Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 823 - 824: Promoted

Chapter 823: Chapter 824: Promoted

"Xiao Jiang is here, take a seat!" Secretary Jin is a man in his fifties, slightly plump, but still quite spirited. At this moment, his face carries a smile.

Seeing the smile on Secretary Jin’s face, Jiang Xueliang felt greatly relieved. The leader’s demeanor often sets the tone, and such a demeanor is enough to indicate that today’s meeting wouldn’t be bad news.

After sitting down, Secretary Jin said, "Xiao Jiang, how have you been doing these last few days at the Cultural House?"

"It’s been alright." Jiang Xueliang was not the kind of person who enjoyed tattling, so he responded vaguely at this moment.

Secretary Jin slightly shook his head and said, "I don’t feel good about the work arrangement for you. Someone talented and hardworking like you should not be buried in a place like the Cultural House."

Jiang Xueliang’s heart suddenly began to race. Having once been the deputy director of the district committee office, he knew all too well what such words from a leader meant—it signaled a promotion.

Seeing the excited expression on Jiang Xueliang’s face, Secretary Jin smiled faintly, and then turned serious again, saying, "Xiao Jiang, do you have the confidence to take on a more important role?"

Jiang Xueliang straightened up and said loudly, "Secretary Jin, I am confident."

Secretary Jin said, "Hmm, then I am planning to let you take over as the head of the office. After a transition period, I will have further important use for you."

"Ah? Still deputy director?" Jiang Xueliang frowned slightly. No matter which department he was transferred to, he was somewhat reluctant to continue being Liu Qingyuan’s assistant.

"Not deputy director, but director," Secretary Jin said with a smile on his face.

"Director? What about Director Liu?" Jiang Xueliang knew he should not ask such a question, but he couldn’t help asking directly.

"Director Liu... will be arranged for something else," said Secretary Jin, his expression a bit odd.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xueliang immediately stood up and said, "Good! I will definitely not fail the organization’s trust in me and will do my job well."

This was tremendous news, and it was almost too much for him to take in all at once.

"That settles it. Prepare yourself these next few days, and return to work in a couple of days. However, don’t spread the word about this yet. Once the work position here is arranged, I’ll transfer you over," Secretary Jin said.

"Alright!" Jiang Xueliang promptly agreed, and Secretary Jin didn’t say much else, so he also started to prepare to leave.

Just then, footsteps were heard from outside. Liu Qingyuan hurriedly came in and said, "Secretary Jin, it’s not good, the people from the Discipline Inspection Commission are here."

Secretary Jin was stunned for a moment and said, "This quickly."

Jiang Xueliang’s heart dropped, thinking whether this stroke of misfortune could really happen just as a leader who appreciated him appeared, only for things to go wrong immediately. If that was the case, his promotion was definitely going down the drain.

In the midst of speaking, four people walked in, and one of them took out an ID card and came directly before Secretary Jin.

"Secretary Jin, hello, we are from the Discipline Inspection Commission. We need your office director Liu Qingyuan to come back with us for an investigation," the person said.

"Sure, we will definitely cooperate with your work," Secretary Jin replied calmly, apparently completely unsurprised by the situation.

Jiang Xueliang, on the other hand, was shocked: What’s going on? How could Liu Qingyuan suddenly be in trouble?

Liu Qingyuan was even more terrified, his face turning pale as he urgently said, "You’ve got the wrong person, there must be a mistake."

"Liu Qingyuan, please cooperate with our investigation. If you are innocent, we will naturally let you return," the Discipline Inspection Commission’s staff member said sternly.

"You have the wrong person, you definitely have the wrong person." Liu Qingyuan cried out twice, then hurriedly said to Secretary Jin, "Secretary Jin, save me, I don’t want to go to the Discipline Inspection Commission."

Secretary Jin said indifferently, "Cooperate well with the work, the comrades from the Discipline Inspection Commission will not falsely accuse good people." It was clear that he would offer no help.

"Comrade Liu Qingyuan, come with us," they said.

Liu Qingyuan’s gaze suddenly turned to Jiang Xueliang, his expression becoming fierce as he shouted, "Jiang Xueliang, did you betray me? Was it you?"

Finally regaining his composure, Jiang Xueliang spoke indifferently, "I’m not the kind of person to stoop so low, but if you’ve done nothing wrong, you naturally have nothing to fear."

"It was you! It was you! Jiang Xueliang, I won’t let you get away with this, I definitely won’t let you go," cried Liu Qingyuan.

Amidst Liu Qingyuan’s shouting, he was taken away by the people from the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Secretary Jin’s expression remained as calm as before, still with a smile, he said, "I originally thought to transfer you over in a few days, but now it seems you’ll have to take up the post immediately."

Jiang Xueliang was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "I am ready to accept the organization’s arrangement at any time."

Secretary Jin nodded and said, "Alright, go take care of things at work, and I’ll arrange for the transfer immediately."

Coming out from the district committee, Jiang Xueliang felt as if he was living in a dream, hurriedly taking out his phone and calling his wife, saying, "Honey..."

Hearing the tremble in Jiang Xueliang’s voice, Cui Ying was startled and anxiously said, "Husband, don’t despair. No matter what happens, you still have a family, you have me, and you have the children."

"It’s not that, I’m just too moved, I... I... have been transferred back to the district committee office."

"Ah? That’s great news!" Cui Ying also became excited and exclaimed.

"Yeah, not only that but I’ve also become the director."

"Director? What about Liu Qingyuan?"

"He has been taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission."

Cui Ying was also bewildered, saying, "My goodness, what’s happening?"

By now, Jiang Xueliang had calmed down a bit and said, "I too find this situation rather strange. When Secretary Jin spoke to me, Liu Qingyuan was fine, but Secretary Jin straightforwardly told me that I would be arranged to take the director’s position. And even when the Discipline Inspection Commission came, he didn’t seem surprised at all, as if he knew Liu Qingyuan would be in trouble."

"It seems likely."

"But having me directly take over feels a bit odd."

"What’s odd? Your talent is there for all to see, and the leader can see that too."

"That’s not right, there are many talented people, and many are coveting this position. Without someone advocating for me, it wouldn’t have been my turn. Suddenly, I thought of someone who could have helped."

"Who do you think it is?" Cui Ying couldn’t think of anyone.

"Sijie’s boyfriend, Song Xiaodong," Jiang Xueliang said slowly.

"Really? Little Song is just doing some business; how could he have that much influence?"

"But I am almost certain it was him. I’m going to call him now and ask for clarification," Jiang Xueliang said.

Jiang Xueliang took a deep breath, took out his phone, and dialed Song Xiaodong’s number.