56: Chapter 56 The Provincial Organization Department's Devastating Strike

Municipal Party Committee, Comprehensive Division 2.

Liu Xiaolei sat at her workstation, a stack of briefings needing redistribution and filing in front of her.

Before she started, her father, Division Chief Liu Haiping, had specifically kept her at home.

As a retired senior secretary from the Provincial Government Office, he had spent an entire week teaching her the basics of the job hands-on.

Although Liu Xiaolei had a fiery temper, she dared not act on impulse within the practical, bureaucratic environment.

During this time, she had adapted to Division 2 extremely quickly. The older colleagues in the division were also happy to hand off some of the document circulation tasks to her.

Deputy Division Chief Li Li walked over in her mid-heels. "Xiaolei, stop what you are doing."

Li Li handed over a file. "This is an urgent document sent by Secretary Gao Ming. Do a registration for internal circulation immediately and send it to Comprehensive Division 1 right away."

"Understood, Division Chief Li."

Liu Xiaolei stood up and took the folder.

She walked to the document circulation desk, opened the logbook, and picked up a pen to fill in the reason for the request.

The cover of the folder caught her eye: 《Draft Implementation Plan for the Open Selection of the Jiangnan Province Young Cadre Training Class.

She quickly picked up the document and scanned the content. Open selection? Written exam plus interview?

Her gaze moved down, and two lines of comments jumped out at her:

One line was from Organization Minister Zhao Donglai: "Approved. Recommend adoption, forward to Secretary Zhu Tianhe of the Municipal Party Committee for review and action."

Immediately below that was Secretary Zhu Tianhe's instruction: "Agree with the Organization Department's plan. Recommend proceeding according to procedure. Please request Secretary Tian's approval."

Liu Xiaolei suppressed the panic in her heart and neatly signed her name in the circulation logbook.

Closing the folder, she put it into a file bag, walked quickly out of the Division 2 office, and headed straight for Comprehensive Division 1.

After handing over the document in Division 1 and signing the circulation log,

Liu Xiaolei turned and ducked into the restroom at the end of the corridor, locked the door of the innermost stall, and pressed the flush button on the toilet.

Under the cover of the rushing water, she took out her phone and dialed Division Chief Liu Haiping's private number.

The phone rang three times before being answered immediately.

"Leilei, why are you calling me during work hours?"

"Dad, something's happened!"

"The Organization Department has issued a new document. They are demanding an open selection exam for the clerk positions in the Young Cadre Training Class! I just delivered the file to Division 1. Minister Zhao from the Organization Department and Secretary Zhu from the Municipal Party Committee have already signed off on it."

"Such a thing?"

"Don't panic yet. I'll make a call to ask Secretary Tian and test the waters. Since he promised me, he has to give some sort of explanation..."

Before she could finish,

The office landline on Division Chief Liu Haiping's desk rang. He glanced at the caller ID.

"Leilei, wait a moment."

"Your Municipal Party Committee's Secretary Tian is calling. I'll take his call first."

With that, Division Chief Liu Haiping hung up his daughter's phone and picked up the landline.

"Secretary Tian, you are a busy man. What instructions do you have for me?"

"Division Chief Liu Haiping, I wouldn't dare give instructions. I just have a situation I need to discuss with you."

"It's about those clerk positions for the Young Cadre Training Class. The feedback from the grassroots divisions is very strong. To demonstrate fairness and justice, the Organization Department has proposed a plan for an open selection."

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe and Minister Zhao have already signed it. As the head of the team, I cannot force my will and suppress the opinions of the grassroots. Therefore, I just circled the document."

Circling meant approval.

Secretary Tian Limin had pushed the responsibility away cleanly. It wasn't that he wouldn't help, but that Secretary Zhu Tianhe was forcing him with rules. Secretary Tian Limin wasn't going to tarnish his own reputation for a girl from Liu Family.

"What are you saying, Secretary Tian? Open selection is good. Open and transparent, true gold doesn't fear the fire. We firmly support the decision of the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee."

The two exchanged a few more official pleasantries before hanging up with a tacit understanding.

Putting down the receiver, Division Chief Liu Haiping picked up his cell phone and called Liu Xiaolei back.

The five-minute wait felt like torture to Liu Xiaolei. As soon as the call connected, she pressed it to her ear.

"Xiaolei."

"This matter is a bit troublesome. Secretary Tian has already signed it. This selection exam will be handed over to Cadre Division 1 of the Linjiang Municipal Organization Department to organize specifically."

