Names: Uncle Zhao Mengsheng, Father-in-law Pei Yihong

Dong Jianming knew perfectly well that Sha Ruijin wanted to find someone to check Li Dakang and break the rigid personnel structure in Jingzhou.

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke with certainty.

"Secretary Sha, if we're talking about checks and balances, there really is one person."

Sha Ruijin looked up. "Who?"

"Mayor of Jingzhou City, Wu Xiongfei." Dong Jianming took a sip of wine and began to speak slowly, "Wu Xiongfei is very capable, comes from a grassroots background, and is knowledgeable in economics, urban construction, and people's livelihood. His professional skills are absolutely top-notch. It's just that he was born at the wrong time."

Exaggerating a bit is reasonable, isn't it?

I've disliked Li Dakang for a long time.

He's always so arrogant. Let's give him a hard time and elevate Wu Xiongfei, that perennial runner-up.

Sha Ruijin became interested. "Secretary-General Dong, what do you mean?"

Dong Jianming sighed, "Secretary Sha, with Li Dakang, the Party Secretary of Jingzhou, pressing down on us, his position as mayor is truly superfluous."

Li Dakang firmly controls the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee, managing personnel, finance, and projects all at once.

Wu Xiongfei wanted to implement policies and advance projects, but without Li Dakang's approval, nothing could be done.

Conversely, the work that Li Dakang wanted to promote was eventually implemented, even if Wu Xiongfei publicly opposed it.

Sha Ruijin frowned slightly. "So, according to you, Wu Xiongfei is too weak and unfit for important tasks?"

Dong Jianming immediately shook his head, "Secretary Sha, that's not weakness. He's a deep thinker and keeps his temper in check. He disapproves of Li Dakang's domineering style, but he never confronts him directly. Whenever there are opportunities for study tours, meetings, or research trips in the province or other provinces, he's the first to sign up."

It may seem like laziness or shirking responsibility, but in reality, it stems from a reluctance to be a puppet or a mere decoration.

That's what hiding is.

However, after Tung Kin-ming said it this way, it sounded a bit high-sounding.

Upon hearing this, Sha Ruijin's eyes suddenly lit up.

Having spent many years in officialdom and seen countless people, he instantly understood Wu Xiongfei's way of dealing with the world.

"This is not weakness, it is forbearance. When you are under someone's thumb, you have to bow your head. He is enduring hardship and biding his time, hiding his strength and waiting for the right opportunity."

"Right, Secretary Sha, I think so too." Since they had been drinking, Dong Jianming was going all out.

No matter what they say, I will absolutely not admit it tomorrow.

Sha Ruijin put down his wine glass. "Jianming, contact Wu Xiongfei immediately. Tell him to come see me at the Provincial Party Committee Compound No. 1 right away."

Tung Kin-ming's expression hardened, and he immediately stood up. "Yes, Secretary Sha!"

In the power struggles of officialdom, a single move can have far-reaching consequences.

Aren't the Thirteen Protectors of Handong?

If I, Sha Ruijin, want to secure my position as the top leader of Handong, I must first break through the stalemate in Jingzhou.

Dong Jianming didn't dare to delay. He got up and went to the bathroom, took out his phone, and found Wu Xiongfei's number.

Having climbed to his level within the system, he understands best the value of a late-night phone call.

When the call connected, Dong Jianming's tone was concise and straightforward.

"Mayor Wu, I recommended you to Secretary Sha, and Secretary Sha wants to see you. Come to the Provincial Party Committee Compound No. 1 right away."

Wu Xiongfei must owe him a favor.

Wu Xiongfei on the other end of the phone instantly perked up.

He served as the second-in-command in Jingzhou for many years, constantly suppressed by Li Dakang, feeling utterly powerless and caught in the middle of officialdom.

During provincial meetings, research trips, and performance evaluations, Li Dakang always stole the spotlight, making his position as mayor virtually meaningless.

For years, he lay low, yielding and deliberately avoiding trouble, waiting for a breakthrough from the higher-ups. Now, the provincial party secretary summoned him late at night; the implications are self-evident.

"Received, Secretary-General Dong. I am deeply grateful and will be there as soon as possible!"

