Name: My father is Zhao Dehan, and I hope he will become a dragon!

Dawn

Zhao Chongming then followed his father around, visiting his father's network of connections.

Now that my father has moved to Handong, it's impossible for him to come to the capital often.

These networks can only be accessed by oneself!

"Brother Li, sorry to bother you."

Zhao Dehan greeted one of his colleagues: "I brought my son to meet you—I'll need your help when I'm working in Handong in the future."

A laugh came from inside the house: "Oh, so this is Little Zhao?"

"Hello, Uncle Li!" Zhao Chongming greeted politely.

……

……

Seventy-two hours, eight people, seven meals, and three drinking parties.

Zhao Chongming never got drunk, but he remembered everyone's catchphrases, habitual actions, and even who liked to use their left hand to pick up food and who always coughed twice before speaking.

Secondly, there is the exchange of benefits.

My father's network of connections shouldn't be forgotten once he's gone.

We still need to give them benefits.

These guys accepted it all without hesitation.

Just kidding, someone who can hang out with Zhao Dehan and have a close relationship with him, what kind of good person could he be?

He indulged in all five vices: eating, drinking, gambling, whoring, and prostitution!

Afterwards, Zhao Dehan had another meal with Deputy Director Wang Jingye.

Zhao Chongming did discover some of Wang Jingye's characteristics.

That old geezer is a bit of a lecher.

The rest is simple.

Zhao Chongming made an appointment with Zhang Jiaxuan, and then, in the name of a junior, invited Wang Jingye to dinner.

It took all night to finish one meal.

Wang Jingye fully experienced the joy of being a young person.

Then, they continued to promise benefits.

Zhao Chongming had to be even more discreet in his actions.

Although my father is gone, his network of connections remains. As long as it can be used, these political resources can still be mobilized.

As for Zhang Jiaxuan...

Although his father had passed away, Zhao Chongming was not worried about them falling out with him.

Without Zhao Dehan, you might not be able to acquire land and make a profit so easily.

However, he will definitely find a way to prevent you from making money and getting things done.

He has a million ways to ruin you.

……

……

At 3:17 PM, in the small, unmarked conference room on the east side of the seventh floor.

Zhao Dehan sat on the old cloth sofa, his back ramrod straight, a cup of tea beside him long since cold.

He didn't drink, his thumb unconsciously rubbing the rim of the glass again and again, constantly pondering his next words.

The door was pushed open a crack, and Minister Zhou poked half his face in: "Old Zhao? Come in."

Zhao Dehan immediately got up, quickly followed him inside, and closed the door behind him.

There was only one long table and two chairs in the room.

Minister Zhou had already sat down and was looking down at a clipping from the Handong Daily—the headline on the front page was: “The death toll from the landslide in Guangming District has risen to eighteen; Ding Yizhen, secretary of the Guangming District Party Committee, has gone missing.”

He didn't look up, but simply pushed the newspaper onto the table: "Sit down. Tell me, have you figured it out?"

Zhao Dehan didn't sit down, but stood half a step in front of the table and bowed slightly: "Minister Zhou, I haven't figured it out... I'm afraid I won't be able to figure it out."

Minister Zhou looked up: "Oh?"

"The mess that Ding Yizhen made wasn't just a leak, it was a complete collapse."

Zhao Dehan's voice was low and steady: "There are three pressing issues in Guangming District right now: First, there's Dafeng Factory. Factory director Cai Chenggong mortgaged his property to Shanshui Group for a loan, but was unable to repay it. Shanshui Group is now trying to forcibly acquire Dafeng Factory's land, and a conflict has erupted between the two sides!"

"Secondly, the original 800 mu (approximately 53 hectares) of land belonging to the Hongda Sand and Gravel Plant has unclear property rights and unresolved compensation agreements, so the developer dares not enter the site!"

"And..." he paused, "the city's finances have more than 40 million yuan in arrears on teachers' salaries alone."

Minister Zhou pointed at the newspaper: "So?"

"So—" Zhao Dehan took a deep breath, "I'm afraid that if I go, I won't be solving problems, but creating new ones."

