The Official Ladder: I ascend to the pinnacle of power, wielding the power of life and death.

"Hey, hey, don't do that! What you're doing is illegal!"

Niu Baogen shouted immediately.

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything; the fact that he did made the people even angrier.

They all started shoving him.

"Yiming, County Magistrate Yiming, quick, save me!"

Niu Baogen shouted in a panic.

Jiang Yiming stood to the side, watching this lively scene with great pleasure.

If he weren't afraid of being discovered, he would have taken the opportunity to kick the old man a couple of times.

"Don't do anything reckless. Hey, you there, don't hit him in the face. Secretary Niu is a man who cares about his reputation. You can't hit him in the face."

Jiang Yiming pretended to pull people away while offering 'kind' advice.

In reality, it's a reminder to the people to slap themselves in the face.

No sooner had Jiang Yiming finished speaking than an older woman slapped Niu Baogen across the face, making his eyes see stars.

Seeing this, the others all slapped his face.

Niu Baogen was in so much pain that he hurriedly covered his head and squatted on the ground.

After a while, officers on duty nearby arrived and brought the situation under control.

Because of the large number of people involved, it was unclear who was responsible, and ultimately no one was punished.

After venting their anger, the people had no choice but to return home after being persuaded by Jiang Yiming.

With the top official Niu Baogen injured, County Head Jiang Yiming naturally had to pretend to care and accompanied Niu Baogen to the hospital for examination and treatment.

In reality, the common people were still careful with their actions; Niu Baogen only suffered minor injuries.

After the matter was resolved, Niu Baogen flew into a rage.

"These troublemakers are outrageous, especially those shrewish women. They should have just spoken politely. Slapping people in the face is just too much."

Niu Baogen complained a few times, at which point the heads of the relevant functional departments arrived.

"Secretary, are you alright?"

"Are you blind? Can't you see the scars on my face?"

Niu Baogen roared, "Where is Yu Huafei? Where the hell has he gone?"

"Secretary, Director Yu has gone to the city to celebrate the Spring Festival."

Zhang Yufeng said, "He asked you for leave."

"What kind of holiday is this? Tell him to get back here!"

Niu Baogen said with a stern face, "And you, the personnel from the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Public Security Bureau, immediately form an investigation team to thoroughly investigate this matter and see which beast is behind it all, making me take the blame!"

"I'm giving you three days to investigate this matter thoroughly. If you can't find out the truth, you can forget about celebrating the Spring Festival. Keep investigating until you've found out the truth, then you can go back to celebrate the holiday!"

All the departments involved immediately expressed their opinions.

Seeing Niu Baogen's exasperated appearance, Jiang Yiming recalled what Niu Baogen had said to him before.

Tell him not to be impatient in his work and to care more about and be considerate of his subordinates.

When things come to his own, he doesn't consider that his subordinates are celebrating the Spring Festival, nor does he value composure in his work.

What a hypocrite!

"Have you found out which township it is?"

"The investigation has been completed; it's from Zhaowan Township."

Zhang Yufeng spoke up.

"Why is it Zhaowan Township again? Are Liu Li and Zhang Zhiqing idiots?"

Niu Baogen cursed, "Are they even capable of doing this? If they aren't, they should all get back to farming!"

He was quite annoyed. On such a holiday, someone had scratched his face, and he was too embarrassed to meet with his relatives and friends.

Naturally, he started cursing at a group of people.

“Secretary, the people of Zhaowan Township are known for their strong character and frequent petitioners. The Zhaowan Township Party Committee and government have taken active measures, but we did not expect these people to be so cunning. They pretended to go to the county to buy New Year's goods and dispersed to the county. The township government did not notice anything amiss.”

Zhang Yufeng was very close to Liu Li, the Party Secretary of Zhaowan Township, and her cousin was also closely involved in this matter, so she naturally had to speak up for him.

"I think the most urgent task is not to punish people, but to get them actively involved and find out exactly where the problem lies. Solving the problem at its root is the key."

After venting his anger, Niu Baogen felt better, and since Zhang Yufeng had spoken up for him, he didn't demand any further punishment.

"Secretary Ru Hui, your Discipline Inspection Commission should lead the formation of an investigation team to investigate the matter as soon as possible."

Niu Baogen said, "We must deal seriously with those who violated discipline and regulations. No matter who is involved, they will be dealt with in accordance with the law and regulations."

"Yes, Secretary, I will implement your instructions immediately."

Li Ruhui quickly expressed his opinion.

"Alright, you can all go about your business. Director Yufeng, please stay here. I have some things to arrange."

Niu Baogen waved his hand.

Jiang Yiming and the others then left the ward.

After returning home, Jiang's mother asked, "Yiming, there was a dispute earlier, and I heard the Party Secretary was beaten. Did you know about it?"

“I was there.”

"Oh, you were there? They didn't do anything to you, did they?"

Jiang's mother quickly checked on her son's condition.

"No, they only contacted the Party Secretary, not me."

Jiang Yiming said.

At that time, the county held a mobilization meeting for the development of agricultural industry. The government office intended for him to speak, but Niu Baogen insisted on stealing the limelight. He not only took the initiative to attend but also asked to speak.

He wanted the people to know that he was working hard for them.

I just never expected that these things would happen.

He got beaten up for nothing.

"That's good."

Jiang's mother breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't her son who got beaten, but someone else, she didn't care. She even said with a gossipy attitude, "Your Party Secretary must have done something wrong to anger the people. You mustn't follow his example."

"I know, Mom."

Jiang Yiming nodded and went into the kitchen, where his wife, Xia Shining, was cooking.

"let me help you."

Jiang Yiming washed his hands, intending to assist Xia Shining.

"No need, no need. You've had a long day, go and rest. I'll have one more soup ready soon."

Xia Shining reached out to block Jiang Yiming and smiled, "I'm usually not by your side and can't take care of you. Now that I finally have a holiday, I want to fulfill my responsibility as a wife and take good care of you. Go and rest, you'll be fine soon."

As she spoke, she kissed Jiang Yiming on the cheek.

"Honey, you are so kind."

Jiang Yiming wrapped his arms around Xia Shining's slender waist from behind, pressed close to her back, and kissed her earlobe.

Xia Shining stiffened, her face flushed, and she said coquettishly, "Oh dear, stop messing around, I can't cook anymore."

"Okay, let's have a good talk tonight."

Jiang Yiming slapped his wife's firm, elastic breasts before returning to the living room, satisfied.

After dinner, Xia Shining started packing Jiang Yiming's clothes, as they were going to the city together early the next morning.

Next, they were going to Xinping County to visit relatives and pay respects to their ancestors.

Jiang Yiming chatted with his wife. Although one of them was still in school and the other had started working, they still had a lot in common.

Jiang Yiming could basically keep up with any topic Xia Shining brought up.

Xia Shining would also take the initiative to learn about the situation in officialdom for Jiang Yiming's sake, so that she and Jiang Yiming would have more topics to talk about.

Two people understand, care for, and tolerate each other.

Just as Jiang Yiming was about to rest with Xia Shining after they had finished tidying up, there was a knock on the door.