Chapter 1192 Let's Merge Our Two Nations
As Gao Family Village's massive encirclement operation got underway.
Back in Gao Family Village, Tan Liwen found himself utterly swamped.
His administrative staff was stretched thin.
Only a few months prior, Thirty-Two, Gao Family Village's highest-ranking administrator, had spearheaded the push into Sichuan, embarking on a massive development project there, mirroring the one in Shanxi.
Sichuan, however, presented a far more intricate landscape, bristling with mountains and myriad small factions. Crucially, there was no high-ranking official like Governor Wu Shen to stabilize the region.
Consequently, developing Sichuan proved considerably more arduous than its Shanxi counterpart.
After a thorough assessment of the situation, Thirty-Two dispatched an urgent request to Gao Family Village, leading to a substantial number of administrative personnel joining the logistics and transport teams heading into Sichuan.
Due to the inherent complexities, sending novices or inexperienced staff was out of the question. Every administrator assigned to Sichuan represented the village's finest—the most efficient and highly skilled professionals.
The consequence of this deployment was a significant drain on the village's internal resources.
Tan Liwen slumped wearily into his chair. "I can't do this anymore!" he declared. "We absolutely must recruit a new batch of administrative staff."
That very evening, a concise recruitment advertisement aired after the Gaojia News: Gao Family Village's administrative offices were looking to hire a substantial number of civil servants, open to all genders, but with a strict requirement of at least a middle school diploma from Thirty-Two Middle School.
This solitary requirement instantly weeded out countless aspiring candidates!
By noon the next day, within the administrative hall of Gao Family Village's main keep...
The recruitment process was officially underway...
Gao Family Village's modest pool of middle school graduates had already been largely assimilated into various sectors, serving on the front lines of every industry. Now, attempting to recruit more middle school graduates, was indeed a formidable challenge.
The applicants, as expected, were few and far between.
Tan Liwen’s gaze fell upon the meager queue, and a ripple of panic went through him.
Have I inadvertently set the criteria too high? What on earth will we do if we fail to recruit anyone?
As he stewed in his anxiety, a familiar voice broke through the quiet: "Uncle Tan! Hello, I'm here to apply for an administrative position!"
"Oh?" Tan Liwen looked up, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. "Handsome Enough to Bubble, Liu Maopao!"
It was Liu Maopao himself. Today, he wasn't clad in his usual merchant's attire, but in the scholar's gown he'd donned for his graduation from Thirty-Two Middle School that summer. A disarmingly familiar smile played on his lips. "Uncle Tan," he began, "aren't you going to welcome me?"
Tan Liwen mused inwardly, "I barely know you, and you're addressing me as 'Uncle' immediately? That's a little awkward, isn't it?"
Still, best to get to the point.
Tan Liwen inquired, "You graduated from middle school this summer, and since then you've been helping your parents run their large restaurant, correct? Your family's establishment is growing, now the most opulent in Gao Family Village. And your wool sweater factory is likewise expanding, with its operations reaching all the way to Jiangnan. Why would someone from such a prosperous household apply for an administrative role? Isn't that a profound waste of your considerable commercial talents?"
Liu Maopao smiled. "Commercial talent, Uncle Tan," he replied, "is utterly inconsequential. From a young age, I've harbored the ambition to forsake commerce and enter public service. This summer, immediately after graduating from middle school, I've been patiently awaiting our village's administrative recruitment drive, and it has finally come!"
Tan Liwen’s eyebrow arched. "You're not," he probed, "seeking a career in politics simply because Mrs. San's down jackets have captured your family's wool sweater market, and you feel unable to compete in the commercial arena, are you?"
Liu Maopao chuckled. "Uncle Tan, you must be joking," he responded. "With winter proving so bitterly cold, it's quite common for people to wear a down jacket over a wool sweater. My Warm and Sleepy wool sweaters and Mrs. San's down jackets have never been in competition; rather, they serve a complementary purpose."
