"Contract Cadre" is a realistic work rooted in the countryside. It tells the story of rural youth Li Fei's struggle to grow from a student who failed the college entrance examination to a county-level leader.
In the early 1990s, Li Fei passed the cadre selection examination and became a "contract cadre" in Yintai Township. Faced with the rejection of his colleague Wang Qiang, he won the appreciation of his leadership for his excellent writing and pragmatic style. Later, he won the county writing competition and was seconded to the county government office. He adhered to principles and tempered party spirit during unannounced investigations of illegal sand mining, adult college entrance examinations and other incidents. After returning to Yintai Township as the deputy township head, he faced challenges such as drought relief and election bribery. Although he was falsely accused and had emotional twists and turns, he always rooted in the masses and never changed his original intention.
During a severe flood rescue operation, Li Fei risked his own life and led the masses to relocate, winning the trust of the organization and becoming the first contract cadre to be regularized during the same period. Through the collision of the two values of Li Fei and Wang Qiang, the novel depicts the ecology of grassroots officialdom in the 1990s, creates rich characters such as He Shanjun and Ouyang Wenbin, and interprets the theme of growth of being down-to-earth and adhering to dignity.
This is a story about ordinary people rewriting their destiny with hard work and integrity.
