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

After the meeting, Xu Nuojun and Jiang Xueyu went straight back.

They were going to the municipal party committee to announce the final status of the project and to arrange further work.

But when the vehicles drove into the municipal party committee building one after the other, the two got out of the car and looked at each other in silence, not knowing how to start a conversation.

How so? We didn't steal it, but we managed to snatch the biggest piece of scrap.

The people below were heartbroken when they heard this. They had worked all night and still couldn't beat a migrant worker who hadn't even completed a full year's work.

How embarrassing!

Therefore, the two men looked at the municipal party committee building, their hearts heavy with frustration and their faces somber. Their secretaries carefully followed behind, keeping five or six steps behind them.

As soon as the two got out of the car, the driver quickly drove away.

"Let's go, we have to face it eventually..."

Xu Nuojun's expression was complicated. Before he could finish speaking, his phone rang in his pocket. He impatiently took it out and glanced at it. His expression immediately changed, and he quickly answered the call.

"Is this Director Ye? I am Xu Nuojun."

"Secretary Xu, hello, what time is it?" Ye Wentao's voice came from the phone.

"I have time now, Director Ye, just say what you need to say."

"Oh, it's like this. Secretary Chu said that if you have time right now, you could come over and have a private talk with him."

"Received, I'll be right there, in about twenty-five minutes."

"OK."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Xueyu looked at him. What happened?

"Secretary Chu wants to see me,"

Xu Nuojun took a deep breath, put her phone back in her pocket, and said, "Old Jiang, just arrange the work. I'll sign it when I get back."

"Xiao Zhang, call a car to go to the Provincial Party Committee."

Jiang Xueyu's lips twitched. Well, it's my turn to face it alone again.

……

More than twenty minutes later.

Xu Nuojun arrived at the provincial party committee compound. Just as he entered the hall, Ye Wentao came out and quickly stepped forward to shake his hand. He then turned around and said, "Secretary Xu, Secretary Chu is waiting for you in his office."

"Thank you for your trouble." Xu Nuojun nodded in acknowledgment, and after getting into the elevator, he asked, "Director Ye, did you know Secretary Chu was looking for me?"

"It must be about the project; Secretary Chu seems to be in a good mood," Ye Wentao replied.

Oh, I understand.

Xu Nuojun nodded and said no more.

After exiting the elevator, the two went straight to the office and knocked on the door.

"Enter."

Pushing open the door, I saw Chu Shijun had just turned around in front of his office, holding two cups of tea in his hands.

"Oh, Comrade Nuojun is here. My tea has been brewed just right."

For me?

Xu Nuojun didn't have time to think, or rather, her muscle memory outpaced her brain. She took two quick steps forward and steadily accepted the two cups of tea. "Secretary Chu, how could I let you make tea for me?"

"Firstly, I'm free right now, and secondly, I want to apologize to you."

Chu Shijun smiled and followed him to the reception area. "Sit down."

Seeing this, Ye Wentao closed the door and left at Chu Shijun's signal.

……

After sitting down, Xu Nuojun felt uneasy. Apologize to me? What right do I have to do that!

"Here, have a cigarette."

Chu Shijun took out a cigarette, lit it, and said in a calm tone, "I criticized you all for involution in the meeting just now, and my tone was a bit harsh. I know Comrade Dakang, he's thick-skinned, but I don't know what you think. Do you feel any burden? Do you feel wronged?"

Xu Nuojun felt a warmth in her heart and quickly replied, "I dare not, I dare not. Secretary Chu, your criticism is correct. The excessive competition and infighting between the two cities this time is indeed due to our lack of vision and narrow-mindedness. I fully accept all criticism and humbly reflect on my mistakes."

"You dare not?"

"So you still feel wronged and burdened? Do you think that because I'm from Handong, and Comrade Dakang is also from Handong, I'm biased towards him?"

"No, no..."

"Why!"

Chu Shijun raised his hand to interrupt.

"listen to me,"

He took a deep drag of his cigarette and stared directly at Xu Nuojun, whose face was flushed with anxiety.

"I know you and Comrade Xueyu have been working very hard these past two days. The entire Tianhe City team worked through the night to prepare and tackle the challenges. I have seen all the effort and sincerity you have put in. Today, the core headquarters of the project was finally decided to be located in Zhencheng. It is only natural that you feel dissatisfied and unwilling."

He then changed the subject and said earnestly, "Comrade Danuo, when you are in office, you should remember one thing: the flowing water does not compete for the first place, but for the endless flow."

"The gains and losses of a project in a short period of time or in a single city are minor matters; the long-term development and continuous progress of a city over ten or twenty years is the big picture."

Hearing this, Xu Nuojun's flushed cheeks gradually returned to normal, and she listened attentively while smoking.

Chu Shijun continued, "I know there's some gossip going around, saying things like Li Dakang. He's an old subordinate I brought from Handong. His arrival here was something I deliberately favored, paving the way for him."

"I say, that's all bullshit!"

He waved his hand.

"Those who know me know that I'm the kind of person who helps those in need, not those in my own family. I only judge people by one thing: whether they can get things done, whether they have the ability to do things well, and whether they can bring tangible benefits to the people."

Chu Shijun said seriously,

"When I select people, decide on projects, and make plans, I never discriminate based on personal relationships, personal connections, or past friendships. As long as it aligns with the overall development of the province, can drive industrial upgrading, and can benefit the local people, I will support it."

"The reason why Qiandong Group's logistics headquarters is located in Zhencheng this time is not because of Li Dakang, but because of Zhencheng's focused approach, pristine land, and long-term commitment with full support. It is perfectly suited to the company's ten-year long-term plan. Qiandong Group is satisfied, and it also aligns with our province's top-level strategy of shifting from providing financial assistance to fostering industrial growth. If it were any other city or prefecture, as long as there is sufficient suitability, sincerity, and determination, I, along with the provincial party committee, would give it my full support."

"On the other hand, Tianhe City suffered a defeat this time. It failed to compete with Zhencheng. The loss was not due to resources or the city's heritage, but rather to your mindset, your focus, and your overall strategy."

"This is also what I wanted to tell you."

Chu Shijun picked up the tea and took a sip.

"I've been in Baijiang for less than a year, but I already know almost all 21 cities in the province. I'm clear about the strengths and weaknesses of the leadership teams."

"Tianhe City, as the provincial capital, boasts the best transportation hub in the province, a high concentration of talent, and abundant commercial resources. Over time, this has fostered a sense of inertia, a habit of passively reaping rewards and waiting for dividends. This isn't just a problem of your current leadership team; it's always been there."

"You always spread your operations too thin and your business is too scattered. It may seem like the whole area is prosperous, but in reality, you lack focus and determination. Large enterprises landing in Tianhe are just one of thousands of giants. They don't get dedicated focus, and you can't guarantee long-term support. This is the fundamental reason why you lost to Zhencheng this time. On this point, Li Dakang dared to make a guarantee and dared to say that he would take responsibility for the city's positioning."