Chapter 8: Chen Zhiqiang's Appreciation

  "Cao Cao?" Chen Zhiqiang heard Chen Jiajun ask this and paused for a moment, showing great interest. Then he said seriously: "It can be said that the times create heroes! In any era, Cao Cao would definitely be a hero! However, on the other hand, I don't particularly admire people like Cao Cao. If he were born in this era, people like him wouldn't be very successful either." He analyzed.

  "Hmm! Chen Chu, I agree with your view! However, I also think that Cao Cao has some merits, even now his merits are still useful! For example, he is wise and resourceful, loves talent like life... If there really is someone like Cao Cao appearing now, such a person would not be suitable for the official circle, but in the business world, he would still have some success." Chen Jiajun analyzed.

  "Ah! You're absolutely right!" Chen Zhiqiang said with a look of admiration, sizing up Chen Jiajun after hearing his analysis.

  "Actually, I don't like Cao Cao as a historical figure either! Especially this person is so arrogant and self-righteous, thinking he's the only one who's right!" Chen Jiajun continued.

  "Ah! Well said!" Chen Zhiqiang continued to nod his head in approval as he gazed at Chen Jiajun with an admiring look.

  They continued talking and became more and more compatible. Soon they got along well with each other and became close friends who could talk about anything.

  Chen Jiajun saw that they were already close enough, and it was time to enter the topic he wanted to discuss. He suddenly said to Chen Zhiqiang: "Director Chen, I've reviewed your information, with your conditions, you're definitely not just a deputy director, but also have great room for advancement."

  Chen Zhiqiang immediately showed a serious and solemn expression. "Eh! --- Jiajun, who doesn't want to be promoted? It's just that someone has to pull you up for it to happen! Without anyone's help, being willing by yourself is useless." He said with a helpless look.

  "Chen Chu, I can also lend you a helping hand, right?" Chen Jiajun said instead.

  "When he heard Chen Jiajun say this, Chen Zhiqiang looked at Zhu Jiajun with a surprised gaze. He thought that Director Chen was of no help to him at all, but he couldn't understand why Chen Jiajun would say such things."

  "Yes, Chen Chu! I can lend you a helping hand!" Chen Jiajun also understood Chen Zhiqiang's meaning and said affirmatively again.

  "Can you really help me?" Chen Zhiqiang asked skeptically.

  Chen Jiajun smiled after hearing him ask that way. "Chen Chu, absolutely okay!" He affirmed again.

  "But you're just a section chief, what can you possibly help me with?" Chen Zhiqiang expressed his opinion.

  "Chen Chu, don't forget that I used to be the secretary of the mayor? I still have some connections up there." Chen Jiajun explained. In fact, Chen Jiajun had never thought of using his connections upstairs to help Chen Zhiqiang, he just said so to make Chen Zhiqiang believe that he was capable of helping him.

  Chen Zhiqiang thought for a moment after hearing Chen Jiajun say that, and felt that he might indeed be able to help him. "Are you really willing to help me?" He asked Chen Jiajun again after believing that Chen Jiajun could help him.

  "Of course I am willing!" Chen Jiajun replied affirmatively.

  "Jiajun, if that's the case, then I really want to thank you!" Chen Zhiqiang said with a grateful expression after hearing Chen Jiajun's affirmative answer.

  "Hey! Chen Chu, you're being too polite! I think it's only natural that I help you out. After all, we're old friends, and I'm sure we'll be the closest of friends soon enough." Chen Jiajun said with a magnanimous air.

  "Ah! Yes, we will definitely become the closest friends!" Chen Zhiqiang said in agreement, his expression still excited.

  "Yes, we will definitely become the closest of friends!" Chen Jiajun said affirmatively.

  "Hmm!" Chen Zhiqiang nodded in agreement after hearing it.

  And Chen Jiajun entered his topic again. "Chen, if you want to be promoted, you must seize the opportunity! In my opinion, now is a great opportunity." He said suddenly.

  "Oh! How did you say that?" Chen Zhiqiang asked with great interest after hearing it.

  "Chen Chu, as far as I know, there will be a vacancy for the deputy director position coming up soon." Zhu Jiajun explained to him.

  Chen Zhiqiang immediately showed a very interested look. "Jiajun, did you hear any news up there?" he asked clearly.

