Nominal: Energy sector enters Handong, breaking the deadlock

With the authority to approve and stamp energy projects, Zhao Dehan wielded considerable power.

Zhao Dehan's face turned pale instantly. He hurriedly waved his hands and shook his head, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Minister Song, you're joking. I'm just a worker, I would never dare to dream of a ministerial position. If I ever reach the rank of deputy director, my Zhao family ancestors would be incredibly lucky."

Terrified, she thought Song Yunhui had found out everything about her.

Song Yunhui changed the subject and got straight to the point, "Director Zhao, don't be nervous, it's a good thing we've asked you to come."

The ministry plans to promote you exceptionally, appointing you as the Director of the Audit Department.

A truly powerful position at the ministerial level.

This promotion, skipping ranks and going directly from section chief to the top position of director-general, is a rare exception in the energy sector.

Zhao Dehan felt like he was dreaming and was somewhat taken aback.

The Zhao family's ancestral graves must be emitting auspicious smoke.

I was stunned for several seconds.

He then bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Minister Song!"

I, Zhao Dehan, will certainly perform my duties diligently and will never let you down!

It was truly a case of a discerning eye meeting a talented individual.

Zhao Dehan felt that his career was truly taking off.

"Okay, go back and work hard. As long as you work hard, things will get better and better in the future." Song Yunhui waved his hand dismissively, signaling him to leave.

The sudden arrival of a high-ranking official filled me with overwhelming joy, dispelling all my anxieties.

"Goodbye, Minister Song!"

Zhao Dehan walked out of the office with light steps, almost floating.

I accidentally ended up in the main hall.

Others might say it's a joke, but Song Yunhui's words must be believed.

No sooner had Zhao Dehan left than Vice Minister Lu Xiaola pushed open the door and entered.

Song Yunhui tossed him a cigarette. "Xiao La, there's a meeting this afternoon. You're in charge of nominating Zhao Dehan for the position of Director of the Audit Department. The results should be announced before the end of the day."

In the Department of Energy, Song Yunhui and Lu Xiaola succeeded in whatever they set their minds to.

Lu Xiaola lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said, "Minister Song, Zhao Dehan's qualifications are still lacking. I don't think he's qualified to be a director for the time being."

Song Yunhui flicked his cigarette ash. "Xiao La, according to reliable sources, Hou Liangping, the son-in-law of the Zhong family, has his eye on our energy department. The tip-off points directly to Zhao Dehan."

Lu Xiaola's pupils contracted sharply, and she sat up straight instinctively. "Xiao Hui, are you crazy?"

The other party is about to investigate him, and you're instead promoting him beyond your rank?

This is just asking for trouble!

The right thing to do is to dismiss Zhao Dehan or give him a leave of absence.

Someone wants to investigate Zhao Dehan, yet they're still letting him advance in his career?

Song Yunhui truly defied expectations, completely deviating from the expected pattern.

This move completely violates the common sense of risk avoidance in officialdom and is tantamount to exposing one's own weakness.

Song Yunhui smiled and said frankly, "Once Zhao Dehan is completely eradicated by the Zhong family, affecting a crucial link in our energy system, how can you, as the vice minister, remain secure? Don't you want to advance further?"

It directly targets Lu Xiaola's weaknesses in his career, showing no mercy whatsoever.

If Zhao Dehan is investigated, what chance does Lu Xiaola have of making progress? She'll probably at least be punished.

Lu Xiaola's Adam's apple bobbed. "I dream of going further."

Reaching the rank of minister is the dream of many men.

Lu Xiaola was no exception.

However, there are too many monks and not enough porridge.

One radish, one hole.

Having spent years lying low at the vice-ministerial level, who wouldn't want to rise to the position of a powerful minister?

Song Yunhui slowly opened his mouth, offering an enticing offer, "Xiao La, I want to go to Handong to enter the game. Once I leave, the position of Executive Vice Minister will be vacant, and it will be rightfully yours."

Lu Xiaola was greatly shocked and immediately put aside all her concerns. "Minister Song, I understand. I will nominate Zhao Dehan at the meeting. I will do the work for the others. I guarantee it will be approved unanimously."

With a promising career ahead, and a ministerial-level position at that, Zhao Dehan is nothing more than a usable pawn.

Four Nine Cities.

Z Discipline Inspection Commission Office Building.

The decoration is understated and elegant.

Zhong Xiaoai looked at Zhong Zhengguo across from her.

"Dad, I'm organizing case files in my office. What's wrong? Why did you call me here so urgently?"

Zhong Zhengguo pushed a letter of complaint towards him, his expression calm and composed. "Xiao Ai, give this letter of complaint to Monkey and let him investigate."

Zhong Xiaoai opened the envelope and scanned the contents of the report.

The whistleblower directly accused Zhao Dehan, a section chief at the Ministry of Energy and Resources.

"Dad, the evidence is complete, I can handle it. I'll bring the men and summon Zhao Dehan right now!"

Having long wanted to gain leverage over the energy system, Zhong Xiaoai could no longer contain her excitement when the opportunity presented itself.

Chung Cheng-kuo raised his hand and tapped the table lightly. "Xiao Ai, calm down."

The energy sector is deeply entrenched in factions and is not an ordinary organization.

