Nominal: Energy sector enters Handong, breaking the deadlock

No matter what Liu Changsheng said, Ren Zhimin did not believe him.

Who can blame them? Sha Ruijin is the newly appointed top leader, while Liu Changsheng is just an old man about to retire.

Ren Zhimin immediately stood up, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Secretary Sha. From now on, I, Ren Zhimin, will follow Secretary Sha's lead."

They sided with Sha Ruijin and boarded the Sha family's ship.

The two had a deep and pleasant conversation.

When he left, Ren Zhimin walked briskly, full of pride.

It was as if he would soon become the governor of Handong Province.

Sha Ruijin's empty promises were enough to win people's hearts.

Twenty minutes later, the door was pushed open again.

Wu Chunlin, the head of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee, walked in slowly and closed the door behind him. "Secretary Sha, I'm here."

Sha Ruijin put down his teacup and posed a somewhat childish question, "Chunlin, tell me, between Li Dakang and Gao Yuliang, which one is easier to handle?"

Most people might not ask this question, but Sha Ruijin dared to.

If you want to know some secrets about the officialdom in Handong, you must not put all your eggs in one basket.

Sha Ruijin did not completely trust Tian Guofu.

Therefore, given this rare opportunity, we must ask Wu Chunlin.

Wu Chunlin found it difficult to answer.

Sha Ruijin is so fierce; he's already starting to fight as soon as he arrives in Handong.

It shouldn't be that bad.

Anyway, it's all just legend and nonsense.

"Secretary Sha, would you like to hear the truth or a lie?"

Then, by deliberately keeping everyone in suspense, Sha Ruijin would finally believe that he was Li Kui.

"Chunlin, we're all on the same side, so feel free to speak." Sha Ruijin was a little curious about what Wu Chunlin could say.

Wu Chunlin handed Sha Ruijin a cigarette, saying, "Secretary Sha, neither of them is easy to deal with."

In their early years, the two of them worked together in Luzhou.

Gao Yuliang was appointed as the municipal party secretary, and Li Dakang was appointed as the mayor. They had irreconcilable differences in their political views and seemed to have deep-seated grudges in private.

Subsequently, former Party Secretary Zhao Lichun intervened and transferred Li Dakang away from Lüzhou, appointing him as the Party Secretary of Lincheng.

To the untrained eye, many people agree that the conflict between Li Dakang and Gao Yuliang seems to be deep-rooted and irreconcilable.

Sha Ruijin took a deep drag on his cigarette and asked a somewhat silly question, "Of the two, who is easier to win over?"

This question is actually quite basic.

Anyway, since they've been drinking, no matter what, Sha Ruijin definitely won't admit tomorrow that he asked that question or said anything.

Wu Chunlin pondered for a moment, then said, "Secretary Sha, I think Gao Yuliang is the hardest to win over."

He originally thought he was firmly in the position of provincial party secretary.

Your arrival in Handong has directly ended his career.

His morale is low, and he's likely unwilling to cooperate with you.

Once an obsession is shattered, it is most difficult to win someone's heart.

The main reason is that Gao Yuliang had no demands.

We can't make any progress; we're just waiting to retire or take a sinecure.

Sha Ruijin was a little smug. "What has Gao Yuliang been doing these past two days?"

"Every morning, I go back to the Provincial Party Committee to preside over the work, which is basically just showing my face and clocking in. There's nothing major going on at the Provincial Party Committee anyway. I spend most of my time in the backyard of the Provincial Party Committee's No. 3 compound, tilling the soil and weeding." Wu Chunlin's attention to Gao Yuliang was not without reason.

Wu Chunlin had been keeping an eye on Gao Yuliang for a long time.

The reason why Gao Yuliang is easily resented is because he occupies two spots in the provincial party committee.

One is the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, and the other is the secretary of the provincial political and legal affairs commission.

Both of them were selected for the Standing Committee.

However, Gao Yuliang's position as a vice-ministerial level official blocked one person's position on the Standing Committee.

Wu Chunlin was eyeing Gao Yuliang's position as deputy secretary of the provincial party committee.

Sha Ruijin chuckled and let out a burp. "Chunlin, it's quite interesting that Gao Yuliang, a law PhD and deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, doesn't study political and legal practice but instead indulges in farming."

Wu Chunlin thought it was normal; he had the same hobby.

"Secretary Yuliang was a sent-down youth in his early years and is proficient in all kinds of farm work. Horticulture has been his hobby for many years."

Wu Chunlin is also very skilled at farm work.

Their generation is now considered old, and most of them have experienced rural life.

Sha Ruijin felt that Gao Yuliang was not a threat.

Actually, Gao Yuliang's way of giving up is quite good.

A provincial third-level official who lacks energy and spirit is in his best interest.

"Liu Changsheng, where did you go?"

Wu Chunlin suppressed his smile. "I went to Beijing today."

"Did he report to the Provincial Party Committee Office for leave? He's a ministerial-level official; he has to report to the central government before going to Beijing." Sha Ruijin felt something was off.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation.

We must get to the bottom of this.

"I don't know." Wu Chunlin shook his head. "It's said that the dean and vice dean talked to Governor Liu. I guess it was most likely about early retirement."

