Official Career Storm
Chapter 237

Chapter 237: Chapter 237

The following day, early in the morning.

Minister Zhou sat in his office, lifted his teacup, and picked up the documents.

Knock knock.

Secretary Zhang Meilin pushed the door open and said, "Minister Zhou, Director Qin is looking for you."

"Let him in."

Minister Zhou set down the documents and sighed inwardly.

He did not want to have much contact with Director Qin, yet Director Qin was like a persistent plaster, searching for him every now and then.

"Minister Zhou."

Director Qin pulled out a chair, sat down, and immediately raised his thumb, "Minister Zhou, you are truly clairvoyant; you really guessed it right, that Feng Hongtao, and Secretary Chu do have a special relationship!"

"Oh? What sort of relationship?"

"Feng Hongtao is Secretary Chu’s cousin!"

Minister Zhou had suspected as much, so he was not surprised to have it confirmed.

"Right, there’s another thing."

Director Qin said, "Didn’t the City Committee set up a guidance group? I heard that Song Guanchao used the group to strike!"

Minister Zhou asked, "What happened?"

Director Qin said, "It all relates to Hui Po Company again. After Hui Po Company was made an example of, the other parking companies in the city also began to cancel their registrations."

"When the guidance group went to inspect Xiangting Company, the company offered bribes, and Secretary Sun discovered it. At the guidance group’s meeting yesterday, Song Guanchao handed over those who took the bribes to the Disciplinary Committee."

Minister Zhou slightly frowned, "Secretary Sun discovered it?"

"Yes."

"Then why was it Song Guanchao who handed it over to the Disciplinary Committee?"

Minister Zhou said, "Tell me the details of what happened."

Director Qin didn’t know the details; he had only heard from Secretary Wang.

He had to make a phone call to clarify the details and then relay them to Minister Zhou.

After listening, Minister Zhou said, "Secretary Sun has been set up by Song Guanchao."

"What?" Director Qin was puzzled, "Aren’t Secretary Sun and Song Guanchao working together?"

Minister Zhou didn’t really want to explain to him; this pig really did not want to think at all.

He provided a simple analysis, and Director Qin suddenly realized.

At that moment, Minister Zhou’s mobile phone rang.

The caller was Li Jun.

He answered the call, "Mhm, alright, I’ve got it."

As soon as the call ended, Director Qin asked, "Whose call was that?"

Minister Zhou glanced at him, his eyes filled with a tinge of displeasure.

This Director Qin was not only daft but also lacked any sense of boundaries.

Instead of answering, he said, "Secretary Sun got beaten by Song Guanchao."

"What!" Director Qin was astonished, then eagerly burst out, "Was it serious? Did he call the police? Do you need me to go arrest him?"

Such opportunities were rare.

Minister Zhou massaged his temples and said, "It happened the day before yesterday."

"The day before yesterday?" Director Qin felt a sense of loss.

Two days had already passed; if there was going to be a police report, it would have been filed by now.

But the news of Secretary Sun being beaten hadn’t come out for two days, and he hadn’t taken any revenge.

It looked like the fault was on Secretary Sun’s side.

"Why was he beaten?"

Minister Zhou said, "This is Secretary Sun’s private matter; it’s not convenient for me to divulge. I remember you had a decent relationship with Secretary Sun, didn’t you? Go ask him yourself."

Director Qin gave a forced smile, "I don’t really have much of an acquaintance with Secretary Sun."

"Heh," Minister Zhou couldn’t be bothered to expose him.

Director Qin changed the subject, asking, "Minister Zhou, do you think I should get closer to Secretary Lu and Mayor Zheng, or should I align more with Secretary Wu?"

Minister Zhou shook his head, "Just keep a low profile on your daily routine, and wait till they get transferred out."

Director Qin said, "This isn’t something that can be done in a short time. While they are in office, I have to stand with one of them, don’t I?"

Seeing that he wouldn’t rest until he got an answer, Minister Zhou pondered for a moment, then said, "Mayor Zheng is now vigorously developing the economy. Whether it’s attracting investment or urban renewal, the follow-up will need cooperation from the Public Security side."

