"Yiwei, come over." Yan Bugao put down the phone and took a sip of his tea. He spat out the tea leaves on the floor.
After Lu Yiwei entered the office, Yan Bugao pointed to the chair in front of him and placed a document in front of him. "Take a look at this document first."
As Lu Yiwei read the document, Yan Bugao said. "This year, Suzhou will be hosting the annual International Agricultural Fair. This is a voluntary event, and anyone who has a product can participate. But Governor Zhang had pointed out during the video call two days ago that every County should bring out their own products to participate in this fair. Yesterday, Mayor Li had emphasized that this encouragement is mandatory, and everyone must participate in this fair. "
Lu Yiwei browsed through the exhibition and said: "The City is too much. The purpose of the exhibition is to promote their products. Our County's agriculture is not very developed, and most of the crops are corn. They can't possibly bring corn to the exhibition, right? Furthermore, this is an international fair, and we will be embarrassing ourselves. "
Yan Bugao also felt the City Government's decision is ridiculous. But what can the City Leaders do to suck up to the City Government? He said. "Since the City Government has made this decision, we will go along with it. We do not expect to sign any orders. After all, this is a political mission. If we do not cooperate, we will be seen as ignorant."
"Oh." Lu Yiwei is puzzled. He is not in charge of agriculture, and why is Yan Bugao telling him about this?
Yan Bugao continued. "I had thought about it and decided to let the silkworm factory participate. You are in charge of the silkworm factory, and you will lead the team. "
"Secretary Yan, this is not appropriate." Lu Yiwei replied. "Usually, only the Deputy Mayor or the Mayor will participate in this event. I am not sure what they will think. Furthermore, our County's silkworm factory only produces raw materials to sell. We do not have any products. How can we participate in this fair? "
Yan Bugao said. "Yiwei, don't think too much. I have decided on this matter. Let's see who has the right opinion! Look at our County's leaders. Their appearance is not good. They dress sloppily, talk in a coarse voice, and tell dirty jokes. They are a bunch of idiots when it comes to serious work. For such an important meeting, even if there are no products, we have to show the spirit of Black Mountain County. Other than you, there's no other suitable candidate in the team, so don't decline. "
"No, no, no, Secretary Yan, I …" Lu Yiwei tried to argue, but Yan Bugao interrupted him with the dignity of a leader, "Okay, it's settled. Go back and get ready. We'll leave tomorrow afternoon. "
Lu Yiwei was a little helpless. He spread his hands and stood up, "Secretary Yan, are we really going to sell the silk?"
"Yiwei, you're so smart. You should use your brain!" Yan Bugao said: "If we don't have a product, we can create it. Isn't the silkworm factory supplying raw materials to a company in Suzhou? We can borrow the silk produced by that company."
"This …" Lu Yiwei was speechless. He took the document and walked out.
Back in the office, Lu Yiwei threw the documents on the table. The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it became. Suddenly, he laughed helplessly. He picked up his phone and called Zhao Xiaokang. "Get the silkworm factory's Fu Guorui over."
A while later, the silkworm factory's Manager, Fu Guorui, rushed over. He flashed a cigarette the moment he entered the office. "Secretary Lu, I have been looking forward to your visit. I know you are busy, and I am sorry to disturb you."
Lu Yiwei took the cigarette and lit it up. "Old Fu, this is my fault. I have not had the time to visit you. I will visit you more in the future. Do you know about the exhibition? "
Fu Guorui sat on the sofa carefully and frowned. "Director Lu of the County party committee informed me this morning. Secretary Lu, you should know about the silkworm factory's situation. It is just a small factory, and how can it produce any products? "
Lu Yiwei looked at Fu Guorui. "Old Fu, I know about the silkworm factory's situation. But since Secretary Yan has made this arrangement, I can't do anything about it. However, Secretary Yan has a suggestion to borrow the silkworm quilts produced by your supplier. "
"Will … will this work?" Fu Guorui was also doubtful.
