77: Chapter 76 A Serendipitous Turn: Serving as Party Branch Secretary

The Provincial Party School was nestled in a quiet forest area in the western suburbs.

The complex of red-brick and grey-tiled buildings, hidden among the towering pines and cypresses, looked solemn and majestic.

An Audi approached the gate of the Provincial Party School.

The security personnel first glanced at the license plate, then noticed the special pass.

Without a word, they raised the barrier and let the car through.

Zhu Wenhao steered with one hand and parked the car steadily in the designated spot.

He pushed the door open, got out, retrieved his luggage bag from the trunk, and walked towards the registration hall.

The registration desk for the Spark Class was located in the side hall on the first floor of the main building.

With ten minutes left until the registration deadline, twenty or thirty young people had already gathered in the hall.

Circle culture was ubiquitous; several people from prefecture-level cities gathered together, vaguely centering around a young man wearing a slim-fit trench coat.

This person was Cao Rui, a staff member of the Jingjiang Municipal Government office.

His uncle, Deputy Secretary of the Jingjiang Municipal Committee, Cao Hang, was a high-ranking official at the department-bureau level.

The current mayor of Jingjiang City, Dong Rui, would be retiring in a year or two, and Cao Hang was determined to secure that deputy ministerial position.

Wherever there are people, there is a world of intrigue.

In the provincial capital, officials from out of town had to give Cao Rui some face.

On the other side, the descendants of officials from provincial-level organs were also divided into several distinct camps.

Liu Yu and Lei Zhenzi were in the same group; the two stood together, glancing toward the door from time to time, their hostility undisguised.

Liu Ruobing, wearing a capable professional suit, stood relatively close to Shen Zhe of the Provincial Organization Department.

There was also a young man wearing black-rimmed glasses standing alone in the corner.

That was Zhou Xu from the Provincial Party Committee Office, whose background was unfathomable.

The rest of the people were divided into their own circles.

Zhu Wenhao walked into the hall, ignoring the inquisitive gazes.

He walked up to Liu Ruobing and Shen Zhe and nodded slightly to greet them.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhu Wenhao walked to the long table and handed his introduction letter and identification to the staff member.

The official in charge of registration verified the information, picked up a red seal, and was about to stamp the registration certificate.

A rough, large hand suddenly reached over and pressed down hard on the introduction letter.

"Are you Zhu Wenhao?"

The person speaking wore a dark blue jacket, had a square face, knitted brows, and a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

Zhu Wenhao straightened up and shifted his gaze, "Hello, may I ask who you are?"

"I am Instructor Gao Jianguo, Deputy Director of the Party School's Academic Affairs Office. I am also the homeroom teacher for this Spark Class."

"The Provincial Party Committee leadership attaches great importance to this Spark Class and has repeatedly emphasized the need to maintain discipline. I hope you can restrain yourself here and not be a troublemaker."

"Today is the first day of the class, and you dragged your feet until now to arrive. Do you lack a basic sense of time?"

The small chatter in the hall instantly died down.

Everyone looked over here in unison.

Liu Ruobing wanted to intervene, but her father Deputy Director Liu Qiang's advice from last night suddenly echoed in her mind: "Whether he is a dragon or a worm depends entirely on his own skills. No one else can help with this matter."

She stopped in her tracks and retreated to her original position.

Not far away, Lei Jun nudged Liu Yu with his elbow, "Brother Yu, is this the good show you wanted me to see? This opening move by Instructor Gao Jianguo is too low-level, just nitpicking about arriving late?"

Liu Yu sneered, "Instructor Gao Jianguo was Minister Liao's trusted aide for several years, and it took him a long time to be promoted to Deputy Director of the Cadre Division 1. Right after Minister Liao was taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission, he was exiled to the Party School's Academic Affairs Office to sit on the bench."

"He hates that kid from the Zhu family more than anyone. Just watch, this is just an appetizer."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhu Wenhao looked at Instructor Gao Jianguo, "Director Gao, I remember that the registration notice issued by the Provincial Organization Department clearly states that the time is before nine o'clock this morning."

He raised his wrist and glanced at his watch.

"It is now 8:55. I am processing the formalities five minutes early; how does this not conform to a sense of time?"

"Could it be that Director Gao's personal will has already superseded the documents of the Provincial Organization Department?"

A heavy accusation was leveled directly; internally, the biggest taboo is ignoring rules and arbitrarily changing the decisions of superiors.

Instructor Gao Jianguo couldn't save face, rolled his eyes, and immediately changed strategy.

"Even if you weren't late." He pointed to the luggage bag in Zhu Wenhao's hand, "This training is fully enclosed and full-time study. According to regulations, it is strictly forbidden to carry miscellaneous items unrelated to study in personal belongings. Open the bag, I want to check your luggage."

Searching personal luggage. This was blatant harassment.

Zhu Wenhao did not move, "Director Gao, which document does this regulation come from?"

"I know the Party School registration notice by heart; there is no item about searching student luggage in it. Is this another order you made up yourself?"

He didn't give Instructor Gao Jianguo any chance to catch his breath.

"The Provincial Organization Department established the Spark Class with the aim of cultivating young cadres who have a big-picture view, understand rules, and adhere to principles. With Director Gao fabricating regulations and abusing power so casually, it is hard for me not to doubt whether you have truly grasped the core spirit of the Provincial Party Committee's establishment of this class."

"Regarding your words and actions today, I reserve the right to report the situation to the Provincial Organization Department."

The hall was silent.

Dozens of young cadres were secretly clicking their tongues in amazement. A newly enrolled student daring to suppress the homeroom teacher right from the start—this composure and courage were truly rare.

Instructor Gao Jianguo was flushed red from the retort, caught in a dilemma.

