Official Career Storm
Chapter 149

Chapter 149: Chapter 149

The moment he saw Liu Jie, Liu Lei knew what he was there for.

"Oh? What is it? Tell me, if it’s not too difficult, I will definitely help you." Liu Lei spoke earnestly.

Liu Jie knew that this principal was a deep thinker, and he didn’t bother to beat around the bush, cutting to the chase.

"I want to move up a level within the school, and for this matter, I can only trouble Principal Liu."

Liu Lei furrowed his brow, reached for a cigarette, and started smoking quietly.

Although he didn’t speak, the message was clear.

Liu Jie didn’t rush him; he had come prepared to burn bridges with him that day.

Song Guanchao had pulled strings to get him a position, having ousted Yan Dahai in the process.

The greatest hurdle was gone, and if he encountered resistance at the school, Liu Jie wouldn’t accept it without a fight.

Once the cigarette was finished, Liu Lei said, "I can’t decide this matter alone; let me call a meeting to discuss it later."

He didn’t refuse outright but used this roundabout way to put him off.

Liu Jie was not some rookie new to the job market, and of course, he understood what was happening.

"Vice principal, then?" Liu Jie suddenly said.

"What?" Liu Lei was caught off guard, not quite grasping his meaning at first.

Liu Jie said, "I mean, raise my level to that of a vice principal."

Liu Lei sneered inwardly, though he forced a smile on his face, "Liu, it’s not something I can just raise because I say so..."

"Snap!"

Liu Jie tossed a USB drive over, stood up, and headed for the door. As he reached the door, he paused for a few seconds, without turning his head, he said, "Sort it out this week. If you can’t handle it, then bring in a new principal who can."

With that, he strode away.

These words stunned Liu Lei at first, and then anger flared up. Liu Jie was just a regular teacher, even if he was currently on assignment at the City Committee.

Really, what was he worth?

To speak to him in that tone.

Wait a moment...

He looked at the USB drive on his desk, a bad feeling rising in his gut.

He plugged the USB into his computer.

After watching the few videos on the USB drive, Liu Lei collapsed into his chair, his face drained of color.

No wonder Liu Jie had been so bold!

He actually had this evidence in his possession!

Liu Lei grabbed his phone and called Liu Jie immediately.

While waiting for the call to connect, he took several deep breaths, then upon connection, switched immediately to a jovial tone, "Liu, that matter you just mentioned, it’s not a particularly big problem."

"Then I’ll leave it to Principal Liu."

"It’s not troublesome, uh, it’s rare for you to come back—why not stay a little longer? I have some excellent tea here for you to try."

"No need, I have things to take care of back at the City Committee."

"Liu, that USB you just gave me..."

"USB? What USB? What is Principal Liu talking about, I don’t quite understand?"

"..." Liu Lei’s lips twitched, understanding Liu Jie’s implication.

He took a deep breath and laughed, "Heh, you should come back more often when you have the time."

Liu Lei acted swiftly, and by the next day, Liu Jie’s position had been elevated to vice principal of the Third Middle School.

When Song Guanchao learned of this from Liu Jie, he nodded and stood up to walk over to Chu Xiao’e’s office.

Since that intimate night they shared, they hadn’t seen each other until today.

Arriving at the office door, Chu Xiao’e’s secretary had a completely changed attitude, doing a full one-eighty.

She was well aware of Song Guanchao’s life-saving grace toward Chu Xiao’e’s daughter, and now Song Guanchao could be considered the Secretary of the Municipal Committee.

She wouldn’t dare show any displeasure in front of Song Guanchao.

"Secretary Song, are you looking for Secretary Chu?"

"Yes." Song Guanchao gave her a slight smile, raised his hand to knock, and heard the pleasant voice of Chu Xiao’e from inside, "Come in."

Song Guanchao pushed the door open, and Chu Xiao’e set down the document in her hand, looking up at him with a calm gaze and composed demeanor.

There was no sign of anything that had transpired between them behind closed doors.

Song Guanchao inwardly praised her; this woman certainly knew how to separate personal affairs from work.

