Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 13: The New "Fan Jin Passes the Imperial Examination"

Bian Songlong deliberately pressed the speakerphone button on his phone to show off his extensive network of connections and relationships.

"Brother Wang, I was just thinking about you. Who exactly is Secretary Xu's new secretary, this amazing person?"

"Just so I can give you a heads-up, and maybe I can pay my respects to the 'landlord' in advance, right?"

Bian Songlong's gaze kept falling on Ye Xiaoman. His flaunting of his connections was largely for her benefit.

This is only human nature; how many men in this world don't love beautiful women?

The private room fell silent immediately, and Zhang Xianmeng, Jiang Dongxing, and the others pricked up their ears to listen.

Ye Xiaoman remained very calm, seemingly unconcerned about these matters.

Wu Zhiyuan was an exception; he was using a spoon to scoop up the crispy rice crust from the old goose soup.

"Songlong, the person personally selected by Secretary Xu is quite unexpected."

"Brother Wang, stop keeping us in suspense, who exactly is he?" Bian Songlong urged, eager to hear a resounding name and then bask in the envious and admiring gazes of the crowd.

"Wu Zhiyuan! Wu Zhiyuan from the Municipal Forestry Bureau!"

My God, nobody expected this! How could Secretary Xu have chosen him? There was absolutely no prior indication of anything!

Clang.

Bian Songlong's phone slipped from his hand and fell to the edge of the table, but he caught it in a flurry and prevented it from falling to the ground.

He froze, his smile frozen.

"Who? Who did you say? Wu Zhiyuan? Could it be a coincidence of names?"

Bian Songlong couldn't believe his ears, or rather, he didn't want to believe it.

"It's Wu Zhiyuan from the Municipal Forestry Bureau, currently at Qinglongshan Forest Farm. It's definitely him! There's no mistake!"

In the afternoon, Geng Dongqing, the director of the Municipal Party Committee Office, had already spoken with him. Director Geng told me that he was also very surprised, but it was Secretary Xu who personally selected him.

That kid got incredibly lucky, he rose to the top overnight!

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

The private room was eerily quiet; you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was utterly astonished, except for Wu Zhiyuan.

Ye Xiaoman gave Wu Zhiyuan a meaningful look, her lips moved, but she ultimately said nothing.

Bian Songlong finally came to his senses, turned off the speakerphone, thanked him, and hurriedly hung up the phone.

It must be said that Bian Songlong has a wide network of connections.

Another friend called: "Songlong, do you know who Secretary Xu of the Municipal Party Committee has handpicked as his chief secretary?"

Bian Songlong said irritably, "Wu Zhiyuan from the Municipal Forestry Bureau, right?"

"Yes! It's him! I heard from someone that you and he are classmates, right?"

Could you introduce me next time?

"Let's talk about it later."

Bian Songlong hung up the phone in a huff.

His eyes darted away, not daring to look at Wu Zhiyuan again. His face burned with embarrassment; his earlier boasting and smugness had turned into the loudest slaps, one after another hitting his face.

In front of the secretary of the municipal party secretary, his position as the secretary of the district party secretary instantly became as insignificant as a feather.

Zhang Xianmeng was the first to change his attitude: "Zhiyuan, aren't you being too modest?"

Keep your mouth shut in front of your close friends.

Just moments ago, he was aiding and abetting evil, repeatedly criticizing Wu Zhiyuan, but now he's become a "good friend."

Jiang Dongxing changed his tune quickly, a fawning smile plastered on his face: "Zhiyuan, you're a true master! I'm really happy for you. I knew it; this temporary hibernation was just a prelude to soaring higher."

"A golden carp is no ordinary fish; it transforms into a dragon once it encounters wind and clouds." This saying perfectly describes you!

As he spoke, he filled his glass, "hailed" a taxi over, and toasted Wu Zhiyuan: "Zhiyuan, let me toast you to your promotion! Please look after your old friend in the future!"

Zhao Zhaoshi imitated Xi Shi, also raising his glass and "hailing" over to offer a respectful toast: "It is truly an honor tonight to have the opportunity to dine at the same table as the secretary of the municipal party committee."