He had wanted to use the situation to establish his authority and curry favor with Liu Family, but he hadn't expected this kid's words to be so sharp, never deviating from organizational principles, forcing him into a corner.

Just at this awkward moment, Director Song Ping of the Academic Affairs Office of the Provincial Party School walked over with his hands behind his back.

"What are you making a racket about?" Director Song Ping glanced at the two people in a standoff.

Instructor Gao Jianguo felt as if he had been granted amnesty, "Director Song, I was just emphasizing discipline to the new students."

Director Song Ping waved his hand.

"Emphasize discipline in the classroom. The registration time is almost up; don't delay them from processing their formalities."

With the director speaking, Instructor Gao Jianguo stopped pestering and retreated to the side.

The staff member quickly stamped Zhu Wenhao's documents and distributed the dormitory key and textbooks.

Zhu Wenhao took the key and walked straight to the dormitory building.

Coincidentally, the person assigned to the same double room as him was Zhou Xu.

The two met in the dormitory, nodded simply in greeting, and were not familiar with each other.

After each tidied up their beds and arranged their luggage, they went together to the lecture hall in the teaching building.

At 10:30, the lecture hall was filled with thirty Spark Class students.

Instructor Gao Jianguo stepped onto the podium, "Comrades, the Spark Class has officially begun. This is the first session in the province, and the Organization Department leadership requires us to break conventions and innovate our thinking."

"Our class's daily activities will be decided by the class committee. There are five positions on the class committee: Party Branch Secretary, Class Monitor, Study Committee Member, Organization Committee Member, and Life Committee Member."

Instructor Gao Jianguo clapped the chalk dust off his hands and scanned the audience.

"Everyone is new here, and you don't know each other yet. I'll start by offering a suggestion."

"I propose that classmate Liu Yu temporarily act as the monitor for our Spark Class. What do you think?"

There was silence in the room.

Everyone knew Liu Yu's background; Instructor Gao Jianguo was openly handing core power to Liu Family.

Instructor Gao Jianguo was the Deputy Director of the Academic Affairs Office and held the power of life and death over graduation evaluations, so no one wanted to provoke him at this time.

Seeing no opposition, Instructor Gao Jianguo felt more comfortable, "Additionally, I suggest that classmate Zhu Wenhao serve as the Life Committee Member."

The Life Committee Member, to put it bluntly, is a job for serving tea, pouring water, and running errands for the whole class. You do the dirtiest and most tiring work and don't get any core political achievements.

This was blatant retaliation.

Instructor Gao Jianguo leaned his hands on the podium and asked condescendingly, "Zhu Wenhao, do you have any objections to this arrangement?"

Everyone was waiting for Zhu Wenhao's reaction.

In their view, if Zhu Wenhao refused, it would be open defiance of class discipline; if he accepted, he would only be a marginal character in the class who polished others' shoes.

Zhu Wenhao stood up, "Teacher, I personally feel that I am more suitable to serve as the Party Branch Secretary."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room was in an uproar.

The Party Branch Secretary is the true head of the class committee, weighing even more than the Class Monitor.

Before Instructor Gao Jianguo could scold him, Zhu Wenhao immediately threw out a complete list.

"Since we are innovating, I propose that classmate Study Committee Member Cao Rui serve as the Study Committee Member; classmate Zhou Xu serve as the Organization Committee Member; and classmate Shen Zhe serve as the Life Committee Member."

"As for the Class Monitor, let's follow Teacher Gao's proposal and have classmate Liu Yu serve. Does everyone agree with this class committee list?"

What a brilliant list of power distribution!

Study Committee Member Cao Rui represented the interests of officials from prefecture-level cities across the province; Liu Yu represented the face of Liu Family and some provincial-level forces; Zhou Xu was from the number one office of the Provincial Party Committee; and Shen Zhe was from the "mother's side" of the Provincial Organization Department.

Zhu Wenhao only used a few sentences to distribute the core forces in the class to their appropriate interests.

Shen Zhe was the first to take the lead in agreeing.

"I agree with Zhu Wenhao's proposal!"

Zhou Xu and Study Committee Member Cao Rui agreed immediately after, and the people below echoed. Who would oppose a perfect list that fully took care of everyone's interests?

Instructor Gao Jianguo stood on the podium, his face ashen.

He had wanted to crush Zhu Wenhao using the Life Committee Member position, but instead, the other party had turned the tables, not only taking the Party Branch Secretary hat but also buying over the hearts of the whole class.

Facing the overwhelming agreement from the audience, he couldn't find any reason to refuse and could only acknowledge it while gritting his teeth.

Just then, the classroom door was pushed open.

Director Song Ping of the Academic Affairs Office walked in with a folder under his arm.

"Comrades, excuse me for two minutes." Director Song Ping walked to the podium.

"According to the decision discussed by the Provincial Party School Committee, the appointment of the Spark Class Monitor is officially designated to classmate Zhu Wenhao."

Instructor Gao Jianguo was stunned.

He hurried over and reported in a low voice, "Director Song, we just finished the democratic election. Zhu Wenhao was elected Party Branch Secretary, and classmate Liu Yu was elected Class Monitor..."

He quickly stated the election results just now.

Director Song Ping listened and nodded slightly.

"Since this is the result of everyone's democratic decision, Comrade Zhu Wenhao serving as the Party Branch Secretary can equally shoulder the heavy responsibility of coordinating the class." Director Song Ping made the final decision.

"Then let's implement it according to this list. Everyone, hurry up and tidy up, then move to the auditorium immediately. The opening mobilization meeting is about to start."

Director Song Ping turned and left.

Instructor Gao Jianguo looked dejected and announced the dismissal dryly.

Zhu Wenhao stood where he was, looking at those gazes—some awe-struck, some complicated—without a ripple in his heart.