Chapter 95: Following Him

The Party School study finally ended, and Secretary Guan Peishan delivered a long speech at the graduation banquet.

Ever since I was interviewed by County Magistrate Liu Qimeng, I had been thinking about his words: Suxi Township's water is money, but how to turn it into money? I passed this on to my aunt, and after listening, she pointed out, "Nowadays, city people are all into drinking mineral water. Isn't your County Magistrate wanting to set up a mineral water factory?"

Aunt's words made me suddenly enlightened. My clever aunt, you can always help me find the light in the darkness.

Knowing County Magistrate Liu's intention, I felt much more at ease. But I couldn't tell anyone about this idea. It was still just a vague notion; if I messed it up, I would become a laughingstock for others.

Setting up a factory and running an enterprise is no small matter. First, where would the funding for the factory come from? How to control the technology? Should it be run by the county or the township? It was a mess!

Guo Wei drove over to pick me up in person. When Guo Wei came to Suxi, the first thing he solved was the car problem. The municipal finance department allocated special funds to purchase a Beijing 212 jeep, which the country folk called a "yellow rickshaw." As soon as the yellow rickshaw arrived in Suxi, it caused a sensation. Since the establishment of Suxi Township, cadres of all sizes had traveled on foot instead of by car, not only because of insufficient township funds but mainly because the roads were impassable; even if there were cars, they couldn't reach the "paradise."

A car is a symbol of status. During the time Liu Quan was secretary, every time he went to the county for a meeting and saw brothers from other townships arriving in cars, or at the very least a Beijing jeep, only he and Township Head Hao would go to the county barefoot, feeling inferior everywhere.

Guo Wei greeted me with a smile to get in the car. I carried my luggage and circled the car. This car was good, with great power and strong climbing ability. Especially the yellow canvas roof; one look and you knew it was a cadre's car.

I praised, "Secretary Guo, I admire you. You are the first person in Suxi to drive a car."

Guo Wei laughed, "Don't be hypocritical, get in. Isn't it just a broken jeep? In the near future, I'll make sure everyone gets to ride in a Santana."

Just as we were talking, Deng Hanyu drove over, pressed the car window to greet me, and said, "Brother Chen, see you later."

He glanced at Guo Wei and asked suspiciously, "Is this Secretary Guo?"

I hurriedly introduced them to each other. Deng Hanyu braked, climbed out of the car, shook Guo Wei's hand with both hands, and said, "I've heard of you for a long time. Seeing you today, you really are a young talent."

Guo Wei laughed, "Town Mayor Deng, the youngest town mayor in the county, a leader in township enterprises, and a star cadre, you are my role model. I hope Town Mayor Deng will not hesitate to give me advice in the future."

I sneered inwardly, Deng Hanyu, you motherfucker, you're too good at acting! Guo Wei was in your town when he was doing social education, hanging as a deputy town mayor; you mean you don't know him? Hypocritical! Really fucking hypocritical!

Deng Hanyu has always been conceited. We lived in the same room for over twenty days, and he only slept in the dormitory for one night, and that was because he was too drunk to drive and couldn't go home. The Party School stipulated that training cadres must stay at the school, and everyone honestly followed the rules, except for him, who didn't take this rule seriously and did as he pleased. Yet Principal Lao Zhang didn't dare to trouble him and let him come and go freely.

Hearing Guo Wei's words, Deng Hanyu understood that the young man in front of him had done his homework and knew the background of all the cadres in the county like the back of his hand. Thinking that he had been hanging in his town for over a year, while he himself was busy looking for funds and technology everywhere, he hadn't even asked about this young man who came down from the municipal committee to do social education work. He remembered meeting him a few times, but didn't have much of an impression. Those doing social education work were all people who couldn't mix well in their units, only knew how to play with their tongues, and couldn't do real things. Besides, he was from the city, just passing through; it had nothing to do with Chengguan Town.

Now, in the blink of an eye, the hen had turned into a duck, and it was this young man in front of him who had snatched his position as Secretary of Suxi Township. You have to know that Suxi Township is a township with a name in the province; even the slightest achievement would be viewed under a magnifying glass. How easy it is to produce political achievements!

Originally, the best township to move up was Chengguan Town, but now it seemed the sky had changed; Suxi Township was the place where cadres were produced.

