Chapter 54: Falling into a Predicament

  All documents of the SASAC are printed and distributed by the Secretarial Department. At around 3-4 pm, when the document came out, Qi Daguang rushed to the General Affairs Department to congratulate Chu Tian Shu.

  Zhi Daguang is a very realistic person. Chu Tian Shu settled Kong Erdou at the Kaiyuan Hotel, and when he returned, Zhao Pingyuan told him about it in an exaggerated manner. He also witnessed Chu Tian Shu's ability to single-handedly resolve the crisis, all of which indicates that Chu Tian Shu has a deep background. It would be unwise to oppose someone like him.

  Chu Tian Shu became the deputy director of the office, presiding over work. Qi Da Guang couldn't help but feel envious and jealous at the same time, thinking that this young man was highly valued and would surely have a bright future ahead of him. Making friends with him would be a long-term investment.

  Fan Yibing took Liu Chunna and Qian Meihua to collect Tian Keming's office, and it happened that Chu Tianshu was alone in the comprehensive department's office.

  Zhidaguan's speed of changing his face was so fast that Chutianshu couldn't adapt to it for a while. After shaking hands and congratulating him, he quietly self-criticized himself, saying that there were things he didn't do well in the past, and asked his younger brother not to mind, from now on everyone is an office worker, and they should work together with one heart and make progress together.

  After chatting for a few sentences, Qi Daguang bid farewell and said before leaving, Director Chu, you've been promoted, you should treat your brothers to a drink.

  Chu Tian Shu politely declined a few times and ambiguously agreed.

  As usual, newly promoted cadres, the first-in-command must conduct a routine conversation.

  Chu Tian Shu sat alone opposite Guan Hao Yu, his heart racing with anticipation. His first reaction upon seeing the appointment document was not excitement but confusion. Yesterday, after hearing Jian Ruo Ming's words, he had lost all hope, so how could it be that overnight, a new opportunity had fallen from the sky?

  Guan Haoyu seemed to see through his thoughts, and smiled: "Xiao Chu, regarding your promotion, there are some dissenting opinions, but I am a person who is straightforward and keeps my word."

  Guan Haoyu spoke very realistically, without the usual clichés and official language. Chu Tian Shu finally put his heart at ease, blushing and saying: "Thank you, Director, for your concern and cultivation."

  Guang Haoyu took out a cigarette from the pack and Chu Tian Shu quickly stood up to light it for him.

  As for Chu Tian Shu's cleverness, Guan Hao Yu was quite satisfied. He slowly took a few puffs before saying in a low voice: "Little Chu, what are your thoughts on work?"

  "Everything will be arranged by the director!"

  "Alright, Xiao Chu, you're still young and a professional in this field. You can't always be stuck doing trivial tasks at the delegation office, or your edge will be worn off over time. Recently, the task of state-owned enterprise reform has been heavy, after you take up your post, you should shift your focus to this area, assist the leader in charge more and participate in organizing and coordinating the work of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Of course, for you, this is both a severe test and a rare opportunity. I hope you won't have any worries and will boldly carry out your work with confidence, I support you."

  Guan Haoyu's words are sincere and heartfelt, which is exactly the kind of advice that looks out for Chu Tian Shu's long-term development. Not participating in business work, but instead serving people every day in the office, if you want to continue making progress in the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the opportunities will be relatively smaller compared to the person in charge of the business department. This is also a difficult problem that Tian Keming and Ouyang Meimei have encountered on their way up.

  Chu Tian Shu suddenly felt a warmth in his heart and quickly stood up to express himself: "I will definitely not disappoint the director's trust and expectations."

  Guan Haoyu finished handing over the proper matters and beckoned to Chu Tian Shu, indicating for him to move his chair to the front of the desk. He personally brewed a cup of tea and softly said: "Yesterday, Deputy Mayor Yi's secretary personally called to inquire about your situation. It seems that Deputy Mayor Yi is very concerned about you!"

  Chu Tian Shu saw Guan Hao Yu looking at him with a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling expression, and suddenly felt that this was the key to the overnight twists and turns. He quickly thought of something and said: "I only met Deputy Mayor Yi for the first time yesterday, even if it can be considered as my personal effort, it is also the result of Director's cultivation, and the credit of all the staff in the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission."

  Chu Tian Shu's meaning is very clear, I am your Guan Hao Yu's person, and the achievements are also yours as the first-in-command, and this collective of SASAC.

  Although Chu Tian Shu's statement was proper and polite, Guan Hao Yu's face turned unpleasant. He thought that Chu Tian Shu was hiding something and didn't want to be honest with him, only using grandiose words to gloss over things.

  Guang Haoyu waved his hand and said: "Alright, let's stop here, you can go now."

  After finishing talking with one hand, Chu Tian Shu as usual went to thank other leaders of the delegation.

  Chu Tian Shu went to listen to Huang Ru Shan's teachings and then went to thank Duan Qing Shan. Finally, he arrived at Jian Ruo Ming's office.

  As soon as she saw Chu Tian Shu, Jian Ruo Ming smiled and asked: "Xiao Chu, didn't expect it?"

  "Unexpected, too unexpected."

  "Are you going back home to sleep after Director Guan left and then remembered his promise to you?"

  "It's very likely." Chu Tian Shu sat down in the chair opposite Jian Ruo Ming and asked, "Director Jian, don't you think so?"

  "I don't think so at all."

  "What's going on? Can you really calculate and predict?"

