At 9 o'clock in the morning of 6 March, at the behest of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee, He Jiaguo went to the Provincial Party Committee to receive a talk, but he could not get out of the Liuyin intersection. On that day, many policemen suddenly appeared at the Liuyin intersection, and the nearly 200-meter road leading to the provincial party committee and the provincial ** gate was blocked by the police. He Jiaguo didn't know what was going on, but he still drove the BMW of Huamei International Company and squeezed forward. Squeezed to the front of the cordon, I found that there were hundreds of people in front of the provincial party committee and the provincial ** gate, most of whom were middle-aged and elderly women.

He Jiaguo stopped the car, rolled down the window, and stretched out his head to look at the crowd in the distance.

A young traffic policeman found out and rushed over from inside the cordon: "What's the matter with you?" No parking here! ”

He Jiaguo realized that he had made a taboo, so he hurriedly retracted his head into the car and slowly reversed the car.

After the young traffic policeman approached, he recognized He Jiaguo: "Yo, it's Mr. He, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" ”

He Jiaguo parked the car on the side of the road and asked casually, "What's going on over there?" ”

The young traffic policeman looked around, saw that no one was paying attention, and whispered: "What good thing can it be that so many people come?" Don't you want a salary? I heard that it was a person from the city Hongfeng clothing company, and the thousands of people had not been paid wages for two years, and they lost a lawsuit, so they came to make trouble, and they might be able to pay some living expenses if they made a fuss! ”

It can be seen that this comrade of the traffic police is quite sympathetic to the group interviewers, and he may not have laid-off relatives at home.

Today, it is no longer Hongfeng Garment Company that cannot pay wages in provinces and cities. The coal system, metallurgical system, and military industry system could not pay wages as early as the year before last, and only paid some living expenses during the New Year's holidays. By the second half of last year, the units that could pay wages also began to be in arrears. According to Li Dongfang's arrangement, He Jiaguo did some investigation in private, and found that some of these units were not unable to pay salaries, but were unwilling to show their wealth and were afraid that poor units would come to borrow money.

The poverty that pervades the true and false in this market makes He Jiaguo vaguely uneasy.

Although the appointment of the mayor's assistant has not yet become a fact, He Jiaguo has unknowingly entered the role.

Three years ago, after returning to China with a doctorate in economics from Harvard University in the United States, Li Dongfang was ready to arrange for him to be the deputy secretary general of the market. Before he went abroad, he was a full-level researcher at the Policy Research Office of the Municipal Party Committee, and it was not out of place to be promoted to deputy secretary-general with a doctorate in economics from Harvard. Unexpectedly, the secretary of the municipal party committee at the time, his father-in-law Zhao Qigong disagreed. Zhao Qigong vigorously encouraged the introduction of talents, but privately asked him to return to the United States according to his daughter Zhao Huizhu's wishes, and the husband and wife reunited and developed together. He didn't do it, and in a fit of anger, he was transferred to his alma mater, Xichuan University, and set up Huamei International Investment Company for Xichuan University, starting with a loan of 500,000 yuan, first on the 9999 website, and then controlling a listed company in Xiajiang City that is mainly engaged in the production of bicycles, "Xiajiang Machinery", which created a myth for his alma mater. At that time, "Xiajiang Machinery" suffered heavy losses, and its net asset value per share was only six cents, and it was about to be "ST" by the securities management department. On behalf of the company, he approached the Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Bureau and proposed to transfer the 30 million state-owned shares owned by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Bureau at a price of one yuan per share. The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Bureau could not ask for it, so he raised 1 million yuan to pay the deposit, and signed a contract with the Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Bureau, stating that the remaining 29 million transferred funds would be paid within one year. Since then, the news about "Xiajiang Machinery" has continued, and Huamei International has carried out a great asset restructuring by using its controlling stake, injecting the 9999 website into "Xiajiang Machinery" and renaming "Xiajiang Machinery" as "Huamei Network". The stock price climbed from about $6 to $47. Huamei International relied on the money earned in the secondary market, not only paid the transfer of state-owned shares as scheduled, made a net profit of 60 million for Xichuan University, but also made a listed company with a market value of 500 million yuan for nothing. As a result, Xichuan University recognized him as a talent, and prepared to let him manage all the campus properties of Xichuan University's sixteen companies, and the next step was to become the vice president in charge of the three industries. It was also at this time that the team of Xiajiang City changed, and Li Dongfang became the secretary of the municipal party committee, looked for him several times, and asked him to come to Xiajiang City as an assistant to the mayor. He knows very well which stage is bigger, a university or a provincial capital, and which stage can better reflect the value of his life, besides, Li Dongfang takes him so seriously. He agreed to Li Dongfang without much thought.

