Aunt Liu has two sons. The eldest son, Li Mingyang, is a Chinese teacher in a middle school in the county. His teaching level is excellent, and he is rated an "excellent teacher" by the school every year. The younger son, Li Mingqiao, works in the county education bureau and became the director of the bureau's office in his early 40s.

Li Mingqiao was appointed by the director to go to the backer township to check the work. The backer township is located in the southwest of Yishui County. It is the poorest township in the county, with a population of only more than 20,000. Due to the remote terrain and bumpy roads, it took more than 40 kilometers to drive to the backer township government. After getting off the car, Li Mingqiao dusted off the dust on his clothes. Zhao Yiming, the deputy head of the township in charge of education, has been waiting at the door for a long time. Zhao Yiming is close to 50 years old, with a thin figure and a pair of high myopia glasses on the bridge of his nose. He is dressed very simply. From the outside, he does not look like a deputy head at all, but a genuine private teacher. Every time I see Zhao Yiming, Li Mingqiao will think of the old school principal in the movie "Phoenix Qin", who has weathered the vicissitudes of life. Zhao Yiming greeted him warmly, held Li Mingqiao's hand and said, "Director Li has worked hard all the way!" Li Mingqiao said humorously: "It took half my life to get to your mountain village." Everyone laughed heartily when they heard this. Zhao Yiming briefly introduced the accompanying staff, exchanged a few words with Li Mingqiao, and then accompanied Li Mingqiao and his group to the school inspection work in the countryside. They went to the central rural primary school and the remote Xiasha village small school. During the inspection work, Li Mingqiao couldn't help but sigh that Zhao Yiming was really capable. In recent years, with his efforts, the quality of education and teaching in Bishan Township has ranked among the top three in the county. No wonder some leaders in the county have praised him.

A few days ago, a deputy director of the Education Bureau surnamed Zhou found lung cancer in the physical examination organized by the unit, which was still advanced. As a result, the Deputy Director's seat was vacated. Li Mingqiao vaguely felt that the opportunity had come. He has been the office director for 5 years, and he really wants to take this opportunity to take another step up. Li Mingqiao analyzed the current situation in the bureau, and there are several middle-level officials in the bureau who are eyeing this seat. I can't take it lightly.

When he got home from work, Li Mingqiao collapsed on the sofa watching TV. Seeing Li Mingqiao staring at the TV in a daze, his wife asked, "What's wrong with you? You look absent-minded." Li Mingqiao told his wife about his idea of becoming an deputy director. His wife, Wu Xiuzhen, is a cashier at a public institution. She is a fine person. After listening to Li Mingqiao's words, she said, "I attended a class reunion a few months ago. A classmate was the director of the Education Department. Let's see if he can help." After saying that, he went to the bedroom to find the address book, dug out the classmate's number and dialed it. Li Mingqiao stood by and listened with his ears pricked up. His wife hung up the phone before she could finish speaking for a minute. She looked at Li Mingqiao with a slight disappointment and said, "Listen to his tone on the phone, it may not be helpful. He is not familiar with your bureau." After dinner, Li Mingqiao smoked a cigarette and pacing around the living room. Wu Xiuzhen finished cleaning up the dishes and handed Li Mingqiao a cup of tea, saying, "Why don't we give gifts to the bureau? As the saying goes, 'Officials don't give gifts.' It's not easy to do things without giving gifts now. I guess the heads of the departments in your bureau will also go to give gifts, so we have to give them as soon as possible. The sooner you give them, the more you will show your sincerity." Li Mingqiao thought about it and said, "Our country is now so strict in catching corruption, will the Wang Bureau accept it?" His wife replied, "You can try it first, and by the way, find out the director's tone. Since you want to give it away, you can't give it less. By the way, what hobbies does your director have, such as liking antiques, calligraphy and painting, etc." Li Ming said thoughtfully, "I have served the Wang Bureau as the director of the office for a few years, except for playing chess, I really haven't found any special hobbies for him. Forget it, let's send a card, it's both hidden and real." The wife quickly echoed and said, "Okay, I will apply for a bank card of 20,000 yuan, and you will go to the director's house tomorrow night."

