Volume 1 Chapter 65 The Art of Being Superior

  Seeing Kuang Xuetao and Xiong Wenbin accompanying Tan Qiping in the study, Shen Hua suddenly remembered that the middle-aged woman wearing black clothes who looked familiar in the living room was Kuang Xuetao's wife.

  "Director Kan is also here!" Shen Huai first greeted Kan Xuetao, seeing him chatting with Tan Qiping, they should have known each other for a long time.

  "Lao Kan and I knew each other when he was at the provincial hall," Tan Qiping patted the sofa beside him, letting Shen Hui sit down, and said to Kan Xuetao, "I heard that young Shen caused a lot of trouble for you in Meixi Town!"

  "It's just that some people have gone too far," said Kuang Xuetao with a warm smile on his face. "Shen Huai is still very capable of working in Meixi Town, young people are more adventurous than me." He looked at Zhou Ming standing beside him and said, "Old bear's son-in-law is also a talented person, I heard he is the backbone of the Planning Commission?" The praise was all well-deserved.

  In 1993, the Public Security Bureau's status had not been elevated yet. Although Kuang Xuetao was the Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Bureau, his ranking among county-level officials was not particularly high. In the face of Xiong Wenbin who was about to promote Tan Qiping as Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee, he tried his best to get close to him.

  Unlike the long string of deputy secretaries general of the municipal government, the deputy secretary general of the municipal party committee will concurrently hold the posts of the municipal party committee office and the municipal policy research room, with a higher administrative level in itself. The secretary general of the municipal party committee is a member of the standing committee, mainly responsible for assisting the secretary of the municipal party committee in handling party affairs work, so the gold content of the deputy secretary general of the municipal party committee can be said to be one of the highest among them.

  Huang Xuetao is not very clear about the relationship between Xiong Wenbin and Shen Huai, nor does he know how Xiong Wenbin gained Tan Qiping's trust.

  Tan Qiping introduced Xue Wentao to Huang Wenbin, just like he had introduced him to Shen Hua, only saying that they knew each other before, but being vague about how they met and to what extent.

  This is perhaps the art of speaking for those in high positions.

  Kuang Xuetao has been in Donghua for several years, and he is quite familiar with the local people and events. He also knows Xiong Wenbin, and thinks that people's experiences are strange. Knowing that Xiong Wenbin has experience and achievements in leading large state-owned enterprises, if he really gains Tan Qiping's trust, it's possible for him to be promoted as vice mayor.

  Shen Huai casually took out a wrapped old newspaper package from Huang Yangyuan and placed it on Tan Qiping's office desk, saying: "Secretary Tan has just taken office, I'll give this as a gift, won't it seem too shabby?"

  Tan Qiping said: "Lao Xiong and Lao Kan both brought gifts over, asking me to stand outside, you come again to disrupt my rules..."

  "I'm different from Director Kan and Director Xiong," Shen Huai said, "If it's really not possible, then I'll take something from this study as a meeting gift from Secretary Tan..."

  Tan Qiping shook his head and smiled, saying: "You're after something good on my side, huh? Alright, let's make the exchange then."

  Qianxue Tao didn't know what the relationship was between Shen Huai and Tan Qiping, but judging from the scene in front of him, it was clear that Tan Qiping and Shen Huai were much closer. Otherwise, he wouldn't have accepted the gift sent by Shen Huai in front of them and resolutely returned theirs.

  Kuang Xuetao thought to himself: No wonder Shen Huai made such a big splash in Meixi Town, Tan Qiping hadn't even taken office yet, but he was already backing up Shen Huai, forcing Gao Tianhe to lower his head. Thinking about this Shen Huai, it seems that in the future, I will have to get close to him.

  They chatted casually about some topics, and Tan Qiping also asked Zhou Ming to bring over a chair to join in the fun.

  Zhou Ming was a bit stiff, when others asked him questions, he always answered seriously and seemed eager to show off.

