Nominal: Who isn't a son-in-law?

(I won't go into detail here, let's skip this part. Don't label me, or it'll be your doing.)

After the two sat down, Qi Jiandong looked at them and said with emotion, "Mu Tong, in the blink of an eye, you've been with me for five years now. Although you're officially my liaison officer, your time is up."

"Secretary, I was appointed by you when I was twenty-nine years old, and this year marks five years. I am very grateful for your guidance over these five years. I have benefited greatly from it." Zhou Mutong said sincerely, his eyes slightly moist.

Saying these words proves that he really is being transferred. Five years! How many five-year periods does a person have in their lifetime? It would be a lie to say I wasn't moved.

"Look at you, a real man. It's not like we'll never see each other again. You can't stay by my side forever. You have to have your own future and path," Qi Jiandong said, both amused and exasperated, his hands under the table on his knees tightening unconsciously.

"Alright, I asked you before if you had any places you wanted to go, and you said you hadn't decided yet. So I've made a decision for you: you'll go to Nanping County as the executive deputy county head first, to gain some experience. Do you have any other plans?"

"Secretary Qi, I'll go wherever you tell me to go," Zhou Mutong said hurriedly. What could he possibly object to? This 33-year-old section chief had not only been promoted to deputy director level but also became the executive deputy county head—a windfall from heaven.

"You can't say that. This is a decision made by the organization after research. If you have no objections," Qi Jiandong waved his hand, "wait a few months. Take care of your work, learn more about the situation in Nanping, and work hard when you go down there."

"Secretary, don't worry, I will definitely not let you down and I will do my job well!"

"Hehe, your theoretical foundation is very solid, but I'll see how your actual work goes. I also believe you can do a good job," Qi Jiandong nodded. "Shijun, you should learn from Mutong during this time. This place is different from school. No matter how solid your theoretical knowledge is, there will still be differences in actual work."

"Uncle Qi, don't worry, I will definitely learn from Director Zhou," Chu Shijun said, turning his head, "Director Zhou, I hope you will give me more guidance in the future."

"I wouldn't dare to offer guidance, Shijun. Just call me Brother Zhou; I'm not much older than you."

Zhou Mutong smiled.

Looking at the young Chu Shijun, he knew in his heart that this was the person Qi Jiandong would choose as his next secretary.

A 22-year-old college graduate was given a deputy section chief position with only a three-month probationary period, and immediately became the secretary to the municipal party secretary. This person's starting point was much higher than his, not to mention that the secretary was not even 40 years old this year and was already a full-fledged department-level official.

With these two together, their future prospects are limitless, so naturally he had to cling to their coattails.

……

And so, after arriving in Dongning City, Chu Shijun officially started working. His residence was the same as Cheng Yuanshan's, at Qi Jiandong's house. Now that it was hot, his wife had returned to the capital, and only the housekeeper was there to cook.

In August, Chu Shijun took leave to pick up Pei Qianqian at Anhai Airport. She worked at Anhai University, so after spending a few days in Anhai, she stayed in the dormitory assigned by the university.

Chu Shijun's office was in the secretariat. Normally, although he was a deputy section chief, he was still on probation and should have been working in the secretariat. However, for convenience, Zhou Mutong arranged for him to work in his own office.

Now, everyone in the Secretariat and the city party committee knew that a young man had come to the city party committee office. After getting to know him, they learned that he was a very skilled writer, a great author, and that he was always energetic and not afraid of the heat, and was in very good health.

As expected, he became the secretary's next secretary, and the people in the secretariat were disappointed. But they dared not say anything or gossip, because if word got out, they would be in trouble.

Sure enough, three months later, in the golden autumn of October.

Zhou Mutong was personally accompanied by the Minister of the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee to take up his post in Nanping County.

In his office sat Chu Shijun, whose probationary period had just ended and who had officially become a deputy section chief.

Throughout the municipal party committee building, everyone greeted Director Chu warmly upon meeting him.

……

However, Chu Shijun did not stay in Dongning for long. The following year, he went to Anhai City with Qi Jiandong.

After investigation by the Organization Department of the Haixi Provincial Party Committee, and after deliberation by the Provincial Party Committee, and with the approval of the central government, it was decided that he would serve as a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Anhai Municipal Party Committee, and member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee…

October, 1990.

