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

That evening, at Gao Yuliang's home.

Wu Huifen, Liang Lu, and Gao Fangfang were busy cooking and chatting about interesting things.

Outside, Qi Tongwei and Gao Yuliang sat on the sofa. Next to them, two boys who looked to be around ten years old huddled in front of a cell phone, each of them rapidly tapping on the screen with both hands, making it ring incessantly.

Gao Yuliang, who was reading the news in Handong, glanced at the two of them and asked with a smile, "Lixuan, Bingqian, what are you two doing? Your phones keep ringing."

There were two boys, the younger one being Qi Bingqian.

The one who is two or three years older is named Huang Lixuan, and he is Gao Fangfang's son.

Upon hearing this, Huang Lixuan replied without looking up, "Grandpa, we're chatting with our older brother. This is QQ!"

"QQ?"

Gao Yuliang was a little confused, so Qi Tongwei explained, "It's QQ, a chat tool."

"Your good older brother will be on winter break soon, right?"

"Yes, they have another two weeks of vacation. I'll invite them to come to Handong to play," Qi Bingqian replied.

The eldest brother they mentioned is Chu Shijun and Pei Qianqian's two sons, one of whom is studying at Tsinghua University and the other at the National University of Taiwan.

"Teacher, has Shijun called recently?"

"Yes, we talked. We exchanged normal greetings. He's currently working at the Development and Reform Commission, and he's very busy there. The last time he went back to Handong, it was only half a year ago when he passed through and came here." Gao Yuliang nodded.

"Teacher, do you think Shijun might know something about this?"

Qi Tongwei pressed for an answer; he was eager to know.

After all, Chu Shijun has been a vice-minister for several years, while he is still stuck in the department-level.

He was supposed to be promoted to vice-provincial level, but Zhao Lichun held him back. After Zhao Lichun left, he was promoted to director of a department, and it's been two years now.

But his father-in-law and Gao Yuliang seemed to have other considerations, saying to wait a little longer. Now he was getting anxious, as most of the public security bureau chiefs in neighboring provinces had been promoted to vice-provincial level.

"Look, you're in such a hurry again!"

Gao Yuliang frowned slightly and reprimanded softly.

"Shijun will call if he has any news. If you really want to know, you can ask Fangfang. She and Qianqian are often together in the capital."

As he spoke, Gao Yuliang turned his head and said, "Aren't you still thinking about that vice-provincial level matter?"

Qi Tongwei nodded heavily, his eyes gleaming with eagerness, and said, "Teacher, I really want to join the department!"

"Alright, I'll tell you about it now that we're at this crucial juncture." Gao Yuliang glanced at the two children beside him, got up and walked towards the study, with Qi Tongwei following closely behind.

"Tongwei, what do you think I, as the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, mainly oversee?" Gao Yuliang asked with a smile.

"Public security, procuratorate, and court."

Qi Tongwei replied without hesitation.

"Hehe, Lao Ji at the procuratorate is a fence-sitter. He does whatever I say, regardless of how well he does it. But he does it. At the court, he's also supported by factions in Beijing. So your position as the head of the Public Security Bureau is of paramount importance."

"I had talked to former Party Secretary Liang Qunfeng before, and his advice was to wait and see. A tall tree can catch the wind. Shi Jun also called and communicated with us before, as well as my teachers and classmates."

Gao Yuliang said slowly,

"As for former Party Secretary Zhao Lichun, both of his daughters married into prominent families, which is one of the reasons why he has been able to hold this position for so long. If you become the vice governor, they won't let you hold the position of director of the public security department for long. The executive vice director who was promoted is keeping an eye on you."

"Politics is an art of compromise. With you taking office as vice governor and the loss of the director of the public security bureau, the changes in the public security, procuratorate, and judicial organs have put us in a passive position to some extent."

"Furthermore, I spoke with Shijun before, and he and Secretary Liang envision you working in Beijing, utilizing your strengths. So you can relax now, right?"

"You mean the police?"

Qi Tongwei was shocked.

Gao Yuliang nodded slowly.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner..." Qi Tongwei said with a wry smile.

"Secretary Liang wanted to tell you, but Shijun said he wouldn't tell you yet, to keep you worried. Anyway, I'll be watching over you here, hahaha."

Gao Yuliang had a big smile on his face.

Looking at Qi Tongwei's relaxed expression, Gao Yuliang was thinking about something else.

Just a couple of days ago, one of his teachers called him.

He deduced from his words that he probably wouldn't be able to stay in Handong for much longer, maybe only for the next year or two.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side, in the capital city.

In an office, Chu Shijun opened the door and welcomed several people in.

The leader was a middle-aged man in his fifties, followed by several staff members in their thirties.

"Director Zhang, comrades, welcome, welcome."

Chu Shijun extended his hand and shook hands with each of them.

Chu Shijun, now 48, looks much more mature, but his skin is still very good and his voice is deep and powerful.

"Comrade Shijun, I am here on behalf of the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to have a talk with you."

His name is Zhang Zhengyang. He is the director of a cadre bureau under the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. He came here as part of an inspection team, and also for a pre-appointment interview with cadres.

"I've received the message, Director Zhang. Please be seated, everyone."

Everyone took their seats, and Zhang Zhengyang sat opposite Chu Shijun, taking out a notebook.

Chu Shijun's secretary also came in with tea and placed it on the table.

As the door closed, the atmosphere in the office became serious, and Zhang Zhengyang's smile also faded.

"Deputy Director Chu, I am here on behalf of the department to conduct an evaluation of you. I have some questions for you, please answer them carefully."

"Please rest assured, Director Zhang and all comrades, I will take this inspection seriously and attach great importance to it," Chu Shijun said in a deep voice.

Zhang Zhengyang nodded, glanced at his notebook, then looked up and asked, "You studied in Handong before, and later served as a regional leader in other provinces and cities. If the organization decides to send you to Handong as governor, how would you do this job well?"

"Stabilizing people's livelihoods, ensuring employment, and promoting development will be the main focus of my work. Handong Province has a dense population..."

Chu Shijun answered in a deep voice, his words clear and his pace moderate.

The staff members were writing rapidly, and Zhang Zhengyang nodded frequently as he listened.

After Chu Shijun finished answering, he continued, "Deputy Director Chu, you currently work in the relevant office of the Development and Reform Commission. Have you encountered any difficulties in your work? What are your solutions? And can they provide assistance for your future work?"

Chu Shijun pondered for a few seconds before answering, "Yes, the Development and Reform Commission. It's a department that takes a macro-level view of issues. The barriers to cross-departmental coordination and the contradictions between macro policies and grassroots realities have always been key and difficult points in our work..."

"In my work, I addressed these two issues by drawing on my previous experience working at the local level. I established a cross-departmental collaboration mechanism and, to address the problem of poor inter-departmental coordination, I spearheaded the establishment of 'coordination meetings,' 'summary meetings,' and 'multi-departmental cooperation groups on related issues' to promptly identify bottlenecks and difficulties and coordinate solutions."