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

Ningzhou Municipal Party Committee, small conference room.

The Standing Committee meeting hasn't even started yet, but the atmosphere has already changed.

In the past, when these powerful standing committee members got together, they would talk about policy trends, personnel changes, or which tea was the best.

But today, everyone's conversation revolved around the same name with remarkable tacit agreement.

—Liu Ming.

"Have you heard?"

Sun Hong, the head of the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee, held a teacup and gently blew on the floating leaves, but his eyes glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Shen Congwen, the secretary-general next to him.

"Last night, Zhao Tai from the Zhao family in the capital left overnight."

"Left?" Shen Congwen pushed up his glasses, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "I heard they escaped?"

"I didn't even pack my luggage. It was a red-eye flight at 3 a.m., flying directly to Beijing. I heard my legs were still weak when I boarded the plane."

Sun Hong clicked his tongue twice and lowered his voice.

"That's a member of the Zhao family. Although they're from a collateral branch, in our Jiangnan Province, they're a force to be reckoned with. Even the powerful Ouyang family would have to act like subservient grandchildren in front of them. And what happened?"

He extended a finger and tapped it lightly on the table.

"I was terrified by just one phone call from that Director Liu."

"I've heard about it too."

Zhao Rui, the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, who had been silent until now, suddenly interjected. His face was stern, but a deep sense of apprehension flashed in his eyes.

"People at the scene said that when Liu Ming made that call, she called the other person 'Xiaoxiao.' Moreover, after Zhao Tai finished the call with his father, he immediately knelt down."

"Xiaoxiao..."

Sun Hong narrowed his eyes, his brain racing as he searched for someone in Beijing's top circle who could be associated with those two words.

Sudden.

His pupils suddenly contracted, as if he had thought of something extremely terrifying, and he almost spilled the tea in his hand.

"Could it be...that person from the Lin family?"

"Who is it?" The propaganda minister next to him hadn't reacted yet.

"Who else could it be!" Sun Hong's voice was extremely low, as if afraid of disturbing the gods in heaven. "Lin Zhentian's granddaughter! The infamous 'Little Witch' in Beijing's social circles—Lin Xiaoxiao!"

"hiss--!"

A collective gasp of astonishment filled the conference room.

The Lin family!

What a colossal thing it was!

That was a true red behemoth standing on the clouds, overlooking all living beings!

No wonder!

No wonder Director Wang from the General Office of the Central Committee personally called the supervisory team to put pressure on them!

No wonder the old master of the Zhao family personally ordered his grandson to kneel down and apologize!

It turns out that Liu Ming was neither a demobilized soldier without any connections nor an ordinary young talent.

He is very likely a pawn that the Lin family patriarch has placed on the outside!

It's even possible that he's... an illegitimate child? Or perhaps, the Lin family's chosen... grandson-in-law?

"That explains it."

Shen Congwen took a deep breath, the doubt in his eyes vanished, replaced by an unprecedented sense of importance.

"Why is he so cunning at such a young age?"

"Why did he dare to bring down the deputy mayor and challenge the godfather of the underworld?"

"So that's where their confidence comes from."

"Everyone."

The provincial secretary, who had been silent all along, pushed open the door and walked in.

He glanced at the fascinating expressions on everyone's faces and knew without asking what they were talking about.

He walked to the head seat and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the entire room with an air of authority.

"Some things are better left unsaid, just keep them to yourself."

"Do not investigate or speculate about Comrade Liu Ming's identity."

"We only need to know one thing."

The voice of the border official was steady and powerful, setting the tone.

"He came to help Ningzhou develop; he is our comrade, and also... our benefactor."

The Standing Committee members understood immediately and nodded in agreement.

Noble.

This is the first time a provincial-level Party Secretary has used this method to evaluate a subordinate.

This means that from today onwards, Liu Ming's position in Ningzhou will no longer be merely that of a director of a high-tech zone at the division level.

He will become a special figure, one that even the members of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee must treat with deference…

……

High-tech Zone, Management Committee Building.

As soon as Liu Ming stepped into the elevator, she sensed that something was off about the atmosphere.

In the past, people felt awe and fear when they saw him.

That look in his eyes was like a mouse seeing a cat.

Available today.

