Right path to power

"Teacher, Mayor Wang."

Lin Xiao suppressed his excitement and greeted the new municipal party secretary. He hadn't expected to meet the soon-to-be-appointed municipal party secretary at his mentor's place, especially at this rather special time and with his mentor's invitation. It seemed this was definitely a special arrangement by his mentor.

However, Lin Xiao still addressed Wang Yuanze as "Mayor," a title that felt less abrupt.

Lin Xiao looked at her mentor Liang Weiwang with deep gratitude.

"Hmm, you seem to be in good spirits. I thought you would look very dejected." Liang Weiwang looked Lin Xiao up and down and nodded with satisfaction.

Lin Xiao stood to the side, her expression calm, and said, "Teacher, no matter what, I am still your student. How can I be defeated by this little setback? Besides, it may not even be a setback."

Liang Weiwang smiled and said, "That's the right way of thinking. Young people should be energetic. But tell me why you think this isn't a setback?"

At this moment, Liang Weiwang waved for Lin Xiao to sit down as well, and then looked on with a serious expression. Lin Xiao straightened up and secretly glanced at Wang Yuanze, but the other party remained indifferent. When he greeted him earlier, he had only nodded slightly.

"Teacher, I think the grassroots level is a good place to train people. At the grassroots level, you can learn a lot of real situations that you can't learn from those above. At the grassroots level, you can truly know what people's lives are like, what they want, and how we can truly help them."

The grassroots level is the cornerstone of political power. Only when the grassroots remain stable, and the people's lives become increasingly prosperous and healthy, can the entire society and the entire country flourish.

After speaking, Lin Xiao looked nervous and waited for her mentor's judgment. Although she had unexpectedly met the new municipal party secretary today, she did not say these words intentionally for him to hear, but rather expressed her self-perception.

"Looks like they weren't wrong to send you back to your hometown, haha," Liang Weiwang joked, then his smile tightened slightly.

He continued, "Although it's rather rough, the core meaning has been conveyed. With more experience in the future, the expression will become more comprehensive. What do you think, Yuanze?"

Liang Wei looked at Wang Yuanze, who had been listening quietly, and Lin Xiao also turned her gaze towards him.

"Senior brother, you're right. He truly deserves to be your last disciple." Wang Yuanze also expressed his agreement, but it was just a very formal remark.

"Oh, right, Lin Xiao, you called him by the wrong title just now. Your uncle is about to take office as the secretary of the Quanzhou Municipal Party Committee. You should call him Secretary Wang."

"Oh, Secretary Wang, hello!" Lin Xiao stood up abruptly and greeted him again.

"Sit down, sit down. This is your teacher's house, don't be so formal," Wang Yuanze said with a smile, waving his hand for Lin Xiao to sit down.

"Lin Xiao, your uncle is new to Quanzhou, so you can report more about the situation at the grassroots level to him. This will help your uncle make more accurate decisions."

"Okay, teacher, I understand."

"Forget about reporting. What I really need is the support of energetic young people like Xiaolin who are resilient and have their own opinions. So, we should support each other from now on."

Lin Xiao was a little stunned. She didn't expect the new secretary to say these words to her. These words were tantamount to extending an olive branch to her. Although she didn't know whether it was a proactive gesture or just polite talk, it was definitely a good sign.

"Yuanze, Quanzhou is the first prefecture-level city you've governed, so you definitely need some capable assistants. I will also provide you with more support from the province, so you can really make the most of your abilities."

Lin Xiao was stunned upon hearing this, completely bewildered by what her mentor meant by what followed.

Upon seeing this, Wang Yuanze immediately laughed and said, "Xiao Lin, you don't know yet, do you? Your teacher is about to go to the province to take up the post of vice governor. From now on, you'll have to call him Governor Liang."

"Ah..." Lin Xiao's eyes widened; this news was clearly even more shocking to him than meeting the new Party Secretary.

However, upon reflection, it seems to be a perfectly normal thing.

My mentor, Liang Weiwang, has served as the executive vice president of Fengdu University, a vice-ministerial-level university, for more than four years. Previously, as a counselor to the provincial government, he often explained to provincial leaders the knowledge of regional industrial layout and the cultivation of emerging industries. His new post as vice governor is a normal job transfer, and he will definitely be the vice governor in charge of this area in the future.

"Teacher, no... Liang... Congratulations!" Lin Xiao hurriedly tried to offer her congratulations, but the words "Governor Liang" came out awkwardly, and she ultimately didn't say them.

At this moment, a slightly cold and sharp gaze was cast upon him, making Lin Xiao feel somewhat uncomfortable. So he continued, "Secretary Wang, I still think calling you 'teacher' is more natural and intimate."

"Oh, just call out however you feel comfortable at home, don't be so reserved," Liang Weiwang said.

Even so, Lin Xiao still vividly remembered that look in Wang Yuanze's eyes. He guessed that Wang Yuanze didn't really care about a title. It was as if he was telling him that in the complex and ever-changing power arena, one should be clear about when to say what and what to do, rather than relying entirely on feelings or emotions.

After figuring this out, Lin Xiao immediately gave Wang Yuanze a look of resignation, but unfortunately, the other party remained unmoved.

"Stop chatting, let's eat." At this moment, Mrs. Guo Fuying walked into the living room with a smile and said.

"Yuanze, Lin Xiao, let's go eat." Liang Weiwang stood up and said, and Wang Yuanze and Lin Xiao also got up and followed behind.

After taking their seats, Liang Weiwang raised his glass and said, "It's rare for us to get together like this, so let's have a little drink. Don't be shy, this is just a family dinner."

"Yes, yes, Lao Liang is right. You're all so busy with work, how can you find time to sit down and have a meal together? In a few days, when we move to the provincial party committee compound, it will probably be even harder to find the time," Guo Fuying remarked from the side.

"Sister-in-law, please don't say that. We'll come to visit you and your senior brother whenever we have time, right, Lin Xiao?"

Hearing Wang Yuanze call her name, Lin Xiao was stunned for a moment before replying, "That's right, that's right."

"Don't talk about anything else during mealtime, just focus on eating."

Liang Weiwang was the first to pick up his chopsticks, and the others followed suit, thus beginning an ordinary family dinner.

In fact, how can something that's considered ordinary really be ordinary?

With a vice governor about to take office, a municipal party secretary about to assume his post, and a provincial party committee member selected for a government post and sent back to his hometown, this lineup was anything but an ordinary family dinner.

However, since the leader had given the order to "focus on eating," we could only eat in peace. Of course, there would inevitably be toasting during the meal.

Lin Xiao felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards his mentor, Liang Weiwang, which was evident in the occasion.

He raised his glass to toast his mentor, his eyes filled with gratitude, and Liang Weiwang nodded slightly to show his satisfaction.

After dinner, the group went to the living room, and this time they talked about work.