Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

Ningzhou Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Director's Office.

This is a room with rather sophisticated decor. The mahogany bookshelves are filled with large, finely bound volumes. Although the spines of the books are so new that the covers have not even been removed, it does not prevent them from exuding a sense of "more cultured" dignity.

Qian Wanli was sitting upright behind the large boss's chair, holding a purple clay teapot in his hands, sipping tea from the spout. His eyelids were drooping, as if he hadn't woken up yet, or as if he didn't take the young man in front of him seriously at all.

"Secretary Liu, it's not that I'm not giving you face."

Qian Wanli put down the teapot, let out a bureaucratic burp with a hint of tea flavor, and said slowly and deliberately:

"I've also looked at the Nangong Group's project. The idea is good, but it's just an idea. A 2 billion yuan investment, is that something to joke about? It involves land, energy consumption, environmental protection, and financial risks... every aspect needs to be assessed and demonstrated."

"What is the National Development and Reform Commission for? We're here to oversee the country! If we just stamp something haphazardly and something goes wrong, who's responsible? You? Or me?"

This set of Tai Chi was performed with such fluidity and precision, leaving no room for error.

Every word and phrase was for the sake of the work and the overall situation.

In reality, every punctuation mark contains two words—**no way**.

Liu Ming sat in the hardwood chair opposite him, a signature, enigmatic smile on his face. He was neither intimidated by Qian Wanli's official airs nor angered by the other's perfunctory attitude.

He simply watched the fat man with a face full of scars perform quietly.

"Director Qian, the argumentation is necessary."

Liu Ming spoke up, her tone calm, "But as far as I know, Nangong Group has submitted all the assessment reports to the highest standards. The experts from the province have also given positive opinions. Now, all that's missing is the final official document from you."

"Moreover, once this project is implemented, it will bring at least two thousand high-paying jobs to Ningzhou and generate over 100 million yuan in tax revenue annually. With such a significant achievement, wouldn't Director Qian want to add a brilliant stroke to that record of merit?"

"Achievements?"

Qian Wanli scoffed, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

He was a member of the Ouyang family, and the benefits Ouyang Feng promised him were real money, villas, and beautiful women. As for political achievements? Those were the mayor's achievements; what did they have to do with him, the soon-to-be-retired director of the Development and Reform Commission?

"Little Liu, you're still too young."

Qian Wanli sighed earnestly, adopting the air of someone who had been through it all.

"Some things can't be judged by appearances alone. The provincial experts' opinions are academic, but our administrative approvals involve comprehensive considerations. Now the wind has changed; these high-energy-consuming big data centers are strictly controlled projects. If I loosen my stance, what will happen when the inspection team comes down? Will I still be able to keep my job?"

"So, this can't be rushed."

He picked up a document from the table, flipped through it casually, and then tossed it aside.

"Let Nangong Group go back and revise it again. Further reduce the energy consumption targets and refine the risk assessment. We'll discuss it again in the meeting once it meets the standards. Alright, I have another meeting, so I won't keep you any longer."

This is a clear invitation to leave.

Moreover, it was the kind of arrogant dismissal that said, "I'm just blocking you, what can you do about it?"

Looking at Qian Wanli's smug, "I'm not afraid of boiling water" attitude, Liu Ming's smile deepened.

He stood up, showing no intention of leaving. Instead, he slowly walked to the window and looked at the bustling traffic below.

"Director Qian, I'm checking this one last time."

Liu Ming had her back to Qian Wanli, and her voice was light and airy.

"You're determined not to grant approval for this project, aren't you?"

"Hey! What's wrong with you, young comrade? Can't you understand human language?" Qian Wanli said, annoyed, slamming the teapot heavily on the table. "I said it's substandard! It needs to be rectified! This is the procedure! This is the rule! Even if you ask a hundred times, the result will still be the same!"

"it is good."

Liu Ming turned around and nodded. "Since Director Qian is going to follow the rules, then we will follow the rules."

He took out his phone from his pocket, swiped his fingers across the screen quickly, and found a number labeled "Senior Brother - Zhou".

That was his senior from Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management, Zhou Wen, who is now the director of the High-Tech Industry Division of the Development and Reform Commission of Jiangnan Province.

"What are you going to do?"

As Qian Wanli watched Liu Ming's actions, his heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition welled up inside him.

"It's nothing."

Liu Ming smiled and pressed the speakerphone button.

"Since the roads in the city are blocked, I'll take another route. After all, all roads lead to Rome."

"Beep—beep—"

The phone rang twice before being answered.

"Feed? Is that Xiaoming?"

A cheerful and enthusiastic voice came from the other end of the phone, exuding a sense of competence.

"Senior, it's me." Liu Ming's tone instantly became familiar and natural. "Do you remember the 'Smart Ningzhou' big data center project I mentioned to you last time?"

