Chapter 356: What’s So Interesting? Share It With Me Too.
The Deputy Director’s office.
Niu Jishui made a call on the internal line. "Bring me Wu Renqing’s file."
Soon, a section member brought Wu Renqing’s file over.
Niu Jishui focused on the section about Wu Renqing’s relatives.
However, after studying it for a long time, Niu Jishui couldn’t find any clues.
Wu Renqing’s relatives were all too ordinary. Only Wu Renqing himself had a government position.
One was even a former labor camp inmate.
This sent Niu Jishui deep into thought.
After work, Wu Renqing rode in Niu Jishui’s official car straight to the Qingyuan Hotel.
There was still an hour before the welcome banquet, but most of the leaders had already arrived, showing just how important they considered the event.
Those qualified to attend the welcome banquet were mostly the Directors of various bureaus.
Only a few departments lacking a Director were represented by their more powerful Deputy Directors.
Niu Jishui was a force to be reckoned with at the Construction Bureau, but faced with so many leaders of higher rank, he adopted a very humble posture, respectfully greeting each one.
Wu Renqing keenly observed that in the entire Qingyun Ascending Hall, he was the only section chief. The rest were mostly Directors, with just a few Deputy Directors.
This made Wu Renqing even more terrified, and he greeted the leaders with extreme reverence.
The leaders were also baffled. ’Who is this? Wu Renqing? I’ve never heard of him.’
The Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau, Wei Yanping, who was not on good terms with Niu Jishui, reprimanded him with displeasure, "Deputy Director Niu, do you have any sense of decorum? This is the City Lord’s welcome banquet! What’s the big idea bringing a lowly section chief from the Construction Bureau to join the crowd?"
Every leader present had the power to decide Wu Renqing’s fate. Wu Renqing was so scared he didn’t dare to speak. He, too, felt he wasn’t qualified to attend the welcome banquet.
’That person who called himself Secretary Wang must have been pulling a prank!’
’And I was stupid enough to fall for it, making a complete fool of myself in front of so many leaders!’
Wu Renqing was at a total loss, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him whole!
Niu Jishui, wanting to set a trap for Wei Yanping, deliberately avoided mentioning Wang Kai.
"Director Wei, the City Lord’s office has no explicit rule stating that section chiefs are forbidden from attending the City Lord’s welcome banquet. Therefore, my bringing Chief Wu here is reasonable, legal, and compliant!"
Wei Yanping was thoroughly choked up by this but had no way to rebut it. There really was no explicit rule forbidding a section chief from attending the City Lord’s welcome banquet!
Sui Siwen, a Deputy Director of Luocheng and a good friend of Wei Yanping’s, said coldly, "Niu Jishui, you’re just being deliberately obstructive! Does this need an explicit rule? It’s our unwritten rule! If every section chief were this undisciplined and disorganized, could we even hold this banquet? Niu Jishui, get your man out of here now! If you anger the City Lord, no one can bear the consequences!"
Sui Siwen was the Deputy Director in charge of the Construction Bureau. The moment he unleashed his authority, Wu Renqing was so terrified his liver and guts felt like they were splitting, and he nearly fell to his knees!
Wu Renqing didn’t know how to react and could only look pitifully at Niu Jishui.
Niu Jishui’s own heart, liver, and lungs were trembling with fear!
Under normal circumstances, he would definitely be kissing up to Sui Siwen and kicking Wu Renqing out!
But now, Niu Jishui decided to take a gamble!
’If I win this bet, I’ll go from a bicycle to a motorcycle!’
Niu Jishui gave Wu Renqing a reassuring look, then declared in a righteous tone, "Director Sui, you are not the City Lord. You cannot represent the City Lord’s will. How do you know the City Lord will be displeased? What if he is very pleased?"
The entire private room fell instantly silent. Everyone stared at Niu Jishui with looks of utter disbelief!
’Has Niu Jishui gone mad?’
’Director Sui is his direct superior!’
