Chapter 77

Chapter 33: The Reserve Cadre Class

The Reserve Cadre Class, with forty-six people, was divided into one class. When they were seating themselves, Zhou Ziqi deliberately followed Li Yi and sat next to him. Lu Jun, on the other hand, naturally sat with Zuo Xiaoxia.

Soon, a spirited old man walked in, wrote "Yuan Youfang" on the blackboard, and then said, "I am Yuan Youfang. Starting today, I will be your class teacher. Who is Lu Jun?"

Lu Jun stood up and said, "Hello, Teacher Yuan! I am Lu Jun."

Yuan Youfang nodded and gestured for him to sit down, "You will be the class president. During this month of study, all matters big and small in the class will be managed by you. If there are any issues, report them to me. Who is Zuo Xiaoxia?"

Zuo Xiaoxia stood up.

Yuan Youfang said, "Please sit down. You will be the vice president, assisting Lu Jun in his duties. You are both experienced student council members, so I trust you won't let me down."

Lu Jun and Zuo Xiaoxia both expressed their determination. Yuan Youfang nodded in satisfaction, "The first class will be taught by me..."

Suddenly, a student raised his hand and, without waiting for Yuan Youfang's permission, stood up and loudly asked, "Teacher Yuan, why aren't the class officers elected collectively? Our party practices democratic centralism, doesn't it?"

Yuan Youfang replied with evident displeasure, "You know that after democracy comes centralization, and the key is centralization. Who is the center of this class? It's me! I make the decisions! If you want to listen, sit down. If you don't want to, you can leave."

The student sat down reluctantly, and no one else in the class dared to speak.

A hint of satisfaction flashed across Lu Jun's face, while Zuo Xiaoxia lightly frowned.

The training class was not as difficult as everyone had imagined, nor was it as highly regarded as they had hoped. The knowledge they had to learn was much easier than what they had studied in school. Apart from a few teachers from the party school, no high-ranking officials from the provincial committee had visited them.

It seemed as if they had been forgotten.

After more than half a month, many people began to have doubts. During their rest time in the dormitory, someone asked, "Aren't we specially recruited talents? Why is no one managing or asking about us? Where will we go after we finish our studies?"

The person who asked was Tao Qiwén, a top student from the University of Technology. He was the one who had challenged Yuan Youfang on the first day. He was a very restless individual, full of himself, with many ideas and a restless mind.

There were four people in the dormitory. The other two were Sikong Yu, from the Agricultural University, and Pi Wu, a graduate of the Normal University.

Pi Wu laughed, "Isn't Li Yi very familiar with Director Zhou from the provincial committee? Why don't we ask him?"

Sikong Yu sneered, "What's there to ask? When you were selected, didn't the school leaders tell you? You are all destined to be sent to the townships! If you want to stay in the big city, it's almost impossible."

Tao Qiwén exclaimed, "To the townships? Are we going to be village cadres? That's a scam! I, a top graduate from the University of Technology, can find a good job anywhere! My girlfriend is already working at the city bank. If I go to the townships, we'll be separated, which is too risky!"

Sikong Yu said, "I've heard that the grassroots cadres in the townships are aging severely. They need fresh blood like us. Once we go down, it will take ten to eight years before we can return to the city."

Pi Wu was stunned, "Sikong, don't scare us! Ten to eight years? Do we still have our youth? I don't want to waste my youth in those poor mountain villages."

Sikong Yu said mysteriously, "We can find a way! If the leaders don't come to us, can't we go to them? Where we are assigned is entirely up to them, isn't it?"

Pi Wu and Tao Qiwén both rolled their eyes, each deep in thought.

The gate of the campus is a turning point in life. On one side, it's a world of flowers and willows, carefree and colorful; on the other side, it's a world of intrigue and hard work, dull and gray.

"Hey! Li Yi," Tao Qiwén said to Li Yi, who had been silent, "Aren't you familiar with Director Zhou? Why don't you take us to find a way? If we ever make it big, we won't forget your help."

Pi Wu also looked at Li Yi with hope.

Li Yi smiled, "I've only met Director Zhou twice. He is Zhou Ziqi's father. If you want to, go find Zhou Ziqi and ask her to take you."

Tao Qiwén shook his head helplessly, "I don't have the confidence to deal with women. Forget it."

Pi Wu chuckled, rubbing his chin, "Bro, am I handsome? Can I charm Zhou Ziqi?"

Everyone made a vomiting gesture.

Sikong Yu put down his teacup and said, "You're all wrong. The one with the strongest background in our class is Lu Jun!"

Tao Qiwén said, "How can I not see it? He just did well in studies and was the student council president in school. What's so special about that?"

Sikong Yu laughed, "The party school is also a political arena. Why is Lu Jun the class president? Do you really think the teachers at the party school chose him based on his knowledge and ability? To put it bluntly, anyone can be a class president."

Pi Wu asked, "Then what's his background?"

Sikong Yu shook his head, "I don't know, but it's definitely not low."

"Even if he has a high background, it's useless. On the first day, I challenged him. Why should I go to him?" Tao Qiwén propped his chin on his hand, deep in thought.

Li Yi, who had experience in the business world, understood the difficulty of success, and the path to power was even more challenging than business.

It was time to plan carefully. Planning before action is the key to success. Li Yi took out a cigarette, gave one to each of them, and then lit his own, taking a deep puff.

Sikong Yu took the cigarette, sniffed it, and smiled, "Good smoke!"

Pi Wu, clearly clueless about cigarettes, laughed, "It's just a cigarette. How good can it be? Just a piece of paper wrapped around some tobacco."

"Profound!" Li Yi gave him a thumbs up.

"Li Yi, come out for a moment." The door was open, and a pretty girl stood outside, tapping lightly on the door, drawing everyone's attention. It was Zuo Xiaoxia, wearing a light yellow plaid skirt and a pair of high-heeled sandals, looking very fresh. Though not showy, she had already captivated everyone.

Li Yi, a seasoned hand, was also stunned for a few seconds before reacting, his face slightly red and his heart racing. He chuckled to hide his nervousness, stood up, and walked out, "Hello! What's up?"

Zuo Xiaoxia smiled brightly at him, "Let's talk outside." She then turned to the three stunned boys and said, "Sorry for the interruption."

Tao Qiwén touched his nose, only to find he had a nosebleed! The other two were not much better, each suffering to some degree. As soon as Li Yi closed the door, the sound of tables being slammed and chairs being thrown could be heard inside, mixed with the men's shouts, "Li Yi, you lucky dog! Where did you get such good luck?"

Zuo Xiaoxia giggled and walked forward.

Li Yi followed, chuckling, "You know the power of a beautiful woman, right?"

Zuo Xiaoxia shook her head slightly, "You guys, you really are..."

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