Chapter 110: A Future Bright with Promise

Thank you to all the readers—yy, Wu Wei 870819, Qing Wu Feiyang 11, Glory Faith Still Stands, Ji Chongxuan, Rain Morning Sweetheart, Yang Big Tooth, Forgetting the World, Into the Divine Sect, Reader 161030150953810, Setting Sun Over the River, Laughing Sword, Reader 20170812190309567, Summer Snow..., Reader 20180121071143052, Peng Xing Ziwen, and everyone else—for your generous support. I will continue to work hard!

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After a moment, Professor Zhu Maotao gradually calmed down.

He let out a deep sigh and gave Zhao Guoyang a wry smile. “Little Zhao, I’m sorry. What Xiaotian just said was unfair to you. I apologize on his behalf...”

Zhao Guoyang quickly waved his hand. “Professor Zhu, you flatter me too much. I can’t take such responsibility. Besides, he is who he is, and you are who you are. He can’t represent you, and you can’t control him either...”

Hearing this, Zhu Maotao was momentarily taken aback but soon understood that Zhao Guoyang was advising him not to take it to heart and to relax.

Indeed, although Mo Xiaotian was technically still a student, he was nearly thirty years old. Treating him like a child was clearly inappropriate.

Mo Xiaotian’s pent-up frustrations over the years had erupted all at once, which was partly due to Zhu’s method of education.

Realizing this was no easy feat, and the more Zhu thought about it, the more impressed he became with Zhao Guoyang.

Sighing, Zhu Maotao looked at Zhao Guoyang and said, “Little Zhao, you really are surprising. Next time I see Dean Maotian, I’ll have to ask him how he could bear to let you return to your hometown for work...”

Zhu’s words brought laughter from everyone.

Liang Xiaofeng looked at Zhao Guoyang with admiration and said loudly, “Comrade Zhao, your words just now were truly thought-provoking! Even some of the country’s top experts and scholars might not see things as clearly as you do.”

Wang Ziqing was not surprised by Zhao Guoyang’s performance.

He had already planned that when he met Director Fang at the auto show, he would report every detail of Zhao Guoyang’s conduct during the journey, leaving nothing out.

He imagined that Director Fang would be delighted to hear that the young man he favored was so outstanding.

While Wang Ziqing pondered this, Liang Xiaofeng turned to Zhao Guoyang again. “Little Zhao, you’re currently working at a state-owned enterprise in Jiangnan Province, right? Section Chief of the Technical Department—that’s a departmental cadre, isn’t it?”

Liu Yaohong, who had been quietly listening, perked up at this and quickly added, “Director Fang, Director Liang, that’s correct. Zhao Guoyang works at Hongda Machinery Factory, one of the larger state-owned enterprises in Guangling City. Its administrative rank is slightly higher than typical enterprises. Strictly speaking, Zhao Guoyang holds a deputy section chief rank...”

“Oh, deputy section chief...” Liang Xiaofeng nodded slightly, then shifted gears. “Little Zhao, would you be interested in working for the Songjiang Municipal Machinery and Industry Committee?”

Seeing Zhao Guoyang’s wide-eyed, bewildered expression, Liang explained further, “Here’s the situation: Many cadres from our Songjiang Committee have been assigned to the newly established Songjiang Volkswagen Company, so we’re severely short-staffed. I’m preparing a report to the city government to request more personnel.”

He smiled warmly as he continued, “If you’re willing to make a slight concession, you could join our Equipment Department. Although we can’t promise you deputy division-level treatment for now, a section chief position is guaranteed.”

After Liang finished speaking, Zhao Siyen, standing beside Zhao Guoyang, gently nudged him with her foot, a clear reminder to seize this excellent opportunity.

Being a native of Songjiang, Zhao Siyen knew well how difficult it was to get into the Municipal Machinery and Industry Committee.

The Equipment Department oversees the management of industries such as general machinery, automobiles, and rail transit machinery manufacturing. It’s by far the richest department in the committee.

If Zhao Guoyang accepted the offer, given Director Liang’s favor, his future prospects would undoubtedly be bright.

Under the table, Zhao Guoyang was nudged twice by Zhao Siyen, and he couldn’t help but smile to himself. He clearly understood what she meant but had no intention of accepting.

Behind Wang Ziqing, Jiang Hong and Liu Renhe listened to Director Liang’s invitation, their facial muscles twitching.

Both were insiders and knew the immense authority wielded by the Songjiang Machinery and Industry Committee.

Compared to the Jiangnan Provincial Committee, Songjiang’s committee had far greater influence due to the numerous machinery manufacturing and automobile enterprises under its jurisdiction.

If given the choice, Jiang Hong and Liu Renhe would even be willing to take a demotion just to become powerful cadres in Songjiang.

Unlike Jiang Hong and Liu Renhe, Liu Yaohong’s expression was mixed with joy and worry.

He was pleased that one of his protégés was favored by the top leader of Songjiang’s committee, which brought prestige to Guangling City.

But he was anxious because Zhou Taishan had entrusted him with a solemn promise: to bring Zhao Guoyang back intact for Mu Aijun.

If Little Zhao stayed in Songjiang, how could he face Zhou Taishan and the difficult Factory Director Mu?

Just as everyone turned to Zhao Guoyang, waiting for his response, Wang Ziqing, who had remained silent, cleared his throat and spoke.

“Old Liang, what you’re doing isn’t very fair!” Wang Ziqing said with a half-smile.

“Little Zhao is from Jiangnan Province. Whether he wants to stay at the factory or work in government, it’s an internal matter for our province. You barging in, trying to poach him outright—that’s a bit unreasonable, don’t you think?”

Liang Xiaofeng knew he had overstepped and smiled awkwardly. “Old Wang, it’s not exactly like that.”

“You know the situation in Songjiang. With the country gearing up to develop the west side of the river, Songjiang is in desperate need of talent.”

“Didn’t the leaders say that developing the economy requires a nationwide effort? Jiangnan Province could show some generosity and give Little Zhao to us!”

Liang Xiaofeng’s silver tongue left Wang Ziqing without a retort.

However, Zhao Guoyang was too important for him to let go, no matter how eloquent Liang was.

“Old Liang, don’t force the issue,” Wang Ziqing said earnestly.

“If you’re really short on personnel, I can talk to our provincial leaders about sending a couple of cadres to your Songjiang Committee for exchange. But as for Little Zhao, don’t even think about it...”

Seeing that he couldn’t convince Wang Ziqing, Liang Xiaofeng placed his last hope on Zhao Guoyang.

He gazed at him intently. “Little Zhao, you speak openly. Don’t hold back your true thoughts.”

Just as Zhao Guoyang was about to reply, Wang Ziqing cleared his throat heavily, casting a serious glance toward him.

Zhao Guoyang found Director Wang’s blatant “intimidation” somewhat amusing.

Straightening up, he said, “Sorry, Director Liang, the factory leaders have always cared for me deeply and have promoted me several times beyond the norm. I’m very grateful, so I currently have no plans to leave the factory...”