Chapter 512

Just after getting up in the morning, I saw many new faces in the campus. Cars kept coming into the school gate, lining up in the parking lot. The people who got out of the cars were basically handsome men and beautiful women, looking high-spirited and vigorous. They didn't look at us when they arrived, and they didn't even bother to say hello, walking straight into the classroom.

Mei Hua was standing at the classroom door, greeting them with a smile.

I remembered what Duanmu said last night and knew that these people were cadres from provincial-level organs, who, along with us, became students of the Young and Middle-aged Cadre Training Class.

Deng Hanyuan stood beside me and exclaimed, "People compared to people, it's maddening! Look at these provincial cadres, they are just different from us. People like us, even when we pass by, one can smell the earthy scent!"

I laughed, "Having an earthy scent isn't necessarily bad. Anyone, if you trace back three generations, their ancestors were also farmers."

"That's true, that's true." Deng Hanyuan echoed me, "Let's go into the classroom too! I guess Provincial Chen Shengzhang will be here soon."

A few minutes after entering the classroom and sitting down, Mei Hua hurried in, clapping her hands nervously, "Classmates, the Provincial Governor has arrived, please get ready to welcome him."

My seat was by the window, so I could clearly see the school gate.

I looked up and saw several cars driving in one after another. Just as the cars stopped, I saw a bald man walk over quickly, using both hands to pull open the car door, bowing his body and waiting for the person inside to get out.

"This bald man is Peng Fu Xiaozhang." Deng Hanyuan whispered in my ear.

I turned to look at him and found he had a look of pride on his face.

Deng Hanyuan was probably still waiting for me to continue asking why he knew Peng Fu Xiaozhang, but I deliberately didn't ask, which made him quite disappointed, and he tapped the table with regret.

Provincial Chen Shengzhang, led by Peng Fu Xiaozhang, walked quickly toward the classroom outside. Mei Hua tapped the table and shouted, "Stand up!"

Everyone stood up together, and as soon as Provincial Chen Shengzhang reached the classroom door, a burst of warm applause rang out.

Provincial Chen Shengzhang was still the same as when he went to Suxi Town, a black jacket over his sturdy body, with a white shirt inside. From the color, it seemed he had worn it many times, and some places were showing a faint yellow.

Several people accompanied Provincial Chen Shengzhang inside. Besides Peng Fu Xiaozhang, there was also a young man wearing glasses. He was carrying a black briefcase, and no expression could be seen on his face. He glanced around the classroom, and suddenly his eyes narrowed, forming a smile that made people unable to see through him.

Walking at the very end was Duanmu, holding a roster in his hands. He handed the roster to Mei Hua. Mei Hua originally wanted to decline, but seeing Duanmu's serious expression, he had to take it with both hands and place it upright on the podium.

Provincial Chen Shengzhang waved to everyone and walked straight to the podium, coughing lightly. The applause stopped immediately, and the classroom was so quiet that one could hear the sound of a hair falling.

"Hello, comrades!" Provincial Chen Shengzhang began to speak. He opened the roster, glanced at it, and said, "You've all worked hard!"

No one dared to answer. Originally, I wanted to shout "Leader, you've worked hard," but the words reached my lips and I swallowed them back, hurting so much I almost convulsed.

But in the end, I didn't swallow it completely; the "Lea-" sound was still shouted out by me.

My voice caused everyone to look over. Deng Hanyuan, who was standing with me, waved his hands wildly and said, "It wasn't me!"

Before his voice fell, the classroom burst into laughter.

Provincial Chen Shengzhang also laughed. His smile looked very kind and warm, giving people a feeling like a spring breeze.

Mei Hua, standing at the classroom door, was so anxious that his face turned white. He wanted to come over to stop everyone's laughter, but seeing Provincial Chen Shengzhang laughing with everyone, he tried but didn't dare to come over, only blinking at everyone continuously.

Provincial Chen Shengzhang pressed his hands down and said, "Please sit down, everyone. Today I am here to be your teacher. Teachers always stand to speak, and students must sit to listen. There is a reason for this; it is said that sitting to listen to a lecture allows it to reach the calves, while standing to listen can only reach the stomach."

Everyone laughed again, and this time the laughter was much quieter than before.

I deliberately observed that those sitting in the middle of the classroom were all cadres from provincial-level organs, and only those on the sides were officials from our cities and counties.

Provincial Chen Shengzhang picked up the roster and said, "I will take roll call first, so everyone can get familiar with each other. Every comrade whose name is called, please tell us about your background."

The names on the roster were arranged in the order of registration. I noticed this when I registered; my name was in the middle, neither sticking out nor falling behind.

After the first name was called, a young cadre stood up from the middle. He looked even younger than me. But after he finished introducing himself, I was startled.

This person was from the Provincial Propaganda Department, and his administrative level was also at the Division Chief level.

The second name was also from the middle. This time, a beautiful woman stood up. She looked less than thirty years old, her eyes flowing with light, her eyebrows like green mountains. Her lightly powdered face seemed to be bathed in the brightness of spring light.

She was from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and her administrative level was Deputy Division Chief level.

I laughed secretly in my heart, damn it, finally there's a peer with the same administrative level as me.

After all the people in the middle were called, it was the turn of those of us sitting on the sides.

I listened carefully to the roll call and knew that among these thirteen people, two were at the Deputy Mayor level, and the rest were mostly Bureau-level cadres from various cities.

Out of the thirty people in the class, besides the thirteen from various prefecture-level cities, those from provincial-level organs accounted for more than half.

Among these thirty people, Deng Hanyuan's level was the lowest, belonging to the Section Chief level. I was at the Deputy Division Chief level, which accounted for the vast majority.

