Chapter 945: Demoted four ranks!

In the blink of an eye, Wang Qigang had already been in the capital for seven days.

During these seven days.

He successively sought meetings with six people, drank eight rounds of alcohol, and said a cartload of nice words. The result? Not a single promise.

The first person he saw was an old leader, retired for several years, living in a quiet small building in the western suburbs.

After hearing his situation, the old leader.

He remained silent for Along time.

Finally, he spoke earnestly: "Qigang, I've heard about your situation. Wuzhou is a place with deep waters. It's good you were transferred out; change your environment and start over."

Wang Qigang sensed the meaning behind the words—the old leader couldn't help, or rather, didn't want to help.

The second person he met was a classmate from the party school, now a bureau chief in some ministry.

The classmate was enthusiastic, invited him to a meal, and they chatted freely about their old school friendship.

But when the topic of job transfer came up, the classmate raised his glass and laughed: "Qigang, there's no rush—let's drink first, let's drink first."

After the drinks were finished, the matter of job transfer was never mentioned again.

The third, fourth, and fifth individuals were each more polite than the last, each more enthusiastic than the last, yet each less reliable than the last.

Someone hinted to him—someone from the Lin family had said hello.

Others told him, "Wait a bit longer, wait until the wind dies down before speaking." Still others straightforwardly advised him to proactively go and bow his head to Lin Dongfan to exchange for his political future.

Wang Qigang stayed in a hotel, the curtains drawn tight, the lights not turned on.

He leaned against the headboard, staring at the ceiling, his mind turning over the same thought—Wang Qigang, is he really finished just like that?

His phone suddenly rang.

He picked it up and glanced at the screen—it was a call from Deng Chunning.

As soon as the call connected, Deng Chunning's voice came through, calm and detached, as if speaking about something unrelated to himself: "Qigang, don't run away—come back."

Wang Qigang's heart sank: "Deputy Provincial Secretary Deng, I—"

"The Central Organization Department's opinion has been decided." Deng Chunning sighed repeatedly, adding the result: "Superiors have decided to demote you to a second-grade researcher, assign you to the Provincial People's Congress, a non-leadership position."

"!!!"

Wang Qigang's hand clenched the phone tightly, his whole body as if struck by lightning.

Second-grade researcher!

This meant he had gone from deputy ministerial level, skipping bureau and division levels, straight down to a deputy division-level non-leadership post.

This demotion dropped him four ranks!

Wang Qigang opened his mouth, his throat feeling as if choked, his voice hoarse and powerless: "Why a four-rank demotion?"

"Are you truly clueless, or just pretending? Sigh!"

Deng Chunning let out Along sigh.

He then said:

"Over these past few years in Wuzhou, how many incidents have occurred? The criminal cases involving Zhao Tianyu and others, the corruption cases of Zheng Congwen, Cheng Ying and others, and the people you promoted—one after another have run into trouble."

Added to that, the provincial key projects repeatedly halted under your leadership.

These are indelible stains.

"Now the opinions of the Provincial Party Committee Secretary Jiang and the Central Organization Department are clear; they unanimously believe you bear inescapable leadership responsibility for your tenure governing Wuzhou."

"Not having you expelled from the Party and removed from office is already taking into account the fact that you did some practical work in Wuzhou."

"Accept reality."

By the time he heard halfway through, Wang Qigang's mood had already sunk to rock bottom; upon hearing "accept reality," his heart was already withered like ash.

Gritting his teeth, he remained silent for Along while.

"Come back. I've already greeted the Provincial People's Congress side. Although you'll be a second-grade researcher, your due benefits will not be shortchanged."

"!!!"

Wang Qigang said nothing, hung up directly, and threw the phone onto the bed.

The room was very quiet.

So quiet that only the hum of the air conditioner remained.

Wang Qigang recalled when he first arrived in Wuzhou; it truly was as Su Shi wrote in "Nian Nu Jiao: Red Cliff Reminiscence"—feather fan and silk cap, in casual talk, the enemy's masts and oars turned to ash and smoke!

Back then he was indeed full of vigor, feeling he was born to be a figure who could point out the country's course.

Over these past three-plus years.

He had indeed accomplished many concrete deeds—the economy improved, the city changed; yet he had also promoted many people, and when they ran into trouble, he could not escape responsibility.

