Chapter 153: Car accident
The situation in 2003 was relatively complicated, but things proceeded much more smoothly. One of the most significant events was the convening of the Party's 16th National Congress in January. As early as 2000, the various factions had begun positioning themselves for this change of leadership spanning the turn of the century. A large group of cadres in their prime, drawn from the different factions, had taken up posts around the country, ranging from provincial and ministerial leaders to chiefs and deputies at the local city, county, and department levels. Every side had been laying the groundwork for the 16th National Congress.
Now, three years later, the change of leadership had finally arrived. From the central government down to the local level, a large group of cadres had reached the age limit and left their leadership posts. Most of the young and middle-aged cadres over forty-five also moved into important leadership positions at this time, taking up provincial and ministerial posts as representatives of their respective factions.
Under these circumstances, experience in provincial-level local posts was the most important consideration for these prospective provincial and ministerial appointees.
During the year Wang Bu served as Xiahai City's Municipal Party Committee secretary, his previously faltering political career had surged ahead, earning him standing and respect within his faction. With Wang Bu making his mark, Old Wang, the elder statesman of the Wang Family in Beijing, was pleased as well. When Wang Bu's transfer came under consideration, he was already qualified to move to Beijing and secure a deputy minister's position in a central ministry, right at the seat of power.
And so grandfather and grandson sat playing chess in Beijing's Miao Xiangshan Park to discuss the matter. Old Wang made his point explicitly. "From the Provincial Government Compound