Yan Liang was about to be promoted.
Yan Liang had not told anyone about it. It was expected to happen soon and was still confidential, but Political Commissar Zhou Guoan, who had connections at the Municipal Bureau, had vaguely learned of it and later had a long talk with Yan Liang. The two had had their share of minor disagreements over the years, but never any major conflict. Overall, they got along reasonably well. Now that Yan Liang was about to be transferred, his mindset had changed somewhat. He felt that, in these final days, he should let go where he could. It would count as doing Zhou Guoan a favor, and if Zhou Guoan successfully took over, he could also look after some of Yan Liang's old subordinates whom he had promoted.
That was right.
For the position of Deputy Director of the General Office, Yan Liang had already decided that, if the dispute remained unresolved, he would support Guo Shunjie. Zhou Guoan's side already had four votes; with Yan Liang's, that made five. Xu Yan's side had only three votes. Even if she gained another vote or two, it would be meaningless unless three more people supported her. But Pang Bin had already stated his position, Deputy Director Liu Hua, that transparent man, would certainly abstain, and then... there was no one left.
5:3.
The outcome was already set in stone.
"Little Dong has ability," Yan Liang said without stating his position, though the implication in his words was obvious. "But his age?" If anyone else had said that, Xu Yan and Song Shoujie would certainly have argued back. But words spoken by Director Yan carried different weight. Xu Yan sensed the subtle shift in Yan Liang's attitude and sighed inwardly, knowing that nothing she said now would