Chapter 453 Election
As the countdown pendulum clock rang, fireworks were lit across the riverbank. With a series of explosions, blue fireworks rose up, leaving behind a string of "Happy New Year" as the fireworks exploded.
Many young couples took out their mobile phones to take pictures.
Shen Jingmo took his young wife into his arms and stared at his wife from the side.
On the other side, Song Zhiwei was not in the mood to watch the fireworks and was still looking for that familiar figure in the crowd.
A graceful figure wrapped in a light pink cashmere coat, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, quietly appeared behind Song Zhiwei, "Senior, Happy New Year."
Song Zhiwei looked in the direction of the voice and saw Gu Cheng standing behind him with a sweet smile.
The words on his lips seemed to be stuck in his throat. He had a lot to say, but nothing came out. He only replied to Gu Cheng, "Happy New Year."
As soon as the New Year ended, Shen Jingmo immediately rushed back to the crew to start filming.
Song Zhiyuan returned to work at the government office after the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.
Before Song Zhiyuan entered the office, Xiao Zhang hurried over and said, "Director, the deputy director wants you to come over."
"I understand." Song Zhiyuan put the things back in the office and then went to the third floor.
After seeing Song Zhiyuan walk away, several employees gathered together and whispered, "I heard that the deputy minister is retiring this year. He submitted his retirement application right after he started working this year."
"Really? The deputy minister hasn't reached retirement age yet."
"It's said that his health doesn't allow it. Didn't I see the Deputy Minister taking sick leave frequently last year? Sometimes he'd be away for a week. Now that Director Song is being sent over, it's probably to discuss his campaign for Deputy Minister."
"How do you know everything? The deputy minister hasn't retired yet, and there's no movement from above."
"It's too late to wait for the higher-ups to respond. The only two candidates eligible for the deputy minister position right now are Director Song and the director of approval. But judging by the deputy minister's reaction, it seems he prefers our director."
As soon as he finished speaking, another colleague coughed lightly and everyone fell silent immediately.
The approval director, who was over forty years old, walked towards them.
Not sure whether the director of the approval department had heard what they had just said, everyone lowered their heads guiltily.
Li Wei, the approval director, casually asked, "Where is your director?"
Everyone looked at each other, and finally Xiao Zhang said, "The director went to the deputy minister's office."
"Oh?" Li Wei raised his voice slightly and turned to walk towards the third floor.
On the third floor, in the deputy minister's office, a man in his sixties with a head full of white hair handed a glass of water to Song Zhiyuan. "Xiao Song, you've been working at our Ministry of Agriculture for a few years, right?"
Song Zhiyuan said truthfully, "Four years."
When she first came ashore, she was directly assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture because of her professional background. At first, she worked at the grassroots level for a year like Xiao Zhang and others, and was then promoted to team leader.
Later, due to his excellent industrial operations, he was promoted to director of the resources department in just two years.
There are many voices in the department expressing their opinions on this.
"Xiao Song has made outstanding achievements in our department over the past four years and has solved many problems. I will be retiring soon. Does Xiao Song want to compete for my current position?" The old deputy minister held onto the chair he was sitting on and looked at Song Zhiyuan.
Since she joined the Ministry of Agriculture, the Deputy Minister has helped her a lot.
Last year she was busy with school and laboratory affairs, and had heard about the deputy minister's illness. As for his desire to retire, Song Zhiyuan had some guesses, but she didn't expect it to happen so soon.
Song Zhiyuan held the disposable paper cup in her palm and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Minister. I am afraid I cannot bear this responsibility. The laboratory consumes nearly half of my energy every year. If I compete for the position of deputy minister again, I am afraid that I will be unable to cope with it and delay the work of the department.
Besides, I'm still young and need a few more years of experience. I think Director Li is more suitable than me."
Their government positions are all very specific, and it is difficult for them to move up unless they are transferred from higher-level departments or retire.
Li Wei from the Resources Department has been working in the Ministry of Agriculture for nearly twenty years, and he was promoted to director only ten years ago. As for higher positions, it is as difficult as climbing to the sky. It requires not only ability but also a good opportunity.
From the deputy minister's words, it can be seen that after he retires, a deputy minister will not be parachuted in, but will be selected and promoted from within their own ranks.
Even if you run for election, you only have a half chance.
Hearing this, the deputy minister chuckled and said, "Although Xiao Song's qualifications are relatively shallow, he has outstanding abilities. In the past few years, Xiao Song has been busy with the laboratory and the resources department. Not only has he not made any mistakes, but he has also brought up the KPIs of your department.
If female comrades want to move up, the opportunities are fewer and more difficult, so Xiao Song must seize this opportunity.
Don't be so hasty to reject me, Xiao Song. Go back and think about it carefully first."
"Thank you for your kindness, Deputy Minister." Song Zhiyuan neither agreed nor refused, and instead left the office.
The deputy minister was right. It was indeed difficult to move up, but that was not her ambition.
Song Zhiyuan had only taken a few steps when she ran into Li Wei from the Resources Department in the corridor.
Song Zhiyuan greeted Li Wei gently, then passed him and left.
We just returned to work after the Chinese New Year, and there wasn't much to do in the department except for some handover work.
When spring plowing begins, it is the busiest time for their department.
Everyone left work early.
Song Zhiyuan had just arrived home when he heard a few muffled thunders outside, followed by heavy raindrops falling.
There were a few flashes of lightning in the gloomy sky.
In just an hour, one-third of the backyard gutter was filled with rain.
It has never rained so heavily in Linjiang during the first month of the year.
Song Zhiyuan brought out the cooked noodles from the kitchen, heated up the bean and minced meat stew that Chen Jingmo had prepared for her before he went to film, and poured it over the noodles.
Chen Jingmo knew that her cooking skills were poor, so every time she went out to work and didn't go home, Chen Jingmo would prepare meals for her in the refrigerator in advance. In addition to some fast food dumplings and wontons, there were also her favorite dishes or noodle stews.
She listened to the sound of rain outside and ate the noodles in her bowl in a relaxed manner.
Apart from the sound of rain, the room was quiet and the only sound was the purring of two cats.
In the silent air, there was a rustling sound outside the door.
It was so late and it was still raining outside. A sudden noise startled Song Zhiyuan. She put down her chopsticks, walked to the living room and grabbed her cell phone. Before she could turn on the surveillance camera, the door was pushed open.
Shen Jingmo appeared in the room next, his whole body wet from the rain, his hair soaked by the rain.
After she realized what was happening, she quickly dropped her phone and strode up to Shen Jingmo. "It's raining so hard outside, it's so dangerous to drive. Why are you back?"
Song Zhiyuan quickly went to get a towel to help Shen Jingmo wipe his hair.
He didn't have an umbrella in his car, and his clothes got soaked after running a few steps outside the villa.
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