29: Chapter 29: Unprecedented Wealth is About to Arrive

At 7:30 in the morning, the scent of detergent drifted through the corridors of the Municipal Organization Department building.

In the office area of Cadre Division 2, Wu Dehai was bent over, diligently wiping away water stains near the water dispenser with a rag that had been washed until it turned white.

Cleaning up and opening the windows for ventilation.

These were all mandatory lessons for newcomers in the past.

During the first few days when Zhu Wenhao arrived to report for duty, Wu Dehai had still put on the airs of a senior colleague and offered a few perfunctory words of advice.

But ever since returning from the Development and Reform Commission investigation, having witnessed with his own eyes that the new recruit forced Political Commissar Wang Haitao to defect on the spot with just a few words, Wu Dehai's spine had bent uncontrollably.

He took the initiative to handle all the miscellaneous chores.

He arrived earlier than the cleaning staff every day, polishing Zhu Wenhao's desk until it was spotless.

He even timed the brewing of the green tea in the glass cup perfectly to the most suitable temperature for drinking.

Having struggled and climbed within the system for five years, this survival instinct had long been engraved into his bones.

He knew clearly who was just passing through and who was the true Buddha.

At 8:00 sharp, Zhu Wenhao walked into the office, clutching his briefcase, right on time.

He was wearing a well-tailored dark gray jacket, looking composed and reserved.

After greeting the few senior colleagues who had arrived early, he walked to his workstation.

Wu Dehai happened to be standing up with a rag in his hand, fine beads of sweat hanging on his forehead.

"Yuntong is here."

Zhu Wenhao put down his bag, looked at the desk that was as clean as a mirror, and his gaze landed on Wu Dehai.

"Brother Wu, thank you for your hard work."

His speech was steady, without any superfluous pleasantries.

Just as Wu Dehai was about to say "It's not hard work," Zhu Wenhao paused for two seconds and added a sentence.

"Don't rush home tonight, let's grab a casual meal together."

Wu Dehai froze on the spot.

Within the system, inviting someone to a meal involved extremely strict considerations.

This seemingly ordinary invitation, when spoken by Zhu Wenhao, was not just an invitation.

It was an olive branch extended by a superior to one of his own.

"Okay, okay! No problem!"

Wu Dehai agreed repeatedly, his voice trembling with excitement, and he smiled so wide that layers of wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes.

"I'll book the place, let's leave together after work!"

Zhu Wenhao pulled out his chair and sat down.

Watching Wu Dehai turn around to busy himself, he opened the bottom layer of his drawer.

It was a thin photocopy of a personnel file.

Last time in Division Chief Zhao Desheng's office, he found it interesting and made a copy of it.

Sixty years of the Great Ming, the art of governing people lies first in knowing their roots.

The Jinyiwei scrutinized the backgrounds of officials, and what they checked were precisely these clues between the lines.

In black and white, Wu Dehai's resume was clear and distinct.

Twenty-nine years old, a graduate of the Political Science and Law Department of Renmin University of China.

Coincidentally, he was also a senior schoolmate of Su Qinghan.

His family background was extremely simple; his parents were both middle school teachers in a county town in Northern Jiangsu.

The only connection to the system was a distant cousin who had once been a lecturer at the Party School.

This thin connection of teacher-student relationship was as light as a feather in the cutthroat battles of the officialdom.

Precisely because of this, Wu Dehai had worked for five years without complaint, only managing to grind his way to a Fourth-Level Chief Staff Member this year.

No backing, no background, just a belly full of knowledge and a heart filled with repressed ambition.

Zhu Yuntong rubbed his thumb against the knuckle of his index finger.

A scholar from a humble background, studying hard for ten years, once they pass the imperial examination, what do they seek?

Nothing more than titles for their wives and children, and glory for their family name.

Once such a person obtains a ladder to success, they are often more ruthless, more loyal, and more useful than the young masters from wealthy and influential families.

With a clean record, a sharp mind, and an extreme desire to climb.

He wanted to build his first core team within the Organization Department.

Wu Dehai was the perfect starting point.