When he entered, the section chiefs in the elevator practically bent over, their faces plastered with almost fawning, even pilgrimage-like smiles.

Good morning, Director Liu! You look great today!

"Director Liu, I heard you displayed incredible power last night, even intimidating the young master from Beijing? That's amazing!"

"Director Liu, some local specialties just arrived from my hometown. When would be a convenient time for you to visit?"

Liu Ming frowned.

Have these people taken the wrong medicine?

How did their attitude change from "reverence" to "groveling" overnight?

He stepped out of the elevator and, just as he reached the office door, saw Chen Momo holding a pile of documents, looking at him with a strange expression.

"Director... um..."

Chen Momo pointed to the office.

Liu Ming pushed open the door and took a look.

Good guy.

The large desk was piled high with all sorts of gift boxes.

It wasn't any valuable gold or silver jewelry (because everyone knows Liu Ming doesn't accept that), but rather various so-called "gifts of goodwill".

The gifts included top-quality Da Hong Pao tea, rare calligraphy and paintings, and even a feng shui bonsai that was said to "bring wealth and ward off evil spirits."

"Who sent all of these?" Liu Ming asked, somewhat amused and exasperated.

"They are all directors of various bureaus, as well as bosses of large companies in the park."

Chen whispered, "They arrived early this morning, dropped off their things, and left as soon as they were gone. We couldn't stop them. They were muttering things like 'They didn't recognize my worth' and 'Please take good care of me, Young Master Liu'..."

"Young Master Liu?"

Liu Ming was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.

It seems that the news of what happened at Genting Highlands last night has spread.

Moreover, as the story spreads, it inevitably becomes distorted.

These people probably think they're some kind of "princelings" on an incognito visit to the capital.

"Register all these items."

Liu Ming picked up a box of tea leaves, looked at it, and then threw it back.

"Return what can be returned; sell what cannot be returned to the government canteen at a discounted price, and the money will go into the public account."

"Yes!" Chen Momo nodded quickly, then couldn't help but ask curiously, "Director, there are rumors outside... saying you're Marshal Lin's grandson-in-law? And some people say you're... the Lin family's illegitimate son? Is... that true?"

Liu Ming was drinking water and almost spat it out.

Grandson-in-law?

illegitimate child?

These people have such vivid imaginations; it's a waste that they're not writing novels!

He and Lin Xiaoxiao? That crazy little girl?

Give me a break.

That was the little sister he rescued while on a mission with the special forces. The two had a purely platonic "brother-sister" relationship, or at most, a "creditor" relationship where he would be driven crazy by her if he didn't help her settle things.

but……

Liu Ming put down her teacup, walked to the window, and looked down at the bustling park below.

He had no intention of explaining.

In officialdom, background is sometimes a form of "power".

A mixture of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion.

The more you explain, the more people will think you're trying to cover something up.

The more mysterious you are, the more wary others will be of you.

Since they were willing to drape this tiger skin over him, why should he take it off?

With this fabricated, powerful backing, his affairs in Ningzhou will only proceed more smoothly in the future. Those who want to trip him up will have to think twice before they act, considering whether they can withstand the wrath of the Lin family of the capital.

This is practically a free and incredibly powerful... talisman.

"silently."

Liu Ming turned around, a smile on her face that was hard to decipher.

"Don't bother with this kind of boring gossip."

"People can say whatever they want."

"We just need to get things done."

Chen Momo nodded as if she understood, but looking at Liu Ming's unfathomable expression, her awe grew even stronger.

The director doesn't deny it?

So that means... it's the default?

Good heavens!

It turns out our director really is a prince!

Watching Chen Momo run off with an "I get it" expression on her face, Liu Ming shook her head helplessly.

He sat back in his chair, looking at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, feeling more relaxed than ever before.

Let it be a misunderstanding.

Sometimes, this beautiful misunderstanding can also be a form of... productivity.

"The Ouyang family has fallen, and the Zhao family has backed down."

"The roads in the High-tech Zone are now paved."

Liu Ming tapped the table lightly, her eyes gradually sharpening.

"Now, it's time to set aside some time and thoroughly investigate... that deepest-hidden secret."

He opened the drawer and took out the old photograph of his father.

On the back of the photo, a name is faintly written.

That was the last person his father saw before he passed away.

This was also his real... goal in coming to Ningzhou this time.