Last time, Hou Liangping led a team to investigate a section chief in the energy department; he's very familiar with the methods used in handling cases.

They are familiar with the procedures and have experience.

Zhong Xiaoai pouted, a little unconvinced, "I was the one who passed on that clue to Liangping last time."

Zhong Xiaoai was actually unwilling to give up the opportunity to make a contribution to Hou Liangping.

Zhong Zhengguo smiled faintly, "The source of the clues wasn't me, was it?"

This time is different from the last; I'm going to kill three birds with one stone.

Zhong Xiaoai brushed a stray hair from her forehead. "Dad, what do you mean?"

Zhong Zhengguo picked up his teacup. "First, take down Zhao Dehan."

Second, dig deeper into Zhao Dehan's confession and take down at least one vice-minister, and ideally, investigate and punish a minister in the energy sector.

Third, by incidentally arresting Ding Yizhen, the deputy mayor of Jingzhou, we can legitimately and directly intervene in the affairs of Handong.

Chung Cheng-kuo was having his own plans.

Zhong Xiaoai's eyes lit up, and she immediately volunteered, "Dad, let me take the lead in investigating this case."

Zhong Zhengguo gently shook his head, "No, Xiao Ai. Your identity is special, and the Energy Department isn't so easy to investigate."

If the case goes wrong, our Chung family will suffer a backlash that will be crippling.

Hou Liangping is the most suitable person to handle this. If he succeeds, I will promote him directly to the rank of director-general.

If things go wrong, he will bear all the blame.

What is a live-in son-in-law?

It's nothing.

wrong.

It was originally a chess piece used to block attacks.

The pros and cons are weighed and are crystal clear.

Zhong Xiaoai remained silent for a moment, then readily accepted her father's arrangement. "Okay, Dad, I'll listen to you. I'll call Liangping right now."

Zhong Zhengguo raised his hand to stop her, "Xiao Ai, let's talk about it when we get home tonight."

Some things can't be said over the phone.

Hou Liangping is impatient and prone to alerting his enemies prematurely.

This time, we must remain calm.

Zhong Zhengguo had a firm grasp on Hou Liangping's character.

"Okay, I'll talk to Monkey when I get home tonight." Zhong Xiaoai felt that no matter what, she seemed to have made a profit.

That afternoon.

A special meeting on the appointment and removal of cadres of the Ministry of Energy and Resources was held on time.

All members of the leadership team took their seats in the meeting room.

As agreed before the meeting, Lu Xiaola stood up and spoke, "Comrades, in light of the gaps in energy auditing and the performance of our cadres, I nominate Zhao Dehan, the director of the Project Approval Division, for promotion to the position of Director of the Audit Department."

The team members had been briefed beforehand, and no one raised any objections.

The vote was taken by a show of hands, and the resolution was passed unanimously.

One hour after the meeting ended, the Ministry of Energy and Resources posted a notice on its bulletin board, which will be open for public comment for five working days.

After get off work, the sky was overcast.

Zhao Dehan rode his electric bike, grinning from ear to ear.

Travel slowly, feeling triumphant in the spring breeze.

After so many years of hard work, I finally became a director-general at the provincial level, with a bright future ahead of me.

Unaware that a van was following him at a distance, he was not at all.

back home.

Zhao Dehan's wife, Xu Wenjuan, makes authentic Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), served with garlic cloves and cold dishes.

Zhao Dehan had a great appetite; he ate a clove of garlic and a mouthful of noodles, then finished two bowls in no time.

After the meal.

Xu Wenjuan cleared the dishes and took her son to his tutoring class.

Zhao Dehan was left alone at home.

Zhao Dehan slung his canvas bag over his shoulder, put on a mask, and rode his electric bike around Sandao Street before entering the Dijingyuan villa area.

Zhao Dehan swiped his card to open the door, went straight to the living room, and put stacks of cash into the double-door refrigerator.

After finishing his business, he took out his account book and made a record of the expenses.

The source, amount, and date of each transaction are clearly marked.

I turned off the lights, walked to the gate, hopped on my electric scooter, and prepared to leave the villa.

The car lights came on, blocking the villa's exit.

Song Yunhui, Lu Xiaola, and Zhou Haoyang got out of the car and blocked Zhao Dehan's way.

With his hands behind his back, Song Yunhui said jokingly, "Director Zhao, it's so late, we're already at your doorstep, won't you invite us in for a bit?"

Zhao Dehan froze, his fingers gripping the handlebars tightly. He forced himself to remain calm and said, "Minister Song, you've misunderstood. This isn't my home; it's a house my friend is temporarily staying at. I just came to check on things."

A desperate struggle, clinging to a sliver of hope.

Lu Xiaola strode forward, quickly pulled out the room card from Zhao Dehan's shirt pocket with her fingertips, and shook it in her palm.

"Zhao Dehan, is this your home? Go inside and you'll see for yourself."

Zhao Dehan gritted his teeth, "Minister Lu, it's really not my home. I swear to God."

Song Yunhui pulled out the electric scooter key. "Director Zhao, regardless of whether it's true or not, please invite the three of us in for a drink of water."

Zhao Dehan was inwardly bitter; the moment he entered the door, his deception was completely exposed.

We're doomed!