Chapter 47: When the Lips Are Gone, the Teeth Feel the Cold

  Liu Fei was somewhat at a loss for how to answer Deputy Governor Jiang's question, as he had no experience as a secretary and only vaguely understood what the job entailed from Director Wang's brief explanation not long ago. However, he also knew that the old man opposite him would attach great importance to his response, given the intense gaze fixed on him. Nevertheless, Liu Fei was someone who feared neither heaven nor earth, believing everyone to be equal in his eyes - even if the other person was the provincial party secretary. He trusted in his own abilities and didn't believe in flattering others.

  How to answer this question? Liu Fei furrowed his brow, and his eyes lit up. He had always admired Zhuge Liang, and now that he was in a difficult situation, he couldn't help but think of him. Zhuge Liang was Liu Bei's military advisor, which is equivalent to being Liu Bei's secretary in modern times. So what was the relationship between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang? Wasn't it a relationship of interdependence, like lips and teeth? If either side were to leave, the situation of the Three Kingdoms would not have occurred. Ah, that's right! Thinking of this, Liu Fei smiled at Deputy Governor Jiang and said: "Governor Jiang, I think the relationship between a leader and their secretary is like that of lips and teeth, they rely on each other, and if one is gone, the other will be affected!"

  Vice Governor Jiang fell silent after hearing Liu Fei's answer, his eyes fixed tightly on Liu Fei. The air suddenly became somewhat heavy. Liu Fei didn't know if the answer he had hastily come up with was satisfactory, and he felt a bit apprehensive in his heart. After all, this was an excellent opportunity, and if Vice Governor Jiang were to become dissatisfied with him because of this small answer, it would be truly not worth it. So, he raised his head, wanting to see Vice Governor Jiang's expression, but found that Vice Governor Jiang was staring at him. He then smiled at Vice Governor Jiang, looking at him with a very calm gaze.

  Vice Governor Jiang looked at Liu Fei's sincere eyes and knew that the young man's words were heartfelt, but as a leader, he also had his own way of doing things. He nodded towards Liu Fei: "You go outside and take care of the handover with Secretary Chu, from now on you will officially start working!"

  Liu Fei was taken aback, he hadn't expected things to be settled so quickly. Had his answers satisfied Vice Governor Jiang? However, from Vice Governor Jiang's formulaic face, he couldn't discern any clues. In his heart, apart from feeling that this old man was deeply cunning, he really didn't know what to say about him. But he didn't want to delay work, so with some embarrassment, he said: "Governor Jiang, I very much hope to get this job, but I've never done this kind of work before, and there are many things that I'm not familiar with..."

  When Liu Fei said this, Deputy Governor Jiang was also slightly stunned, but he covered it up very well, and Liu Fei didn't notice at all. In this era, who in the officialdom doesn't strive to boast about their abilities and cover up their shortcomings? And yet, this young man had no hesitation in exposing his own shortcomings right before his eyes. It seems that he is either extremely cunning or extremely foolish, but if you think deeply about it, neither of these possibilities seems quite right. He waved his hand and said: "I understand, you can go now! I'll take care of this aspect."

  Liu Fei saw that the old man had given the order to drive him away, so he stood up and walked out, and told Chu Secretary in the outer room about Vice Governor Jiang's intention. Chu Secretary very readily gave Liu Fei a comprehensive introduction to the work items on his hands, analyzing them one by one. This introduction went on for two hours before it was finally concluded. After finishing, Chu Secretary asked: "Little Liu, do you understand now?"

  Liu Fei nodded and said: "Chu Ge, thank you. I understand now."

  After this period of communication, Liu Fei found that Chu Secretary was actually a very good person. When introducing the work of the secretary, his language was concise and easy to understand, and he spoke very accurately. He also answered all the questions Liu Fei asked clearly.

  When Secretary Chu handed over the keys to several cabinets and doors to Liu Fei, and put all his things into a cardboard box sealed, he then held Liu Fei's hand and whispered: "Little Liu, be honest with Brother Chu, do you have a strong background? Otherwise, why would Governor Jiang choose you as his secretary?"

