120: Chapter 120 Zhu Wenhao gives Li Juan a lesson

Zhu Wenhao did not unbuckle his seatbelt, resting his hands crossed over the steering wheel.

He turned his head to look at Li Juan.

"Mother."

"I admit your analysis just now has merit. However, you have mistaken the most fundamental logic."

Li Juan stopped her movements, sat back in the passenger seat, and pulled the car door shut.

"Liu Family is the ruler, and Deputy Director Liu Qiang is the subject."

Zhu Wenhao spat out these eight words.

"It is the duty of a subject to be loyal to the ruler."

"As for whether the ruler grants rewards to the subject, that depends on the ruler's mood and considerations of the overall situation."

Zhu Wenhao did not give Li Juan a chance to interrupt.

"You also said that my marriage is a second chance to change my fate. Since there is only one chance, why waste it on the daughter of a courtier at this critical juncture?"

"You need to look at the long term, not just fixate on the small plot of land before you."

Li Juan had been steeped in the compound for half her life and was accustomed to interest exchanges, but no one had ever dismantled this relationship so domineeringly.

"Then what are your plans?"

"You go in now and have tea with Madam Liu."

Zhu Wenhao leaned back against the seat, his posture composed.

"Neither agree nor refuse."

"I am twenty-four, in the golden period of building my career. If I hand over this only bargaining chip now, what will we use to trade if we encounter resources that can influence the overall situation later?"

"Furthermore, you haven't seen the current dynamic between host and guest. It's not that we are anxious, but that Madam Liu is."

"A woman's prime is extremely limited; Liu Ruobing cannot afford to wait."

"But a man's career has only just begun."

"A more core point."

"You said Deputy Director Liu Qiang is in an ascending period and needs to secure a position of real power at the departmental level next. Who does he rely on to achieve that? It requires Grandfather to lobby, and it requires Minister Xiao Dingyu to exert effort at the Standing Committee meeting."

"He cannot do without the resources of the Li Faction."

Zhu Wenhao threw out his final trump card.

"Grandfather has retired for so many years, why can he still maintain a transcendent status in Jiangnan Province?"

"Relying solely on old favors won't last long."

"The key lies with the eldest uncle."

"The eldest uncle is the Director of the First Division in the Cadre Bureau of the Organization Department in The Capital. He holds the rank of division chief and enjoys the treatment of a deputy department-level official."

"This position corresponds directly to the assessment, appointment, and recommendation of local provincial-managed cadres."

"With the eldest uncle in charge in The Capital, and Grandfather and Minister Xiao providing support in the province, do you think Deputy Director Liu Qiang dares to break away from Old Master Li and establish his own faction?"

Zhu Wenhao's tone was certain.

"He doesn't dare."

"As long as he wants to move up, he must honestly stay in the Li Faction's camp."

"Since he is already a person in our camp, why use my marriage to re-bind him?"

"If I want to move to a higher position in the future, in the network of connections the eldest uncle has in The Capital, can't we pick a choice with more strategic value than Liu Family?"

Li Juan sat there, silent for a long time.

She suddenly realized that her own calculations were indeed small in the face of her son's larger game.

"I understand."

Li Juan picked up her handbag from the side.

"I'll go deal with Madam Liu first. I'll just say you are currently fully focused on your work and are not in a hurry to consider personal matters."

After saying this, she pushed open the car door.

"When it's over tonight, call me, and I'll come to pick you up."

"Understood."

Li Juan didn't look back, waved her hand, and walked straight toward the teahouse.

Zhu Wenhao sat in the car, watching her figure disappear.

What Li Juan said earlier in the car was not without reason.

Only by climbing to a high enough position and mastering the power to set the rules of the game would he not be treated as a bargaining chip on the table by these secular transactions.

He shook off those complex thoughts in his mind, shifted gears, and turned the steering wheel.

Shen Zhe called him yesterday; the Spark Class is implementing self-governance. Without him there to hold the line, those few people probably already had cracks forming.

The distribution of power is always a dynamic balance. Once the mediation of the core hub is lost, the conflict of interests among allies will sooner or later surface.

The black Audi merged into the traffic and headed straight for the Provincial Party School.

Provincial Party School Complex, third-floor conference room.

The second routine class meeting of the Spark Class was underway.

According to the rules set by Minister Xiao Dingyu, the Spark Class implements comprehensive self-governance. The weekly student performance assessment and conduct scoring are entirely decided by the class committee, with the Academic Affairs Office only responsible for filing the final results.

In front of a rectangular conference table.

Class Monitor Liu Yu sat on the side, playing with a ballpoint pen in his hand.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui, Zhou Xu, and Life Committee Member Shen Zhe sat in order.

Liu Ruobing sat at the end, responsible for meeting minutes.

Zhu Wenhao was absent.

During the first self-governance class meeting, Study Committee Member Cao Rui, Zhou Xu, and Shen Zhe banded together. All resolutions were pushed through smoothly. Class Monitor Liu Yu had no room to fight back under the pincer attack of the three and could only sign the resolutions while holding his nose.

But this temporarily assembled team had a fatal flaw.

There was no clear leader.

When Zhu Wenhao was there, he set the tone, and those below were responsible for execution.

Now that he was not there, Study Committee Member Cao Rui represented the municipal cadres, Zhou Xu represented the Provincial Party Committee organs, and Shen Zhe relied on the Organization Department; none were convinced by the others.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui was quick-witted.

He wanted to take the opportunity to integrate the power of these three and keep the dominance in his own hands.

These past few days, he frequently moved among the students, and there was a faint trend of him becoming more powerful.

The meeting proceeded.

For the assessment results of the first four students, everyone had a consensus; it did not involve the division of core interests.

