Entering the officialdom by mistake and getting promoted quickly

Minister Zhou put down the tea cup and took a breath of tea.

Only then did the formal conversation finally begin.

If the officials of Qi Province knew what they had experienced in those few minutes, everyone would be shocked and envious of Xia Shuo's treatment.

Minister Zhou's time is so precious that he actually delayed a few minutes for Xia Shuo. Instead of having a formal conversation right from the start, he spent a few minutes letting Xia Shuo drink tea.

You know, Minister Zhou is no ordinary minister.

In various ministries and commissions in the capital, every minister has the actual power of a minister, and Minister Zhou is in charge of the national industry, so he is assigned the position of State Councilor.

This is a proper boss.

Moreover, Li Xiucheng had hinted to Xia Shuo just now that Minister Zhou would take a step further during the next change of office, which meant that he would be among the top figures in the political situation.

The conversation officially begins:

Minister Zhou's tone was unhurried, and he first raised the first question, asking Xia Shuo: "What is the per capita income of the people in Yicheng City today?"

Sure enough, he asked about people's livelihood as soon as he opened his mouth.

Xia Shuo hesitated slightly and did not dare to answer immediately. Instead, he asked in a low voice, "Are you asking about the annual average or the monthly average?"

The annual average can actually be calculated using the monthly average, so the answer is the same whether it is the annual average or the monthly average. However, Xia Shuo pays attention to detail in his work, so it is not rude for him to ask questions in turn.

Minister Zhou seemed startled, then his face showed approval, and he smiled and said: "Xiao Xia, you pay so much attention to details."

So he spoke again, asked the question again, and said, "Tell me about the monthly average."

Xia Shuo then formally answered and said without hesitation: "87 yuan, the monthly per capita income of Yicheng City is 87 yuan. There is no water in this number because it is a privately held data."

Minister Zhou nodded and said: "What is known privately is the real thing. What is reported to the top is watered down. Xiaoxia is good and candid."

Xia Shuo whispered: "The main reason is that I don't dare to lie, for fear that you will send people to investigate. No matter how well the data is concealed, the country can find out if it wants to."

Minister Zhou said "hmm" and said calmly: "Actually, you don't need to check to know that the reported figures are too false. The monthly per capita income reported in Yicheng City is 1 yuan. Even in the south, you can't reach this income."

Xia Shuo whispered again: "Indeed, it's too fake."

Minister Zhou sighed, looked out the window, and said softly: "But even though I knew the numbers were false, the real numbers still shocked me. 1 yuan, ordinary people can only earn 87 yuan a month..."

Xia Shuo sat aside and considered Minister Zhou's tone. He had some guesses in his heart and couldn't help but ask, "You seem to be very concerned about Yicheng City."

Minister Zhou was still looking out the window, with a look of memory on his face, and said softly: "I lived there when I was a child. I grew up drinking the milk of my mother in the old district."

Xia Shuo was stunned and said in surprise: "You..."

Minister Zhou turned around, looked at Xia Shuo, and said, "Many people don't know about this. We have no outsiders today, so I'll tell you."

"I am 51 years old this year. When I was born, we were not yet liberated, let alone liberated, and the Japanese had not yet been driven away."

Xia Shuo calculated silently in his mind and quickly determined the birth time of Minister Zhou.

This year is 1994, and 51 years ago it should have been 1943. There was indeed no liberation at that time, and the country was fighting a war of resistance against Japan.

Minister Zhou's voice was soft and he was obviously recalling the past, and he said: "In 1943, my parents were on the front line. In the era of raging war, there was no way to raise the child after he was born."

"So, we entrusted it to the local people."

"There were many situations like mine at that time. You, the Yicheng Revolutionary Old Area, nurtured many children."

"So, Xiaoxia, from a certain perspective, I can be considered a person from Yicheng City."

"I drank the milk of common people's mothers and lived in the mountains when I was young. It was an unforgettable experience for me and a precious memory of my childhood."

"Xiao Xia, Xia Shuo, you are from Yicheng, and I am also from Yicheng, so we can barely be called fellow villagers, right?"

When Minister Zhou said this, he stretched out his hand and pointed at the tea cup and said: "Drink tea, you drink, I said, today we are just going to have a casual conversation, how about you, a little fellow, be the audience for a while?"

