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

"Brother Wang, you've been the vice president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for almost ten years now. In terms of seniority, you should be the one to become the president this time, right?"

“Brother Liu, that’s what I think too, but as you know, without a background or connections, it’s very difficult for me to take the first step forward.”

Wang Qiang felt saddened at the thought that no one could speak up for him.

“Your senior brother Yang Hao is the deputy director of the Health Bureau, right? Ask him to put in a good word for you.”

“Yang Hao’s rank is not high enough, so his words have no effect. The position of director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital requires appointment by the Organization Department and the words of the director of the Health Bureau to have any effect. No one listens to the words of the deputy director.”

Wang Qiang said dejectedly, "I could only become the dean if someone with a powerful background like Long Shaolin spoke on my behalf. Unfortunately, my rank is too low to catch their eye."

After downing several more large gulps of wine, Wang Qiang staggered toward the bathroom.

Jiang Yiming and Long Shaolin arrived at Huayuan Hotel and were about to go in when their cell phones rang.

"Minister Xie, would you like to come over and have a drink with everyone? Sure, sure, I'll come get you now."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yiming said to Long Shaolin and the others, "Brother Long, you guys go in and sit for a while. Section Chief Meng and I will go pick up Minister Xie Yanhua. His session ended early, so he asked me to go and get him."

"Senior sister, senior brother, please help look after them. I'll be right back."

"Okay, you go ahead and do your thing. Wenjing and I will take care of things here."

Yang Hao and Jiang Wenjing divided the tasks: Jiang Wenjing chatted with Long Shaolin and the others in the private room, while Yang Hao was in charge of ordering food.

When Wang Qiang returned to the private room after urinating, he saw Yang Hao and asked in confusion, "Senior Brother Yang, what are you doing here?"

"Yiming invited me to dinner here, so I came over. What's going on with you?"

Yang Hao frowned and said, "I heard from Yiming that when he invited you over, you said you had something to do at home. Why are you wandering around here reeking of alcohol?"

"I was just kidding Jiang Yiming. Actually, everything's fine at home. I was just too lazy to come over."

Wang Qiang hiccuped and laughed, "Later, a buddy asked me to come out for dinner. I thought I had nothing to do, so I came over for a few drinks. I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that I was at the same hotel as you guys."

"Luckily I didn't agree to come, otherwise I would have been in charge of ordering the food. Senior brother, I'm not trying to criticize you, but Jiang Yiming is just a junior staff member who doesn't even know the basic rules. You are both my senior brother and a deputy director-level cadre, yet he actually asked you to order the food. This kind of hothead won't go far. I advise you to stay away from people like him."

"He keeps trying to get together with us, isn't it just to curry favor with us and get to know more city leaders? I saw right through his little scheme. I don't understand why you, an old hand, still pay him any attention?"

"Jiang Wenjing sees things much better than you do. Don't give this kind of person a friendly look; just ignore him, and he'll stop bothering you. See, Jiang Wenjing didn't come, did she?"

"That kid must have realized that Jiang Wenjing didn't like him, so he didn't dare to invite her."

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Wenjing came out.

"Senior Brother Yang, how's the order coming along? Oh, Senior Brother Wang, you're here too?"

"Junior sister, what are you doing here?"

Wang Qiang was a little confused: "You're not going to join Jiang Yiming's dinner party, are you?"

"My junior brother is treating me to dinner, so of course I, as his senior sister, should attend."

Jiang Wenjing said matter-of-factly, "Originally, I was going to treat everyone to dinner, but my junior brother was too polite and insisted on taking it from me. So, I'll have to treat everyone next time."

"Oh, I almost forgot the important thing. Senior Brother Yang, Standing Committee Member Long prefers spicy food, so please consider his preference when you order."

"Senior Brother Wang, we'll talk later. Standing Committee Member Long and the others are still waiting in the private room. I'll go in and keep them company."

Wang Qiang was somewhat taken aback as he watched Jiang Wenjing's departing figure.

"How did Jiang Wenjing change so drastically? She used to dislike Yiming, so why is she acting like she's seeing her own younger brother now?"

"Today, Yiming is hosting the event. Not only is Long Shaolin attending, but Xie Yanhua, a member of the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee, is also personally attending. Moreover, Minister Xie came over from another dinner party."

Yang Hao shook his head and said, "You, like Wenjing, are sometimes too shrewd. But Wenjing is the head of the Construction Department and has power in her hands. If she softens her stance a little, things will be smoothed out. As the vice president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, why are you so arrogant?"

"Yiming invited you to such an important occasion today, but you thought he was unworthy and refused to attend. You could stay in the vice dean position for another ten years without any grievance."

Without further conversation with Wang Qiang, Yang Hao ordered the food and then returned to the private room to keep Long Shaolin and the others company.

Not long after, Jiang Yiming arrived at the hotel with Xie Yanhua, a member of the ministry committee, and Meng Xinjie, the head of the cadre training section.

"Sorry to keep everyone waiting."

"We are very honored that Minister Xie can participate in person. This little bit of time is nothing."

Jiang Wenjing and the others laughed.

They then took their seats according to their official rank, in order of seniority.

Soon, a variety of delicious dishes were served.

"Come on, let me pour everyone some drinks."

Jiang Yiming opened a case of Wuliangye liquor and said with a smile, "I want to thank Senior Sister Wenjing. She saw that I was too poor and was afraid that my expenses would go too far, so she specially sponsored today's drinks."

"Junior brother, you're just joking. I had already prepared the drinks and was about to treat everyone to dinner, but you beat me to it."

"These wines were specially bought and stored in the basement when I got married. I brought them over today for everyone to try and see how they taste."

Jiang Wenjing was very happy. It was much better to hear Jiang Yiming say that she was in charge of the drinks than to say it herself.

This junior brother has pretty high emotional intelligence.

"It turns out it's a wedding banquet; everyone has to have a drink to share in the joy."

Xie Yanhua smiled.

"Following the Organization Department, we will make progress every year. We must all listen to the Minister so that we can make progress."

Long Shaolin smiled and said, "Let's all toast the minister together."

"Minister Jing."

The group chatted and laughed, and before even touching their chopsticks, they had already drunk three cups.

"Come on, everyone, let's start eating."

Jiang Yiming invited everyone to eat.

As the dinner party entered its second half, Wang Qiang knocked on the door and walked in with a wine glass in his hand.

Many people looked puzzled upon seeing the newcomers.

Apart from Jiang Wenjing, Yang Hao, and Jiang Yiming, who knew Wang Qiang, the others did not know him.

"Who is this?"

Long Shaolin spoke.

"Hello, Standing Committee Member Long, my name is Wang Qiang. I am the vice president of the Municipal Central Hospital and also Jiang Yiming's senior fellow apprentice."

Wang Qiang said with a smile, "Yiming and I are very close. I was just passing by when I learned that he was having dinner here, so I took the liberty of coming over to offer him a toast. I didn't expect so many leaders to be here."

"I'll make a round on behalf of my junior brother Yiming, and I hope that the leaders will give my dear junior brother a good boost."

As he spoke, he raised his glass and went around toasting everyone.