401: Chapter 401 This is an opportunity, but the risk is extremely high.

Minister Yang Tianze gave Mayor Liu an approving glance.

There had been a slight worry that Mayor Liu might feel resentful if his hopes of becoming Municipal Party Secretary were dashed, but he didn't, which was very good.

With Mayor Liu's introductions, members of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government leadership teams came forward one by one to shake hands with Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan had an excellent memory, quickly remembering each person, which was quite impressive.

After some polite exchanges, everyone boarded the vehicles. The large motorcade entered the city and then proceeded into the Municipal Party Committee Compound.

Over thirty vehicles, with police cars leading the way, attracted considerable attention from onlookers.

"Why so many cars? Is some high-ranking leader here on an inspection tour?"

"The new Municipal Party Secretary is taking office, don't you know that?"

"I really didn't know. What about Secretary Wu? Secretary Wu Qiaoxi has always been the Municipal Party Secretary, when did they change?"

"Secretary Wu reached the retirement age and has gone to the Municipal People's Congress. I heard the new secretary is very young, parachuted in directly from above!"

"..."

Not only within the official circles of Dongjiang City, but also among the general public, the arrival of the new secretary became a hot topic of discussion, instantly making it the talk of the town.

Having come from the provincial capital, even taking the expressway the entire way, the journey took four to five hours. It was now around one o'clock in the afternoon.

Everyone first went to the Municipal Party Committee Guesthouse for a meal. A large private room was filled with several large round tables.

The atmosphere was relatively lively.

Secretary Wu Qiaoxi no longer wore a sour expression and behaved normally, probably out of respect for Minister Yang Tianze.

Since there was a cadre meeting in the afternoon, no alcohol was served; everyone drank beverages.

Tian Chaoqun was the Deputy Director of the Municipal Party Committee Office and a Deputy Secretary-General. Not yet a member of the Municipal Standing Committee, he was not qualified to dine in that room.

With the new secretary taking office, he was very busy.

Preparing the noon banquet, organizing the afternoon cadre meeting, even arranging the new secretary's office—all these specific tasks were handled by him.

As for the Director of the Municipal Party Committee Office and Secretary-General Sun Lanying, her role was more about issuing orders.

After hastily having lunch in the cafeteria and once again checking on the arrangements for the cadre meeting, Tian Chaoqun finally had time to sit down, have a sip of tea, and take a short rest.

His mind was also occupied with a thought: should he align himself with the new secretary?

As the steward of the Municipal Party Committee, serving its top leaders was his duty. Aligning himself wouldn't be inappropriate. But having worked in the Municipal Party Committee for so many years, he clearly knew that the old secretary did not favor or approve of the new one.

In that case, the new secretary would likely be sidelined. Everything would probably be decided by the old secretary and Mayor Liu. He even considered the possibility that the new secretary might leave Dongjiang City in disgrace within three to five months.

If he aligned himself with the new secretary, the risks would be immense!

Yet, a sense of reluctance stirred within him.

Already in his forties, if he didn't advance now, future opportunities would only diminish.

A graduate of a prestigious university, he had always been subordinate to Sun Lanying, a woman with only a technical secondary school education. He had endured it, never daring to show any dissatisfaction because Sun Lanying was very close to the old secretary, Wu Qiaoxi.

Aligning with the new secretary was indeed an opportunity, but the risks were also immense. Tian Chaoqun kept pondering and weighing the options.

At three in the afternoon, the city-wide cadre meeting to welcome the new secretary began.

The spacious Municipal Party Committee Auditorium was filled with hundreds of people, all prominent figures in Dongjiang City's official circles. Many were curious; they had heard the new secretary was young but hadn't seen him in person.

Tian Chaoqun was in the venue, maintaining order and handling various service tasks. Checking the time, he knew the leaders were about to arrive.

Two or three minutes later, there was movement outside the Auditorium. A large group of people walked in along the red carpet. At the forefront was Provincial Party Standing Committee member and Organization Department Minister Yang Tianze.

Wu Qiaoxi followed half a step behind, then Qin Chuan and Mayor Liu, trailed by officials from the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee and other municipal leaders.

Many eyes fell on Qin Chuan.

So young!

Even though they had heard the new secretary was young, many had guessed he would be at least forty. Who would have thought he looked no more than thirty.

After the initial shock, many female comrades, upon regaining their composure, thought to themselves, 'Heavens, the new secretary is so handsome, more radiant and good-looking than those male celebrities in the entertainment industry.'

Amidst the astonished, pleasantly surprised, and various other gazes, everyone entered the Auditorium. Yang Tianze, Qin Chuan, and others naturally took their seats on the podium, while some sat in the first and second rows.

Tian Chaoqun was dumbfounded!

As if struck by a paralysis point, he stood motionless, his gaze fixed on Qin Chuan, unable to look away.

Heavens!

I must be seeing things, I must be dreaming. Isn't this the person I shared a table with for a meal just two days ago? He's actually the newly appointed secretary!

Gradually coming to his senses, Tian Chaoqun's resolve solidified.

He strongly believed in first impressions.

Their first meeting had felt very congenial. He thought Qin Chuan was a capable person. Since he was the new secretary, it was unlikely he would leave in disgrace within three to five months.

Take the gamble!

Although the risks were immense, the potential rewards were greater. He must actively align himself with the new secretary to carve out a new future for himself.

As the Director of the Municipal Party Committee Office and Secretary-General, if Sun Lanying couldn't work closely with the Municipal Party Secretary, she was in danger and would likely be replaced by the new secretary. He needed to seize this opportunity.

Throughout the entire cadre meeting, Tian Chaoqun felt excited and exhilarated, though he restrained himself, not letting it show too much on his face.

The cadre meeting proceeded in a standard, formal manner.

On behalf of the Provincial Party Committee, Yang Tianze announced Qin Chuan's appointment. Then Qin Chuan gave a speech, followed by Mayor Liu.

Even Wu Qiaoxi, who had stepped down to a secondary role and gone to the Municipal People's Congress, gave a speech, and it wasn't short.

After the cadre meeting concluded, Yang Tianze and his party declined the dinner invitation and returned to the provincial capital that very night. Before leaving, he held Wu Qiaoxi's hand, offering some advice, and then shook Qin Chuan's hand with words of encouragement.

The atmosphere at the evening banquet was quite lively. With baijiu served, everyone could drink freely, but Wu Qiaoxi did not attend.

Once the cadre meeting ended and he saw off Minister Yang Tianze, he also got into his car and left, without even exchanging a single word with Qin Chuan.

It seemed he fundamentally did not accept Qin Chuan as the Municipal Party Secretary.

Qin Chuan merely smiled. *You've already gone to the Municipal People's Congress. Since you don't accept me, I don't need to show you respect either.*

During the banquet, many people toasted Qin Chuan. Some even tried to get the new secretary drunk, but everyone was disappointed.

In the end, several were drunk, but Qin Chuan was not among them.

When the banquet ended, Qin Chuan was in excellent spirits, showing no signs of intoxication.

Seeing Qin Chuan leave the private room, Tian Chaoqun proactively approached him. "Secretary Qin, let me take you to Villa No. 1."

Dongjiang City had a Municipal Party Committee villa area with twenty or thirty small villas, mainly for municipal leaders. As the Municipal Party Secretary, of course, he would reside in Villa No. 1.

In truth, Qin Chuan had noticed Tian Chaoqun much earlier.

Seeing him approach, Qin Chuan smiled slightly. "Secretary-General Tian, we meet again."