Chapter 408: Liu An Hua Ming

Li Mingzhou now, whenever he returns to the capital, first goes to the North Headquarters hutong to visit Li Lao and prepares mutton for the old man.

After arriving home, Li Lao smiled at Li Mingzhou and said: "Your spirit looks good; in a lifetime one has boundless glory and also setbacks and failures, nothing can be perfect."

"When you reach the end of the road, sit and watch the clouds rise; in success do not boast, in adversity do not sink, in smooth circumstances do not lose composure, in adverse circumstances do not lose ambition; face matters with calm composure, treat others with tolerance and elegance, remain indifferent to honor and disgrace, and life will be fragrant all the way."

Li Mingzhou replied with a smile: "Grandfather's teachings are appreciated; I am still young, and reaching where I am today is already beyond expectation. I will focus my energy on planning and doing things, striving to achieve some results in my current post."

Not long after, Li Mingzhou and Li Zimeng also arrived.

After a few casual chats, Li Mingzhou took his wife to the kitchen to prepare mutton.

Although Xu Yongjiang had called Li Lao to explain Li Mingzhou's matter, he still felt guilty toward the old leader; back when he went to the Audit Bureau, Li Lao had spoken up for him.

Taking advantage of the National Day holiday, Xu Yongjiang came to the North Headquarters hutong to visit Li Lao.

Upon entering, Xu Yongjiang put down his gift, exchanged a few pleasantries with Li Lao and Li Mingzhou, then said with remorse: "I am unworthy of your trust; I dare not show my face at your door!"

Li Lao said with a faint smile: "Where there are people, there is contention; where there is contention, there are gains and losses. I know you have done your utmost; the situation in Qinchuan is special, relationships are intricate and complex, outcomes often do not follow human will; as long as your heart is upright and your conscience clear, that is enough!"

These words made Xu Yongjiang even more embarrassed; even a lowly deputy secretary of the Municipal Party Committee could not be handled, showing his lack of sufficient control over Qinchuan!

"Old leader, if Li Mingzhou is willing to go to another city, I will plan it quickly!" Xu Yongjiang said with unusual firmness.

Li Lao shook his head and said: "If the foundation is not solid, the earth will shake and the mountains tremble. A new environment requires re-adaptation; a deputy post cannot achieve results in the short term, so let him continue to train in Yingjiang!"

Before coming, Xu Yongjiang had deeply considered the issue of using Li Mingzhou, and continued to suggest: "Old leader, from a work perspective, the Executive Vice Mayor is the mayor's important 'assistant', overseeing relatively important work that requires frequent handling of complex affairs, which can better train and improve abilities; I suggest letting Li Mingzhou work on concrete tasks at the City Government."

This idea coincided with Li Lao's plan, so Li Lao asked: "How should Zhang Rongqiu be arranged? During Li Mingzhou's tenure as head of Yingjiang, he served as the head of the Organization Department; this comrade is vigorous, clear-minded, experienced, and capable; we must not dampen the enthusiasm of cadres due to position adjustments."

Xu Yongjiang replied: "Please rest assured, Old Leader; the Qinchuan Provincial Party Committee will certainly select and employ people scientifically, uphold the primacy of career, emphasize accurate assessment, match persons to posts, and value professional quality, ensuring we select and employ good cadres!"

Li Mingzhou said: "Secretary Xu, thank you for your trouble!" This could not be said by his father.

Seeing Li Lao nod slightly, Xu Yongjiang felt relieved, finally having solved the problem! He dared not show disrespect to Li Lao, nor dare to perfunctorily handle the tasks entrusted by Li Lao; the year 2022 is not far off, the role of veteran officials may be invisible and intangible, yet it truly exists, and Li Lao's influence is enormous!

The three were chatting and laughing when Li Mingzhou brought out a pot of mutton.

Li Mingzhou smiled and said: "Li Mingzhou, come over and 'pay respects' to you, Secretary Xu!"

Li Mingzhou hurriedly wiped his hands, took Li Zimeng to the living room, and respectfully said to Xu Yongjiang: "Secretary Xu, hello!"

Xu Yongjiang smiled and said: "Indeed, a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven! Last time we met, Zimeng was still in college; now she has entered the hall of marriage, time flies, years shuttle! Li Mingzhou, you must not rest on the laurels of being a national outstanding county party secretary; young cadres should be energetic and strive to become pillars of talent! If you encounter difficulties at work, you can always come to the Provincial Party Committee to find me!"

"Thank you for your support, Secretary; I will keep my feet on the ground, proceed steadily, and move forward!"

At this moment, Li Lao rose, smiled at Xu Yongjiang, and said: "Go taste Li Mingzhou's cooking; his mutton technique is absolutely first-rate!"

Xu Yongjiang heard this, his eyes lit up, showing an expectant expression, accompanied Li Lao to the dining room, and said: "That must be savored well; this culinary skill is akin to work—if one studies diligently and strives for perfection, one can always find another way, find a breakthrough, and excel in the ordinary!"

Li Zimeng served several bowls of mutton, brought out rice and steamed buns, and said to Xu Yongjiang: "Uncle Xu, mutton soup soaked rice is absolutely superb!"

Xu Yongjiang laughed and said: "Zimeng, have you forgotten that Uncle Xu worked in Qinchuan? The Provincial Party Committee's small kitchen supplies Ningyang's Baishu Bay mutton."

Li Mingzhou laughed: "Baishu Bay mutton is what Li Mingzhou developed!"

Xu Yongjiang was suddenly impressed and exclaimed: "Excellent, grassroots cadres should be like this—down-to-earth, doing practical work, wholeheartedly serving the people!"