Lu Yiwei replied. "We will be leaving for Suzhou tomorrow. How can we get the products in such a short time? This is the only solution. You will leave for Suzhou later and settle your connections there. I will meet up with you later. "
Fu Guorui replied embarrassedly. "Secretary Lu, you should know that our factory is on the verge of closing down. We don't have the money to do this."
"Oh." Lu Yiwei replied. "You can do it first. I will think of a way to get you some money when I return."
Fu Guorui seemed to be in disbelief and refused to agree.
Lu Yiwei looked at Fu Guorui and suggested. "How about this? You go back and write a report, and I will look for Mayor Jin. In addition, the county will bear all the expenses for this exhibition. "
A smile bloomed on Fu Guorui's face as he stood up. "Alright. I will go prepare now."
After Fu Guorui left, Lu Yiwei called Fan Chunfang.
"Chunfang, I will be going to Suzhou tomorrow afternoon for a week, so I might not be able to return this weekend."
Hearing that Lu Yiwei would not be able to return, Fan Chunfang was disappointed. However, she was a man, and her career was her priority. "Alright. Go ahead with your work. I have already passed that period of time. It will be fine."
Lu Yiwei felt guilty. When Fan Chunfang needed someone to accompany her the most, he was far away in Black Mountain. Fortunately, she was reasonable. If it were any other woman, she might have lost her temper. "Chunfang, do you want me to bring you along?"
Ever since they got married, they had not gone on a trip together. Upon hearing this, Fan Chunfang's heart palpitated. She longed to go together, but when she thought of the child in her womb, she gave up on the idea. "Forget it. Maybe in the future. Besides, you are on a business trip. I can't apply for leave."
Lu Yiwei knew what Fan Chunfang was thinking. He suddenly had an idea. "Chunfang, I plan to go to Hainan with my family this New Year. What do you think?"
"Alright!" Fan Chunfang revealed a blissful smile. "Yiwei, I actually have some regrets in my heart. We did not even have a honeymoon. If it's possible, I want to go to the Maldives."
"No problem." Lu Yiwei said straightforwardly. "I will bring you there when I come back from my business trip."
Fan Chunfang was overjoyed. She said agitatedly, "Hubby, I love you."
Hearing Fan Chunfang call him 'hubby' for the first time, Lu Yiwei was at a loss. For someone like him who was not good at expressing himself, this word carried too much meaning. He pursed his lips and said, "Hubby, I love you too."
Fan Chunfang's heart melted. She had received the biggest gift since their wedding. This meant that Lu Yiwei had completely accepted her. She was so emotional that she shed tears. "It's getting cold. Bring more clothes when you go, and bring some flu medicine …"
"Mm … mm …" Fan Chunfang advised him earnestly. Lu Yiwei nodded his head like a chick pecking at rice.
The next afternoon, Lu Yiwei brought the director of the Bureau of Agriculture and his team to Suzhou. Before they left, Xiao Yu was seen floating in Heishan County. When they arrived at Jiangdong Airport, it was already a vast expanse of snow. This was the first snow since the beginning of winter in Xijiang Province. It came later than usual.
At eight o 'clock at night, the plane landed at Shanghai Pudong Airport. However, it was drizzling there.
Zhao Xiaokang arrived in advance and arranged their accommodation. The group went straight to the hotel near the exhibition.
At night, Lu Yiwei called Fu Guorui over to ask about the situation. Fu Guorui said, "We've basically reached an agreement. The other company can take out more than ten products for us to sell. They said that as long as we sign an order, they are willing to give us 30% of the profits. "
Lu Yiwei smiled helplessly. He had spent so much money to come all the way to the exhibition just to promote their products. He was speechless. However, there was no better way. This was the only way.
After dinner, the people who came with him were excited as if they had never seen the world before. They could not wait to go out and see the legendary Suzhou City. It was also Lu Yiwei's first time in Suzhou. He was very interested in this ancient city. However, it was too late, so he rejected the offer and went back to his room. The others went to enjoy the night view.
After taking a shower, Lu Yiwei sat in front of the sofa and watched the local TV programs. The content was rich and much better than the programs in Xijiang Province. They also set up a special program for the exhibition, which played the relevant promotional videos on a loop.
