The Xiao Family residence in the Staff Dormitory Building of the County Radio Bureau on Crescent Moon Street, Yong'an County.
"Luo Qiyong has resigned, saying he's going to the County People's Congress," Xiao Changqiu said in a deep voice. "Peng Beihai, the Director of the Government Office in Shennü County, will become the Director of the County Party Committee Office."
"The old man tried to promote him to Deputy County Level several times, but failed," Xiao Wang, the Minister of the County Party Committee Propaganda Department, sighed deeply. "Last year when they talked about promoting him, it didn't even make it to the Prefectural Committee Meeting; the Prefectural Party Committee Organization Department Minister rejected the name immediately."
"Jiang Ziliu has already been promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Prefectural Committee. When he was the Organization Minister, many of the old man's confidants couldn't get promoted," Xiao Changqiu said, his tone a mix of resentment and helplessness. The Prefectural Party Committee Organization Minister seemed as distant as a celestial being to him.
Xiao Wang, standing nearby, felt a chill of fear. He had been promoted to Deputy County Mayor overseeing Culture, Education, and Health four years ago under County Party Secretary Jiang Wenjie, and after serving for two years, he entered the Standing Committee as the Propaganda Minister.
It was all thanks to his uncle, Xiao Zhe, having a close relationship with the newly appointed County Party Secretary Jiang Wenjie at the time. As soon as his uncle left Yong'an, he smoothly advanced to Deputy Division Level.
Thinking of Luo Qiyong, as long as Luo Qiyuan, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, didn't leave, his clansman had no chance to get ahead. Looking at it this way, his uncle stepping back to a secondary role had actually brought him considerable help.
He turned to look at his paternal cousin, Xiao Changqiu, standing next to him. Xiao Changqiu was Xiao Zhe's biological son, but Xiao Zhe hadn't made him a primary focus for cultivation. "I'm afraid Changqiu also resents me," Xiao Wang thought to himself. "If it weren't for me, he might have achieved something by now."
Xiao Changqiu was unaware of Xiao Wang's thoughts. Compared to his own future, he cared more about the family's interests; Xiao Wang's influence in the Standing Committee was the foundation guaranteeing the family's voice in Yong'an. He patted his large belly and said:
"Dad means there's no need to directly confront Yue Wangbei, but Tie Da was just dismissed, and I worry he intends to target the few mines belonging to our family. What do you think?"
As the core of the family, Xiao Wang naturally knew the secrets behind the coal mines: "No need, oh dear." Xiao Wang lightly patted his thigh. "Eldest Uncle is already a regional Leader; a County Party Secretary like him has to show some face.
You're too nervous. If he really wanted to make a move, the County Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary Zhang Wenqiang would tell me first. Besides, I am already Deputy County Level," Xiao Wang's tone revealed confidence, "Only the Regional Discipline Inspection Commission is qualified to investigate me. As for Eldest Uncle, only the Jiang'an Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection would be qualified."
Xiao Changqiu grew anxious. "Don't take it lightly. Jiang Ziliu, the Deputy Secretary of the Party and Mass Work Department, hasn't been happy with our county for quite some time, and the Prefectural Party Secretary is close with him." He spoke too quickly and couldn't help but cough. "I heard it from that kid Luo Yaozong from Old Luo's side; he works in the Administrative Office. He said Jiang Ziliu and Yue Wangbei both worked in Dingnan Province before; they are old acquaintances."
After a long silence, Xiao Wang finally spoke, "I know. I will keep an eye on the Discipline Inspection Commission's movements. But don't ever try that wage claim business at the County Middle School again," Xiao Wang warned. "Don't you know how taboo that is?"
...
Xi River, Wuyang Gorge, Lintao City, Jiang'an Province.
Chen Donglai, along with Deputy Director Wang Bingnan, Guest Room Manager Yang Xiaojin, and Head Chef Li Yi, stood on the deck of the passenger ship, gazing at the magnificent and imposing Wuyang Gorge before them. Chen Donglai brought the four of them to assist him in purchasing furniture and materials needed to renovate the guesthouse in Lintao.
Traveling from Yong'an County to Lintao City by car requires crossing mountains and ridges for a whole day, whereas sailing down the river only takes five hours. Therefore, the four decided to take the boat.
Chen Donglai already knew who the mole was. A call from his high school classmate working at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in Huanhuan County confirmed his suspicions. Since Lu Guohua was two-faced, Chen Donglai had no reason to show him any mercy. Thus, after reassigning Lu Guohua's responsibilities to the neglected Guest Room Department and arranging for him to go to the Yuquan City Guesthouse for "experience learning," he set off with Wang Bingnan.
"It seems the dam site is selected over there," Wang Bingnan pointed with his seasoned hand, and everyone's gaze followed to the river island directly ahead and to the left. "They say the water level needs to be raised by at least 150 meters."
"150 meters? Where will that flood up to?" Head Chef Li Yi looked worried.
