Qi Tongwei: Sign-in relationship started during student days

Chapter 958 Exploring Entertainment

“I remember there’s an old Chinese saying, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ On our German soil, you should follow our customs.” Ude blinked, conveying a message that every man understands.

Qi Tongwei waved his hand and declined, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, but as a public servant of China, I must always remember my identity and responsibilities. Besides, I have a wife I love deeply, and I must be loyal to her."

Ude suddenly realized, "Oh, I'm so sorry, you're a good husband." He raised his glass, "Qi, let's drink."

"cheers."

……

After the dinner, on the way back, Tian Fengyi, half-discussing and half-offering advice from someone with experience, said:

"Tongwei, your refusal today was a bit abrupt. I'm afraid it might leave a bad impression on the other party."

Qi Tongwei gave Tian Fengyi a half-smile. "Is it a bad impression, or has it ruined your plans, Mayor Tian?"

You wouldn't actually want to discuss the mysteries of the universe and the origins of humanity with those German noblewomen, would you?

Tian Fengyi said in embarrassment and anger, "What nonsense are you talking about? I was just considering... the political friendship between these two countries. What kind of person do you take me for?"

Qi Tongwei said with a mix of sarcasm and seriousness, "There's no need for political friendship to come at the cost of one's appearance."

If my comrades from Hanjiang, and their wives, knew about this, they'd probably curse me, the head of the inspection team, for pimping and using my comrades as political sacrifices.

Tian Fengyi didn't catch Qi Tongwei's sarcasm and said very seriously, "You can't say that. Since ancient times, many have sacrificed their lives for their noble aspirations."

Sometimes, for the success of the revolution or for local development, a sacrifice is not out of the question.

Qi Tongwei gave a cold laugh, "Comrade Feng Yi, this kind of sacrifice is not worth it."

If this gets back to China, the people won't believe you're acting for the local area or for the revolution; they'll only think that Mayor Tian has no principles, no bottom line, and has betrayed the trust of the Party and the people.

Tian Fengyi sensed Qi Tongwei's displeasure and replied awkwardly, "I was just saying that, I didn't really intend to do anything."

"It's best not to say anything, it could have a bad influence."

Qi Tongwei said a few words, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes to rest.

Tian Fengyi looked at Qi Tongwei's profile, hesitated, and finally sighed before looking out the window.

Outside the car window, light and shadow weave a dreamlike scene.

The clock tower in Marienplatz pierces the night, its ticking sound a symphony of ancient and modern intertwined in the interplay of light and shadow.

Along the way, you can see the night views of churches, squares, and parks, which are even more charming under the lights.

Tian Fengyi, however, was not in the mood to appreciate the scenery. Instead, he cursed inwardly: "That Qi Tongwei is so stubborn."

Who doesn't act recklessly when they go abroad for inspections? Otherwise, what's the point of fighting tooth and nail?

After thinking for a moment, she woke Qi Tongwei up again, "Hey, Tongwei, I've looked at the itinerary Munich arranged for us. It ends around 4 PM every day. Shouldn't we prepare some activities for the group members? Like going to a concert or watching a movie or something?"

Qi Tongwei opened his eyes and pondered, "Then how can safety be guaranteed?"

And this kind of thinking... In recent years, there have been numerous cases of people using the guise of "inspection tours" to stay abroad. Who will be responsible if something goes wrong?

Tian Fengyi said, "Actually, we can't entirely blame them. People are easily bewitched by things they haven't experienced before."

If our country becomes rich, do you think they can run away?

Therefore, in order to prevent such things from happening in our Hanjiang area, I suggest that we take this opportunity to let everyone see and learn more about the customs and culture of these European and American countries, and broaden their horizons.

Of course, this observation must be done with a critical eye and a dialectical mindset, with the primary purpose of exposing the drawbacks of capitalism.

We always talk about how capitalists are, but nobody has ever actually seen one. Empty talk is harmful to the country, don't you think?

If you're worried about problems, how about this: if anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility, okay?

Qi Tongwei didn't dare to agree immediately. In a foreign country, any incident would be a serious matter, because they couldn't suppress it as easily as they could in Hanjiang or Beishan.

Seeing that Qi Tongwei remained silent, Tian Fengyi persisted, "Hey, Tongwei, do you agree or not? Give me an answer."

We can't expect that I, as the executive deputy head of the delegation and a sponsor, would have absolutely no power.

