236: Chapter 236 Zhu Tianhe Steps Forward

The air in the study was incredibly heavy.

Within a few seconds, the chill around Li Zhenguo dissipated without a trace.

He put on the face of a loving elder once again.

"Zhu Wenhao, you are still young, and the killing intent on this chessboard is too heavy," Li Zhenguo advised him earnestly, "Grandfather will pretend you never said those words just now. In the future, you must not speak so recklessly in front of outsiders. It is easy to give others leverage."

His words seemed magnanimous, but in reality, they were downplaying Zhu Wenhao's resolute words just now as the arrogant ravings of a young person who did not know the immensity of heaven and earth.

Li Zhenguo turned his head, his gaze landing on Li Zhengxing.

"Speaking of the big picture."

"Your eldest uncle, Li Zhengxing, has been working at the Organization Department in The Capital for these years. He is accustomed to the operation of the central authorities, and his vision and structure in looking at problems are not something the local level can compare to. If you encounter any insurmountable obstacles at the grassroots level in the future, seek advice from your uncle more often."

He turned to instruct Li Zhengxing, "Zhengxing, this child, Zhu Wenhao, has made a name for himself in Heishi Town and has great potential. As his elder, you should guide him more."

"This is how I have arranged it. Zhu Wenhao will explore the path ahead first and lay the foundation. In ten or eight years, the boy from Zhengxing's family should have completed his studies and entered officialdom."

"By then, you cousins will have just the right age gap to form a perfect echelon. Zhu Wenhao, you will be in the front, acting as a protector for your cousin. As a family sharing the same breath and branches, the Li Faction's legacy can be passed down from generation to generation in this Jiangnan Province, flourishing forever."

This was demanding that Zhu Wenhao clear the thorns, step on landmines, and offend people in the front, and once the road was paved and the thorns were cut, the legitimate eldest grandson of the Li Family would come down to safely pick the peaches.

Zhu Wenhao's struggle for half his life would ultimately result in nothing more than serving as a stepping stone for the third generation of the Li Family.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhengxing put on the posture of a family leader.

"My nephew," Li Zhengxing looked at Zhu Wenhao, his tone perfectly measured, "I think your grandfather's arrangement is very reasonable. When trees stand out in a forest, the wind will topple them; you cannot go far by fighting alone below. Returning to the family's overall planning, with me backing you up at the Provincial Organization Department, your path will be much smoother. With our cooperation, the situation in Jiangnan Province will not fall apart."

Facing the exposed daggers of this father and son, Minister Xiao Dingyu maintained absolute silence.

Minister Xiao Dingyu had come this time with the intention of supporting Zhu Wenhao. But he was not in a hurry to speak. He needed to see with his own eyes what kind of methods this young man he had bet on would use to break the deadlock.

Su Qinghan stood by the door, her gaze locked tightly on Zhu Wenhao's back. Her eyes showed concern, but she did not say a word.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui stood at the very back, watching his nose and his heart. Last night, Deputy Secretary Cao Hang's instructions were still ringing in his ears: "Xiao Rui, follow Zhu Wenhao, you need to learn more and see more. You have had it too smooth growing up in Jingjiang and haven't experienced the real world of fame and wealth." Today's family banquet allowed Cao Rui to personally experience the cruelty.

Zhu Wenhao's back remained straight.

The long-hidden pressure was about to be released, preparing to teach this uncle a lesson on what "there cannot be two suns in the sky" meant.

A sudden change occurred.

"Father-in-law, brother-in-law. Did you discuss this with me beforehand when doing this?"

A dry voice rang out.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe, who had been standing behind Minister Xiao Dingyu and had not spoken for a long time, suddenly stepped forward and blocked the front of Zhu Wenhao.

The wooden door was pushed open from the outside at this exact moment.

Li Juan crossed the threshold in a hurry. As soon as she entered the room, she bumped head-on into Secretary Zhu Tianhe's question.

She froze in place, her gaze shifting back and forth between her husband and her father.

In an instant, the several pairs of eyes in the room were all fixed on Secretary Zhu Tianhe.

A look of extreme surprise flashed in Li Zhenguo's eyes.

In his impression, this son-in-law of his had always been a good-natured person with a mild temper and conservative actions. In front of the Li Family, Secretary Zhu Tianhe was even more respectful, never having uttered a single word of disobedience.

Today, for the sake of his son's future, this man who came from a mason background had, for the first time, launched the most direct confrontation against the Li Family.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe looked directly at Li Zhenguo.

"Father-in-law."

"I have a clear account in my heart of what I am worth. I come from a grassroots mason background, with no foundation and no backing."