’A single word from Director Sui, and Niu Jishui’s promotion will be dead in the water!’
Wu Renqing was also stunned. He never imagined Niu Jishui would back him so forcefully, even to the point of offending Director Sui for his sake!
’What an immense favor this is!’
At that moment, Wu Renqing felt both grateful to and guilty toward Niu Jishui!
’How petty I was just now, mistakenly thinking Niu Jishui had marked me down in his little black book and was about to get rid of me!’
Not wanting to jeopardize Niu Jishui’s future, Wu Renqing quickly forced a smile and said, "Director Niu, a minor figure like me really isn’t qualified to attend the City Lord’s welcome banquet. Please don’t let me affect your relationship with Director Sui. I’ll leave right now!"
An arrow, once loosed, cannot be recalled. Niu Jishui had already gone all in. He grabbed Wu Renqing’s arm and declared righteously, "Old Wu! You can’t leave! If they insist on driving you out, then they’ll have to drive me out too!"
Everyone was dumbfounded!
Niu Jishui had always been so cautious and prudent. What got into him today? Did he eat gunpowder?
’Something’s not right!’
’Something is definitely not right here!’
The crowd began to size up Wu Renqing, and a few of them actually noticed something!
They say a nephew takes after his maternal uncle. Cheng Yuan and Wu Renqing were at least seventy percent similar in appearance, especially their eyes—they looked like they were cast from the same mold!
’This Chief Wu must be a relative of Young Master Cheng, right?’
Instantly, a gleam flashed in the eyes of several people, and they secretly made their decisions.
Sui Siwen didn’t know Cheng Yuan and didn’t see the connection. He was so furious with Niu Jishui that his face turned ashen!
’This Niu Jishui, is he trying to rebel?’
"Niu Jishui, do you think you’re the only Deputy Director at the Construction Bureau? If you don’t want to attend this banquet, there are plenty of others who do! If you want to leave, then leave! No one is stopping you!"
Zhang Guoqiang, Director of the Administration for Industry and Commerce, was the first to stand up.
"Old Niu, Chief Wu, you can’t leave!"
You Baquan, Director of the Political and Legal Affairs Bureau, also stood up.
"Director Sui, today is a joyous occasion. If we make a scene, I’m afraid it will affect the City Lord’s mood, which won’t be good for anyone. I suggest we resolve this misunderstanding after the banquet."
Qiu Ming, Director of the Discipline Inspection Bureau, also stood up in support.
"Director Sui, it’s after hours, not work hours. We don’t need to be so formal, do we?"
Sui Siwen was about to explode with rage!
’Are all these people trying to rebel?’
’Don’t they know I’ve already received the old leader’s endorsement and am about to be promoted?’
"Even if it is after hours, we must have rules! Besides, our primary duty is to serve the people—what distinction is there between on and off duty? They must leave today! No one can stop them!!"
"If Director Sui insists on being difficult and driving out Chief Wu, then there’s nothing I can do. But my position remains the same: to drive out Chief Wu, you must first drive out me, Niu Jishui!"
"Niu Jishui! You really think you’re hot stuff, don’t you? You want to leave? Fine! I’ll grant your wish! Take your man and get out now!"
Just as the atmosphere reached its most tense, the doors to the private room were pushed open.
Ni Zhenjiang and his secretary, Wang Kai, walked into the room.
The room fell silent in an instant, and everyone very eagerly greeted Ni Zhenjiang.
"Greetings, Lord Ni!"
"We greet Lord Ni."
...
Sui Siwen could no longer be bothered with Niu Jishui and Wu Renqing. He quickly turned, his face wreathed in smiles, and hurried over, extending both hands toward Ni Zhenjiang.
"Lord Ni, we’ve been waiting and waiting, and now you’re finally here!"
Ni Zhenjiang had already received inside information that Sui Siwen would soon be promoted. Ni Zhenjiang gave him the respect he was due, warmly grasping his hand.
"Director Sui, why is it so lively in here? Did something interesting happen? Do share it with me."