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

When Chen Ping returned to the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology building, it was already dawn. The corridors were deserted, except for the lingering smell of disinfectant on the floors that the cleaners had just mopped. Instead of going to his own office, Chen Ping went directly to the door of Cai Minghui, the director of the General Office, and gently knocked.

The door opened quickly. Cai Minghui had clearly not slept all night; his shirt collar was a little wrinkled, but he looked very energetic. When he saw Chen Pingfang, he immediately stepped aside.

"Director, you're back."

"Old Cai, you've worked hard." Chen Ping walked in and sat down directly on the sofa, his movements showing a hint of fatigue.

Cai Minghui poured Chen Ping a cup of hot tea, then stood respectfully to the side without sitting down. He was a shrewd man; he knew this young director had just outmaneuvered a vice-governor at the provincial party committee meeting and brought back top talent from the Americans—he was riding high. At this moment, any unnecessary movement could be interpreted in other ways.

"Has anything been happening in the hall lately?" Chen Ping picked up his teacup and blew on it to cool it down.

"Everything is normal. It's just that... a few colleagues in some departments are still experiencing some emotional fluctuations." Cai Minghui was very careful with his words; the emotional fluctuations he mentioned could be interpreted as a lack of morale.

Chen Ping put the teacup down, but he didn't drink the tea inside.

"Here's the thing, I have an idea," he said to Cai Minghui. "I'd like to make some adjustments to some departments within our bureau. The main purpose is to optimize their functions, which will improve our work efficiency."

Cai Minghui's heart jumped. He knew very well that the director was about to get down to business. The so-called adjustment, frankly speaking, was nothing more than personnel matters. This was often the first thing a new leader had to do.

"Director, I completely agree with you," Cai Minghui said immediately. "Our Department of Industry and Information Technology is indeed in need of reform in order to keep up with the development of new industries."

He paused for a moment after speaking. Then, he walked back to his desk, picked up a brown paper bag from it, the bag was open. He held the bag with both hands and handed it to Chen Pingfang.

"Director, these are some research materials I recently compiled regarding the efficiency of grassroots work. They mention that some departments are indeed inactive or slow to act, which affects our overall work deployment."

Chen Ping took the paper bag, but he didn't open it. He just picked it up in his hand, felt its weight, and then casually placed it on the sofa next to him.

The contents of this paper bag represent Cai Minghui's sincerity. Chen Pingfang knew this was definitely not some research material, but rather evidence that could bring some people down.

Through this action, Cai Minghui has completely sided with Chen Pingfang.

"These materials are good," Chen Pingfang said. His tone was unreadable. Then he added, "Old Cai, get ready. There's a meeting at nine o'clock this morning; it's an expanded meeting of the Party Committee of the Department. Make sure all cadres at the division level and above attend."

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away!" Cai Minghui replied respectfully.

By nine o'clock in the morning, the large conference room of the Industry and Information Technology Department was full of people, all of whom were cadres at the division level or above. Before the meeting, everyone's mobile phones were collected and placed at the door as required. The conference room was very quiet; no one spoke much, and the atmosphere felt a bit tense, as if something big was about to happen.

Chen Ping walked into the conference room on time, followed only by Cai Minghui. He sat down at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping across the room. Those section chiefs who had once followed Qian Bo, outwardly obeying him but secretly sabotaging him, all unconsciously lowered their heads.

"Let's have a short meeting," Chen Ping said, without uttering a single unnecessary word.

He directly asked Cai Minghui to read a document aloud.

"Decision on Adjusting the Internal Structure and Personnel Arrangements of the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology"

Cai Minghui cleared his throat and began to read. The document was long, but it contained only a few core points.

The director of the Industrial Policy Division, who had initially supported Qian Bo but had been passively resisting in the process of bringing in Gu Weizhen, was transferred to the Information Center, a department under the provincial government, as deputy director. The director of the Planning Division, who was in charge of project approval, was transferred to the position of director of the Industrial Development Research Office. Both of these places are well-known as elderly care departments.

After a series of orders were issued, the air in the conference room almost froze. Everyone held their breath.

This wasn't an optimization or adjustment; it was clearly a purge. Chen Ping's actions were swift and precise, giving no one a chance to react.

Following that, Cai Minghui read out the second decision.

"In order to implement the strategic plan of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government on vigorously developing the semiconductor industry in our province, the Party Group of the Department has decided to establish the 'Nanzhou Provincial Semiconductor and Integrated Circuit Industry Promotion Office'. The office is located in the Department of Industry and Information Technology, and Comrade Chen Pingfang will personally serve as the director of the office."

Once this decision was made, everyone understood. Chen Ping not only purged those who disobeyed him, but also established a completely new organization, concentrating all core powers such as project approval, fund allocation, and policy support into his own hands.

Next, Cai Minghui read out another document, which concerned promotions and appointments.

The document mentioned several people, all of whom were young. They had done a good job in handling the pollution problem at Jinshan Chemical Industrial Park and in bringing in Gu Weizhen, so they were all promoted this time, which can be described as an exceptional promotion.

In this way, there are rewards and punishments, and those who do well are promoted.

Not long after the meeting, all the personnel in the Department of Industry and Information Technology changed.

Cai Minghui finished reading. Only then did Chen Pingfang speak.

"Comrades, let me say a few words. The purpose of this adjustment is very simple: it's for our work going forward. Gu Weizhen is back, and our province's semiconductor industry is about to experience rapid development. I hope everyone will work hard."

After he finished speaking, he stood up, didn't say anything else, and then walked straight out of the conference room.

The remaining people in the room had different thoughts. The young people who had been promoted were naturally overjoyed and extremely excited. The older cadres who had been transferred all looked grim. Most of the rest were quite afraid of the new director.

Everyone understood that this young director was very capable, and from now on, he would be the one to call the shots in the Department of Industry and Information Technology.

Chen Ping put it back in his office. He leaned back in his chair, finally letting out a sigh of relief. He felt that he finally had the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology under his control, and from now on, whatever he said, his subordinates would have to do.

His next step is to hold a province-wide conference, a mobilization meeting for the semiconductor industry. He wants to make this a big deal, so that the whole province and even the whole country know about their plans.

So he picked up the red phone on the table, intending to call the provincial government office and ask them to help arrange the meeting.

However, at that moment, his personal cell phone rang. He picked it up and glanced at it; it was an unfamiliar number, registered in Guangling City.

Chen Ping then answered the phone.

As soon as the call connected, a very anxious voice came through. The caller was Zhou Weiguo, the acting mayor of Guangling City.

He shouted anxiously, "Director Chen! Something terrible has happened! Over a hundred companies from the Jinshan Chemical Industrial Park have joined forces to petition the municipal government and have now blocked the gates!"