30: Chapter 30 The Horse Bones Came to Our Door

Wu Dehai stood at the entrance, his hands buried in the pockets of his washed-out pants, a rusty little electric scooter leaning against his leg.

His head was buzzing, filled with that heartbreaking breakup message from three days ago.

"Dehai, you're a good person, but here in Linjiang, relying on writing those documents that nobody reads won't give me the decent life I want."

A four-year relationship ultimately couldn't compare to a contractor driving a BMW.

Wu Dehai didn't reply; he just silently deleted the conversation.

Five years in the bureaucracy were like a giant grinding wheel, smoothing out his sharp edges but failing to earn him a single step up the ladder.

He had sworn more than once in the dead of night to make something of himself.

But looking down at this electric scooter between his legs that might break down at any moment, and thinking about the tangled web of connections in Division Two, that vow felt as humble as a joke.

That was until the black Volkswagen Lavida stopped silently by the side of the road.

Zhu Wenhao stepped out from the driver's seat, wearing a well-fitting dark jacket, his expression as composed as ever.

"Brother Wu, sorry to keep you waiting," he said in a calm tone. "I was just discussing something with Division Chief Zhao and got delayed for a few minutes."

Wu Dehai felt as if he'd been pricked by a needle, snapping back to reality.

"No, no, I just came out too. Wenhao, where are we eating? I know a place nearby..."

"Let's go to Old Street Corner."

Zhu Wenhao interrupted him directly, his arm slightly raised in a "please" gesture.

"The Shunde cuisine there is quite good; I've already booked a table."

His gaze swept over the dilapidated electric scooter, and he added naturally, "Leave your bike... just leave it here. I'll send you back tonight."

Wu Dehai's heart skipped a beat.

He hesitated for half a second, then decisively locked his electric scooter, opened the car door, and slid into the front passenger seat.

The inside of the car was clean, with a faint scent of sandalwood.

The restaurant at Old Street Corner was called "Sanweiju Restaurant." Its facade was eroded by time, looking somewhat dilapidated, and the paint on the red signboard was peeling.

But the moment he stepped inside, Wu Dehai's heart lifted.

This place had more than met the eye—a hole-in-the-wall restaurant hidden in an alley.

Behind the counter, the owner, Old Chen, was leisurely wiping a purple clay teapot. When he saw Zhu Wenhao, his eyes brightened, but he didn't show the usual enthusiasm of a businessman, just nodding steadily.

"Young Master Zhu, the inner room, as usual."

This form of address made Wu Dehai's eyelids jump violently.

Zhu Wenhao nodded and led Wu Dehai through the narrow corridor.

Wu Dehai calmly observed his surroundings. In Linjiang, this type of restaurant had an unofficial name: "Family Canteen." The people who came here were all prominent figures who didn't want to draw attention to themselves.

For Zhu Wenhao to be respectfully addressed as "Young Master Zhu" here, his background was far deeper than he had imagined.

Once they entered the inner room and the door closed, all the noise from outside was instantly cut off.

The space wasn't large, but it offered excellent privacy.

Several exquisite Shunde dishes were already on the table: a sizzling braised fish head, tender poached chicken with ginger and scallions, and a plate of vibrant green vegetable hearts.

"Brother Wu, have a little something to start with." Zhu Wenhao personally poured a cup of hot tea for Wu Dehai.

Wu Dehai received the teacup with both hands. He noticed that Zhu Wenhao's posture and the way he poured the tea carried an indescribable air of nobility.

It wasn't put on; it was engraved in his bones.

"Wenhao, this meal today... I'm afraid it's not just about catching up, is it?" Wu Dehai gathered his courage and probed.

Zhu Wenhao was about to speak when the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.

He took it out and glanced at it; the caller ID showed only two words: Father.

Zhu Wenhao didn't shy away; right in front of Wu Dehai, he swiped to answer.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe's voice, suppressed with excitement, came clearly through the receiver.

"Wenhao, I sat in the study until two last night. I thought about it all night, and you were right."

"In the officialdom, if you don't advance, you retreat, and retreating means a dead end!"

"I agree with your layout for the Development and Reform Commission!"

Zhu Wenhao's tone was indifferent. "Secretary Zhu, as long as you've figured it out, that's all that matters."

"Division Chief Zhao just came to see me, asking me to take the lead in preparing a recommendation list for the Director of the Development and Reform Commission. He's testing the waters, trying to see where our appetite lies."

Secretary Zhu?!

Wu Dehai's brain went "buzz," and he went blank.