  Jian Ruo Ming smiled and said, "Hehe, I won't pinch or calculate, but I know that yesterday afternoon, Wang Shao Yue, the secretary of Vice Mayor Yi, called Guan Hao Yu."

  "Wang Shaoyue, I don't know him at all. Director Jian, how did you know?"

  "This isn't your concern, I've been in provincial government offices for so many years, and still have a few friends around."

  Chu Tian Shu suddenly enlightened: "Oh, I see. No wonder Director Guan found me earlier to talk and mysteriously told me that Vice Mayor Yi is very concerned about me."

  After Chu Tian Shu recounted the conversation from earlier, Jian Ruoming furrowed his brow: "So to say, Guan Hao Yu letting you become this deputy director has a deep meaning."

  Chu Tian Shu was confused, looking at Jian Ruo Ming with a puzzled expression.

  "At today's party group meeting, the leadership was re-divided and I was put in charge of the enterprise reform department. Now, the instrument factory's restructuring work has reached a critical moment, but Gao Hao Yu and Huang Ru Shan suddenly both retreated to the background, which is worth deep reflection."

  "This suggests that they regard the reform of the instrument factory as a hot potato, and no one is willing to touch it."

  "This is a reason, but only a superficial one." Jian Ruoming's face turned solemn, and after a brief pause, she continued: "From what I know, the transformation of the instrument factory has gone beyond the significance of state-owned enterprise reform itself, and is evolving into a pawn in the political struggle between Tang Yifu and Yi Haitao. To avoid being implicated, they are pushing you and me to the forefront."

  "This is great," Chu Tian Shu said excitedly. "We can take advantage of this opportunity to implement our plan of trading time for space, and gain the greatest benefits for laid-off workers."

  Jian Ruo Ming shook his head: "No, it won't be as simple as we thought. I'm just the deputy director of the SASAC, and the decision-making power is still in Guan Haoyu's hands. Have you noticed that all the media outlets in the city have been unusually silent about the mass petition by the laid-off workers from the Instrument Factory? This is too abnormal."

  With just a simple mention, Chu Tian Shu's body broke out in cold sweat.

  It seems that my own political sensitivity is still far from Jian Ruoming's.

  The collective visit of laid-off workers was uneventful, and this quiet state can only indicate that the overall relocation plan of the instrument factory is still being promoted step by step. Jian Ruoming was pushed to the forefront, but it was just a safe strategy for Guan Haoyu to protect himself. No matter which side he offends in the future, Jian Ruoming will be a good scapegoat.

  At the same time, Guan Haoyu thought that Chu Tian Shu was related to Yi Haitao, so he used promotion as an excuse and threw him onto this war chariot.

  Too scary!

  As Chu Tian Shu became the deputy director of the Municipal Office, on the first day he officially entered the ranks of cadres, he felt the complexity, cruelty and danger of political struggle.

  Thinking of this, Chu Tian Shu said with some worry: "Director Jian, actually you can also go with the flow and follow nature, there's no need to come and stir up this muddy water."

  "No," Jian Ruoming slightly shook her head and said, "Xiao Chu, since we've already tied our fates to the same chariot, I won't hide anything from you either. Having come this far, I have no choice but to press on. For the greater good, in order to benefit laid-off workers, we will inevitably harm some people's vested interests; for personal reasons, I don't want to just go through the motions at the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, nor can I let certain people think that I'm also a mere ornament in the official circle."

  Jian Ruoming's words were straightforward enough, she refused to go through the motions and mix with the crowd, in short, she wanted to compete with Huang Rushan for the position of director of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and what was called an "official flower vase" was a rumor spread by Ouyang Meimei behind Jian Ruoming's back.

  Upon hearing Jian Yueming's sincere words, Chu Tian Shu said resolutely: "Director Jian, I'm deeply grateful to have earned your trust and assistance. Since you're willing to go to great lengths for the benefit of laid-off workers without considering personal gains, what more can I say?"

  Jian Ruoming smiled faintly: "Hehe, I may not be as noble as you think. Guan Haoyu pushed me to the forefront and forced me to make a choice on the issue of reforming the instrument factory. It's either Tang Yifu or Yi Haitao, one or the other. But now, I don't even understand what stance each of them is taking."

  "Director Jian, whether it's good fortune or bad, we can't avoid the disaster. We chose justice over power, and whoever benefits the laid-off workers is who we'll follow. What's wrong with that?"

  "Xiao Chu, you don't understand the officialdom well enough. Any matter involving fundamental interests in the officialdom has at least two sides of power playing against each other, and is also entangled with complex interpersonal relationships behind the scenes. An official's stance is not necessarily about which side is just, but rather which side can bring the greatest benefit. If you take a stand on the right side, you will have the qualifications to share in the benefits when power is allocated in the future."

  "Wrong station?"

  "Never again in ten thousand kalpas."

  "What should we do then?"

  "What else can we do? As you said, standing with the interests of laid-off workers. Jian Yueming said with some difficulty: "However, judging from the current media's collective silence, it should be that the side maintaining the existing plan has taken the upper hand. If we want to make a difference, we must first attract public attention and gain public opinion support. Otherwise, with our abilities, we can only wait for death."

  Knowing there is a tiger on the mountain, he deliberately heads towards the tiger mountain.

  Upon hearing Jian Ruoming's choice, Chu Tianshu gained a few more points of admiration for her.

  But now the situation has fallen into a dilemma, what should we do?