That is, from that day on, he paid special attention to all aspects of Xiajiang.

In He Jiaguo's view, the current Xiajiang City is like a very chaotic chess game, and a group of mediocre officials are about to kill this game of chess. Almost all of the city's state-owned enterprises lost money, and nearly 200,000 unemployed people were laid off, far exceeding the prescribed warning line. The Xiajiang International Industrial Park, which was first developed 15 years ago, is simply an international garbage park, and the pollution incident caused by two ends in three days has seriously affected the basic survival of millions of people in the downstream area. The Xiajiang New Area built by his father-in-law, Zhao Qigong, is even more a beautiful bubble, with 30 billion sets on an empty city, which makes people breathless, and Tian Zhuangda, the boss of the city investment company, also swept away nearly 300 million Hong Kong dollars and fled abroad. He Jiaguo estimated that nine times out of ten Xiajiang City's finances had gone bankrupt. In this case, there are still 180,000 immigrants, and what kind of era do you have to go on, I really don't know what these bureaucrats think?!

Today's scene in front of the provincial party committee should be said to be another warning of public opinion.

What is significant is that this warning actually appeared when he went to the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee for a talk.

As soon as the group visit incident came out, the front door of the provincial party committee would definitely not be able to enter, so He Jiaguo had no choice but to drive the car to the courtyard of the provincial party committee guest house at No. 44 Liuyin Road, and came to the back door of the provincial party committee compound from the back door of the guest house. Because the front door was not very quiet, and the back door was quite heavily guarded, the comrades of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee called the doorman, but the doorman still did not let him go, and he had to send someone to the door to pick him up.

On behalf of the provincial party committee, Lin Zhiquan, member of the Standing Committee of the provincial party committee and director of the Organization Department, accompanied him by a vice minister. The conversation lasted less than an hour, and during this period, Lin Zhiquan also received two telephone calls from the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee in Beijing and the Organization Department of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee. Although the two leaders repeatedly emphasized the importance that the Xichuan Provincial Party Committee attached to this exceptional appointment, He Jiaguo did not feel much attention, and knew in his heart that only Li Dongfang really valued him. Without the repeated persistence and months-long efforts of the secretary of the municipal party committee, today's conversation would certainly not have taken place.

When he came out of the small building of the Organization Department and passed by the governor's office building, it was only more than ten o'clock, and the time was still early, so He Jiaguo went to the office of his father-in-law and leader Zhao Qigong on a whim. The father-in-law behaved well this time, knowing that his marriage with Zhao Huizhu was on the verge of breaking down, but he did not prevent him from becoming an assistant to the mayor of Xiajiang City. I thought again, maybe it's because his son-in-law is about to become a son-in-law that his father-in-law, who is the vice governor, doesn't think much about avoiding suspicion, right?!

When he was introduced to the door by the secretary, he saw that Zhao Qigong was on the phone, and it seemed that he was calling the leader of Xiajiang City, and he was quite angry: "...... First persuade the people of Hongfeng Company to leave me, how to do the work is your business! I'll give you another hour, and in an hour there will be another person in front of the provincial party committee, and I'll ask you! Putting down the phone, his eyes turned to He Jiaguo, and he asked sarcastically, "Oh, it's Mr. He, why did you suddenly come to me?" ”

He Jiaguo said with a smile: "Come and ask the leaders of the provincial party committee for instructions, ask for more instructions and make fewer mistakes!" ”

Zhao Qigong also smiled: "Do you still ask for more instructions?" From deceiving my Ah Hui to now, how many times have you come to ask for advice?! ”

The secretary knew the relationship between Zhao Qigong and He Jiaguo's son-in-law, made tea for He Jiaguo, and withdrew with interest.