"Especially in terms of the business environment, without the Public Security’s efforts, it would be challenging to achieve substantial results."

"But Mayor Zheng’s purpose is very clear; he’s doing all this simply to climb higher. However, the economy is not that easy to boost, and whether he can achieve results is uncertain."

"But if he really can boost the economy, advancing further is almost a sure thing."

Director Qin asked, "What about Secretary Wu?"

Minister Zhou said, "Secretary Wu probably won’t touch the economic sector for now, she’s still young, with a long road ahead. As long as Lingjiang doesn’t run into major trouble during her tenure. But if she’s ambitious and wants to secure a remarkable resume, then she and Mayor Zheng will inevitably compete over Lingjiang’s economy."

Director Qin was unusually contemplative.

Several seconds later, he asked, "How would Minister Zhou choose?"

Minister Zhou shook his head, "Take it one step at a time, it’s best if you can avoid offending both sides."

Director Qin laughed softly, noncommittal.

Not offending both sides, as if such a good situation existed.

Even as a Director of the Municipal Bureau, he had to consider which side to take. For Minister Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee, wanting to remain impartial was simply a fool’s dream.

He stood up to take his leave, with Secretary Zhang Meilin escorting him out.

After returning, Zhang Meilin refilled Minister Zhou’s tea.

Minister Zhou asked, "Xiao Zhang, what do you think Director Qin will choose?"

Zhang Meilin thought carefully, "Secretary Wu is using Hui Po Company as a model case, it’s unlikely she will continue to make use of Director Qin. If the timing is right, I think Secretary Wu would replace Director Qin."

"In this situation, no matter how Director Qin tries to show goodwill, it’s impossible for him to gain Secretary Wu’s trust. I think Director Qin will choose Mayor Zheng."

Minister Zhou revealed a satisfied smile, "Your judgment is sound, if Director Qin is making the choice himself, he should side with Mayor Zheng. But behind Director Qin, there is He Kang."

Zhang Meilin said, "You mean, Minister Zhou, that He Kang will make Director Qin choose Secretary Wu?"

Minister Zhou’s smile was enigmatic, as he shook his head, "No, I actually think that He Kang will abandon Director Qin."

Zhang Meilin was taken aback, suddenly feeling a chill inside.

Minister Zhou said, "In Director Qin’s understanding, Mayor Zheng and Secretary Lu are of one body, but in reality, it’s quite the opposite."

"Looking at the recent actions of Mayor Zheng and Secretary Lu, both of them want to advance further. If Lingjiang were a sub-provincial city or an economically important city, they might have the opportunity to both make progress through their schemes."

"Unfortunately, Lingjiang is just a prefecture-level city. The potential of this city is limited. Mayor Zheng and Secretary Lu are destined to have only one emerge victorious."

"So, not only are they not an integrated whole, but they will also fight each other to the death, spilling blood and breaking heads."

"Director Qin can’t see this, nor necessarily can He Kang. But He Kang’s father, the former Mayor, surely can."

"Whether Mayor He plans to withdraw in time or to choose a side to bet on, Director Qin is doomed to be abandoned."

The reason Zhang Meilin was chosen by Minister Zhou as his secretary was his exceptional ability.

Having followed Minister Zhou for many years, absorbing and learning, his political acumen was exceedingly high.

Now, hearing Minister Zhou’s brief analysis, he grasped the crucial point.

"What if Director Qin sides with Secretary Wu?"

"Didn’t you just say it? Hui Po Company has already been made an example of. Do you think Secretary Wu would still make use of him?"

Minister Zhou shook his head, "If Zhang Xiaoming weren’t dead, there might still be a sliver of chance. But with Zhang Xiaoming gone, it has crossed Secretary Wu’s bottom line."

"No leader wants to use someone they cannot completely control."

"Secretary Wu wouldn’t, neither would Secretary Lu or Mayor Zheng."

"Right now, he is just a discarded piece."

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