Official Career Storm
Chapter 488

Chapter 488: Chapter 488

"What’s wrong?"

"Let’s talk in person, I’m waiting for you in the parking lot."

"Okay."

Song Guanchao didn’t delay and turned to leave the building.

Wu Yun was already waiting in the lobby. Seeing him walk briskly, she quickly followed him.

Once in the car, Song Guanchao said, "You go to the private room first. I need to discuss something with Secretary Zhang."

"Oh." Wu Yun noticed his serious expression and refrained from idle chat.

She felt a bit disappointed.

Song Guanchao had been getting busier and busier, seemingly occupied all day. While previously at the City Committee, they occasionally had time to drink milk tea together, now they hardly had time for a private conversation.

Arriving at the hotel and after Wu Yun left, Song Guanchao looked around but didn’t see Zhang Meilin.

As he was scanning the surroundings, his phone rang. It was Zhang Meilin: "Walk forward, I’m in the car."

Song Guanchao walked all the way to the end of the parking lot and spotted his car.

Inside the car, both Zhang Meilin and Fu Ying had grim expressions.

Zhang Meilin said with a grim face, "Chen Guanyun is planning to make a move on me tonight."

Song Guanchao asked, "Did Chang Chuan tell you?"

"Yes."

"What did he say he would do?"

"They plan to get me drunk and set me up with a woman; Yao Jinsheng will arrange for the police to raid the room."

Upon hearing this, Song Guanchao instantly guessed their tactic.

He had experienced this trick before.

That’s exactly how Yang Yongqiang had targeted him in the past.

To tarnish someone’s reputation in the political arena, this was the simplest, most direct, and effective method, never failing.

Sex is instinctual. Even if you keep to yourself on normal days, there’s always a moment when you could lose control.

From high-ranking officials to low-ranking clerks, countless have fallen due to women.

This tactic wouldn’t directly topple a person but could easily ruin their reputation.

The higher-ups don’t actually care about your chaotic private life.

What they care about is that if such things are exposed, it indicates that you haven’t managed your relationships well and haven’t stabilized the situation.

In other words, although you’re the top official, you lack the necessary capabilities to balance the situation.

This is the most fatal point.

Song Guanchao was silent, pondering for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Brother Zhang, has the Finance Department arranged for someone?"

"Not yet." Zhang Meilin didn’t understand why he suddenly asked this: "Minister Zhou told me that the positions of chief and deputy can’t be promoted locally."

"Let’s give it to Governor Qu."

Zhang Meilin’s mind swayed slightly, pondered for a few seconds, and said, "You mean to collaborate with Governor Qu?"

Song Guanchao shook his head, then nodded, "Tonight with Secretary Jin being entrapped, both morally and logically, offering the Finance Department as a favor is justified."

"What?" Zhang Meilin was stunned, taking a long time to recover.

"Secretary Jin substituting for me..."

He suddenly looked at Song Guanchao: "What do you mean?"

Song Guanchao smiled, "Timing is everything, and Secretary Jin’s arrival is just too perfect. Not to promote him would be a disservice."

Zhang Meilin’s heart pounded; he understood what Song Guanchao was planning.

He wanted to trap Secretary Jin!

"But... Secretary Jin is backed by Governor Qu."

"So what?"

Song Guanchao scoffed, "Expecting to get several departments by just exchanging a few words, where in the world does such a good deal exist?"

"Besides, it’s Chen Guanyun who’s setting him up, not you."

"He’s not a fool; he’ll see through it."

"Don’t worry, if I dare to do this, he won’t see through it."

Song Guanchao continued, "Even if he does see through it, he has no choice but to accept it. We’re giving him the Finance Department. What more does he want?"

Seeing him hesitate, Song Guanchao said, "Brother Zhang, don’t overthink it. If this happens, the ones who should be worried aren’t you, but Chen Guanyun and Jin Rong."

"Your task is to handle the aftermath," Zhang Meilin clenched his teeth, "Okay!"

He had no experience in this area, but Song Guanchao clearly did.

He was just too bold.

Anyway, he had thought about it for a long time and hadn’t considered diverting disaster elsewhere, turning around to set up someone else.

