Chapter 49: Half Won

The leading members of the panel rose from their seats one by one, holding folded recommendation slips as they began to vote.

Following them, the cadres in the back rows also picked up their folded slips, stood up one after another, and formed a line to cast their votes.

Jiang Zhaoyang sat quietly; he had yet to write his ballot.

His gaze swept over the recommendation slip in his hand from time to time, a complex mixture of emotions swirling in his chest.

There were only two candidates in total. Was he supposed to recommend He Di?

Of course not, that man did not deserve it!

Should he recommend himself, then?

The moment this thought flashed through his mind, his cheeks flushed involuntarily.

After all, this was different from a routine self-recommendation; wasn't this blatantly touting oneself for official promotion?

At this thought, a wave of shyness and unease inevitably welled up in Jiang Zhaoyang's heart.

Originally, he had another choice: he could cast a blank or abstention vote.

However, the situation now was vastly different from the past.

Recalling his experiences over this period, Jiang Zhaoyang's mood grew exceptionally heavy.

He had run into Liu Wen’s parents, those snobbish people who always scrutinized him with critical eyes, as if he were already unworthy of their precious daughter.

And Liu Wen herself seemed increasingly dissatisfied with him; that growing sense of alienation chilled his heart.

What angered him even more was that He Di was always playing dirty tricks behind his back.

Then there was Lin Weiquan, determined to keep him banished to that remote reservoir for the rest of his life, with no hope of ever getting ahead.

This string of blows made Jiang Zhaoyang deeply realize how desperately he needed an opportunity—an opportunity to break free from this awkwardness and predicament!

And this opportunity might just be lying right before him right now—this small ballot might well be his only hope for a comeback.

Even though the probability was slim, virtually negligible.

After a fierce internal struggle, Jiang Zhaoyang finally made up his mind.

He picked up his fountain pen, his hand trembling slightly, but in the blank space beneath the name "Jiang Zhaoyang," he resolutely made a checkmark!

He thought to himself: I will no longer hide or hold back; the urge deep inside me can no longer be suppressed—I simply want to be a leader!

This was not merely personal ambition; it was driven by a deep sense of responsibility.

(1/3)

Being a leader meant he could stand on a higher platform, possessing not only the ability to resolve the various dilemmas facing him, but also the capacity to extend a helping hand, bringing hope and change to those around him who were struggling or perhaps trapped in hardship.

More importantly, he could use the power in his hands to genuinely serve the people and propel society in a fairer, more harmonious direction.

Such an opportunity came only once in a millennium; why shouldn't he give it his all and take this gamble?

This was not just the realization of self-worth, but the fulfillment of social responsibility.

Thus, solemnly and deliberately, he placed a heavy checkmark right beneath his own name on the recommendation slip.

Having finished marking it, he took a deep breath and walked with a firm gaze toward the ballot box beneath the podium.

Organization Committee Member Dong Xian happened to be standing nearby, a fleeting, hard-to-read depth flashing in his eyes, as if he had anticipated Jiang Zhaoyang's move all along.

With profound meaning, Dong Xian asked, "Finished marking?"

Jiang Zhaoyang smiled slightly, deliberately giving the recommendation slip in his hand a gentle flick so that the unfoldeed sheet and the checkmark upon it were clearly visible.

He purposely let Dong Xian catch a glimpse of the checkmark beneath his name without explicitly spelling it out: "Thank you for your concern, leader, I've finished marking it."

A complex emotion flickered in Dong Xian's eyes—surprise, appreciation, and perhaps even a sliver of recognition for Jiang Zhaoyang's courage.

Following Chen Qigong's instructions, everyone participating in the vote walked slowly to the front of the podium, clutching their neatly folded recommendation slips and solemnly dropping them one by one into the prominent ballot box.

Jiang Zhaoyang was no exception; he stood quietly in line, his expression as calm as still water.

He gently dropped his recommendation slip into the box.

Those who had finished voting returned to the conference room.

Standing or sitting in groups of twos and threes, they spoke in low voices, their conversations revolving entirely around the vote.

Their eyes were filled with anticipation.

Clearly, they were still anxiously waiting for the staff to count the votes and announce the final results.

Standing on the podium, Chen Qigong swept his gaze across everyone in the conference room, catching that palpable sense of expectation.

He gave a light cough and announced, "Through everyone's concerted efforts, all work procedures are hereby successfully concluded."

"With your active participation and fair voting, this recommendation meeting has also drawn to a smooth close."

"Thank you all for your active participation and fair voting."

"The meeting is adjourned, and you are dismissed."

As his words fell, a wave of disappointment rippled through the crowd.

(2/3)

It was quite common not to tally and announce the votes on the spot, so they began to leave one after another.

Jiang Zhaoyang also walked slowly out among the crowd.

He stepped out of the conference room as the heavy door closed slowly behind him, as if sealing away the tense and delicate atmosphere inside.

That was because the meeting staff were about to begin counting the votes.

Jiang Zhaoyang walked down the long corridor, every step feeling like a measurement of his standing in the hearts of the townspeople.

Emerging at the main entrance of the building, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the porch, casting mottled patches of light upon his face while also illuminating the varied expressions of the people around him.

Some deliberately kept their distance from him, their eyes flashing with avoidance and speculation, as though Jiang Zhaoyang had overnight become an unpredictable enigma.

Others boldly nodded and smiled at him—smiles that held both encouragement and probing, as if silently asking: "This time, will you be the one we are hoping for?"

Just as Jiang Zhaoyang was about to step out the front door,

"Director! Director!" a crisp and familiar voice called out from behind, like a cool breeze in midsummer that instantly dispersed the lingering haze in his heart.

He turned around and let his gaze fall upon Bai Wei, who was walking briskly toward him.

Turning around, Jiang Zhaoyang smiled and asked, "What is it?"

At this moment, Bai Wei wore a sincere smile on her face.

Approaching him, she asked softly, "Director, are you free for dinner tonight?"

"Let's celebrate. The fact that you were able to attend this meeting means you've already won half the battle."

"Could it be..." Jiang Zhaoyang thought to himself, could she genuinely believe he would stand out in today's election?

Jiang Zhaoyang shook his head, trying to banish this sudden surge of unwarranted confidence from his mind.

Although he did meet the criteria for candidacy and was indeed one of the contenders, human hearts were unpredictable, and voting outcomes were often far more baffling than one imagined.

Jiang Zhaoyang knew full well that in this battle of democratic recommendation, the number of votes he received would directly determine whether he could enter the next stage of evaluation, and ultimately, whether he stood a chance at promotion.

Once his vote count fell too low, or failed to clear the halfway mark, he would be blocked outside an invisible threshold, stripped even of the qualification to be scrutinized and considered.

Let alone any talk of promotion.

(3/3)