Chapter 664: Chapter 664: Lu Xingtian is Bound to Lose!

Regarding the issue of Zhang Dongyang’s handling, Lu Xingtian raised different opinions.

He believed that in recent times, Jiang City’s officialdom had undergone several leadership changes. First, the old County Magistrate died in a car accident, followed by Ge Changhong being placed under shuanggui, and then Fu Guotai was dismissed shortly after his arrival.

Now, with Zhang Dongyang facing issues, if Zhang Dongyang’s position were to be terminated, it would greatly affect the official scene in Jiang City, as well as Zhongzhou City.

He suggested giving Zhang Dongyang a recorded demerit, transferring his female secretary away from him, and giving him an opportunity to reform.

Ning Changqing completely disagreed with such a lenient decision. The two argued back and forth without a resolution, so they decided to convene the Zhongzhou City Municipal Committee Standing Committee to discuss how to handle Zhang Dongyang.

This session of the Zhongzhou City Standing Committee drew the attention of Jiang City, Zhongzhou City, and even the Provincial Committee and Provincial Government.

As the newly appointed County Party Secretary of Jiang City, Zhang Dongyang, who had not been in Jiang City for long, was suspected of kidnapping Deputy County Magistrate Sun Yan and Disciplinary Committee Secretary Fan Hua’s family members to force them into compliance. He was also involved with his female secretary, whose husband blew the whistle on the affair.

In such circumstances, how to punish Zhang Dongyang would be decided at this Standing Committee meeting.

However, the issue of punishing Zhang Dongyang was not the most important matter; what was crucial was who would gain the upper hand between Lu Xingtian and Ning Changqing at this Standing Committee meeting?

After the former City Secretary Zou Ming was placed under shuanggui, Lu Xingtian was supposed to succeed as the City Secretary—a decision reportedly already approved by the Provincial Committee Standing Committee.

However, for some reason, no public announcement had been made in this regard, and rumors even suggested there had been complications with Lu Xingtian’s promotion, which might be rejected.

At this critical juncture, Ning Changqing, serving as the acting City Secretary, was exceptionally active, evidently challenging Lu Xingtian.

There had been precedents where a Deputy Secretary directly succeeded as City Secretary, leading many to speculate Ning Changqing sought advancement.

Previously, it had been mere speculation, but following the incident involving Zhang Dongyang, the rivalry between Ning Changqing and Lu Xingtian had become overt.

The ongoing City Committee Standing Committee meeting was their battleground, and it was uncertain who would have the last laugh.

There were even claims that regardless of who won this Standing Committee meeting, the victor would likely be the next City Secretary candidate.

The Standing Committee meeting was currently in progress, closely watched by all parties, especially the Provincial Committee and Provincial Government.

As a higher level authorial body, they naturally hoped for stable development in all cities and counties and were particularly cautious about selecting leaders for these areas.

Initially, the Provincial Standing Committee had almost agreed on Lu Xingtian assuming the role of the next Zhongzhou City Municipal Committee Secretary. However, adverse news about Lu Xingtian soon surfaced, and the Municipal Committee of Zhongzhou City had serious objections.

The provincial authorities had no choice but to shelve this decision, observing developments in Zhongzhou City to see if Lu Xingtian was capable of controlling the official scene there.

The outcome of this Zhongzhou City Municipal Committee Standing Committee would clearly show the Provincial authorities Lu Xingtian’s capabilities.

While everyone was focused on the City Committee Standing Committee meeting, Xu Qianli was soaking at Lan Qianrong’s house.

Learning that Xu Qianli had returned, Lan Qianrong had specially taken a day off to stay at home to accompany him.

Like a honeymoon renewed, the living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and balcony… everywhere bore the imprint of their affection.

After another fervent embrace, Xu Qianli picked up Lan Qianrong’s voluptuously tender body and ran to the bathroom, filled a tub with water, and both immersed themselves, kissing passionately.

Lan Qianrong initiated a kiss with Xu Qianli, giving him a hot smooch and playfully poked his chest with her finger, laughing and saying, “You bad husband, you’re utterly bad, always bullying me, I’m scared of you now.”

“Scared?” Xu Qianli took Lan Qianrong’s tender hand, smiling mischievously, “Then who was the one shouting ‘keep going’ just now?”

“Ah, you’re disgusting!”

Lan Qianrong quickly rolled her eyes at Xu Qianli, annoyed—this guy always had to say everything out loud.

Embarrassed yet still feeling joyous at reuniting with her beloved, Lan Qianrong was overwhelmingly happy, coquettishly wriggling her waist and whispering sweetly in his embrace.

“Xu Qianli, my husband, I really like you so much, I’m so happy you could come back so quickly to help me.”

“So, what do you think the outcome of the city’s Standing Committee meeting will be?”

“Deputy Secretary Ning is indeed formidable, but he’s been in Zhongzhou City for only a few years, not nearly as deeply rooted as Lu Xingtian—could he suffer a major loss at the Standing Committee meeting this time?”

“If Lu Xingtian defeats Deputy Secretary Ning at this meeting, then there won’t be anyone who can stop Lu Xingtian from taking the top position; he is sure to become the head of Zhongzhou City.”

“What will we have then to compete with him?”

Lan Qianrong wasn’t without worries about this.

She had never held much regard for Lu Xingtian and, because of the Zhang Dongyang incident, had firmly opposed him, utterly unwilling to see Lu Xingtian rise to power.

Xu Qianli said, “There’s nothing to worry about; Lu Xingtian won’t win at this Standing Committee meeting!”

Seeing Xu Qianli so confidently assertive, Lan Qianrong’s eyes brightened, speaking quickly, “Do you mean Deputy Secretary Ning will win? If so, there’s a great chance for Deputy Secretary Ning to take over as the next City Secretary.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“What I mean is, neither of them will probably win.”

“Lu Xingtian controls the city government, which is quite powerful, and Ning Changqing controls the City Committee, hardly weaker than him, but the other Standing Committee members in the city each have their own plans. With the situation unclear, they will likely choose to protect themselves wisely and not make rash bets.”

“In such a situation, there’s no possible outcome for this Standing Committee meeting—it’s definitely going to be a draw,”

Xu Qianli stated.

Lan Qianrong said, “That means Deputy Secretary Ning still can’t defeat Lu Xingtian, so the position of City Secretary is still up in the air.”

“That’s not necessarily the case. If Lu Xingtian wants to move up, he must win this Standing Committee meeting, and he must win convincingly.”

“For Ning Changqing, as long as he does not lose, he has already won.”

“Let me tell you frankly, the Disciplinary Committee Secretary of the Provincial Committee once talked to me about the City Secretary of Zhongzhou City; he told me that if Lu Xingtian wants to move up, he must be sufficiently capable.”

“And this Standing Committee meeting precisely represents his ability; if he can’t win, then he’s incompetent. Why should he ascend to the position of City Secretary?”

Xu Qianli was utterly confident that Lu Xingtian would not win this time.

As they were chatting, Lan Qianrong’s mobile phone rang. She picked it up and immediately flashed the most charming smile.

“Ha ha, it’s not even noon, and the Standing Committee meeting already has a result.”

“Just as you said, husband, the Standing Committee meeting did not reach a decision.”

“Since there’s no result, that means Lu Xingtian has lost!”