Guide to Rising to Power as a Wife in Beijing's Elite Circle

At noon on Thursday, Fang Jingxiu walked out of the National Development and Reform Commission building.

Instead of going to the cafeteria, he went around to the side entrance and got into a black Audi that was already waiting there.

Wan Bao Guo.

The newly appointed Director of the Policy and Regulations Department of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, Zhou Huimin's direct superior, is also the biggest winner in this personnel reshuffle.

He was in his early fifties, with gray hair, a thin face, and wore old-fashioned glasses.

He looks like an ordinary retired government official, but his eyes, gentle yet shrewd, make him someone not to be underestimated.

"Fang Si." Wan Baoguo nodded, his tone indifferent.

"Wan Si." Fang Jingxiu got into the car and closed the door.

The car started and drove toward a private restaurant not far away.

The place was inconspicuous, but those in the know understood that it was a meeting place for several ministry leaders in private.

No one spoke again in the car.

Some things don't need to be said in the car.

The restaurant's private rooms were small and simply decorated, but they were very well soundproofed.

After all the dishes were served, the waiter left and closed the door. Only the two people remained in the room.

Wan Baoguo picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, chewed it slowly, swallowed it, and then spoke.

"Fang Si, I have to thank you for what happened this time."

Fang Jingxiu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and didn't reply.

Wan Baoguo smiled and continued, "I've been eyeing that position for three years. I thought I'd just be a runner-up again, but I never expected..."

He paused, looking at Fang Jingxiu.

"Unexpectedly, Vivian Chow's side suddenly went silent."

Fang Jingxiu put down his teacup, his expression calm.

"Mr. Wan, you're too kind," he said. "You're highly experienced and capable; it's the people's choice to take the position."

Wan Baoguo smiled, and there was something in that smile.

"Thank you, Fang Si. I appreciate it."

He raised his glass to Fang Jingxiu.

Fang Jingxiu picked up his teacup and clinked it against his.

"Mr. Van," he said, "I've come today to ask you for a favor."

Wan Baoguo put down his wine glass and looked at him.

"Please speak."

"There's a young woman at the broadcasting station," Fang Jingxiu said calmly. "Chen Nuo, in your review department. She's a deputy section chief, and has been there for less than three months."

Wan Baoguo's eyes narrowed slightly.

Chen Nuo. He had heard of that name before.

He is a close confidant of Vivian Chow and is said to have a powerful background.

original……

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"It's nothing," Fang Jingxiu said. "I just wanted to let you know. She's young and inexperienced; she needs to be trained and given more responsibility. She doesn't need special treatment, but..."

He paused.

"Don't let anyone bully you."

Wan Baoguo looked at him and remained silent for a few seconds.

That's a clever way of putting it.

Don't give her special treatment; just make sure she doesn't feel like you got the position through connections.

Don't let anyone bully you; protect them when they need to.

This saves face without giving others a reason to criticize.

Wan Baoguo nodded: "I understand."

He paused, then asked, "Fang Si, may I ask you a question?"

Fang Jingxiu looked at him.

"Did this girl have anything to do with Vivian Chow not going up this time?"

The private room was silent for a few seconds.

Fang Jingxiu picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Wan Si," he said, "some things are better left unknown than known."

Wan Baoguo was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

"Understood."

He raised his glass and offered another toast.

After leaving the restaurant, Fang Jingxiu did not get into the car immediately.

He stood at the door and lit a cigarette.

The early winter wind carried a chill, dispersing the smoke.

He remembered how Chen Nuo had cried in his arms a few days ago.

"Brother Xiu, I lost."

She said she lost.

She thought she had lost to Shi Anping.

she does not know.

What truly caused her to lose was him.

Why didn't Vivian Chow go up?

It wasn't because Director Yao's evidence wasn't strong enough, nor because Shi Anping gave the evidence to the Discipline Inspection Commission.

It was because someone was behind the scenes, gently adjusting the scales.

That person was him.

Fang Jingxiu exhaled a puff of smoke and watched the smoke dissipate in the wind.

Vivian Chow is a good leader.

He is capable, skillful, and knows how to use people.

But she has one problem: she treats Chen Nuo like a knife.

In her eyes, Chen Nuo was a tool, a chess piece, a pawn that could be used to charge into battle.

If she's allowed to go up there, she'll keep using Chen Nuo as a tool.

Today they're asking Chen Nuo to investigate Director Yao, tomorrow they'll ask Chen Nuo to investigate someone else.

Chen Nuo will always be a knife in her hand, always below her, always suppressed by her.

This is not what Fang Jingxiu wanted.

What he wanted was for Chen Nuo to become the one wielding the knife.

It's not the knife, it's the hand holding the knife.

Therefore, Vivian Chow cannot go up.

She had to wait in that position until Chen Nuo grew up, until Chen Nuo was qualified to be her equal, or even surpass her.

Wan Baoguo is the best choice.

This person is experienced and capable, but has no one backing them.

He needs support and help to establish himself.

Fang Jingxiu helped him rise to power, so he naturally knew what to do.

Let Chen Nuo grow under his guidance.

Give her responsibilities, give her opportunities, and let her learn real skills.

then,

The position of the next director is hers.

Fang Jingxiu finished his cigarette, stubbed it out, and threw it into the trash can.

He remembered Chen Nuo asking him last night, "Brother Xiu, have you been watching me the whole time?"

He said yes.

"Watch me fall?"

Yes.

"Watching me get killed?"

Yes.

She didn't know that he wasn't just watching.

He was still behind her, quietly and subtly clearing away the obstacles she couldn't handle for the time being.

Shi Anping's counterattack is a lesson she should learn.

He doesn't care.

But she still can't get over the mountain that is Vivian Chow.

So he helped her move it.

She can't learn to just copy directly; she can't do that.

It's about changing the location, letting another, less tall mountain block her way.

When she crosses that mountain and looks back, she'll find...

It turns out that the person she thought she could never overcome is no longer there.

And he was always behind her.

Waiting for her to grow up.

He waits for her, hoping that one day she can truly stand by his side.

Fang Jingxiu turned and got into the car.

"Back to the office," he said.

The car started and headed towards the National Development and Reform Commission.

The afternoon sun shone through the car window onto his face.

He remembered something, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

If Chen Nuo knew all this, how would he react?

Will I be angry? Will I feel that he's interfering too much?

Or... will he realize that this is him?

he does not know.

But he knew he was willing to wait.

The day she finds out.

The day she truly grows up.

When she stood beside him, she said, "Brother Xiu, I understand now."

At that time, he would tell her:

"I've always been here. In front of you, and behind you. Where you fell, and where you got up."

"Chen Nuo, this is my love."

"You walk slowly, I'll wait patiently."