Tan Liwen nodded slowly. "Very well, then, present your advantages. I'll listen to how you plan to persuade me to allow you to join."
Liu Maopao adopted a serious expression. "My father, Liu You, originates from Heyang County and was among the earliest villagers to embrace the Heavenly Lord Daoist Sect," he stated. "He comes from an ordinary, humble family, his background is impeccable, with no Manchu or Mongolian relatives, and no one in our household has ever held an official position in the imperial court. We are, without a shadow of a doubt, working-class people! Our loyalty is absolutely verifiable, and there is no conceivable reason for us to betray the village."
Tan Liwen nodded. *Indeed, the Liu family would face no issues whatsoever in a political background check.*
Liu Maopao continued, "In my inaugural year at Thirty-Two Middle School, I joined the student council as an officer, responsible for managing various student affairs. I served as a vital bridge of communication between the school's teaching staff and the students, a role that honed my strong communication abilities. In my final year before graduation, I was honorably elevated to student council president—a definitive affirmation of my capabilities by the school."
Upon hearing this, Tan Liwen felt a quiet satisfaction. *Remarkable! This young man actually served as student council president in his final year—that's a genuinely strong point.*
Liu Maopao pressed on, "While serving as an officer on the student council, I was tasked with interacting with the two young Mongolian nobles, Zhebu and E'zhe, who had come from Mongolia. I fostered excellent relations with them, even becoming blood brothers. This played a role in Gao Family Village completing crucial strategic deployments, and the Heavenly Lord himself once lauded my efforts."
Tan Liwen's heart gave a sudden leap. *The Heavenly Lord's praise? That's an exceptionally strong point.*
Liu Maopao continued, "During my time managing the Warm and Sleepy Textile Factory, I accumulated extensive management experience. Moreover, by traveling far and wide for business, I broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of various industries. I now possess a profound insight into both commercial affairs and the livelihoods of the populace. Whether in internal administration or external diplomacy, I am confident in my ability to excel."
Tan Liwen, having absorbed all this, was actually quite satisfied. *This young man's future is truly limitless.*
Nevertheless, he decided to challenge the young man once more.
He let out a soft huff. "Your resume is certainly impressive," he stated, "but it's missing that decisive, critical element. Give me the single most compelling reason why I *must* hire you, a reason I would find utterly impossible to reject."
Liu Maopao offered a knowing smile. "You, sir, are in desperate need of staff!"
"Pfft!" Tan Liwen exclaimed, spraying a mouthful of tea a considerable distance. "You audacious young man!"
Liu Maopao chuckled. "Uncle Tan, don't choke on your tea."
Tan Liwen playfully lobbed the fan he held in his hand towards Liu Maopao. "Go on, get out of here! Just remember to report for duty tomorrow morning."
Liu Maopao laughed heartily. "Hahaha, many thanks, Uncle Tan."
He caught Tan Liwen's fan, twirling it thoughtfully in his hand as he strode out of Gao Family Village's main keep.
Outside the keep, his two Mongolian blood brothers, Zhebu and E'zhe, were waiting expectantly.
Seeing him emerge, the two Mongolian boys eagerly rushed forward. "Brother Maopao, how did it go? Was your application successful?"
Liu Maopao beamed triumphantly. "It's done! I'm starting work tomorrow. Hahaha, with this, I've finally stepped onto the political stage!"
Both Mongolian boys laughed gleefully. "Congratulations, Brother Maopao!"
Liu Maopao clasped the hands of the two Mongolian boys. "One day," he declared, "I will become Gao Family Village's chief administrator, and both of you will rise to become Khans of Mongolia. When that time comes, let's merge our nations into a single country, and then we shall truly be brothers."
Zhebu's eyes sparkled. "Yes! Merge!"
E'zhe quickly chimed in, "And I'll be the Navy Commander, alright?"
Zhebu immediately cautioned, "To become Navy Commander, you'd need to attend classes at the maritime academy. On Zhoushan Island, that would likely require a special application to the Heavenly Lord."
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