Chapter 69

On Monday morning, Lu Zheng, who was attending a class at the Party School, received a call from the First Division of the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department. He then asked for leave from his class teacher, Wang Qingfeng, and drove his "Fiat" straight to the Municipal Party Committee compound.

This civilian car, costing more than 5,000 yuan, was purchased after he came to Wushan. It was much cheaper than his previous minivan but more convenient and comfortable to drive. The minivan was sent to his sister's company in Beijing.

The Wushan Municipal Party Committee compound and the Municipal Government compound face each other across Xishan Road. Both compounds are lined with rows of cypress and pine trees, creating a solemn and peaceful atmosphere.

In the First Division of the Organization Department on the second floor of the Municipal Party Committee building, Deputy Director Zeng Jiang received Lu Zheng. Zeng Jiang, with a round head and a short, stocky build, spoke and acted with a strong, domineering air, a trait likely cultivated from years in the organizational system. He tapped on the table, adopting a superior attitude: "You, your organizational relationship is registered with the Municipal Advisory Committee Office, but the Advisory Committee Office doesn't have a dedicated department for personnel files. Your personnel file is kept in the Personnel Section of our Municipal Party Committee Office. Here, take this letter of introduction, and these..." Zeng Jiang tapped on a few documents on the table, "Go to the Personnel Section of the Municipal Party Committee Office to complete the organizational procedures. Then, this is the division's letter of introduction. Take it to the Advisory Committee and find Director Pei in the office..."

The First Division has significant authority, responsible for evaluating the Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal Government, mass organizations, and their leadership teams and officials, proposing adjustments and appointments, and handling the specific matters of appointments and dismissals of municipal-level leaders. It also participates in the election work of the Municipal Party Committee, the Advisory Committee, the People's Congress, the Government, the Political Consultative Conference, and the Discipline Inspection Commission.

The head of the First Division is concurrently served by Deputy Minister Zhu Jiong of the Organization Department, so as a deputy section-level official, Zeng Jiang clearly didn't care much about this young man who had just been demoted.

Lu Zheng nodded slightly, already familiar with these procedures, as everything was within the same compound.

...

When Lu Zheng returned to the First Division around noon, Zeng Jiang was about to lock the door and leave. Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Director Zeng, how about we have lunch together? Let's go out."

Zeng Jiang waved his hand, "No need, I have a meal ticket."

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Actually, I'm not very familiar with the Advisory Committee compound. After lunch, could you show me the way?"

Lu Zheng was telling the truth. Wushan was at the forefront of reform, and the division of government and party institutions was becoming increasingly detailed, with more and more departments. The Municipal Advisory Committee had moved out of the Municipal Party Committee compound last year, and Lu Zheng only knew it was still on Xishan Road, but he wasn't sure exactly where.

Zeng Jiang frowned and said, "94 Xishan Road."

Lu Zheng spread his hands, "I know that, but the house numbers on Xishan Road aren't very noticeable, and I'm driving, so I can't see them clearly. Director Zeng, could you help me out?"

From Zeng Jiang's perspective, this young man was clearly trying to invite him to lunch, and he had put a lot of thought into finding an excuse. For a young man at the same level as himself, this was quite rare.

It seemed that this Lu Zheng wasn't as reckless as rumored.

Lu Zheng was appointed as a member of the Guangning County Party Committee last year, causing a stir in the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department. How could Zeng Jiang not know about him? Back then, Zeng Jiang and his close friends had even discussed who was behind Lu Zheng.

But he never expected that this political star would fall so quickly, with a speed that left everyone stunned. The previous speculations now seemed absurd, and it seemed that Lu Zheng had just been lucky, similar to some of the red figures who rose during the Cultural Revolution.

Although it was unknown how he would be arranged in the Advisory Committee office, a junior high school graduate was increasingly out of place in the cadre ranks, and his future prospects wouldn't be high.

But despite this, he was once a very prominent young cadre in Wushan, and now he was inviting him with such sincerity. Zeng Jiang thought for a moment and said, "Alright, but let's keep it simple, and no more in the future."

Lu Zheng smiled and nodded.

Following Lu Zheng down to the parking lot in front of a row of green cypress trees, Zeng Jiang saw Lu Zheng unlock the door of a yellow car with a key, and he couldn't help but be surprised.

