50: Chapter 50 Mayor, what are your instructions?

In the A-grade private room of the Old Vegetable Restaurant in the south of the city.

The furnishings were simple and antique, with a rosewood round table facing the door and a set of Ru ware sky-blue tableware arranged neatly.

The two men stepped over the threshold one after the other.

Mayor Su Changming did not stop, walking straight to the main seat facing the door. This was the most prestigious spot in the room, and he sat down naturally, without a hint of hesitation or false modesty.

Secretary Li Changgeng deftly removed his coat and handed a steaming hot wet towel to Mayor Su Changming.

The head chef brought out the final dish, a perfectly cooked bird's nest soup.

Secretary Li Changgeng efficiently filled the wine cups for both of them.

He backed out of the private room, pulling the heavy, carved wooden door shut until it clicked into place.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Zhu Wenhao picked up the wine cup in front of him, his wrist slightly lowered.

"I've troubled you, Mayor, for this expense."

He tilted his head back and drained it in one gulp.

Putting down the cup, he ate the food while quietly waiting for what would come next.

At a poker table where the power dynamic is skewed, the one with lower status who speaks first reveals their hand. Only by waiting for the other side to make the first move and figuring out their intentions can one use their own strength against them. This has been an unchanging rule of survival in the imperial court since ancient times.

The octagonal palace lantern overhead cast a dim, yellowish glow.

Mayor Su Changming picked up his bamboo chopsticks, lifted a strand of bird's nest into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

He pressed a handkerchief to the corners of his lips, breaking the silence in the room.

"Zhu Wenhao, you've been at the Organization Department for over a month now. Are you getting used to it?"

Zhu Wenhao leaned his upper body slightly forward. "Thank you for your concern, Mayor. Everything is going well in Division Two. I'm busy with daily material organization, the colleagues are helpful, and Division Chief Zhao has been taking good care of me."

This was a standard, flawless, boilerplate response.

Mayor Su Changming smiled and placed his chopsticks on the rest.

"This meal today is a private dinner, not a report at the Municipal Government, so there's no need to be so tense."

He looked at the young man opposite him, his tone softening.

"I am a few years older than your father, and our families have had a long-standing friendship. In private, you should call me Uncle."

Trying to build a relationship and close the distance is often the prelude to throwing out a thorny issue.

Zhu Wenhao looked straight at him, his speech steady.

"Etiquette cannot be disregarded. You are the Mayor, and the Mayor you are. If the rules are broken, the people working below will easily lose their way."

Mayor Su Changming's smile did not fade, but he changed the subject.

"Zhu Wenhao, as an objective observer, what do you think of my secretary?"

Judging the personal secretary of the Mayor of a city is overstepping one's authority.

"Secretary Li Changgeng is thorough in his work and knows how to conduct himself. The Mayor's eye for choosing people has always been unique."

"No matter how good the choice is, if you keep them by your side and don't use them, it's a waste."

Mayor Su Changming picked up his wine cup and toyed with it.

"Secretary Li Changgeng has been with me for a few years and has worked hard without complaint. I plan to send him down to the districts and counties to gain some experience and give him a place to stretch his legs."

He placed the wine cup steadily on the table, his gaze fixed on Zhu Wenhao.

"Without someone who suits my heart by my side, I always feel like something is missing in my work."

"How about this, Zhu Wenhao, why don't you come to the Municipal Government Office to help me?"

"You grew up under my watch, after all, and I know you well. When you first took the provincial exam, you applied for the two offices. Since you didn't make it to the Municipal Party Committee Office, coming to my Municipal Government office to gain some experience would be a perfect way to make up for your shortcomings. Changing platforms will give you a broader perspective."

Transferring a political rival's son to be his secretary under his own nose—nominally for training, but in reality, to strip Zhu Wenhao of his power to participate in personnel planning at the Organization Department.

Once he entered the Municipal Government Office, Mayor Su Changming would have hundreds of ways to drown him in tedious and useless meeting receptions.

"I am deeply grateful for the Mayor's kindness and mentorship."

"However, regarding my future path, as a junior, I really dare not make decisions on my own."

"My father is in charge of personnel at the Municipal Party Committee and is very busy; I don't know what plans he has for his useless son. Furthermore, my mother mentioned at home a couple of days ago that she wanted to rethink my future path."

"I'd better wait until I get home and discuss it thoroughly with my parents before reporting back to you."

He didn't refuse directly, but he clearly placed Secretary Zhu Tianhe's administrative authority and Li Juan's background in The Capital on the table as a shield.

No matter how long Mayor Su Changming's reach was, he couldn't cross the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, let alone the Provincial Party Committee Compound.

