In Mayor Zhou's eyes, Deng was a genuinely decent man. He had no major problems of principle and had served as director of the Finance Bureau for over four years. When the city was short of money, he had scrimped and saved to keep things going; when money was available, he had poured his energy into balancing revenue and expenditure.
Merit deserved reward. Whether judged by sentiment or reason, the man ought to be moved up.
The question, however, was who would fill the vacant post of Finance Bureau director.
Zhou Yi had called Deng Xianrui over today primarily to ask his opinion on the candidates for Finance Bureau director.
"Deng, who do you think would be a suitable replacement for you?"
Upon hearing the mayor's question, Deng Xianrui's first reaction was, It doesn't matter what I think. What matters is what you think, Mayor!
He considered carefully, then met the mayor's expectant gaze and replied cautiously, "In terms of professional competence, Executive Deputy Director Ye Zhao would certainly be second to none..."
The mayor asking his opinion suggested that he currently intended to select a successor from within the Finance Bureau, so Deng had no reason not to recommend Ye Zhao first.
Mayor Zhou's expression did not change in the slightest. He merely gave a quiet "Oh."
Was professional competence important? Of course it was.
But more important than professional competence were work ethic, political awareness, breadth of vision-and whether you had offended him...
Ye Zhao had not offended Mayor Zhou, but the business involving Liang Xingjian had left the mayor with a very poor impression of him. Combined with what he had previously learned of Ye Zhao's reputation, the mayor had already mentally marked him as "not to be considered."
"Deputy Director Wang Zeyuan is highly capable, steady,