Sha Ruijin raised his hand. "Comrade Chunlin, do not speculate on the intentions of those above."

Wu Chunlin immediately lowered his head, then raised his eyes, his gaze direct, and took the initiative to make a offer, "Secretary Sha, if Governor Liu retires early, I would also like to take another step forward."

With opportunities before us, we must seize them and strive for progress.

Otherwise, wouldn't that be foolish?

Sha Ruijin looked Wu Chunlin up and down. "Chunlin, it's extremely difficult for someone to be promoted from the head of the Organization Department to the governor in recent years."

This directly extinguished Wu Chunlin's hopes of becoming the provincial governor.

That's the truth.

Even if making empty promises costs little to nothing, some promises simply shouldn't be made.

This was exactly the effect Wu Chunlin wanted—like haggling over prices at the market, saying, "Secretary Sha, I'll compromise; Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee will do."

Settle for second best.

In fact, becoming the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee was Wu Chunlin's original goal.

Sha Ruijin responded casually, making a generous promise, "No problem. Brother Chunlin, if there are any vacancies later, I will recommend you first."

A single, casual remark was enough to keep the top leader of the organization in check.

As soon as Brother Chunlin uttered those words, Wu Chunlin knew that Sha Ruijin was drunk.

Words spoken while drunk don't count.

If drunken promises were kept, pigs would fly.

Finally, I don't know how it happened.

Wu Chunlin and Sha Ruijin continued drinking baijiu and playing a drinking game, chanting, "Good brothers, five of a kind, six six six..."

Secretary Bai overheard everything outside, and was both amused and exasperated. Secretary Sha was certainly being quite unrestrained today.

My boss wasn't like this before.

Did things change once we got to Handong?

the other side.

Four Nine Cities.

Song Yunhui and his secretary Zhou Haoyang went to the airport to pick up Liu Changsheng.

Song Yunhui and Liu Changsheng had known each other for a long time and had met at some important meetings.

When leaving the airport.

The two people in the back row had an in-depth conversation.

Song Yunhui escorted Liu Changsheng to Xu Shengli's office. "Old Xu, Governor Liu has arrived."

The very word "Old Xu" highlights the unusual relationship between Song Yunhui and Xu Shengli.

"Xiao Song, you've worked hard. Go rest next door. I need to talk to Governor Liu." Xu Shengli leaned back on the sofa, his silver hair particularly striking. "Old Liu, make yourself at home!"

Liu Changsheng was extremely respectful to Xu Shengli, saying, "Thank you, Elder Xu!"

Back when Liu Changsheng was the vice mayor, Xu Shengli was the vice governor of Anyun Province.

Liu Changsheng raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Old Xu, I would like to apply for retirement."

Even if he submits the application now, after all the approvals and reviews, Liu Changsheng will probably be at retirement age by the time it is actually approved.

Xu Shengli looked up and stared at Liu Changsheng. "Why? Old Liu. Why would you think that?"

He might get angry if others call him Old Liu.

However, when Old Xu called out like that, he felt that Old Xu was approachable and that it brought the two of them closer.

Liu Changsheng picked up his teacup and placed it on the saucer. "Old Xu, I'm getting old and my energy isn't what it used to be. I should make way for the younger members of the team as soon as possible."

To put it bluntly, they just didn't want to get involved in Sha Ruijin's affairs.

Although Zhao Lichun is domineering, he absolutely respects himself.

The previous provincial party secretary, Yu Huicheng, consulted with Liu Changsheng on all major matters, showing him due respect.

Despite not holding a formal meeting of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee or the five-person group, Liu Changsheng concluded that Sha Ruijin was difficult to get along with.

Xu Shengli put down his teacup. "Old Liu, is this the truth?"

They were certain that Liu Changsheng was making excuses.

Who the hell wants to retire? They must be out of their mind.

Liu Changsheng said with a wry smile, "Old Xu, I'm in a dilemma in Handong, caught between a rock and a hard place."

In reality, it was because he disliked Sha Ruijin.

The delegation consisted of five members of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee.

This kind of spectacle is rarely seen.

Liu Changsheng particularly disliked people who were impractical and focused on empty talk.

Xu Shengli chuckled and waved his hand, "Old Liu, I think you're being pretentious."

You're in your early sixties, and I'm almost seventy.

We belong to the same generation; we've experienced the hardships of material shortages and also benefited from the reforms.

With your exceptional abilities, Liu Changsheng, it's no wonder that Handong's economy hasn't maintained such rapid growth year after year.

"You're so young, it's disservice to the organization that's nurtured you to leave so easily."

Liu Changsheng asked doubtfully, "Elder Xu, do you think I'm wrong to think this way?"

Xu Shengli changed the subject, throwing out a bargaining chip, not believing Liu Changsheng wouldn't be tempted, "If the higher-ups arranged a position for you, and even moved you up a bit, would you still be interested in continuing? How about someone like Zhao Lichun?"

Liu Changsheng's pupils twitched slightly, and he subconsciously sat up straight.

He immediately stood up, his eyes filled with an undisguised longing.

"Mr. Xu, I miss him so much."

No one can resist a higher platform.

The same goes for Liu Changsheng.