Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

Zhao Anbang.

Only Zhao Anbang could directly put pressure on the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, making the Industrial Division dare not delay approval any longer.

However, Zhao Anbang couldn't directly step in to suppress a deputy director; that would be too beneath him and too easy for people to criticize.

There must be a reasonable and organized approach to get the National Development and Reform Commission to voluntarily approve applications.

What is the most reasonable approach?

A thought flashed through Gu Mingyuan's mind, but it hadn't fully formed yet.

He didn't rush to think further; instead, he focused his attention on the road ahead.

It was already past 7 p.m. when we got back to Ningchuan.

He parked his car, went upstairs, and opened the door to his home. Warm yellow lights and the aroma of food wafted towards him.

Zhong Xiaoai was carrying dishes out of the kitchen when she saw him enter. A smile spread across her face: "You're back? The snow is getting heavier. Is the road easy to travel on?"

"It's alright, the highway isn't closed." Gu Mingyuan changed his shoes, hung up his coat, and went into the restroom to wash his hands.

When we came out, Gu Pengyu was hunched over the coffee table building blocks. Hearing the noise, he looked up and called out "Dad!" before looking down again to continue building his little house.

Gu Mingyuan walked over, squatted down next to his son, and looked at the house: "Why doesn't this house have windows?"

"The windows aren't finished yet. I'm looking for the right building blocks." Gu Pengyu didn't look up, focusing intently on placing a semi-circular building block on the roof of the house.

Gu Mingyuan smiled, stood up, and walked to the dining table to sit down.

Zhong Xiaoai set out the food, sat down opposite him, and served him a bowl of hot soup: "Judging from your face, have you run into some trouble again?"

Gu Mingyuan picked up the soup bowl and took a sip. The hot soup slid down his throat, warming him up a bit.

He put down his bowl, briefly explained the equipment approval process, and also mentioned Lin Yuanshan's matter.

After listening, Zhong Xiaoai remained silent for a moment, then said, "So, how do you plan to resolve this?"

"Let's meet with Secretary Wang tomorrow first, and then decide on the next step." Gu Mingyuan picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks. "This matter involves the arrangement of cadres in the province, and I can't make a decision on my own."

Zhong Xiaoai nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

She knew Gu Mingyuan's habit—he wouldn't repeat himself at the dinner table before things were settled.

All she could do was let him finish his meal quietly and save his energy for tomorrow.

Monday, June 29th.

The snow overnight blanketed Ningchuan in a grayish-white hue.

On the streets in the early morning, sanitation workers were clearing snow, and the sound of shovels scraping the road was particularly clear in the quiet morning.

Gu Mingyuan left home twenty minutes earlier than usual. His car wheels crunched over the snow as he drove slowly. When he arrived at the municipal party committee compound, people were already shoveling snow.

He parked his car, picked up his briefcase, and walked into the office building. When he got to the fifth floor, the door to Wang Rucheng's office was already open.

When the secretary saw him coming, he stood up and greeted him, "Mayor Gu, Secretary Wang is waiting for you. Please go straight in."

Gu Mingyuan nodded, knocked on the door, and went inside.

Wang Rucheng was sitting behind his desk with a cup of tea in his hand. When he saw him come in, he pointed to the chair opposite him and said, "Sit down."

Gu Mingyuan sat down opposite him and gave a detailed account of how the approval process for Wengang's equipment had been stalled.

He spoke in great detail, from the signing of the equipment procurement contract to the delays by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission's Industrial Division, from Chen Guodong's feedback to his own judgment, leaving no link unmentioned.

After listening, Wang Rucheng held his teacup in silence for a while, then said, "The Industrial Division of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission is under the jurisdiction of the deputy director in charge of industry. The current deputy director is named Ma Guoliang. He is neutral, but the deputy director of the Industrial Division is Lin Yuanshan's man. Ma Guoliang would not turn against his own director for the sake of equipment approval for a company."

"So the problem isn't with Ma Guoliang, it's with that deputy director of the Industrial Division," Gu Mingyuan said.

"Yes." Wang Rucheng put down his teacup and looked at Gu Mingyuan's face.

"How do you plan to solve this problem?"

Gu Mingyuan carefully considered his words: "I want to put some pressure on the National Development and Reform Commission through Governor Zhao. Not by directly pressuring that deputy director, but by having the provincial government conduct a survey on the approval efficiency of industrial technological upgrading projects across the province. At that time, the approval of Wengang's equipment will naturally be included in the scope of key attention."

After listening, Wang Rucheng's eyes flashed with approval: "This is a good idea. It doesn't target specific individuals directly, but solves the problem through systemic means."

"But this method can only solve Wengang's equipment approval problem," Gu Mingyuan continued.

"If Lin Yuanshan really becomes the vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, similar problems will continue to arise. At that time, we will not be able to solve the problems every time through investigation."

Wang Rucheng leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the gray-white sky outside the window: "Therefore, Lin Yuanshan's transfer is the more fundamental issue."

"Yes," Gu Mingyuan said.

"Secretary Wang, you mentioned to me last time that Lin Yuanshan is a candidate that Yu Huabei is working on."

"I'd like to ask, what's the current status of this matter? Has the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department provided any clear updates?"

Wang Rucheng picked up his teacup and took another sip. When he put the cup down, his tone was a bit more serious than before: "There is news, but it's not official yet. Yu Huabei has already discussed it once in the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee. There are three or four people who support him, but the opposing voices haven't taken shape yet."

"What's Secretary Pei's attitude?" Gu Mingyuan asked.

"Secretary Pei did not give a clear answer," Wang Rucheng said.

"That's the problem. By not expressing his opinion, Secretary Pei is leaving room for maneuver in this matter."

"If Yu Huabei can secure enough votes at the Standing Committee meeting, Lin Yuanshan might be able to get elected."

Gu Mingyuan was silent for a few seconds, and the thought that had popped into his mind on the road last night became clearer.

He didn't rush to answer, but instead asked, "Secretary Wang, why do you think Secretary Pei hasn't given a clear answer?"

Wang Rucheng glanced at him, his gaze holding a subtle, scrutinizing quality: "What do you think?"

"I think Secretary Pei is waiting," Gu Mingyuan said.

"What he's waiting for is whether the reformists have a clear response plan. If the reformists don't take any action, it will be natural for Yu Huabei to push Lin Yuanshan to power."

"But if the reformists propose a reasonable alternative, Secretary Pei will weigh the strengths of both sides and ultimately make the decision that is most beneficial to him."

After listening, Wang Rucheng nodded slightly: "Your analysis is correct. Secretary Pei is just waiting for a reason, a reason that allows him to legitimately reject Lin Yuanshan."

"So what we need to do now is not to directly oppose Lin Yuanshan, but to propose a more suitable candidate than Lin Yuanshan."

"Do we have this candidate in hand?" Gu Mingyuan asked.

Wang Rucheng was silent for a moment, then said, "There is a candidate named Fang Zhenguo. He is currently the director of the Industrial Division of the Provincial Economic and Information Commission, at the level of a full division chief. He has strong professional skills, a neutral stance that leans towards reform, and Governor Zhao has a good opinion of him."

"But Fang Zhenguo's rank is half a rank lower than Lin Yuanshan's," Gu Mingyuan said.