At the same time, Zhao Daming arrived at the municipal building and handed the film to Secretary Wang.
Secretary Wang smiled and congratulated Zhao Daming on his promotion, but didn't mention the film at all. After a few words, he used the excuse of being busy with work to ask Zhao Daming to leave.
This attitude made Zhao Daming's heart skip a beat. Logically speaking, since he was about to be promoted, Secretary Wang, as someone close to Secretary Liu, shouldn't be so cold.
"That's enough!"
Standing outside the municipal government building, Zhao Daming let out a heavy sigh, hopped on his motorcycle, and said, "Whatever, the deputy bureau-level position is already decided. Even if Secretary Liu doesn't like me, he can just stay in Nanyang Street. Besides, Funing has been upgraded to a prefecture-level city, how long can he stay there?"
Secretary Liu served in Funing for five years with mediocre achievements. With the success of this prefecture-level city project, he will most likely be transferred to a higher position.
Zhao Daming twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle sputtered back to the police station.
Inside the office, he immediately dialed the paging service.
At Zhou Qiyuan's home, Zhang Cheng's pager vibrated incessantly. He made an excuse and got up to leave.
With Zhang Cheng gone, the atmosphere at the Zhou family dinner table became even more lively.
Liu Yinu glanced at her younger sister's flushed cheeks and teased, "Yihan, although Zhang Cheng comes from the mountains, he speaks eloquently and is handsome. He's a good match for you."
Zhou Qiyuan's lips twitched. He thought to himself, "Is it that Brother Zhang is not good enough for your sister, or is your sister chasing after him?" He dared not say that.
"Xiao Zhang is indeed quite capable." Liu Yihan's father put down his wine glass, quite pleased with himself. "I asked my old comrade-in-arms from the municipal party committee about him. This kid got in touch with the power supply bureau through Zhao Daming and secured the project to bring electricity to the countryside. Even Secretary Liu praised him, saying that this young man is destined for greatness!"
He looked at Liu Yihan: "Although Zhang Cheng has a wife, I went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to ask, and he's only nineteen, not yet of legal marriage age. The country advocates free love, so as long as you're not registered, Dad supports you!"
Zhou Qiyuan looked at his father-in-law and cursed inwardly that when he married Liu Yinuan, his father-in-law was not so quick to agree.
Liu Yihan blushed and softly hummed in agreement.
Zhang Cheng hurried to the Nanyang Street Police Station. Zhao Daming was looking for him now; things should be almost settled.
Half an hour later, at the entrance of the police station.
"Brother Zhang!" Xiao Xing, who was on duty, immediately stood up when he saw him come in.
Zhang Cheng pulled out half a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and tossed it over: "Thanks."
Xiao Xing took it with both hands and grinned.
The office door on the second floor was open, and Zhao Daming was resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
As the footsteps drew closer, Zhao Daming looked up and saw Zhang Cheng at the table. He quickly stood up, his face a mixture of emotions: "Brother, you've got guts! You dare to plot against Jiaxing Public Security and Zhong Te together!"
Zhang Cheng pulled out a chair and sat down: "Brother Zhao, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. I'm just an ordinary citizen, how could I have that kind of ability?"
"Alright, stop pretending in front of me." Zhao Daming walked up to him in a few steps, put his hand on his shoulder, and said, "Your actions have completely calmed things down in Jiaxing. However, you've also thoroughly offended Zhong Te. Of course, his political future is also half-ruined."
He paused, then lowered his voice: "But if you target Zhong Te, you're slapping Secretary Liu in the face. What if you anger him..."
Zhang Cheng laughed: "Zhong Te is Secretary Liu's prospective son-in-law. Guess what Secretary Liu thinks of me now?"
Zhao Daming's expression changed slightly. He quickly went over and closed the door, then turned back: "Secretary Liu wouldn't personally get involved in this, would he? But he just had a meeting and promoted me to deputy bureau chief..."
“You are you, and I am me.” Zhang Cheng tapped his fingers lightly on the table. “Secretary Liu is fair in rewarding and punishing. You have been rewarded, so it’s time to punish me.”
"Huh?" Zhao Daming's forehead was covered in sweat. "That's the municipal party secretary. If he wants to take action against you, you're in Funing..."
He paced back and forth anxiously a few times: "Why don't you go out and hide for a while?"
Zhang Cheng shook his head: "There's no need."
"Why wouldn't it be necessary?"
"Brother, if Secretary Liu really wants to deal with me, where do you think he'll start?" Zhang Cheng asked rhetorically.
Zhao Daming was taken aback; it was naturally about the economy.
Zhang Cheng continued his analysis: "My current businesses, the clothing store and the video arcade, are all legitimate. They're legal and compliant, so I'm not afraid. Even if they all shut down, it wouldn't make a difference to me right now."
Zhao Daming nodded, agreeing.
"Bringing electricity to rural areas is a city policy; they won't shoot themselves in the foot. The same goes for the shops in the department store."
"That's true, but do you really think Secretary Liu has no other choice?"
"Brother, he's the top dog. If he's really determined to get rid of me, I can't stop him. But as long as I behave myself during this time and don't hang around in front of him, he shouldn't make a big fuss."
"That's good, that's good." Zhao Daming breathed a slight sigh of relief.
“So, I’ve decided to go back to the village for a while,” Zhang Cheng said, changing the subject.
Zhao Daming raised an eyebrow: "I just told you to go out and hide for a while, and you said it wasn't necessary. Why do you want to go back to the village?"
“Brother, when you say ‘go out,’ you mean leave Funing County.”
"Is there a difference?"
“There’s a huge difference.” Zhang Cheng organized his thoughts. “If I leave Funing, it’ll be clear that I haven’t swallowed my anger and am just temporarily holding back. Think about it, I’ve earned this much in half a year. What will I be like in ten or twenty years? Would Secretary Liu dare to let someone who might hold a grudge against him grow and thrive outside? He would do anything to suppress me.”
Zhao Daming gasped. If Brother Zhang were to gain power and return to take revenge, Secretary Liu would indeed be unable to eat or sleep in peace.
“But when I went back to the village, I admitted defeat and told him that I would temporarily leave the mess in Funing to him to handle.”
Zhao Daming only half understood what he was hearing.
"Alright, this matter is more or less over." Zhang Cheng waved his hand. "The only unstable one is Zhong Te."
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