Nominal: My senior brothers are all big shots

The news of spring came earlier than usual this year.

Lin Feng was sitting in his office reviewing a report on the industrial upgrading of Luhai City when the phone rang. It was Su Bingheng.

"Xiao Feng, is it convenient to talk?" Su Bingheng's voice carried a long-lost gentleness, the tone of a father-in-law to his son-in-law, not a leader to a subordinate.

Lin Feng put down his pen and leaned back in his chair: "Dad, please speak."

Su Bingheng paused for a moment, then said, "You're ready to change seats."

Lin Feng's hand paused slightly, but he wasn't overly surprised. He had been working in Luhai for over two years, pulling a devastated city back on track, achieving initial success in industrial upgrading, stabilizing the cadre team, and improving the lives of ordinary people day by day. According to the usual practice of cadre exchanges, it was time for a move.

"Where to?" Lin Feng asked.

Su Bingheng said, "Jiangnan Province, Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Pingjiang Municipal Party Committee."

Lin Feng was taken aback. Pingjiang, the largest prefecture-level city in Jiangnan Province in terms of area and population, is a national historical and cultural city with a history of more than 2,200 years. It is also the place with the most rare earth elements in China, and the headquarters of China Rare Earth Group is located there.

He had never been to Pingjiang, but the name of the city was familiar to him. Rare earth capital, old revolutionary base, economic powerhouse—each label carried a heavy weight.

He was silent for a moment, then said, "Dad, I accept the organization's arrangement."

Su Bingheng seemed satisfied with his reaction, his tone tinged with relief: "Good. The specific transfer order will be issued in the next few days. Be prepared."

Hanging up the phone, Lin Feng stood up and walked to the window. The city outside shimmered golden in the spring sunshine, white smoke billowed from the distant factory chimneys, and the cranes at the docks were still busy. He had worked here for over two years, rising from the ashes, and now it was time to leave.

He took a deep breath, turned back to his desk, and continued reviewing documents. The work wasn't finished, but time was running out.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, Chen Zhengbang was organizing his personal belongings in his office. His desk was empty, the documents in the bookcase were packed into boxes, and the calligraphy of "The highest virtue is like water" on the wall had been taken down, wrapped in kraft paper, and leaned against the corner. He had been in this position for nearly ten years, and now he was retiring.

The door was pushed open, and Zhao Shuhua walked in. She saw Chen Zhengbang packing his things and stood at the door without moving.

"Senior Brother," his voice was strained, "you've really retired?"

Chen Zhengbang turned around, glanced at him, and laughed: "Not retiring but still clinging on? You're getting old, it's time to make way for the younger generation."

Zhao Shuhua walked in, sat down on the sofa, remained silent for a while, and then said, "Comrade Gao Yuliang has also been transferred to the CPPCC, a further step, but it's a nominal position, waiting to retire."

Chen Zhengbang nodded: "It would be good enough if he could land smoothly in that position. So many people are watching."

Zhao Shuhua added, "Su Bingheng has been transferred to the Organization Department of the Central Committee as Minister. Fang Weidong has taken over as Secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee. I'm going to Hanjiang Province, Governor."

Chen Zhengbang looked up at him, his eyes filled with both satisfaction and reluctance: "Hanjiang Province, the new energy demonstration base, is the perfect place for you. This is a good step – a strategic move to promote and utilize your talents."

Zhao Shuhua said, "Qin Xue has also been moved; she has become the Vice Governor of Sichuan Province and concurrently the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department."

Chen Zhengbang laughed: "We've all made it big now."

Zhao Shuhua smiled too, but there was a hint of melancholy in her smile: "Senior Brother, now that you've retired, what will we do in the future..."

Chen Zhengbang waved his hand: "I'm retiring, but you're still here. Do a good job and don't embarrass me."

Zhao Shuhua stood up, walked to the door, then turned back and said, "Senior Brother, take care."