  However, Tan Qiping was also lenient towards young cadres like Zhou Ming, not to mention that Zhou Ming was also the son-in-law of Xiong Wenbin. He intentionally asked some questions about the work of the Planning Commission to see how familiar he was with the business.

  Zhou Ming was able to give Xiong Wenbin a daughter-in-law, but he had some ability and learning. However, due to Xiong Wenbin's involvement, he was almost thirty years old and only mixed to the deputy director of the Planning Commission, without being able to take on specific duties.

  However, as long as Xiong Wenbin can enter the core circle of Donghua's power, even without Tan Qiping's direct promotion - Tan Qiping is unlikely to directly promote Zhou Ming - Zhou Ming, as Xiong Wenbin's son-in-law, has his own abilities and business level is still quite solid, it's impossible for him not to mix into a official position.

  Shen Hua didn't say much, just listening to Tan Qiping, Kan Xuetao and Xiong Wenbin chatting there. It was Tan Qiping who actively brought up the topic of Meixi Steel Plant, asking Shen Hua: "I heard from Old Xiong that your work at Meixi Steel Plant is very good, and the personnel who actually participated in the production rectification all have a high evaluation of you..."

  "It's only been half a month, what good results can come out of that?" Shen Huan said with a hint of embarrassment.

  "You say that, but isn't it strange that I helped you exaggerate your achievements in front of Director Tan?" Xiong Wenbin said with a smile.

  "Lao Xiong has authority in the steel industry," said Tan Qiping, "If I didn't need to straighten out the relationships in the city first, I would have let Lao Xiong return to the municipal steel factory directly. You making achievements at Meixi Steel Factory will also promote the municipal steel factory..."

  Shen Hua smiled and responded: "Even if there are some achievements, it's because the foundation of Meixi Steel Factory was too poor before. From frontline workers to management, labor discipline is very loose, so there is a lot of room for improvement. Once tightened up, some results can be quickly achieved. Another reason is that domestic steel demand is so strong, with about 20% shortage this year that needs to be imported from abroad, so turning losses into profits should not be a difficult goal to achieve. As for how long it can last and how much effect it will have, it's still too early to say. However, if I really want to talk about credits, I have to thank Director Kan, without his support, this production rectification would not have gone smoothly..."

  "It's still you young people who have the courage to do things," said Chen Xuetao, not daring to take credit for what happened at the Municipal Bureau. "The Municipal Bureau provided some support, but it was really insignificant. Besides, the problem first arose in the Municipal Bureau..."

  Tan Qiping also studied the materials of Meixi Steel Plant, and heard Shen Hua had confidence in turning losses into profits, and was able to talk about several key points, knowing that he had put his mind to it, nodding in approval.

  Tan Qiping did not have high expectations for Shen Hua, thinking that as long as Shen Hua could turn Meixi Steel Factory around, he would be transferred to a more important position for training, and then no one would say anything.

  Tan Qiping is still unclear about why Song Qiaosheng was so cold to his own nephew. He has not had the opportunity to contact Song Bingsheng, Shen Huai's father, directly.

  "What happened to Song Sanhe later?" Tan Qiping also seemed to remember this matter and asked Kan Xuetao.

  Shen Huai didn't have the energy to follow up on this matter either, and looked at Kan Xuetao, wondering how Gao Tianhe wiped his butt.

  "The Party Committee of the Bureau decided to expel him from the party and his position, and the municipal authorities also supported the decision of the Party Committee of the Bureau," said Quan Xuetao.

  Shen Huai secretly thought that Gao Tianhe's ability to wipe his butt was top-notch, and this matter didn't leave any handles behind. However, since both parties had made a deal with each other, he had gotten what he wanted by grasping the Meixi Steel Factory, so he didn't want to investigate the Wanhao Company's affairs further.

  The water is clear but there are no fish; the officialdom has its own rules and operation.

  Generally speaking, in official circles, one can tolerate being hit back, but cannot tolerate being hated as an enemy - that is, making people feel sad and having to adapt to this reality.

