Official Career Storm
Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Chapter 164

Song Guanchao had just sat down when Wu Qiangwei handed over the document she had just received.

Taking the document from her, Song Guanchao heard Wu Qiangwei say, "Mayor Zheng organized a banquet for entrepreneurs, inviting more than a dozen local business owners to dine together."

The document was a spoken dictation from Mayor Zheng that had been recorded and drafted by a secretary.

The content of the document was complex, filled with various official jargon, which gave Song Guanchao a headache.

The main content was essentially summarized by Wu Qiangwei’s earlier statement.

He set down the document and said, "Is Mayor Zheng impatient to achieve some results?"

Wu Qiangwei nodded slightly, indicating the bigger picture.

Mayor Zheng obviously wouldn’t invite a group of entrepreneurs to dinner for no reason; clearly, he was looking to make some achievements in the economic sector.

The government officials attending the meeting primarily included Mayor Zheng, Secretary Lu, Minister Su from the organization department, Wu Qiangwei, Chu Xiao’e, as well as leaders from the commerce bureau and the industrial and commercial taxation departments.

Such a lineup was quite prestigious.

It showed just how much importance Mayor Zheng placed on this matter.

Wu Qiangwei glanced over at him and slightly furrowed her brows. "Why are you still wearing that suit?"

Song Guanchao replied, "The suit given by Secretary was too expensive, I couldn’t bear to wear it."

"Hmph! You can drive a million-dollar luxury car, but can’t bear to wear a suit worth tens of thousands? Do you not like the suit I gave you?"

"No, no, hang on..." Song Guanchao’s eyes widened. "That suit is worth tens of thousands?"

Wu Qiangwei picked up her teacup and issued a soft ’hm’ through her nose.

Song Guanchao’s eye twitched madly as he mentally cursed.

How could a suit be so expensive?

He suddenly thought of the suit Chu Xiao’e had given him, which probably wasn’t cheap either.

"Put on the suit tomorrow; don’t embarrass yourself in front of the entrepreneurs."

"I understand."

Leaving the office, Song Guanchao looked down at the leather shoes he was wearing and suddenly felt that the shoes, which cost a little over two hundred, might not match up to those suits.

He also wondered whether he should reciprocate since Secretary had given him such an expensive suit. What could he possibly give in return?

Although he didn’t know what Wu Qiangwei’s parents did, one of them was definitely an official, and the other most likely a businessperson.

And for sure, they were of high rank.

A girl who grew up in such a family didn’t lack money and was worldly.

She wouldn’t fancy ordinary gifts.

Maybe he should give her a set of lingerie?

Song Guanchao’s eyes lit up, thinking it was a good idea.

But then he immediately cast that thought aside.

It was not a wise choice.

If he angered Wu Qiangwei, he would undoubtedly be in for a scolding.

Plus, lingerie wasn’t something he should be giving.

They were superior and subordinate, as well as friends.

Giving lingerie was clearly overstepping bounds.

Besides, he didn’t even know her size.

"What are you thinking about?" Zeng Li was curious; she rarely saw Song Guanchao frown like this.

"Nothing." Song Guanchao shook his head, dismissing the distracting thoughts, pulled out his phone, found Fu Ying’s number, and got up to walk toward the stairway.

Zeng Li felt somewhat displeased, sensing that Song Guanchao didn’t really consider her one of his own.

He even had to step away to make a call.

In the stairwell.

Song Guanchao got in touch with Fu Ying.

"Deputy County Magistrate, are you busy?" Song Guanchao asked cheerfully.

Fu Ying was delighted to suddenly receive a call from Song Guanchao.

The last time they had spoken on the phone was when Song Guanchao was hospitalized.

"I just finished up, and then you called. Secretary Song doesn’t visit without a reason; you must need something, right?"

"Cough cough." Song Guanchao felt a bit awkward and also a bit guilty.

Because he suddenly realized that he indeed didn’t contact Fu Ying much in his daily life.

If their relationship were merely that of classmates, there wouldn’t be much of an issue, but their relationship was far from pure.

Even though Fu Ying hadn’t asked for any recognition or responsibility after the fact, the more she refrained, the guiltier Song Guanchao felt.

