Chapter 272: Personnel Decisions (Part 2)

In the Standing Committee meeting room of the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee, Zhang Jiarui, the Organization Department Minister, had just finished his report on a series of personnel changes.

Once he concluded, Jiang Jiang, the Deputy Secretary in charge of organizational affairs, spoke up. "There is one more matter that requires clarification. The provincial Party School’s reserve class for department-level cadres is scheduled to begin on April 15th. Zhu Yan will soon depart for his studies. In his absence, I suggest that Ma Youcai temporarily preside over the work of the Yiyang County Party Committee."

Secretary Chang Quan turned his head and asked Mayor Liu Bing, "Mayor Liu, what is your opinion?"

Mayor Liu Bing replied, "I agree with Secretary Jiang’s suggestion. Both Zhu Yan and Ma Youcai have contributed significantly to Yiyang’s current achievements. I support Ma Youcai temporarily presiding over the County Party Committee’s work. This arrangement will better ensure the continuity of Yiyang’s policies."

The other members of the Standing Committee held little sway in such personnel appointments. Knowing their place, they remained silent, waiting for Secretary Chang Quan to make the final decision.

While Liu Bing was speaking, Secretary Chang Quan had taken off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He looked across the table at Huang Zidi, who had pulled an all-nighter yet still appeared energetic. A thought crossed his mind: Fame and fortune are like floating clouds. In old age, only one’s health truly belongs to oneself.

After Liu Bing finished speaking, the meeting room fell quiet. The committee members waited for Secretary Chang Quan to give the final word.

Chang Quan put his glasses back on and said, "Although Zhu Yan will be studying at the provincial Party School for a year, he remains the County Party Secretary. There is no need for Ma Youcai to preside over the County Party Committee’s work. Ma Youcai has a proven track record in managing the economy; he should focus entirely on economic development. Comrade Yang Senlin from the Comprehensive Division of the Municipal Party Committee Office has good qualifications and has worked there for seven or eight years. Let’s transfer him to Yiyang to serve as Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee. He will preside over the daily work of the County Party Committee while Zhu Yan is away studying."

Jiang Jiang smiled inwardly. Although he was not strictly part of Secretary Chang Quan’s inner circle, he was quite close to him. He had long harbored reservations about the new Mayor Liu Bing’s aggressive entry into Shazhou. This outcome was exactly what he had hoped for—or perhaps, he had played a part in shaping it.

Besides Jiang Jiang, Ji Haiyang also understood the ins and outs of the situation. Previously, Secretary Chang Quan had indeed considered letting Ma Youcai take charge of Yiyang’s overall affairs. However, during a small-scale personnel discussion two days prior, Jiang Jiang had casually remarked, "Mayor Liu also proposed that Ma Youcai preside over the Yiyang County Party Committee."

The speaker had intent; the listener had perception. Thus, today’s conclusion was reached.

Zhu Yan soon learned of the Standing Committee’s decision. This outcome would have a profound impact on the political landscape of Yiyang County. Yang Senlin, originally the Deputy Director of the Comprehensive Division of the Municipal Party Committee General Office, was being sent to Yiyang to preside over the County Party Committee’s work. His role as a successor was quite obvious.

During these days, Hou Weidong temporarily distanced himself from the political vortex. He spent his time with Jiang Dali, accompanying Gao Wang, the general manager of Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory, touring the mountains and rivers of Yiyang.

In truth, Gao Wang’s visit to Yiyang was driven by his own needs.

Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory was a traditional Chinese medicine manufacturer. Last year, they successfully developed a new drug effective in treating diabetes. The main ingredient required was a plant called Xiuxiucuo (Shame Grass). The processing requirements were strict: the time from harvesting to entering the factory could not exceed twenty-four hours, or the efficacy would drop significantly. Xiuxiucuo thrived in the humid, subtropical climate of mountainous regions, with Lingxi being its primary production area. Consequently, Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory considered building a branch factory in Lingxi.

Gao Wang had already sent people to Lingxi multiple times for secret inspections. Their conclusion was that the Shazhou area was the best and largest source of raw materials. During the Spring Festival, Jiang Dali happened to come from Lingxi to treat everyone to a meal, which led to the inspection trip to the Yiyang Development Zone. Gao Wang, a veteran of the business world with rich experience, kept his true intentions hidden, not allowing Hou Weidong to see his hand.