Deputy Division Chief Old Sun walked in, carrying a chipped tea mug.

Old Sun was a sensible man who didn't fight or compete, only seeking a stable retirement.

He walked to Zhu Wenhao's desk and tapped on the partition twice.

"Yuntong, stop what you're doing for a moment, the Division Chief wants to see you."

"Okay." Zhu Wenhao closed the drawer, stood up, followed behind Old Sun, and walked towards the office at the end of the corridor.

He knocked and entered.

Division Chief Zhao Desheng was sitting in his executive chair, rubbing his temples; seeing the two enter, he immediately put on a warm, smiling face.

"Old Sun, you go ahead and get busy, I'll have a private chat with little Zhu."

Old Sun, being very tactful, retreated and pulled the door shut behind him.

Only the two of them remained in the office.

Zhao Desheng pointed to the chair opposite his desk, his posture very relaxed.

"Yuntong, you must have heard about the unexpected passing of Director Zheng of the Development and Reform Commission."

Zhao Desheng got straight to the point, his tone revealing a hint of sighing.

Zhu Wenhao nodded.

"The Development and Reform Commission is an important department of the Municipal Government, and this position cannot remain vacant for a single day."

Zhao Desheng opened a drawer, took out a document, and handed it over.

"Just now, Executive Deputy Minister Zhou talked to me. Deputy Secretary Zhu personally gave instructions requiring the Organization Department to start the selection process for a new Director as soon as possible. Minister Zhou gave me a list of three candidates."

He specifically emphasized the latter part: "Minister Zhou's intention is for our Division Two to go down and conduct an investigation first, and then write a recommendation report with a specific focus to submit to the Departmental Affairs Meeting."

Zhu Wenhao took the list.

Three names were listed side by side.

The one at the top was none other than Political Commissar Wang Haitao of the Development and Reform Commission.

The other two were merely stepping stones along for the ride.

"What does the Division Chief mean by 'specific focus'?" Zhu Wenhao threw the question back.

Zhao Desheng sighed; he was a slippery character, caught between Mayor Su and Deputy Secretary Zhu, and he feared nothing more than choosing the wrong side.

Selecting the head of the Development and Reform Commission was a life-risking job.

He dared not make this decision.

"Yuntong," Zhao Desheng leaned forward, his voice lowered, "I intend to entrust this task entirely to you."

Zhu Wenhao looked at him, did not decline, and quietly waited for the rest.

"You are steady in your work and see issues clearly. I trust your judgment."

Zhao Desheng spoke slowly, ensuring that every word could convey his true intention.

"For this investigation, Old Sun will assist you with the procedures, and Wu Dehai will follow you to take notes. As for how the final recommendation report should be written..."

Zhao Desheng smiled, "You will definitely select the candidate that the organization considers the most suitable."

This was no longer a hint; it was laying his cards on the table.

He handed the key recommendation power for the head of the Linjiang City Development and Reform Commission directly to a newcomer who had been on the job for less than two months.

Using Zhu Wenhao's pen to fill Secretary Zhu Tianhe's vacancy.

A brilliant move of shedding the cicada's skin.

Zhu Wenhao folded the list and placed it neatly into his inner pocket.

"Since the Division Chief trusts me, I will take on this burden."

He accepted it naturally, without a shred of a newcomer's awkwardness.

Seeing him agree readily, the heart Zhao Desheng had been holding was completely put at ease.

The crisis was resolved, and now it was time to give enough sweet incentives.

"There is one more thing." Zhao Desheng leaned back in his chair, his tone becoming relaxed, "At the end of the year, the Municipal Party Committee will select Outstanding Young Cadres. The quota is very strict, and our Division Two only received one spot. I have already submitted your name; let Wu Dehai help you organize the materials in the next two days. Work hard."

Outstanding Young Cadre; this was a shortcut for gilding one's resume within the system and a prelude to future promotions.

"Thank you for your promotion, Division Chief."

Zhu Wenhao bowed his head slightly and turned to walk out of the office.

In the corridor, the sound of his leather shoes hitting the ground was steady and powerful.