Inadvertently, Lu Yiwei saw Nanyang County on the screen. It turned out that his hometown had also come to the exhibition. Thinking of his former leader, Xu Qingshan, who was in charge of agriculture, he tried to call him.
Sure enough, Xu Qingshan led the team to participate in the exhibition. More coincidentally, the two stayed in the same hotel. After a while, Xu Qingshan knocked on the door excitedly with a bottle of wine in his hand.
"Yiwei, I didn't expect to see you here. We haven't seen each other for a long time." Xu Qingshan laughed with an extraordinary temperament. He did not look like the mayor at all. He looked like a county leader.
Xu Qingshan, the former mayor of Beihe Town, was accidentally shortlisted through the public selection for deputy county magistrate and suddenly became a county leader. It had to be said that luck played a big role to a certain extent. He was just a substitute. Who knew that Xu Wannian would be voted down for bribery, so naturally it was his turn.
In Beihe Town, everyone looked down on Lu Yiwei, but Xu Qingshan took the olive branch and often drank and ate together. In his words, Lu Yiwei was a "blue-chip stock" that was worth investing in for a long time. Lu Yiwei's later development also happened to confirm his idea.
Lu Yiwei stood up to greet him. He gave him a hug and said happily, "Yes, I should have called you in advance if I knew you were coming. Let's have a good drink."
"It's not too late now!" Xu Qingshan raised the wine glass in his hand and shook it. "Let's not drink too much. Half, okay?"
"Okay!"
The two of them sat cross-legged and simultaneously recalled the scene in North River Town. Xu Qingshan said with emotion, "Time flies so fast. Many years have passed in a flash. Back then, we went to Fuyong's house every day to drink and play mahjong. How happy it was. Haha. After three years, Fuyong became the big boss of Nanyang County, and you suddenly became the deputy secretary. We are far apart from each other. It's so nostalgic. "
Lu Yiwei took a sip of wine and said, "Yeah, now that I think about it, it feels like it happened yesterday. Although that period of time was hard, it was extremely happy. But now, it's beyond my control. "
"How are you now?"
Lu Yiwei leaned on the sofa and said, "Just like that. So-so. What about you?"
Xu Qingshan put down the wine glass and said, "I'm just like that. I'll get tired of doing the same job for a long time. Now, other than managing my own business, I don't worry about anything else. I'm just waiting for my retirement."
"Don't say such discouraging words. You'll be 52 at most this year. You'll have plenty of opportunities." Lu Yiwei comforted.
Xu Qingshan shook his head and said, "Time and tide wait for no man. What future do I have at this age? This is the end of my life. Unlike you, your future is bright. I dare not say anything else, but I can guarantee that in less than two years, you may become the youngest secretary of the County party committee in our province. "
Lu Yiwei quickly waved his hand and said, "Mayor Xu, you think too highly of me. It's absolutely impossible. Even if I were to be the secretary, I might not be able to do it well. After all, I don't have enough experience. I'll just slowly work through it. "
"Why is it impossible?" Xu Qingshan said, "Did you think about it when you were promoted to deputy director? Of course not, but you still went up. As the saying goes, 70% depends on hard work, and 30% is predestined. It's necessary to give, but if fate is not on your side, you will still achieve nothing. In the past, maybe your life was not very good, but it's different now. There will definitely be great development. "
Lu Yiwei did not want to dwell on this topic, so he changed the topic and said, "How's Nanyang County recently?"
"It's still the same. What changes can there be?" Xu Qingshan said, "But since Xiao Zhiliang came, the appearance of the county has indeed changed significantly. A number of large projects have been built, such as the administrative service center, science and education center, activity center, People's Square, and so on. It's much bigger than before. In addition, the coal mine's performance this year is surprisingly good. The fiscal revenue may exceed 200 million. Xiao Zhiliang came at a good time. "
Lu Yiwei did not feel good after hearing this. However, he was still quite happy that there were changes in his hometown. He said, "It seems that the decision of the higher-ups to send Secretary Xiao down is correct."
