Three days after the policy panel review, Dongjiang's political air shifted.
Not visibly—no announcements or reshuffles. But those who worked in the government complex could feel it. Some department heads began replying to emails faster. Some started avoiding others. There was tension. Realignment. And in the middle of it, whether they realized it or not—was Lu Zhen.
What began as whispers had now grown into silent speculation.
---
The Director's Visit
It was unusual for Director Peng Shicheng, head of the Urban Affairs Coordinating Division, to show up at Lu Zhen's office. He was known to govern from a distance, often through memos and intermediaries.
So when he walked in unannounced, Lu knew it wasn't casual.
Peng sat without speaking, his eyes scanning the stack of printed documents on Lu's desk.
"You're becoming...useful," he said finally.
Lu remained still. "I try to stay ahead of the problems."
Peng tapped the table with a manicured finger. "That's not always good. Some in this building like slow problems. They make for good budgets."
It wasn't a compliment. It was a warning.
Lu nodded slowly. "Then I'll only solve the problems that disrupt nothing."
Peng smirked. "And when disruption becomes inevitable?"
Lu looked him in the eye. "Then I'll make sure I'm on the right side of the collapse."
Peng let out a short laugh. "You'll go far. Too far, perhaps."
He left without another word.
---
System Update: "Threshold Reached"
> Political Temperature Around Host: High
Unlocked Trait: "Walking Edge"
— Slightly improves instinct in danger detection from bureaucratic infighting
— Enables Passive: Anticipatory Network Drift Analysis
> Internal Network Shift:
Lu Zhen is now informally tagged as a "High-initiative policy innovator"
Risk rating by internal oversight adjusted to: Tier-2 Watch Subject
Lu Zhen leaned back and exhaled.
It was happening faster than expected.
---
Xu Qinglan's Directive
That evening, a new secure message came through from Xu Qinglan:
> "Clear your schedule for the weekend. I've recommended you for the Provincial Talent Review Committee's special session. Quiet role, background placement. But one of the evaluators is retiring. You're being groomed as a candidate."
> "Also—Hao Yunlong just mentioned your name. Directly."
Lu's fingers hovered over the keyboard before typing:
> "Any tone?"
> "Neutral. But he asked how much time I'm spending mentoring 'the boy with too many charts.'"
> "Then I'll give him something to read."
---
Behind the Curtain
Saturday came quickly.
Lu arrived at the Provincial Administrative Review Center, a grand, marble-and-glass building where careers were quietly made or destroyed. The special session was convened under the pretense of "document reform assessment." But everyone present knew the truth: it was a covert talent-scouting and succession planning meeting.
Lu's assigned seat was in the third row, right behind the Deputy Head of Human Resources, Zhou Meiyu.
A formidable woman in her forties, known for her precision and political neutrality. Some said she was one of the few who dared say "no" to Vice Minister Hao.
---
A Paper with Weight
Halfway through the session, a file was passed to Lu Zhen.
Not digital. Printed.
Internal Draft: Inter-Ministry Task Force on Rural High-Tier Talent Repatriation
Lu's eyes narrowed.
This was the framework for a new central policy model—one that would eventually reach the State Council. Still in draft, it lacked grounding data and mechanisms.
Lu saw the gap.
He also saw the opportunity.
At the end of the session, Zhou Meiyu turned and said, without looking directly at him:
"You'll submit a memo to me by Monday. Confidentially. Outline structural weaknesses in that draft."
It wasn't a request.
It was an audition.
---
Burning the Weekend
Lu didn't sleep that night.
He poured over three years of rural administrative policy failures, eight pilot program reports, and one buried internal audit revealing misappropriated education funds in the name of "elite talent relocation."
Then he wrote.
Not a critique.
But a reconstruction.
He called it: "The Reverse River: Framework for Adaptive Talent Wellspring Clusters".
He suggested:
Reframing returnee talent zones as inter-generational mentorship enclaves
Using existing agricultural biotech firms as anchor sponsors
Offering university credits and family relocation bonuses in place of direct wages
He submitted the 12-page report Sunday at 4:57 a.m.
---
Zhou Meiyu's Response
Monday afternoon.
A message from a secure internal address arrived.
> "Received. Efficiently daring. You found the bleeding vein and proposed a tourniquet instead of stitches."
> "Minister Hao is reviewing all revisions personally. Yours has been included in the file batch."
> "Your clock just sped up."
Lu's heart pounded once.
Then steadied.
He was being dragged closer to the core.
---
Internal System Update: "Chain Reaction Triggered"
> Influence Pathway: High Bureau
Audit Exposure: Light – background elevated via memo trail
New Passive Unlocked: "Ghostwriter's Imprint"
— Policy drafts authored by host, even anonymously, increase recognition chance within 60 days
— Hidden impact bonus: +6% political capital generation from indirect success
Lu smiled slightly.
Another step. Another layer.
He had no illusion—he was still a pawn.
But now, a dangerous pawn.
---
Meanwhile: The Crows Move
Far across the city, in an unmarked office tied to internal oversight, a man with cold eyes stared at Lu Zhen's name on a digital dossier.
Agent Qiao Yu, codename "Crow Three."
"Accelerated exposure. Influence jumping too fast."
He turned to his superior, a woman in glasses known only as Madam Si.
Her voice was even colder. "Prepare a control vector."
"What kind?"
"Rumors. Low-level. Let's see who tries to feed on him when they think he's vulnerable."
She shut the file.
"The ones who rise too cleanly often hide the deepest dirt."
---
Chapter Close: The Game Deepens
As the sun set behind the towers of Dongjiang, Lu Zhen sat alone in the records archive, poring through old land-use restructuring files. He wasn't required to. No one had asked him to.
But he understood now—exposure breeds both opportunity and risk.
For every step forward, he had to anchor two feet behind.
He took a deep breath.
The only way to rise was to make sure the ground behind him didn't vanish.
---
End of Chapter 16