The Official Ladder: I ascend to the pinnacle of power, wielding the power of life and death.

“Secretary, I haven’t been working here long enough to understand the cadres properly. Please leave this matter to Minister Zhao.”

Jiang Yiming said.

"You don't need to be modest. I'll recommend what I should recommend, and whether I use it or not is my business."

Ma Qiyun said, "Right now is a time when we need people. Zhao Zhenlin will definitely recommend a group of people, but there will be some personal connections involved. But you are different. With your current status, not many people will come to you for help, so the cadres you recommend are more genuine."

Seeing that Ma Qiyun had already put it this way, Jiang Yiming stopped refusing: "Right now, the primary task for Xinping County is to comprehensively promote enterprise reform. To be honest, after contacting Xu Changming from the Economic and Trade Bureau, I feel that he is unlikely to be competent for this job."

"Since the Bureau of Commerce and Trade is the leading unit for this work, I personally suggest optimizing the leadership team of the Bureau. As for personnel, I recommend Liu Sicheng, the deputy mayor of Yusha Town. He participated in the entire reform of Yusha Winery and put forward many constructive suggestions. If he can be transferred to the Bureau of Commerce and Trade to participate in the enterprise reform work, it will be conducive to the implementation of enterprise reform policies."

"Liu Sicheng? The deputy mayor you recommended a while ago?"

"Uh, Secretary, I have no business dealings with Liu Sicheng. To be honest, his family's financial situation is very average. He tried to give me gifts, but none of them were able to impress me. I simply admire his abilities, and of course, there's also some personal connection involved."

Jiang Yiming quickly explained.

"You don't need to explain. Since I asked you to recommend someone, it's because I trust you."

Ma Qiyun said, "I also have some opinions about Xu Changming, but Liu Sicheng has just been promoted to deputy mayor. In terms of both seniority and rank, he is not qualified to serve as the director of the Economic and Trade Bureau. However, if Liu Sicheng is promoted to be Xu Changming's deputy, given Xu Changming's domineering personality, he will not give Liu Sicheng any opportunity to perform."

After a moment of contemplation, Ma Qiyun said, "I will change Xu Changming's position and arrange for a mild-mannered director to work with Liu Sicheng. I will then speak with the new director of the Economic and Trade Bureau and emphasize Liu Sicheng's importance."

After figuring out the approach, he immediately called Zhao Zhenlin and arranged for him to begin the procedures.

"Don't rush to tell me your other recommendations. You can think about them carefully."

Ma Qiyun said, "The training course starts in three days. You don't need to come tomorrow. Go to the city in advance to make some arrangements, and I'll let you know."

"By the way, don't forget about the enterprise reform. The first batch of 36 state-owned factories will be reformed. It involves a wide range of areas and types, and there will definitely be many problems. You need to be prepared to put out fires at any time."

"Don't worry, Secretary, I will do my best to resolve this matter."

Jiang Yiming assured him.

Ma Qiyun is the head of the county's enterprise reform leading group, and this matter was his responsibility as Ma Qiyun's liaison.

As they were talking, Ma Qiyun's phone rang.

Upon answering the call, he immediately said respectfully, "Mayor Wei, what are your instructions?"

Seeing that Ma Qiyun had an important phone call to take, Jiang Yiming went out and closed the door behind him.

"Qiyun, I heard that your Xinping County is vigorously promoting enterprise reform. Is that true?"

"That's true."

Unable to gauge the mayor's attitude, Ma Qiyun could only try to speak in a calmer tone: "This enterprise reform is being carried out based on previous pilot projects."

“In Xinping County, we selected a winery with major problems, a large number of employees, and serious losses for reform. Through the pilot project, the winery successfully got out of its predicament and started to generate economic benefits in just one month. We immediately summarized the successful experience and formulated a county-wide enterprise reform plan, dividing all enterprises in the county into three batches for reform.”

"The plan has been approved by the Standing Committee and is being prepared for implementation."

“Very good, Xinping County has taken the lead in the city and played a very good leading role.”

Mayor Wei smiled and said, "I plan to visit your Xinping County next week to investigate the actual situation of enterprise reform."

"We warmly welcome Mayor Wei to visit our county and provide guidance."

Ma Qiyun was overjoyed and quickly stated, "I guarantee to present our reform progress to the mayor in a fact-based manner."

"very good."

Mayor Wei asked, "By the way, what specific work does Jiang Yiming do in the County Party Committee Office?"

"He is my secretary and also in charge of the County Party Committee Office's Supervision Department."

Ma Qiyun asked with great doubt, "Mayor Wei, do you know this Jiang Yiming?"

"I just found out too."

Mayor Wei smiled and said, "You haven't read the latest issue of the journal 'Economic Research' yet, have you? The article you co-authored with Jiang Yiming, 'An Exploration of the Reform of Small and Medium-sized State-owned Enterprises,' has been published in the latest issue. Other leaders in the city and I have read this article, and it is very well written. The viewpoints in it are very close to reality, and the proposed solutions are also very feasible."

"That's why I'm calling you. When you arrive, please invite Jiang Yiming along so you can both report to me."

"Qiyun, you've discovered a promising talent. Make him a key candidate for development. I'll talk to the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department about this later. We need to focus on and nurture Jiang Yiming; we can't let such talent go to waste."

"Mayor, rest assured, I have always regarded him as a treasure and intend to give him special training and development."

Ma Qiyun immediately said, "Mayor, I don't know if you will have time tomorrow. I will bring Jiang Yiming to report to you on the progress of the enterprise reform."

Since the leader is interested, the sooner we report it, the better.

He brought it up himself, saying that whether the leader met with him or not was not important; what mattered was that he made his stance clear.

After all, he didn't actively report the enterprise reform to the city, which has put him in a somewhat passive position now.

"It would be great if you could come and give a report when you have time."

Mayor Wei said, "Come over tomorrow. No matter how busy I am, I will make time to see you."

"Yes, Mayor, I will set off first thing tomorrow morning and report to you in person then."

After hanging up the phone, Ma Qiyun strode to Jiang Yiming's office: "Yiming, you'll come with me to the city first thing tomorrow morning. Mayor Wei specifically wants to see you."

"Mayor Wei wants to see me?"

Jiang Yiming was somewhat confused.

"Your article, 'An Exploration of the Reform of Small and Medium-Sized State-Owned Enterprises,' was published in the journal 'Economic Research.' Several city leaders saw the article and spoke highly of it and you."

Ma Qiyun laughed and said, "You even included my name. I'm benefiting from your influence. However, I didn't participate much in this article. You can give me a refresher later so that I don't embarrass myself if the leaders ask and I don't know anything."

"Secretary, you're joking. You're not just benefiting from this; you're a genuine participant."

Jiang Yiming said, "If it weren't for your leadership in the enterprise reform, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to participate, nor would I have been able to write this article."

"As for the contents, I will report to the secretary again."

When he was drafting the enterprise reform plan, he wrote down his ideas in a draft and, after obtaining Ma Qiyun's consent, casually submitted it.

I was pleasantly surprised that it was published.