"Director Zhang, I have something to say here that I don't know whether to say or not?" Minister Li wanted to take the opportunity to give the other party a warning.
Zhang Hao suppressed the excitement in his heart and immediately sat upright and said: "Minister Li, we have been old friends for many years. If you have anything to say, you can just say it without telling anyone."
"Then with all due respect, for you, the job of consul is easy or difficult. I hope you can have a clear understanding of it."
"how do I say this?"
Zhang Hao quickly asked for advice humbly.
"I say it's easy, mainly because the next consul is of a transitional nature. You only need to follow the rules and follow the rules, and there is no need to work hard. It can even be said to be the easiest consul in history."
Minister Li spoke very reservedly.
When Zhang Hao heard this, he couldn't help but frowned: "What do you mean? They want me to be a puppet?"
"Although this sounds a little ugly, it's pretty much what it means. If you really want to do something big, as I said above, it will be extremely difficult."
Minister Li told the truth.
"Then what's the point of being a consul?" Zhang Hao quickly calmed down.
Minister Li quickly comforted him: "Don't be discouraged. You can't control big things, but small things are still fine. You can focus on science, education, culture and health. As long as you do it with your heart, I believe you can also accomplish great things."
"Science, education, culture and health?" Zhang Hao suddenly understood, and then nodded: "I understand what you mean, the core interests cannot be touched, but other things can be taken care of?"
In addition to the age in the dream, his actual age has long been over sixty years old. These years have not been in vain, and the essence of many things can be seen clearly at a glance.
"Director Zhang, I found that you are very enlightened."
Minister Li gave a timely compliment.
Zhang Hao smiled bitterly, smashed the jar and said: "Sure enough, there is no free lunch in the world. If you have to be at the mercy of others, then this is not the right person to be a consul!"
As a "reborn person" and with such a successful career, he also has pride in his heart.
"Director Zhang, don't refuse in a hurry. This is a federal executive. Even if you are a puppet, many people, including me, can't do it even if they want to. I hope you can cherish this hard-won opportunity.
Let's take a step back and say that you are completely a political novice now and have no political experience at all. Even if the disciplinary governor is willing to hand over power to you, are you confident that you can manage this big mess?
You know, even a slight mistake can affect the fate of thousands of people, even life and death. This kind of pressure is not something that ordinary people can bear. Do you think you can do it yourself?"
Minister Li advised earnestly.
After hearing these words, Zhang Hao suddenly felt unspeakably aggrieved. Although he wanted to deny it, he had to admit that what the other party said was reasonable.
He really doesn't have this ability.
Even if there is, it will be a few years later, or even more than ten years later.
Even a genius needs a learning process.
Seeing this, Minister Li continued to persuade: "Director Zhang, listen to my advice, being this consul will definitely be of great benefit to you. Believe me, with this important qualification, no matter what happens in the future, as long as the Federation is still there
, your whole family can sit back and relax.”
Zhang Hao was instantly moved. This sense of security has always been what he pursued, and he did not hesitate to give up hundreds of billions of benefits to it.
Thinking of this, he instantly made up his mind: "Minister Li, you are right, I shouldn't act on impulse. This opportunity is rare, and I will actively strive for it no matter what."
"Okay, as long as you can figure it out."
Minister Li finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Immediately afterwards, Zhang Hao seemed a little impatient: "Minister Li, tell me the truth, is there a high chance that I will become the leader?"
"Your advantage is obvious, I think you should be 60% sure." Minister Li thought for a while and replied.
"Really? What are my advantages?"
Zhang Hao asked curiously.
Minister Li smiled, counted on his fingers: "You are young and promising, enthusiastic about public welfare, have a clean background, and have a happy family. There is one more thing that I personally think is the most important, and that is your identity as a businessman."
"Does this count?" Zhang Hao asked in surprise.
As we all know, the mainland and the other side have two completely different governing concepts. Since ancient times, the mainland has never produced a business leader.
"Why not? You must also know that since the oil fields in the Middle East were taken back from the Europeans, the business community is in an uproar and everyone is in danger.
The more times like this, the more important it is for a governor with a business background to be able to quickly appease people's hearts. Otherwise, once people's hearts are dispersed, let alone restoring the economy, there may be another great recession."
Minister Li said worriedly.
The Great Recession a few years ago was so violent and destructive that the federal economy almost came to a standstill, and it has not yet recovered.
If it happened again, the consequences would be disastrous.