  "No, I got the news from within the bureau! According to what I heard, Deputy Director Zhang Guobang is being investigated by the higher-ups for disciplinary problems!" Chen Jiajun replied.

  Chen Zhiqiang immediately showed a disappointed look. "I know this too! Jiajun, let me tell you! Chen Zhiqiang didn't fall that easily." Chen Zhiqiang explained the reason for his disappointment.

  "Chen Chu, how can you say that?" Chen Jiajun asked in confusion after hearing it.

  "Jia Jun, let me tell you! This Zhang Guobang has a very strong backing, there are many people protecting him!" Chen Zhiqiang explained the reason.

  "Like this!" Chen Jiajun thought for a moment after hearing it.

  "Jiajun, Zhang Guobang will never fall! You'd better give up this idea." Chen Zhiqiang warned Chen Jiajun.

  "But if Zhang Guobang really had serious disciplinary violations, how could he be safe and sound?" Chen Jiajun said with a disbelieving expression.

  "Jia Jun, you just don't understand the officialdom! Someone like Zhang Guobang has a wide range of connections and a very strong background. To move him would involve many more people." Chen Zhiqiang explained.

  "But, Chen Chu, I still think that if Zhang Guobang really did something illegal and lawless, he absolutely wouldn't be able to get away with it!" Chen Jiajun said firmly after hearing what Chen Zhiqiang had to say.

  "What's the use of that? In fact, Zhang Guobang is impossible to have anything!" Chen Zhiqiang said.

  Chen Jiajun thought for a moment after hearing Chen Zhiqiang say that. "If Zhang Guobang really has illegal behavior but nothing happens, then I'll make something happen to him!" he said.

  "Jia Jun, what do you mean by this?" Chen Zhiqiang asked in surprise.

  "I'm saying that if Zhang Guobang really deserves to be punished, but he didn't get the punishment he deserved! I'll make sure he gets punished!" Chen Jiajun said clearly.

  "Jia Jun, I know you have some connections in the provincial government! However, I think that just relying on your past relationship as a secretary to the provincial governor is not enough to deal with Zhang Guobang. You should know that compared to your relationships, Zhang Guobang's are much more powerful." Chen Zhiqiang said.

  However, Chen Chu, if Zhang Guobang really has any illegal behavior, I will definitely make him punished, and I don't need to use my relationship with the provincial governor at all! Chen Jiajun said.

  "What? Jiajun, do you really have such skills?" Chen Zhiqiang asked in disbelief.

  Chen Jiajun saw Chen Zhiqiang still looked suspicious and smiled. "Don't believe it, then let's just wait and see!" he said.

  "Alright then! Let me see what you're capable of!" Chen Zhiqiang said with a smile.

  Then, Chen Jiajun chatted with Chen Zhiqiang for a while before leaving.

  A few days later, the Political and Legal Affairs Committee held a department-level leadership meeting, which was attended by the director of the department and two deputy directors. The reason for holding this meeting was to discuss and evaluate the performance of Chen Jiajun, the newly appointed head of the Public Law Department.

  "I think Chen Jiajun is not competent enough to be the head of the Public Law Department!" Deputy Director Li Xinhua expressed his opinion.

  "Li Chu, why do you think so?" Chen Zhiqiang asked with a somewhat unhappy expression after hearing what Li Xinhua had said.

  "Because, judging from his performance over the past few days, he hasn't handled his relationship with his subordinates well! His subordinates even complained to me that he's been managing them too strictly, leaving them breathless." Li Xinhua explained.

  "Is that all it takes for you to think Chen Jiajun is not qualified as the head of the Legal Department?" Chen Zhiqiang asked back.

  "Chen Chu, these are enough to prove that Chen Jiajun is incompetent." Li Xinhua said affirmatively.

  "Li Chu, Chen Jiajun is very strict with his subordinates, but it's also because of the usual laxity of his subordinates that I think Chen Jiajun did nothing wrong. Our leaders are usually too lenient in managing their subordinates, which leads to the phenomenon of slackness in our work as civil servants." Chen Zhiqiang expressed a different opinion.

  "But, Chen, if a leader can't even get along with his subordinates, how can he be considered competent?" Li Xinhua insisted.