"Director Zeng, get in the car," Lu Zheng said with a smile.

"Is this your car? A private car?" To be honest, it was the first time Zeng Jiang had properly sat in a car. Sitting in the passenger seat, he felt a bit constrained. After all, the main leaders of the Municipal Party Committee only started using new-style cars at the end of last year.

"Yep," Lu Zheng smiled, "My sister bought it for me." He started the car and asked, "Do you smoke, Director Zeng?"

Zeng Jiang nodded, and Lu Zheng immediately took out a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes from the glove compartment and threw it to him, saying with a smile, "I have a growing smoking habit, and I really like these."

Holding the cigarettes, Zeng Jiang remained silent. He might receive some good cigarettes and alcohol during the holidays, but a few packs of Hongtashan were like treasures, and he couldn't casually give them away like Lu Zheng.

"Hasn't Quanjude opened a branch here this month? Where is it? You show me the way, and we'll go for some roast duck." As the car was about to leave the Municipal Party Committee compound, Lu Zheng said, smiling, "It's great to be in the city; you can eat anything."

Zeng Jiang was expressionless, thinking, "This guy seems to be in a good mood, a real foodie?"

...

The Wushan Quanjude restaurant was on the east side of Liberation Square, a large, red building with a grand architectural style. Lu Zheng parked the car at the edge of the square, where parking was easy without traffic management or designated parking spaces.

Zeng Jiang got out of the car, muttering to himself, "Let's keep it simple," but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Sitting by the window, Lu Zheng ordered a roast duck and some small dishes like duck tongue and duck gizzard. Zeng Jiang repeatedly said, "That's enough, we won't finish it."

The hall was bright and luxuriously decorated, with red carved panels and blue-and-white porcelain-style hand-painted columns, exuding an ancient and elegant atmosphere.

The guests seemed to be wealthy and well-dressed, with the most noticeable being a table of foreigners with fair skin and deep-set eyes near the bar.

"Lu, your family must be well-off, right?" Zeng Jiang, looking at the crispy, fragrant duck slices on the adjacent table, suddenly felt very hungry.

He suddenly became more polite in addressing Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng smiled, "Just call me Zhenzi. I just live day by day, and if things don't work out, I might go into business."

Zeng Jiang laughed, somewhat enviously, "You have the means not to, but I've always wanted to, just don't know what to do." In fact, it was very popular for public officials to go into business in Wushan, and there were even cases of deputy department-level officials leading the way.

Those with connections really wanted to make more money. How much could they earn in government offices?

By the end of the meal, Zeng Jiang had started calling Lu Zheng "Zhenzi." As for Lu Zheng not knowing the way to the Municipal Advisory Committee, Zeng Jiang didn't think much about it, having long forgotten that he initially thought Lu Zheng was using this as an excuse to invite him to lunch. Or rather, he didn't want to think about it to avoid feeling awkward.

Zeng Jiang gave directions, and Lu Zheng drove him back to the Municipal Party Committee compound before heading to the Municipal Advisory Committee.

The Municipal Advisory Committee compound was small, with only a white two-story building in the courtyard. The gatekeeper, an old man, looked at Lu Zheng suspiciously when he heard that Lu Zheng was there to report, but he let him in, allowing Lu Zheng to drive into the courtyard.

In traditional Chinese culture, people first respect the clothes and then the person, and the gatekeeper was no exception.

A few weeping willows in the courtyard swayed gently in the wind, their tender green buds showing vibrant life. Each day, the leaves seemed to grow more and greener.

Lu Zheng entered the office building and found the Municipal Advisory Committee office according to the signs on the doors. The office was on the first floor, next to which was a "Senior Cadres' Chess and Card Activity Center." Lu Zheng looked through the glass window and saw a large room with many small tables, likely for various chess and card games.

The door to the room with the sign "Advisory Committee Office" was slightly ajar, and someone was on duty. Lu Zheng knocked on the door, but no one answered, and the door opened slightly.

Through the crack, he saw a slightly overweight middle-aged female cadre leaning on the desk, her head resting on her arm, snoring softly. Lu Zheng was taken aback and thought about closing the door quietly, as it was not very proper.

Suddenly, the female cadre sat up, as if a student had been suddenly woken up during class. She sat up straight and looked