That suited him well, saving him the trouble.

That night was nothing more than a beautiful accident induced by intoxication; anyone who took it seriously would lose.

"Secretary Chu."

Song Guanchao sat down and said, "Liu Jie’s appointment can start being processed now."

"Alright," Chu Xiao’e nodded, then asked, "Is there anything else?"

"No, that’s it," Song Guanchao muttered, feeling somewhat uneasy.

In the afternoon, Liu Jie received a notice that his position had officially been transferred to the City Committee Office.

As of today, he had become administrative staff.

"Brother Liu, congratulations!"

"You must treat us to dinner tonight!"

"I always said it—if you’re gold, you will shine."

"Even if someone tries to trip you up in secret, they can’t stop Brother Liu’s progress!"

Sitting in a corner, Yan Dahai seethed with rage.

He had already spoken to Liu Lei, but Liu Lei still raised his rank.

He silently left the office and walked into the restroom to dial Liu Lei’s number.

"Old Yan, it’s not that I facilitated this for him, but he’s got people backing him. The newly appointed Mayor Liang personally called and asked me to raise his rank. How could I say no?"

"Damn it!" Yan Dahai felt his head spin with anger.

He no longer had any backing, while this guy suddenly gained the support of the Vice Mayor.

Indeed, fortunes ebb and flow—a subordinate he used to manipulate now soared high with the east wind.

Elsewhere.

Song Guanchao also reported this matter to Wu Qiangwei.

"Go and tell Secretary Chu that tomorrow I’ll invite Minister Zhou to a meeting, and during that meeting, I’ll recommend Liu Jie for the position of Secretary of the Municipal Committee," Wu Qiangwei instructed.

Song Guanchao was taken aback: "Liu Jie?"

It was agreed earlier that Secretary Chu would make the recommendation.

Why had it suddenly become Liu Jie?

Moreover, Liu Jie had just been placed on the staff list, as a mere entry-level clerk.

It wouldn’t even be protocol.

Wu Qiangwei asked, "Is there a problem?"

"No problem, it’s just... won’t it be too obvious?"

"What’s wrong with it being a bit obvious?"

Wu Qiangwei said, "I want them to know that the City Committee is under my control."

Song Guanchao fell silent.

Secretary Wu is Secretary Wu, untroubled by trivial matters.

Where there’s no path, she would forcefully carve one out.

Thus, Song Guanchao once again sought out Chu Xiao’e to briefly discuss the matter.

Chu Xiao’e was also surprised, but did not feel displeased.

After all, it would be denied by Secretary Lu anyway.

The next morning at ten o’clock.

All nine members of the standing committee were present in the City Committee conference room.

This was a small standing committee meeting, mainly initiated by Lu Zhizhong.

The members were surprised to receive notice to hold an emergency standing committee meeting.

It had been less than half a month since the decision on the Vice Mayor’s appointment and dismissal, and now it was followed by a personnel decision for the Secretary of the Municipal Committee.

This was too fast.

Some had already keenly sensed that Secretary Wu’s actions were significant.

She intended to turn the City Committee into a solid block, grasping power firmly in her hands.

And the recent events also inevitably led them to speculate whether Wu Qiangwei intended to sideline Lu Zhizhong completely from the last bit of power he held.

This was a concern for them.

They worried that after dealing with Secretary Lu, Wu Qiangwei’s next step would be to target them.

That was not a good sign.

Since the emergency standing committee meeting was mainly to nominate a candidate for the Secretary of the Municipal Committee,

when everyone had arrived, Wu Qiangwei immediately began to speak.

Seeing her as the first to speak, the attending committee members subconsciously looked towards both Lu Zhizhong and Mayor Zheng.

This third-ranking official of the City Committee disregarded the first and second, fully acting as if she were the top official.

Although everyone knew she was the de facto leader,

still, shouldn’t they at least maintain appearances?

Now, she was not even pretending.

This showed just how deteriorated the relationship between Secretary Lu and Wu Qiangwei had become.

Follow current novels on (f)reew𝒆bnovel