69: Chapter 69 Xue Hongtao's Connections in the County

Seeing this, Sun Ning offered a cigarette to Secretary Xue Hongtao.

Secretary Xue Hongtao took the cigarette with a chuckle and said, "I really don't like you coming over. You've spoiled my taste. Now, the Sanhua cigarettes I smoke taste bitter and astringent."

"Secretary, are you hinting at something? Then I'll come over tonight to offer a bribe. I've been craving the big steamed buns my aunt makes."

"Haha, I'll definitely accept your bribe. Good heavens, over ninety million! How did you make that in your few years of college?"

"Coincidence, just a coincidence..."

It seemed that news of his substantial wealth had spread throughout Mishui Township.

It was good that it was publicized. From now on, he could enjoy it openly and legitimately, and no one would suspect that his extravagant spending came from illegal sources.

Sun Ning was humble for a moment, then asked curiously, "Secretary, you have such a wide circle of friends; you can even make the rounds in the county. I can't even catch up to you!"

This teasing remark was made solely to satisfy his own curiosity.

The fact that Secretary Xue Hongtao had connections above was always a secret; almost no one knew.

His ability to become the Township Party Secretary surely had no direct connection to that old leader.

Secretary Xue Hongtao did have people helping him in the County Party Committee, but Sun Ning just didn't know it.

Sun Ning was genuinely curious now, which was why he asked.

"Sigh, what kind of friends could I have? Little Shen from the Armed Forces Department and Little Li from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission—they were both soldiers led by our old leader, just a few batches later than me."

Heh, just like that, calling them Little Shen and Little Li. Someone who didn't know better might think Secretary Xue Hongtao was pulling rank based on seniority.

However, from this form of address, one could clearly feel that Secretary Xue Hongtao's status with the leader was not low.

At the very least, in his old leader's home, Secretary Xue Hongtao was considered of the older brother generation.

And just like that, before Sun Ning could react with confusion.

Secretary Xue Hongtao continued on his own: "I'm just a rough guy, not as highly educated as them. I'll probably be stuck like this for the rest of my life."

No wonder not many people knew about Secretary Xue Hongtao's connections in the county.

Looking at his resume, it was also hard to find any connection between them.

Plus, Secretary Xue Hongtao was not a flashy person, so everyone knew he had connections in the county, but no one knew who his backer was.

On the surface, Department Head Shen from the Armed Forces Department was closer to him.

Secretary Li of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission didn't give any hints; even regarding Zhu Zihao's appointment as station chief, he acted as if he were in a difficult position.

It seemed that as the older brother, Secretary Xue Hongtao didn't want to trouble others too much.

Perhaps when they gathered, they spent more time reminiscing about the glorious years of the past!

Or perhaps they all knew that Secretary Xue Hongtao, as the older brother, didn't like others helping him!

And this time, for the sake of Mishui Township's development, Secretary Xue Hongtao was willing to take the initiative to run around the county, which was rare.

In the evening, the figure of Secretary Wang Shengli appeared once again at a private restaurant in Zhongzhou City.

In fact, after Sun Ning gave Secretary Wang Shengli advice, Secretary Wang Shengli had already taken a step ahead to pay his respects in Zhongzhou.

Without prior notice, he had scheduled a time with the Mayor on the spot.

Of course, he also received a scolding from Mayor Zheng.

It wasn't because he came abruptly for work that he was scolded, but because he appeared too late.

The criticism was merely out of care for him; there was some element of wishing he would improve.

This criticism made Secretary Wang Shengli leave the Zhongzhou Municipal Government compound feeling quite pleased.

Xie Zhiyuan and the Government Office Director, who were not qualified to enter the Mayor's office together, were also very pleased to see Secretary Wang Shengli's high spirits.

This situation had only one explanation: he had received some kind of promise from the Mayor.

The private restaurant was lively in the evening, and in the end, both the host and the guests were happy.

