Chapter 2305

Zhang Kaishan was just appointed as a member of the Standing Committee of the Xidu Municipal Party Committee before the New Year. Since Xidu is a sub-provincial city, his rank also became that of a department-level official, which fulfilled the vision Su Xinghui had when he originally recommended that he come to Xidu.

It was very normal for Zhang Kaishan to be promoted. One must know that in the year and more since he came to Xidu to serve as the Secretary of the Shilin District Party Committee, the actual foreign investment utilized by Shilin District reached nearly 10 billion yuan—an astronomical figure—and the GDP of Shilin District has also been doubling. Now, their GDP already ranks first in Xidu.

With such brilliant achievements, adding a party position as a member of the Municipal Standing Committee to him was nothing but normal. Because this is an era where the economy takes the lead, every city will add the Standing Committee rank to the secretaries of economically strong counties and districts to strengthen their influence.

Of course, Zhang Kaishan's rapid promotion also came after a fierce game of chess between Lu Zhenghong and the local forces of Qinxi Province. In the end, it was Zhang Kaishan's outstanding achievements that allowed Lu Zhenghong to win this game. After Zhang Kaishan became a member of the Xidu Municipal Standing Committee, he also became a pivotal piece on the political map of Xidu and even Qinxi Province.

Su Xinghui smiled and said, "Then when Secretary Zhang comes later, I must have a few drinks with him to congratulate him."

Lu Zhenghong smiled and said, "He said he wants to thank you properly. You two should indeed have a few more drinks."

The person Zhang Kaishan should thank the most is indeed Su Xinghui, because at least half of the investors who came to Shilin District to invest were introduced by Su Xinghui, and many other investors were supporting enterprises brought in by these large-scale investments.

Next, Su Xinghui listened as Lu Zhenghong recounted some of the things that had happened in Qinxi Province over the past year.

Geng Bo's achievements in investment promotion were also very outstanding. Under his leadership, the economy of Fengshan County developed very rapidly. Coupled with Geng Bo's own powerful background, at the beginning of this year, he was also smoothly promoted to Secretary of the Fengshan County Party Committee.

As for the Qinxi Provincial Public Security Department, because of the incident that occurred during the Spring Festival last year, the interior was thoroughly rectified. Two deputy directors were dismissed, and the executive deputy director was also transferred from his current post. He Yulong became the biggest winner; he became the executive deputy director.

Since the Director of the Public Security Department concurrently serves as the Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission and is a member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, a deputy ministerial-level cadre, He Yulong, as the executive deputy director, is also a department-level cadre.

And the Secretary of the Qinxi Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, who is also the Director of the Public Security Department, is already over sixty years old this year. So, as long as He Yulong performs well in these two years, he has high hopes of taking a step further and succeeding as the Director of the Public Security Department and Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

He Yulong certainly knows whom he needs to thank for having today. Therefore, he firmly leaned toward Lu Zhenghong. Just like that, Lu Zhenghong gained another heavyweight supporter in the Provincial Public Security Department.

Besides this, in Qinxi Province, quite a few cadres have leaned toward Lu Zhenghong. Among them, several are even key leaders of prefecture-level cities, who can be called the regional governors of Qinxi Province. After more than a year of management, Lu Zhenghong has not only stood firm in Qinxi Province but has also gained strength matching his position as governor.

The current Qinxi Province has improved its economic development speed significantly compared to before. Last year, their GDP growth rate already exceeded the national average, ranking in the top ten in the country. Of course, in terms of total GDP, they are still in the middle to lower reaches of the country, but this is already a very good sign.

In China's economic map last year, both Qinxi Province and Jiangyou Province were very eye-catching. These two provinces both ranked in the top ten in the country in terms of GDP growth rate last year, reversing the decline of previous years in one fell swoop. If given time, it is not entirely impossible for their total GDP ranking to enter the top ten in the country.

Therefore, the central leadership is currently very satisfied with the work in Qinxi Province and Jiangyou Province.

