Chapter 1121: Entering the Core Decision-Making Layer!

Du Chengfeng walked into Zhou Chengwu's office.

Zhou Chengwu took the initiative to pour a cup of tea for Du Chengfeng, "I received a call from Secretary Wen last night; he specifically inquired about your situation."

Du Chengfeng took the teacup and immediately sat up straight, "Is that so? Did Secretary Wen have any important instructions?"

Zhou Chengwu smiled, "It was mainly to discuss your appointment. Do you have any thoughts?"

Du Chengfeng said candidly, "I certainly have many thoughts, but primarily I must listen to the organization's arrangements and Secretary Zhou's advice."

Zhou Chengwu secretly mused that this was the impression Du Chengfeng had always given people!

Sufficiently steady!

Unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him!

Always composed.

"According to my wishes, I certainly hope you can succeed me and carry the banner for Hanzhou's future development. We have worked together for over two years; you are a very good assistant and an even better executor. Your consideration of issues often coincides with mine. Actually, I was more inclined to have you go to Qiongjin with me. However, Hanzhou is my life's work, and I do not wish for the key projects that have just started to lack continuity after I leave. Therefore, I have chosen to let you stay."

Du Chengfeng nodded, "Secretary Zhou, please rest assured. Those key projects concern the development of Hanzhou for the next ten years; everyone will attach great importance to them."

After the preceding buildup, Zhou Chengwu began to reveal the answer.

"Based on my communication with Secretary Wen, you will be arranged to take the position of Full-time Deputy Party Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee. However, I hope that in addition to managing Party and mass work well, you will also devote energy to economic construction. You are a cadre who rose from the grassroots; we need you to provide your experience."

Although Du Chengfeng had seen many great storms and waves, at this moment, he still could not help but feel his heart surging.

He had originally thought that moving from the top five to the top four would be good, but he had not expected to go directly from the top five to the top three; this meant entering the core decision-making layer of the Hanzhou officialdom.

"Thank you for your recommendation, Secretary Zhou. I am truly especially grateful. Over the past two years, you have helped me a great deal," Du Chengfeng said, revealing his true feelings.

Recalling these past few years, Zhou Chengwu also sighed with profound meaning, "Returning to Hanzhou to work, I originally had immense pressure; there were a thousand threads and ten thousand strands, and I didn't know where to start. Fortunately, I had a comrade like you by my side, and together we completed the restructuring and upgrading of Hanzhou's economic structure. Moving forward, Hanzhou's development will still require you to cooperate with Comrade Li Chaoyang in your efforts."

Zhou Chengwu's words revealed an important piece of information.

After Zhou Chengwu left, if there were no surprises, Li Chaoyang would become the Municipal Party Secretary.

Li Chaoyang's luck was also quite good; if it weren't for the power struggle between Xiao Jingyu and Zhou Chengwu back then, which led to Xiao Jingyu defecting abroad.

It would have been impossible for Li Chaoyang to go from Deputy Municipal Party Secretary to Municipal Party Secretary in just four short years.

Li Chaoyang was quite a bit older than Zhou Chengwu; if he missed this opportunity, his political career would completely lose the possibility of advancement.

Du Chengfeng hurriedly said, "I will not let you down."

……

On the other side of the ocean.

Inside a seemingly ordinary Chinese restaurant.

Xiao Jingyu, wearing blue and white work clothes, brought a plate of spicy stir-fried cabbage from the back kitchen, placed it on the table, and said in English, "Sir, this is the dish you ordered."

Two men observed Xiao Jingyu carefully, then immediately exchanged a glance.

After Xiao Jingyu walked into the back kitchen, one man walked to the cashier and asked softly, "Excuse me, how do I get to the restroom?"

The cashier was busy placing orders for other guests and pointed toward the southwest, "Over there!"

The man nodded and walked toward the southwest, but he did not head directly to the restroom; instead, he walked toward the back kitchen.

Xiao Jingyu was squatting on the ground scrubbing plates; at first, he had refused, but after being beaten several times and going hungry for several days, he had yielded.

He scrubbed plates very quickly; the part-timers who occasionally came to do odd jobs were neither as fast nor as clean as him.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind, causing Xiao Jingyu to freeze.

"Mayor Xiao, are you Mayor Xiao?"

Xiao Jingyu slowly turned around, looking at the man behind him in disbelief.

It was exactly the guest who had just ordered the spicy stir-fried cabbage.

He looked around, staring at the other person nervously, "Who are you calling? Who is Mayor Xiao?"

The man said softly, "No, you must be Mayor Xiao. I am a person in charge of a private enterprise in Hanzhou. I have attended meetings before and heard you speak; I absolutely cannot be mistaken."

Xiao Jingyu's lips trembled, and a bold thought emerged in his mind.

He hurried forward, his tone carrying a plea, "Little comrade, that's right, I am indeed Xiao Jingyu."

The man said in surprise, "Mayor Xiao, how did you end up like this?"

Xiao Jingyu knew he looked incredibly wretched now. He said softly, "I was deceived by someone. I beg you to help me with one thing. Send a message for me; I have a niece who is very wealthy. Help me contact her, and once she rescues me from here, she will definitely give you a generous reward."

A complex look appeared on the man's face, and he nodded slightly, "Okay, I will help you! Do you have contact information?"

Xiao Jingyu said, "I don't have contact information either, but I know her name and the general location of her company. As long as you find a way, you will definitely be able to find her. You cannot stay in the back kitchen for long; you should leave quickly."

The man nodded slightly and left the back kitchen.

Just then, someone happened to see Xiao Jingyu talking to the man and immediately reported it to the Manager.

Upon learning the news, the Manager rushed to the back kitchen, grabbed Xiao Jingyu by the collar, and pressed him against the wall, "Confess honestly, who was that guest just now? What did you say to him?"

"He was looking for the restroom and went the wrong way, so I told him how to get there," Xiao Jingyu feigned extreme fear.

The Manager looked at Xiao Jingyu coldly, "You better behave yourself. If I find out you're playing tricks, I'll take your life!"

Xiao Jingyu hurriedly apologized with a smile, "I'm used to this life now. It's quite good."

After the Manager left, Xiao Jingyu squatted down and continued scrubbing plates; he wiped continuously with a rag to vent the depression in his heart.

Once upon a time, he was the Mayor of Hanzhou, controlling the fate of millions of people.

Now he had lost his freedom, unable to eat or sleep well every day, and would often provoke a round of brutal beatings.

Even prison life would be no worse than this!

However, he now had hope.

The Hanzhou entrepreneur who had come to find him just now might be able to help him escape!

The next day, Xiao Jingyu saw that table of guests again.

While he was serving the dishes, the guest secretly slipped a note into his palm.

Xiao Jingyu hurriedly found a secluded corner, finished reading the contents of the note, and then swallowed it into his stomach.

The note said that they hadn't been able to contact your niece, but they could assist you in escaping.

Xiao Jingyu knew this opportunity was once in a lifetime; he picked up a broom, walked to the shop entrance, and cleaned the ground.

Suddenly, a car stopped beside him, and Xiao Jingyu hurriedly got in.

The personnel responsible for monitoring Xiao Jingyu rushed to the door, realized something was wrong, and hurriedly dialed a phone to call for reinforcements.

"Boss!

That dog of a Xiao has slipped away!"