47: Chapter 47 Secretary Tian's Promise

The phone rang for a full minute, and just as Division Chief Liu Haiping's patience was running out, the other end was finally picked up.

A lazy female voice came through, accompanied by the clattering sound of mahjong tiles.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Sister Li, it's me, Haiping."

Division Chief Liu Haiping's tone of voice unconsciously dropped an octave.

"Oh, it's Liu Haiping."

Li Juan chuckled on the other end, followed by the crisp sound of mahjong tiles being pushed over.

"What do you want?"

Hearing this nickname made Division Chief Liu Haiping's ears instantly burn.

In the provincial government compound, who wouldn't respectfully call him Division Chief Liu?

But in the circle of truly established high-ranking cadres in Jiangnan Province, reality was just that stark.

"Sister Juan, it's been a while since we last met, so I wanted to check in on you. How is the old chief's health?" Division Chief Liu Haiping patiently went through the motions of official pleasantries.

"Cut the crap and get to the point!"

"I'm on a winning streak with this hand of mahjong, and I don't have time for your nonsense."

"Two Bamboo!"

Li Juan had always been decisive at the mahjong table, and she was even less inclined to waste her breath on someone like Division Chief Liu Haiping, who only reached out when he needed something.

Division Chief Liu Haiping was left completely choked up.

"Sister Juan, here's the situation."

"The Provincial Organization Department recently issued a selection document for the Young and Middle-Aged Cadre Training Class. You must have heard about it. There's a single spot specifically set aside for special recruitment."

The other end of the line went silent, leaving only the steady, rhythmic sound of drawing mahjong tiles.

Division Chief Liu Haiping steeled himself and continued to lay down his cards.

"This spot was established by the province for a specific training target, and the criteria are extremely strict."

"To be completely honest, we put a lot of effort into reserving this channel specifically for Xiaolei."

"You're a sensible person who understands how these social dynamics work; you'll get it instantly."

On the other end of the line, the sound of a chair scraping back rang out abruptly.

Li Juan seemed to say goodbye to her mahjong partners. The sound of high heels clicking on the carpet grew closer, and the surrounding noise quickly faded.

She had entered an empty private room.

"And then?"

"I heard... that child Zhu Wenhao has also signed up."

"Sister Juan, it's not that I don't want Zhu Wenhao to go, but I'm afraid things might get awkward for everyone when the time comes."

"If he signs up and secures the spot, but fails to meet the standards in the final graduation assessment and can't graduate, wouldn't that be a waste of the spot and a waste of the young man's time?"

He was using the power to interpret the rules to pressure the other party into backing out voluntarily.

Before Li Juan could flare up, Division Chief Liu Haiping immediately threw out the bargaining chip he had prepared beforehand.

"Of course, we will also compensate Zhu Wenhao."

"For the year-end cadre assessment in Jiangnan Province, I will personally speak to the Organization Department to secure a provincial-level commendation for him. This would also be a major highlight on the young man's resume."

"What do you think?"

A full half-minute passed before Li Juan's cold sneer came through the receiver. "Liu Haiping, you're dreaming."

"You expect all the good things to go to Liu Family?"

"What do you mean? Just because your Liu Xiaolei signed up, our Zhu Wenhao can't?"

"So all the resources in Jiangnan Province are distributed solely at the whim of Liu Family?"

"Sister Juan, you can't put it that way. Resource allocation always operates on a first-come, first-served basis..."

"Don't use that bureaucratic double-talk on me!"

Li Juan interrupted him mercilessly, her voice suddenly rising!

"Zhu Wenhao indeed didn't crawl out of my womb!"

"But he calls me mother!"

"In Linjiang City, in Jiangnan Province, I have to protect him!"

"I haven't even settled the score with you guys for those underhanded tricks you pulled during the municipal exam interview last time!"

"Do you really think I'm made of clay, to be molded and manipulated by you as you please?"

"What, have you gotten addicted to taking advantage of us?!"

Division Chief Liu Haiping's face instantly flushed the color of pig's liver.

As a grand division-level cadre with real power, when had he ever been scolded like this to his face? Under normal circumstances, he would have slammed the phone down long ago.

"Sister Juan, there's room for negotiation here. Don't narrow your own path."

"We'll only know if the path is narrow after we walk it."

"If you dare to pull any more tricks regarding the spot in this Young and Middle-Aged Cadre Training Class, just you wait!"

"You know exactly what kind of temper I, Li Juan, have."

"If you really push me too far, I'm capable of doing anything!"

*Click!*

The call was cut off cleanly.

Division Chief Liu Haiping slammed the receiver back onto the landline.

"Dad, how did it go?"

Liu Xiaolei, who had been listening intently on the sofa with her ears perked up, hurriedly stood up and ran over.

Division Chief Liu Haiping reached out to tug at his tie, picked up his teacup, and drained the completely cold tea in one gulp.

"She didn't agree."

"I knew it!"

Liu Xiaolei stamped her feet in anxiety.

"Zhu Wenhao is coming right for me!"

"He's relying on the fact that his father is the Deputy Secretary of the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee, with immense power and influence!"

"If he insists on snatching this spot, how can we stop him?"

"What do we do now?!"

Looking at his daughter's anxious state, Division Chief Liu Haiping's chest heaved as he forced down the anger rising in his heart.

