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

The meeting ended at noon.

Fang Jingxiu followed the crowd out of the conference room. Several bureau-level leaders stopped in the smoking area of ​​the corridor, naturally forming a small social circle.

He paused slightly and followed.

The smoking area is located at the end of the corridor, in front of floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the traffic flow on Changning Street.

Fang Jingxiu tapped a cigarette out of the pack, and with a "click," an orange-red flame leaped up from the metal lighter. He tilted his head slightly to light the cigarette, his jawline appearing particularly sharp in the winter afternoon light.

The cigarette was lit.

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled a grayish-white smoke ring. The way he held the cigarette between his fingers was casual, but his well-defined knuckles and the silver pinky ring gave him an inexplicable air of ascetic nobility amidst the swirling smoke.

Those were hands stained with power, clean, strong, and controlling the direction of so many things.

My phone vibrated.

He freed his left hand to take out his phone and saw a message from Chen Nuo: "Brother Xiu, I've boarded the plane and need to turn off my phone. I'll let you know I'm safe when I arrive in Yongzhou."

Fang Jingxiu stared at the screen for two seconds, then typed: "Tell me when you land."

Just as the message was sent, Deputy Director Zhao from the Development Planning Department came over and asked, "Jingxiu, regarding the detailed rules for new energy subsidies mentioned at the meeting earlier, your department is the lead unit, right?"

Fang Jingxiu put his phone back in his pocket and turned around: "Yes, Director Zhao. The preliminary plan has been submitted and is awaiting discussion at the committee meeting."

"You're quick on the uptake," Deputy Director Zhao chuckled, exhaling a smoke ring. "Young people have so much drive. Our old hands in the business can drag out a single document for three months."

"Director Zhao is joking," Fang Jingxiu said calmly. "It's all part of my job."

That was a perfectly watertight statement.

He neither denied that he was indeed fast, nor did he put down others; instead, he emphasized the word "duty," which made him appear humble and pragmatic.

This is Fang Jingxiu's art of speaking within the system: never speak definitively, always leave room for maneuver.

Another leader standing nearby, Director Liu of the Industrial Coordination Department, who was in his fifties with gray hair, chimed in: "Jingxiu is only twenty-nine this year, right? To become a powerful division chief at this age, his future is limitless."

The people around him nodded in agreement.

Fang Jingxiu just smiled and didn't reply.

He knows all too well the routine in these situations: first, he'll praise you, and then he'll show concern for you.

Sure enough, Director Liu changed the subject: "But Jingxiu, there's a saying: 'Meet a good man first, then settle down; meet a benefactor first, then establish your career.' You now have a benefactor—Political Commissar Fang is your father, and our committee leaders value you. But where is your good man?"

The smoking area suddenly fell silent for a moment.

Fang Jingxiu's fingers, holding the cigarette, paused slightly, but his expression remained unchanged: "Director Liu is very concerned. I'm busy with work and don't have time to think about these things."

"Being busy is just an excuse." Director Liu waved his hand. "Who in our line of work isn't busy? But you still have to get married. You're the only son in the Fang family, this can't be delayed."

That's already quite straightforward.

Fang Jingxiu sneered inwardly, "Here they come."

Every year at the end of the year, this kind of concern always appears in various forms. This year, because he is likely to be promoted to director next year, the level of attention is particularly high.

"Director Liu is right," someone chimed in. It was Deputy Director Wang from the International Cooperation Department, a well-maintained man in his early fifties. "Jingxiu, I have a niece who works in the Ministry of Political and Legal Affairs. She's twenty-five this year. Would you like to…?"

"Old Wang, that's not very kind of you," Director Liu interrupted with a smile. "I also have someone in mind, the daughter of Vice Minister Li of the Ministry of Culture. She just graduated with her doctorate and is currently working at the Beijing Museum. She's the perfect age for you."

The group of people were talking amongst themselves, as if they were bidding for a project.

Fang Jingxiu listened quietly, smoking a cigarette, a polite smile on his face, but his eyes grew colder and colder.

This is the marriage market within the system.

This wasn't the first time he'd experienced something like this.

This kind of introduction has been continuous since he became deputy director at the age of twenty-six.

High-ranking officials within the system rarely marry women outside the system.

The unequal social status and different social circles make communication too costly.

Therefore, two mainstream pairings emerged: marriage between officials and marriage between officials and businessmen.

The former is a powerful alliance, while the latter is a complementary exchange of resources.

As for finding partners within the system, ministries have dedicated matchmaking organizations, and various units also frequently organize social events.

But Fang Jingxiu never participated.

Firstly, he wasn't interested; secondly, he was too busy; and thirdly... he hated the feeling of being openly priced.

A female colleague from his company once mustered up the courage to ask him out to dinner, hinting that they could have a deeper conversation.

Before he could even express his opinion, Secretary Qin had already subtly but firmly turned the person away for him. Later, rumors even circulated within the department that Director Fang and Secretary Qin were a couple, to which he merely sneered, too lazy to explain.

"Jingxiu, what do you think?" Director Liu asked, seeing that he hadn't spoken.

Fang Jingxiu stubbed out his cigarette on the nearby cigarette holder, his movements slow and deliberate.

"I appreciate the leaders' kindness," he said, his voice steady. "However, I am indeed prioritizing my work right now. Several key projects in the company are scheduled to start next year, including the second phase of the new energy base and the smart grid upgrade... none of them can be delayed."

He paused, looked at the leaders, and said sincerely, "Besides, I'm still young and want to gain more experience. Marriage is a big deal, there's no rush."

That's a very clever way of putting it. First, express your gratitude, then politely decline on the grounds of work, and finally conclude with the irrefutable reason of youth.

It saved face for the other party while upholding one's own bottom line.

Director Liu and Deputy Director Wang exchanged a glance, both understanding.

Fang Jingxiu was not interested.

But they didn't give up completely.

Deputy Director Wang smiled and said, "Alright, then you go ahead with your work. But Jingxiu, some opportunities are gone once they're missed. My niece is indeed outstanding; she has quite a few suitors."

"An outstanding girl should have many choices," Fang Jingxiu replied naturally. "I wish her all the best."

The subtext of this statement is: Let her choose someone else, not me.

The leaders were all shrewd individuals, and naturally understood. The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

Just then, Secretary Qin walked over with a folder in his hand: "Director Fang, there's an urgent document from the Commission Office that needs your signature."

Fang Jingxiu breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said to the leaders, "Excuse me, I need to go over there first because of work-related matters."

"Go on, go on, work is important." Director Liu waved his hand.

Fang Jingxiu turned and left the smoking area, with Secretary Qin following half a step behind him.

After walking a short distance, Secretary Qin lowered his voice and said, "Boss, I heard everything. What are Director Liu and the others doing..."

"That's normal." Fang Jingxiu continued walking. "The director position will be vacant next year, and everyone wants to put their own people next to me."

"Then you..." Secretary Qin hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

"I'm not interested," Fang Jingxiu said decisively. "Marriage is not a transaction."

Secretary Qin nodded, but hesitated for a moment before saying, "However, sir, these kinds of comments will only increase in the future. If you are indeed promoted to director next year, a thirty-year-old director-level official... there will be even more people watching you then."

Fang Jingxiu remained silent.

Of course he knew.

Therefore, he cherishes the time he spends with Chen Nuo even more; that kind of affection, untainted by self-interest, is too precious.