  Liu Fei looked at Chu Secretary's face, which originally looked elegant but now had a curious expression, and couldn't help but smile wryly. He said: "Chu Ge, you've guessed wrong this time. I really don't have any background to speak of. To be honest with you, before coming here, I was just a small police officer. Even now, I still don't know why I was promoted to become a secretary! You've been following Governor Jiang for so long, can you reveal some information to me?"

  Chu looked at Liu Fei's eyes and felt that he didn't seem to be lying, so he furrowed his brow in half-doubt and said: "If you say you don't have a background, it's really hard for people to believe. I've been by the provincial governor's side for so many years, this is the first time I've seen a deputy governor promote someone without a background or experience as a secretary. This time I was sent out to Tangshi City to be a deputy mayor, it was already decided long ago, only didn't expect it to happen so soon. Since you're in this position, big brother me will give you some advice: now Vice Governor Jiang and Vice Governor Ma are fighting fiercely for the governor's position, you must stand firm! Alright, that's all I have to say, we'll meet again if fate allows!"

  Liu Fei gazed at the back of Chu Secretary, feeling warm in his heart. This person was someone he met for the first time, yet they had said so much to each other; this person was really not bad.

  At this moment, in the provincial governor's office, Deputy Governor Jiang sat comfortably on a soft sofa with a smile all over his face, looking out of the window.

  His heart was turbulent.

  "Lips and teeth are mutually dependent, when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold! Hehe, this young man is quite confident and has ideas. Liu Fei, what kind of person are you? Secretary Xu actually recommended you to me as a secretary, but you don't understand the work of a secretary at all. It's strange, what is Secretary Xu's intention? Is he trying to plot against me? This possibility is very small, after all, in this game of chess in Henan Province, I am his most loyal ally. My promotion to provincial governor will make his position more stable. If not, then Secretary Xu's suggestion that Liu Fei replace my trusted secretary Chu must have a deeper purpose! What is this purpose?"

  A ray of sunlight shone through the gap in the curtains and landed on Deputy Governor Jiang's face, who smiled. Liu Fei, I'm really looking forward to your performance!

  The Provincial Party Committee Secretary's Office, Provincial Party Committee Secretary Xu Guangchun looked at the stack of documents on his desk and furrowed his brow. This stack of documents was sent over by the Provincial Organization Department Director, regarding the suggestion to appoint the Deputy Director of the Public Security Department as the Secretary of the Tangshi City Politics and Law Committee. The suggestion was put forward by Provincial Governor and Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary Cui Yusheng, who had previously discussed it with Xu Guangchun but was met with opposition. At the time, Cui Yusheng didn't say anything else, but unexpectedly, he submitted his opinion through the Organization Department. It seems that this matter will ultimately have to be put to a vote at the Standing Committee meeting.

  "Hmph, Cui Yusheng, you're about to retire soon, can't you just behave for once? What is Tangshi City, that's a place I've worked hard to build up over the years, is it a place where you can just reach out and take? Thinking of this, he decided to first communicate with his ally Jiang Zhengyuan, in order to form a unified opinion at the Standing Committee meeting. He picked up the phone on the table."

  Ding ding! Ding ding! Liu Fei, who was organizing materials in the outer secretary's office, was awakened from his working state by a sudden and urgent phone call. Liu Fei quickly picked up the phone and said enthusiastically: "Hello, this is the Governor's Office, may I ask who you are?"

  "Get Governor Jiang on the phone!" Xu Guangchun heard a strange voice, and he couldn't help but laugh in anger. How could someone not know his own provincial leader's direct line number after working in Henan Province for so long? This secretary was really incompetent. But how could he know that Liu Fei had only met him once, and that was when they were both drunk, their consciousness blurry. Even if they were face to face, it wasn't certain that he would recognize him, let alone his voice.

  At this time, Liu Fei's mind echoed the secretary's telephone secrets that Director Wang had handed over to him not long ago: "You have just taken over this position, and you are not familiar with many people's voices and phone numbers. So you must ask clearly who the other party is, and then ask Governor Jiang if it is convenient for him to answer this call. You should pay attention, never cut off the leader's call casually, beware of cutting off!"

  "Alright, let's try it as Director Wang said. Then, Liu Fei smiled and said: 'Hello, I am Liu Fei, the secretary of the provincial governor. May I ask who you are? Please tell me your name and position.'"

  A black line immediately appeared on Xu Guangchun's head!