Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 45 The Drunken Beauty with a Rosy Face

"Yes," Lin Xue sighed. "So, I urgently need truly reliable people who can break this deadlock. I need not only reliable deputies, but also reliable scouts."

Xu Youwei pondered for a moment and said, "Secretary Lin, you can find candidates for the deputy positions; promotion or transfer is fine."

If an existing deputy is incompetent or engages in underhanded tactics, they should be removed from their post.

"If the dirty water isn't drained, how can the clean water flow in?"

Lin Xue nodded and said, "Okay."

Then, her gaze fell on Wu Zhiyuan again: "Secretary Xu, Wu is young and promising, courageous and insightful, and someone you can completely trust."

It's a waste to put such cadres in government offices to handle routine affairs!

Is it possible, at the right time, to be seconded to the Discipline Inspection Commission to participate in some special projects and gain some experience?

Of course, my main purpose is to serve you, but I can step in and help you when it really matters.

Xu Youwei smiled slightly: "Secretary Lin, I understand your difficulties and I understand your thoughts."

Zhiyuan is indeed a promising talent, and it is our responsibility to nurture and train him.

Regarding your suggestion, I think it can be considered as an alternative.

But at this stage, Zhiyuan's main task is still to assist me in quickly familiarizing myself with the city's situation, coordinating daily affairs, and ensuring the smooth progress of the municipal party committee's work—this is the overall priority.

After a pause, Xu Youwei continued, "The Municipal Party Committee's attitude towards the work of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the top priority of fighting corruption is resolute, and my attitude as Xu Youwei is even clearer."

Next, we will focus on studying how to optimize the structure of the cadre team and resolutely eliminate interference from "blind spots" and "networks of connections."

"Please feel free to suggest any areas where you need the municipal party committee's support."

"I've noted down Secretary Xu's support." Lin Xue turned to Wu Zhiyuan and asked, "Is Xiao Wu a local?"

Wu Zhiyuan respectfully replied, "Secretary Lin, I am a native of Longcheng, and my home is in Haihe County."

Lin Xue was somewhat stunned when she first saw Wu Zhiyuan.

This young man looks so much like her first love from college!

Especially the profile, they are almost identical.

Sadly, the handsome young man she had dated for three years, who had taken her precious virginity and promised to marry her after graduation, drowned while trying to rescue a woman attempting suicide in a river.

Lin Xue glanced at him again and said to Xu Youwei, "Secretary Xu, I'd like to ask you for a favor. Could you perhaps arrange for Xiao Wu to come to the Discipline Inspection Commission to participate in some special projects when the time is right? Even a temporary secondment would be enough to solve my urgent problem."

Xu Youwei was surprised that Lin Xue asked for someone the first time she met Wu Zhiyuan, and that person was his secretary.

Wu Zhiyuan was not only a secretary, but also a bodyguard and an assistant.

Although the secretary will eventually be released, Wu Zhiyuan has only been with him for a few days.

Xu Youwei was naturally reluctant, but he empathized with Lin Xue's predicament. If the Discipline Inspection Commission's blade were to become dull or even reversed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Xu Youwei smiled and said, "I can understand Secretary Lin's love for talent."

But Zhiyuan hasn't been with me for long, and he's still getting to know the situation across the city.

The most urgent task is to help me stabilize the overall work of the municipal party committee as soon as possible.

The work of the Discipline Inspection Commission is highly specialized and extremely challenging. Sending him there now might not be the right time, and he could even cause you trouble.

Xu Youwei then changed the subject: "It is our shared responsibility to cultivate young cadres. How about this, let Zhiyuan serve as the liaison officer first, to strengthen the daily communication and coordination between the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"When the time is right, we can discuss in detail how Zhiyuan can participate more deeply in the core work of the Discipline Inspection Commission. What do you think?"

Lin Xue immediately nodded: "Okay! We'll do as Secretary Xu says. Thank you for your support, Secretary Xu!"

