"Or, if you have something else in mind, feel free to say so!"
Zhou Yi was deeply touched by his father-in-law's words. The three options his father-in-law had outlined already covered his future very thoroughly. That last remark was simply his way of being considerate of Zhou Yi's feelings and freedom to choose.
"I'll follow your arrangements!" Zhou Yi said with complete sincerity.
It was not that he had no opinions of his own. He knew his father-in-law's preference aligned with his own thinking.
"You sly rascal!" Jian Wanyan pointed at his son-in-law in mock reproach.
Zhou Yi chuckled and accepted the criticism without a fuss.
"In that case, I'll give you three more choices: Baishun, Anping, and Tianlai. Don't rush to answer this time. Think it over carefully, then let me know!" Jian Wanyan said with a smile.
Zhou Yi nodded. He really did need to give it careful thought, because Anping was the only one of those three cities he knew well.
After spending three days in Capital City, Zhou Yi returned to Qingning.
Before long, Qingning's Municipal Party Secretary Fu Xueqian was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Dongyuan Province Provincial Party Committee, and the former mayor, Lu Jiefeng, succeeded him as Municipal Party Secretary. The two personnel changes were finalized in quick succession.
The entire leadership of the Qingning Municipal Party Committee, and indeed people throughout the city, were speculating about whether Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Zhou Yi might be promoted straight to mayor.
Only the departing Fu Xueqian knew the situation clearly. Zhou Yi had completed his supervisory assignment, and barring any surprises, another appointment should be awaiting him.
In August 2012, the appointment of Qingning's mayor was settled. A former Municipal Party Secretary from another province was brought in to take the post. Then, in