"The fifth one, Municipal Finance Bureau of Jingjiang City, Li Tao." Zhou Xu opened the black notebook in front of him.

"Li Tao was twenty minutes late for the theoretical lecture on Tuesday afternoon. For the group discussion on field research on Wednesday morning, he asked for leave citing gastrointestinal discomfort, but according to the dormitory manager, he was playing games in the dormitory at that time."

Zhou Xu looked up at the others.

"According to the quantitative assessment rules of class discipline. Two points deducted for lateness, five points deducted for unexcused absence from teaching activities. This week, Li Tao's comprehensive conduct assessment is unqualified. It is recommended to issue a class-wide circular criticism."

The recorder, Liu Ruobing, was prepared to enter this resolution.

"Wait a minute."

Study Committee Member Cao Rui raised his hand, interrupting Zhou Xu.

"Organization Committee Member Zhou, rules are dead, but people are alive. Everyone is a business backbone selected from various cities. Occasionally having personal matters, we can be a little accommodating; there is no need to make a big deal out of it."

Li Tao was a cadre from Jingjiang City and often ran errands behind Study Committee Member Cao Rui. Before the meeting today, Li Tao specifically gave Study Committee Member Cao Rui two cartons of good cigarettes, entrusting him to settle the assessment matter.

If he really had to bear a "class-wide circular criticism" punishment, this trip to the Party School would be in vain.

"I mentioned this to you before. Li Tao really had an upset stomach that day and was resting in the dormitory. As for playing games, that's a way to relieve fatigue and doesn't count as a big mistake."

Study Committee Member Cao Rui looked at Zhou Xu, "Deducting two points is fine. Forget about the circular criticism, give him a 'qualified' for the comprehensive assessment."

Zhou Xu crossed his hands on the table without backing down.

"Study Committee Member Cao. Since the rules are set, they must be measured by the same yardstick to the end."

"If everyone uses an upset stomach as an excuse, do we still need the discipline of the Party School?"

"If you open this gap for Li Tao today, what if others violate discipline tomorrow? Will you manage it or not?"

Study Committee Member Cao Rui's face darkened slightly.

He was used to being powerful in Jingjiang City and didn't expect Zhou Xu to show no mercy in front of so many people.

"Organization Committee Member Zhou, you are too stubborn." Study Committee Member Cao Rui raised his voice, "Our Spark Class implements self-governance, the purpose is to cultivate the cadres' ability to coordinate, not to have everyone pick on each other. If you offend everyone, how will the work be carried out in the future?"

"Offending people is better than corrupting the atmosphere." Zhou Xu did not give an inch.

Shen Zhe sat on the side without helping.

He just wanted to graduate steadily; he didn't want to get involved in this mess of gods fighting.

Class Monitor Liu Yu, sitting on the side, watched the tense situation between Study Committee Member Cao Rui and Zhou Xu and put down the ballpoint pen in his hand.

He cleared his throat and took on the posture of a Class Monitor.

"Two committee members, calm down. Everyone is doing it for the good of the class; the starting point is the same."

He turned his gaze to Zhou Xu.

"Organization Committee Member Zhou, your original intention of maintaining discipline is correct. But Study Committee Member Cao is also right; grassroots work is complicated, and everyone is under pressure during training at the Party School. We must have more human touch in managing the class."

He turned his head to look at Study Committee Member Cao Rui, "I think let's do this. The points deduction for Li Tao remains the same, but regarding the comprehensive assessment, after all, his performance in study is usually not bad, and Study Committee Member Cao knows his situation best."

"Since Study Committee Member Cao is vouching for him, let's give him a 'qualified' to see his future performance."

Class Monitor Liu Yu made the final decision.

"I am the Class Monitor, I will sign this. If there is blame from above, I will take the responsibility."

Study Committee Member Cao Rui followed the steps down. "The Class Monitor's words are spot on. Everyone is a classmate, we see each other all the time, so leave a line for everything."

Zhou Xu watched the two of them singing in harmony and closed the black notebook.

"This is your decision, it does not represent my opinion."

Zhou Xu stood up.

"In the meeting minutes, my punishment recommendation for Li Tao and your reasons for modification must be truthfully recorded. Since a consensus cannot be reached, there is no need to continue this meeting."

After saying this, he pulled the chair and walked straight to the door of the conference room.

Class Monitor Liu Yu watched Zhou Xu's retreating back without stopping him.

As long as he kicks Zhou Xu out, he has the confidence to win over Study Committee Member Cao Rui.

As long as Study Committee Member Cao Rui defects, the iron triangle that Zhu Wenhao previously laid out will collapse on its own.

Shen Zhe saw that the situation was not good and found an excuse to get up and leave.

Only Class Monitor Liu Yu, Study Committee Member Cao Rui, and Liu Ruobing remained in the conference room.

"Study Committee Member Cao." Class Monitor Liu Yu stood up, walked to Study Committee Member Cao Rui's side, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

"This person, Organization Committee Member Zhou, relies on being from the Provincial Party Committee Office and usually doesn't even put us committee members in his eyes."

Class Monitor Liu Yu lowered his voice and began to pour out his grievances.

"To put it bluntly, he is just a biting dog raised by Zhu Wenhao in the class. With Zhu Wenhao not here, he takes a feather as an arrow."

Study Committee Member Cao Rui listened without responding, but his dissatisfaction with Zhou Xu had been successfully provoked.

"We can't always be suppressed by such people." Class Monitor Liu Yu continued to fan the flames.

"You are in charge of study assessment and hold everyone's lifeline in your hands. As long as the two of us join forces, who else in this Spark Class would dare to point fingers at us?"

Liu Ruobing sat at the end, listening to these conversations word for word.

She lowered her head to tidy up the meeting minutes, the veins on the back of her hands slightly bulging.