Through this, Sun Ning also showed off his authority to Xie Zhiyuan and the Government Office Director.

The two of them even took the initiative to add Sun Ning's contact information.

Sun Ning's performance today surprised all three, including Secretary Wang Shengli!

While chatting with Gao Feng, he mentioned the matter of Gongfan County lacking a Standing Committee member.

Sun Ning didn't even know what subtlety was; he said boldly, "Senior Brother, the work in Gongfan County needs your strong support."

How could a Township Head speak to a Mayor with such a commanding tone?

Shouldn't it be a request?

If Sun Ning knew, he would surely say he was just putting on an act.

With several county leaders present, putting on a small act fit his youthful temperament.

And Gao Feng was not displeased in the slightest, constantly saying he would strongly support the work of the Gongfan County Government, without mentioning the County Party Committee.

As the drinking deepened, he also praised Xie Zhiyuan and the County Government Office Director a few times.

After the drinking session, Sun Ning's promise to Secretary Wang Shengli was fulfilled.

He had his driver take him back to Mishui Township, while Xie Zhiyuan and Secretary Wang Shengli stayed in Zhongzhou.

These two still had to continue doing some public relations work in Zhongzhou.

It was said that Xie Zhiyuan also had some background in the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department.

A person with no connections wouldn't have reached the deputy division-level position at the age of forty-something.

Upon returning from Zhongzhou, Sun Ning plunged back into the work of Mishui Township.

Taking some time, he had separate conversations with Executive Deputy Mayor Li Shusheng, Vice Township Head Wang Penghui, and Wang Ling.

First, he consulted the opinion of Executive Deputy Mayor Li Shusheng.

Executive Deputy Mayor Li Shusheng also expressed that he was getting old and feared he couldn't keep up with the development speed of Mishui Township.

He indicated that he was willing to retreat to the second line as a deputy section-level official.

Of course, this was also a means for this old man to advance by retreating, though there was also some sincerity!

Before Sun Ning arrived, he had no way to transfer to the People's Congress or the CPPCC as a deputy section-level official.

Sun Ning did not mind this cleverness from Executive Deputy Mayor Li Shusheng.

He told Executive Deputy Mayor Li Shusheng that Secretary Xue Hongtao would use his connections to transfer him to the county town.

It was clear that Executive Deputy Mayor Li Shusheng was very happy.

There were no twists and turns with Vice Township Head Wang Penghui; apart from a few words expressing loyalty, he went back to work.

As for Wang Ling, Sun Ning said a few more words and hinted at the importance of female leaders.

He implicitly told her not to worry, that her future development prospects were not lower than Vice Township Head Wang Penghui's.

Through these simple conversations, Sun Ning gained the loyalty of several deputies.

In the meantime, he went to the county again and invited Tian Xiaojun and Organization Department Head He Wenqiang to a meal separately.

To increase his persuasiveness, he even gave both leaders a carton of white-box supply cigarettes each.

This stuff was a powerful weapon at the grassroots level; in certain situations, it could serve as a way to use someone else's influence to intimidate others.

Tian Xiaojun was easier to deal with; he could guess the existence of Zhao Xue and did not show too much surprise.

But Organization Department Head He Wenqiang had always believed that Sun Ning's backer was only at the level of Gao Feng.

When he was declining between him and Sun Ning, seeing the white packaging, simple and without words, his hand instantly froze there.

His face even turned the color of a pig's liver.

This thing was something even deputy ministerial-level officials wanted; he wanted it even more.

But he had declined too firmly just now and couldn't bring himself to accept it.

Sun Ning was not a person without emotional intelligence; taking advantage of Organization Department Head He Wenqiang's desire, he pushed it over smoothly.

And the purpose of Sun Ning's trip was successfully fulfilled.

Especially regarding the matter of Gongfan County needing to add two Township Party Committee members, Organization Department Head He Wenqiang promised it by patting his chest.