Chapter 2665

Zhou Andong's office, he sat opposite Kong Liming, smiling as he said: "Secretary Kong, you came over for the symposium, right? You don't need to come in person for this; a phone call would do if there's anything."

"I was just thinking of calling you." Kong Liming's expression looked quite helpless: "I think, Director Zhou, you're one of us, no need to be so formal. Worst case, I'll drink a few more drinks later to make amends to you, Director Zhou."

"But the leadership said, we are indeed our own people, but Director Zhou, you are the top figure in the financial field, a business card of our country's commercial sector; no matter big or small matters, I must come in person to communicate with you."

Zhou Andong gave a wry smile: "Secretary Kong, you're really overpraising me—what 'top figure in finance,' 'business card of the commercial sector'—my small frame can't bear that."

Kong Liming laughed along: "Director Zhou, don't misunderstand, this is what the leadership said, it has nothing to do with me."

Zhou Andong slightly shook his head: "There's one thing you said right—we're our own people, so let's not be formal. Just say what you need to; if I can do it, I'll definitely not refuse."

Kong Liming took out a conference pass and a key from his briefcase: "The venue for this symposium is the Grand Conference Hall on the eighth floor of Jinwan Hotel; this is the conference pass and the hotel key."

Upon hearing the venue was set at Jinwan Hotel, Zhou Andong raised his eyebrows: "Where were the previous few symposiums held?"

"At Jingcheng Hotel." Kong Liming said with a smile: "The leadership said, Jinwan Hotel is a Taiwan-funded enterprise, we should support it, so we placed this symposium's venue at Jinwan Hotel."

Zhou Andong sighed inwardly: The leadership is the leadership—no matter big or small things, they handle everything thoroughly. Placing the symposium at Jinwan Hotel means nothing to Zhou Andong. But, the leadership makes things done so you have nothing to say.

"Secretary Kong!" Zhou Andong said emotionally: "When you go back, convey my thanks to the leadership; I've kept this favor in mind."

Kong Liming's smile grew even thicker, but he said: "Director Zhou, don't get sentimental; the leadership said, placing the symposium at Jinwan Hotel has nothing to do with you."

"Alright, I know, this matter has nothing to do with me." Zhou Andong wore a helpless expression, picked up the key from the coffee table to look at it: "My home is just over twenty minutes from Jinwan Hotel; I'll still not stay at the hotel."

Kong Liming said softly: "For this symposium, attendees—whether foreign enterprises, private enterprises, or state-owned enterprises, including various levels of leadership and experts and scholars—will all stay at the hotel for convenience. You keep the key; if it's early, you can go home; if it's late, you can stay at the hotel."

"Fine!" Zhou Andong nodded, placing the pass and key together: "You personally came over—surely not just to deliver the conference pass and room key, right?"

"Also, you need to give a speech, and moreover, two sessions." Kong Liming looked at Zhou Andong and said: "The symposium lasts three days; your first speech is on the second day morning, first slot; the second speech is the closing remarks on the final day."

"Isn't the closing remarks always the leadership's job?" Zhou Andong froze for a moment, then immediately shook his head vigorously: "This won't do—I can give two or three speeches, even take all the talking slots for the three-day symposium, it doesn't matter, but the closing remarks should still be left to the leadership."

Kong Liming laughed: "Having you deliver the closing remarks is the collective decision of the leadership, already settled; your opposition won't help."

Zhou Andong opened his mouth: One meeting, having him give two speeches, is already quite high-profile. If he were to give the closing remarks, that would really be hard to justify, too inviting of envy.

"No way!" Zhou Andong said sternly: "Secretary Kong, go back and tell the leadership: two speeches are fine, but the closing remarks should still be the leadership's; I definitely won't do it. If you insist I do the closing remarks, then I won't attend the symposium."

If Zhou Andong didn't attend this symposium, that would be unacceptable; Kong Liming hurriedly said: "Don't, if you don't want to do the closing remarks, I'll report to the leadership—you not attending won't do."

Zhou Andong curled the corner of his mouth with a barely noticeable smile: "Just truthfully tell the leadership what I said."

"I will definitely report truthfully." Kong Liming stood up: "Then I won't disturb you further."

"I'll see you off!" Zhou Andong stood up to see Kong Liming out: "What time does the meeting start tomorrow?"

"Nine o'clock!" Kong Liming said: "Now many attendees have arrived; they'll all check into the hotel tonight; tomorrow morning breakfast is at six. If you can't make it home in time, you can eat at the hotel."

"Okay!" Zhou Andong extended his hand and shook Kong Liming's: "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow!" Kong Liming waved his hand, turned and briskly walked away. He's very busy now—this is time he squeezed out, rushing over to see Zhou Andong.

Zhou Andong had just turned back when Tang Wenjuan came: "Director, two comrades from the Municipal Bureau have arrived."

"Let them in." Zhou Andong took the conference pass and key from the coffee table, walked to behind his desk and sat down, then casually threw the pass and key onto the desk.

"Director Zhou, hello, I'm Du Changhe from the Municipal Bureau." Du Changhe entered, stretched out his hand from afar, took a few steps to the desk: "I've long heard of your great name; seeing you today, you truly are a youthful hero."

Zhou Andong's mouth twitched: My daughter is already a month old, and still called a youth.

Zhou Andong gave a false smile while shaking Du Changhe's hand: "So you're Director Du; I'm also not unfamiliar with your name. In the past, many major cases were solved by you; you truly deserve to be called the guardian deity of Jingcheng's people."

Du Changhe's skin is thick, but hearing Zhou Andong's words, his face also heated up. How he got to the deputy director position, only he himself knows. Don't talk about major cases—he hasn't caught a few thieves in his lifetime, let alone being the guardian deity of Jingcheng.

But, although Du Changhe knows this is Zhou Andong's polite talk, and moreover false polite talk to the extreme, such polite talk—who wouldn't love to hear it?

"Director Zhou, please don't say that." Du Changhe lowered his posture: "I'm just a minor civil servant; serving the people is my duty. Catching criminals is also my duty; not worth mentioning."

Zhou Andong walked out from behind his desk, looked toward Hou Guanghai: "This must be Office Director Hou of the Municipal Bureau, right?"

"Director Zhou, hello!" Hou Guanghai hurriedly extended his hand to shake Zhou Andong's: "I'm Hou Guanghai."

Zhou Andong pointed to the sofa: "Have something to say? Let's sit down and talk."