Deng Hanyu was thirty years old and had been a town mayor for five years. He originally planned to serve as secretary in Suxi Township for one term and then legitimately get elected as deputy county magistrate in the county, striving to become county party secretary before the age of fifty. Secretary Guan Peishan had once urged him to walk a steady path, not to fear a lack of achievements, but to fear responsibility.

Secretary Guan had an inextricable relationship with Deng Hanyu. Deng Hanyu's father was the secretary of a neighboring county and a colleague of Guan Peishan. Guan Peishan's daughter was currently the director of the Women's Federation in the neighboring county. Guan Peishan and his father had an agreement to cultivate them separately and let them develop on their own.

Deng Hanyu graduated from the Municipal Finance School at twenty and was assigned to the Chunshan County Government that same year. He spent two years in Secretary Guan's County Party Committee Office, was sent down to Chengguan Town as deputy town mayor, and became town mayor a year later. Now, ten years later, Deng Hanyu could be considered a prominent figure in Chunshan County, especially with the township enterprises he focused on. His Chengguan Town's township-run enterprises surpassed county-run enterprises, becoming the only star enterprise in Hengyue City, and he himself was named an "Outstanding Party Member," "Outstanding Cadre," and even won the national "May Fourth Youth Medal."

Secretary Guan had talked to him, meaning for him to go to Suxi Township to serve as secretary for one term. At first, he firmly refused, thinking Secretary Guan was looking for trouble to discipline him. Later, one sentence from Guan Peishan made him understand: the "magnifying glass effect."

A township that is named in the province, city, and county—who knows how many eyes are watching it? As long as a sow gives birth to a dozen piglets, it might become news. Such a township makes it too easy to become famous, and it's also easy to produce achievements. What are achievements? Achievements are the ladder for cadres to move forward!

Just as Deng Hanyu had made all preparations to take office, a Guo Wei popped out of thin air. He was sent by the Section Chief of the Cadre Section of the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department and the Deputy Minister of the County Party Committee Organization Department. Such a specification had never appeared in the history of township cadres in Chunshan County.

The insignificant little cadre from social education in the past snatched his, Deng Hanyu's, position. The only explanation was that this kid had someone behind him. But after checking and checking, all he found was that his uncle was the Director of the Municipal Finance Bureau and his father was just a staff member of a small bureau; the background didn't seem deep. The only rumor was that Guo Wei was dating the daughter of the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department Minister, which was worth his study.

The two talked for a while, and Deng Hanyu invited us to the Haixian Jiulou, saying that Boss Qian had arrived and was waiting at the restaurant.

Guo Wei didn't know who Boss Qian was, but I was very interested.

Boss Qian had money, and he also managed a village. Boss Qian was doing well in Chunshan County and was also a prominent figure in Hengyue City. If Boss Qian was willing to invest in setting up a factory, wouldn't that be a match made in heaven?

I smiled and said, "Boss Qian is a good person. Why don't we go meet him, Secretary Guo?"

Guo Wei looked troubled and said, "We are planning to hold a meeting this afternoon, firstly to welcome your successful return, and secondly to discuss the school issue in the township."

"There's no rush for the meeting this afternoon. It's only ten o'clock now. The roads in your Suxi are connected now, and you have a car, so you'll make it in time." Deng Hanyu enthusiastically started the car and took us toward the Haixian Jiulou.

Guo Wei was still hesitating, and I said, "Secretary Guo, let's go. I know Boss Qian; he's from Chengguan Town and has a construction company in the city."

Guo Wei had no choice but to climb into the car, ignite, shift gears, and start, all in one go.

I didn't know how to drive, and watching him drive the car skillfully, I said enviously, "Secretary Guo, didn't the township hire a driver?"

Guo Wei said, "No driver, saves an expense. The car belongs to the township government; whoever has business drives it themselves."

I said, "It seems no one in the whole township knows how to drive."

Guo Wei laughed and said, "Those who don't know how to drive will go learn, and you should go learn too. I can't have you asking me to drive for you everywhere you go in the future."

I laughed "hehe" and said, "I can't afford that; who would dare ask the secretary to drive for them? I don't have the guts."

Guo Wei said generously, "It's fine, it's for work."

I watched the taillights of Deng Hanyu's Santana flashing in front and said, "Why doesn't Town Mayor Deng turn off his lights while driving in broad daylight?"

A smile appeared on the corner of Guo Wei's mouth as he said, "He's reminding us to follow him." ===== CHAPTER 96 =====