"Correct my ass!" Xu Qingshan said bluntly, "Ever since he came, he borrowed money to build the city and borrowed money everywhere. Up until now, he has at least 700 million in debt. Who doesn't know how to borrow money for political achievements? In the end, it's the local people who suffer. Take that administrative service center for example. The county's population is so small, but it's built even more majestic than the Great Hall of the People. It's a classic face-saving project. "Also, the companies that participated in the construction were all brought in by him. There are rumors that he has embezzled a lot of money. He's very ruthless."
Lu Yiwei did not judge anyone. He said, "To be able to change the appearance of the county, it means that he's still capable."
Xu Qingshan said in disdain, "Yiwei, there are some things that I can't say. Just talk about his driver. He interferes with projects everywhere and even interferes with the county's organization and personnel. He's very arrogant. "It's said that he's now involved with Fuyong and has a stake in the coal mine. This kid has made a fortune. "Even so, Xiao Zhiliang turns a blind eye and doesn't care, allowing him to do as he pleases. "If he doesn't stop it, it'll be ruined in the hands of this driver."
He could tell that Xiao Zhiliang did not have a good reputation. He was no longer in Nanyang County, so he could not be bothered. He said, "What about County Yang?"
"You mean Yang Derong?" Xu Qingshan said, "Yang Derong doesn't know what's going on either. He's much more low-key than before. Xiao Zhiliang has a tight grip on him, not giving him a chance to breathe at all. "Once, Xiao Zhiliang asked him to allocate money for the plaza project. Yang Derong was so timid that he did not agree. Xiao Zhiliang did not get angry. He directly brought the matter to Secretary Qin of the Municipal Party Committee and fiercely complained. He said that he doesn't care about politics and unity. Secretary Qin originally had a bad opinion of Yang Derong, so he criticized him without saying anything. "Besides, Xiao Zhiliang will definitely ask about the government's affairs. Without his approval, who would dare to mess around? His means are not ordinary."
Hearing that the arrogant Yang Derong had fallen to such a state, Lu Yiwei sympathized with him. Everything has its weakness. In the past, he used to use his seniority to suppress Zhang Zhiyuan. Now that he met Xiao Zhiliang, who was even more senior than him, it was obvious that his previous methods would not work.
"Oh right, did you know that Yan Dongsen was transferred away?"
"Huh?" Hearing this news, Lu Yiwei asked in surprise, "When did this happen?"
"Just these two days."
"Where did he go?"
"Deputy Minister of the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department."
"Oh." This was a good result for Yan Dongsen. He had been in Nanyang County for almost ten years. In the early days, he was suppressed by Liu Kecheng. Later on, he met Xiao Zhiliang. He had no right to speak and did nothing for the rest of his life. Returning to the city should be a good ending.
"That's enough about others. Let's talk about you." Lu Yiwei said, "Are you still in charge of agriculture?"
Xu Qingshan sighed and said, "I'm ranked last. It's already good enough that I'm in charge of agriculture. Think about Gao Bowen. He controls the coal mine and is filthy rich. "
Mentioning his old enemy, Lu Yiwei asked, "Is Gao Bowen still the same as before?"
"That's right." Xu Qingshan said, "He's a fence-sitter. When County Yang first came, he fawned on Xiao Zhiliang all the time. Now that Xiao Zhiliang has the upper hand, he immediately turned around and fawned on Xiao Zhiliang. He's like a fish in water. Also, with the help of Ding Changhua's influence, he plans to join the Permanent Committee this year. "
"Oh."
"Don't just talk. Come, let's drink."
The two of them continued until midnight before they left reluctantly.
The next day, Lu Yiwei woke up early and gathered a group of people for a short meeting. They went to the exhibition venue to decorate the exhibition area.
Comparing people to people would only make one angry. When comparing goods, one had to throw them away. Looking at the exhibition areas of other places, there were all kinds of agricultural products. Looking at his own exhibition area, there were only a few simple products, and they were even from other places. If there was a hole in the ground, Lu Yiwei wanted to crawl into it.