"Signed? Then what do we do?!"

An exam? What could she use to take an exam!

"In the last provincial exam, that brat named Zhu Yuntong beat me by a full ten points in the written test! He is a freak! If we really put it out in the open, how could I possibly outscore him?"

"Later, if we hadn't relied on the arrangements made by Uncle Liao from the Provincial Organization Department, how could we have…"

"Leilei! Have you lost your mind!"

Division Chief Liu Haiping's sharp reprimand came through the airwaves directly into Liu Xiaolei's ears, instantly sobering her up.

Only then did Liu Xiaolei realize that even the restroom in the Municipal Party Committee building was not entirely safe.

There were eyes and ears everywhere here; gossip and espionage were everywhere!

Liu Xiaolei was startled by the scolding.

"Dad… I, I was wrong. I was just too anxious."

With his daughter's attitude softened, Division Chief Liu Haiping's anger dissipated slightly. After all, she was his youngest daughter, whom he loved the most.

"That's enough. Since the matter has already happened, solving the problem is the key."

Division Chief Liu Haiping comforted her over the phone.

"In chess, the thing you fear most is not an opponent playing strange moves, but an opponent flipping the table and refusing to play. As long as it is within the rules, we will just continue."

"I will go see your Uncle Liao later to discuss it and see if there is any way to break this deadlock."

"Listen well, keep a low profile at work these next few days. No matter what rumors you hear, don't act rashly. Just do your job with peace of mind and wait for my news."

Hanging up the phone, Liu Xiaolei pushed open the stall door.

Walking to the sink, she looked at her slightly pale face in the mirror. She turned on the faucet, cupped cold water in her hands, and splashed it on her cheeks, forcing herself to calm down.

Back at the Division 2 office.

This afternoon felt like a year to Liu Xiaolei.

Fortunately, she was just a newcomer, responsible for nothing more than receiving and sending files and organizing archives. As long as she was careful, she wouldn't make any major mistakes.

Finally, the wall clock pointed to six in the afternoon.

As soon as it was time to get off work, Liu Xiaolei packed her bag and walked quickly out of the Municipal Party Committee Office building.

She drove back to the Linjiang Youth Cadre Apartment. This was the residence arranged by the Municipal Party Committee for single young cadres.

Closing the door and drawing the curtains,

She really couldn't stand this torture of the unknown. Throwing her handbag on the bed, she dialed her father's number again.

This time, the phone rang for a long time before being answered.

"Dad."

"Leilei."

Division Chief Liu Haiping rubbed his brow and leaned back on the sofa. This afternoon, he had sat in Executive Deputy Minister Liao Changxing's office for an hour. The interest swaps and compromises involved were something outsiders could never know.

"No need to panic. Your Uncle Liao and I have already arranged things properly."

"How did you arrange it?"

"Doesn't Secretary Zhu Tianhe want to have an open selection? Doesn't he want to highlight fairness and justice?"

"Then we will fulfill his wish."

"Once your Uncle Liao receives the selection implementation plan submitted by the Linjiang Municipal Organization Department, he will personally approve it."

"Since the grassroots comrades in Linjiang City have explored such an excellent cadre selection model, which is very consistent with the policy orientation of The Capital, the Provincial Organization Department has decided to promote this Linjiang City plan throughout the province!"

Liu Xiaolei was stunned. Promoted throughout the province?

"Since it is a pilot project promoted throughout the province, this is no longer just a matter for Linjiang City. To demonstrate the importance attached by the provincial level, this special recruitment selection exam..."

"The authority for the unified setting of questions for the written exam and interview will be directly taken back by the Provincial Organization Department!"

"They, the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee, will only have the role of assisting with the exam administration!"

A dimensional strike!

This was the heaven-reaching method of high-ranking provincial officials! You in the city want to control the game by setting the rules and being the referee? Then I will just move the entire chessboard to the provincial level!

"Leilei, sleep soundly."

"Since the questions are set by the Provincial Organization Department, that set of papers will naturally be sent to you in advance. These few days, don't go anywhere after work. Take the questions and memorize the answers well for me."

"I don't believe you could still lose to that brat surnamed Zhu."

With that, Division Chief Liu Haiping hung up the phone.

Clutching her phone, Liu Xiaolei's nerves, which had been tense all day, finally relaxed completely. She collapsed onto the soft bed, a smile of triumph slowly blooming on her lips.

Zhu Yuntong, even if you have calculated everything, how can you compete with the power of the province?

This time, I will definitely step you completely under my feet.