  "Director Li, have you forgotten that the central government has made up its mind to rectify the slackness in government organs?" Chen Zhiqiang reminded him after hearing what Li Xinhua had said.

  After hearing Chen Zhiqiang's reminder, Li Xinhua couldn't think of anything to refute Chen Zhiqiang for a while. Another deputy director, Xu Guojun, seeing that Li Xinhua was speechless, spoke up: "Director Chen, I also agree with Director Li's opinion. Chen Jiajun is indeed not capable of serving as the head of the Public Law Department!"

  Chen Zhiqiang looked at Xu Guojun after hearing him say that. "What's your reason?" he asked, still looking unhappy.

  "Chen Chu, does Chen Jiajun look like a national civil servant to you? He looks just like a rascal and a hoodlum from the underworld!" Xǔ Guójūn said his reason.

  "Is this your reason, Xu Chu?" Chen Zhiqiang asked clearly after hearing it.

  "Yes, that's my reason, and I think it's sufficient! Letting Chen Jiayun stay in the cadre team would even destroy the image of our country's cadres." Xǔ Guójūn responded with confidence.

  Chen Zhiqiang looked at Xu Guojun again after hearing him say that. "Director Xu, have you heard of the idiom 'don't judge a person by their appearance'? How can you judge people based on their looks? Moreover, don't forget that he used to be the secretary of the provincial governor, and the governor didn't despise him, what do you despise about him?" He asked Xu Guojun back.

  After hearing Chen Zhiqiang say this, Xu Guojun was also speechless. And Li Xinhua saw that Xu Guojun did not refute Chen Zhiqiang, so he said: "Chen, anyway my opinion is that Chen Jiajun cannot take charge of the Public Law Department." He said with a double meaning.

  "My opinion is exactly the same as Li's!" Xu Guojun hastened to say after hearing what Li Xinhua had said.

  "But in my opinion, Chen Jiajun is absolutely capable of taking on the role of head of the legal department!" Chen Zhiqiang responded to them.

  "What's good! Chen Chu, what are you going to do now?" Li Xinhua asked Chen Zhiqiang as he saw the two of them opposing him.

  "I'm the one in charge! This decision is still up to me! My decision is that Chen Jiajun can take on the role of head of the Public Law Department." Chen Zhiqiang said firmly. It seems he was determined to keep Chen Jiajun, and the two deputy directors, seeing his resolute attitude, chose not to say anything more in order not to strain their relationship with him.

  Chen Zhiqiang saw that they had nothing to say and continued, "Alright, let's end this meeting here!" He did so in order to quickly conclude the meeting and not give them another chance to raise objections. The two deputy directors heard Chen Zhiqiang's words and could only stand up, showing extreme dissatisfaction as they left.

  After the two deputy directors left, Chen Zhiqiang's secretary, Xiao Wang, walked in.

  "What's wrong with the two deputy directors? Why are they so unhappy?" Little Wang asked Chen Zhiqiang as soon as he came in.

  "Because I want to protect someone!" Chen Zhiqiang replied.

  "Chen Chu, who exactly are you trying to protect?" Little Wang asked in pursuit.

  "He is Chen Jiajun, the head of the Department of Public Law." Chen Zhiqiang replied.

  "Chen Jiajun? Is that the Chen Jiajun who just took over as head of the Legal Education Department? Is this person really that important? He's actually willing to risk offending two deputy directors?" Little Wang asked in confusion.

  "Xiao Wang, this Chen Jiajun is different from others! Others' support for you is all fair-weather, they only support you because you are useful to them. But Chen Jiajun has a unique sincerity that won't change with the wind. Also, he said he can help me get promoted, although I don't believe he has such ability, but in the absence of other opportunities, I have no choice but to believe him." Chen Zhiqiang explained.

  After hearing Chen Zhiqiang say this, Xiao Wang thought for a moment. "Chen, it seems that this Chen Jiajun really has something different from others!" he said with emotion.

  "Yes, it's very unique! But I don't know how he'll mix in the official circles?" Chen Zhiqiang said in agreement.

  "In my opinion, he will definitely stir up a big fuss!" Little Wang replied.

  "Hmm! That's also possible!" Chen Zhiqiang agreed.

  "Alright! Let's just wait and see then!" Little Wang said.