Xia Shuo obediently picked up the teacup, drank tea and became the audience.

Minister Zhou said in a gentle tone: "Yicheng City is really poor. For so many years, I have always wanted to take care of you, but Xia Shuo, you should understand that the country's attitude towards it is more cautious."

Xia Shuo nodded and added in a low voice, "Yes, our hometown is an earthquake zone."

Minister Zhou glanced at him and was very happy that he used the four words "our hometown". He smiled and said: "Xiao Xia, you are good, you have recognized me as a fellow villager."

Xia Shuo smiled shyly and whispered again: "The main thing is that you are willing to admit it, otherwise I wouldn't have the guts."

Minister Zhou nodded, his tone was quite kind, and said: "Yes, I am willing. I grew up drinking the milk of my mother in the old district, how can I not recognize this hometown."

He looked at Xia Shuo, his face suddenly became serious, and he said solemnly: "Comrade Xia Shuo, I want to thank you. You did what I couldn't do. You let the people in our hometown see the light of day."

This state-level leader actually used the words "our hometown".

Xia Shuo's heart was pounding, and he felt an uncontrollable excitement. Anyone who wasn't a fool would realize what these four words meant.

This means that Minister Zhou really regards him as a fellow countryman.

He subconsciously wanted to speak, but Minister Zhou waved his hand to stop him, and said with a smile: "There is no need to express my position, and there is no need to be humble. As a fellow countryman, I sincerely thank you, so Xiaoxia, just accept it honestly."

After speaking, he paused slightly, nodded meaningfully, and said with a slight hint: "Li Xiucheng should have told you, I don't like virtual people."

Xia Shuo took a deep breath and said softly: "Yes, I told you. To be honest, he is my brother-in-law. Well, to be precise, he is my partner's brother-in-law."

"I know!"

Minister Zhou smiled, as if he didn't care, and said calmly: "I have asked people to investigate your matter. Maybe you don't believe it after hearing it. I know you better than you know yourself."

Without waiting for Xia Shuo to speak, Minister Zhou continued again, saying with deep meaning: "It is precisely because I have investigated and understood everything about this little guy like you that I appreciate you so much."

Suddenly, Minister Zhou stood up, smiled and said something strange to Xia Shuo, saying: "This conversation is over. You can sit down and drink tea. I am quite busy with official duties and have a lot of documents to review."

This situation is very strange.

The conversation ended just like that.

Xia Shuo was in a daze. He couldn't figure it out even if he racked his brains. He quickly stood up and said cautiously: "Then I'll take my leave and won't disturb your work."

Unexpectedly, Minister Zhou glared at him and said with a bit of hatred: "Didn't you hear me clearly? I asked you to sit here and drink tea."

Xia Shuo became more and more confused and couldn't help but said: "But you also said that the conversation is over. Now that it is over, how dare I stay here?"

Minister Zhou stretched out his hand, tapped his forehead gently, and said: "Silly boy, it turns out that you are confused sometimes."

"Think about it for yourself, what can you talk about with me at your current level?"

"Let's have a little chat about home life, and I'll ask you about the situation in your hometown. That's enough."

"That's all there is to talk about."

"As for work, your level is too low now. It's not your turn, and I won't talk to you."

"If I want to know about the situation in Qi Province, I will call your provincial leaders to report, right?"

"So, that's all we talked about."

"But why did I leave you behind?"

"Why are you sitting here drinking tea?"

While asking questions, Minister Zhou gave an explanation and said with a smile: "Silly boy, this is asking you to stay in my office for a little longer, do you understand?"

"The outside world doesn't know that you are drinking tea here, and everyone will mistakenly think that you have been talking to me for a long time."

"So silly boy, think about it, do they dare not look down on you?"

"How about it, do you understand now? I am expressing an attitude to let people know that you have caught my eye."

When Minister Zhou said this, he knocked on Xia Shuo's forehead again and said: "I'm really confused. Sit down and drink tea by yourself. After half an hour, you leave on your own initiative. Do you hear me clearly? You can Half an hour in my office.”

Xia Shuo's mind was pounding.

Half an hour!

Minister Zhou asked him to stay here for half an hour.

This means that the outside world thinks that Minister Zhou talked with him for half an hour, and a big boss at the state level talked with him, a small deputy county level, for so long.

So cool!

I'm afraid the whole province will envy him.