Even if I, as the executive deputy head of the delegation, don't have the authority, shouldn't we still talk about democracy, about politics, and listen to everyone's opinions?

Tian Fengyi brought up democracy, so Qi Tongwei couldn't insist on going his own way.

"Okay, let's hold a special meeting tomorrow afternoon after we return from the visit to discuss this."

"Row."

Back at the hotel, Tian Fengyi, slightly tipsy, summoned several other deputy directors and deputy heads of the delegation at the division level to discuss in advance the matter of adding local cultural exploration.

Everyone knew perfectly well that this was just an excuse to have fun, but no one was foolish enough to point it out.

"It took me a lot of effort to convince Comrade Tongwei to agree, and I consulted with everyone."

Don't rush to rest. Talk to your subordinates and share your thoughts and opinions. Speak freely tomorrow.

The deputy commanders naturally expressed their support.

The next day, everyone knew that the afternoon would be dedicated to discussing topics that would help everyone relax after work.

Moreover, they knew that this opportunity was hard-won and had been secured by Mayor Tian Fengyi. For a time, leaders from various provincial departments and other cities were extremely grateful to Tian Fengyi.

When people go abroad for business trips, isn't it all for the sake of gaining prestige and having a paid vacation? What's the point of staying in a hotel every day? Are we going to jail?

"See, Mayor Rentian really knows how to be considerate."

"That's right. Everyone in Wenshan thinks highly of Mayor Tian. Even though Wenshan's economy is underdeveloped, the welfare and benefits of those working in Wenshan are much better than in many of our brother cities."

"Yes, like us, if we want to get promoted, even if we have the qualifications, we still have to wait for a position, and even if we have a position, we still have to find connections. But in Renmin Mountain, they just arrange it for you directly. I heard that a bureau can be equipped with eight deputy bureau chiefs, and a town can be equipped with nine deputy town heads. As long as you have enough qualifications, there's no mess around, and they'll promote you."

"Yes, yes, I've heard that too. I've also heard that Wenshan covered all the expenses for this inspection."

"Really?"

"of course it's true!"

"Mayor Tian is truly righteous!"

...

Upon receiving the discussion from the comrades in Beishan, Secretary Wang Wenjie was greatly alarmed and hurriedly reported the situation to Qi Tongwei.

"Sir, what does Mayor Tian mean by this? Is he trying to win people over? He's completely disorganized and undisciplined," Wang Wenjie said indignantly.

Qi Tongwei waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Let him try to bribe us if he wants. He's not wrong. He paid for this banquet, so we should let him get some credit for it."

He came to his senses yesterday; it's better to guide than to block. He may be worried, but he still has to abide by these unspoken rules.

Which inspection team goes out to investigate without ulterior motives? If you try to stop them, you'll end up being the bad guy.

Moreover, apart from the comrades from Beishan, the other members of the Youth League are not simple people. They are all backed by provincial-level units and brother cities. On average, they are at least section-level cadres, with two deputy-department-level cadres and about twenty division-level cadres.

If he makes a mess of things, he might make a lot of enemies.

Why not do Tian Fengyi a favor and let him win people's hearts? That way, he, as the regimental commander, won't be resented.

However, if you want to win people's hearts and gain benefits, you must bear the corresponding responsibilities.

If something goes wrong, it's perfect to let Tian Fengyi take the blame.

As for the morale of this group, it had no effect on him. He didn't have time to deal with these cadres, most of whom were at the section or division level. The people behind them were more relevant.

That day, after visiting several renowned international companies, Tian Fengyi had just returned to the hotel when he impatiently urged Qi Tongwei to convene a meeting.

Qi Tongwei said, "Then let's open it."

In the conference room, everyone took their seats. Qi Tongwei coughed twice and explained the theme of the meeting.

"Some comrades suggested arranging some activities for everyone during the inspection to help them relax."

I personally oppose this arrangement. It's not that I don't want everyone to go out and explore, to experience the local customs and culture.

This is truly for everyone's safety.

After all, this isn't China, and many unexpected events are likely to be unforeseen and beyond our control.

Therefore, in order to ensure a smooth inspection, I do not recommend adding these extra activities, as they may cause unnecessary trouble.

Moreover, the hotel has no shortage of entertainment options, such as chess, billiards, and a swimming pool, which can fully satisfy everyone's need for relaxation.

