88: Chapter 88 Cao Zhengwang's Self-Imagination

Villa No. 6 of the Provincial Party Committee.

Zhu Qingxi sat on the sofa, watching TV absent-mindedly, having lost count of how many times she had picked up her phone.

She comforted herself, thinking that Qin Chuan must have just gotten off the plane and hadn't had time to turn on his phone yet.

Yesterday, the two had chatted on the phone for over an hour. She knew Qin Chuan's family was returning to Handong Province this morning, and she felt a flicker of anticipation.

Would Qin Chuan come over to pay a New Year visit today?

Around eleven in the morning, her phone finally rang—it was Qin Chuan.

"Qingxi, I'm coming over right away. Are you at home?"

"Yes, we are at home."

After hanging up, Zhu Qingxi swept away her earlier distraction. Her entire demeanor changed, and her genuine happiness was written all over her face.

Vice Governor Zhu had just come downstairs and, noticing his daughter's joy, couldn't help but ask.

"Daughter, what are you so happy about? Could it be that Qin Chuan is coming over?"

"Dad, you're amazing! You're practically clairvoyant!"

"So Qin Chuan is really coming over?"

Vice Governor Zhu was instantly delighted as well. He genuinely approved of Qin Chuan as a son-in-law.

He had been keeping an eye on Qin Chuan during this period; the young man had developed Dahe Township to such a level in just over half a year—truly remarkable.

He wanted to give him a thumbs up!

In his excitement, Vice Governor Zhu shouted, "Wife, prepare some food! Qin Chuan is coming over soon. I want to have a few drinks with him."

Zhu's mother, wearing an apron, was busy in the kitchen with the nanny helping out. Hearing the shout, she immediately came out of the kitchen, her face full of pleasant surprise.

"Qin Chuan is coming over later? That's wonderful! Then I must prepare a few more big dishes!"

A while later, Qin Chuan arrived carrying gifts for the New Year visit.

It wasn't far from Villa No. 1 of the Provincial Party Committee—it took less than five minutes.

At noon, the Zhu household was very lively.

The table was full of dishes, a very sumptuous feast.

Vice Governor Zhu drank with Qin Chuan and chatted about work. Mostly, as an elder, he concernedly asked about Qin Chuan's situation and offered some guidance.

Zhu Qingxi sat nearby, so happy that her eyes curved into crescents.

In the afternoon, Qin Chuan spent the whole time with Zhu Qingxi.

The two held hands while strolling, watching movies, shopping, and so on, not returning until after ten in the evening.

At the entrance of Villa No. 6.

Qin Chuan held Zhu Qingxi's soft, slender waist, saying reluctantly, "Qingxi, I have to go to Dahe Township tomorrow. I'm really reluctant to leave."

"I'm reluctant to let you go too," Zhu Qingxi said, looking at Qin Chuan with deep affection. "But your work is important. I'll come to see you in Dahe Township when I have time."

"Mm, I will often come back to the provincial capital when I have time."

Qin Chuan gently kissed his girlfriend, then watched her enter the villa with reluctance before heading toward Villa No. 1.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Qin Chuan returned to Dahe Township.

Although work hadn't officially started, he was quite busy visiting county leaders and receiving subordinates who came to pay New Year visits.

Once the New Year holiday passed, Dahe Township became busy again, developing rapidly.

A few days after the Lantern Festival, County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang unexpectedly received a call from the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee.

A County Party Secretary is a cadre managed by the province.

However, one would generally not receive a call from the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee unless there was something important, such as a job transfer or a promotion.

The phone call notified County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang to arrive at the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee by 10:00 AM the next morning, as Deputy Director Tang Guojun would represent the organization in a talk with him.

After hanging up the phone, County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang felt a bit excited.

He wondered to himself, could this be a promotion?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was possible.

He had been in the position of County Party Secretary for over three years; his qualifications were fully sufficient, and there was no problem with taking the next step.

But this news was very sudden.

He hadn't heard any rumors at all; the call came directly from the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee. After his initial excitement, he started to worry a little.

Perhaps it was a lateral transfer.

If it were a lateral transfer, that wouldn't be a good thing; he was feeling quite good in the position of County Party Secretary.

A lateral transfer was not what he hoped for. What he wanted most was, of course, to move up a step, from a division-level cadre to a deputy department-level.

This was a threshold many officials could never cross in their lifetime. Once across this step, one would be a department-level official, a completely different rank.

Trying to calm his mood, County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang prepared to go to the provincial capital today so that he wouldn't be rushed for his 10:00 AM meeting at the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee the next day.

He picked up the phone and called his secretary.

A while later, the County Party Committee's No. 1 car left the County Party Committee compound, heading for the provincial capital.

This time, he only took his secretary; no one else was with him, not even anyone from the County Party Committee Office.

After arriving in the provincial capital, he found a hotel near the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee to stay in. Around 9:30 AM the next day, County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang arrived at the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee.

Someone from the Organization Department told him that Deputy Director Tang Guojun was busy and asked him to wait for a moment.

He only waited for about half an hour, but he was anxious inside, worried about a lateral transfer while hoping for a promotion.

It was truly agonizing.

Half an hour felt as long as half a day.

Finally, someone came to notify him and led him to the door of Deputy Director Tang Guojun's office.

"Secretary Cao, please knock and go in yourself. Deputy Director Tang Guojun is inside."

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang nodded and took a deep breath. Having reached the position of County Party Secretary, he was surprisingly nervous at this moment.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang knocked, and upon hearing a "Please come in" from inside, he pushed the door open and entered.

"Deputy Director Tang Guojun, hello. I am County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang from Sanjiang County."

Deputy Director Tang Guojun nodded. "Secretary Cao, you're here. Please, take a seat."

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang sat on the sofa but only dared to sit on the edge of the cushion, appearing very reserved.

Deputy Director Tang Guojun laughed heartily. "Secretary Cao, although I am representing the organization in talking to you this time, there is no need to be nervous."

"Secretary Cao, you have been in the position of County Party Secretary of Sanjiang County for over three years now, right?"

"Deputy Director Tang Guojun, to be precise, it has been three years, seven months, and twenty-six days."

"You remember very clearly. Not bad, not bad," Deputy Director Tang Guojun said. "Having served as County Party Secretary for over three years, and before that as County Magistrate for over two years, your qualifications are fully sufficient. The organization has considered letting you serve as Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Transportation..."

Boom!

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang's head almost exploded; the surprise came so suddenly.

It was truly a promotion, not a lateral transfer!

And it was to serve as the Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Transportation; this was a solid step from the division-level into the ranks of the deputy department-level.

He had stepped onto the stage that many officials could never reach in their lifetime.

It had been quite a while since he left the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee, but County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang still felt it was unreal. Sitting in the County Party Committee's No. 1 car returning to Sanjiang County, he quietly pinched himself to confirm that this was not a dream.

He imagined to himself that to be promoted to the deputy department-level without any prior rumors, it must have been Provincial Party Secretary Qin Zhendong who spoke up. Otherwise, how could he have been promoted to Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Transportation?

Yes, it must be like that.