year, but I have not been to your house for lunch. Can I go to your house this afternoon?"
Hearing that Lu Yiwei was going to his house for lunch, Song Defu stood up excitedly and said, "You really want to go?"
"Of course." Lu Yiwei took out two bottles of wine from the cupboard and said, "I will go with Old Wu this afternoon. Let's finish these two bottles of wine."
"Okay, okay. I will go home now to prepare."
After Song Defu left, Wu Shixun sat there without saying a word. Lu Yiwei walked over and patted his shoulder. "Don't look so sad. Let's go to the countryside with me."
Wu Shixun raised his head and said in surprise, "Going to the countryside now? What for? "
"I have not been to Wuzhaixiang yet. Accompany me to the last town."
Both of them went to Wuzhaixiang together and were welcomed by the local people. Lu Yiwei held a short meeting at the township government office and went to visit the villages to fulfill his last wish.
At noon, Lu Yiwei drank until he was dead drunk.
After he woke up, Li Ermao had already packed up. Lu Yiwei looked at the familiar environment and said, "Let's go."
As soon as they got out of the gate, Lu Yiwei did not want others to know, so he said, "Ermao, don't take the main road. Take a detour."
He thought that no one would know if they avoided the main road, but he did not expect that there would be a large number of people holding banners and standing at the intersection of every street, waiting for Lu Yiwei to appear. There was no end in sight. Whether it was organized by someone or by the people themselves, it was enough to shock people. When he saw this, Lu Yiwei's eyes became wet.
When he saw some banners that said, "Secretary Lu, please stay", "Secretary Lu, please don't go", "Secretary Lu, we need you", and so on, he could no longer control his emotions. He covered his face and cried.
The people sending them off extended all the way to the entrance of the county town. Lu Yiwei could not bear to look, but he could not help it. He waved his hand gently through the opaque glass.
When they got out of the county town, Lu Yiwei asked Li Ermao to slow down. He wanted to take a good look at this strange but familiar place for the last time.
The sky gradually turned dark, but Lu Yiwei still could not calm down.
It was another farewell stop. It was not the end of his life, but a new beginning. Everything was unknown as to where he would go next.
Just like that, Lu Yiwei left with endless regrets.
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