"Yes, precisely," the Chairman said. "You are the prodigy I have the highest hopes for. I trust your abilities completely; only by entrusting this to you can I feel truly at ease."

"Chairman, are you reading my mind? You knew exactly what I was about to suggest."

The Chairman chuckled. "So, you also have thoughts about blocking the incursion of American foreign capital?"

"That's right, but your motive is rooted in national security and ethnic interests. To be frank, mine is more selfish—entirely for my own gain."

The Chairman waved a dismissive hand. "What difference does that make! As long as our ultimate goals align, that's what matters!"

I paused in thought. "If I were to fend off the Jaguar Financial Investment Company, perhaps I could hold them off for a while with some effort. But if you expect me to stand against all the American financial consortiums, I must admit that sounds rather unrealistic."

"Of course, such a heavy burden cannot fall solely on your shoulders," the Chairman countered. "Our Great Dragon Country still possesses numerous excellent national enterprises. They have substantial strength that can offer you assistance—companies like Chaoyang Energy, Hua Shi Pharmaceuticals, and Yue Jin Construction. Even large groups reorganized from former state-owned enterprises, such as the State Television, National Petroleum, and National Bank, can join the effort."

"Indeed, there is strength in numbers. It’s certainly better than me running around blindly. It benefits everyone to profit, and we can share the risks."

"Exactly," the Chairman affirmed. "I hope you can lead them down a path of national self-strengthening and make all those American schemes collapse!"

I gasped, "What! Me leading them? Chairman, please don't joke with me. I can handle assisting them, but asking me to lead the big shots at Chaoyang Energy or State Television—Sir, you must be kidding. If they had the will, I certainly wouldn't have the guts." Even if those two elders asked me to lead, would I dare? If I went home, Fang Yanmeng and Xiao Chuchu would surely flay me alive.

The Chairman looked at me reassuringly. "You don't need to worry about that. With me stepping in, they won't argue. Just serve as my economic advisor. Our national economic experts are either too conservative or lack the robust strength and necessary confidence and courage for economic warfare. You are different; like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger, and you possess an almost mysterious power. I believe those Americans will be no match for you."

As he spoke, the Chairman pulled a new ID badge from his drawer. I glanced at it: 'Zhao Qian, National Economic Advisor.' What a failure; the Chairman had already prepared the new badge ahead of time.

I pushed the badge back across the table. "I think we should skip these titles, Chairman. Amassing a heap of them makes it look like I'm just drawing a salary without actually working, which might cause resentment among other comrades."

The Chairman laughed heartily. "Are you complaining that I've only given you honorary positions all this time? Well, how about a substantive post now? Are you interested?"

"No!" I replied without hesitation. The messes on my own side are already keeping me frantically busy. If I were to get involved in state affairs, I'd probably have to give up university altogether. I truly intend to learn something concrete; my experiences lately have made me realize how lacking I still am in many areas.

"Don't refuse so quickly," the Chairman said. "Here's the deal: I will now set the salary for all your current positions according to national standards. National Security Advisor, National Economic Advisor, Deputy Director of the National Security Bureau, Deputy Director of the Jingdu City Public Security Bureau, Leader of the Super Soldier Group, Dermatology and Venereology Expert Doctor at the 101 Army Hospital, and Research Assistant to the General Manager of Hua Shi Group—oh, right, you don't need me to pay the salary for that last one; you’ll have to get that from Doctor Hua yourself. The combined salary for the other positions should be close to forty thousand a month. I’ll issue a six-month lump sum payment immediately, and the rest will be deposited into your account punctually every month thereafter. Consider it a small compensation and recognition for your hard work."

I was currently short on private funds, and in any case, I couldn't refuse today's matter. Having money coming in is certainly better than working for free. I reached out, grabbed the 'National Economic Advisor' badge, and tucked it into my wallet.

Seeing that I was eating in silence, the Chairman tapped the rim of his bowl and asked, "Did you hear what I asked you earlier? Give me a definitive answer."

"Sir, you haven't actually told me what the matter is yet. Besides, do I even have the authority to make this decision myself?"

The Chairman put down his chopsticks. "Actually, I mentioned it just now. The current corruption and graft in the country are quite severe; the moral conduct of officials has reached a point where reform is the only way forward. Everyone wants to be an official, but once they are, they aren't thinking about doing their job well; instead, they focus only on how to embezzle more money. A county party secretary in a small, impoverished mountainous area can amass millions during a single term, while the reported number of school dropouts in that county rises year after year. It infuriates me, little Zhao. The ancient saying goes, 'Cultivate the self, govern the state, bring peace to the world.' If one’s self is not properly cultivated, how can one govern the state! How can one bring peace to the world!"

The corruption of the Great Dragon Country’s officials has long been notorious worldwide, known by young and old alike. Some parents even educate their children this way: 'Study hard, become a high official when you grow up, and make lots of money.' What does this signify? It signifies that the current impression the officials give the common people is this: being an official is not about serving the people or being a public servant, but about being a money-sucking machine, a profit-extraction device (from the computer novel site http://www.16k.cn).

If officials are not thinking about serving the people but only about lining their pockets, will there be any real achievements in their work? Without work achievements, how can regional economic development be pushed forward? How can the common people enjoy stable and prosperous lives? If the populace is struggling to eat and keep warm, and this situation continues long-term, the end result will only be the people rising against oppressive officials! The phenomenon where 'The gates of the rich reek with mutton and wine, while frost lies upon the bones of the frozen dead'—a spectacle from a thousand years ago—continues even today!

The Chairman continued in a low, heavy voice, "Those in positions of power are not held accountable; the anti-corruption and disciplinary inspection commissions are practically window dressing. In many regions, the common people are living in deep misery, daring to be angry but not daring to speak out. The petition offices have now become places where public security officers stake out, waiting to immediately arrest and detain any supplicants who show up. The voices of the masses below cannot reach us. What good are we sitting high up in the imperial court if we cannot comprehend the suffering of the people! Government office buildings are constructed more lavishly than five-star hotels, while the homes of the common folk are worse than dog kennels! Officials travel in luxury cars, eating delicacies at every meal, while the common people toil under the sun and wind, ending up barely making ends meet. Officials enjoy high-level medical wards, yet poor families cannot scrape together a single cent when someone falls ill or a child goes to university! People selling land, selling houses, even selling their own organs are as common as weeds! I want to know, is the Great Dragon Country the nation of the people, or the nation of corrupt officials! What is the future path for the Great Dragon Country! Have the lessons from history’s repeated uprisings against tyrannical rulers not been enough?!"

Bang! The Chairman slammed his fist onto the desk. Chopsticks and bowls clattered and scattered across the floor. It was the first time I had ever seen the venerable old man so agitated and furious.