Official Career Storm
Chapter 476

Chapter 476: Chapter 476

Song Guanchao saw everyone going to toast and knew it wouldn’t be good to just sit there without moving.

He picked up a small jug and a cup and walked over, starting with Secretary Lu and toasting each person in turn.

Facing Song Guanchao, their attitudes were different.

No matter how much they disliked it inside, Song Guanchao was today’s protagonist, so it would be improper to neglect him.

Secretary Lu took a small sip, and Mayor Zheng really didn’t want to give face, but with so many eyes on him and Journalist Lin from the Ministry of Propaganda present, if he didn’t drink, it would appear petty.

Moreover, if it weren’t for Song Guanchao taking on the case, he didn’t know what kind of punishment he’d have received.

Truth be told, he owed Song Guanchao a favor.

"Journalist Lin, a toast to you."

Song Guanchao filled a cup and said, "It’s fine for Journalist Lin to use tea instead of alcohol."

But Journalist Lin smiled and filled the cup with alcohol, surprising Song Guanchao.

And just as Secretary Jin, who was about to leave, witnessed this scene, his smile slowly froze.

This Journalist Lin, when facing him, used tea instead of alcohol.

In response to Song Guanchao, he used alcohol.

This differential treatment made him rather uncomfortable.

However, he didn’t take his anger out on Journalist Lin but aimed his annoyance at Song Guanchao.

The leaders at the table also noticed this subtle difference and were quite surprised.

This Journalist Lin’s attitude towards Song Guanchao was clearly different.

The Ministry of Propaganda was closer to the center of power than they were.

Journalist Lin’s attitude could indeed give a sideways analysis of some things.

They speculated that higher-ups were possibly paying special attention to Song Guanchao.

After toasting, Song Guanchao returned to his seat.

He took a few bites of food and chatted with Xu Xin and a few others.

At this time, the people from Jin Rong’s table came over with drinks.

Xu Xin and the others hastily stood up.

The other party was from the provincial level, after all, and the leader among them was Governor Qu’s secretary.

Whether in terms of rank or power, they were superior to them.

Jin Rong approached Song Guanchao with a grin and said, "Secretary Song, I toast to you."

"Secretary Jin is too kind," said Song Guanchao as he was about to lift his cup when someone beside Jin Rong snorted coldly, "No sense of propriety!"

Song Guanchao paused in his motion and looked at that person.

No sense of propriety?

Song Guanchao narrowed his eyes; Jin Rong turned and said sharply, "What are you saying?"

The man sneered, "Secretary Jin, you are just too easygoing. In terms of rank and status, when it comes to toasting, others should toast to you. Some people think that just because they have some merit, they can forget their place and show no respect for their elders or superiors."

This time, Song Guanchao understood.

He was supposed to go over and toast to Secretary Jin?

Xu Xin and the others were also somewhat angry inside, but since the other party was from the provincial government, and Jin Rong had already scolded them, it wasn’t their place to say anything.

Song Guanchao said with a smiling face, "How should I address you?"

The man huffed, "Provincial Government Office, Integration Department, Xiao Wanquan."

"So, it’s Director Xiao."

Song Guanchao kept staring at him with a smile, his voice suddenly rising so that the surrounding tables could clearly hear him, "Director Xiao is right; indeed, I don’t understand the rules!"

"Come, Director Xu, Director Liu..."

Song Guanchao called them out loudly and said, "We should toast to Director Xiao here; we definitely can’t let Director Xiao feel that we are ignorant."

"Secretary Jin, please have a seat, and Director Xiao, you too."

"All of you standing there, you’re giving us too much pressure; please sit down, otherwise, it wouldn’t be right to toast."

With these words, even the surrounding tables all looked over.

A group of leaders, including Secretary Lu and Journalist Lin, all looked at them.

Jin Rong’s face looked very ugly, and Director Xiao was both angry and flustered.

He didn’t expect Song Guanchao to be so cunning!

"Song Guanchao, you..."

"What’s the matter, Director Xiao? Your face doesn’t seem to look too good?"

Song Guanchao quickly switched to a cup of tea and handed it to him, "Director Xiao, use tea instead of alcohol; after all, we are just from municipal departments, and you are from the Provincial Government Office. Have some tea, it’s all the same."

