Chapter 661: New gongs and drums start again

I stayed in Suxi Town for three full days, and I didn't take a step out of the hotel for these three days.

Not only did I not go out, but Qian Youyu, my aunt, my uncle, and the company lawyers they called over, none of them went out.

It wasn't until both sides signed their names on the agreement and stamped their respective company's big red seals that I let out a long sigh of relief. Everything was clear!

Qian Youyu and my aunt jointly formed a new joint-stock company. My aunt served as the legal representative, and Qian Youyu served as the general manager. Both sides realized their capital contribution through cash and physical discounts. My aunt contributed 50 million yuan, and Qian Youyu used all the properties in Suxi Town as collateral assets.

I stood on the steps at the entrance of the Suxi Hotel, watching the villagers coming and going and the endless stream of cars. Only two years have passed, and not many people in Suxi recognize me anymore. It seems that I am also a visitor from another town, a tourist who came to soak in the hot springs of Suxi and enjoy the most primitive and simple rural flavor of Suxi.

No one noticed me, and I was like a grain of sand on the beach, mixed in the sand pile, without any brilliance at all.

My aunt stood quietly by my side and sighed for a long time, "Little Feng, are you sure?"

I nodded vigorously and said, "Rest assured, I have thought about it. As long as we do things upright, we are not afraid of any gossip. Besides, everyone is competing fairly."

The reason why I want my aunt to form a joint-stock company with Qian Youyu is that I don't want to see Qian Youyu perish just like that. In my opinion, Qian Youyu is my noble person. Without his support, Suxi Town would not have today's prosperity. It is still like an old vine sleeping in the deep mountains, entangled, although it is immortal, it will never have a chance to stand out.

If you don't save the noble person, your conscience will not pass. Now it seems that I am Qian Youyu's noble person again. So in life, between people, there are no eternal noble people and right and wrong. At any time, roles always change.

Qian Youyu has no accident, and my aunt's company can achieve greater development. This is a win-win thing. If you count me, instead of handing over the construction of the industrial park to someone who doesn't know the roots, why don't I hand it over to my own people? So this is a three-win situation.

Good things always come one after another. Just when I was discussing with my aunt how the company should develop, my phone rang.

The call came from the Municipal Government Office, saying that the mayor had something important and needed to summon me urgently.

I asked tentatively, wanting to figure out whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, and the person on the phone told me coldly that you would know when you came.

After hanging up the phone, I cursed, go to your mother, so mysterious!

My aunt laughed and blamed me, "You are a big cadre now, and you still talk nonsense, not afraid of others talking about you behind your back."

I laughed, "I am a humble gentleman in front of others, and I won't say rough words."

My aunt looked at me and said, "You, you weren't like this in the past. You must be consistent in words and deeds, remember?"

I said seriously, "Remembered. Aunt."

After Qian Youyu signed the contract, he swept away the state of wanting to die, and with a full face of smiles, he wanted to take us to the hot spring villa for a bath.

I refused his kindness and drove back to the city alone. I didn't know whether the mayor's summons was a blessing or a curse.

As soon as I stepped into the mayor's office, he stood up with a smile and patted me on the shoulder, "Chen Feng, you brat have a set."

A stone in my heart landed. With the mayor's attitude, it wouldn't be a bad thing at least.

"The province's approval for the industrial park has come down," the mayor said, handing the approval to me, saying, "The province held a special meeting for our park. This is the first time in Central Province!"

He sighed, "Tell me, what method did you use to fight for such an opportunity?"

I couldn't answer for a while. The province held a special meeting to study, which is inseparable from Vice Provincial Governor Lin's inspection and Meng Xiaoyu's activities. It's a long story.

I looked at the approval document, which was written very clearly. The Hengyue City Industrial Park is a key provincial project, implementing two-level fund matching. Simply put, the province gives a part of the money, and the city takes the majority of the money for development and construction.

I was still thinking about how much money the province would give, when the mayor spoke first, "This time the province allocated 50 million yuan in funds. According to the document regulations, the city has to match you with 150 million yuan."

I was happy in my heart. With so much money, I wouldn't be able to make the park flourish!

Who knew that after the mayor pondered for a while, he said, "The province's money, I will give it all to you without moving a cent, and the city's matching money, there will be none."

I looked at the mayor in amazement, thinking he was joking.

The mayor laughed, "Don't look at me like this. If I could come up with so much money, would I still need you to be the director of the park? I could find anyone to sit in the seat, and they could all produce results."

I hesitated and said, "But Mayor, no one can produce results without money."

"Just tell me honestly, can you do it? Can you produce results? If you can't do it, I will change people, and if you can't produce results, I will change people the same," the mayor said sternly, as if he saw through me, without giving me any room for maneuver.

"Does the mayor mean that if I don't agree, the park will change people?" I asked tentatively.

"What do you think?" The mayor scanned me a few times, patted the document on the coffee table and said, "I can't let a key project of the province disappear, right?"