"I remember! That was a great project!" Zhou Wen's voice rose a few decibels. "Nangong Group's involvement, right? I've seen the technical solutions; they're incredibly advanced and perfectly align with the province's 'Digital Jiangnan' strategic plan! What's wrong? Is the project encountering difficulties?"

"It is a little difficult."

Liu Ming glanced at Qian Wanli, whose face was beginning to turn pale, and said calmly.

"Director Qian from the Municipal Development and Reform Commission believes that this project has too high energy consumption and too much risk, and does not comply with the city's industrial policies, so he has been holding back the project approval process. He told us to go back and make rectifications, but as for when those rectifications will be completed, it's hard to say."

"What?"

Zhou Wen's voice instantly turned cold, carrying the anger of a superior.

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense! How can this national-level strategic emerging industry be considered a high-energy-consuming project? Does he even know what PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) is? Nangong Group's solution achieved a PUE value below 1.2, which is internationally leading! Has he lost his mind?"

Qian Wanli broke out in a cold sweat in an instant.

Although he couldn't tell who the other person was, their tone and familiarity with the policies were definitely not those of an ordinary person! And... "Senior Brother"?

"Senior brother, don't be angry," Liu Ming reassured him. "Since the city thinks the temple is too small to accommodate this big shot, I can't let the investors down. How about this?"

Liu Ming paused for a moment, then uttered the suggestion that terrified Qian Wanli.

"Could this project be included in the 'Provincial Key Construction Projects' list? That way, it can be directly approved by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, bypassing the city level. The land belongs to the High-tech Zone, and I'm familiar with the area. Directly contacting the province shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"This idea...is good!"

Zhou Wen pondered for a moment, then slapped his thigh.

"Absolutely! According to last year's 'Provincial Key Project Management Measures,' any major project with an investment exceeding one billion yuan that aligns with the province's industrial guidelines can apply for a 'green channel' and be directly submitted to the Provincial Development and Reform Commission! Xiaoming, send me a copy of the materials to my email, and I'll go get the commission leader's signature right now! We'll handle this as a special case, and the approval could be issued as early as tomorrow!"

"Then I'll have to trouble you, senior brother. I'll treat you to drinks when I get back to the provincial capital another day."

"No need for formalities, we're brothers! I'll definitely give my full support to a project that brings honor to our Tsinghua department! I'm hanging up now, I'll get on it!"

"beep."

The phone hangs up.

The office was deathly silent.

Only the air vents of the central air conditioning were still emitting a slight buzzing sound, which sounded like a death knell to Qian Wanli.

He slumped into the chair, his fat face trembling uncontrollably, his eyes filled with terror and despair.

Provincial key projects...

Report directly to the Provincial Development and Reform Commission...

Bypassing municipal-level approval...

This series of measures effectively sidelined him as the director of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission.

Moreover, this is not just a matter of fiction.

A mega-project with an investment of 2 billion yuan had to bypass the city government and go directly to the provincial government for approval because of his interference. If this got out, if the provincial party secretary and Mayor Lu found out…

This is a serious case of administrative inaction! It damages the business environment! It tarnishes the reputation of the Ningzhou Municipal Party Committee and Government!

At that point, let alone the villa Ouyang Feng promised him, it will be questionable whether he can even keep his official position!

"You...you..."

Qian Wanli pointed at Liu Ming, his fingers trembling as if he had Parkinson's disease, "You...you know Director Zhou?"

"Oh, I forgot to introduce him."

Liu Ming put away her phone, straightened her collar, and maintained her calm and composed smile.

"Zhou Wen, my senior. We shared a dormitory when we were both pursuing our doctorates at Tsinghua University."

"Director Qian, those difficulties and risks you just mentioned don't seem to be a big deal to my senior brother."

"It seems your skill level still needs further improvement."

Murder and kill!

Qian Wanli felt a surge of blood rushing to his chest, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

He wanted to beg for mercy, to make amends, to say, "Actually, we can still discuss it further."

But Liu Ming didn't give him that chance at all.

Liu Ming walked to the desk, picked up the project application that Qian Wanli had thrown aside, and dusted it off.

"I'll take this document with me. After all, the provincial authorities will need it."

He turned around and walked briskly toward the door.

As he reached the door, he stopped and turned back to look at the fat man whose face had turned ashen.

His eyes were filled with pity and a hint of undisguised mockery.

"Director Qian, please keep that official seal."

"When you have free time, take it out and cover it a couple of times to practice your hand strength."

"After all, it's unlikely that you'll be able to build such large projects in the future."

After saying that, he opened the door and walked out without looking back.

Qian Wanli was left alone, slumped in the large boss's chair, staring at the empty doorway, on the verge of tears.

he knows.

This time, he really ran into a brick wall.

Moreover, this iron plate is not only hard, but it's also damn hot!