Provincial Chen Shengzhang went down the list, and for every person he called, he would nod and smile. When he called my name, he even asked an extra question with great interest: "Has your tourism project landed?"

I was so nervous I almost stuttered. Although it wasn't my first time seeing the Provincial Governor, I had never spoken in front of so many high-level cadres before. I said loudly, "Please rest assured, Provincial Governor, everything is running according to plan."

Provincial Chen Shengzhang nodded with satisfaction. After finishing the roll call, he beckoned Peng Fu Xiaozhang over and whispered something. After Peng Fu Xiaozhang finished listening, he hurried out of the classroom.

Next, Provincial Chen Shengzhang gave us a lecture. Provincial Chen Shengzhang didn't use teaching materials when lecturing, nor did he play by the rules. He opened his mouth and said, "Classmates, the province invited everyone here for training this time because of political needs."

He spoke from the domestic environment to the international environment, and then returned from the international environment to the domestic environment, finally landing the topic on the development of Central Province.

I listened carefully; a lecture like this might not be heard in a thousand years. It's not about how wonderful the lecture is, the key lies in the person giving the lecture. A dignified Provincial Governor, who has the leisure to give lectures to Division-level cadres? Looking at the whole country, besides Central Province, I'm afraid no second similar place can be found.

From Provincial Chen Shengzhang's speech, I understood a truth: our group of people will be the leaders of Central Province's economic development in the future, and the heavy burden of revolution is already on our shoulders!

Provincial Chen Shengzhang spoke for two full hours. I had to admire his eloquence and level. In the two hours, he didn't use any lecture notes, nor did he repeat any sentence. If his words were organized completely, it would be a macro-theory on economic development.

Leaders are just different! I sighed in my heart.

Provincial Chen Shengzhang finally said, "Comrades, I gave you the first lesson today. Due to being tied up with affairs, I cannot come to give you lectures every day. But I promise, I will come to give you the last lesson when you graduate."

The applause in the classroom rolled over like a storm. Many people here had dealt with Provincial Chen Shengzhang. For example, the cadres from provincial-level organs, who doesn't know the Provincial Governor, and who hasn't spoken to the Provincial Governor more or less?

Only our group of "earthy" cadres from cities and counties didn't have many opportunities to see leaders of such level. Being able to listen to the leader's education for two full hours today is such a great happiness!

I stole a glance at some people and found that they were excited by Provincial Chen Shengzhang's final remarks; a few of them even had moist eyes.

After class, Provincial Chen Shengzhang drove away directly. As soon as he left, Peng Fu Xiaozhang hurried over, holding a piece of paper, looking at the car's rear fading away, feeling incomparably desolate.

The rest of the morning was for discussion and digesting Provincial Chen Shengzhang's speech. Mei Hua said he wanted to elect a class monitor and asked everyone to hold a democratic election.

The people from provincial-level organs had no interest in his proposal, but the cadres from our cities and counties said that having a class monitor was necessary, and one must be elected whom everyone could trust.

The people from provincial-level organs said, "Whatever, isn't it just a class monitor!"

Mei Hua was very serious and said, "Don't underestimate this class monitor; he has to help me manage our affairs. My opinion is to elect from the cadres of provincial-level organs. After all, everyone is familiar with the situation in the province, and it's convenient to take care of and handle things."

Mei Hua's words were equivalent to setting the tone, which made the cadres from our cities and counties a bit unhappy. But they couldn't find a reason to refute it, so they had to insist on voting.

The study of the Provincial Governor's speech came to an end, and everyone gathered together to start electing the class monitor.

Deng Hanyuan asked me quietly, "Old Chen, who are you voting for?"

I smiled and said, "Vote for you."

Deng Hanyuan was flattered, his face full of excitement, and he whispered, "I'm afraid I'm not qualified enough; the lowest level among these people is higher than mine."

I laughed, "The class monitor is to serve everyone; where is there any distinction between high and low positions?"

Deng Hanyuan said excitedly, "If you really elect me, I will definitely devote my life to the cause."

He said it very seriously, his expression solemn.

I couldn't help but laugh in my heart. This Deng Hanyuan really doesn't know the height of the sky and the depth of the earth! Do you think this class monitor is easy to be? Just looking at these provincial officials who drove cars to class, would they listen to a small sesame official from a local place like you?

Sure enough, Deng Hanyuan suddenly stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed to everyone, saying, "Classmates, I'd like to recommend myself!"

Deng Hanyuan's action startled everyone, and they all looked over.

I looked straight ahead, looking at the front, not taking the various complex gazes into my eyes at all.

Just now, when Provincial Chen Shengzhang took roll call, everyone already knew Deng Hanyuan's identity. He was the Youth League Committee Secretary of a nearby county, and his highest level was only the Section Chief level, making him the person with the lowest level in our training class.

Everyone was silent for a while, and a voice asked, "Do you really want to be the class monitor?"

Deng Hanyuan said seriously, "I am willing to serve everyone."

"This is not an official position!" the voice said again.

"I know it's not an official position. I said, I'm serving everyone." Deng Hanyuan was so anxious that the veins on his neck were exposed. He must be very excited; I was sitting beside him and could feel his slightly trembling legs.

"I agree!" the voice said, "Who else agrees, please raise your hand."

The classroom went quiet. Someone hesitated to raise their hand, but seeing others didn't, they put it down uneasily.

I firmly raised my hand, making the standing Deng Hanyuan lower his head several times to look at me excitedly.

Just when everyone was about to raise their hands, Duanmu came in and said, "I disagree!"