"When you chose me back then and married Li Juan to me, I saw it clearly. First, it was because I was honest and dutiful and would never bully Li Juan; second, it was because I had no family influence, making it easy for your Li Family to control. Of course, there was also the factor of giving face to my old leader, Minister Xiao."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe stated the crux directly: "Your Li Family needs to protect this base of Linjiang City. You need an obedient person to guard the door for you. I accepted this role, and I have done it."

"From the Deputy Mayor of Linjiang City, I struggled step by step to become the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee. I know that with my personal ability and methods, reaching this position is basically the ceiling. I had originally planned to, after this term expires, safely transfer to the Municipal Renmin University and make room for the young people."

The more Secretary Zhu Tianhe spoke, the straighter his back became. The blood and spirit of a father completely erupted at this moment.

"But, Father-in-law. You have watched Zhu Wenhao grow up with your own eyes. You have watched how he transformed from an arrogant, ignorant playboy into the capable cadre he is now, who can take charge alone and govern a region at the grassroots level. What he did in Heishi Town, the welfare he sought for the common people—I, his father, do not even measure up to one ten-thousandth of him."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe did not yield an inch.

"Do you really think I will just watch my son walk the same old path I walked?"

"Guarding the house for your Li Family, protecting your base, paving the way and building bridges for your descendants, and providing protection."

"These things, I, Secretary Zhu Tianhe, can do. Because your Li Family has the grace of promotion towards me, I must repay that kindness."

"But my son, absolutely not!"

Secretary Zhu Tianhe turned his head abruptly and confronted Li Zhengxing directly.

"Brother-in-law, your son's future is a future, and you want to leave all the resources to him. You have miscalculated this abacus."

"I am telling you clearly today. If you want to use Zhu Wenhao as a stepping stone, you will not get past me, Secretary Zhu Tianhe. It cannot be done."

The study was dead silent, with only the sound of breathing audible.

At this moment, Secretary Zhu Tianhe no longer had any submissiveness; he just stood there in front of his son.

Minister Xiao Dingyu stood to the side, looking at Secretary Zhu Tianhe's broad back, his thoughts drifting. A few months ago, Zhu Wenhao encountered shady operations by Liu Family during an interview and was given an extremely low score. At that time, it was this Secretary Zhu Tianhe, who usually never caused trouble, who directly made an unauthorized call to his desk as a Minister, fiercely crying out for justice for his son.

Su Qinghan, standing at the back, looked at that back blocking the front. Her vision became blurry, a sour sensation in her eyes, and warm tears slid down her cheeks. She was born into The Su Family and had never seen such pure protection, where one was willing to sacrifice half a lifetime of their official career for their offspring.

Just at this moment, a broad and powerful hand reached out precisely and gently squeezed the back of Su Qinghan's cold hand.

The strength was not great, but it carried a certainty that calmed the heart.

Zhu Wenhao did not hide under his father's protection, but instead took a step forward and reached out to gently tug on the corner of Secretary Zhu Tianhe's clothes.

Just like many years ago, on that rainy night when he lost his mother, he had also tugged on his father's clothes like this.

However, this time, he did not stay behind his father.

Zhu Wenhao crossed over Secretary Zhu Tianhe's shoulder and walked directly in front of Li Zhengxing.

The emperor's wrath, at this moment, was no longer reserved and poured out entirely within this small space.

He looked down at this nominal uncle who wanted to recruit him.

"Uncle," Zhu Wenhao spoke, his voice like a great bell, "It seems there is one thing you and Grandfather have both gotten wrong."

"The way I, Zhu Wenhao, do things relies on the knife in my own hand and the scale in the hearts of the common people."

"I do not need your preaching, and even less do I need your high-and-mighty guidance."

"As for the situation in this Jiangnan Province, I can tear open a gap, and I can build a city."

Zhu Wenhao leaned back slightly, his gaze sweeping over the lone white piece on the chessboard.

"I, Zhu Wenhao, can set up my own camp by myself. There is no need to be a stepping stone for anyone."

After speaking, he did not look at Li Zhenguo's livid face, but turned his head directly to look at Minister Xiao Dingyu, who had been watching from the sidelines.

"Right, Minister Xiao?"

This rhetorical question handed the choice directly into the hands of the Minister of the Provincial Organization Department.

Minister Xiao Dingyu did not have the slightest hesitation.

He walked to the side of Secretary Zhu Tianhe and Zhu Wenhao, forming a distinct opposition to the Li father and son.

"Old Leader," Minister Xiao Dingyu faced Li Zhenguo.

"The times have changed."

Minister Xiao Dingyu looked at the benefactor who had promoted him to his position.

"You are old. Young people have their own ways of establishing themselves."

Li Zhenguo looked at this once most obedient subordinate before him.

"Dingyu, you?" Li Zhenguo's voice trembled.

Minister Xiao Dingyu looked straight ahead, not retreating in the slightest.

"Old Leader. I think Zhu Wenhao is the true hope for all of us."