133: Chapter 133 Foundation Building for an Official Career

This personnel reshuffle was like a spring breeze, blowing away the long-accumulated stuffiness of the Guantian Township Government.

Amidst the changing of the guard, the entire leadership team radiated new vitality.

Yet, no matter how the personnel changed, as long as Li Dakang remained at the helm, the great ship of Guantian Township would always sail steadily along its established course.

Ordinary township cadres had long been accustomed to casting their gaze toward the Secretary's office; in their hearts, Li Dakang's instructions were the compass for their work and the master guide for their actions.

...

The late spring evening breeze, carrying the sweet scent of locust blossoms, gently brushed across the Township Government compound.

The sunset on the last day of April stretched the shadows of the plane trees in front of the office building long and thin.

As soon as the bell rang for the end of the workday, Li Dakang gave Zheng Shijun a few brief instructions regarding the holiday, then grabbed his briefcase and walked briskly downstairs.

Su Wu had already parked the car in the most conspicuous spot.

Seeing Li Dakang approaching, he immediately trotted around to the right side of the car, deftly opened the door, and simultaneously shielded the top edge of the door frame with his left hand: "Secretary, please watch your step."

Li Dakang settled into the back seat, and Su Wu asked softly: "Secretary, where are we heading?"

"To Mingzhou."

Li Dakang rubbed his temples, his voice tinged with fatigue. "I'm going to rest for a while; wake me when we arrive."

"Understood, please rest easy."

The engine purred, and the Santana smoothly drove out of the Township Government gate, speeding toward Mingzhou City in the twilight.

Outside the window, the sunset glow was like fire, outlining the soft contours of the distant mountains.

Li Dakang half-leaned in the back seat, closing his eyes to rest, but his thoughts drifted to Su Wu in the driver's seat; this taciturn young man was interpreting "reliability" in his own unique way.

He never asked unnecessary questions, yet he could always handle every matter properly and thoughtfully.

Such a quality was exceptionally rare in the officialdom. Nowadays, whenever Li Dakang had to travel far, he was accustomed to taking him along; this level of trust was something even the liaison officer, Zheng Shijun, could not necessarily match.

It was no wonder there was an old saying in official circles: the person closest to a leader is not the secretary, but the driver.

Outside the window, the Jiangnan water towns of early spring were revealing their most moving charm.

Golden rapeseed flower fields intertwined with green wheat waves like a tapestry, dotted with villages of white walls and black tiles, occasionally with wisps of cooking smoke curling upwards, sketching out a tranquil and distant pastoral painting.

In the distance, the green mountains, like dark eyebrows, appeared and disappeared in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Li Dakang opened his eyes slightly, watching the scenery flying past outside the window.

This trip to Mingzhou during the May Day holiday was ostensibly a small gathering at the invitation of Cao Yong, but in reality, he had other plans; he wanted to find a university in Jiang Province and enroll as an in-service postgraduate student.

In an era where academic credentials were becoming increasingly important, this move had to be made early.

Officialdom had always emphasized that "age is a treasure, and a diploma is indispensable." Although Li Dakang's undergraduate degree from Shuimu University was dazzling enough at the grassroots level, after his promotion, the weight of an undergraduate degree would become increasingly light.

Looking ahead at the cadre ranks, masters and doctoral degrees were ubiquitous at the division level, and undergraduate degrees were even rarer at the department level.

Unlike most of his colleagues who chose the "crash course" path of Party School postgraduate studies, Li Dakang preferred in-service postgraduate programs at formal universities.

This was not only because the diplomas from formal institutions had higher gold content, but also because, deep down, he still retained an intellectual's reverence for academia.

While Party School diplomas were easy to obtain, their academic rigor was ultimately lacking.

Postgraduate education at a formal university, even if it was in-service, would allow him to truly calm his mind, study systematically, and solidify his theoretical foundation.

This academic advancement was not only about personal development but also about accumulating strength for more important positions in the future.

In an age of knowledge explosion, a leading cadre who did not continue to learn would ultimately find it difficult to navigate the complex and ever-changing governing environment.

The car gradually drove into the urban area of Mingzhou, the tranquility of the countryside replaced by the pulse of the city, and the scenery outside the window became increasingly prosperous.

Neon-lit shops, an endless stream of people, and the rising and falling honking of car horns collectively played the symphony of the city.

"Secretary, we have arrived in Mingzhou."

Su Wu's voice came from the driver's seat, at a volume that was just enough to wake Li Dakang without being abrupt.

"Which direction should we go next?"

Li Dakang woke from his light sleep, rubbed his brow, and looked at the colorful, glowing streets outside: "Go to Mingzhou Hotel; I have an appointment to meet someone there."

"Understood."

Su Wu replied steadily, the steering wheel turning flexibly in his hands, and the vehicle immediately merged into the left-turn lane.

After being discharged from the army, Su Wu had spent some time in Mingzhou, so he was quite familiar with the roads here.

Moreover, in this era, the scale of the city had not yet fully expanded; the core urban area of Mingzhou was only a dozen or so square kilometers, with a few main roads crisscrossing, which was not complicated.

And as a landmark building, Mingzhou Hotel was known to everyone; it was not only a gathering place for political and business elites but also a vivid witness to the city's reform and opening up.

After a while, the car stopped steadily in front of the grand porch of Mingzhou Hotel.

Li Dakang straightened his suit collar, and as he stepped out of the car, Su Wu had already agilely moved to the other side, following behind him at a perfectly appropriate distance.

Stepping into the magnificent lobby, a uniformed manager immediately walked up quickly, bowing slightly: "Hello, sir, do you have a reservation?"

"A private room booked by Cao Yong." Li Dakang was concise.

"So you are President Cao's guest; please follow me."

The smile on the manager's face immediately became much warmer, and he made a standard guiding gesture, leading the two through a corridor paved with Persian carpets.