This was a political task, so he had to grit his teeth and persevere.
"Yiwei!"
Hearing someone calling him, Lu Yiwei hurriedly turned his head and searched the crowd.
After a while, Su Meng ran over excitedly and said with a smile, "It's really you. I thought it looked like you just now, but I didn't dare to recognize it."
Lu Yiwei said in surprise, "Why are you here too?"
Su Meng patted the camera on his chest and said, "Why, can't I, a reporter, come?"
"Uh …" Lu Yiwei stammered and could not say anything.
"Haha," Su Meng patted his shoulder and said, "I'll go do my work first. I'll call you at noon." After that, he left, leaving behind a fragrant scent.
Lu Yiwei stood there, looking at the familiar yet strange figure, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
Su Meng had changed. It could be said that every time they met, there would be a different change. Now that they met again, she had the intellectual beauty of a mature woman. There was no trace of the spoiled and angry princess in the past. It seemed that people changed with age and environment. Didn't I also change? Taking a step back, if Su Meng did not divorce Ren Dongfang, she would probably be an arrogant lady.
At noon, as expected, Su Meng called. The two agreed to eat at a quaint and elegant garden hotel near the exhibition venue.
"I didn't expect to meet you here." Su Meng put down the bag in his hand and said with a smile.
Lu Yiwei said with a faint smile, "Me too. You've become a busy man now, hehe. "
Su Meng blinked his bright eyes and held his chin with his hand and said, "It's good to be busy. I'm used to this kind of life now. Basically, I go out to do news every day. It's a very fulfilling life. Compared to the Xijiang Daily, I have much more freedom. To a large extent, I have to thank you for what I have today. If you didn't persuade me to go abroad, I can't imagine what my life would be like now. "
"Hehe, it has nothing to do with me. The key is your hobby."
"I quite like this industry." Su Meng said, "I've decided to be a reporter for the rest of my life. I can travel all over the country and experience the customs of different places. It's killing two birds with one stone. Why not?"
"It's good that you like it."
The two suddenly had no topic to talk about.
After a while, Su Meng took the initiative to ask, "Is she good to you?"
Lu Yiwei stirred the drink in his hand and said, "Quite good. How about you?"
Su Meng had a complicated expression on his face. He looked out of the window and said, "I'm married."
"Ah? When did this happen? "Lu Yiwei was extremely surprised.
Su Meng lowered his head and said, "A few months ago. You know him. It's John."
"Oh."
Su Meng stroked his hair and looked up with a forced smile, "We didn't have a banquet. We just got our marriage certificate, so we didn't inform anyone."
"Is he good to you?" Lu Yiwei actually asked the same question as Su Meng.
Su Meng pouted angrily and stared at the spoon in Lu Yiwei's hand. He said, "How should I put it? Not bad."
Lu Yiwei seemed to have read between the lines through Su Meng's expression and uncertain tone. He said, "As long as you're happy. When I have time, I'll treat you two to a meal."
"Okay!" Su Meng's face instantly bloomed into a smile. He said, "I also want to meet my sister-in-law. She must be very beautiful, right?"
Lu Yiwei did not answer.
Su Meng did not continue to ask. He raised his glass and said, "Come, let's have a toast." After that, he drank it happily.
Halfway through, Su Meng's cheeks became rosy, and her eyes were a little blurred. From the beginning to the end, her eyes never left Lu Yiwei. Perhaps, some kind of feeling was still buried deep in her heart.
"Yiwei, do you remember what you once said?"
"What?"
Su Meng said, "You said that you would take me to Jiangnan Rain Alley to find a small town girl with an oil-paper umbrella. Don't you remember?"
How could Lu Yiwei forget, but …
Su Meng continued, "What a coincidence. Today we met in Suzhou. Can you take me there?"
"…"
Seeing that Lu Yiwei was a little embarrassed, Su Meng was quite disappointed, but still insisted, "Yiwei, this wish has always been buried in my heart. Perhaps, this is my last request to you."
After a fierce struggle in his heart, Lu Yiwei nodded.
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