Official Career Storm
Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Chapter 82

Nanjiang Province’s capital is Jiangzhou City.

Lingjiang is 300 kilometers away from Jiangzhou by car, with a highway stretching the entire way.

Throughout the trip, Lu Feng talked nonstop like a machine gun, and the car filled with smoke as the two chatted about the military.

A bit over an hour later, Song Guanchao’s phone rang; Fu Ying had replied.

"How did you know I was at the Party School?"

"I am, after all, a squad leader, and I blend well with my classmates. I’m quite good at getting the inside scoop."

"You’re in the capital?"

"An old classmate is still so astute."

"I’ll treat you to dinner."

"I still have a bit to go; I estimate I’ll arrive by eleven."

"Okay, then I’ll go to the restaurant first and send you the address later."

Half an hour later, Fu Ying sent over the restaurant’s address.

At ten forty, the car arrived at the restaurant’s parking lot.

Song Guanchao said, "I’m going to meet someone. You just grab something to eat, but don’t drink any alcohol."

"You do your thing, Squad Leader; don’t worry about me."

Entering the restaurant, Song Guanchao immediately spotted a table near the wall where a slightly dated-looking woman was sitting.

He walked over and pulled out a chair to sit down.

The woman’s gaze fell upon him, her unpainted face breaking into a smile.

"Here."

"I just got here; did I make you wait long?"

"Not at all."

Fu Ying wore a women’s suit, which was a bit ill-fitting and somewhat outdated.

Her long hair was tied back into a ponytail, revealing her forehead and ears.

This hairstyle made her appear older, but she still looked good despite that.

Song Guanchao asked, "You’re only in your twenties, why dress so maturely?"

Fu Ying said, "In the county town, seniority is taken very seriously. As a young woman, many people dislike me and attack my image."

Song Guanchao snorted, "A bunch of worthless wretches. When I have time, I’ll visit and see who’s been talking behind your back."

"Squad Leader Song’s temperament is still as fiery."

Fu Ying’s eyes curved into crescent moons; she picked up her teacup and took a sip, concealing her excitement.

"It’s not about being hot-tempered. In the officialdom, you need to stand firm when necessary; otherwise, people will push you around."

Although he was new to the officialdom, human nature was the same everywhere.

Forming cliques, targeting others—such tactics worked universally.

Song Guanchao had rapidly ascended in the military and established his authority. Coming to the officialdom was just like arriving home.

To him, the games played in the officialdom were really not impressive.

If he encountered someone who liked to pull dirty tricks, he would outwit them.

Against someone confrontational, he would stand even firmer.

He certainly wasn’t afraid of anyone when it came to tactics.

"Hmm, I know," Fu Ying said softly.

Then the food was served, "Let’s eat first. We can chat while we eat."

Song Guanchao picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of rib.

As Fu Ying talked about their university days, Song Guanchao suddenly remembered something about watching a movie.

He was straightforward, especially in front of friends, saying whatever was on his mind.

So he directly asked, "I heard from Lin Peng that you invited me to a movie once and I stood you up? What was that about? I don’t remember anything about it."

Fu Ying’s expression grew a little colder, and she shook her head, "That didn’t happen."

But Song Guanchao could tell; it definitely had.

Regardless of today’s favor, even just based on their friendship, he needed to get to the bottom of it.

"What exactly happened?"

Seeing him pressing for a detailed answer, Fu Ying sighed lightly and said, "Do you remember Xu Mei?"

Song Guanchao thought for a while and nodded, "I have some impression."

Fu Ying said, "Xu Mei found me that day and gave me a movie ticket, saying that you had invited me to watch a movie. Later, when I went, you didn’t show up."

Song Guanchao realized what had happened.

Xu Mei had deliberately played a trick on her.

During university, Fu Ying was the class beauty with many admirers.

Such a girl naturally invited jealousy.

Xu Mei was one of them.

This kind of tactic actually wasn’t much, but for Fu Ying, who came from a poor family, it was a blow to her confidence.

Song Guanchao asked, "How did Lin Peng come to know about this?"

Fu Ying said, "She spread the story, and everyone was laughing at me."

"That’s too much!" Song Guanchao frowned.

"It’s in the past," Fu Ying said with a slight smile. "I didn’t take it too seriously."

Song Guanchao sighed internally.

If it really hadn’t mattered to her, she wouldn’t remember it so clearly.

"By the way, you were looking for me, is there something you need my help with?" Fu Ying asked straightforwardly.

Song Guanchao asked, "Do you have any friends in the Provincial Disciplinary Inspection Committee?"

"Provincial Disciplinary Inspection Committee..." Fu Ying thought for a moment and said, "This morning, Secretary Xu from the Provincial Disciplinary Inspection Committee came and held a meeting. Afterwards, he talked with me for a while... Aren’t you working as a secretary at the City Committee? It should be easy for you to meet the Provincial Disciplinary Inspection Committee."

As a deputy county mayor in a district under the jurisdiction of Lingjiang City, Fu Ying paid close attention to personnel changes in the higher levels of the city.

When Song Guanchao was transferred to the City Committee, she had heard about it and had been silently following his career.

Song Guanchao said, "It’s not very convenient for me to go directly in my capacity as Secretary Wu’s secretary. If you could make the contact, I would like to meet this Secretary Xu."

Fu Ying was curious as to why he couldn’t meet the other party directly as a secretary, but since Song Guanchao didn’t say, she didn’t ask.

"I’ll ask for you."

She grabbed her cellphone and stepped outside the restaurant to make the call.

A moment later, she came back and said, "After we eat, I’ll accompany you there."

Song Guanchao was somewhat surprised; Fu Ying had really managed to arrange the meeting.

It seemed, her becoming a deputy county mayor at the age of 26 was no small feat.

Song Guanchao was quite surprised when he found out she was now serving as the Deputy County Mayor of Dujiang County.

After all, coming from a poor family and reaching such a coveted position within the system at such a young age was an incredible feat.

Furthermore, her striking beauty made it even more challenging in the government sector.

Unless she was willing to leverage her advantageous physical attributes as a bargaining chip...

Song Guanchao did not allow his thoughts to wander in that direction; he felt he should not speculate maliciously.

Everyone has their own opportunities; who could assert that Fu Ying didn’t have her own opportunities?

He nodded, "Okay."

After the meal, the two exited the restaurant.

"Let’s take my car," Fu Ying suggested, walking towards a plain black sedan.

After getting into the car, Song Guanchao sent a message to Lu Feng, advising him to amuse himself for the afternoon and wait for his notice.

About ten minutes later, the car entered the Provincial Party School.

Fu Ying led him into a building and to the outside of an office where she knocked softly.

"Come in."

Fu Ying opened the door and entered, with Song Guanchao following closely behind.

"Secretary Xu," Fu Ying said softly.

Behind the office desk sat a man in his fifties dressed in a suit, his hair meticulously combed, exuding an imposing aura.

It was none other than the standing committee member of the Provincial Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Disciplinary Inspection Committee, and Director of the Provincial Supervisory Committee, Xu Wu!

Xu Wu nodded slightly, his gaze towards Fu Ying filled with paternal affection. When his eyes moved to Song Guanchao, they held a trace of surprise.

Fu Ying introduced, "Secretary Xu, this is Secretary Wu’s secretary from Lingjiang City, Song Guanchao."

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