Nominal: The Handong Game, the Energy System's Counterattack

Following his plan, Zhao Dehan sought to cultivate a relationship with Sun Liancheng.

The two met at a roadside barbecue stall in Guangming District for some skewers and a few beers.

Sun Liancheng directly complained about his work over the past period, especially the difficulties encountered in the Guangmingfeng project.

Zhao Dehan sensed the helplessness in Sun Liancheng's words, as well as his subtle dissatisfaction with Li Dakang, the municipal party secretary.

This was a good starting point, but Zhao Dehan did not immediately pick up on the topic.

He knew about Sun Liancheng's comings and goings between the district government and the municipal party committee these past few days; Li Dakang had even rushed to the district party committee to yell at people several times.

Since Zhao Dehan had just arrived, he naturally wouldn't immediately speak ill of Li Dakang in front of others.

"Haha, the capable are always given more work. The Guangming Peak project is a key project at both the provincial and municipal levels, with a large investment scale, so it's naturally not an easy task."

He chuckled casually and changed the subject: "How many years has District Chief Sun worked in Guangming District?"

Zhao Dehan said, "I don't care much about your work achievements."

Of course, it also indicated that they were not particularly concerned about interfering in the Bright Peak project for the time being.

Old Zhao was just concerned about how Old Sun had been doing all these years. Isn't that how relationships between people gradually grow closer?

"I, Sun Liancheng, have worked in Guangming District for nearly twenty years."

Sun Liancheng sighed as he talked about his working hours in Guangming District.

Unexpectedly, so many years have passed since he graduated from university and started working in Guangming District.

"Nearly twenty years, that's not easy. District Chief Sun should be very familiar with all aspects of Guangming District."

Zhao Dehan also sighed, "I also went to a ministry right after graduation, and it's been almost 30 years since I started as a junior staff member and became a department head."

"My hometown is in the countryside. When I was assigned a job after graduation, I was overjoyed to learn that I could stay in Yenching."

When the news reached our hometown, the whole clan was overjoyed.

As Zhao Dehan spoke, he gestured wildly, quite excited.

"I had just graduated and was penniless. All I wanted to do was to do things well."

"I will use what I have learned to make a small contribution to the people and the country."

"But... sigh..."

Zhao Dehan drank a glass of beer with a sigh.

"After going to the ministry, I realized that many things cannot be accomplished with just enthusiasm."

"I'm not bragging, but my grades in school were among the best."

"Back then, I was full of vigor and thought that with my abilities, I would definitely make steady progress and improve."

"But reality is always unexpected. In the first few years, many of my colleagues who joined at the same time were promoted, while I was still stuck in the same place."

"Later, I found out that there were only a few people like me in our group."

"The others all have powerful backers or influential figures behind them."

"That's what we're talking about now: political resources."

"Others have it, but I, Zhao Dehan, don't."

"I do the most and the best work, and I'm the most principled, but when it comes to promotions, I'm never the one who gets promoted."

"It's been almost twenty years, and while others have been promoted several times, it's finally my turn."

"Gradually, I've come to terms with it. At least I'm still in that position, a position that many people dream of."

"Until a young director came to the ministry, Zhou Chuyi, the governor who had just arrived in Handong."

"He noticed my work and promoted me to section chief, placing me in the approval department."

"Even so, it took me nearly thirty years to get to this position."

Zhao Dehan's claim that Zhou Chuyi promoted him is, of course, false.

He was simply trying to give Sun Liancheng a hint: Zhou Chuyi was willing to give opportunities to cadres who worked diligently and conscientiously.

No wonder Zhou Chuyi said Zhao Dehan's acting skills are superb; he's a master at feigning sweetness.

This farmer's child, struggling to survive and make progress in the capital, has surely dispelled all the lingering resentment he had towards Sun Liancheng.

"I originally thought I would work in a ministry until retirement."

"I didn't expect Director Zhou to come to Handong for training. I'm not a very ambitious person."

"All I know is that I can work reliably under Director Zhou, so I asked to come along."

"I never expected that Director Zhou would give me such a pleasant surprise after he found out."

"He suggested to the organization that I be placed in my current position."

"For over twenty years, I never reached the division level. Director Zhou was the first to promote me to division level."

"After coming to Handong, I became a department-level cadre."

At this point, Zhao Dehan raised his glass, looked into the distance, and drank a glass filled with gratitude and emotion.

"Speaking of which, District Chief Sun, I'm really sorry."

"I know I took your seat, so I'm offering you a drink as an apology."

With that, Zhao Dehan poured himself a full glass of beer and downed it in one gulp.

"To be honest, I don't know the situation in the Bright District either, I hope you don't mind."

"In the few days I've been here, I've gotten to know you, District Chief Sun. To be honest, I think we're kindred spirits."

"You are a reliable person, and I like working with you as a partner."

"I will need to rely on District Chief Sun more in my work in Guangming District in the future."

"You're a veteran of the Bright District, so please don't hesitate to share your knowledge, haha..."

After hearing Zhao Dehan's words, Sun Liancheng's wariness completely disappeared.

He originally thought Zhao Dehan was a Beijing official who had been sent down to Beijing for a temporary post to gain experience.

However, after several encounters, he did not have the arrogance typical of people from the capital.

Instead, they acted very pragmatically and humbly, which eased the initial resistance.

In addition, because of the Guangming Peak project, he was constantly being urged by Li Dakang, and he didn't have time to think about it.

Now, after Zhao Dehan's explanation, he realized that the other party's coming to Guangming District was not his original intention.

Now that the other party is being so polite, so humble, and apologizing, if he were to hold a grudge, it would make him, Sun Liancheng, seem like an ignorant person.

The key point is that Zhao Dehan said his past in Beijing did indeed touch Sun Liancheng.

His experience in Guangming District was quite similar to that of Zhao Dehan.

They were all cadres without any powerful backers, and he understood Zhao Dehan.

Fortunately, after wasting decades, the other party finally met a leader who appreciated him.

Will anyone appreciate his grandson, Liancheng?

Li Dakang? If he wanted to promote me, he should have done so when he put the responsibility of the commander-in-chief of Guangming Peak on my shoulders.

Therefore, even without Zhao Dehan, Sun Liancheng would not have become the district party secretary.

"Secretary Zhao is too modest," Sun Liancheng said.

"You come from a ministry, so your perspective is much broader than ours as local officials. I should be the one learning from you."

Zhao Dehan smiled and, without beating around the bush, got straight to the point.

"District Chief Sun, I'm not good at being polite."

"My purpose in coming here today is very simple: first and foremost, to connect with you and strengthen our relationship."

"From now on, we'll be working together in Guangming District, and I'll need your cooperation."

"Secondly, I've been here for a few days now, and I'd like to hear your thoughts on the current situation in Guangming District."

"As you know, Ding Yizhen's escape had a huge impact on Guangming District. Many projects were brought to a standstill, especially the Guangming Peak project."

"Now that Secretary Li has entrusted this important task to you, I roughly understand why Secretary Li is doing this."

Zhao Dehan gave Sun Liancheng a look that said, "I understand you, brother," which deeply moved Sun Liancheng.