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

"Young man, what's your surname?"

"His surname is Jiang."

"Oh, you share the same surname as the newly appointed Party Secretary."

The gatekeeper chuckled, "I heard the new Party Secretary is very young, only a few years older than you. He's truly young and promising."

"Does the old man mean you think the new Party Secretary is a good candidate? As far as I know, many people don't have confidence in the new Party Secretary and think he's just here temporarily."

"Hehe, so the Party Secretary knew what everyone thought."

The gatekeeper chuckled, "Actually, I think the same as everyone else. Compared to those seasoned veterans, the new secretary is still too green. After all, experience counts, and the new secretary will probably have a hard time outmaneuvering them."

"Not always."

Jiang Yiming smiled.

"I also hope that our new Party Secretary can do some practical things for the people. The lives of ordinary people are too difficult."

The gatekeeper sighed. Just as he was about to close the gate, a grandfather and grandson, dressed in patched-up clothes, walked in.

"Hey, why are you here again? Didn't I tell you, you're no use coming here. The new Party Secretary has gone to the city for training and won't be back for a while."

The gatekeeper advised, "Don't make things difficult for me, go back quickly."

"Yes, I'm sorry. I originally wanted to go back with Grandpa, but it rained, so we hid. When the rain stopped, it got dark, and I was afraid Grandpa would slip and fall, so we had to wait until tomorrow to go back. We stayed in a corner all night and didn't make a sound."

The little girl's big eyes blinked, full of pleading.

Jiang Yiming looked in the direction the little girl pointed. It was a small corner between the gate and the wall, with a shed built on it, probably used to store some miscellaneous items.

It was pitch black inside; you couldn't see your hand in front of your face if you were hiding inside.

But mosquitoes have already come out this season, so there must be a lot of mosquitoes inside. In order to stay inside for one night, they could only beg the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper took pity on him and said, "It's fine for you to stay inside, but you have to leave before six o'clock tomorrow. If your supervisor sees you at work, I'll be in big trouble."

"Thank you, Grandpa. We will definitely leave before six o'clock."

The little girl thanked him repeatedly and helped the seventy-year-old man walk toward the dark corner.

"What's going on with them?"

Jiang Yiming inquired.

"Alas, they are villagers from Yunhu Village, very pitiful people."

The gatekeeper sighed and said, "The little girl's father was a soldier. In 98, when the country was ravaged by floods, he went with his unit to fight the floods and never came back. Last year, her mother left home and disappeared. Only the grandfather and granddaughter depend on each other for survival."

"The grandfather and granddaughter were able to make a living with the government's pension and monthly living allowance. According to them, the girl's father's pension never reached them; it was intercepted by the village officials. Not only that, the village officials also deducted 50% of their monthly living allowance."

“The girl’s grandfather suffers from throat cancer and cannot speak for long periods of time or work. The remaining living allowance is not enough for the grandfather and granddaughter to make a living, so the little girl is eight years old and still has not started school.”

"Village head Hu Decheng often finds excuses to hold weddings and funerals to exploit the villagers. Some time ago, his old sow gave birth, and he had a bright idea to hold a full-month celebration banquet for his old sow. He asked all the villagers to give gifts."

“On the day of the banquet, many villagers were unwilling to go, including the little girl and her companion. Hu Decheng was very angry, so he made an example of them by confiscating all of the little girl’s family’s living allowance and taking away one of their ewes.”

"Upon seeing this, the villagers all went to offer their congratulations."

“The little girl and her grandfather went to the village head’s house several times to ask for help, but it was no use. So today they came to the park to report the matter.”

"After Secretary Du registered them, he told them to go home and wait for news."

"Oh, poor people."

After hearing the whole story, Jiang Yiming felt extremely depressed, as if a stone was weighing on his heart.

"Grandpa, they must not have eaten. Could you help them get something to eat? I'll make it up to you later."

Jiang Yiming spoke up.

"There's no need for you to make up for it. I was just planning to finish explaining to you and then go get them some food."

The gatekeeper said, "I've told you what happened. Whether you want to tell the new Party Secretary or not is up to you."

After saying that, he turned around and went inside to get something to eat.

Jiang Yiming was about to go to the duty room to ask if there were any spare rest rooms when Liu Xinbin, the Party Working Committee member and deputy director in charge of the Discipline Inspection Office and Investment Promotion Services, walked in.

Upon seeing Jiang Yiming, he quickly stepped forward to greet him: "Secretary Jiang, you're back today! Why didn't you let us know beforehand? We would have loved to welcome you back."

"I just arrived too. I didn't know what time I would arrive, so I didn't let you know."

Jiang Yiming said, "I don't know where the lounge is yet. I'd appreciate it if Director Liu could take me there and we could chat."

"Come on, I'll take you there."

After Jiang Yiming and Liu Xinbin left, the gatekeeper looked out the window and muttered to himself, "Goodness, the new secretary is too young. I thought he was the driver."

"Secretary, there were too many people when we last met, so it was difficult to say some things. Today, I want to promise you that I will fully support your work."

Liu Xinbin stated.

"Thank you for your support. We will work together to do a good job in the park."

Jiang Yiming and Liu Xinbin didn't continue their conversation, since they weren't familiar with each other.

It's enough that Liu Xinbin came to express his opinion.

"Director Liu, there's more than one rest room in our park, isn't there?"

"Not only that, each member of the Party Working Committee is provided with a lounge. There is also a lounge for receiving guests."

"Oh, could you please give me the key to the guest room? I'll borrow it for a day."

"That room hasn't been cleaned yet."

"It's okay, I'll take care of it myself."

Seeing this, Liu Xinbin said nothing more, went to the duty room, and took the key.

After Liu Xinbin left, Jiang Yiming invited the grandfather and grandson into the room.

At first, the grandfather and grandson were reluctant to go, fearing they would soil the blankets.

After Jiang Yiming's repeated persuasion and after he revealed his identity, the grandfather and grandson finally followed him over.

Upon seeing the brand-new, snow-white bedding, the grandfather and grandson hesitated again at the doorway.

"Secretary, let's not go in. Let's talk at the entrance."

Grandpa Li said with effort.

"Do you still want justice?"

Jiang Yiming said, "If you want to seek justice, then go inside and talk."

Upon hearing this, the two had no choice but to go inside, but Jiang Yiming, without saying a word, pressed them down into chairs.

"What's the matter? Sit down and talk."

Just then, the gatekeeper came in carrying a large bowl of noodles.

"Come on, let's eat first, then we can talk."

Jiang Yiming, fearing they might be too reserved, said in an attempt to build rapport, "Uncle, could you get me a bowl too? I'm hungry too."

"I don't think this much noodles will be enough. There are plenty of instant noodles in the room. Go and cook a few more packets, and add a few more eggs. I'll reimburse you for it tomorrow."