Chapter 355: An Opportunity at the Welcome Banquet
Wu Renqing felt like the whole world had abandoned him, like his life was shrouded in darkness.
Just when Wu Renqing was starting to feel like he had nothing left to live for, his phone suddenly rang. He answered numbly, "This is Wu Renqing. Who’s calling?"
"I’m Wang Kai."
The name sounded a little familiar, but Wu Renqing couldn’t for the life of him remember who it was.
"What’s this about? If there’s nothing, I’m hanging up."
Wang Kai was almost at a loss for words. Ever since he’d followed his superior to Luocheng, everyone had been trying to curry favor with him. This was the first time someone hadn’t taken him seriously!
’Interesting!’
’He’s just as expected of the person the leader personally selected!’
’Looks like he has some serious backing!’
Wang Kai’s tone became even more amiable. "Chief Wu, please make your way to the Qingyun High private room at the Qingyuan Hotel before six-thirty this evening to attend the City Lord’s welcome banquet."
Wu Renqing couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ’Have phone scams gotten this rampant?’
’They even dare to use the City Lord’s name?’
Only the top leaders of Luocheng’s various bureaus were qualified to attend the City Lord’s welcome banquet.
Take their Construction Bureau, for instance. Due to the vacancy left by Director Gao, the opportunity to attend the welcome banquet had fallen to Niu Jishui.
And he was just a minor chief, completely unqualified to attend the welcome banquet!
Wu Renqing asked in a teasing tone, "Alright, son, tell me—how much is it going to cost me to attend this welcome banquet?"
Huh??
Wang Kai was stunned for a moment, then answered truthfully, "There’s no fee to attend the City Lord’s welcome banquet. By the way, Chief Wu, you should save my phone number. It’s the same for my WeChat. From now on, if you ever run into any trouble, you can contact me anytime. As the Director’s secretary, I can help you take care of any minor matters."
’The Director’s secretary?’
’Wang Kai?’
WHOOSH!
A flash of insight sparked in Wu Renqing’s mind!
Wu Renqing finally understood why the name Wang Kai had sounded familiar—this was the chief secretary to Luocheng’s new City Lord!
Suppressing his excitement, Wu Renqing said, "I’ve saved the number and already sent a friend request on WeChat."
"Okay, I’ll accept it now. Gotta go."
Wang Kai hung up, and Wu Renqing’s head was buzzing. He couldn’t understand how something so wonderful—attending the City Lord’s welcome banquet—could have fallen into his lap!
Even more incomprehensible was how polite Wang Kai had been, showing none of the arrogance one would expect from a chief secretary!
This good fortune had come so suddenly that Wu Renqing couldn’t help but feel something was odd about it!
To make sure this wasn’t some kind of prank and to avoid making a fool of himself at the welcome banquet, Wu Renqing decided he should go find Niu Jishui to confirm.
Wu Renqing returned to Niu Jishui’s office door and knocked lightly.
"Come in."
Wu Renqing pushed the door open and entered the office.
Seeing that it was Wu Renqing, Niu Jishui’s face instantly broke into a wide smile. "Old Wu, what brings you back?"
"Director Niu, I have something to report. Secretary Wang just called and invited me to the City Lord’s welcome banquet. Is that... in line with protocol?"
Niu Jishui’s pupils constricted slightly. ’Looks like my guess was right,’ he thought. ’Wu Renqing really is on the City Lord’s radar!’
Niu Jishui’s eyes practically turned red with envy!
’He’s latched onto the City Lord’s coattails. Wu Renqing’s career is about to skyrocket!’
Niu Jishui declared with righteous conviction, "You are a model employee of our Construction Bureau! Attending the City Lord’s welcome banquet is perfectly reasonable, appropriate, and legitimate! It’s absolutely in line with protocol! After work, you can ride in my car. We’ll go over together!"
’Model employee?’
Wu Renqing was bewildered all over again. ’When did I become a model employee?’
’Why didn’t I know about it?’
"Director Niu, what’s this about being a model employee?"
Niu Jishui made a very blunt overture of goodwill.
"Old Wu, weren’t you just here to report on your work? I’ve always taken notice of your work ethic and capabilities, so I decided to name you a model employee! Just a moment ago, when Secretary Wang asked if our Construction Bureau had any outstanding examples, I recommended you without a moment’s hesitation."
Wu Renqing was so moved he was on the verge of tears!
’What a great superior!’
’Director Niu is truly a great superior!’
’All his years of diligent work hadn’t been in vain. He was finally getting his break!’
Then, Wu Renqing felt a pang of guilt. He had been so wrong just now!
’He’d actually suspected Director Niu was trying to get rid of him!’
"Director Niu, thank you for recommending me! From this day forward, I, Wu Renqing, am your man. I will stand firmly by your side and follow your lead!"
Niu Jishui chuckled. "Old Wu, you’re being too modest. In a few years, you might be my superior. When that happens, you have to take good care of us old colleagues!"
"Never, never! It all depends on your continued support, Director Niu!"
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Wu Renqing took his leave and returned to his own office.
Even then, Wu Renqing felt like he was walking on air. He felt incredibly lucky to have encountered such an excellent superior in Director Niu!
Now that he had this precious opportunity to attend the City Lord’s welcome banquet, as long as he didn’t make any mistakes, his future would be a smooth road.
Just as Wu Renqing was reveling in his excitement, his phone rang.
Wu Renqing pulled out his phone and saw it was his wife calling.
Wu Renqing answered the phone and asked in a gentle voice, "Cui Ping, what’s the matter?"
Yu Cuiping said furiously, "Honey, that nephew of yours is a real piece of work! Now that he’s successful, he won’t even lift a finger to help his own relatives! I asked him to introduce me to President Mei, and he just kept making excuses! It’s making me so mad!"
Wu Renqing narrowed his eyes.
’Cheng Yuan only got the Number One Villa through dumb luck,’ he thought. ’But if I can just get one step higher, what’s a mere villa in comparison?’
’I could get one just by approving a few projects!’
’He would make everyone in the Wu Family understand!’
’That he, Wu Renqing, was the true head of the Wu Family!’
’A junior like Cheng Yuan needed to take a backseat!’
"Cui Ping, there’s no need to get angry over something so trivial. If Cheng Yuan won’t make the introduction, then so be it! We don’t need to beg him! I’ve already secured my own connections! Deputy Director Niu thinks very highly of me, named me a model employee, and is taking me to the City Lord’s welcome banquet! With this upcoming reshuffle, my promotion is practically a sure thing!"
Yu Cuiping’s face lit up with excitement. "Honey, you’re going to the City Lord’s welcome banquet? That’s such a huge honor! I wonder which department they’ll make you the director of?"
The corners of Wu Renqing’s mouth curled up slightly. "Any department would be fine. Moving from a figurehead position to one with real authority would be a huge step up!"
"Honey, since Director Niu is taking such good care of you, you must be sure to maintain a good relationship with him!"
"Don’t you worry. From now on, Director Niu is my greatest benefactor! I will respect him as I would my own father!"
Yu Cuiping suppressed her excitement and said, "Honey, once your new appointment is official, we must throw a magnificent banquet. We’ll show that ungrateful brat Cheng Yuan who the true pillar of the Wu Family is!!"