Zhang Hao couldn't help but feel happy, and then took the initiative to ask: "Minister Li, do I need to do anything here? To be honest, in addition to you and Governor He, Minister Yin from the Ministry of Energy, Director Yu from the WFP, and Construction
Minister Zhao from the Ministry of Science and Technology,..."
"No, you'd better not do anything now." Minister Li quickly interrupted, "Didn't I just explain to you that among the five candidates this time, they are all political amateurs. Don't make yourself self-defeating."
"Oh, look at my brain." Zhang Hao slapped his forehead in frustration, and then asked: "Minister Li, besides me, who are the other candidates?"
Minister Li was about to answer when his cell phone suddenly rang. He took it out and saw that it was the private number of Archon Ji.
He stood up immediately, gave Zhang Hao a gesture to answer the phone, then quickly opened the door and walked out.
Less than three minutes later, Minister Li returned to the study room again with his mobile phone, but his expression was a bit complicated, with both happiness and indescribable loneliness on his face.
"Minister Li, what happened?"
Zhang Hao said with concern.
Minister Li adjusted his mood and asked subconsciously: "Where did we just talk about?"
"List of candidates." Zhang Hao reminded.
"Don't pay attention to them anymore." Minister Li shook his head, and then showed a big smile: "Director Zhang, congratulations. Just now, Consul Ji officially informed me on the phone..."
"What was announced?"
Zhang Hao's heart almost rose to his throat.
"As you wish, the candidate for the next consul has been decided. It is you, Boss Zhang. When we meet again in the future, I will call you your consul."
Minister Li exhaled softly.
"Me?" Zhang Hao pointed at himself, and then said in disbelief: "Didn't you say that the candidate was just decided yesterday? How come it was decided so quickly?"
"I don't know the specific reason, but don't worry, this matter should be finalized."
Zhang Hao suddenly felt at a loss: "This happened too suddenly. I'm not mentally prepared yet?"
"Speaking of preparations, Archon Ji asked me to tell you to quickly dispose of the company shares in your name, or ask your parents to hold them on your behalf, or simply transfer them to your children. This will be regarded as an early division of the family.
"
Minister Li quickly added.
"I understand, give me a week, and I promise to handle this matter properly."
Zhang Hao assured on the spot.
Minister Li smiled and nodded: "After you finish handling this matter, Consul Ji wants to see you on the 10th of next month. You should prepare as soon as possible."
"There won't be any accidents, right?"
Zhang Hao suddenly became worried about gains and losses.
"Don't worry. You are the successor he personally selected. It has probably spread internally. Unless something unexpected happens, you will not be replaced easily."
Minister Li patiently reassured.
Zhang Hao felt relieved and said with sincerity on his face: "Minister Li, I cannot thank you enough for your kindness. If there is a need in the future, as long as I can do it, I will never shirk it."
Minister Li hurriedly waved his hand and said modestly: "I'm outspoken when I say this. In fact, I haven't done much. This matter is decided by Archon Ji Qiankun. Others can only follow the trend, so you don't have to worry."
"You can't say that. As the saying goes, a drop of water should be repaid by a spring of spring. I will leave my words here today. Minister Li, look at my performance!"
Zhang Hao said without hesitation.
Seriously speaking, as a "consul", he is not as powerful as others.
What's more, his foundation in the political world is too shallow. If he wants to secure his position or have fewer obstacles, it is definitely wise and necessary to win over the other party.
Minister Li patted the other party's shoulder calmly, without saying anything: "Then I won't disturb you anymore. Let's stay here today. I will come to pick you up on the 10th."
"No, no, I can just go there by myself."
Zhang Hao quickly waved his hand.
"You don't have to shirk it. This is what Archon Ji ordered. I'm just following it."
"Okay, let's see you next month."
Next, Zhang Hao personally took Minister Li all the way to the entrance of the village. The two stood at the entrance of the village and chatted for another half an hour before saying goodbye.
…
When he got home, Zhang Hao was feeling dizzy. What happened today was too sudden and unbelievable. If his thigh hadn't been pinched so red just now, he would have even suspected that he was dreaming.
"What are you asking? Why are you so dazed?"
Zhang Chongxin reached out and patted his son.
Zhang Hao immediately reacted: "Dad, what did you just ask me?"
"What does Minister Li want from you?"
Zhang Chongxin repeated it helplessly.
"Dad, please wait a moment. I'm going to call my mother and my wife over. I have something big to announce."
After Zhang Hao finished speaking, he immediately shouted:
"Mom, wife, come here quickly."
Zhang Chongxin muttered: "Mysteriously, the brat won't cause trouble outside, right?"
