The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"No objections, no objections, certainly no objections," said Lv Wuzhao, who just a moment ago was giving orders authoritatively.

Now, however, he had become completely subservient.

"Uncle Xing, could you please wait a moment?" suddenly, Chen Fang said to Xing Yu.

Xing Yu asked, "Is there something else?"

"I haven't finished cleaning yet. Director Lv said that if I don't do it, I won't be able to take office," Chen Fang explained.

"Cleaning? What cleaning? Doesn't the county committee have cleaners? What cleaning do you need to do?"

"It's like this, Director Lv said there is a rule in the county committee office that new staff, no matter their rank, must clean all 23 offices once, otherwise, they cannot take office," Chen Fang explained.

Xing Yu frowned and looked at Lv Wuzhao, asking, "Director Lv, what does this mean? Since when does the county committee office have such a rule?"

At this moment, Lv Wuzhao was extremely troubled.

He was so frustrated that he itched with hatred.

Yet he had no choice but to plaster a smile on his face and said, "Deputy Secretary Xing, there's no such rule. Secretary Chen must have misheard; how could I possibly ask Secretary Chen to clean?"

"Misheard? Well, that's good. Ah Fang, look at you, you're not old, and yet your hearing isn't good. Director Lv isn't senile, how could he possibly make such a rule that teases people?"

On the surface, Xing Yu was scolding Chen Fang.

But who couldn't hear that he was actually issuing a warning to Xing Yu?

The two had just stepped out of the office when an infuriated Lv Wuzhao suddenly picked up a cup from the coffee table, wanting to smash it to the ground in anger, but worried that the noise would be too loud and attract Xing Yu's attention, he had to reluctantly put it down.

Sitting on the sofa, the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

Suddenly, he stood up, walked to the door, and called out loudly, "Liu Guangjie, come here."

In the large office,

a young man around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old stood up.

He hurried in and asked, "Director Lv, did you want to see me for something?"

Lv Wuzhao inquired, "The position of head of the supervision department has been vacant for a while now, are you interested?"

Liu Guangjie's heart jolted.

He immediately understood Lv Wuzhao's implication.

He said, "Director Lv, whatever task you have, just assign it to me. I guarantee to complete it without fail."

"Sensible," Lv Wuzhao affirmed, nodding his head, and then he motioned Liu Guangjie to come closer.

Once Liu Guangjie approached, Lv Wuzhao whispered something in his ear, to which Liu Guangjie immediately responded, "Don't worry, Director Lv, leave this matter to me, and there will be no issues."

"Alright, then you go and get busy," said Lv Wuzhao.

...

In the county committee compound,

Chen Fang was strolling through a small garden behind Xing Yu, who had again adopted an unsmiling, authoritative expression.

He sat down at the stone table in the center of the pavilion and said to Chen Fang, "Take a seat."

No sooner had Chen Fang sat down than Xing Yu said, "You're quite capable, young man, even managing to engage Mr. Zhu. You've certainly opened my eyes. However, I don't like people who play mind games, so I don't really like you. But since Mr. Zhu has spoken, I will certainly give face. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I understand," Chen Fang nodded and replied, "Thank you, Deputy Secretary Xing, for stepping in to help today."

"I wasn't helping you; I was helping Mr. Zhu. So, you don't have to thank me, and if a similar situation arises again, don't come looking for me. I dislike trouble. As for other matters, I'll do my best."

"Understood, Deputy Secretary Xing," Chen Fang acknowledged with a nod, and thereafter Xing Yu stood up,

and left with his hands clasped behind his back.

The first hurdle had been overcome,

however, the following days weren't easy for Chen Fang.

Li Duming had gone to the city for training, and it would last half a month; at least ten more days were needed before his return.

Though he bore the halo of being the First Secretary of the County Party Committee and had Xing Yu supporting him on the first day, the saying "The current official wields the real power" held true, and since everyone knew Chen Fang had offended Lv Wuzhao, naturally, no one in the entire office was bold enough to get close to him.