He got up, walked to the window, and pulled open the curtains.

Outside was the nightscape of the capital—myriad lights, endless traffic. He stood there Along time, until his legs went numb, before turning to pack his belongings.

He came in as a deputy ministerial-level official; he left as a deputy division-level official.

Demoted four ranks!

"That's politics—win, and you rise in a single step; lose, and you plummet a thousand feet!"

Two days later.

Wang Qigang returned to Wuzhou; the time was already afternoon.

The guard at the Municipal Party Committee compound saw his car, paused for a moment, and did not raise his hand in a salute as before.

Wang Qigang rolled down his car window, stared meaningfully at the guard, his eyes holding some anger. The guard hesitated a moment, then still raised his hand in a salute—seeming to think it's better to do less than more.

This also made Wang Qigang realize that the news of his four-rank demotion had already spread throughout Wuzhou.

One could easily guess:

Now the entire Wuzhou officialdom is surely discussing his affairs.

Someone would probably gloat over his misfortune and say he deserved it, while others would feel sorry for him. But more people were quietly cozying up to Lin Dongfan—Lin Dongfan was the big winner.

The car drove into the courtyard and stopped in front of the office building.

Wang Qigang got out of the car, looked up at the building where he had spent over three years. The building wasn't tall, but in Wuzhou it was a symbol of power.

Now he was leaving, in the capacity of a second-level researcher, slinking away in disgrace.

Wang Qigang climbed the steps with a heavy heart.

Several officials walked toward him; seeing him, some called out "Secretary Wang," while others lowered their heads, pretending not to see him.

Wang Qigang responded to each in turn, wearing an embarrassed smile, feeling as if he had swallowed a stone.

The office was still as it had been.

On the wall hung a calligraphy—"Tranquil and far-reaching."

Seeing these four characters now, Wang Qigang felt they were too abstract. In this cutthroat officialdom, no one could truly calm down.

On the desk lay his used pens, tea cup, and other items, waiting for him to tidy up.

"Thud-thud~~"

Suddenly, two knocks sounded on the door.

"Come in."

Wang Qigang didn't turn back, busy packing his belongings to make room for the next leader. When he had finished clearing the desk and turned around, he was stunned on the spot.

All he saw was Lin Dongfan standing behind him.

At the moment the two locked eyes, the whole world fell into dead silence.

Wang Qigang forced himself to stay calm, squeezing out a faint smile: "Mayor Lin, are you here to see me off, or...?"

"Anyway, I'm not here to laugh at you." Lin Dongfan said: "Being demoted four levels is a heavy blow, but I want to clarify one thing: this is an organizational arrangement, not some behind-the-scenes maneuver by me, Lin Dongfan."

"But don't forget, there's one point that cannot be disputed."

"What?"

"Just based on your family background, even if you said nothing, those people would rack their brains to cater to your wishes; you wouldn't need to run around at all."

Wang Qigang wiped off his smile, faced Lin Dongfan squarely, not hiding the hatred in his eyes.

That hateful gaze.

This made Lin Dongfan feel deeply regretful; he suddenly felt his paternal aunt was right—obviously he had the strength to walk arrogantly, so why pretend to be a grandson? Why come here to explain?

Damn it!

Some people simply don't deserve respect!

Thinking this, Lin Dongfan chuckled lightly: "Since you think that way, then just pretend I never said anything. From now on, work hard and don't let down the organization's expectations of you."

"Heh, you really came to give me eye drops." Wang Qigang laughed angrily.

Lin Dongfan gave a cold smile, too lazy to reply further.

Turning around, he summoned the people from the Municipal Party Committee Office and, with a stern expression, issued an order: "Watch him; aside from his personal belongings, nothing else may be taken away!"

This order was like a loud slap, landing hard on Wang Qigang's face.

Wang Qigang, suppressing his anger, asked: "Surname Lin, isn't what you're doing a bit excessive? This place used to be my office; now I'm just packing my own things—do you really need to assign someone to watch me?"

"'Once'—you used that word well before." Lin Dongfan laughed: "You once swore to serve the people, yet you failed to do so, didn't you?"

"!!!"

Wang Qigang gritted his teeth, glaring at Lin Dongfan, speechless for a moment.