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

The third day of the Three-Five Conference, Zhongzhou, Fang Jingxiu's apartment.

The television was on, tuned to the news channel. The screen showed a conference hall, brightly lit and packed to capacity. The national emblem above the stage gleamed under the lights, and the delegates sat upright, their pens scratching across their documents. Guo Huaimin stood at the podium, a draft of Fang Jingxiu's handwritten proposal spread out before him. He wore a dark suit, a white shirt, and a dark red tie. His hair was meticulously combed, his eyes were bright, and his chest rose and fell slightly as he spoke, each word resonating with the force of his voice.

"Distinguished delegates, the proposal I'm submitting today wasn't something I came up with sitting in my office and brainstorming." His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to carry throughout the entire meeting room. "Over the past year, I've visited seventeen construction sites and interviewed more than three hundred construction workers. I've personally witnessed some workers working for six months without receiving a single penny, afraid to go home for the New Year. I've personally heard a worker say to me, 'Delegation Guo, I'm not begging; I just want my money back.'"

The camera panned across the faces of the delegates. Some nodded, some bowed their heads to take notes, and some had solemn expressions.

Guo Huaimin continued, "I don't come from a labor policy background, but I am a representative of the people. The people elected me as their representative, so I have to speak for them. I'm under a lot of pressure with this proposal. Some people told me, 'Old Guo, you'll offend a lot of people by doing this.' I told them, 'I'm not afraid of offending people; what I'm afraid of is letting down the salary I receive and the national emblem on my chest.'"

His voice was slightly choked, and he paused for a moment, as if trying to compose himself. A few people in the audience began to applaud, then more and more joined in, until finally the entire hall was filled with applause.

Guo Huaimin bowed slightly. "Thank you for your support, everyone. I believe that as long as we have the people in our hearts, the people will stand by us. Thank you all." The applause lasted for a long time. The camera finally focused on Guo Huaimin's slightly reddened eyes.

Chen Nuo leaned on Fang Jingxiu's shoulder, watching the TV screen. "Brother Xiu, this is clearly your achievement. You wrote it for several nights in a row, and he just read it aloud on stage, yet all the credit goes to him." Her voice was muffled, tinged with resentment.

"Chen Nuo, sometimes being too high-profile isn't a good thing." Fang Jingxiu ruffled her hair, his hand sliding from the top to the ends. "Look at those towering skyscrapers. The higher they rise, the stronger the wind blows, and the easier it is for them to collapse. It's the same in officialdom. The higher your position, the more people are watching you. The more you make a name for yourself, the more eager people are to bring you down. Giving credit to your superiors isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Chen Nuo looked up at him. "But you've done so much, and people only know Guo Huaimin, not you."

Fang Jingxiu smiled with a hint of relief and said, "Whether Guo Huaimin knows me or not is not important. What's important is that this policy can be implemented. The workers can get their wages, Li Qiang's wife can afford surgery, and that child can have enough to eat. They don't need to know that I wrote it; they just need to know that someone is speaking up for them. As long as something practical is done for the people, it doesn't matter who does it."

On the television screen, Guo Huaimin was surrounded by a group of representatives congratulating him, but despite all he had done, he couldn't get credit. He wanted to help so many people, yet he couldn't show his face.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Fang Jingxiu glanced at the screen; it was Guo Huaimin's secretary's office phone.

He pressed answer and turned on speakerphone.

"Director Fang, hello. This is Xiao Zhou from Representative Guo's office."

"Secretary Zhou, hello." Fang Jingxiu's voice was very calm, as if he were reporting on work.

"Director Fang, Representative Guo has been quite busy with meetings these past few days and hasn't had a chance to contact you. I happen to have some free time tonight, and Representative Guo would like to invite you to a casual dinner. Would that be convenient for you?"

Representative Guo was expressing his gratitude in person, and also telling Fang Jingxiu that he needed someone on his side. He had submitted the proposal, but he wasn't from a labor policy background; he needed someone knowledgeable to support him in the subsequent implementation details, pilot program advancement, and inter-departmental coordination. Guo Huaimin owed him a favor, and Fang needed Guo Huaimin's protection.

"Secretary Zhou, Representative Guo is too kind. It's convenient, of course. What time? Where?"

"7 PM, Zhongzhou Hotel, Plum Hall, third floor."

Fang Jingxiu glanced at Chen Nuo. She was hugging a cushion, looking at him blankly.

"Okay, Secretary Zhou. See you tonight."

The call ended. Fang Jingxiu put down his phone and looked at Chen Nuo. "Go change your clothes, come with me."

Chen Nuo was stunned. "Do I have to go too? I wasn't involved in that document. I didn't write a single word from beginning to end."

Fang Jingxiu reached out and gently flicked her forehead. "Brother will take you to claim credit."

Because she needed to appear before Guo Huaimin. Guo Huaimin was a current member of parliament, holding a high position of power. He wanted Guo Huaimin to know that there was a girl named Chen Nuo who belonged to Fang Jingxiu. In the future, when she needed help, Guo Huaimin would remember this meal, remember the favor Fang Jingxiu had done for him, and then reach out his hand. He was still paving the way for her, never stopping.

Chen Nuo bit her lip and lowered her head. "Brother Xiu, if I depend on you so much, how can I grow up?"

Fang Jingxiu looked at her, his gaze gentle. "Am I, Fang Jingxiu, not enough for you to rely on?"

Chen Nuo looked up at him.

"You can grow up if you want, or you can stay young if you don't. If you want to grow up, I'll grow up with you. If you don't want to grow up, I'll always be there to protect you from the wind and rain in the officialdom. The wind won't blow you, and the rain won't get you wet. Just keep moving forward, and leave the rest to me."

Fortunately, I am seven years older than you. Fortunately, when you were just beginning to sprout in the officialdom, I had already become a sturdy tree trunk in the officialdom. Fortunately, I love you.