104: Chapter 104 Old Xu's Reassurance

One evening in early June, Xu Weidong was looking at documents in his office when his phone rang.

"Dad."

"Comrade Weidong, are you busy?"

Xu Tianhua's voice sounded more relaxed than last time.

"It's alright, I'm just looking at some documents. Dad, is something the matter?"

Xu Tianhua smiled and said, "You're still pondering that matter on the internet from last time, aren't you?"

Xu Weidong paused, then admitted, "Yes, I haven't been able to figure out who was operating behind the scenes."

"The promotion was too methodical; it didn't seem like a coincidence."

"Do you want to know who it was?"

"I do."

Xu Tianhua paused, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness as he said, "It was done by an old subordinate of Grandpa Liu."

"The Executive Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department; he has been with Grandpa Liu for decades."

"After he heard about your situation, he thought it was a good opportunity to increase your visibility, so he acted on his own initiative and had people push it from behind."

Xu Weidong was stunned. Grandpa Liu Dehai?

His father's former leader, the helmsman of the Liu Faction, now known as Elder Liu.

The Executive Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department... that really was a person of real power.

"Dad, you mean..."

"Was it ordered by Grandpa Liu?"

"No."

Xu Tianhua said, "I have already asked. Elder Liu did not know about this. It was that old subordinate of his who felt he should help you out."

"He felt that you are young and have achievements, but your visibility is insufficient, which would put you at a disadvantage when advancing in the future."

"So he used some methods to help you stir up some buzz."

Xu Weidong fell silent. So that's how it was.

His worries, guesses, and vigilance over the past half-month had all been directed at his own elders.

"I have severely criticized him."

Xu Tianhua's voice carried a hint of helplessness, but also a touch of amusement.

"I told him that Comrade Weidong is still young and doesn't need these empty titles. The achievements that should be there will be there, and the path that should be taken must be taken. Fame built up by public opinion is actually easy to let go to one's head."

"I told him not to engage in these kinds of unnecessary things in the future."

Xu Weidong couldn't help but laugh and say, "Dad, your words were quite heavy."

"They had to be."

Xu Tianhua gave a wry smile. "People like them, having stayed in their positions for a long time, are accustomed to using power to get things done."

"They think helping you is a good thing, but they didn't think about how, if the operation wasn't handled properly, it could actually harm you."

"Fortunately, there were no mishaps this time. If you had encountered someone with ulterior motives who took the opportunity to stir up trouble, what would you have done?"

Xu Weidong nodded and said, "I understand."

"Dad, please thank that elder for me, and tell him that I appreciate his good intentions, but such things should not be done in the future."

"Alright, I will convey that."

Xu Tianhua paused, then said, "Comrade Weidong, you handled this well."

"Not responding, not taking the bait, and just doing what you need to do. This attitude is better than anything else."

Xu Weidong smiled and said, "Dad, I remember everything you taught me last time."

"It's good that you remember."

"Alright, that's enough. Get some rest early."

"Dad, you get some rest early too."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Weidong leaned back against the chair and let out a long sigh of relief.

So it was one of his own people; he had been worrying for so long, all for nothing, just scaring himself.

But then he thought, his father was right.

That elder had good intentions, but the method was indeed inappropriate.

Public opinion is a double-edged sword; it can be used, but it can also hurt.

Fortunately, this time there was no danger.

Xu Weidong had just put down his phone and hadn't had time to move away from the window when the ringtone sounded again.

He glanced at the caller ID; it was an unfamiliar number, but the location showed Fengtian Province.

This number, at a glance, was not that of an ordinary person.

"Hello, hello."

"Is that Comrade Weidong?"

A gentle female voice came from the other end of the phone, carrying a smile.

"I am Liu Yue from the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department."

Liu Yue?

Xu Weidong was stunned for a moment, then reacted immediately.

This was the Minister of the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department, Liu Yue.

He had seen this name on documents before; she had been transferred from another province at the beginning of this year, and it was said that she was also a member of the Liu Faction.

But the two had never had any interaction, let alone met.

"Minister Liu, hello."

Xu Weidong's tone immediately became respectful. "It's so late, you haven't rested yet?"

Liu Yue smiled and said, "I just finished a meeting, and thinking of your situation, I decided to make a call."

"Comrade Weidong, I hope I'm not disturbing your rest?"

"No, no, I'm still in the office."

Xu Weidong said, "Minister Liu, do you have any instructions?"

"Instructions is too strong a word."

Liu Yue's voice was gentle and kind as she said, "I just wanted to apologize to you."

Xu Weidong was stunned and said, "Apologize? Minister Liu, how could you say that?"

Liu Yue sighed softly and said, "I heard about the matter with Old Zhou. That is the Executive Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department, Political Commissar Zhou Jianguo."

"He is an old acquaintance of mine; we studied together at the Party School back in the day."

"This time, the matter was his own initiative. He didn't discuss it with Commander-in-Chief Xu, nor did he communicate with me, and he used some connections to push you online."

"Although it was well-intentioned, the method was indeed inappropriate."

Xu Weidong quickly said, "Minister Liu, you are exaggerating."

"Political Commissar Zhou is an elder, and he did it for my own good. I understand his intentions."

"Your understanding is one thing, but we still owe you an apology."

Liu Yue's tone carried a hint of seriousness as she said, "Comrade Weidong, I was just transferred to Fengtian this year, and I have met with your father, Commander-in-Chief Xu, a few times. In terms of seniority, you can call me Auntie Liu."

"Between us, there is no need to be so distant."

Xu Weidong felt a stir in his heart. Auntie Liu?

This form of address meant that the other party considered him one of their own.

"Auntie Liu, you really don't need to apologize."

"As for Political Commissar Zhou, my father has already communicated with him. I know he had good intentions, and I only feel gratitude in my heart."

Liu Yue laughed and said, "You are a child who knows how to speak well."

"However, Comrade Weidong, Auntie has to tell you some heartfelt words. Old Zhou is a person who has worked in the propaganda system for a lifetime, and he is accustomed to using propaganda methods to get things done."

"He felt that helping you increase your visibility was a good thing, but he didn't think about how you cadres at the grassroots level fear fame the most."

"Once you become famous, there are more people watching you, and more people looking to pick faults."

Xu Weidong deeply agreed, "Auntie Liu is right; my father taught me the same thing."

"Commander-in-Chief Xu teaches well."

Liu Yue smiled. "I have also seen your way of handling this matter."

"This mindset is more mature than your age."

Xu Weidong said modestly, "Auntie Liu, you flatter me. I am still young and have much to learn."

"Modesty is also a virtue."

Liu Yue paused, her tone becoming softer.

"Comrade Weidong, if you have any matters in Fengtian in the future, you can call me directly."

"Whether it is a personal matter or a work matter, I will definitely help if I can."

Xu Weidong felt a warmth in his heart.

"Thank you, Auntie Liu."

"What is there to thank? We are all family." Liu Yue smiled and said, "Alright, I won't disturb you anymore. Get some rest early, and please send my regards to Commander-in-Chief Xu."

"Alright, Auntie Liu, you get some rest early too."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Weidong held his phone, standing in front of the window, a complicated emotion welling up in his heart.

The Minister of the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department, a deputy-ministerial level leader, personally called him to apologize.

Is this the great power of his father?!

Yes, family.

Political Commissar Zhou Jianguo is an old subordinate of Grandpa Liu, and Liu Yue is an old acquaintance of his father; they are all members of this big family.

What they did might have been inappropriate in method, but their starting point was for his own good.

This is what a faction is...