He Jiaguo was a little more comfortable at this time, sat on the sofa, sipped tea and said, "Dad, Ah Hui and I were abroad earlier, and we have been busy doing business at Xichuan University for the past three years, what do I ask you for?" Now that the situation is different, it's under your leadership again, so you have to report often. ”

Zhao Qigong sat at his desk and approved a document: "Minister Lin talked to you?" ”

He Jiaguo leaned on the sofa and tried to sit comfortably: "I just talked about it, and I almost fell asleep without talking." ”

Zhao Qigong put down the document, and the sarcasm on his face was even heavier: "So, I have to call you Mayor He?" ”

The He family was a little vigilant, and sat down busily and said: "Assistant, Governor Zhao, it's Assistant He!" ”

Zhao Qigong looked at He Jiaguo, and suddenly became serious: "Jiaguo, look at you, ah?" Do you look like a deputy municipal ** cadre? You stand up for me, take three steps forward, and look in the mirror to see your glorious image first! ”

He Jiaguo laughed at himself: "Dad, my image has just been photographed, so I don't have to look in the mirror anymore, right?" ”

Zhao Qigong couldn't cry or laugh, left his desk, strode in front of He Jiaguo, and took the collar of He Jiaguo's jacket: "You will change it immediately when you go back, it's too casual!" As long as you are an assistant to the mayor, you must wear a suit, tie, and be serious! You've got to keep that in mind! ”

He Jiaguo muttered: "I have seen a lot of congressmen, governors, and mayors in the United States, as long as it is not a formal ceremonial occasion, the dress is generally very casual......

Zhao Qigong reminded: "This is China, not the United States. Looking at He Jiaguo, he said meaningfully, "What the hell is your comrade doctor mixed up with - did you come here today to demonstrate to me?" ”

He Jiaguo hurriedly said: "Governor Zhao, how dare I do this, I am here to thank you, really, thank you for your support!" ”

Zhao Qigong waved his hand: "Don't thank me for this, go and thank Comrade Dongfang, he has to ask you, as if you can't become a banquet without your plate of dog meat!" As he spoke, he sat down on the sofa opposite He Jiaguo, "I have no objection at the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, I am not the secretary of the Xiajiang Municipal Party Committee, and I don't need to avoid suspicion. However, you have to listen to my sincere words, I still don't want you to go to Xiajiang to join in the fun, the development of Xichuan University is not very good, you have to go to ** to be an official! Jiaguo, don't think that this ** official is easy to do, you wait and see, there are times when you are uncomfortable! ”

He Jiaguo said with a smile: "Governor Zhao, I have the mental preparation to suffer, and I have no intention of going to Xiajiang to be a blessing at all." As far as the current situation of Xiajiang is concerned, not only me, but I think a large number of cadres are about to shed their skin......"

Zhao Qigong was alert: "What do you mean by this?" How can the condition of the Gorge make you peel off your skin? ”

Only then did He Jiaguo realize that he had slipped his mouth: Zhao Qigong was the former secretary of the Xiajiang Municipal Party Committee! was busy leading the topic to himself, but it was too late, and he was unceremoniously taught a lesson by Zhao Qigong. It is said that the reform situation in Xiajiang City is still good, but the difficulties and problems are all partial and temporary, and they are disproportionate to the achievements that have already been made. He Jiaguo was not convinced, but he had to say yes again and again, regretting which tendon he had drawn, and he had to come here to listen to the training.

In the end, Zhao Qigong's words suddenly changed and asked: "Jiaguo, what's the matter, I heard that you and Ah Hui are going to divorce?" ”

He Jiaguo became more and more embarrassed: "Dad, it's not that I want to divorce Ah Hui, it's ...... It's Ah Hui who dumped me, people don't like me as a Chinese with black hair and black eyes, and Americans who like yellow hair and blue eyes can't look down on me for a long time......"

Zhao Qigong said angrily: "It's not me protecting Ah Hui, I think the responsibility is mainly on you!" Three years ago, I advised you to develop with Ah Hui in the United States, but you didn't listen! It's better today, we have to go to Xiajiang to turn the tide! Jiaguo, let me tell you the truth: I received a call from Ah Hui the day before yesterday, and I didn't sleep well for two nights in a row. If you think about it carefully, did you go to the United States to reunite with Ah Hui? If you have this idea, I will do the work of Ah Hui again, whether you can divorce or not! ”

He Jiaguo pretended to think for a while: "Dad, I still want to reflect the value of life in Xiajiang!" ”

Zhao Qigong obviously knew the inside story of their relationship between the couple, sighed deeply, shook his head, and remained silent.