After dinner the next night, Li Mingqiao waited for half an hour, guessing that Bureau Wang might have finished his meal. He drove to a relatively remote place near the family area of the government compound, parked the car, and Li Mingqiao took out his mobile phone and sent a text message to Bureau Wang: "Bureau Wang, are you at home? I want to report to your mansion." After sending the text message, Li Mingqiao's palms were sweaty. He has been in the unit for so many years and is well versed in the ways of officialdom. The leader hates the subordinates coming directly to the door without saying hello, which will make the leader think that you are very ignorant and act recklessly. Li Mingqiao has already made up his mind on the way here, and sent a text message to the director first to test it. Li Mingqiao dare not call, in case the director is chatting with the guests, it is not good to disturb. If the director received a text message and did not reply, it meant that he was not at home or had guests at home, so it was inconvenient to receive him. If he was at home or there were no guests at home, the director would probably text or call him back. Sure enough, after ten minutes, the mobile phone rang, and Li Mingqiao answered quickly, and Director Wang's dignified and cordial voice came from the receiver: "Mingqiao, I'm at home, come here." Li Mingqiao looked at the rearview mirror, smoothed his hair that was messed up by the wind, lit a cigarette, and thought about how to mention the deputy director's matter to Bureau Wang and how to give the card to Bureau Wang.

When he arrived at Director Wang's house, he had already made a cup of tea and put it on the coffee table. He called Li Mingqiao to sit down. Li Mingqiao asked, "Isn't my sister-in-law at home?" Director Wang said, "She went to visit relatives from other places, and she won't be back for a few days. Li Mingqiao took a sip of tea, moistened his throat, and explained the purpose of coming. Director Wang thought for a while and said, "Since Lao Zhou was hospitalized, I have a heavy burden on my shoulders. I have to grasp the overall situation and keep an eye on the stall that Lao Zhou left behind. It's a good thing. Since you have such an idea, I will recommend it to the above. You have done well in recent years, and your reputation in the bureau is also good." Hearing the director finish, Li Mingqiao took out the bank card from his pocket and carefully placed it on the coffee table, saying, "Bureau Wang, thank you for cultivating me over the years. This is a little thought from me." Director Wang looked at the bank card on the coffee table with a serious face and said, "Mingqiao, what are you doing? Did I recommend you just for your money? You not only insulted me, but also yourself. Put your card away quickly, and if you don't take it back, I will send you off." Li Mingqiao symbolically refused a few times, and saw the displeased expression on Director Wang's face, and reluctantly put the card back in his pocket, which was a bit awkward for a while. Li Mingqiao quickly and cleverly changed the topic, and asked without words, "Bureau Wang, is your son's academic performance good?" Director Wang also changed his expression and said with a smile, "My son's academic performance is not bad, but his composition is not good. I have also hired a few tutors for him, but the effect is not obvious." Li Mingqiao then said, "My eldest brother is a Chinese teacher, and he is rated excellent every year, and he often publishes articles in newspapers and magazines. How about letting my brother tutor your son's composition?" Director Wang asked, "Is your eldest brother Li Mingyang?" Li Mingqiao nodded and said, "Yes, you know him too?" Director Wang praised him and said, "He is a celebrity on the education front in our county, how could I not know him. But is your brother willing to help my son with his composition?" Li Mingqiao patted his chest and said, "Director, this matter is on me."

After Li Mingqiao left Director Wang's house, he came to his brother Li Mingyang's residence non-stop. Seeing his excited look, his brother asked, "What's wrong with you? Did you find the money?" Li Mingqiao wiped the sweat from his face, held his brother's hand and said, "Brother, it's up to you whether I can be promoted this time." Li Mingqiao told Li Mingyang the ins and outs of the matter. His brother held the glasses on the bridge of his nose, thought for a moment, and said cautiously, "I'm not sure about improving the composition level of Wang Bureau's son. If the composition is still not good by then, I will be fine, and your Wang Bureau will blame you." Li Mingqiao comforted his brother and said, "Brother, as long as you try your best, it doesn't matter if he complains. After finding so many tutors, if the composition is still not good, it can only mean that his son is too stupid. "

Li Mingqiao called Director Wang and reported, "Bureau Wang, my brother has agreed to tutor your son under my painstaking persuasion. I want your son to come to my house for my brother to tutor, do you think this is okay?" Director Wang said with a smile on the other end of the phone: "As long as my son's composition level can be improved, anything will be fine."

