The sudden question genuinely caught Zhou Yi off guard.
What did he mean?
Was he going to transfer him?
Where to?
Meeting the provincial Party secretary's piercing gaze, Zhou Yi's mind raced. After weighing his words for a moment, he slowly replied, "I can't be certain."
"Why not?"
Jian Wanyan was not disappointed by that answer. In fact, if Zhou Yi had readily declared his confidence, he would have thought the young man too hasty and blindly optimistic.
"First, I don't know what conditions are like wherever I'd be going. Second, I don't know how much authority I'd have," Zhou Yi answered calmly.
Jian Wanyan paused, then studied him with interest.
The first reason was one he had expected.
The second, however, surprised and intrigued him.
In fact, ever since Zhou Yi had said, "Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born to their stations?" he had recognized him as a young man brimming with ambition for his career and future.
And now, Zhou Yi's words only confirmed that impression.
"Yangcheng. Ever heard of it? I'll send you there as municipal Party secretary. Would that be enough authority for you?" Secretary Jian asked teasingly.
"Municipal Party secretary might be a bit much, wouldn't it? Public security director would be enough, really," Zhou Yi replied, looking a little embarrassed.
"Get out of here." Jian Wanyan glared at the fellow who had seized the opening to climb higher and snorted. "You have a week to think it over. Once you've decided, have Shu Yue tell me."
With that, he waved a hand, signaling him to hurry up and leave.
If this young man had not been his daughter's classmate, and if he had not found him reasonably likable, he would never have wasted so many words on him. Transferring a mere section-level official