Chen Zhengbang nodded without speaking. The door closed. He stood in the empty office, gazing at the hazy sky over Beijing outside the window, and remained silent for a long time.

In the office of the provincial party secretary of Handong Province, Fang Weidong was on the phone. On the other end was Su Bingheng.

"Comrade Weidong, the appointment from the Organization Department of the Central Committee will be issued soon. You will be the Secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee. Please prepare accordingly."

Fang Weidong's grip on the phone tightened slightly: "Minister Su, thank you for the organization's trust."

Su Bingheng said, "You've worked in Handong for so many years, rising from governor to secretary, step by step. The organization is watching. Go there and do a good job; the responsibilities in Handong are heavy."

Fang Weidong said, "Understood."

He hung up the phone, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes. It had taken him several years to climb from governor to provincial party secretary. The time, neither long nor short, was significant. He recalled his early days in Handong, his colleagues who had fought alongside him, the cadres who had quietly dedicated themselves to their work at the grassroots level, and Lin Feng.

That kid is doing really well in Luhai now; who knows where he'll go next. He opened his eyes, picked up the phone, and dialed Lin Feng's number.

"Xiao Feng, congratulations!" Fang Weidong's voice was filled with laughter.

Lin Feng paused for a moment on the other end of the phone: "Uncle Fang, what's wrong...?"

Fang Weidong said, "Your father-in-law has been transferred to the Organization Department of the Central Committee, didn't you know?"

Lin Feng smiled: "I know. But that's not what you're congratulating me on, is it?"

Fang Weidong laughed too: "You little rascal, nothing gets hidden from you. Secretary of the Pingjiang Municipal Committee of the CPC in Jiangnan Province, and a member of the Provincial Standing Committee. Congratulations."

Lin Feng said, "Thank you, Uncle Fang. How about you? I heard you took over the Party Secretary?"

Fang Weidong said, "I just received the notification. We'll be living close by now, so we should keep in touch more often."

Lin Feng said, "Definitely."

After hanging up the phone, Fang Weidong stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the sycamore trees in the Hantong Provincial Party Committee compound are sprouting new buds, a vibrant green.

Hanjiang Province, Provincial Government Building. Zhao Shuhua's office had been prepared. He came from the capital with only a few belongings and checked into the provincial government guesthouse.

The office was unfurnished, containing only a desk, a chair, and a bookcase—completely empty. He stood by the window, gazing at this unfamiliar city. Hanjiang Province, a new energy demonstration base, was a field he knew well. Having worked at the National Development and Reform Commission for so many years, he was intimately familiar with the new energy industry. Appointing him as governor was precisely to utilize his expertise.

The door was pushed open, and the secretary walked in: "Governor Zhao, the afternoon meeting is ready."

Zhao Shuhua nodded: "Okay."

He turned and walked out of the office with steady steps.

Sichuan Province, with its capital city of Jincheng. A light drizzle was falling as the plane landed.

Qin Xue sat by the window, gazing at the gray sky outside. She recalled what Chen Zhengbang had told her before she left Beijing: "Sichuan Province is not like Beijing; the waters there run deep. When you go, you must remain calm."

She didn't answer, she just nodded.

From Director of the Ninth Bureau of the Ministry of State Security to Vice Governor and Director of the Public Security Department of Sichuan Province, this is a significant leap. The Ninth Bureau operates in the shadows, observing, analyzing, and assessing situations—safeguarding national security in the shadows. The Public Security Department operates in the open, enforcing the law, handling emergencies, and maintaining stability—upholding social order in the sunlight. She needs time to adapt to this transition from the shadows to the light.

But she didn't have time. She had already thoroughly investigated the situation in Sichuan Province before coming. It was a large province with a large population, diverse ethnic groups, and a complex security situation. Organized crime had been entrenched for many years, the drug problem persisted despite repeated crackdowns, there was a severe shortage of grassroots police force, outdated equipment, and low morale. The previous director had served for four years before being transferred in disgrace.