Chapter 2350 - 2350

Although Gu Yan joined the City Culture and Tourism Bureau and worked in the office managing information technology as a minor staff member, which had some work connections with Liu Zhizhong's department of industrial development, she really didn't have much that she needed to consult Liu Zhizhong about.

Liu Zhizhong only had a few days left to work at the unit. After handling a lot of work and arranging some work handovers, he was going to the provincial city for further studies.

However, during the limited time available, Gu Yan still maintained work contacts and connections with him. The young lady's thoughts seemed to become a bit clearer.

There was no other way; his former brother-in-law was too outstanding and now single again, how could one not develop some thoughts?

Even Liu Zhizhong sensitively noticed that something was off with his former sister-in-law!

This wasn't a good thing, even though he was also single.

Nevertheless, in dealing with Gu Yan on the surface, Liu Zhizhong was still decent, treating her with patience and kindness. Anyway, once the training in the provincial city ended, Liu Zhizhong was going to leave the Cultural and Tourism Bureau and move to a new work position.

The new position, in any case, was already discussed and arranged by Xiong Wenwu and Zhang Qidong. Liu Zhizhong would be working at the City Hall Office, hehe... directly as a managerial figure, namely the Deputy Director of the Office, serving the two mayors.

In fact, both leaders wanted to have a young talent like Liu Zhizhong around them for close cultivation, and also as a member of the think tank for the city government, providing them with insights and advice.

The relationship between the principal and deputy mayors of Dongnan City was rarely this harmonious. After all, they were united in mind and belonged to members outside of the Southeast Zhang Family System. Their relationship with the Zhang Family was also nuanced, achieving a balance of mutual non-interference.

In essence, the Zhang Family was growing big in the Southeast; they did their own thing with their dark and gray operations, while Xiong and Zhang didn't care about that because it had nothing to do with them. When they were conducting business and the Zhang Family wanted to interfere, as long as they could tolerate it, they would; if not, they just wouldn't do it.

In any case, neither opposing nor offending but not overly close either—this was the way Xiong and Zhang dealt with the Zhang Family. This principle was also explained to Liu Zhizhong, who gained some insights from it.

Now, Xiong Wenwu and Zhang Qidong were planning to leave Dongnan City soon, so as long as things remained harmonious with the Zhang Family here, the absence of major conflicts was favorable.

As for Liu Zhizhong, it was certain they would take him along by then, but which place would better serve Liu Zhizhong's future development would depend on the circumstances later.

The Southeast could be daunting, but avoidable. When the time came to become prominent, thinking back and reorganizing the Southeast wouldn't be beyond possibility. However, they all had a sense: as long as Zhang Taikang was alive, making a move on the Southeast Zhang Family would be tricky.

Family elders always remained a protective shield of the family, one that was indeed hard to overlook.

In reality, when the elders passed, the influence of the family would diminish greatly, and people above wouldn't have as much to consider when handling matters. With elders present, many situations had to be considered.

It was just the day before Liu Zhizhong was going to the province when an unexpectedly startling piece of news spread out.

No one foresaw that Zhang Qidong was heading to Tiandu to participate in the top-level Central School's training session for medium and young cadres.

My goodness…

This was shocking news, causing quite a shockwave.

According to Bi, after attending the top-level school training, it typically involved being promoted from deputy-office level to full-office level and certainly becoming a member of the backup sequence for future cadre cultivation.

This training was a six-month commitment!

Zhang Qidong had only half a month for a buffer, arranging work handovers and considering all aspects of future life because once training ended, it meant a transfer in work was imminent.

Zhang Qidong himself was equally surprised; why him?

Of course, this was something to be congratulated for. Xiong Wenwu and Liu Zhizhong even went to Zhang Qidong's home to have dinner together to celebrate.

Wasn't this quite good?

As Xiong Wenwu stated at the dining table, "Hey hey, look at you two, one master and two apprentices, now you've both grabbed a rise opportunity. The teacher is off to Tiandu for the highest-level training; the student is off to the provincial city for the province's highest-level training. When you return, hehe, there's promotion awaiting! By the time Mayor Zhang is promoted, he could very well leave the Southeast, and you can go your way, just leave Zhizhong for me."

The words made Liu Zhizhong and Zhang Qidong smile, and the atmosphere during dinner was extremely pleasant.

Zhang Qidong seemed quite surprised as he said, "I truly didn't expect this day to come so soon! If I indeed leave the Southeast after training, keeping Zhizhong by Mayor Xiong's side is the better choice. After all, the Southeast has its complexities, and Zhizhong also needs the experience, dual benefits under Mayor Xiong's leadership!"

Actually, Liu Zhizhong was already quite comprehensive, from political mentality to influence and perspective, he was doing well. What was he currently lacking?

Experience!

Or rather, qualifications!

As long as he endures through qualifications, once the time comes, he can naturally continue ascending.

In the past, stepping up in the officialdom meant a small step every three years and a big step every five years, which has become outdated.

Now the pattern is a small step every year, two years for a small step is common. There are even bigger steps every two to three years, which is hardly uncommon, becoming the new normal.

Those who stagnated in one place for three to five years typically are either about to fall or have no future, ultimately getting sidelined or coldly treated.

Now, Zhang Qidong in Dongnan had also been in place for almost three years, and it was time to make a move, as per the outdated timeline, which was not easy either.

This pent-up feeling during these years in Dongnan did exist, but it was bearable. After all, as a scholar-type official, he could handle affairs; the local area needed him, and the Southeast Zhang Family also showed courtesy without major difficulties.

As for Xiong Wenwu, he was somewhat frustrated because he had served as mayor for nearly four years. His achievements were decent, and during the spring festival, he led the Dongnan city-level government basketball team to win an invitational tournament championship, which gained some popularity. Logically, he should also be making a move!

However, there hadn't really been any news, which was a bit puzzling.

Overall, Xiong Wenwu was still happy for Zhang Qidong and Liu Zhizhong. He even had a prediction, that even if Zhang Qidong finished the training and didn't leave Dongnan for promotion, he might still become the mayor of Dongnan, while he, Xiong Wenwu, might leave Dongnan for a quiet and idle position somewhere else.

In discussions about this, Liu Zhizhong suddenly had a bad premonition, yet dared not voice it...