At the entrance of the Landong County Government Office archives room, He Wen, the secretary to the head of the County Party Committee Organization Department, was chatting with Wei Tao. Such a sight was quite rare; the archives room was practically deserted year-round, yet here stood two key figures: one the secretary to the County Party Secretary, and the other the secretary to the head of the Organization Department.
This encounter was a coincidence. Both leaders had given strict instructions that the moment Zhijiang returned from lunch, he was to be invited to their offices immediately. It still seemed strange that Zhijiang had been assigned to the archives in the first place.
As a top graduate from Jiangdong University, he was qualified to be promoted to deputy section chief within a month. At the very least, he should have been placed in the County Government Office.
"Guoqiang, did you say last year that Vice County Magistrate Chen Ming was the one who had Zhijiang transferred from the office to the archives?" Jin Hui asked, frowning slightly.
In the office of County Party Committee Organization Department head Jin Hui, Jin Hui and Yang Guoqiang sat together on the sofa drinking tea. Learning about Zhijiang's situation had left Yang Guoqiang feeling quite depressed; Chen Ming simply didn't take him, a deputy department head, seriously at all.
Yet there was nothing to be done, given their difference in rank. Yang had reported the matter to Jin Hui a few days ago, hoping Jin would step in, but nothing had come of it, which was why he had come again today.
As a Standing Committee Member and Organization Department head, Jin Hui understood such matters thoroughly. He was determined to get on Zhijiang's good side—opportunities like this were rare!
With his former leader being so tight-lipped about Young Master Li's true identity, and given his current position, climbing any higher was going to be exceedingly difficult.
With this thought in mind, Jin Hui turned directly to Yang Guoqiang and said, "Here is what we'll do: I'll have Zhijiang transferred to our Organization Department. After all, Zhijiang is a top graduate from Jiangdong University!"
"Such talent is highly valued at both the municipal and provincial levels, let alone right here in Landong County. Besides, it's easier to groom someone when they're working under your own supervision."
Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door, which slowly pushed open as Secretary He Wen walked in. Strangely, however, Zhijiang—who should have been with him—was nowhere to be seen.
"Leaders, Zhijiang was called into Secretary Han's office. Judging by how rushed he looked, it seems there's something very important that needs to be handled," He Wen said the moment he entered, his tone carrying a trace of urgency.
Hearing this, the two men exchanged glances, each seeing a trace of surprise in the other's eyes. They couldn't help recalling the meal Zhijiang and Wei Tao had shared a few days prior.
Upon reflection, however, the timing didn't add up. No one held a business lunch in the middle of the day; meetings of that sort were typically scheduled after work. And if Secretary Han had matters to attend to at noon, it made no sense for his secretary to be away.
Furthermore, Zhijiang had only arrived the day before yesterday. For Wei Tao, the secretary to the top leader, to immediately cozy up to a junior schoolmate trying to build connections—to the point of dining together—seemed far too easy. In this world, after all, everyone chased after profit.
Jin Hui lowered his gaze to the teacup in his hands, suspecting that County Party Secretary Han Peng must have instructed his secretary to have lunch with Zhijiang at noon!
"Xiao He, wait a bit longer before you go invite Zhijiang over. Go ahead and take care of your other work first," Jin Hui said, raising his head slowly.
He turned his gaze back to Yang Guoqiang. "Guoqiang, I am going to have Zhijiang transferred to our department. Since he's the top talent you brought in from the city, it's only right that we groom him properly!"
Meanwhile, inside the County Party Secretary's office, Zhijiang sat upright on the sofa. The tea before him had grown cold, yet he hadn't touched a drop.
At his desk, Han Peng was examining Zhijiang's resume and that reform proposal. After reading for about five minutes, he looked up at Zhijiang, set his pen down, and walked over to the sofa.
Zhijiang stood up immediately. Han Peng smiled and raised a hand. "Xiao Xiao, sit. There's no need to be so formal!"
Han Peng was also a university graduate. He had a refined, slightly lean appearance, stood under one meter seventy, and possessed a resolute yet wise and humble demeanor.
"Xiao Xiao, before I met you, when Xiao Wei told me you could influence my political career, I thought it was sheer nonsense—bordering on ridiculous, really—while at the same time making me quite curious about you!"
"Yet just now, after hearing Xiao Wei's report and carefully reading the reform proposal you wrote, I must admit: I am truly shocked!"
With an earnest expression, Han Peng fixed his gaze intently on Zhijiang, as if trying to peer beneath the surface.
Seeing this, Zhijiang stood up modestly, a trace of apprehension crossing his face. "Secretary Han, you flatter me! I am merely a greenhorn who has just entered the civil service."
"Whether in experience or capability, I still have a vast amount of room for growth. By comparison, you are the true role model from whom I should learn. If what I've done can be of any help to you, it is an honor for me!"
Zhijiang knew in his heart that there were only a little over two thousand County Party Secretaries in all of Hua Guo, and for Han Peng to hold such a position of real power meant his competence and deep understanding of officialdom far outstripped his own. His modesty was therefore entirely sincere.
Han Peng waved his hand again. "Sit. I heard from Xiao Wei just now that a reporter from Qiushi (Journal) has already found you. This proposal..."
"Secretary Han, a reporter from Qiushi (Journal) has already taken a copy of this proposal. Whether it will be submitted to the upper echelons of the Central Committee, I cannot say!"
"However, my suggestion is that we immediately and publicly voice our support for institutional reform. If my estimation is correct, the central government should be issuing a policy regarding this very soon, and it is likely to be quite forceful!"
In truth, Zhijiang knew that Old Jiang had already held private talks the previous month with the leaders of dozens of state ministries and commissions, urging them to voluntarily step down or submit applications to retire to advisory departments.
Some department heads had seen their authority diminished, but the process was agonizingly difficult, with almost no one agreeing. In a sense, this had been Old Jiang's preliminary probe.