Then let them offer their loyalty!

Page 263

Or rather, although she was telling the truth last night, her intentions were actually... impure.

She didn't lie to her family because she liked Qiu Tu or to help him get the position of Minister of Political Affairs.

Although she does have some good feelings towards Qiu Tu, it's not to the point of liking him.

She only learned about the "Boundless Heart Sea Project" from her family elders, and after guessing Qiu Tu's scheme, she suddenly panicked...

In the past, she always had a sense of superiority over Qiu Tu.

Although Qiu Tu was the only man in her life, she only ever saw him as a puppy-like lover.

Later, even as she gradually discovered Qiu Tu's abilities, she began to value him more and more.

But... this mindset hasn't changed much.

As a result, when she learned last night that Qiu Tu was involved in such an important plan and was about to become the Minister of Political Affairs, her sense of superiority shattered instantly.

At that moment, she suddenly realized that, without her noticing, this little man had grown up to the point where he was almost as old as her.

The Minister of the Political Department and the Deputy Director are already one step apart, and they have been interacting on an equal footing in their exchanges.

In addition to the power of the Political Department and his participation in the "Boundless Ocean of the Heart Project," Qiu Tu's status and influence in the New Territories City may even be higher than that of her, the deputy director.

When Tang Feifei realized this, she was stunned.

She wasn't jealous of Qiu Tu; all she felt was panic at the possibility of "losing" him.

So, after much thought, she decided to "put on a show".

She knew that Liu Xiongyuan was in seclusion and couldn't help Qiu Tu, so Qiu Tu would definitely come to beg her for help.

Therefore, she acted decisively and planned everything in advance for Qiu Tu.

Later, when Qiu Tu came to see her again, she pretended to be angry and gave him a cold shoulder.

After whetting Qiu Tu's appetite, she would tell him everything she had done for him, making him feel guilty and moved.

To be honest, Tang Feifei is not good at scheming or manipulating people's hearts.

Last night was her first time trying something like this, and it was with Qiu Tu, someone she was close to, which made her feel incredibly guilty...

This is why, despite being imprisoned and discharged seven times, she still gets up early every morning to exercise...

'Sigh... I'm still not strong enough. If I were the director, the deputy speaker, or even the speaker, I wouldn't need to resort to such despicable methods...'

Suddenly, Tang Feifei's punches became even more powerful, and her wheat-colored face became even more serious!

However, what she didn't know was...

She had just left the bedroom when Qiu Tu woke up.

Lying in bed, Qiu Tu first lit a candle for his back, commemorating its second failure...

Then Qiu Tu crossed his hands behind his head, thinking about what Tang Feifei had said and done last night.

Tang Feifei is not actually a good liar.

Qiu Tu happens to be someone who is particularly good at deceiving people.

In addition, the two were almost touching at the time.

Therefore, when Tang Feifei said that she did everything for him, Qiu Tu keenly sensed Tang Feifei's abnormality.

With his keen intuition, he guessed almost instantly what Tang Feifei was lying about.

He guessed that Tang Feifei's arrangements for him in advance were not actually so innocent.

Or perhaps they find themselves starting to lose control and want to use emotions to bind themselves, to make themselves feel guilty and moved.

Or perhaps... the Tang family is too greedy for the benefits of the "Boundless Heart Sea Development Project," so they used Tang Feifei to "kidnap" them.

—Tang Feifei has made a promise to the family that she will share profits with the family. How can Qiu Tu have the nerve to ask Tang Feifei to break her promise to the family?

But for Qiu Tu, both of these were good news. The former meant that he was becoming more and more important to Tang Feifei.

From a public standpoint, Qiu Tu can now utilize more of Tang Feifei's resources; from a private standpoint, Qiu Tu can unlock more of Tang Feifei's charms...

The latter indicates that the Tang family did not see helping Qiu Tu as an opportunity to recruit him, but rather as a "transaction".

