343: Reliving student life

Hearing Yang Leshan, Executive Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission's suggestion, Minister Li Chenghe, nodded and said, "As the Deputy Secretary, Chen Yuanhua was already the strongest contender for Governor. It is only natural and logical for him to succeed to the position."

"If we lend a hand behind the scenes, his succession will be even smoother."

Having reached an agreement, the two of them stood up and prepared to head to work.

"Aunt, Mom, Zhongqiang and I are heading back. I'll help him pack his daily necessities; he needs to get ready to report to the Party School."

Zhao Rulin stood up and spoke; the two older women nodded with smiles, and then the couple turned to leave.

Following that, the siblings Li Yanran and Li Dongliang also headed out to work at their company.

Lin Zifeng, currently at the Party School, would never have imagined that an act of kindness from two years ago had led two families to view him as their savior, and had even indirectly helped Chen Yuanhua.

He had reached his current position step by step, hardly ever relying on Chen Yuanhua's influence. To think he was now helping Chen Yuanhua instead—no one would believe it if it were told.

Lin Zifeng settled into the Party School. Looking at the single dormitory, which was over twenty square meters, he couldn't help but think, "As expected of the Central Party School!"

The conditions in this dormitory were much better in every aspect compared to the Provincial Party School.

Back when he attended the Training Class at the Provincial Party School, two people had to share a room. Here, not only did everyone have their own room, but it was also fully equipped with a desk, office chair, water dispenser, and television.

It offered more privacy and superior conditions, making it much more comfortable to live in.

Lin Zifeng took his clothes and daily necessities out of his suitcase, organized them into the wardrobe and other appropriate places, rested in the room for over half an hour, and then got up to go out.

He first located the Party School's cafeteria, then familiarized himself with the classrooms and the Grand Auditorium where tomorrow's Opening Ceremony would be held, before wandering around the campus.

He had just encountered some fellow students who, like him, were getting acquainted with the Party School. Some passed him by, while others gave him a friendly smile and greeting, to which he responded politely.

They were all unfamiliar faces, so no conversations took place.

As he was wandering aimlessly, a man in his thirties walked toward him and greeted him with a smile.

"Hello, you must be Secretary Lin Zifeng from Chunhua City, right?"

Hearing the other person call out his name and title, Lin Zifeng said in surprise, "Hello. Forgive me, but I don't believe we've met. May I ask who you are?"

The man extended his hand and said, "I am Zhang Chinglei, the Director of the Organization Department of Yuquan City in our Huanan Province."

"Knowing in advance that only you and I from our province would be coming to the Party School for advanced studies, I specifically looked up your photo and information on the official website. That's how I recognized you at a glance."

As Lin Zifeng shook hands with Zhang Chinglei, he said happily, "So it's Minister Zhang! Hello, Minister Zhang. We'll be classmates here at the Central Party School from now on. Please look after me."

"We're both from Huanan Province, so we should look out for each other."

"Secretary Lin, how about we go to my room for a chat? There's nothing else to do today besides reporting in anyway."

"When noon comes, we can go grab lunch together."

Zhang Chinglei invited with a smile.

Lin Zifeng agreed, and he walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Zhang Chinglei toward the dormitory building.

They arrived at the dormitory and found that Zhang Chinglei's room was only three doors down from Lin Zifeng's.

Lin Zifeng lived in Room 206, while Zhang Chinglei lived in Room 210.

They entered Zhang Chinglei's room. Zhang Chinglei brewed two cups of tea, and once they were seated, they began to chat while drinking.

They chatted about various topics. After more than an hour, a thought occurred to Lin Zifeng, and he spoke up again, "Minister Zhang, since you work in the Organization Department of Jinhua City, you must be familiar with Zhang Zimo, the deputy secretary of the county party committee of Jinhua County, right?"

During the recent personnel adjustments, Zhang Zimo had moved up from Executive Deputy County Mayor to take over as the deputy secretary of the county party committee.

That was why Lin Zifeng brought it up.

"Of course I'm familiar with him. Zhang Zimo took over as the deputy secretary of the county party committee of Jinhua County during this year's personnel adjustments. I was actually the one who recommended his appointment during our Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee meeting!"

"Comrade Zhang Zimo is a very outstanding young Cadre in our Yuquan City."

"Does Secretary Lin have some kind of connection with Comrade Zhang Zimo?"

Zhang Chinglei asked curiously.

Lin Zifeng nodded and said, "Zimo was my classmate at the Provincial Party School, and we were even roommates sharing the same dorm. So, we are very good friends now."

"So you have that kind of relationship! I remember now; two years ago, the Provincial Party School held a three-month Training Class, and Zhang Zimo was recommended to attend."

"Not long after graduating from the Provincial Party School, he was promoted from an ordinary Deputy County Mayor who wasn't on the Standing Committee to Executive Deputy County Mayor."

"I didn't realize you were in that same Training Class as well."

"Zhang Zimo's progress over the past two years hasn't been slow, but your promotion speed is even faster!"

"Although Zhang Zimo's current position is at the ceiling of the deputy section-level, it's still a far cry from being a Member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee like you!"

Zhang Chinglei said with a chuckle.

"I was already at the Division-Head Level when I attended the Provincial Party School Training Class, so we haven't actually pulled that far apart."

Lin Zifeng said modestly.

Zhang Chinglei nodded and said, "Since you have such a connection with Zhang Zimo, and we're classmates at the Party School now..."

"If you ever come to our Yuquan City in the future, the three of us must get together for a good gathering."

Lin Zifeng nodded and said, "That's for sure. Minister Zhang, it's almost lunchtime. Shall we head to the cafeteria for lunch together?"

Zhang Chinglei agreed, and he stood up with Lin Zifeng and headed outside.

As they walked toward the cafeteria, Zhang Chinglei spoke up again, "Secretary Lin, even if we wanted to go out to eat, we wouldn't be able to."

"The guards at the main gate only recognize leave permits, not people!"

"I've also read the rules and regulations for this Training Class. Barring special circumstances, we aren't allowed to leave the Party School from Monday to Friday."

"If there's an emergency and you need to go out, you have to ask the class teacher for leave. Only with an approved leave permit can you go out through the main gate."

"You can come and go freely on weekends, but you must return before ten o'clock at night."

"If you want to stay out overnight, you also need to ask for leave."

"This is actually good; it allows us to focus on 'recharging' ourselves here without distractions."

Lin Zifeng said with a smile.

"Indeed. When we're busy with work at our units, we don't have such a quiet environment."

"Let's relive our student days. I hope that after these three months of life at the Party School, we will both have gained something!"

Zhang Chinglei nodded and said those words with a look of anticipation.

Seeing the students walking into the cafeteria one after another, all appearing to be around thirty years old, Lin Zifeng's age didn't seem so out of place here.