Soon, Li Dajuan and Yang Huaqing arrived at the scene one after another, and Yang Huaqing smoothly took out her little daughter.
Zhang Hao reached out and touched the tender face of the little cotton-padded jacket. The more he looked at it, the more he liked it. His face was full of doting:
"Our Guoguo is indeed dad's little lucky star."
Li Dajuan said angrily: "What's going on? There's still meat stewing in the kitchen?"
She and her husband originally wanted to keep Minister Li for lunch, but they didn't expect that their son didn't have any discernment, so he didn't keep him. It was really rude.
"Mom, don't be anxious!" Zhang Hao cleared his throat, then turned to look at his father: "Dad, no matter what news you hear later, don't get excited, remember to take a deep breath."
"Okay, forget it, mother-in-law and mother-in-law, your father and I have never seen any big storms in my life? Do I need you to teach me?"
Zhang Chongxin waved his hand impatiently.
Zhang Hao was still a little worried and insisted that his mother take out all his father's first aid medicine.
Fortunately, my father does not have a heart disease, otherwise he would have to call the family doctor to feel at ease.
After making all preparations, Zhang Hao took a deep breath and then slowly announced:
"Dad, Mom, wife, I have great news to tell you. If nothing else happens, I will be the next federal governor."
"What do you mean it's not yours? Can you explain it more clearly?" Zhang Chongxin was slightly startled.
"It literally means that Consul Ji has appointed me as his successor. In other words, next month I will be the new federal consul."
Zhang Hao explained patiently.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chongxin subconsciously reached out and touched his son's forehead: "You don't have a fever, do you? Why are you talking nonsense?"
"Honey, it's not April Fool's Day this year. This joke is not funny at all."
Yang Huaqing followed closely and echoed.
She would rather believe that the sun will appear tomorrow than believe that her husband can become a consul. Anyone with a little common sense knows that this is simply a fantasy.
Li Dajuan also didn't believe it, but the old man felt sorry for his son after all: "Xiao Hao, it's not your fault that you didn't keep Minister Li. Mom doesn't blame you. You don't have to tell jokes to make mom happy."
"You... what I said is true!" Zhang Hao almost swore to the sky, "Think about it, if it wasn't a big deal, how could Minister Li, the head of the Ministry of Communications, come to our door for no reason?
"
"Are you telling the truth?"
Zhang Chongxin said with astonishment on his face.
What followed was a huge surprise.
The old man felt a little dizzy.
Zhang Hao quickly supported his father and nodded seriously: "Dad, I really didn't lie to you. I swear on the eighteenth generation of our old Zhang family's ancestors."
"Oh my God, Xiao Hao is going to be a consul!"
Li Dajuan was suddenly so excited that she couldn't help herself.
Yang Huaqing also supported her mother-in-law, fearing that something might happen to her:
"Mom, don't get excited, take a deep breath."
The old couple took a few deep breaths and calmed down a little.
Zhang Chongxin could no longer care about anything else and said impatiently: "Xiaohao, has this matter been finalized? Or..."
"Dad, Minister Li told me personally that Consul Ji has chosen me as his successor, and he will personally interview me on the 10th of next month."
"Okay, okay!" Zhang Chongxin said three good words in a row, then struggled to stand up, clasped his hands and bowed to the north: "It is really the blessing of our ancestors. Our old Zhang family actually has a consul. I really didn't even think about it.
Dare to think.”
"Old man, I worked hard to conceive and give birth to Xiao Hao for ten months, and half of the credit goes to our old Li family." Li Dajuan said not to be outdone.
"His surname is Zhang, not Li. Don't talk nonsense."
Zhang Chongxin couldn't help but retort.
This is a major event to honor our ancestors and cannot be taken carelessly. In a normal year, the ancestral hall and ancestral tombs would have to be rebuilt, and perhaps a few more archways would have to be erected.
Li Dajuan glared at his wife fiercely: "You still have the nerve to say that? You complained about Xiao Hao every day before, and you also said that you wanted to sever the father-son relationship with him. If I hadn't stopped you, you would be full of regrets now."
"It's all happened in the past year, why are you bringing it up?" Zhang Chongxin couldn't help but blush.
This is true. He did want to drive his son out of the house two or three times. Especially when he learned that his son had sold the company, it almost became a fact.
Zhang Hao saw that his parents were about to quarrel again, so he quickly smoothed things over and said, "Mom and Dad, today is a happy day for our family. Can you two stop quarreling?"
"No more arguing." Li Dajuan nodded excitedly, "It's all your dad's fault. He insisted on quarreling with me."