The Anhai Municipal Party Committee Building, the office of the Municipal Party Secretary.

Chu Shijun walked in carrying the documents.

"Secretary, as you requested, these are the economic data of Anhai City over the past few years, as well as personnel information from various municipal and district-level units. I have compiled them all."

As he spoke, Chu Shijun sorted and put away the documents. He had done this kind of thing quite often this year.

Moreover, when he came to the provincial capital with Qi Jiandong, he sat in the back to take notes during the Standing Committee meetings. The other Standing Committee secretaries were all deputy directors, people in their thirties or forties, while he was a young man in his twenties. At first, he attracted a lot of attention.

Fortunately, both he and Qi Jiandong are considered young people in their respective positions within the Standing Committee.

"Okay, put it here. Let's have a heart-to-heart talk, Shijun. How's it going after a year of work?"

Qi Jiandong nodded and asked with a smile.

"I'm very busy, sometimes overwhelmed, but also very fulfilled. The feeling of university life is completely different from this formal job," Chu Shijun said with emotion.

"Haha, that's good to be busy. Society is a big melting pot, a place to refine steel and gold. True gold shouldn't be afraid of being tested by fire." As he spoke, Qi Jiandong took out a cigarette and offered one to Chu Shijun. "You've had a full year now, it's time to consider going out to work. Staying in the secretary position all the time is not as good as going out to practice in real life."

"Uncle Qi, so fast?"

Chu Shijun took a drag of his cigarette and said with some surprise, "He's only a deputy section chief now, and he's twenty-three years old. He'll be a deputy town mayor after he goes down to the lower levels?"

"You are different from Mu Tong. He needs to work steadily and surely. I mentored him for five years. He is old enough now. He did well in Nanping County after he was sent down, but he still needs to stay in the deputy director position for another two years."

"As for you, you need to be fast at the beginning, but slow down and steady later on. Do you understand what I mean?" Qi Jiandong said with a smile.

"Is the goal of making cadres younger?"

Chu Shijun thought for a moment and then said.

"Hehe, you're so clever. Someone emphasized that we should build a lighter ladder for young cadres so that they can skip levels. Now we advocate for the rejuvenation of the cadre team. You are a graduate of Han University and a great writer with a strong pen. You've been by my side for the past year, and you've handled things very well, no less than some of the older comrades. We should actively respond to the slogan of rejuvenating the cadre team."

"For positions below the vice-ministerial level, we should look at ability and performance. If someone does well, we should promote them vigorously, and no one else can say anything. As for later positions, they should work their way up in different places and make steady progress. This way, they won't be criticized."

As he spoke, Qi Jiandong unconsciously tapped his fingers on the table. After thinking for a moment, he said, "It's settled then. You'll stay with me for another year. Next year, when you're twenty-four, you'll go down to the grassroots level."

"Okay, Uncle Qi, I'll do whatever you say."

Chu Shijun naturally longed to be sent to work in a lower-level position; who wouldn't want to hold the seal of office themselves?

"Let's not talk about that. Just find me a suitable secretary in the meantime, and train him properly," Qi Jiandong waved his hand, then asked about Chu Shijun's life, "You and Qianqian have been working for a year now, shouldn't you get married? When Grandpa called me, he asked me to urge you. You can't just keep following him around without any official status, can you?"

"Hehe, I was just about to tell you, Uncle. Qianqian and I have decided to get married at the end of this year. She also called Uncle Pei to tell him. We're considering where to hold the wedding." Chu Shijun scratched his head, a little embarrassed.

"Oh? You have the same idea? That's perfect. It's good to get married early, have a child and settle down so you can focus on your work. As for the wedding, let's hold it in Beijing. Old Pei's relatives won't have to travel too far, and the old man is getting old, so it'll save him a lot of trouble."

"Alright, let's set it in the capital then. I'll pick a good day later. Uncle Qi, you absolutely must come! You have to take time off work to come!"

Chu Shijun had his mind on getting married in the capital, since his hometown was too far away and Linjiang was not suitable, so the capital was the only option.

"Haha, okay, if it's not important, I'll definitely come, and I'll go with your Aunt Yuan."