Su Xinghui is very happy for Lu Zhenghong. Regarding Lu Zhenghong, he not only views him as his father-in-law but also as a political senior worthy of his respect and learning in terms of ability and integrity. Su Xinghui certainly hopes that such a cadre can go higher and further in the political arena.

If this political arena were filled with people who only know how to boast and flatter, and only care about their own selfish interests, then this country would likely have no future.

The father-in-law and son-in-law talked for a while. Feng Shulun had been listening to them with a smile on the side, without interjecting a single word.

Su Xinghui noticed that Feng Shulun had not spoken the whole time. He said to Feng Shulun, "Brother Feng, congratulations to you too. You have also made progress!"

When Feng Shulun first became Lu Zhenghong's secretary, he was still a division-level cadre. After more than a year of training, he was also promoted to a deputy department-level cadre at the beginning of this year, serving as the deputy director of the General Office of the Provincial Government. This was also a crucial step for him.

After serving as a secretary for a few years, if he were to be sent out, he would also be a person capable of taking charge of his own domain.

Feng Shulun smiled and said, "No matter what, I am still serving the Governor; I am just a waiter."

Lu Zhenghong chuckled. He was quite satisfied with Feng Shulun as his secretary; this could be seen from the fact that he kept Feng Shulun for dinner.

Lu Zhenghong would not easily keep subordinates for dinner at his home. Subordinates who could eat at his home were definitely highly valued by him.

While they were talking, the doorbell rang. Feng Shulun got up to open the door. Su Xinghui originally thought it was Zhang Kaishan and his son who had arrived, but when the door opened, it was He Yulong who had come.

As soon as He Yulong entered the door, he smiled and said, "Governor, I'm sorry. I came uninvited today, but I heard that County Magistrate Su had arrived, so I wanted to come and have a few drinks with him. Last time he came to Xidu, he was wronged, and I didn't even accompany him for a drink to apologize. Today, I brought a few bottles of good wine to properly accompany County Magistrate Su for a few drinks. You won't blame me for coming uninvited, will you?"

It could be seen that Lu Zhenghong also highly valued He Yulong now. He had a smile on his face, without the slightest sign of displeasure. He said to He Yulong, "You, He Yulong, if you want to come, could I possibly kick you out?"

He Yulong placed the two sets of Qin liquor he was carrying on the table. Qin liquor is a famous liquor of Qinxi Province, known for its high alcohol content. The highest content is 65 percent. The two sets of Qin liquor He Yulong brought today—one set is two bottles of 55 percent, and one set is two bottles of 65 percent.

Su Xinghui had indeed drunk 65 percent Qin liquor in his previous life. Drinking this liquor felt like a line of fire entering the throat, a memory that remains fresh in Su Xinghui's mind to this day.

Lu Zhenghong asked, "Comrade Yulong, why did you bring two kinds of liquor today?"

He Yulong said, "Governor, I heard that County Magistrate Su has a great capacity for liquor, so I will drink the 65 percent one with County Magistrate Su, and let you drink this 55 percent one."

Lu Zhenghong laughed in spite of himself, "Do you mean my capacity for liquor is not good enough?"

He Yulong said, "That is not what I meant. You are the governor of a province, managing such a large province; you need to stay sober. I wouldn't dare to get you drunk."

Lu Zhenghong smiled and said, "Fine, you have a reason for everything. I can't win an argument with you, so I'll drink the 55 percent one."

In terms of liquor capacity, Lu Zhenghong is indeed not very high. The 65 percent liquor has too high an alcohol content, and he is not used to drinking it. Even for the 55 percent one, he felt it was a bit high. He planned to drink less and slower later, and then there would be no problem.

Although Qin liquor has a high alcohol content, it is very fragrant and mellow, and generally does not go to one's head. Lu Zhenghong has been in Qinxi Province for a year and has also grown to like this liquor.

That 65 percent Qin liquor can only be enjoyed by people with a massive capacity like Su Xinghui, or the Guanxi men like He Yulong who are already used to high-alcohol liquor. For people from other provinces who are not used to this liquor, the alcohol content is really too high.