In this way, Qiu Tu would not be forced to join the "Fengtian Clique" and could continue down the path of the "reformists".

Of course, if the "reformist" path comes to an end, Qiu Tu wouldn't mind jumping to the "Fengtian Clique" path to live off his wife.

Or... merge the two factions.

Of course, all of this is too far away for Qiu Tu, who is still weak at the moment.

Now, all he hopes is that the "Fengtian Clique" can completely secure his position as Minister of Political Affairs...

Thinking of this, Qiu Tu couldn't help but look up at the rising sun outside the window.

He remembered Tang Feifei saying that the personnel department of the Detective Agency would hold a small meeting this morning to discuss the candidate for the head of the political department of the New Territories City Detective Agency.

So...theoretically, we should have the results by noon today?

Thinking this, Qiu Tu was momentarily lost in thought...

......

8:30 a.m.

The Eighth Shelter.

This is the heart of the northwestern part of the entire cataclysmic world. A sacred place in the hearts of the people of the northwest.

If the disaster zone is a ruin, and the planned development zone is a dilapidated city in ruins, then there are hardly any traces of pre-disaster civilization left.

So... the eight shelters are the continuation of the pre-cataclysmic civilization.

The skyscrapers stand like giant beasts rising from the ground, piercing the sky.

The gleaming glass facade, reflecting the sunlight, shimmered with a mesmerizing play of light and shadow, resembling staircases leading to heaven, a stark contrast to the bustling and vibrant atmosphere of the entire shelter...

The Eighth Shelter, the Investigation Department is located in a skyscraper in the very center of the shelter.

At this moment, on the 16th floor of the General Administration building, in the Personnel Department, in Conference Room No. 1.

The HR staff members were all quietly walking inside.

Normally, the atmosphere in the personnel department, which controls all subordinate investigation departments, should be very relaxed and comfortable.

But for some reason, the expressions on the faces of several attendees were rather serious today.

There were only a few people attending the meeting today, including Yang Zaiwen, the director of the Cadre Department, the three deputy ministers of the Personnel Department, Zhen Lie, Meng Sanzhai, Zhou Jingfu, and Yue Zaitian, the minister of the Personnel Department.

Yang Zaiwen, Zhen Lie, Meng Sanzhai, and Zhou Jingfu entered the office first.

Instead of their usual casual conversation, they were flipping through documents.

After watching for a short while, Yue Zaitian, the head of the personnel department, finally arrived late, accompanied by his secretary.

He was an elderly man who looked to be in his fifties, with gray hair and a calm and serious demeanor.

After entering the conference room, Yue Zaitian nodded slightly to the four people and then slowly said, "I'm sorry... I just received a call from Councilor Huang and we chatted for a few more minutes, so I'm late."

Yue Zaitian, a graduate of the "Eighth Shelter Officers Academy," is one of the high-ranking members of the "academic faction."

When the Exploration Agency was first established, he served as the Deputy Minister of Personnel in his capacity as a representative of the "Officer Academy".

After serving for eight years, he successfully took over the position of Minister of Personnel after the Minister of Personnel got into trouble.

During his years in the personnel department, he has been actively recruiting and cultivating elites from the "academic" background.

It is because of him that the "academic school" has been able to grow so rapidly.

As Yue Zaitian sat down at the head of the meeting room, he also recalled the several phone calls he had received last night and this morning.

Some were his former subordinate Yan Chen, and some were his students.

Several people made phone calls, but didn't talk about anything else. They just subtly told him: "Be careful at today's meeting to discuss the position of Special Branch Minister of the New Territories City. Don't let someone named Qiu Tu get the position."

This piqued his curiosity about "Qiu Tu," so he looked through the meeting materials from today.

To his surprise, Qiu Tu was not even a candidate in this discussion.

So, while he found the others' overreaction amusing, he also became even more curious about Qiu Tu.

Therefore, he retrieved Qiu Tu's file and resume and studied them carefully.

After reading it, he frowned.

