399: He certainly has a knack for speculation and manipulation.

Seeing Lin Zifeng walk in, Wan Guoliang stood up to greet him, laughing heartily. "Secretary Zifeng, you are a rare guest! It has been several months since we last met."

Lin Zifeng shook hands with Wan Guoliang and said, "After arriving at the Municipal Party Committee and visiting those two, I came straight to your Office without even stopping at my own."

"Please, sit down, Secretary Zifeng. Let's talk while seated."

Wan Guoliang ushered Lin Zifeng to the sofa and sat down right next to him.

The Secretary efficiently brewed tea for Lin Zifeng and then exited the Office.

Given the relationship between Lin Zifeng and Wan Guoliang, the two spoke more casually. Lin Zifeng shared what he had seen and heard during his time studying at the Central Party School, while Wan Guoliang recounted some of the recent developments in the City Level, giving Lin Zifeng a more detailed and intuitive understanding of the current situation.

Wan Guoliang spoke up again, "Secretary Zifeng, although the Municipal Party Committee seems calm as usual, there have been some changes."

Qian Yushu and Yang Dongming, who had been lying low for a while, have started to become active again.

These two restless individuals have recently been getting quite close to the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, Gao Mingyuan, and the Head of the United Front Work Department, Minister Liu.

We have a total of thirteen Members of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee, and this small clique accounts for four of them. While they cannot shake the overall control held by the Secretary and the Mayor, they cannot be underestimated!"

Hearing the news from Wan Guoliang, Lin Zifeng was taken aback. He couldn't help but think that Qian Yushu and Yang Dongming were just two opportunistic troublemakers with mediocre political achievements, specializing in maneuvering and playing the system.

Both were protégés of Vice Governor Liu Fushan. It was rumored that to climb the ladder, they were extremely sycophantic toward Liu Fushan and his family. When Liu Fushan's parents passed away, each of them managed to attend one of the funerals.

At the funerals, they wailed as if their hearts were breaking, acting even more grief-stricken than if their own parents had died. Many people despised their behavior, but due to Liu Fushan's power, no one dared to say anything to their faces. Behind their backs, however, everyone looked down on their conduct, and they became a joke discussed privately in official circles.

However, for various reasons, Liu Fushan had already been marginalized and was on the verge of stepping into a secondary role. Unexpectedly, even though their backer was about to lose power, these two were becoming restless again; it was all a bit too abnormal.

Seeing Lin Zifeng lost in thought with a puzzled expression, Wan Guoliang guessed his thoughts and spoke again, "Have you forgotten what those two are best at?"

"Does Secretary Guoliang mean that these two have found a new backer?"

Wan Guoliang nodded and said, "Both of them are adept at opportunism and maneuvering. Seeing that their backer, Vice Governor Liu, is in the twilight of his career, they switched allegiances without hesitation."

It just so happened that the newly appointed Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Qian Guorui, was eager to establish a firm footing and begin his work. These two seized the opportunity. Secretary Qian was an outsider, unfamiliar with their past and character, so the two parties hit it off immediately.

Relying on Secretary Qian, the two also brought in Secretary Gao and Minister Liu, forming a small clique and becoming active again."

Hearing Wan Guoliang's account, Lin Zifeng nodded and said, "These two are mediocre at their actual work, but they are indeed adept at opportunism and maneuvering!"

"However, I don't think their petty schemes will cause much of a stir; they're just meant to be annoying."

"If that Secretary Qian from our Provincial Party Committee knew about their past and character, wouldn't he be so disgusted he couldn't sleep? Unless, of course, they are birds of a feather."

Wan Guoliang nodded and said, "No crooked path can ever lead to lasting success. Every day, instead of thinking about how to work hard and contribute to local development and construction, they only think about opportunism, maneuvering, and infighting. What kind of achievements can they make? They are not worth worrying about."

"Let's not talk about them anymore. Time flies when chatting with you! It's already lunchtime. Let's go to the Government Canteen for lunch together! I'll tell you in advance, you can't leave in a hurry after the meeting. We need to have a few drinks tonight, and you can return to Yushu City tomorrow!"

Lin Zifeng did not refuse, but smiled and said, "I will listen to Secretary Guoliang and have a few drinks with you tonight. However, I still have to go back; it's only a two-hour drive anyway."

Just like that, the two walked out of the Office while talking, heading toward the Government Canteen with smiles and laughter.

Seeing Lin Zifeng and Wan Guoliang walk into the Government Canteen, the Cadres who had come to eat respectfully greeted them.

The two smiled and nodded in response to everyone before walking together into Wan Guoliang's private Private Room.

Seeing them enter the Private Room, the manager of the Government Canteen quickly had two staff members join him, and carrying the pre-prepared lunch, they headed toward the Private Room.

Several young female staff members who were eating together only withdrew their gaze after Lin Zifeng's figure disappeared into the Private Room.

One of the female staff members looked at her colleague and whispered, "This Member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee of ours is truly too young. He looks about our age, yet he is already a Deputy Department-Level Cadre, which is something beyond our reach."

"I've only been working for a year, and I don't know when I'll ever be promoted to the deputy section level! Truly, there is no point in comparing people; it just makes one feel inferior."

"He's not just young-looking, is he? He's also so handsome and charismatic, with striking eyebrows and eyes, and such an elegant demeanor—he's practically the ideal Prince Charming. I wonder what kind of woman could be worthy of such an outstanding and perfect man?" another female staff member said, looking infatuated.

"You two, stop acting infatuated. You've only been working for a year, so there are some things you don't know. Secretary Lin has worked his way up step by step, down-to-earth. Don't let his youthful looks fool you; he is already twenty-nine this year. You only started working at twenty-five, while he started at twenty-three."

"Also, let me tell you, Secretary Lin is already taken, so don't go secretly pining for him." A slightly older woman whispered to the two girls.

The two girls whispered in unison, "We understand, Section Chief."

Lin Zifeng and Wan Guoliang finished their lunch and walked out of the Government Canteen. Wan Guoliang stopped at the canteen entrance, looked at Lin Zifeng, and said with a smile, "Secretary Zifeng, let's go back and take a nap, and prepare for the Standing Committee meeting this afternoon! Let's meet at our usual spot at six in the evening; I'll book a Private Room in advance."

"Alright, Secretary Guoliang, see you this afternoon."

After the two parted ways, Wang Zhongyu and Wan Guoliang's Secretary followed behind them and left.

"Secretary, Qiang Zi and I have cleaned your Office. We also took out the bedding in your lounge and aired it for over two hours, so you can go straight to rest." Wang Zhongyu followed him upstairs and said.

Lin Zifeng nodded with satisfaction, "Thank you and Qiang Zi for your hard work. You and Qiang Zi should go and rest for a while too! After the meeting this afternoon, we won't be in a hurry to return. I'm having dinner with Secretary Guoliang tonight, and we will head back to Yushu City after dinner."

"I understand, Secretary." Wang Zhongyu nodded quickly in agreement.