After breaking up with my boyfriend, I made a fortune and rose rapidly in my career.

Late at night, Chen Ping walked out of the Qingxin Tea House, still carrying the scent of tea.

Chen Ping didn't go home. He drove his Passat out of the narrow alley and all the way to the Yunzhou River.

The river wind was cold, and it stung his face. Chen Ping rolled down the car window, and the cold air rushed into the car, clearing his head a bit.

Minister Qian's words were still echoing in his ears.

Qingyuan County is an impoverished county with two major problems: three months' back pay for teachers and rampant illegal sand mining. The county party secretary, Ma Changsheng, is a former subordinate of Zhou Wenyuan, and the county operates largely independently, making it difficult for outsiders to intervene.

Zhou Wenyuan's move was very vicious.

Zhou Wenyuan publicly praised Chen Pingfang, intending to push him out to handle this difficult matter. If it was successful, the credit would go to Zhou Wenyuan's good leadership; if it was botched, the blame would fall entirely on Chen Pingfang.

Chen Pingfang stared at the dark river surface, his mind clear.

Unpaid wages and sand mining may seem like two separate issues, but they likely stem from the same root cause. The inability to pay teachers' salaries indicates a lack of funds in the county's finances. Where did the money go? The fact that illegal sand mining can be so rampant suggests that powerful interest groups have seized control of local government.

Could this misappropriated money be related to the illicit profits from sand mining?

Just then, Chen Ping's personal cell phone, which was in the storage compartment, rang. The screen displayed the name "Xiao Yuhan".

As soon as the call connected, the person on the other end asked immediately, "Where are you?"

Half an hour later, on a bench in the riverside park, Xiao Yuhan handed a brown paper bag to Chen Ping.

In the darkness of night, Xiao Yuhan's expression remained unchanged, but her gaze towards Chen Pingfang was gentle.

"I didn't ask any more questions." Xiao Yuhan's voice was very soft. "This is background information on cadres at or above the section level in Qingyuan County that I had someone compile. It includes their interpersonal networks and some rumors, which may be useful to you."

Chen Ping took the thick brown paper bag without saying thank you, but just glanced at Xiao Yuhan.

……

The next day, the General Office of the Municipal Party Committee called to inform Chen Pingfang to attend the Standing Committee meeting of the Municipal Party Committee at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting discussed only one thing: Chen Pingfang's appointment.

The atmosphere in the No. 1 meeting room of the municipal party committee was somewhat serious. Around the oval conference table sat more than a dozen members of the Yunzhou Municipal Standing Committee.

Party Secretary Zhou Wenyuan sat in the main seat, a standard smile on his face, his gaze sweeping across the entire room.

At the start of the meeting, Zhou Wenyuan cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Comrades, today we are discussing an important personnel appointment. The Jinshuiwan Project, as a benchmark for our city and even the entire province, has achieved great success. Comrade Chen Pingfang, the project's chief commander, has made significant contributions to this."

Zhou Wenyuan's voice was loud and his tone was very assertive.

"It was precisely because Comrade Pingfang was capable and responsible that the municipal party committee decided to let him handle a more troublesome problem."

Zhou Wenyuan's gaze fell on Chen Pingfang, who was sitting at the end of the table, and his smile became even more gentle.

"The development of Qingyuan County has been dragging down the entire city's overall progress, and it's a long-standing and difficult problem. Over the years, we've sent many cadres there, but the results haven't been good. Therefore, the municipal party committee has decided to send our most capable people to solve this major problem."

As soon as he finished speaking, all the eyes of the Standing Committee members in the conference room focused on Chen Pingfang.

The looks in their eyes were complex; some were scrutinizing, some were curious, and some were filled with pity.

Everyone present understood Zhou Wenyuan's meaning.

Zhou Wenyuan first praised Chen Pingfang highly, then said that Qingyuan County was a big problem. In this way, if Chen Pingfang said no, he would be seen as disobeying orders and lacking responsibility.

Zhou Wenyuan's words blocked all of Chen Ping's escape routes.

Everyone wanted to see how this young man would respond.

"Now, let's hear what Comrade Chen Pingfang has to say," Zhou Wenyuan said with a smile, looking like he had Chen Pingfang completely under his thumb.

Under everyone's gaze, Chen Ping stood up.

Chen Ping first bowed to the podium and the Standing Committee members present before speaking, his voice steady.

"Thank you for the trust of the municipal party committee leaders and for the affirmation of Secretary Zhou."

"I will resolutely obey the organization's arrangements. Although Qingyuan County is facing difficulties, I am confident that, under the leadership of the municipal party committee, we can handle this issue well and live up to the organization's expectations."

Chen Ping spoke these words with great conviction and humility, completely accepting Zhou Wenyuan's arrangement.

Zhou Wenyuan's smile deepened.

A hint of disappointment flashed in the eyes of the standing committee members present. They felt that this young man was still too naive, having jumped into the pit so easily.

Just when everyone thought he was about to finish speaking, Chen Ping abruptly changed the subject.

Chen Pingfang's expression turned serious, and he looked directly at Zhou Wenyuan.

"Secretary Zhou, distinguished leaders."

"To solve big problems, you need power. I hope the organization can give me the appropriate power."

The conference room fell silent.

For the first time, the smile on Zhou Wenyuan's face froze.

Chen Ping spoke clearly, word by word: "I request the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee to study and decide to grant the Qingyuan County Government the power to adjust personnel for a period of two years, so as to facilitate my work."

Upon hearing this, all the Standing Committee members were stunned.

The right to make personnel adjustments.

This is an attempt to demand power from the municipal party committee, bypassing the county party secretary and directly demanding power from the municipal party secretary in front of all the standing committee members.

This young man is insane.

Zhou Wenyuan's smile froze completely. He stared intently at Chen Pingfang, his eyes filled with surprise and a hint of coldness.

Zhou Wenyuan never expected that Chen Pingfang would not be intimidated, but instead would go along with his words and lift him up in front of everyone.

Zhou Wenyuan had just praised Chen Pingfang so highly and made such confident statements. If he were to refuse this reasonable request made in order to carry out the work now, all the nice things he had said would have been meaningless, and it would be tantamount to admitting in public that he was deliberately making things difficult for Chen Pingfang.

In front of all the Standing Committee members, Zhou Wenyuan would appear to have a narrow mind and be unreliable.

For a moment, Zhou Wenyuan didn't know what to do.

All the standing committee members looked at this young man who dared to ask for power in public, their eyes no longer filled with sympathy.

Minister Qian, the Organization Minister, sat in the corner, picked up his teacup, lowered his head, and used the lid to cover the smile on his lips.

The meeting room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes were scanning back and forth between Zhou Wenyuan and Chen Pingfang.

After a long while, Zhou Wenyuan's facial muscles twitched, and finally, he squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth, forcing an ugly smile.

"Alright... The municipal party committee will give you this power. I hope you won't let the organization down."

After saying that, Zhou Wenyuan felt all the strength drain from his body.

After the meeting, news that Chen Ping had publicly asked Secretary Zhou for personnel authority quickly spread throughout the municipal party committee building.

A few days later, the day arrived for his official inauguration.

The Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department arranged a new Audi A6 for Chen Pingfang, with a driver and secretary waiting downstairs.

After completing the formalities, Chen Ping went downstairs and only glanced at the new black Audi.

Then, Chen Ping turned and walked to the corner of the parking lot, toward his black Passat.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the Organization Department cadres and the new secretary, Chen Ping opened the car door, got in, and started the car himself.

There was no driver, and no secretary.

The black Passat smoothly drove out of the municipal government compound and headed towards Qingyuan County.