Chapter 1357: The Request

The conversation between father and son didn't last long before Mother sent Fan Baobao to call Zhao Fusheng and his father back for dinner.

Hu Donghai and the others didn't go upstairs but tacitly split into two shifts, silently guarding downstairs at Zhao Fusheng's home. This was their duty; before returning, Zhang Qian had specifically instructed that no matter when or where, someone must accompany Zhao Fusheng to ensure he faced no potential danger.

The next period was naturally spent preparing for the wedding. Since Zhao's parents planned to hold the wedding in the most down-to-earth Northeastern style, there was no church or priest involved. Simply put, Zhao Fusheng would set out from home with a convoy, go to Fan Baobao's house to pick up the bride, then address Li Yuan as mother-in-law, bring the bride home, have the groom's parents address the bride, and then head to the restaurant for the wedding ceremony.

To be honest, it lacked any aesthetic appeal, but it was very much in line with local Northeastern customs.

Naturally, Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao had no objections. Since they had returned to hold the wedding to satisfy their parents' and elders' wishes, they would simply do as the elders said.

During this time, relatives and friends from both families came over, and even some of Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao's high school classmates arrived upon hearing the news.

And Zhao Fusheng received another special guest.

"You rascal, I thought you were holed up in some mountain valley and weren't planning to come out," Zhao Fusheng said at home, receiving Wen Yu.

The two hadn't been in touch for a long time. After returning to his hometown, this guy had used his father's connections to secure a clerk position. A few years later, he was reportedly promoted to deputy section chief, and then there was no further news. According to Wang Zhen, he seemed to have been sent to the countryside. Now, appearing before Zhao Fusheng was a man with a weary face, looking as if he were in his thirties.

"You're getting married; even if I were in a mountain valley, I'd have to crawl out," Wen Yu said with a smile to Zhao Fusheng.

"So, life in the countryside hasn't been easy for you, has it? I told you being a civil servant was no fun, all that scheming and infighting," Zhao Fusheng said with a slight frown.

"Scheming and infighting? Who told you that nonsense?" Wen Yu found it absurd and looked at Zhao Fusheng speechlessly.

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback: "How is it nonsense? In our company offices, there's plenty of scheming and infighting."

He was analyzing this based on his own workplace experience.

Wen Yu shook his head: "It's not as exaggerated as you think..."

As he spoke, he began to explain to Zhao Fusheng.

Many people have misunderstandings about government departments, especially those who enjoy self-indulgent political novels, always stuffing all kinds of things into officialdom. Under the weight of public opinion, officialdom seems like a big dye vat, with no good people in Hongtong County.

In fact, this perception is wrong.

Grassroots cadres are numerous but positions are few. Take Wen Yu's township as an example: including various stations and offices, large townships have two to three hundred people, small ones over a hundred. There are only four or five at the principal section level, and about a dozen at the deputy section level. Most people won't even reach a deputy section position even if they work until retirement.

Promotion is distant for ordinary people, and equally distant for grassroots cadres. Especially now that the trend is to rejuvenate cadres and require academic qualifications. Most principal and deputy section level cadres are parachuted in like Wen Yu. Those older cadres without academic qualifications have no chance of promotion, so naturally they don't need to strive for advancement.

"Salaries are not guaranteed, promotion is hopeless, transfers are difficult. Many people don't just refrain from competing; they don't even do their jobs properly," Wen Yu said helplessly. "They occupy positions safely, pretend to be busy, muddle through steadily. Whether the work gets done depends on their mood."

Zhao Fusheng was speechless for a long time. He really hadn't expected that the grassroots officialdom would be like this. He had thought their lives must be full of daggers and shadows, open strife and hidden struggles.

"What, didn't expect that?" Wen Yu smiled and asked, seeing Zhao Fusheng silent.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "To be honest, I really didn't."

