Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 9: A Chicken Feather Flies to the Sky, a Forest Ranger Becomes the Municipal Party Committee

Lin Keke joked, "Zhiyuan, you're so skilled, did you come from the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song?"

Wu Zhiyuan laughed and said, "Officer Lin, to tell you the truth, after I watched the movie 'Shaolin Temple' when I was a child, I kept pestering my parents to send me to Shaolin Temple to learn martial arts."

Of course, my parents did not fulfill my wish.

"When I was in college, there were many clubs, including the Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) club, which I practiced for over three years. I never imagined it would come in handy today."

Upon hearing the gunshots, the search team arrived.

"Here! The suspect has been apprehended!" Lin Keke immediately stood up and waved towards the reinforcements.

The police rushed to the scene first and were surprised to see that the two fugitives had been subdued, while Wu Zhiyuan and Lin Keke were unharmed.

A police officer asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

"It's nothing. We owe it all to Zhiyuan today." Lin Keke pointed to Wu Zhiyuan and briefly explained the arrest situation.

"You're quite something, young man!" The officer patted Wu Zhiyuan on the shoulder. "Dalong is a former fitness instructor, and I heard he's the best fighter in the detention center."

Back at the forest farm headquarters.

Huang Jianbo shook Wu Zhiyuan's hand and praised him, "Zhiyuan, you've done a great job today!"

Wang Junhua said sarcastically, "Comrade Wu Zhiyuan, you've really stolen the show!"

"Incredible! Incredible! This achievement is probably enough to get you transferred back to the city, isn't it?"

The scene became quite awkward.

Wu Zhiyuan couldn't very well retort to Wang Junhua in front of everyone.

Lin Keke smoothed things over, saying, "Comrade Wu Zhiyuan's performance was outstanding."

On behalf of the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Public Security Detachment, I would like to express my gratitude once again.

We will prepare formal materials and submit them to the Municipal Bureau and relevant departments to commend Comrade Wu Zhiyuan!

At the same time, I also believe that having a comrade like Wu Zhiyuan, who is so responsible and capable, is a source of pride for the entire Qinglongshan Forest Farm!

Zhu Datong led the applause, while Wang Junhua looked grim.

The armed police, police officers, and cadres and civilians who participated in the search all left.

The forest farm headquarters returned to its quiet state.

Zhu Datong patted Wu Zhiyuan on the shoulder: "Zhiyuan, what's it like working with a beautiful policewoman?"

When Zhu Datong asked him this, Wu Zhiyuan couldn't help but recall Lin Keke's heroic figure and the meaningful look she gave him when they parted. He smiled and shook his head, giving Zhu Datong a light punch: "Don't talk nonsense. She's a leader from the Municipal Bureau, and I'm just a forest ranger. It was just a coincidence today."

Zhu Datong winked and said, "Come on, I think the way Officer Lin looked at you was something else! You've got a lucky streak with the ladies!"

Wang Junhua, like a persistent ghost, reappeared, sneering, "Lin Keke is already taken; her father-in-law is a member of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission! Some people are like toads trying to eat swan meat!"

Wang Junhua provoked him time and time again, and Wu Zhiyuan could no longer suppress his anger. He grabbed Wang Junhua's collar, clenched his fist as thick as a bowl, and said fiercely, "Wang Junhua, I've put up with you for a long time!"

"It's bad enough that they target me at work, but now they're spewing nonsense. Do they really think I'm easygoing and won't resort to violence?"

Wang Junhua, though outwardly fierce, feigned composure and sarcastically remarked, "What? Did I hit a nerve? Are you going to hit me now?"

Go ahead and hit me! Let everyone see what kind of person this "hero" really is!

Zhu Datong hurriedly pulled Wu Zhiyuan away.

With that punch, Wang Junhua would surely be bruised and battered. Although Wu Zhiyuan would have gotten his revenge, he would be in big trouble.

"Wang Junhua, I'll let you off the hook for today! But if you target me again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"A despicable person who rose to power through underhanded and vile means dares to target me at every turn! He should take a good look at himself in the mirror!"

