The phone connected, and Liang Hao said, "Director Gao wants to meet you."

"When?"

"Any time works for him, mainly depends on you."

"Then let's do tonight."

With the committee meeting imminent, he didn't want to delay.

"Alright, I'll send you the location once it's decided."

After hanging up the phone, Song Guanchao said, "Meeting with the Deputy Director of the Finance Bureau tonight."

Then he furrowed his brows and said, "If Governor Qu wants to seize the position, this committee meeting may not be easy for her."

Qu Xiangru has repeatedly proposed taking the position in the Finance Bureau.

Even if he and Deputy Director Gao reach an agreement, it's uncertain whether it will pass in the committee meeting.

Secretary Lu and Mayor Zheng's votes are confirmed.

Jiang Yuan owes him a favor, but it's uncertain if he'll help in this situation.

After all, he's up against the Executive Deputy Governor.

If he remains neutral, it would already be good enough.

Secretary Wang is quite fickle; if the situation isn't favorable, he won't support Wu Qiangwei.

The only definite support Wu Qiangwei has is from Chu Xiao'e and Promotion Minister Su Zhengwei.

Even for the organization department, Secretary Song couldn't guarantee Minister Zhou's support for Wu Qiangwei.

As for the United Front Department and the Military District, it's likely they will also remain neutral.

Adding all this up, Wu Qiangwei doesn't have a significant advantage.

Wu Qiangwei remained calm, "We have to try. You go ahead with your work."

Returning to the outer office, Song Guanchao was still pondering this matter.

After all, the Finance Bureau controls the money, and its position in the city is very significant.

The most important thing is, Song Guanchao doesn't know what Qu Xiangru truly wants to achieve.

Everyone has their objectives, but Qu Xiangru's objectives remain unclear to him.

This makes the situation very passive.

After work hours are over.

Song Guanchao drove to the restaurant.

Liang Hao had arrived ahead of him.

The two chatted for a while before the door to the private room was pushed open.

"Director Hao," Liang Hao stood up and introduced, "Let me introduce."

"This is Secretary Song from the City Committee, Song Guanchao."

"Secretary Song, this is Director Hao from the Human Resources Bureau."

"Hello, Director Hao." Song Guanchao shook hands politely.

Although the Human Resources Bureau isn't on par with core departments like the National Development and Reform Commission or the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, it's still quite an important department.

"Secretary Song is young and promising, always wanted to meet you, and today I finally get the chance."

Director Hao was over fifty but looked spirited and had a good demeanor.

Soon after they sat down, Gao Liangwei arrived.

As soon as Gao Liangwei walked in, he immediately paced forward, "Director Hao."

Then he turned his attention to Liang Hao and Song Guanchao.

"Hello, Mayor Liang, hello, Secretary Song."

Compared to Director Hao, Director Gao appeared quite slick and sophisticated, adopting a very humble posture.

A short while later, the dishes were served, and the waiter left the private room.

Since Gao Liangwei had actively invited Song Guanchao, he naturally took the initiative to start the conversation.

After several rounds of drinking, Gao Liangwei said, "Secretary Song, does the City Committee have any considerations for the position of the Finance Bureau Director?"

Song Guanchao followed suit, asking, "Is Director Gao interested?"

Gao Liangwei laughed, "It would be false to say I'm not interested."

"But I understand my own limitations; it's impossible to achieve that on my own."

He laughed at himself and said, "Director Ren claimed he wasn't interested, but how could he truly be disinterested? It's just to fool me, really."

Song Guanchao was somewhat curious, "Did Director Ren and others say that?"

Gao Liangwei nodded, "When Director Bao invited us for a gathering to mark his semi-retirement, Director Ren and others expressed their unwillingness to succeed him."

But in Gao's perspective, it was merely a demonstration of humility at the dinner table.

After all, Director Bao had just semi-retired, and they still had to respect his dignity.

Song Guanchao nodded and said, "If the organization doesn't appoint anyone else, the most hopeful candidates would indeed be Director Ren and Director Xu."

"However, Director Gao isn't entirely without opportunity."

Upon hearing this, Director Gao immediately understood the implications.

He instantly stood up, grabbed the wine decanter, and drank the small three cups of white wine in one go.

"If the leadership chooses to promote me, I would be eternally grateful!"

Liang Hao smiled and interjected, "It's not about the leadership promoting you; it's Secretary Wu."

"I spoke wrongly." Director Gao refilled the decanter, then gulped another drink, "If Secretary Wu decides to utilize me, in the future, if Secretary Wu orders me to climb mountains or descend into seas of fire, I would not decline!"

This Gao Liangwei was unlike any of the individuals Song Guanchao had encountered before.

This fellow was adept at delivering pleasantries and pledging loyalty.

But Song Guanchao could understand.

He had been sidelined for a long time, ranking last among the four deputy directors in the Finance Bureau, with the least power.

Now seeing an opportunity, he naturally wants to seize it firmly, unwilling to let it go.

Even if he appears overly eager, he doesn't mind.

He must ensure that Song Guanchao sees his sincerity.

And Song Guanchao did notice.

He smiled while raising his glass, "Director Gao, please sit down, we are all our own people, no need to stand while drinking."

Our people!

Gao Liangwei felt an inner surge of excitement, continuing to pour and drink.

As if attempting to wash away years of marginalization and pent-up frustration with the alcohol.

Director Hao smiled with relief, "Little Gao, once you become a bureau director, don't forget who helped lift you up."

"I understand!"

Gao Liangwei responded earnestly, "Old leader, while others might not understand, you do. I, Gao Liangwei, am not ungrateful. For even a drip of kindness, I would repay with a surge of gratitude!"

After drinking sufficiently, everyone started smoking and chatting.

Song Guanchao gave him a heads-up, "In the upcoming committee meeting, Secretary Wu plans to recommend you for the position of Finance Bureau Director. But other committee members might also recommend someone, so whether you can smoothly ascend is still undetermined."

Gao Liangwei nodded, "I understand."

Even if he doesn't succeed this time, he won't mind.

At least he has entered Secretary Wu's sight this time.

...

The following day.

Deputy Director Yang Kangji stepped out of his car and entered the office, where a junior clerk was tidying up and preparing tea.

Though someone of his rank doesn't qualify for a dedicated secretary, many still assist him regardless.

He lit a cigarette, leaned back, rested his legs on the desk, and began looking at the files on the table.

At nine-thirty in the morning, as he was about to attend a meeting, a knock sounded on the door.

"Come in."

The junior clerk said, "Director Yang, Director Huang requests your presence."

"Alright, noted."

Yang Kangji entered the director's office, "Director Huang, you wanted to see me?"

He moved over, pulled out a chair to sit down, but noticed Director Huang's expression looked quite serious.

He took out a cigarette and handed one over, "Director Huang, is something wrong?"

"What's wrong?"

Director Huang's eyes almost seemed blazing with anger; this furious look was enough to make Yang Kangji feel a bit bewildered.

"I've been asking, what have you been doing lately?"

This question left him stumped, and after a long thought, he couldn't figure out what he had done.

Director Huang grabbed a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and said, "Think carefully about what you've been doing!"

Yang Kangji felt a bit anxious, "Director Huang, what exactly happened?"

Director Huang spoke seriously, "The Disciplinary Committee is investigating you!"

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