  "Hmm!" Chen Zhiqiang nodded after hearing, then he asked Xiao Wang: "Xiao Wang, didn't Zhang Guobang ask the higher-ups to investigate a few days ago? What's the result now?"

  "Chen Chu, it seems like this matter has calmed down again?" Little Wang replied.

  "Has he calmed down? What's going on?" Chen Zhiqiang asked clearly after hearing.

  "Chen Chu, Zhang Guobang's backstage is very powerful! Maybe that's the reason? It might just be let go." Little Wang explained.

  "What can be done if the crime has been committed and cannot be undone? How can the law be treated as a joke!" Chen Zhiqiang said with an indignant expression.

  "Chen Chu, this is helpless! Zhang Guobang's background is really too strong." Little Wang reminded Chen Zhiqiang and said.

  Suddenly, Chen Zhiqiang's spirit was shocked. "Ah! Chen Jiajun said that if Zhang Guobang's violation of the law and discipline is a fact, but he has not received the punishment he deserves, then he will make sure Zhang Guobang gets punished!" He woke up and said.

  "Can Chen Chu and Zhu Jiajun really do it?" Little Wang asked in doubt.

  Chen Zhiqiang thought for a moment after hearing Xiao Wang's question. "Yes, I also think he can't possibly have such ability, but he said it very firmly and sincerely!" He added.

  "Chen Chu, a small section chief, how could he have such ability! Of course, he might be able to make use of his previous relationship as the provincial governor's secretary, but compared to Zhang Guobang's background, it's still far from comparable!" Little Wang said with an expression of disbelief.

  "But he also said that Zhang Guobang should be punished, did he ever think of using his relationship as the former provincial governor's secretary?" Chen Zhiqiang said.

  "Without this relationship, what else could have brought Zhang Guobang to justice?" Little Wang asked in doubt.

  "What's going on with him?" Chen Zhiqiang also looked puzzled and said.

  "I really don't believe he has any ability that would lead to Zhang Guobang being punished." Little Wang said disbelievingly.

  "Alright! Let's just wait and see then!" Chen Zhiqiang said finally.

  And then Chen Jiajun saw that the investigation of Zhang Guobang's illegal activities had calmed down, so he immediately called Zhang Yi into his office.

  "Aunt Zhang, what's going on with the investigation into Zhang Guobang? Why hasn't there been any news?" Chen Jiajun asked Aunt Zhang as soon as he saw her.

  "Section Chief, could this be because Zhang Guobang's backstage is too powerful?" Zhang Yi speculated.

  "Oh!" Chen Jiajun thought for a moment after hearing this. "So who exactly is Zhang Guobang's backer?" he asked clearly.

  "Retired original Zhang county magistrate Zhang Botian is the father of Zhang Guobang, and current vice-county magistrate Zhang Jike is the uncle of Zhang Guobang! But that's secondary. It's said that Zhang Guobang also has an uncle who holds a major position in the provincial government, I don't know what specific position it is. Of course, here it mainly refers to his father, original Zhang county magistrate Zhang Botian!" Auntie Zhang introduced.

  "Oh!" Chen Jiajun thought for a moment after hearing that. "Aunt Zhang, there's something I don't understand," he said again.

  "Section Chief, what's unclear?" Zhang Yi asked with a calm demeanor.

  "Although Zhang Guobang's father was the original head of Yuanzheng County, he had already retired. How could he still be in charge?" Chen Jiajun asked out loud what he didn't understand.

  "Section Chief, it's not just about looking at someone's position to see who has the real power. You also have to look at their connections. Zhang Botian may be retired, but his connections are still there. In all of Nanfeng County's government departments, most people belong to him, including the current county head Hu Jiangnan and other deputy heads. Section Chief, it's precisely this kind of person who has the real power." Zhang Yi continued to explain.

  Chen Jiajun thought for a moment after hearing this. "So you're saying that County Head Hu Jiangnan also completely listens to Zhang Botian?" he asked again to clarify.

  "It can be said that Hu Jiangnan cannot ignore Zhang Botian's words, because the reason why Hu Jiangnan can sit in this county magistrate position is inseparable from Zhang Botian's support. In other words, if Zhang Botian did not support Hu Jiangnan, then Hu Jiangnan's position as county magistrate would be very unstable." Zhang Yi continued to explain to Chen Jiajun.