Qiu Tu's promotion was too fast; he reached the level that others had achieved in several years or even more than ten years in just two months.

Moreover, judging from his resume, Qiu Tu showed no signs of being affiliated with any faction, nor had he received any training at the shelter.

A person like this, apart from having the title of initiator of the "Boundless Ocean of the Heart" project which might give him some points, has absolutely no chance of being elected as the Special Minister of the New Territories City.

Therefore, he didn't take it too seriously.

As a result, just as he was preparing to start the meeting, he suddenly received another call from Huang Shangzong.

Huang Shangzong's phone call was brief, but... the content was the same: he wanted him to stall Qiu Tu.

However, perhaps because of Huang Shangzong's status, he is both a top-ranking member of the "academic faction" and the soon-to-be speaker of "Dongye Prefecture".

Both for public and private reasons, Yue Zaitian needs to consider his opinion.

Therefore, Yue Zaitian also raised the importance of this matter to several levels.

He decided that no matter who was present today, he would not allow Chiu Tu to be elected as the Minister of Political Affairs.

Thinking this, he picked up his thermos, took a sip of water, then looked around at the people present and slowly said, "Alright, let's begin today's meeting."

"The main purpose of our meeting today is to discuss the candidates for senior positions in several planned area exploration departments."

"The first is the candidate for the Special Branch Secretary of the New Territories City Investigation Department."

At this point, Yue Zaitian nodded to Yang Zaiwen, the director of the cadre department, and gestured, "Director Yang, please introduce the candidates."

Upon hearing Yue Zaitian's words, Yang Zaiwen, the head of the Cadre Department, nodded and then said, "Regarding the selection of the head of the Political Department of the New Territories City Investigation Department, we respect their internal recommendations in principle."

"But... they submitted two people this time, which means that both of them meet their requirements."

"Therefore, we still need to weigh things for them."

After finishing speaking, Yang Zaiwen prepared to introduce the two candidate lists.

Just then, someone suddenly knocked on the conference room door.

Hearing the knock on the door, Yue Zaitian frowned. Generally, it was rare for anyone to disturb a personnel department meeting—leaving a bad impression could affect one's promotion.

Therefore, anyone who dares to bother you must be an important person or have an urgent matter.

Recalling the phone calls he received last night and this morning, Yue Zaitian suddenly had a bad feeling.

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Two chapters, 10,000 words each! Requesting monthly votes! The next chapter will be updated between midnight and 1 AM.

Chapter 291 Why are there so many people behind Qiu Tu? (10,000 words, please vote!)

'Could it be that someone really wants to help that... Qiu Tu... guy?'

Thinking of this, Yue Zaitian's gaze darkened slightly.

He is the Minister of the Personnel Department of the General Administration of Customs. With him in charge, who can interfere with the work of the Personnel Department? How can they arrange a position for a mere municipal political department minister?

Thinking this, Yue Zaitian suppressed the ominous premonition in his heart, and then winked at his secretary who was sitting at the end of the conference room.

Upon seeing this, the secretary quickly got up and walked towards the conference room door.

The atmosphere in the meeting room quieted down after being interrupted by the knocking.

Everyone lowered their eyes, picked up their water glasses, and drank the water.

Just then, the conference room door opened, followed by Secretary Yue Zaitian's slightly surprised voice, "Councilor Ouyang?!"

After his initial surprise, the secretary realized his lapse in composure. He quickly snapped his feet together, saluted, and greeted, "Councilor Ouyang!"

"Cough cough..." "Cough cough..." Upon hearing the secretary's words, everyone in the conference room who had been nonchalantly drinking water choked.

They coughed while covering their mouths, glancing at the conference room door out of the corner of their eyes. When they saw that it really was Councilor Ouyang, they quickly stood up while still coughing.

For a time, the sounds of tables being dragged around, coughing, and greetings filled the room.

Upon seeing Councilor Ouyang, even Yue Zaitian, who had been sitting in the main seat from beginning to end, frowned deeply.