"Then what do you intend to do? There's more than one or two people eyeing that position." The voice on the other end became even more steady.

"Of course, according to the established plan, support Political Commissar Wang Haitao to take the position." Zhu Wenhao's fingers lightly traced the tablecloth. "Buy the horse bones with a thousand gold. Although Political Commissar Wang Haitao has a weak spine, he turned against them completely. As long as he sits in that seat, there will be an endless stream of people coming to serve us in the future."

Wu Dehai felt as if he couldn't breathe.

"Secretary Zhu."

"Director of the Development and Reform Commission."

These terms exploded in his mind, piecing together an answer that made his scalp tingle and his whole body tremble.

In Linjiang, at the Municipal Party Committee leadership level, the only Zhu-surnamed leader who could be called "Secretary Zhu" and decide the appointment of the Director of the Development and Reform Commission was one person!

The newly appointed Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Executive Vice Mayor—Secretary Zhu Tianhe!

He had previously known that Zhu Wenhao's background was immense, at most assuming he was the son of some powerful bureau chief.

He never expected that this true Buddha was enshrined directly in the Municipal Party Committee building!

"Fine, keep a good handle on the materials; don't make it too ugly for Minister Zhao's side." Secretary Zhu Tianhe instructed.

"Don't worry, I have it under control."

Zhu Wenhao hung up the phone and casually placed it next to the turntable.

He picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip.

"Sorry, that was a call from home. Dehai, let's continue."

Wu Dehai swallowed hard, his throat dry as if burning.

He had been in the bureaucracy for five years and thought he had seen some things, but never had he been more terrified than now.

"...Wenhao, no, Brother Hao!"

Wu Dehai stood up abruptly, supporting himself on the table, his voice cracking with excitement.

For a grassroots guy like him without any backing, wasn't the thing he'd been desperately chasing his whole life just an opportunity to rise to the top in one step?

Now, that opportunity was sitting right across from him, eating fish head with nonchalance.

"Brother Hao! From now on, in Division Two, as long as you have use for me, I, Wu Dehai, am the gun in your hand! Wherever you point, I will fire!"

"I don't have other skills, but those old files and interpersonal relationships are all in my head! Whichever page you want to see, I'll turn to it for you!"

This was his pledge of allegiance, his gamble of everything he had.

Zhu Wenhao looked at him, his eyes without a ripple.

In the ming dynasty, when those high-ranking officials knelt outside the Fengtian Hall, which one didn't offer to sacrifice their lives?

He was already accustomed to this kind of submission.

"Sit down and talk." His tone was indifferent. "In the future, there will be plenty of times for you to work hard. There is actually a job later that I'm handling for the first time, Dehai; you need to assist from the sidelines."

From "Little Zhu" to "Brother Hao" was the awe of power.

From "Brother Wu" to "Dehai" was the co-option of a superior.

Wu Dehai didn't feel insulted at all; instead, it was as if he had found his backbone. A rush of hot blood surged to his head, and he respectfully sat back down.

Zhu Wenhao took out a folded A4 paper and spread it on the table.

"Dehai, tomorrow morning, in the name of Division Two, send a 'Pre-publicity Information for Proposed Cadre Appointment' directly to the office of the Development and Reform Commission."

Wu Dehai was stunned: "So fast? This... isn't that against the rules?"

"Rules are made by dead people; the living must look at the wind direction." Zhu Wenhao picked up a piece of white-cut chicken and put it in his bowl. "Zheng Jianguo left in a disgraceful manner, and the Development and Reform Commission is now leaderless, with everyone in a panic. Your sending this public notice is pointing the way for those fence-sitters, letting them see clearly who the future master is."

Zhu Wenhao looked up at Wu Dehai: "What, is it difficult?"

"No! No difficulty!" Wu Dehai immediately straightened his back. "Don't worry, Brother Hao! At 8:30 tomorrow morning, this document will appear in the internal email of the Development and Reform Commission, and only those specific people will be able to see it!"

This was the benefit of an old bureaucrat; he knew how to handle things on the edge of the rules, making them both secretive and watertight.

Zhu Wenhao nodded with satisfaction.

Just as Wu Dehai was about to ask for the next step, the phone on Zhu Wenhao's table began to vibrate wildly again at an inopportune moment.

On the screen, a name that shouldn't have appeared so soon was jumping frantically.

Political Commissar Wang Haitao.

Zhu Wenhao looked at the name, the corner of his mouth curling into an arc, which looked exceptionally sinister on that calm face.

"Look."

"The horse bone has come knocking on its own door."