"Chen Feng, why did you suddenly think of returning to Ming City?"
Qin Yan was stunned.
"My decision to return to Ming City isn't because I have a great ambition for an official position, but mainly because I feel I've had enough training at the grassroots level and it's time to go back. Of course, there's another reason: some people in the capital's political arena are truly disgusting. If we don't cry or make a fuss, they treat us like air."
Chen Feng explained calmly.
"Xiang Wentian and Wu Tianhong in the provincial capital have both fallen. The newcomer, Miao Qifeng, doesn't have a deep relationship with you, and without provincial connections, it's as hard as ascending to heaven to get into a provincial-administered county-level city," Qin Yan said with a dejected expression.
After years of struggling in the Hua Xia political arena, what she hated most was that ability wasn't the biggest criterion for promotion, regardless of how well an official performed. Without connections, one would stay in their original position for a lifetime. With connections, even if ability was lacking, one could soar to great heights. However, thinking about it, she didn't feel too angry anymore. Because, in Hua Xia, it wasn't just the political arena that was like this. Other places in Hua Xia were also like this. For example, in public schools. No matter how well a class teacher did, if their relationship with the principal wasn't good, they would never be assigned the best graduating class. For example, still in public schools. If one had connections with the Education Bureau, teacher evaluations would be very quick. If one didn't have connections with the Education Bureau, then, regardless of how excellent the teacher was, their evaluation would be very slow. It would take several years to advance just one level. Teachers with connections would have already advanced several levels, and they would receive awards from the Education Bureau aplenty. For example, in most ordinary companies, important positions were held by the boss's relatives. Ordinary workers, no matter how strong their abilities, found it difficult to enter important positions, at most getting a salary increase. Company dividends and housing were also things that ordinary workers would never have access to. In short, Hua Xia was a huge society of human relationships. In all walks of life, with connections, things went smoothly. Without connections, one worked themselves to death, had no chance of promotion, and earned very little money.
"Director Qin, my relationship with Miao Qifeng is indeed average. However, even without connections, I'll proactively arrange for Miao Qifeng to promote all three of us," Chen Feng said confidently.
"What method?" Qin Yan instinctively asked.
"It's a long story, so I won't explain. Please be patient for a week or two, and you'll know if I'm telling the truth," Chen Feng said calmly.
"One or two weeks to get it done? Chen Feng, isn't that too exaggerated? These are high-level positions in a developed county-level city. Some people spend their entire lives navigating connections and still don't get such a position," Qin Yan asked with disbelief.
"Director Qin, you are an experienced veteran in the political arena and should understand a principle. Things are very difficult for outsiders in the political arena; even with tireless effort, they might not be handled well. However, with connections, even the most difficult matters proceed smoothly. For example, in prison, it's impossible for ordinary inmates to apply for medical parole. Even if the inmate is truly ill, it's impossible. But if the inmate has strong connections, medical parole becomes very simple, even without serving a single day of education. Also, for students to be awarded the title of National Star Student, without connections, even if this student is first in every subject, they won't get the title. The reason given is that a Star Student must have all-round development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor. However, if a student has connections, even if their grades are poor, they can still receive the Star Student title. The reason given is that the student has excellent comprehensive qualities. The Hua Xia political arena loves to play these superficial games. Although I also hate these superficial games, a deeply ingrained dross of thousands of years cannot be disliked or ignored simply by saying so. It must be faced, and one must integrate. Rest assured, I have already skillfully mastered these disgraceful unwritten rules of the Hua Xia political arena. Within one or two weeks, you, Cheng Lu, and I can forcefully return to Ming City," Chen Feng explained earnestly.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yan said nothing more.
Chen Feng did not hesitate and immediately went to the provincial capital to find Miao Qifeng. Miao Qifeng's attitude towards Chen Feng was very measured. He was neither grateful nor hateful.
"Elder Miao, I want to return to the Ming City leadership with Qin Yan and Cheng Lu." Chen Feng got straight to the point.