Dongxing is right. You are a hidden dragon in the abyss. Once you gain power, you will roar across the nine heavens.

I hope you will continue to take care of me in the future! I will be happy to help you in any way you can!

The situation instantly reversed.

Wu Zhiyuan, who had just been ignored and left out in the corner, suddenly became the focus of everyone's attention.

Toasting, flattery, and fawning—the same tactics that were previously focused on Bian Songlong—have now been transferred to Wu Zhiyuan, even more exaggeratedly.

Bian Songlong sat alone in the main seat, his face flushing red and then turning pale. He had just been fawned over and praised by everyone, but now he had become an unimportant supporting character, or even a clown.

Wu Zhiyuan remained calm and gently brushed away Zhao Zhao's hand, which was about to pour him another drink: "President Zhao, you're too kind. Whether I go to guard the mountains or go to the municipal party committee, it's just a change of scenery for me."

Jiang Dongxing flattered, "Zhiyuan, you have such a grand vision! The more successful a person is, the less they care about status and position; that's the highest level!"

Zhang Xianmeng picked up the serving chopsticks and put a piece of old goose meat on Wu Zhiyuan's plate: "That's right! Before, when he was stationed in the forest farm, he focused on doing his work."

Now I'm going to the municipal party committee to do something even bigger!

Zhiyuan, you need to eat more to nourish your body. Once you get busy, you won't have such leisurely mealtimes anymore.

Ye Xiaoman also spoke up: "Zhiyuan, congratulations on becoming the chief secretary of the municipal party committee."

It seems I need to move my interview at Qinglongshan Forest Farm forward, otherwise I'm afraid I won't be able to get an appointment with Secretary Wu later.

Sun Runcai was very excited: "Oh my! This is such a wonderful thing!"

I never expected that such a person would appear among my classmates!

Zhiyuan, you are our pride!

Come, let's all raise a glass to Zhiyuan and congratulate him!

This time, no one hesitated.

Everyone raised their glasses, their faces beaming with smiles, some genuine, some feigned.

The dinner party that followed completely reversed the situation.

Wu Zhiyuan became the absolute protagonist.

People kept coming to offer toasts, and compliments were exchanged one after another.

After his initial shock and disappointment, Bian Songlong resumed his obsequious smile: "Zhiyuan, you've kept this a secret! You became the chief secretary of the municipal party committee without even telling your old classmate."

I said some nonsense just now, please don't take it to heart! I'll punish myself with three drinks as an apology!

Without waiting for Wu Zhiyuan's response, he drank three cups of wine in quick succession.

After finishing his drink, he said in a "sincere" tone, "Zhiyuan, we are proper classmates, and we've known each other for a long time."

You know me, I'm quick-witted and a little vain, but I have a sharp tongue but a soft heart. I mean no harm and have no ulterior motives.

What I just said was pure bullshit. Just ignore it like a gust of wind and don't take it to heart!

Zhiyuan, now that you've gone to the municipal party committee and are working alongside Secretary Xu, you'll truly have a bright future ahead of you! As your old classmate, I'll be very proud of you!

"From now on, old classmate, please take good care of me in the city! If you need anything done, just say the word!"

As Wu Zhiyuan watched Bian Songlong's performance, his disgust only grew stronger, but he said aloud, "Songlong, you're exaggerating. It's all in the past, I don't care. There's no need for this between classmates."

He recalled the scene in "The Scholars" after Fan Jin passed the imperial examination—his once indifferent neighbors instantly became sycophants and flatterers, how similar it was to the scene before his eyes!

After the banquet, Zhao Zhao and the others offered to see them off, but Wu Zhiyuan politely declined.

After paying the bill, Sun Runcai said to Wu Zhiyuan, "Zhiyuan, there wasn't much wine, was there? I'll walk back with you and we can chat along the way."

"Sure, it'll be perfect for enjoying the evening breeze," Wu Zhiyuan readily agreed.

When someone is at their lowest point, a friend's greeting is more valuable than countless applause at their peak.

Sun Runcai is a friend you can trust and associate with.

As the two walked past the entrance of Jintang Hot Spring Resort, they saw the figure of a familiar woman.