"I've already put myself on the list for the youth training camp. Isn't this shameless act enough to distract everyone from the suspicions of foul play regarding the camp's roster? Why should I be so cautious even after getting into the camp?" Qin Yan asked, a look of bewilderment on her face.
Since arriving in Jiangcheng, everything felt completely different compared to her days in the towns and county. Was this what they called in the circles of power, "a level up, a world of difference"?
"Deputy District Mayor Qin, you need to understand a principle. We have now moved from the county-level power arena to the municipal-level one. Although it's only a single level difference, the disparity is like night and day. If this matter had occurred in Yongming County or Jiujiao County, essentially, by getting yourself onto the youth training camp list, the issue would have been resolved. But the municipal power arena is different; the entanglements of interest here are far too vast. Those in higher positions will definitely be extremely cautious. Therefore, after the youth training camp list is finalized, we need to find a prominent event, a hot topic, to dilute any suspicion of manipulation in the selection process. So, you and the other deputy district mayors participating in the training camp must be exceptionally careful." Chen Feng explained earnestly.
"Chen Feng, tell me, am I not adapting well to the municipal power arena? Back in the county or town level, no matter what happened, I could handle it with ease. But in the municipal arena, I feel like an idiot." Qin Yan sighed.
"Deputy District Mayor Qin, please don't say that. Anyone, including myself, needs a gradual adaptation process when facing a new environment. No one is born capable of adapting to a new environment. Moreover, think about it, if the municipal power arena were just like the county-level one, what would have been the point of all our twists and turns, enduring unfair treatment? It was all for a breakthrough in our careers. It's completely normal for you to feel overwhelmed now; it signifies that we are all entering a brand new power arena together. This is a milestone. It's the most crucial step from the grassroots of power to the mid-level of power. You must persevere!" Chen Feng patiently advised Qin Yan.
"Chen Feng, don't worry. If I didn't have this ambition, I would have been married and had children long ago. I'm just sighing that the mid-to-upper-level power arena is too profound, so deep you can't see the end." Qin Yan replied with a smile.
"The mid-to-upper-level power arena is indeed profound, somewhat like a bottomless pit where countless people have perished. Therefore, we must be even more cautious than before. In the mid-level of power, no amount of caution is excessive." Chen Feng continued to console Qin Yan.
"Chen Feng, I've realized that you're even more mature than I am now. You're several years younger than me, and I entered the power arena much earlier than you. How come I feel like your younger sister now?" Qin Yan replied with a wry smile.
"Deputy District Mayor Qin, you also know that along the way, I've taken more detours than you and endured more suppression. People are like this; the more trials and tribulations they face, the more they naturally grow rapidly. Conversely, a smooth journey makes growth difficult." Chen Feng replied earnestly.
Qin Yan looked at Chen Feng with admiration.
As the saying goes, Chen Feng's development along the way far exceeded expectations. When Chen Feng was her driver, she thought he would be a capable right-hand man. Little did she know that in just a few years, the situation had reversed, and she was slowly becoming Chen Feng's right-hand man. Although she was sometimes unconvinced, there was nothing she could do about it; in terms of the overall strategy of the power arena, she truly couldn't compare to him.
"Chen Feng, since you understand so much, tell me then, what aspects do I need to pay attention to this time as a deputy district mayor participating in the Jiangcheng Youth Training Camp? Give me a heads-up so I can avoid any pitfalls." Qin Yan asked tentatively.
"Other aspects are fine, but there's one thing you absolutely must not touch. This training camp, besides classroom lectures, also has practical field exercises. Remember, absolutely do not get involved in the practical field exercise projects; let those with connections get involved..." Chen Feng explained word by word.
Qin Yan was impressed. In just a few words, he had hit the nail on the head. The quality of performance in the practical exercises was a crucial criterion for outstanding evaluations at the conclusion of the training camp. In the power arena, outstanding evaluations, regardless of the circumstances, carry significant weight. This good opportunity would certainly have nothing to do with her, the "tool." If she foolishly participated in the practical exercises and tried to fight for first place, she would undoubtedly be targeted by those in higher positions. In the power arena, if those above say you are first, then you are first. It's not that you become first just by scoring first.
And so, three days later, Qin Yan entered the Jiangcheng Youth Training Camp as planned. Upon seeing the training camp, Qin Yan's admiration for Chen Feng grew even stronger. The participants from each district were exactly as Chen Feng had predicted.
"Deputy District Mayor Qin, what a pity. This youth training camp is definitely a good opportunity to gain political capital. It's such a shame that Chen Feng, with his immense talent in the power arena, isn't here." Cheng Lu said dejectedly.
"Cheng Lu, don't worry. For others, not participating in the training camp is indeed a great loss and a pity. However, for someone like Chen Feng, a rare talent in the power arena of the century, it's not a big problem. To put it without exaggeration, every second of this training camp has been meticulously calculated by Chen Feng. Therefore, Chen Feng not participating in the training camp does not affect his future prospects in the power arena at all." Qin Yan reassured Cheng Lu.
"Really?" Cheng Lu looked at Qin Yan in astonishment.
"Of course, it's true. To be honest, the list of participants for the Mingshan District youth training camp this time was drafted by Chen Feng. Look, the lists from other districts have been modified by those in higher positions to some extent. Only the Mingshan District list remains unchanged. Doesn't this speak volumes?" Qin Yan asked with a smile.
"Deputy District Mayor Qin, now that you mention it, I understand. However, I'm starting to feel a little worried..." A cloud of concern flashed across Cheng Lu's face.
"What is it? Everything is going well now. The three of us have finally moved from the grassroots of power to the mid-level through our own efforts and can finally spread our wings. Why are you worrying?" Qin Yan asked, puzzled.
"Deputy District Mayor Qin, this is what I'm thinking. The current Chen Feng is no longer the Chen Feng who used to be a driver. I feel that his progress over these years of toiling in the grassroots of power has been incredibly fast. If he continues at this pace, entering provincial cities or even the capital city won't be a problem. The question is, can the two of us enter provincial cities or the capital's power arena? And will Chen Feng still maintain a good relationship with us then?" Cheng Lu asked with melancholy.
"Cheng Lu, you don't understand Chen Feng yet. Let me put it this way: you don't need to worry about this concern at all! Chen Feng is not that kind of petty person. In other words, if Chen Feng were that kind of petty person, he could go to Japan and live the life of a corporate mogul anytime he wished, or he could directly seek refuge with the Wang family in the capital and ascend to the capital's power arena in one leap. But the reality is, Chen Feng hasn't done that. Firstly, Chen Feng prefers to do things step by step, and secondly, he is reluctant to leave us behind. He brings us along with him every step he takes." Qin Yan explained with great confidence.
She couldn't be sure about others, but she was a hundred percent certain about Chen Feng!
"Deputy District Mayor Qin, I agree with your words one hundred percent. But the problem is, what if those powerful women in the capital's power arena don't want to share Chen Feng with us?" Cheng Lu asked, pouting.