Wang Junhua slunk away.

Wu Zhiyuan laughed heartily: "Evil people need other evil people to teach them a lesson!"

Zhu Datong lamented: "The ugliness of human nature lies in finding fault with the powerless, kind, and weak, while searching for virtues in the powerful, influential, and immoral."

……

A few days later, Wu Zhiyuan received a phone call: "Is this Wu Zhiyuan?"

Judging from the caller ID, it's a local number.

"Yes, may I ask who you are?"

"This is Geng Dongqing from the Municipal Party Committee Office. Do you have time to come over today?"

Wu Zhiyuan had previously worked in the office of the Municipal Forestry Bureau and knew that Geng Dongqing was the Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Municipal Party Committee Office.

Geng Dongqing, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee, Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee, and Secretary of the Party Group of the General Office of the Municipal Party Committee, was placed under investigation for suspected corruption. He was the de facto "chief steward" of the Municipal Party Committee.

"Director Geng, hello. I can go there today. What exactly do you need me to do?" Wu Zhiyuan asked cautiously.

"Let's talk when you get here. 3 PM, Room 805, Municipal Party Committee Building." Geng Dongqing's tone was calm but left no room for refusal.

The Longcheng Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government building has a very distinctive design, with the two buildings closely connected by an aerial bridge, forming a "twin tower" layout.

The tops of the two main buildings are not flat and straight, but rather feature a symmetrical "front eaves and back upturned" design, which, from a distance, resembles an official's hat.

Geng Dongqing is in his forties, of medium build, wears black-rimmed glasses, and has a serious expression.

"Director Geng, hello, I am Wu Zhiyuan." Wu Zhiyuan said respectfully.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Geng Dongqing got straight to the point: "I know you might be wondering why I called you here."

Secretary Xu needs a secretary. He has read your theoretical research articles published in the Jiangzhong Daily and is very interested in you.

Secretary to the Municipal Party Committee Secretary?

Wu Zhiyuan was overjoyed. If it came true, it would be like a chicken feather flying to the sky!

Secretary Xu is Xu Youwei, who has been in office in Longcheng City for less than ten days.

The former municipal party secretary was arrested for corruption, and Xu Youwei was transferred from deputy secretary of the provincial political and legal committee to become the secretary of Longcheng city party committee.

Geng Dongqing continued, "If you agree, report for duty tomorrow. You'll have a few days of trial work. If Secretary Xu is satisfied, we'll process the formal transfer procedures."

Geng Dongqing's speech also implied a subtext: if Secretary Xu is not satisfied with the trial period, then he will have to return to Qinglongshan Forest Farm.

Opportunities are rare and hard to come by.

Wu Zhiyuan firmly replied, "I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the organization and its leaders, and I accept this challenge."

As Wu Zhiyuan was going downstairs, he bumped into Wang Meili.

Wang Meili came to submit materials.

She stared at Wu Zhiyuan with a scrutinizing gaze: "What are you doing at the municipal party committee building during working hours instead of being on duty at the forest farm?"

Wu Zhiyuan, of course, wouldn't tell the truth, and casually said, "I'm here to take care of something."

"Are you here to loiter? Or to pull strings? Let me tell you, Wu Zhiyuan, don't think that just because you caught the fugitive last time you can be so irresponsible! You can disregard work discipline!"

Assisting in the capture of a fugitive might earn you a commendation for bravery at best, but do you think that will get you transferred to the municipal government? Think again!

Wu Zhiyuan wasn't angry. He lowered his voice and said, "Sis, is it convenient for you? How about I treat you to dinner tonight?"

"Who's your sister! Don't call me that!" Wang Meili's almond-shaped eyes widened.

Wu Zhiyuan said with a grin, "Respected Section Chief Wang, after you were attacked by the snake last time, you kept calling me 'little brother'!"

Wang Meili was stung by Wu Zhiyuan's words, her face instantly turning from red to white, then from white to green: "Shut up! A good-for-nothing banished to a remote mountain village dares to call me 'sister'!"