479: Millennium of being a runner-up

Hearing Lin Zifeng's inquiry, Qin Xiao was slightly taken aback; she hadn't expected Lin Zifeng to solicit the opinion of someone who was about to leave Office.

After a moment's thought, Qin Xiao understood Lin Zifeng's general intentions.

So she didn't decline, as there was no need. She spoke directly, "Secretary, you shouldn't be unfamiliar with Comrade Li Chuncheng, the Executive Deputy Minister of our Organization Department, right?"

Hearing Qin Xiao's question, Lin Zifeng smiled and nodded, thinking to himself that of course he was familiar with Comrade Li Chunchang.

He recalled that when he first went to Heping Town to serve as the Town Head, it was Comrade Li Chunchang who escorted him to his post, and they had been quite close back then.

But as the gap in their rank grew wider, they gradually drifted apart. This was caused by the strict hierarchy of the officialdom.

If he were to interact with Comrade Li Chunchang now as he did back then, even if Zifeng could manage it, Comrade Li Chunchang would be filled with trepidation and feel completely uneasy.

Five years ago, Comrade Li Chunchang was a section chief level Deputy Minister of the Organization Department. In these five years, he only advanced from an ordinary Deputy Minister to Executive Deputy Minister, still remaining a section-level Cadre—which was no different from standing still.

It was clear from Comrade Li Chunchang's experience how difficult it was for an ordinary section-level Cadre to get promoted even one step. Some people get stuck at the deputy section level or section-level for their entire lives, right up until retirement.

Seeing Lin Zifeng nod, Qin Xiao spoke again, "Comrade Li Chuncheng here, when I served as the Deputy Township Head of Gangou Township, he was already a section-level Deputy Minister. He was the one who escorted me to my post in Gangou Township back then!

Five or six years have passed now. I am about to be promoted from deputy section level to a Division-Head Level Cadre, yet this Comrade is still stuck at the section chief level.

I know a bit about this Comrade. He is relatively upright and capable in his work, though he is a bit too smooth in his dealings. As the saying goes, nobody is perfect, right?

Since the Secretary asked for my opinion, I will boldly recommend Comrade Li Chuncheng to take over the position of Vice Mayor.

Not only does he have sufficient experience, but he also has the ability to take on this role.

I know the Secretary never looks at seniority when appointing people, always adhering to the principle that the capable should advance and the mediocre should step down.

But I believe that at the appropriate time, Cadres like Comrade Li Chunchang should also be given opportunities. Such Cadres often handle certain tasks with greater ease. I hope the Secretary will consider this."

Hearing Qin Xiao's suggestion, Lin Zifeng nodded and said, "I will seriously consider your opinion. Let me add something: when I first went to Heping Town to serve as the Town Head, it was also Minister Li who escorted me to my post.

At that time, Secretary Jiang Yufei went to Heping Town to take Office with me. Secretary Jiang even asked Minister Li to look after us!"

Thinking back to that scene, Lin Zifeng showed a warm smile on his face.

Hearing the additional comment Lin Zifeng made, Qin Xiao already felt that her suggestion might be adopted by Lin Zifeng.

"Oh, it seems Minister Li of our Organization Department has escorted quite a few Cadres to their posts!"

After Qin Xiao finished speaking, both of them laughed simultaneously.

Qin Xiao stayed in Lin Zifeng's Office for over an hour. Lin Zifeng and Qin Xiao discussed a lot of work related to Yushu City.

Qin Xiao was about to leave Yushu City, so she spoke freely in front of Lin Zifeng, offering many constructive suggestions.

Finally, after Qin Xiao said goodbye, Lin Zifeng escorted her all the way to the stairwell entrance.

A few days passed quickly. On Thursday afternoon, inside the small conference room of Yushu City, as Lin Zifeng entered the room accompanied by Wang Zhongyu, all Members of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee of Yushu City were present.

The attention of all Cadres in Yushu City was focused on the Municipal Party Committee's small conference room, which represented power.

Because the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee meeting held today was not just the last Standing Committee meeting before the Spring Festival; with Qin Xiao's transfer, a Vice Mayor position had opened up in Yushu City.

When someone is promoted to Vice Mayor, a section chief level position will be vacated, and the resulting vacancy will trigger a series of personnel changes.

All Cadres in Yushu City knew that today's Standing Committee meeting, besides arranging work for the Spring Festival period, would also discuss and deliberate on a series of personnel appointments.

At this moment, Comrade Li Chunchang was in his Office, pacing back and forth restlessly, occasionally stopping to look in the direction of the small conference room.

As the Executive Deputy Minister of the Yushu City Organization Department, Comrade Li Chunchang certainly knew the list of candidates for this personnel adjustment. He had once again become one of the three candidates for promotion to deputy section-level.

The other two candidates were the Party Secretary of Miaoshan Town and the Party Secretary of Hetao Town.

These two candidates had an advantage over Comrade Li Chunchang: they were young Cadres in their thirties, whereas Comrade Li Chunchang would be forty-two after the New Year.

Age-wise, Comrade Li Chunchang was at a disadvantage, ranking third among the candidates.

This was not the first time Comrade Li Chunchang had been a candidate for promotion to deputy section-level Cadre. In the previous few years, he had been through it three times, and each time he was unsurprisingly unsuccessful.

Therefore, many Cadres privately joked that Comrade Li Chunchang was the "Running Mate for a Thousand Years," forever playing the supporting role.

This was a great blow to Comrade Li Chunchang's spirit, but when he learned two days ago that he was once again listed as a candidate, he couldn't help but feel happy and excited. He went home and shared the good news with his wife and children.

Comrade Li Chunchang announced the news at the dinner table. Hearing the news, his wife's expression didn't change at all; she just nodded and continued eating.

His son, who had just started high school, said indifferently, "Dad, this is the fourth time I've heard you mention being a candidate for promotion to deputy section-level Cadre.

I remember the first time I heard you come home and mention this news, I was still in the fifth grade of primary school! Now I'm in the first year of high school.

I remember Mom even cooked a huge celebratory meal back then. But several years have passed, and aren't you still a section-level Cadre?"

After saying this and seeing his father's face darken, the sensible child realized his words had upset his father, and he said, "Dad, I didn't mean anything by it.

Actually, you are already a very excellent father. How many Cadres struggle their whole lives and never reach the section chief level? How many section chief level Cadres are there in all of Yushu City? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say you are one in ten thousand.

So please try to look on the bright side! Don't let this matter consume too much of your energy, and there's no need to worry about the possibility of failing to be selected again."

Hearing his son's comfort and lack of confidence in this promotion, Comrade Li Chunchang nodded and forced a smile.

Comrade Li Chunchang's wife looked at him and said, "Chunchang, don't blame our son for saying that. I think the City Level is being somewhat unfair regarding this matter.

Every time you fail to get promoted, the family members in our residential compound will say, 'Your Minister Li failed again?'

Although they might not mean any harm, it sounds grating to me and our son.

You've been the running mate three times in a row, why are you doing it a fourth time?

If they don't want to promote you, why do they keep making you run along? Isn't that a bit disgusting? Can't they find other Cadres to be the running mates?"