Chen Donglai did not reply. He knew the water level after the dam was completed would be far more than 150 meters. By then, let alone Yong'an County Town, perhaps a large part of Shiliang City Proper would be submerged.
He gripped the railing with both hands and gazed into the distance. The mountains on both banks blotted out the sky; although it was still afternoon, the light inside the gorge was as dim as dusk.
In his previous life, by the time the reservoir immigrant relocation work began, he and Wang Zangfeng had already left Jiang'an and were working in the Capital City.
Returning to his hometown years later, Yong'an County Town, where he had lived since childhood, was already submerged under the river. Many friends and relatives from his youth were scattered and displaced. He wondered if staying in his hometown in this life would give him a chance to contribute to the people of Shiliang?
Chen Donglai's thoughts drifted further and further away, and he didn't notice that Lintao City Proper was already close. The passenger ship they were on smoothly passed through the lock gates of the Changzhou Hydropower Station and docked at the Ninth Wharf by the river bank.
Wang Bingnan waved his hand, calling two porters to help carry their luggage up the steep steps. The group found a teahouse on the wharf and sat down.
"It's spectacular; I don't think it's much worse than Huichuan," Yang Xiaojin said with emotion, looking at the prosperous shops along the river.
"It's still far worse than Huichuan. The Jiang'an Gate Dock is much bigger than this place," Li Yi chimed in. He had worked as a cook in Huichuan before and privately felt Huichuan was more prosperous.
"You young whippersnapper," an old man nearby scolded, "How can our Lintao be inferior to Huichuan? Let me tell you, the country has now upgraded us to that... what is it called?"
"A Provincially Designated Independent City," the old lady next to the old man interjected. "Oh, oh, anyway, it's a Sub-provincial City, just like Jianhu City before Jiang'an was established. Sigh, we used to be from Lingxiao, and the Provincial capital we went to was Jianhu City; it was so convenient by car. Now we even have to take a boat upstream."
"You're talking nonsense. Huichuan was upgraded to a Provincially Designated Independent City back in '83. As for Lintao..."
Chen Donglai stopped listening to Li Yi's rebuttal. He knew that Jiang'an, as a province established less than three or four years ago, indeed had a special situation. It was formed by taking a part from Pingling Province and merging it with Lintao City and Pingba Prefecture from Lingxiao Province—a sudden combination that became the current Jiang'an.
Regardless of Chen Donglai's soaring thoughts, the lively discussion beside him pulled him back to reality.
"Your Provincially Designated Independent City status is purely due to policy handouts," Wang Bingnan sneered. "I've been to Bailu City, and I've been to Sheti City; those are real Provincially Designated Independent Cities. Honestly, your Lintao doesn't even compare."
This time, not only did the old man and woman at the next table fall silent, but the entire teahouse went quiet. The boss lady, seeing the situation was tense, came out with a smile to smooth things over, and the atmosphere gradually eased.
"Actually, our Lintao is quite developed; it wasn't easy to be selected as a Provincially Designated Independent City," Chen Donglai conceded to the old man. He was seventy or eighty years old; why argue over a trivial point?
"There's no need to say that. What the young man just said has some merit," the old man pointed at Wang Bingnan. "In '87, when we were assigned to Jiang'an, we were strangers in a strange land. They promised us Sub-provincial status, but after being here for a year, we are still just an ordinary Prefecture-level city."
The old man took a sip of tea from his cup. "There was a huge fuss back then, protesting at the Jiang'an Provincial Party Committee. Hey, some of our Leaders even went to Jianhu to protest, demanding to return to our maternal home. They said Huichuan was a poor bachelor, and our Lintao was a married daughter whose in-laws promised dowry and jewelry before the wedding, only to beat her after she moved in."
The old man's story made everyone in the teahouse burst into laughter. He continued, "It was our Lingxiao Provincial Party Secretary who took pity on us and made several trips to the Capital City. Lintao's cadres also worked hard in Jiang'an, managing to get the Municipal Party Secretary a seat on the Jiang'an Provincial Party Standing Committee."
"And then what? How did you become a Provincially Designated Independent City?" an eavesdropping customer asked impatiently.
"Because the Central Government believed Lintao's resources were insufficient," the old man replied. "When Jiang'an Province was established in '87, Lintao City and Pingba Prefecture were brought over together. Pingba Prefecture was isolated deep in the mountains, developing slowly, and only Lintao City and Shiliang Region were close enough to help. Shiliang was almost as poor as Pingba and couldn't provide much impetus for growth."
Having served as a Leader in Pingba for seven or eight years in his previous life, Chen Donglai naturally understood the reasoning. He supplemented the old man: "The Central Government originally hoped Lintao City could help Pingba Prefecture develop. If Lintao couldn't even take care of itself, Pingba Prefecture would surely starve. Therefore, allocating more resources to Lintao was naturally reasonable."
The old man nodded while sipping his tea. He put down his cup. "What the young brother said is correct. I don't need to mention the other reason, which is the Wuyang Dam right outside. Given the resources the nation poured into this dam, our upgrade to a Provincially Designated Independent City is only right and proper."