He paused, his gaze frank: "You know, I'm in charge of the purse strings in the ministry. Before signing anything, I have to check three things: project feasibility, funding sources, and risk contingency plans. But right now, in Handong, all three are lacking. The conflict between Dafeng Factory and Shanshui Group means no land, no funding, and no source of funding... It's like asking someone to drive with their eyes closed and then forcing them onto the highway."

Minister Zhou didn't say anything, but picked up the thermos and slowly unscrewed the lid.

Zhao Dehan continued, "I've been investigating these past few days, and the land transfer fee collection rate in Guangming District this year is expected to be less than 30%. Why? Nobody dares to sign contracts. They're afraid that if they sign, the Discipline Inspection Commission will come to investigate the next day; they're afraid that if they sign, the workers will surround them; they're afraid that if they sign, a single word from above will stop it again."

He let out a soft breath: "Minister Zhou, it's not that I'm afraid of difficulties. I'm afraid—that it will be so difficult that we won't even know who's in charge."

The room was silent for a few seconds.

Minister Zhou wasn't stupid; he naturally understood Zhao Dehan's meaning.

I can give up this position, but you have to give me more power in return.

He asked in a flat tone, "So, what are you planning to do?"

Zhao Dehan said, "I want to do three things first—"

First, there's the issue of Dafeng Factory, specifically the ownership dispute between Dafeng Factory and Shanshui Group. I need a special report to be submitted to the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee within three days to resolve the dispute as much as possible and ensure that the workers at Dafeng Factory have jobs.

Second, the ownership of the Hongda Sand and Gravel site will be finalized within a week and put up for public bidding.

Third, the outstanding teachers' salaries should be drawn from the municipal government's special financial account and paid out by the 15th of next month.

Minister Zhou looked at Zhao Dehan with a leisurely air.

Zhao Dehan paused, then continued, "But each of these three matters requires someone to make an immediate decision. Should the resettlement housing be approved? Should the land certificates be issued? Should the salary payments be disbursed? If each matter has to wait for the joint signatures of three departments, then report to the vice mayor in charge, then to the mayor, then to the party secretary..."

He gave a wry smile: "By the time the procedures are completed, it'll be ages!"

Minister Zhou put down his cup and suddenly asked, "Old Zhao, how many projects did you review when you were in the Investment Department of the Ministry of Finance?"

"Three thousand two hundred and seventeen," Zhao Dehan blurted out. "I signed for each and every one of them."

"What are you most afraid of before signing?"

"I'm afraid that after I sign, the project will fall through, the money will be wasted, and I'll be held responsible in the end," Zhao Dehan answered very quickly. "So before I sign, I must know who is responsible for implementation, who will cover the bottom line, and who will clean up the mess."

Minister Zhou looked at him and suddenly smiled: "Alright. I'll accept the materials."

He folded the hand-drawn map, put it in his suit's inner pocket, stood up, and patted Zhao Dehan on the shoulder: "Go back and wait for our instructions."

Zhao Dehan took a deep breath: "Understood!"

Minister Zhou turned into the archives room next door.

He opened a metal cabinet, took out a yellowed "Graduation Appraisal of the 1998 Central Finance Cadre Training Class," turned to Zhao Dehan's page, pointed to a line of handwritten comments, and said to the archivist:

"Copy this sentence to the end of his appointment recommendation: 'Politically steadfast, professionally competent, reliable, trustworthy, and dependable in critical moments.'"

A week later, the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the cadre appointment document:

"Comrade Zhao Dehan was appointed as a member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Governor of the People's Government of Handong Province (with a one-year probationary period), and concurrently served as a member of the Standing Committee of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee, Vice Mayor, and was fully responsible for the work of Guangming District."

Holding the triple titles of "Vice-Governor + Standing Committee Member of the Municipal Party Committee + Party Secretary of the District" is already an exceptionally rare occurrence—the only person in the entire province to do so.

The phrase "responsible for the overall work of Guangming District" is a common practice within the system to avoid conflicts of rank. The district party secretary should be at the level of a full-fledged department head, but having a deputy provincial or ministerial-level cadre "responsible" for this role demonstrates authorization without violating staffing regulations.