From then on, Wang Liang, the son of Education Director Wang Jianguo, was like a relative of Li Mingqiao's family. Every afternoon after school, Li Mingqiao would personally drive to the school to pick Wang Liang up at his brother's home to help him with his composition. His wife also often changed patterns to make delicious treats for Wang Liang. The couple treated Wang Liang better than their own son. In Li Mingqiao's eyes, Wang Liang was the "life-saving straw" in his career. With Wang Liang's trump card, Li Mingqiao was afraid that there was no hope. Li Mingqiao felt that the chances of victory were in his hands. But in the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed, and Li Mingqiao was a little confused. After his brother's guidance, Wang Liang's composition level had improved, but the deputy director's seat was still empty, and no one from the organization department came to the bureau to inspect the cadres. What was going on? Li Mingqiao was puzzled, he was so kind to Director Wang's son, how could he not know? The more Li Mingqiao thought about it, the more tormented his heart became, but it was not easy to ask Director Wang, which would only make him feel that he was too impatient and too impatient. Li Mingqiao had to wait patiently, he believed that Director Wang would definitely recommend him.

One morning, Director Wang was reading documents in his office when the landline on his desk suddenly rang. Director Wang answered the phone, "Old Wang, I'm Zhang Guangquan." Director Wang immediately held the receiver with both hands respectfully and asked respectfully, "Secretary Zhang, what are your instructions?" It turned out that the person who called was Zhang Guangquan, the secretary of the county party committee. Secretary Zhang said on the other end of the phone, "After organizing discussions and research, the candidates for deputy directors recommended by your bureau have average work ability and are not competent. Lao Wang, when recommending the promotion of leading cadres, you must be careful and not sloppy." Director Wang hurriedly echoed and said, "Yes, you are right, Secretary. Our Education Bureau must be cautious." As soon as Director Wang finished speaking, Secretary Zhang continued, "After careful consideration in the organization, it is planned to let Deputy Governor Zhao Yiming, who is in charge of education in the mountain village, be the deputy director of your education bureau and replace Lao Zhou's position. This Zhao Yiming has the courage and aggressiveness to work in such a poor township, but the quality of teaching, enrollment rate and progression rate have been greatly improved... Oh, Lao Wang, don't just listen to me, you can also talk about your views, don't let people think that I am a one-man, that's not good." Director Wang smiled and said, "Secretary Zhang, you are really far-sighted. I also understand Zhao Yiming. He is indeed young and promising, and the organizational decision is very wise." Secretary Zhang seemed to enjoy the atmosphere of this conversation, and then said, "Someone reported to me that your son is studying at your colleague's house, and your colleague's name is Li Mingqiao. You seem to be more serious about him and recommend him as a deputy director. Is that so?" Secretary Zhang listened to Director Wang's silence, so he changed the conversation and said, "Of course, it is normal to teach children homework, but just because you and Li Mingqiao are superior and subordinate, the masses will inevitably not discuss it. You should pay attention to the impact." Director Wang heard Secretary Zhang finish speaking, and sweat broke out on his head. He quickly said, "Secretary Zhang, you are right to criticize, thank you for your teaching, I will definitely pay attention." Secretary Zhang comforted him a few words, and then said, "The organization plans to let Li Mingqiao take the position of Zhao Yiming in the mountain village, and let him go to the countryside to exercise for a while." Director Wang was dumbfounded when he heard Secretary Zhang finish...

A week later, the transfer order came down, Zhao Yiming as deputy director of the county education bureau. Li Ming Qiao as mountain village deputy head.