"It seems I have overstepped."

Mayor Su Changming went with the flow and didn't force the issue.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe always plans before he acts, so he must have his far-reaching intentions. The connections and influence your stepmother Li Juan has in the province are beyond the reach of us grassroots cadres."

There was a hidden edge in these words.

Zhu Wenhao stood up, picked up the wine on the table, filled Mayor Su Changming's cup first, and then poured three cups for himself in succession.

"These three cups are to thank you for your favor, Mayor, and to apologize for not being able to comply immediately."

After saying this, he downed all three cups.

The strong liquor flowed down his throat, but his expression remained unchanged. He used the alcohol to block the other party from continuing to dwell on this topic.

Mayor Su Changming did not pick up his wine, but instead picked up a piece of roast goose.

"Zhu Wenhao, how have you and Su Qinghan been getting along recently?"

The conversation shifted abruptly to family matters.

Zhu Wenhao sat back in his seat.

"We are getting along very well."

Mayor Su Changming sighed and put down his chopsticks.

"During the years her birth mother was with me, I was running around in townships all day, and she suffered quite a bit. Later, she passed away early, and I married Li Jiajia, hoping someone could look after her daily life. Who would have thought their tempers wouldn't mesh? All these years, the child has been wronged."

Confessing his own faults, the setup was complete. Mayor Su Changming's true scheme surfaced.

"Seeing that you two are living steadily now, I can finally set my mind at ease. That girl, Su Qinghan, finally got into a master's program at Renmin University, but she was angry with me at the time and insisted on foolishly taking the exam for a position at the Finance Bureau. It's truly a pity."

"I plan to have her process a leave of absence and return to The Capital to continue her studies. A master's degree from Renmin University is a top-tier qualification. When she returns after completing her studies to resume her post in Linjiang, her future will be much broader."

Luring the tiger away from the mountain.

Su Qinghan sitting in the Treasury Division seat was like a scout, potentially learning about the movements of the Municipal Government at any time.

Sending her to The Capital to study would completely remove this thorn, allowing Mayor Su Changming's rear to be truly secure.

"Pursuing higher education is indeed the right path."

"I respect Su Qinghan's personal wishes. Since you have this plan, Mayor, you might as well ask her directly what she thinks. If she is willing to go to The Capital, I will certainly support her fully."

The ball was kicked back.

Mayor Su Changming knew very well that his daughter, who had already broken ties with him, would never follow his arrangements.

He picked up his wine cup and said something inexplicable.

"Zhu Wenhao, actually, as I observe, I feel that my younger daughter, Xiaoxiao, has a lively personality and acts decisively. It perfectly complements your steady temperament."

"She might be more suitable for you than Su Qinghan."

The private room fell completely silent.

Zhu Wenhao looked at the Mayor opposite him with cold eyes.

To solidify a political marriage and to tie the Zhu family completely to his chariot, Mayor Su Changming could even use his own younger daughter as a bargaining chip to be swapped at any time.

In the ming dynasty, powerful officials who sold their daughters for glory were everywhere. He had long been accustomed to such tricks.

Without waiting for Zhu Wenhao to respond, Mayor Su Changming, leaving no room for breath, cut directly to the ultimate topic of the night.

"Zhu Wenhao, I heard from Secretary Li Changgeng that you are quite interested in the special recruitment quota for the Young Cadre Training Class organized by the Provincial Organization Department?"

"Yes."

Mayor Su Changming pushed the wine cup aside.

"Now, Liu Xiaolei from the Municipal Party Committee Office has collided with you on this track."

"You have already experienced the influence of Division Chief Liu Haiping of the Provincial Government Office during the last interview. Moreover, Secretary Tian of the Municipal Party Committee has been paying extra attention to this special recruitment quota recently and has personally inquired about its progress."

Mayor Su Changming leaned forward, his hands crossed on the table.

"Although your father, Secretary Zhu Tianhe, is also using his influence to help you, he is under great pressure when arm-wrestling with the head of the Municipal Party Committee."

This was the real trump card of this dinner party.

Secretary Tian Limin used the authority of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary to seal off Zhu Wenhao's path to promotion.

Mayor Su Changming chose to set up this dinner at this point in time to take advantage of the situation by holding the ownership of the quota, forcing the Zhu family to concede greater benefits.

Zhu Wenhao tapped his index finger on his leg twice.

He did not beat around the bush and cut straight to the point, adopting the stance of a subordinate asking for instructions.

"Since you held this banquet today, Mayor, you must already have a plan in mind."

"If you have any instructions, please feel free to speak directly."