Back in his office, Xu Youwei said casually, "Zhiyuan, Secretary Lin is a man of strong principles, but he is new to Longcheng and is relatively weak in the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection."

You are now the liaison between Secretary Lin and me. When working with the Discipline Inspection Commission, be cautious in your words and actions, observe, listen, and learn more, and speak, comment, and spread less.

You are my secretary, and in a sense, my spokesperson.

Every word you say and every action you take can be magnified and interpreted.

Just before I was about to leave work, Lin Keke sent me a message: Zhiyuan, are you free tonight?

Wu Zhiyuan was busy all afternoon and forgot about Lin Keke's invitation last night. He replied: Sorry, I've been busy. Could we do it later?

Lin Keke quickly replied: Sure. Restaurants are less crowded later, no need to queue. How about a Western restaurant?

Wu Zhiyuan replied: Okay, you decide on the location and send me the address.

After a while, Lin Keke sent a location to a Western restaurant called "Lakeside Serenity" located by Swan Lake in Longcheng New District.

Wu Zhiyuan arrived at 8 PM.

Lakeside Quiet Pavilion lives up to its name, with a tranquil and elegant environment.

The main building of the restaurant is a small European-style building, nestled among the green trees by the lake.

As dusk settles, the lake glistens, reflecting the city lights like a galaxy.

The restaurant's interior is tastefully decorated but not extravagantly, with warm yellow lighting, soothing saxophone music, and a subtle aroma of coffee and food in the air.

There weren't many guests; they were few and far between, chatting quietly, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

The waiter led Wu Zhiyuan to a small private room on the second floor overlooking the lake.

The private room wasn't large, but it offered excellent privacy, and the lake view was unobstructed through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Lin Keke had arrived. She was wearing a light blue knitted sweater and her hair was loosely tied up, making her look more feminine than when she wore her police uniform.

She was gazing absently at the lake outside the window when she heard the door open. She turned around and a faint smile appeared on her face.

"Sorry I'm late." Wu Zhiyuan smiled apologetically and sat down opposite her.

"It's alright, I just arrived recently. Zhiyuan, I ordered in advance, I don't know if it's to your liking." Lin Keke gestured to the waiter to take the order.

Wu Zhiyuan smiled slightly: "I like everything you ordered."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two fell into a short silence.

The sound of the lake water gently lapping against the shore outside the window made the private room seem even quieter.

Wu Zhiyuan could sense that Lin Keke seemed to have something on her mind today.

"Officer Lin, about the things Da Long mentioned last time were in the attic of his old house—"

Wu Zhiyuan didn't finish his sentence, but quietly observed Lin Keke's reaction.

"Do you have time this weekend? Come with me. Da Long's hometown is in a mountain valley in Qingshan County. There's only his elderly mother with failing eyesight there."

"Officer Lin, is this considered a private visit?"

"Let's see what's hidden in the attic first."

Lin Keke brought out a bottle of red wine.

"Zhiyuan, will you have a drink with me?"

"Officer Lin, you seem to have something on your mind tonight."

Lin Keke didn't deny it: "I was in a bad mood, so I drank to drown my sorrows. Zhiyuan, don't keep calling me Officer Lin, call me Keke, just like I call you Zhiyuan, okay?"

"Okay, Coco, cheers! You're treating me tonight, I'll treat you next time!" Wu Zhiyuan raised his glass and clinked glasses with Lin Coco.

"Zhiyuan, thank you for saving me. I saw online these past few days that you saved a girl who fell into the water at Qinglong Lake. You have the mark of bravery etched into your very being."

Once they started talking, the two began to chat.

The bottle of wine was empty.

Lin Keke asked the waiter to bring her another bottle.

After drinking, Lin Keke's face was as beautiful as a peach blossom, making her even more attractive.

Truly: A drunken beauty with a rosy face, still able to speak sweetly and shyly.

Lin Keke suddenly said, "Zhiyuan, I want to tell you a secret. This secret is only known to my husband and me."

I don't know why I'm telling you this secret. Maybe I'm just too repressed; maybe you're the person I can trust most to confide in.