  Shen Hua's experiences at the municipal steel factory over the years, as well as what he learned from his previous life, have taught him a truth: if you want to do something, you must first learn to tolerate some things; being a good official is much harder than being an honest one.

  "Ah," Tan Qiping nodded, and didn't ask further about Song Sanhe's matter. He continued, "In the future, your city bureau should focus on cracking down on economic crimes and maintaining good economic order in Donghua City, so as to create a favorable environment for Donghua's economic development."

  Kuang Xuetao could tell that Tan Qiping's words were somewhat pointed, so he nodded and agreed, saying: "Secretary Tan's instructions, I'll convene a meeting of the bureau party group tomorrow to deploy...".

  "There's no need to be too anxious," Tan Qiping said, "Shen Hua in the countryside can take bigger actions, even if the waves are bigger, they won't capsize the boat. The work in the city is still step by step improving."

  Kuang Xuetao pondered Tan Qiping's words, for a moment he didn't know whether he should be anxious or not.

  Upon hearing this, Shen Huan felt relieved: Tan Qiping still supported his muddling through in the countryside.

  He was worried that Tan Qiping might have heard about his previous behavior and misdeeds in the Song family, and was afraid that Tan Qiping would give up on him. So during this period, he also worked hard to rectify the steel plant's production, thinking that even if Tan Qiping knew about his past misdeeds, he could see his current efforts and achievements.

  Shen Huai didn't intend to guess whether Tan Qiping knew about his past misdeeds in the Song family at this time, as long as Tan Qiping didn't give up on supporting him now, he had confidence to achieve more and prove himself to Tan Qiping, maybe even gaining a reputation of a prodigal son who turned over a new leaf.

  While chatting, time flies by quickly, Chen Sujuan came over to urge everyone to go eat together.

  Chen Mingde's affairs, although some conclusions have been drawn, but there are still some unpleasant rumors circulating. Therefore, Tan Qiping came to take over, and Chen Sujuan would rather abandon the provincial women's federation work than follow him to Donghua.

  They came together with a nanny who was used by their family and Huang Xi, the driver that Tan Qiping had been accustomed to when he was in the provincial organization department.

  Shen Huai had met Huang Xi before, and last time he rushed back to Donghua with Xiong Wenbin overnight, it was still Huang Xi who drove them over. Huang Xi was also married and had children, but his wife and children needed to follow him to Donghua, which would take some time, but it was very convenient.

  Tan Qiping was very satisfied with Xiong Wenbin's abilities and rumors, and directly mentioned at the dinner table that in the upcoming personnel arrangement, he would first assign Xiong Wenbin to be in charge of the municipal party committee office and make him his assistant.

  Xiong Wenbin was still calm, but his wife Bai Suimei and son-in-law Zhou Ming, as well as daughter Xiong Danni, were overjoyed.

  No wonder, the deputy secretary-general of the municipal party committee and the director of the municipal party committee office, as the county-level cadre with the highest gold content, had been unattainable for Xiong Wenbin. Although it is impossible to squeeze into this lakeside villa area, at least one can still get a large three-bedroom apartment in the building group behind.

  It seems that Xiong Wenbin has been promoted from deputy director to the most valuable position, but in Shen Huai's view, all of this is just a belated compensation for Xiong Wenbin.

  The city's steel plant achieved remarkable brilliance under the creation of Xiong Wenbin, and also drove the overall rise of Donghua City's steel industry in the 1980s.

  Just after Xiong Wenbin was transferred out, the Municipal Steel Plant was promoted to a national enterprise at the deputy department level. Gu Tong was also elected as a member of the Municipal Party Committee. If Gu Tong had not managed the Municipal Steel Plant so poorly, or if the Municipal Steel Plant could have further developed during Gu Tong's tenure, it would have been possible for the plant to be upgraded to a vice-ministerial level state-owned enterprise.

  The current annual output of the provincial-owned Huaihai Iron and Steel Group is only about three times that of the city's steel plant in its heyday, with a profit tax of around 800 million yuan last year; while the administrative level of Huaihai Iron and Steel Group is at the deputy ministerial level.