His years of navigating the sea of officialdom had taught him that the most important thing was to control his anger.

On the chessboard of power, anger solved nothing.

Only methods were hard currency.

"Don't worry."

Division Chief Liu Haiping sat back in his executive chair, his calculating, shrewd posture returning.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe is indeed the Deputy Secretary of the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee, in charge of party-masses affairs and personnel, and he holds a lot of sway over cadre selection."

"Li Juan's attitude just now was also very clear; they are determined to protect Zhu Wenhao and help him rise."

"But, Xiaolei, your view of the problem is still too shallow."

"The structure of power is never a single line."

Division Chief Liu Haiping tapped the desk with his index finger, making a dull sound like a war drum.

"The Linjiang Municipal Party Committee isn't run by a single man named Zhu."

"On the Municipal Party Committee's plate, there is still the number-one leader who makes the final decisions."

Liu Xiaolei froze, a name instantly flashing through her mind.

"Secretary Tian Limin?"

"Yes."

"The number-one leader of the Municipal Party Committee."

"Regarding personnel power, the deputy secretary only has the right to suggest and review. The one who truly has the final say is the team leader."

"Just a few days ago, the personnel distribution in Linjiang City was finalized. Secretary Tian Limin and Mayor Su Changming joined forces to divide up the Executive Vice Mayor and Director of the Development and Reform Commission positions that Secretary Zhu Tianhe wanted. What does this show?"

"It shows that Secretary Tian Limin has deep reservations about Secretary Zhu Tianhe, this newly promoted deputy secretary!"

"The Zhu family wants to make a move on the Young Cadre Training Class spot. The initial review by the Organization Department is the first hurdle, which everyone can pass."

"But when it comes to the final decision on who gets this sole spot..."

"If Secretary Tian Limin takes a stand on this matter and sets the tone..."

Liu Xiaolei's eyes instantly lit up, like sparks ignited in the dark night.

"If Secretary Tian personally intervenes, even if Secretary Zhu Tianhe's reach is long, he still won't be able to cross the power boundary of the Municipal Party Committee's number-one leader!"

"Exactly."

Division Chief Liu Haiping pulled over his private address book from the desk.

"Trading a municipal-level recommendation spot for Liu Family's continued support—Secretary Tian Limin could easily do the math on this transaction."

He picked up the phone on the desk and expertly dialed a string of numbers.

This time, the phone rang only three times before being picked up.

Secretary Tian Limin's gentle voice came through the receiver.

"Division Chief Liu, what a rare guest. How does such a busy man have time to call me?"

"Secretary Tian, you must be extremely busy. Apologies for the intrusion."

Division Chief Liu Haiping immediately adopted a respectful tone.

"The old chief was just talking about you a few days ago, saying you should come over for tea when you're free. So, here I am, passing along the message."

Bringing up the old man was to remind Secretary Tian Limin that the old ties were still there.

Secretary Tian Limin laughed heartily on the other end of the line.

"It's my blessing that the old leader remembers me. Once things here in the city are sorted out, I will definitely pay a visit to the provincial capital."

"Haiping, is there any specific instruction behind your call today?"

They were both old foxes, so there was naturally no need to beat around the bush with hypocritical pleasantries.

"Secretary Tian, you're too polite. I wouldn't dare give instructions, but I do have a personal request." Division Chief Liu Haiping got straight to the point. "My Xiaolei has signed up for that special recruitment spot in the Young Cadre Training Class from the Provincial Organization Department. The girl has been gaining experience in the Municipal Party Committee Office for a while and wants to go to the training class for further study. When the final decision is made on the candidate, I must ask Secretary Tian to show some care."

Secretary Tian Limin sat behind his large desk, his fingers twirling an expensive Parker pen.

It was not unusual for Division Chief Liu Haiping to seek a future for his daughter.

But making a special phone call indicated there was resistance here in Linjiang.

"Xiaolei is a good comrade and has been very active in the Municipal Party Committee Office. Going for further study is a good thing."

Secretary Tian Limin went with the flow, then shifted the topic.

"However, the comrades below are very enthusiastic about signing up. I heard Zhu Wenhao from the Organization Department has also submitted an application."

This was the crux of the matter.

Division Chief Liu Haiping did not avoid the topic.

"That young man from the Zhu family is indeed not bad. But after all, there is only one special recruitment spot."

"Secretary Tian, if there is anything Liu Family can help with at the provincial level in the future, please feel free to ask."

This was a clearly priced exchange of interests.

Secretary Tian Limin calculated rapidly in his mind.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe had recently taken a solid bite out of the personnel at the Public Security Bureau, showing an extremely tough wrist.

If Zhu Wenhao were to secure this gold-plated spot as well, the Zhu family's momentum would be too overwhelming.

This did not align with his way of governing by balancing all sides.

Suppressing the Zhu family while befriending Liu Family would kill two birds with one stone.

"Haiping, rest assured."

"The Municipal Party Committee's selection of young cadres has always been based on comprehensive considerations."

"Xiaolei's qualifications are very suitable."

Secretary Tian Limin gave his promise.

Hanging up the phone, Division Chief Liu Haiping looked at Liu Xiaolei with a winning smile on his face.

"It's settled."

"With Secretary Tian Limin personally speaking up, even if Secretary Zhu Tianhe has heaven-defying abilities, he still has to coil up in accordance with the rules on this turf of Linjiang."