It was on his third day after being transferred to the County Party Committee office.

A major incident occurred in Changming County.

The upscale residential project, Changxi Blue Courtyard, under the umbrella of Hongze Group, was ordered to stop work.

This order was issued by the Land Resources Bureau.

The reason being the land approval had not yet passed.

Upon receiving the news from the construction site, Hong Qian rushed back from Wen'an City overnight in a flurry.

In a tea room at Ziwei Pavilion.

Gao Jianzhao was leisurely pouring and drinking tea by himself.

With a clang,

the door was forcefully pushed open.

"Old Gao, what's the meaning of this?"

Upon entering, Hong Qian started to shout loudly.

Gao Jianzhao didn't react much and asked, "What's the meaning of what?"

"What's the meaning behind Changxi Blue Courtyard's work stoppage? Don't tell me you don't know. The Land Resources Bureau is under your jurisdiction. I called to inquire on my way back; that order was issued by you."

"Yes, I issued it. So what?"

Gao Jianzhao asked.

Seething with anger, Hong Qian retorted, "Changxi Blue Courtyard is the first property my Hongze Group has introduced in Changming County. I planned to start presales by the end of the year. Stopping the work now — aren't you putting a knife to my throat?"

"Old Hong, how many years have we known each other?"

Gao Jianzhao asked leisurely while brewing tea.

Hong Qian paused.

And sat down.

He said, "I don't remember the exact number of years, but it's definitely over a decade."

"Eleven years, nine months, and four days,"

Gao Jianzhao stated.

The more Hong Qian heard, the more perplexed he became.

Gao Jianzhao said indifferently, "During these eleven years, I spent six years as the deputy director of the Wen'an City Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau. If I recall correctly, we met back then. You were just a contractor. Without my help, do you think there would be a Hongze Group like there is today?"

"What are you getting at? Haven't I repaid you? Besides, why don't you bring up the years of our friendship?"

Hong Qian asked somewhat angrily.

Gao Jianzhao nodded.

Then suddenly looked up with a piercing gaze at Hong Qian and asked, "So you still remember our years of friendship, huh? When you were stabbing me in the back, why didn't you think about that?"

The atmosphere suddenly turned silent.

Anxiety clearly showed in Hong Qian's eyes.

He swallowed hard and asked, "When have I ever stabbed you in the back?"

"You're not going to tell me about Qi Kexin's kidnapping?"

As Gao Jianzhao posed this question,

Hong Qian's fear intensified.

He said nervously, "Old Gao, don't listen to the nonsense others say. I didn't tell you for your own good. If Tiancheng Garden sells well, then my Changxi Blue Courtyard won't have a market. I did this for our sake."

After speaking,

he tried to grab Gao Jianzhao's hand, but Gao dodged it.

"Ha, for our sake? After all these years together, you think I don't know how you think? If you had told me, I definitely wouldn't have let you do it. But once the matter blows up, you won't be able to handle the consequences, and I definitely wouldn't just stand by. When the time comes, you'd expect me to take the fall for you, am I wrong?"

Gao Jianzhao's words

struck at all of Hong Qian's hidden schemes.

He had nothing to refute.

After a pause, he said, "Can you blame me? I've told you before, the market in Changming County is huge. As long as Zhang Cheng is around, I can't make any money. If you don't dare touch him, shouldn't I take matters into my own hands? No matter how powerful Zhang Cheng is, if you're afraid of him, I'm not! Is my strength inferior to his?"

"Seeking your own death!"

Gao Jianzhao muttered.

Then he said coldly, "You might want to die, but I don't. From now on, I, Gao Jianzhao, am cutting ties with you, Hong Qian. There's no relationship between us anymore. Don't you ever come here again."

These words made Hong Qian feel somewhat incredulous.

Anger erupted within him.

He slammed the tea table, stood up, and pointing at Gao Jianzhao's face, he roared, "Gao, stop being shameless! If you dare to sever ties with me, I'll turn the tables on you. The construction site must resume within 24 hours, or else, don't blame me for not being courteous."