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

The next morning at nine o'clock, in the auditorium of the Yunzhou Municipal Party Committee.

The city-wide meeting of cadres at the deputy division level and above was held on time. The auditorium was full of people, but there was not a sound. Everyone's eyes were intentionally or unintentionally glancing at the empty seat in the middle of the stage.

When Sun Chuanhong was in charge, people in the audience dared not even breathe during meetings like this. Now that Sun Chuanhong has fallen, everyone's minds are racing, and they're all wondering what kind of person the new Party Secretary will be.

Xiao Yuhan sat in the second row of the stage, her face expressionless, but her back ramrod straight, revealing a hint of nervousness. Chen Pingfang, representing the municipal government office, sat quietly in a seat near the front of the stage.

After the leaders of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department announced the appointments, a man wearing a white shirt and dark trousers slowly walked to the back of the podium in the middle of the stage.

Zhou Wenyuan.

He was in his early forties, of medium build, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and his hair was neatly combed. Unlike Sun Chuanhong, he wasn't domineering; instead, he had a scholarly air about him, like a university professor.

Zhou Wenyuan did not speak immediately, but first bowed slightly to the audience.

This gesture made many officials in the audience feel uneasy. When Sun Chuanhong was in office, it was always others who bowed to him.

"Comrades," Zhou Wenyuan began, his voice clear and unreadable, "I come from the provincial capital and set foot on the land of Yunzhou to do something."

The opening remarks were very direct, without any official jargon or platitudes.

In his subsequent speech, Zhou Wenyuan talked about the history of Yunzhou and its future development. He did not refer to his notes at all, and his speech was very clear and organized.

Zhou Wenyuan didn't mention Sun Chuanhong at all, as if this person had never existed.

"...Yunzhou encountered some problems recently, but problems always get resolved. I've seen that, with a vacancy in the municipal party committee, the municipal government team, headed by Comrade Xiao Yuhan, was able to quickly stabilize the situation and take decisive measures. This demonstrates their strong sense of responsibility and competence!"

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Xiao Yuhan.

Xiao Yuhan's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged. She knew that Zhou Wenyuan was praising her in public, but also putting her in a very difficult position.

Chen Ping lowered his eyelids slightly. Zhou Wenyuan's move was far more effective than Sun Chuanhong's direct insults.

At the end of his speech, Zhou Wenyuan's gaze swept across the entire room, seemingly pausing briefly at Chen Pingfang's seat.

"I've also heard that many of our young comrades have performed outstandingly in this incident, demonstrating principle and drive. The future of Yunzhou depends on you. I, Zhou Wenyuan, am here to work with you all."

After speaking, Zhou Wenyuan bowed again.

After the meeting ended, Zhou Wenyuan did not leave immediately. Instead, he stepped down from the podium, took the initiative to shake hands with several city leaders in the front row, and even chatted a few words with several bureau chiefs.

The entire officialdom of Yunzhou was bewildered by his approachable attitude.

Just as Chen Ping was about to leave with the crowd, a young secretary from the Municipal Party Committee Office walked over quickly and said with a polite smile.

"Is this Comrade Chen Pingfang? Secretary Zhou would like to invite you to his office."

The voice wasn't loud, but several bureau chiefs with sharp ears nearby heard it, and their gazes toward Chen Pingfang immediately changed.

On the first day of the new secretary's term, the first person he called in for a private talk was a completely unknown young man.

……

It was still the same office of the municipal party secretary on the far east side of the third floor.

But the interior has been completely changed. Sun Chuanhong's favorite large mahogany table and root carvings are gone. Now they've been replaced by a simple solid wood desk and a whole wall of books. There's no smell of cigars in the air, only the scent of ink.

To Chen Pingfang's surprise, Zhou Wenyuan was not sitting behind his desk, but in the reception area by the window, in front of a small tea table, personally arranging the tea set.

"Comrade Pingfang, come, sit down." Zhou Wenyuan looked up, smiled at him, and pointed to the seat opposite him. "Don't be shy, try the Da Hong Pao tea I brought from the province."

Chen Pingfang felt a stiffness in his back.

If word got out that the municipal party secretary personally brewed tea for a section chief, the entire officialdom of Yunzhou would be in an uproar.

"Secretary Zhou, you're too kind. I... I can just stand here and report to you." Chen Pingfang quickly bowed, pretending to be very nervous.

"I don't follow those rules here." Zhou Wenyuan's smile was gentle, but his eyes were sharp as he swept his gaze across Chen Pingfang's face. "Talented people deserve special treatment. Sit down."

Chen Pingfang had no choice but to sit down, his bottom barely touching the edge of the chair, looking utterly apprehensive.

Zhou Wenyuan pushed a cup of amber-colored tea in front of him with practiced ease, clearly indicating that he was a cultured person.

"I've read the report for the Jinshui Bay project. The concept is excellent, and the approach is quite bold," Zhou Wenyuan said slowly. "I heard that you came up with the initial plan?"

"I don't deserve such praise. It was all the result of the collective effort under the guidance of Mayor Xiao and other leaders." Chen Pingfang immediately adopted a humble attitude, delegating all the credit.

Zhou Wenyuan smiled but didn't say anything. He picked up his teacup, blew on it gently, and then changed the subject.

"The matter of Comrade Sun Chuanhong is heartbreaking. A veteran cadre who has worked in Yunzhou for so many years failed to uphold the bottom line and betrayed the trust of the organization." His tone sounded somewhat regretful. "I heard that you risked your life to retrieve some of the last crucial pieces of evidence? Young man, it's a good thing to have this kind of courage and sense of responsibility."

coming.

Chen Ping's heart skipped a beat, but his face still showed a tense and frightened expression: "I just did what I was supposed to do, I dare not take credit."

Just then, Chen Ping's gaze casually swept across the desk not far away.

On the table, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones are neatly arranged. Next to a fountain pen, there is an open bottle of ink.

The ink was a deep red color, looking like blood.

Hongqi-200!

Chen Ping picked up his teacup, using the act of drinking tea to conceal his expression.

The scalding hot tea went into my mouth, but I couldn't feel any heat at all.

Zhou Wenyuan seemed oblivious to his unease, put down his teacup, and his tone became serious.

"Comrade Pingfang, Yunzhou is currently in dire need of reconstruction, but ideological work must be prioritized. The stronger a cadre's abilities are, the greater the harm they can cause to the organization if their Party spirit is impure. Sun Chuanhong is the most profound lesson of this."

Chen Ping nodded repeatedly, looking like he was listening attentively.

"Therefore, the municipal party committee has initially studied and prepared to establish an office of the leading group for party spirit education and rectification of clean governance. This is a completely new undertaking with great responsibilities, and it requires a young comrade with a firm stance, drive, and principles to take on this responsibility."

Zhou Wenyuan paused here, looking directly at Chen Pingfang with a gentle gaze that held an undeniable air of authority.

"Comrade Pingfang, before I came here, I reviewed your file and learned about your performance. I've thought about it for a long time, and I'd like you to be the office director."

Zhou Wenyuan leaned forward slightly and emphasized his words.

"This is the municipal party committee's high regard for you, and also a test. Do you have the confidence to do so?"

The office was eerily quiet.

Chen Ping held the now-cold cup of tea, feeling its weight.

He is very clear-headed.

This is not a promotion; it's clearly an attempt to transfer him away from Xiao Yuhan, kicking him from the power center of the Municipal Government Office to a powerless, idle department!

Zhou Wenyuan still had that gentle smile on his face, quietly waiting for his answer.