Shaking his head, Wen Yu said: "I didn't either. You know, when I first took office, I was worried about being stabbed in the back, bringing the office politics to the grassroots. But over time, I found that people don't mind you doing things. If you have the ability to get things done, everyone supports you, because if I do well, I'll definitely get promoted, and the vacated position might give them a chance..."

Holy shit!

Zhao Fusheng felt terrible. He felt that all the political novels he had read before were useless.

But on second thought, what Wen Yu said made sense. Whether at the grassroots or above, official positions are indeed like radishes in a pit—one rises, and naturally someone else advances.

"Then you plan to stay there forever?" Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said to Wen Yu.

Although Wen Yu's father was a deputy county-level leader, to be honest, his power and influence were limited to their hometown. If relying solely on his father's help, Wen Yu would at most become a deputy-section-level cadre; becoming a full section-level was not easy. After all, his father was not a member of the county party standing committee, but only a deputy county magistrate in charge of culture, education, and health.

In a sense, Wen Yu's current official position had already reached its peak.

If he performed well in the township, he might have the opportunity, with his father's help, to be transferred to the county as the head of some department. If he was unlucky, he might remain a deputy-section-level cadre for life.

Once his father retired, he might not even be able to keep his current position as deputy township head.

"Of course not."

Wen Yu didn't beat around the bush either. Looking at Zhao Fusheng, he said directly, "This time I came, besides attending your wedding, there's another matter I hope you can help me with."

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then said, "Tell me, what is it?"

He didn't agree immediately, not because he didn't trust Wen Yu, but because he was afraid that Wen Yu's request might be beyond his ability.

No matter when, a person must not get carried away, whether in times of success or bad luck. Promises cannot be made lightly, and once made, they must be kept.

So Zhao Fusheng would not easily promise anyone anything.

He always remembered what Tan Kaixuan had said to him: "Have you noticed that many of the successes we thought we had years ago are now utterly insignificant, while the embarrassments we once endured have become topics of casual conversation? That's because trivial successes are often less valuable than unforgettable lessons."

When he said these words, Tan Kaixuan was already the most famous stock tycoon in Shanghai.

But not long after, he failed.

Nevertheless, Zhao Fusheng remembered this passage vividly.

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng had never really come into contact with any significant figures. The most accomplished people around him, besides Fan Baobao who had disappeared without a trace, were his college roommate and close friend Tan Kaixuan.

Although Old Tan eventually went bankrupt, during his successful years, at every gathering, he would灌输 Zhao Fusheng with a bunch of things resembling chicken soup for the soul.

If he had remained a successful person, this chicken soup would undoubtedly have been quite insightful. But the problem was, the guy ended up unluckily bankrupt and jumping off a building.

That was really awkward.

But Zhao Fusheng was no fool either. Since Tan Kaixuan had failed, it proved that his way of thinking was incorrect. In other words, he needed to discard the dross and retain the essence.

Thus, Zhao Fusheng developed his own set of theories.

"It's like this: I hope you can invest in our township," Wen Yu didn't beat around the bush and directly stated his request to Zhao Fusheng, saying seriously, "Our township still has great development potential. I think it's suitable for you to invest."

Zhao Fusheng immediately laughed: "So confident?"

He knew Wen Yu well. This guy had always been a deep thinker since school. Usually quiet in the dorm, but in fact, he had a lot on his mind. Wen Yu would never do anything without being sure.

Now he was taking the initiative to bring up investment. Could it be that the place where he worked really had something worth investing in?

Thinking of this, Zhao Fusheng looked at Wen Yu and laughed: "Old classmate, I feel like you're being mysterious with me."

Wen Yu shrugged, revealing a slight smile, but said nothing. Yet Zhao Fusheng sensed an emotion called confidence on his face.

It was obvious that this old classmate of his seemed very confident in convincing him.

To be honest, Wen Yu's reaction made Zhao Fusheng somewhat curious. After all, he also wanted to know what was so special about a township located in a remote rural area of Northeast China that made Wen Yu think he would invest.