"By rights, all three of you absolutely deserve to return to the Ming City leadership, as you three made significant contributions to Ming District becoming Ming City. However, you know the rules of promotion in the political arena better than I do. Therefore, my suggestion is that you should wait patiently in Wuzhou District, and when the time is right, I will find a way to transfer you back to Ming City," Miao Qifeng replied truthfully. Regardless of anything else, if Chen Feng hadn't joined forces with him to bring down Xiang Wentian before, he wouldn't have been able to ascend to the position of provincial party secretary so quickly. For this reason, there was no need to harbor ill will towards Chen Feng.
"Elder Miao, you should know better than I do how much I've been suppressed in Wuzhou District. Originally, for the development of Wuzhou District, I voluntarily demoted myself from deputy district chief to director to set an example for streamlining administration. Then, during this period, I dedicated myself to Wuzhou District's economic development and led to the rapid growth of its financial sector. But what was the result? The deputy district chief position that originally belonged to me was seized by a connected individual who descended from the heavens. Tell me, how can I swallow this?" Chen Feng explained the truth.
"This is indeed a big problem. It's unpleasant for anyone to be a scapegoat. But the issue is that this is a common occurrence in the Hua Xia political arena. It's like this for everyone. Even as the provincial party secretary, I am powerless," Miao Qifeng replied feigning difficulty. In reality, it wasn't that Miao Qifeng couldn't do it, but he didn't want to offend other provincial bigwigs because of Chen Feng. Simply put, Chen Feng's standing in Miao Qifeng's heart was not that high, that's all.
Chen Feng, being an old hand in the political arena, naturally understood what Miao Qifeng was thinking. He didn't hesitate, took a deep breath, and went straight to Miao Qifeng's inner thoughts.
"Elder Miao, if you don't value me, then I can only go to the neighboring province..."
"Chen Feng, since you've made it clear, I won't hide it from you. Undeniably, you have some skills. However, your current strength is not enough for me to personally intervene for you," Miao Qifeng said earnestly.
"Elder Miao, if that's the case, give me a week or two, and I'll do something remarkable that will make people look at me with admiration, how about it?"
"Are you sure about this? You need to think carefully. If you fail, you'll probably have to stay in Wuzhou District for the rest of your life." Miao Qifeng deliberately tried to scare Chen Feng.
"I've thought it through. If I truly fail, you don't need to say anything; I will automatically leave the political arena and never set foot in it again," Chen Feng said calmly.
Miao Qifeng said no more. Coincidentally, Sanshui Province's development had recently encountered a major bottleneck, and all the methods proposed by so-called bigwigs had been ineffective. Since Chen Feng wanted to demonstrate his abilities and present himself, he might as well let Chen Feng try. If he failed, he, the provincial party secretary, would suffer no loss. If he succeeded, Sanshui Province would break through its development bottleneck and advance by leaps and bounds, which would be great, and the development honors would all go to him, the provincial party secretary.
Chen Feng spent a full week studying the development bottleneck of Sanshui Province and even made a special trip to the developed coastal province of San Hai for research. Finally, he identified the bottleneck issue in Sanshui Province's development. It turned out that Sanshui Province's economy had developed quite rapidly in recent years, with good coordination in all aspects and active reforms. For instance, previously, it vigorously promoted a strategy of strengthening its provincial capital. Later, after the strategy for strengthening the provincial capital lost momentum, it decisively switched to a strategy similar to the developed coastal province of San Hai. Everything was commendable! As development progressed, a significant deficiency emerged: the transportation infrastructure couldn't keep up! Simply put, intercity railways and subways were too backward. As the saying goes, "to get rich, build roads first." With too few and too poor roads, it's impossible to develop.
"Chen Feng, you are indeed a rising star in the political arena, with extraordinary insight. Building highways and railways isn't a major problem; I can apply to the central government for them, and they should be approved quickly. However, building subways in the provincial capital is not an ordinary difficulty..." Miao Qifeng said with a complex expression.