49: Chapter 49 Deputy Director Zhu Zihao

Sun Ning did not want to appear overbearing regarding personnel matters.

Even though Secretary Xue Hongtao trusted him implicitly right now and allowed him to act as he pleased.

He could not afford to lose that sense of reverence.

Without that reverence, he would gradually force Secretary Xue Hongtao to concede, eventually taking it for granted.

Then, the conflict between them would deepen, and this hard-won situation would collapse in an instant.

Seeing how sensible Sun Ning was, Secretary Xue Hongtao laughed heartily: "You little rascal, since you've come, you must have someone in mind. Let's hear it."

"Party Secretary, it's not exactly 'my' candidate. Today, Deputy Station Chief Zhu Zihao answered questions quite clearly, but I don't know much about him. I assume you know something about him?"

"I know Zhu Zihao quite well. He's a veteran, upright and honest. The fact that Mishui Township hasn't had any major issues is largely due to his efforts."

Sun Ning looked at Secretary Xue Hongtao in surprise.

Secretary Xue Hongtao wasn't the type of leader who didn't know how to use talent.

So why would he let the situation in Mishui Township drift like this without intervening?

This was something he couldn't quite understand.

Feeling uncomfortable under Sun Ning's gaze, Secretary Xue Hongtao sighed softly: "Don't look at me like that. That kid can't get promoted; there's someone above suppressing him."

Secretary Xue Hongtao then explained the details about Zhu Zihao to Sun Ning.

Zhu Zihao was previously the deputy captain of the County Criminal Police Team. During an operation, he had detained the brother-in-law of the County Bureau's Political Department Director.

The Political Department Director had secretly tried to pressure Zhu Zihao to brush the matter aside.

But the upright Zhu Zihao simply refused to listen.

Consequently, he was sent directly to the Mishui Township Police Station as a deputy station chief, where he had been for six years.

Secretary Xue Hongtao affirmed both Zhu Zihao's character and ability.

He was just powerless to change Zhu Zihao's situation.

Sun Ning could empathize with Zhu Zihao's predicament.

In his previous life, he had always been a lonely traveler, and at first, people in the township had avoided him like the plague.

Once he got back on his feet, he had never heard the name Zhu Zihao again.

He figured he must have been transferred, though he didn't know if it was a promotion or to an even poorer place.

Sun Ning nodded and said: "How about we let Zhu Zihao give it a try? You submit the report, and I'll coordinate with the County Bureau."

Secretary Xue Hongtao agreed immediately.

This marked the smooth beginning of Sun Ning's first personnel adjustment in Mishui Township.

This could be considered the second of his "three fires" as a newly appointed official.

Returning to his office, Sun Ning dialed Secretary Wang Shengli's number.

Secretary Wang Shengli couldn't exactly be considered Sun Ning's patron, but the two of them formed a small group with shared interests.

Regarding the investment attraction contract, Secretary Wang Shengli owed Sun Ning a favor.

Therefore, this call from Sun Ning didn't seem abrupt.

Furthermore, a subordinate unit reporting issues to a superior and requesting support was entirely reasonable.

After getting through, Sun Ning bridged the conversation from Mishui Township's development to public security issues.

He recounted the findings of his investigation today to Secretary Wang Shengli.

And he proposed appointing Zhu Zihao as the chief of the Mishui Township Police Station.

As for arrangements for Chief Wu, that wasn't something Sun Ning needed to worry about.

Over the phone, half-joking and half-serious, Sun Ning requested that the County Party Committee and County Government add one deputy station chief and five police officer positions to Mishui Township.

It wasn't appropriate to discuss increasing staffing quotas over the phone; those issues still needed to be reported to Secretary Xue Hongtao.

He, as the Party Secretary, would then submit the request to the County Party Committee and County Government for approval.

By bringing it up now, he just wanted to let Secretary Wang Shengli know.

This favor was worth more than just a mere section-level station chief position.

Secretary Wang Shengli agreed in principle with the request for additional staffing quotas raised by Sun Ning.

The economic takeoff of Mishui Township was foreseeable, and with the population increase, the Police Station staff would need to expand accordingly.

One police officer could lead at least three auxiliary officers, and usually up to five.

So, once the quotas were approved, the Mishui Township Police Station would have thirty more personnel.

This way, it would solve the manpower shortage and allow for an additional patrol team.

By the time the afternoon shift ended, the station chief and the instructor were on duty and standby.

So Zhu Zihao was able to leave early.

When he arrived home, his wife was already back from work.

Zhu Zihao's wife, Zhu Linlin, was a Chinese teacher, and the couple was quite affectionate.

Back when Zhu Zihao was relegated to Mishui Township, and later seeing that there was no hope of returning to the county seat, Zhu Linlin had also submitted a transfer request and came to teach in Mishui Township.

Just like that, they had made their home there.

Zhu Zihao chatted with his wife about Sun Ning's investigation at the Police Station today as a piece of fresh news.

The topic of Sun Ning not favoring the township's directly affiliated departments had been quite rampant.

Investigating the Police Station twice certainly counted as big news.

However, when Zhu Zihao mentioned that Sun Ning wasn't satisfied with Chief Wu's answers, having asked twice, and then proceeded to question the instructor and him.

Zhu Linlin, who had initially been listening as if it were a joke, had a slight change in expression.

Her mind was much sharper than that of the rough-around-the-edges Zhu Zihao.

She understood the implication of Sun Ning asking twice, and even more so the meaning behind him questioning the instructor and the deputy station chief.

Although Sun Ning had left the Police Station without making a statement, Zhu Linlin could feel his dissatisfaction with the station's work.

So she tentatively asked: "Zihao, I think you should go to Township Head Sun's place."

Unfortunately, Zhu Zihao didn't catch the underlying meaning of such a subtle reminder.

He replied blankly: "It's past office hours; wouldn't it be rude to disturb the Township Head? I'll go report to the Township Head's office in detail tomorrow."

Zhu Linlin was so frustrated she laughed, feeling quite helpless about her man.

This man was great in every way, except for one thing: he knew nothing about the social intricacies within the system.

While straightening her husband's clothes, she said: "You silly thing, you don't understand anything. Township Head Sun is dissatisfied with Chief Wu; your opportunity has arrived."

Zhu Zihao still didn't get it.

Why was he dissatisfied?

Why would the station chief be replaced?

Wasn't it just a small investigation? The Township Head didn't lose his temper at all!

He only thought that Chief Wu was indeed not focused on his work, and had no other thoughts.

He then thought of his own situation and smiled bitterly: "Let's not bother. The Bureau won't agree to it."

"You fool, are you content to be a deputy station chief for your whole life? How will you realize your dream of fighting crime? Township Head Sun is different from others; he values ability most. I also heard he has a powerful background. If you follow him, you can break out of your current predicament."

After persuading him, Zhu Linlin quickly took two bottles of wine from the storage room and handed them to Zhu Zihao.

"Take these two bottles of wine, buy a carton of cigarettes, and go visit him right now."

Saying this, she pushed Zhu Zihao out the door.

Zhu Zihao looked at the two bottles of fine wine he had treasured for a long time and couldn't help but mock himself.

The wine he had received from his old leader for meritorious service in the army had now become capital for his own promotion.

What a mockery.

He looked back at his busy wife, unable to bear seeing her disappointed, gritted his teeth, and walked away.