Li Mingzhou felt in his heart: to reach such an official level, one must have extraordinary talent; the art of language is vast and profound!

After the meal, they drank tea for a while, then Xu Yongjiang rose to take his leave; Li Mingzhou saw him out.

With no outsiders present, Li Lao said to Li Mingzhou: "Since Yongjiang has promised, he will likely arrange it soon. Li Mingzhou, the secretary-general's role is ultimately 'serving' people; the leader's imprint is too heavy, work has great limitations, not suitable for long tenure; serving two years as Executive Vice Mayor would be good for training."

Li Mingzhou said: "The Executive Vice Mayor concurrently serves as Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee's leading group, clearly assisting the mayor in managing the municipal government's daily affairs; the division of labor is the heaviest, involving personnel, finance, materials, etc., overseeing some powerful units and key departments, power is relatively great, status also relatively transcendent; the advantage lies in positioning—able to advance and retreat; this post indeed trains people. Of course, power and responsibility are proportional; the greater the power, the greater the responsibility. Li Mingzhou, one point must be firmly remembered: safety must always be grasped, one must prevent problems before they happen, especially the non-coal mines in Yingjiang; once a problem occurs, it will be a huge problem, possibly causing serious setbacks to your official career!"

Li Lao echoed: "Safety and environmental protection are indeed high-risk industries; we must indeed tighten the string of safe production, build a solid safety production line, and must remember: statutory duties must be performed, no action without authorization, responsibility exempted for diligence, dereliction of duty pursued!"

Li Mingzhou only then learned he was to become Executive Vice Mayor, and could not help but ask: "Grandfather, what about Zhang Rongqiu? He has always been supportive of my father and me."

Li Mingzhou said: "He should be given a bureau-director position; you need not worry, nor bear any psychological burden; in short, we will not let him down!"

Li Mingzhou sincerely said: "Grandfather, Father, thank you for worrying about me again!"

Li Lao said: "One family does not speak two tongues! Li Mingzhou, the platform will only accept truly talented people; the successful succeed because they made full preparations before opportunity arrived, thus they can be calm, confident, and forge ahead!"

As the saying goes: 'A family with an elder is like possessing a treasure.' Li Lao's help to Li Mingzhou is not merely providing a growth platform; with his rich life experience and outstanding wisdom, he has broadened Li Mingzhou's horizons, elevated his pattern, and taught him the way of officialdom.

That night returning home, the couple's brief separation felt sweeter than a new marriage, as if glued together, seeming to make up for all the longing of these days.

The next day, Li Siwei came to visit, bringing his brother-in-law a full set of tea ware and some fine tea leaves.

After setting them up, Li Siwei skillfully handled the tea ware—boiling water, rinsing tea, brewing tea; the movements flowed like clouds and water. Soon, a rich pu'er tea aroma filled the whole room. After boiling a pot of pu'er, the two began to sip tea and chat about family matters.

Looking at Li Siwei's practiced movements, Li Mingzhou could not help but praise: "Siwei, you are truly a tea master!"

"Brother-in-law, you overpraise me; I only know a little!"

The two lifted their tea cups, lightly sipped a mouthful of pu'er, feeling its mellow taste and lingering aftertaste.

"Brother-in-law, how is work lately? Why don't you drag me into investment?"

Li Mingzhou replied: "I am now doing service-oriented work; besides, doing well in a deputy post is enough, need to hide one's abilities and bide time. When the day comes that I become a chief, I will certainly not fail to trouble you!"

Li Siwei laughed and said: "No problem; I also hope you will soon take charge of a region! Investment is mutually beneficial; if I see no profit point, I will at most give you some face, a loss-making deal I won't do, and the company's large expenditures are not something I alone can decide."

Li Mingzhou nodded and said: "In business, talk business; attracting investment and inviting merchants is inherently shared benefit and cooperative development, thereby driving local economic development; I will certainly not cheat you!"

Unnoticed, the chat went on until noon; Li Mingzhou personally went to the kitchen and cooked four dishes and one soup for his wife and younger brother-in-law.

Home-cooked meals are the most comfortable; Li Siwei praised his brother-in-law's cooking without end.

In the evening, Li Siwei organized a gathering, introducing several real power figures from the Development and Reform Commission to Li Mingzhou to meet. This was the task grandfather had entrusted to him, to let Li Mingzhou contact his own connections.

Over the next few days, Li Zimeng pulled Li Mingzhou to the mall, carefully helping her husband pick out several sets of 'attire'—shirts, suits, jackets, all complete.

Considering Yingjiang's cold winter, Li Zimeng also specially bought sweaters and down jackets.

Good times are always short; on October 7, Li Mingzhou boarded the plane under Li Zimeng's reluctant gaze and returned to Yingjiang.

Si Daiqiang also specially appointed the Propaganda Department head Zhao Honglan to return together to Yingjiang.

On the way, Si Daiqiang said meaningfully: "Director Zhao Honglan is the only female leader among our standing committee, and likely will also be the first female chairperson of the People's Congress in Yingjiang's history!"

Zhao Honglan laughed: "The difficulty is too great; I dare not even think of it!"

Si Daiqiang continued: "When I reported work to Secretary Wang the last time, the secretary specially mentioned you, chatted about the time we worked together in Ningyang, the secretary praised you highly, so everything is possible!"

Zhao Honglan sighed: "Back then I served as Ningyang County Chief, and Secretary Hong Tao displayed extraordinary talent and outstanding leadership; now he has soared, achieving results that attract worldwide attention—he is our pride in Yingjiang! If I could again listen to Secretary Hong Tao's teachings in person, that would truly be a great fortune in life!"

Si Daiqiang smiled and replied: "Opportunities will definitely come!"