Director Xiao wanted to curse, but fearing that Song Guanchao would continue to publicly embarrass him, he simply shut his mouth and said nothing more.

But he felt the focused gaze of those around him.

Especially from Secretary Lu’s table.

Without looking back, he could tell how unhappy these leaders looked at that moment.

Jin Rong took a deep breath, about to speak, when suddenly a voice came from behind him.

"What’s going on?"

Wu Qiangwei walked over and asked.

Song Guanchao smiled and said, "It’s nothing, just that Director Xiao feels we did not go over to offer a toast and were disrespectful, causing offense. I also think Director Xiao has a point, so here I am, apologizing."

Seeing this beautiful secretary coming over to inquire, Director Xiao immediately explained, "Secretary Wu, that’s not what I meant..."

Jin Rong said, "Secretary Wu, I’m really sorry, Director Xiao had too much to drink and spoke out of turn. I will definitely reprimand him properly when we get back."

The more you speak at times like these, the more mistakes you make; he couldn’t allow Director Xiao to speak any further.

Wu Qiangwei gave Director Xiao an indifferent glance, then gave Jin Rong a look.

Sure, the words were spoken by Director Xiao.

But a minor director like him, even with two livers, wouldn’t dare to speak to Song Guanchao like that.

In this case, no one would believe it wasn’t instigated by Jin Rong.

All seated here were shrewd people; how could they fail to understand the subtext?

Excuses like not being offered a toast were just that, excuses.

It seemed that Jin Rong was, in fact, deliberately looking for trouble with Song Guanchao.

This indeed made some people wonder why Jin Rong would be giving him trouble out of the blue.

The two had no grievances from days past or recent quarrels, no connection at all.

"Drunk?"

Wu Qiangwei said coldly, "They say a drunk person speaks a sober mind, I think these were Director Xiao’s true feelings."

"Do you, Director Xiao, feel, since you are from the provincial level, you are above others?"

"Not being offered a toast made you feel disrespected?"

"I didn’t, Secretary Wu..."

"Director Xiao, I will offer you a toast," Wu Qiangwei snatched the wine glass from Song Guanchao’s hand.

This statement terrified Director Xiao.

Even Jin Rong was scared.

"Secretary Wu, Director Xiao did not mean that, you..."

"Secretary Jin probably also thinks that the City Committee is beneath you, right?"

"No, not at all!"

"Not at all? Heh."

Wu Qiangwei set down the glass and said, "The provincial level sent you here for research, not to swagger around and flaunt your power!"

"Having a little authority in your grasp, you lose all sense of direction. I see some issues with this research group selected by the province!"

Jin Rong was sweating coldly; Wu Qiangwei’s words were too severe.

"I will ask Secretary Gao, who selected this Director Xiao."

She took out her phone, ready to make a call. Director Xiao’s face turned pale, as he looked to Jin Rong for help.

Jin Rong was also panicked. Though he wished to intervene, how could he, a secretary, dare to stop a secretary from making a phone call.

Now the issue was only with Director Xiao; if he dared to intervene, he’d bring trouble upon himself, too.

"Hello, Secretary Gao, this is Wu Qiangwei."

The call connected, and Wu Qiangwei spoke frankly about the issue.

After hanging up, Wu Qiangwei no longer paid them attention and turned to Song Guanchao, "Secretary Song, please provide good service to Secretary Jin and the others. Let them feel like they’re leaders."

Song Guanchao compliantly said, "What if Secretary Jin and the others feel our rank is too low, not qualified enough to serve them?"

Wu Qiangwei replied, "Then later on, Secretary Lu and I will personally serve them."

Secretary Jin and his party stood rooted to the spot, their backs soaked with sweat.

Wu Qiangwei’s speech had them on the hot seat, in a predicament they couldn’t escape.

Everyone could see that Wu Qiangwei was angry.

However, they could also understand, as the attitude of the research team from the province had been too aloof.

Song Guanchao was the protagonist of the day, and this minor officer expected the protagonist, who had just been interviewed by the Ministry of Propaganda and made great contributions, to toast him?

Just then, Secretary Jin’s phone rang.

He hurriedly took it out, and upon seeing Qu Xiangru’s number, he felt even more panicked.

No need to ask, it must have been Secretary Gao who had called Governor Qu.

Governor Qu was now holding him accountable.

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