However, our country has always advocated democracy and freedom, so I cannot run a one-man show or act like a patriarch.

Since everyone has ideas, let's hold a meeting to discuss them. Please share your thoughts and opinions. "Who wants to go first?" He glanced at everyone.

Tian Fengyi said, "Let me go first. Let me give my opinion first."

Our trip to Europe and America was very demanding, with a tight schedule. We basically had to move on to the next place as soon as we finished visiting one.

With high-intensity work, it's important to balance work and rest.

I think it's difficult to achieve a good result by relying solely on leisure and entertainment facilities like hotels.

Of course, there is another very objective reason, which is also a very important one.

Just as Mayor Qi mentioned, everyone wants to broaden their horizons and see the customs and cultures of other countries.

We always talk about reform and opening up, and about going global and integrating with the world.

But we can't just align with each other economically and industrially; we also need to align with each other in terms of lifestyle.

We also need to know about the German lifestyle, what they eat and drink, and how it differs from ours.

For example, we all know that Germans love beer. If our country were to produce a beer and sell it in Germany, shouldn't we start by considering their lifestyle and tastes?

This kind of understanding cannot be gained from a document or a video; it requires personal experience and feeling, right?

That's why I said it's so important: our relaxation isn't just aimless relaxation; it's purposeful and has a definite purpose.

Many of you here are key leaders being groomed by your respective departments. In the future, you will likely be the ones to guide the development of the Han River in all aspects and contribute to its growth. Today's seemingly insignificant inspection may very well make a significant contribution to the future development of the Han River.

Therefore, my suggestion is that, while ensuring safety and not affecting the itinerary, we should, according to the available time, lead everyone to experience the local culture.

Before he could finish speaking, a deputy head of the delegation from Beishan City immediately frowned: "Mayor Tian, ​​the main purpose of our trip is to learn. As you said, time is tight and the task is heavy."

Adding these activities might just distract us and ultimately be counterproductive.

Tian Fengyi smiled slightly, "That's why I said, as long as it doesn't affect the inspection itinerary."

For example, these past few days, we've all seen the plans, right? The inspection ended around 4 PM, and we allowed ourselves eight hours of sleep, according to the most suitable rest time for humans.

There are still nearly seven hours of free time until 11 p.m., which can be fully utilized.

Proper relaxation can not only regulate one's state of mind, but also enhance team cohesion.

Moreover, the management experience of large international corporations emphasizes a balance between employee care and efficiency, which we might as well learn from.

As he spoke, he looked at Qi Tongwei again, knowing that the final decision would still rest with him.

Qi Tongwei frowned, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, clearly still hesitant.

Seeing this, Tian Fengyi turned to the crowd and said, "What do you all think? Please share your opinions. Mayor Qi said that we believe in democracy."

A low murmur rippled through the meeting room, with many cadres looking on with anticipation, as did the members of the Communist Youth League from Beishan City.

At this moment, a young cadre stood up and said, "I support Mayor Tian's opinion."

As if it were a signal, apart from the members of Beishan, others stood up one after another to support Tian Fengyi's idea.

Qi Tongwei looked around, took a deep breath, and finally "agreed": "Alright, since everyone is so eager to participate, let's follow Mayor Tian's suggestion and carry out some relaxation activities without affecting our work."

Mayor Tian will be responsible for the specific arrangements.

However, I must emphasize one last point: the event must be legal and compliant, and safety and discipline must be guaranteed. Mayor Tian, ​​you must supervise this carefully.

Everyone cheered immediately.

Tian Fengyi smiled and said, "Yes, I will definitely coordinate the time well, and I will absolutely not delay the important matters, and I will also ensure safety and discipline."

After the meeting, Qi Tongwei left with a serious expression.

Tian Fengyi was surrounded and fawned over by the group of members.

The next day, the group first efficiently completed their study tour of the large corporation, and then, led by Tian Fengyi, went to a well-known local beer hall.

Tian Fengyi wanted to invite Qi Tongwei, but Qi Tongwei declined. He said he would rather spend that time with Liang Lu, meet with local celebrities, and attend a few high-level parties.

What is class? The various lifestyles you talk about are actually just things that others deliberately create.

Take Germany's most famous beer festival, for example. It is nothing more than a product of deliberate guidance from the top, something used to stimulate domestic demand and release public sentiment.

Once you see through the essence, many things become meaningless.