I made up my mind several times and finally said, "I agree. But I have requirements."

As soon as the mayor heard that I agreed, he immediately changed to a smiling expression, "Whatever requirements, just say it."

"I want to form the park leadership team myself, and the government must support me in using people."

"No problem. Whoever you look at, just transfer them over."

"If necessary, I also want to bring people in from outside."

"It's all fine. As long as it is conducive to the construction of the park, you can let go and do it. But there is one condition, you cannot exceed the establishment."

I nodded vigorously.

"Go back and prepare. The transfer order will be issued in these two days. Once you get the transfer order, start working for me immediately. I want to see the industrial park running within three years," the mayor issued an order to evict guests.

I stood up and said goodbye to the mayor.

Once the transfer order is issued, I will become a new political star in Hengyue City. Looking at the whole city, I am the youngest division-level cadre. The industrial park is highly matched, which is half a level larger than the general bureau and office. In other words, as long as I take office, I will be half a level larger than all the bureau directors in the city.

In officialdom, half a level is almost an insurmountable chasm. If you cross it, the sea is wide and the sky is high; if you can't cross it, you can only hate the bottom of the ditch.

As for the Standing Committee treatment, there is no vacancy for me to sit until Secretary Chen steps down. I can only attend the Standing Committee meeting, can only listen, have no right to vote, and have no right to make suggestions

After the New Year, once Secretary Chen retires, if there are no surprises, the Mayor will naturally ascend to the throne of Municipal Party Committee Secretary. The current Executive Deputy Mayor is acting as Mayor; once the People's Congress meets in March, they will go through the motions to have the position confirmed.

As long as one person moves, the entire officialdom must shift. Aside from the standard promotions, the vacant Deputy Mayor position that follows becomes the sweet pastry everyone craves.

If one becomes a Deputy Mayor, they are a department-level cadre—a high-ranking official.

My heart skipped a beat, and I actually blushed.

Could it be that I, too, was coveting the Deputy Mayor's seat? I asked myself secretly. I suddenly startled myself—was I a person with such great ambition?

Of course, I understood that if I wanted to step into the Deputy Mayor's seat, given my current qualifications and age, it was simply impossible.

I quietly pinched myself, sighed, and said to myself, "Be content! Chen Feng."

Walking out of the Municipal Government building, I caught sight of the Municipal Petition Bureau diagonally across the street. My heart stirred, and I decided to revisit my old stomping grounds.

I had worked at the Petition Bureau for half a year, so I still had some lingering feelings for it. Although I hadn't achieved anything earth-shattering, I had cleverly defused a bomb in Chen Meng's hands named Su Ya, and I considered myself to have done right by everyone in the bureau.

Lilian was actually working at the bureau. Seeing me, he said with a forced smile, "Director Chen, here for an inspection?"

I knew this old guy didn't respect me. I had heard people say that Lilian claimed behind my back that I had risen to my position by relying on my father-in-law's connections. I ignored such rumors entirely.

I shook his hand and also said with a forced smile, "Secretary-General, I am here to pay you a visit."

Lilian laughed. "I wouldn't dare! You are a dignified Standing Committee member; I, old Li, don't have that kind of fortune."

I said earnestly, "It is precisely because you are a senior that I dare not fail to pay you a visit."

After the two of us exchanged pleasantries, Lilian invited me into his office to sit. I scanned the hallway and said, "I won't sit. I came to ask the Secretary-General for a favor."

Lilian looked at me in astonishment and asked, "You still have favors you need me to do?"

"Of course," I laughed. "I would like to ask you to give me someone."

"Who?" Lilian asked hesitantly. "What do you want someone for?"

I smiled and said nothing. Just then, I saw Xu Meili walking out of an office. I raised a hand and pointed, saying, "It's her! Section Chief Xu Meili."

"What do you want her for?" Lilian said dismissively. "If you really need someone, I can recommend a few to you."

I shook my head and said, "It has to be her. I ask Secretary-General Li to be generous and let her come over to my Industrial Park."

Lilian was still laughing, saying, "Old Xu doesn't have any exceptional qualities. It would be better if I recommended a few people to you; they are all capable hands who can handle things on their own."

"Is that so?" I said with interest. "Of course I welcome the Secretary-General recommending people to me. But I still want to ask you to let Section Chief Xu go."

"And if I don't let her go?" Lilian smiled coldly.

"You certainly will. After all, if I achieve results, it is also to your glory, Secretary-General. No matter what, I was once a soldier under your command."

This flattery of mine was very well-received by Lilian. He frowned and thought for a long time, then said with lingering reluctance, "Little Director Chen, I'm serious about recommending people to you."

Lilian said this again and again, and I felt there must be something to it. So I said, "Secretary-General, tell me, who are you introducing to me?"

Lilian looked around to ensure no one was there and whispered, "My daughter, she just graduated with her master's degree and hasn't found a suitable place yet."