Wu Xiongfei could not contain his elation.

The chance to finally get ahead has arrived.

After hanging up the phone, he pushed his wife away from his arms.

He quickly changed into formal attire, drove at breakneck speed, flooring the accelerator, not daring to linger for even a moment.

We finally arrived at the gate of the No. 1 compound of the Provincial Party Committee.

It seems like I haven't been inside much.

Since being parachuted into Sha Ruijin, he might be the first mayor to be imprisoned.

I, Wu Xiongfei, am about to become awesome!

Secretary Bai was waiting at the door. When he saw Wu Xiongfei, he led him into the courtyard.

Wu Xiongfei straightened his collar and quickly followed.

The aroma of wine lingered, and the atmosphere was relaxed, completely different from what I had imagined.

Drinking is even better.

The provincial party secretary invited me for drinks; if I told people in Handong that I was bragging, they probably wouldn't believe it.

Sha Ruijin looked up at the newcomer and gestured, "Comrade Xiongfei, sit down and have a drink with me."

"Thank you, Secretary Sha." Wu Xiongfei said humbly and took a seat.

As Dong Jianming watched the two sit down and chat, his mind raced.

Having spent many years working in the provincial party committee, he is most adept at assessing situations and helping others achieve their goals.

The essence of tonight's drinking party is that Sha Ruijin wants to win over his pawns and lay the groundwork for Jingzhou. As the provincial party secretary-general, I had no choice but to follow the provincial party secretary closely.

In this situation, my presence here is completely superfluous and would only be an eyesore.

After a few glasses of baijiu, his cheeks flushed slightly. Dong Jianming decided to play the part of being drunk. He slumped onto the table, breathing heavily, looking completely intoxicated and fast asleep.

In the old days of officialdom, the best at pretending to be ignorant was to know the truth.

Sha Ruijin glanced at it out of the corner of his eye, understood what was going on, but neither pointed it out nor said anything.

"Xiaobai, come here for a second."

Secretary Bai jogged over. "Boss, should we take Secretary Dong back to rest first?"

Sha Ruijin nodded slightly. "Yes, Xiao Bai, personally arrange for Secretary-General Dong to go home."

"Yes, sir." Secretary Bai helped the pretending-to-be-drunk Dong Jianming up, and quietly led his men away, closing the door behind them.

That's what it means to know the rules.

With each voice echoing the other, that's how a play is performed.

Only Sha Ruijin and Wu Xiongfei remained, facing each other alone.

Sha Ruijin picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and said, "Comrade Xiongfei, today it's just the two of us. Let's not talk about official formalities, but just speak from the heart."

There's a long-standing rumor in Hantong's official circles that a Sha-Li pairing is in the works. Outsiders generally believe that with Sha Ruijin in charge of Hantong, Li Dakang succeeding him as governor is a foregone conclusion.

"Yes, Secretary Sha, I've heard about it too. I've actually been wanting to visit you for a while now, and I just got back from my studies in Beijing this afternoon," Wu Xiongfei said, spouting nonsense with a straight face.

Why do so many people say that Wu Xiongfei loves to study?

The main reason is that he often doesn't participate in any activities, such as meetings of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, saying that he's gone to study elsewhere.

Or it could be a business conference, a negotiation meeting, or an academic exchange meeting.

"Xiongfei, Xiongfei, keep learning! You're never too old to learn." Sha Ruijin smiled. "The Sha-Li pairing is pure nonsense. With me here, Li Dakang will never be able to become the governor. But don't make a fuss about it; create a smokescreen for Li Dakang with this Sha-Li pairing. In my heart, the best candidate for the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee Secretary is you, Wu Xiongfei."

This statement is blunt and ruthless.

Wu Xiongfei was shocked, and the pent-up frustration that had been building up in his heart for many years surged up instantly.

If a leader dares to say this, it means they are completely on your side.

Years of pent-up grievances and resentment finally erupted, and he immediately poured out his grievances.

"Secretary Sha, what you said is so true, so insightful!"

Li Dakang wasn't just assertive; he was downright domineering and tyrannical.

The Standing Committee of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee was, from beginning to end, a one-man show run by Li Dakang!