Next, Song Guanchao discussed the details with him, explaining exactly what should be done.

Fu Ying quietly listened on the side; she could neither comment on nor contribute to this matter.

At seven in the evening, they entered the hotel’s private room, one after another.

In the large room, there was a round table for twenty people.

Most of the Dujiang City Standing Committee members were present, along with a few leaders from the municipal departments.

From Lingjiang City, the inspection team members, led by Secretary Sun, were also there.

And then there was Jin Rong, the secretary from the province.

Zhang Meilin kept a low profile, spoke a few words to introduce Jin Rong’s identity, and then scarcely spoke.

Chen Guanyun and others were surprised and impressed to learn that Jin Rong was Governor Qu’s secretary.

Mostly, they were curious—what was he doing here?

After the pleasantries, everyone began to eat and drink.

Yao Jinsheng, holding a wine glass, ran around to toast everyone.

Secretary Sun and his colleagues were the primary targets of attention, followed by Jin Rong.

Chen Guanyun announced that they must attend to Secretary Jin properly.

Secretary Jin didn’t rush to discuss matters with Zhang Meilin; after eating and drinking, then they would talk slowly.

"Secretary Jin, a toast to you."

Song Guanchao came over with a wine glass, and Secretary Jin, with a forced smile, clinked glasses with him.

No sooner had he left than several Dujiang City leaders came to toast in turn.

Secretary Jin’s tolerance for alcohol was actually quite modest, because as Governor Qu was a woman and also a Provincial Committee member, no one dared to force her to drink at social gatherings.

Thus, Secretary Jin didn’t have the responsibility of fending off drinks for her superiors.

An hour or so passed, and Secretary Jin’s cheeks were red and his gaze was unsteady—it was clear he had had too much to drink.

On the other side, Zhang Meilin had also been plied with a considerable amount of alcohol.

Chen Guanyun and his colleagues, experienced drinkers, seemed unaffected even after consuming a quart of liquor.

Zhang Meilin was not doing so well; his condition was barely better than Jin Rong’s.

His newly appointed secretary, He Cunhao, watched anxiously from the side.

Seeing another person coming over to toast, he quickly grabbed the wine glass and said, "Secretary Yang, let me drink on behalf of Secretary Zhang."

Yang Qingquan’s expression darkened, "I’m here to drink with Secretary Zhang, why are you intervening?"

"I..."

He Cunhao, forget about drinking." Zhang Meilin took the glass, patting his shoulder, "Secretary Yang is toasting me, how can I let you drink on my behalf?"

"Secretary Zhang..." He Cunhao looked on anxiously, as Zhang Meilin clearly couldn’t handle his liquor; continuing to drink could lead to trouble.

"Just go and eat some food, sit down properly."

Zhang Meilin downed his glass in one go, and just after he finished, Yao Jinsheng came up to toast again.

Seeing the endless toasting with no end in sight, He Cunhao clenched his fists.

Although he didn’t understand politics, he could see after these days that the city’s leaders seemed to be intentionally targeting the new Secretary Zhang.

Song Guanchao was eating and drinking heartily on the other side and occasionally looked up, thinking it should be about enough.

Sure enough, after another drink, Zhang Meilin stumbled into his chair, and when someone came to toast again, he waved his hand: "No more, I really can’t drink anymore, my stomach is burning."

This person still wanted to persuade him to drink, but Chen Guanyun came over and said, "Alright, Secretary Zhang can’t drink anymore, stop persuading him. If something goes wrong, will you take responsibility?"

Seeing Chen Guanyun step in, several people knew the plan was about to start.

Chen Guanyun took out a room card and placed it in front of him, "Secretary Zhang, I’ve gotten you a room, go rest well."

"Okay..."

Just as Zhang Meilin was about to pick up the room card, Jin Rong suddenly came over with a wine glass, "Secretary Zhang, let’s have another drink..."

Zhang Meilin said, "Secretary Jin, let’s drink next time. I’m going up to take a shower. We can talk later if there’s anything."

Jin Rong saw the room card on the table, Room 622.

He nodded, "Okay."

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