At this moment, the mobile phone rang suddenly, this call came wonderfully, saving He Jiaguo's car.

It is the phone number of Xu Xiaoke, director of the city's ** reception office. Xu Xiaoke and He Jiaguo grew up together, and their relationship was not ordinary, and they didn't speak lightly or seriously, shouting "Mayor He" one by one, asking the beloved "Mayor He" not only to be busy making his own fortune, but also to care a little about the suffering of the broad masses of the people.

He Jiaguo said: "Aren't you public servants concerned about the suffering of the masses? Do you still need me to worry about it? ”

Xu Xiaoke looked very anxious: "Mayor He, come to Xiajiang Hotel and help me!" ”

He Jiaguo said: "What do you want me to help with? Isn't that what you eat and drink? ”

Xu Xiaoke said: "Mayor He, I'm just inviting you to lunch, you can move forward bravely, use your hands and feet at the same time!" ”

He Jiaguo agreed, closed his mobile phone, and got up to say goodbye to Zhao Qigong.

Zhao Qigong felt that the words were not speculative, so he didn't stay any longer, sent He Jiaguo to the door, and admonished: "Jiaguo, don't divorce Ahui, you are my son-in-law, even if we divorce in the future, we are still colleagues, so I have to say what I should say: Since you are determined to reflect the value of your life in Xiajiang, if you want to be the mayor's assistant, you must be good, and you must pay attention to the rules everywhere in the future, for example, you must pay attention to turning off your mobile phone when meeting and talking with leaders!" ”

He Jiaguo knew that Zhao Qigong had good intentions, so he said: "Dad, I'm not in front of you, don't worry, in front of other leaders, I will definitely pay attention!" After that, he said goodbye to Zhao Qigong again and went out.

drove to the Xiajiang Hotel, and met Xu Xiaoke waiting there at the entrance of the hall. Xu Xiao could see him, as if he had seen a savior, and he must accompany Lu Chengwei, secretary of the Qinghu Municipal Party Committee, to have a lunch as an assistant to the mayor.

He Jiaguo was startled and said, "Xiao Ke, what are you kidding?" Am I now an assistant to the mayor? Has the provincial appointment document been sent to the city? Did the provincial and municipal party committees announce it? Don't make fun of me, okay! ”

Xu Xiaoke said: "Oh, Mayor He, what are you stinky about?" It's a day earlier and a day later, aren't you all assistant to the mayor? Who doesn't know?! Just help me save the emergency! Secretary Lu and the director of the Qinghu Environmental Protection Bureau were so angry that their faces were crooked, and they were sitting upstairs in the Peony Hall scolding Mayor Qian and Secretary Li! I have to find a city leader to talk to them! ”

He Jiaguo knew that the Xiajiang River must have been polluted again, and he was anxious, but he was still unmoved: "Xiao Ke, don't tell me this, I didn't just return to China three years ago, I already knew what Chinese characteristics were, and if the provincial document is not announced, I will never do anything that is not in line with my identity!" You'd better find Mayor Qian or Secretary Li! ”

Xu Xiaoke said pitifully: "Mayor Qian is holding an office meeting, deliberately hiding, and I don't dare to ...... when I look for Secretary Li."

He Jiaguo said with a big grin: "I'll find Secretary Li for you!" ”

Unexpectedly, Li Dongfang turned off the phone, and the phone couldn't be dialed.

Xu Xiaoke pestered He Jiaguo again, saying that since he, "Mayor He", knew such a serious situation, and went to the hotel again, it would be very bad if he didn't come down to the next one, that is, if he didn't save him, he would flee from the battle, and he had to enforce battlefield discipline and pull him out to correct the law on the spot! He Jiaguo was made to cry and laugh by Xu Xiaoke, so he had to cheer up and "swagger and deceive". Xu Xiaoke said that this is not a swagger, but to save the relationship between Xiajiang and Qinghu, which are on the verge of rupture.