This behavior was downright scummy.

"Tell me, what do you need?" Fu Ying’s tone remained unchanged, as if she wasn’t unhappy, but there was some disappointment in her heart.

Song Guanchao said, "Secretary Wu will be visiting Dujiang County soon."

Fu Ying snapped out of her disappointment and asked, "Didn’t Secretary Wu just complete a survey? Is she coming over for something else this time?"

Song Guanchao replied, "It’s still a survey, but this time it’s an unofficial one."

Fu Ying immediately understood what he meant.

"Don’t disclose this matter to anyone else, I’m only telling you."

"Understood, I know."

"I’m not too clear about the situation in Dujiang County at the moment, but you’ve been there for a few years and should be familiar with it. When we visit, you can fill us in in detail. Let’s see what the root problems are in Dujiang County, and I’ll take care of them this time!"

Hearing this, Fu Ying felt a sweet sensation in her heart and was somewhat moved.

She suddenly remembered that the last time they had dined together in the province, he had said he would come to Dujiang County to clear obstacles for her when he found the time.

At that time, she didn’t take it seriously, but now, Song Guanchao had kept his promise.

He must be coming for me!

"Mhm, I’ll be waiting," Fu Ying said softly, her tone unable to conceal her personal feelings.

After hanging up the phone, Song Guanchao went to Chu Xiao’e’s office.

Secretary Xu was about to stand up, but Song Guanchao already pushed the door and entered.

Her mouth opened slightly as she watched the closing door, feeling a strange sensation.

She always felt that the relationship between Song Guanchao and Chu Xiao’e was progressing rapidly.

Although Song Guanchao owed a life-saving debt to the daughter of the Secretary-General, wasn’t Secretary Song treating himself too much like an insider?

Inside the office.

Chu Xiao’e was reviewing documents sent over by the Commerce Bureau, preparing for the entrepreneurs’ dinner tomorrow evening.

Hearing the door open and seeing Song Guanchao enter, an unconscious joy flickered in the depths of her eyes, one she herself hadn’t noticed.

She straightened her mind and set down the documents: "Secretary Song, you’re looking for me?"

Song Guanchao hummed an affirmation, didn’t take a seat, but instead looked with interest at the bookshelf behind her chair.

The bookshelf was filled with various books, from corporate management to biographies.

He casually picked up a book and said, facing away from Chu Xiao’e: "How’s your relationship with Minister Su from the Publicity Department?"

"Do you need him for something?"

Chu Xiao’e was sharp and saw through his intentions instantly.

"Yes, I need his cooperation for a certain matter."

It was easy to get an interview with Zhou Qian, but difficult to publish the content of the interview.

If the Publicity Department didn’t cooperate, it would be hard for the matter to have an impact.

Chu Xiao’e stated, "Su Zhengwei was promoted by Mr. Zhu."

"Mr. Zhu?" Who was that?

"The former City Secretary of Lingjiang, already retired."

"Is Mr. Zhu a local?"

"No." Chu Xiao’e shook her head: "He’s from the north, he was transferred here during an inter-regional exchange years ago."

Song Guanchao asked, "So Minister Su isn’t a local either?"

Chu Xiao’e continued to shake her head: "He is a local, used to be the head of an accounting firm in the Finance Bureau, later spotted by Mr. Zhu, who picked him to be a secretary."

"After Mr. Zhu stepped back, he was sent to the towns, and during that time was arranged to attend a graduate course for international trade."

"After finishing his studies, Su Zhengwei was promoted to the city level, serving as secretary of a district committee for two years."

"Originally, according to Mr. Zhu’s plan, Su Zhengwei was to serve as the head of the Organization Department, but after all, he wasn’t a local, and moreover, Mr. Zhu had stepped back, so there weren’t many who would give him face."

"However, Su Zhengwei’s personal capabilities were strong, and at the time there was a leader in the province who thought very highly of him, thus he became the head of the Publicity Department."

Song Guanchao nodded slightly, silently sorting through Su Zhengwei’s career history.

Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at (f)re𝒆we(b)novel.com Only