For the first two days of Gao Wang’s stay in Yiyang, Hou Weidong went all out to make the activities engaging. On the first day, they went to Wangri Village in Shangqinglin. Several people took hunting rifles into the dense forest to shoot partridges all day. On the second day, they went fishing for reservoir fish at Zhangjia Reservoir. General Manager Gao was an expert in both shooting and fishing, possessing great patience. He rowed a small boat to the middle of the reservoir and sat there all day, eventually catching a large fish weighing seven jin (3.5 kg). He was so happy he couldn’t close his mouth. That evening, they cooked the fish in the reservoir’s storage shed, adding ginger, scallions, garlic, and salt. The aroma of the fish filled the air, and the broth was rich and flavorful.

On the third day, General Manager Gao finally sat down to discuss investment and factory construction with the new management team. Gao’s demands were high: the land was essentially given away for free, and regarding taxes, he proposed "three years exemption, two years half-reduction." This meant no corporate income tax for the first three years, and half the tax rate for the following two years.

At the negotiation table, General Manager Gao’s language was sharp, and he fought for every penny. Several times, he left the Executive Deputy Director, Zhang Jin, in an embarrassing position.

Seeing that Gao Wang had proposed such high conditions and showed no sign of backing down, Zhang Jin spoke frankly at the project analysis meeting of the new management team after the first negotiation session ended. "I doubt Gao Wang’s sincerity."

Hou Weidong, having heard from Jiang Dali that Gao Wang was usually a workaholic who rarely stayed in one place for several days for leisure, smiled. "Asking for the sky and settling for the earth is the nature of merchants. As long as they are willing to talk, it shows sincerity. Gao Wang is the general manager of a large factory, and his time is valuable. He wouldn’t waste several days here for nothing."

All personnel at the secondary leadership level and above attended the analysis meeting. This type of project analysis meeting was a new initiative since Hou Weidong joined the new management team, euphemistically called a "Zhuge Liang Conference."

After speaking, Hou Weidong looked at the secondary leadership members, including Yi Zhongcheng, Yang Zhong, Yang Liu, and Yi Tianyun. He pointed specifically at Yi Tianyun. "Yi Tianyun, you are the Chief of the Investment Promotion Section. Based on your experience, do you think the deal with Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory can succeed?"

Yi Tianyun had a feminine name but looked like the actor Takakura Ken, maintaining a short military-style haircut. When called upon, he said, "I used my connections to obtain information on Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory. It is an established, large-scale pharmaceutical factory with a consistently good reputation. Gao Wang was even once named one of the Top Ten Entrepreneurs."

After speaking, he handed over the documents. "This is information that just arrived from the province." Hou Weidong flipped through the materials and praised him, "Section Chief Yi, your work is detailed and solid. Good job." He then added, "This is just the data. What is your opinion?"

Yi Tianyun’s stance was direct. "Director Hou’s view makes sense. As long as they are willing to talk, there is hope."

Hou Weidong then asked the Infrastructure Section about land issues. After a brief discussion, he noticed Yi Zhongcheng sitting silently like a gourd. He asked, "Director Yi, do you have any suggestions?"

Since being transferred laterally to the Research Office, Yi Zhongcheng had always looked at Hou Weidong with displeasure. He replied coldly, "I have no expertise in pharmaceutical factories, so I have no opinions or suggestions."

His tone clearly indicated resentment. Among the cadres attending the analysis meeting, some held their breath for Yi Zhongcheng, while others felt schadenfreude.

Hou Weidong did not get angry. He thought to himself, Yi Tiancheng’s psychological resilience is still lacking. It’s just a lateral transfer to another department, and he’s already putting on airs. It seems my decision was correct. People like this don’t realize how high the sky is or how deep the water is unless they suffer some setbacks.

After everyone spoke their minds, Hou Weidong added, "If the pharmaceutical factory goes into production, the investment scale will be around 500 million yuan. This would be the largest investment in Yiyang County, aside from the cement plant. If we really pull this off, the significance for the new management team goes without saying. It is worth spending more time and energy on this."

After the project analysis meeting, Hou Weidong took the materials on Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory and headed straight for Zhu Yan’s office. As his car left the new management team’s territory, he thought to himself, Logically, these matters fall under the government’s jurisdiction. It might seem inappropriate not to report to Ma Youcai. However, after a moment’s hesitation, he decided to report to Zhu Yan first.

Zhu Yan’s office remained as usual. After Ren Xiaowei poured water and exited the office, Hou Weidong gave a detailed report on his contact with Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory and the results of the first phase of negotiations.

Zhu Yan carefully reviewed the materials on Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory and then said, "Investments by large enterprises are always very strict. They generally do not invest recklessly. The fact that they are willing to come to Yiyang indicates at least some intention. This situation is very similar to when Qingda Group invested in the cement plant in Yiyang. You need to handle this well. Talk with them patiently and meticulously. If they truly want to invest, they will eventually make concessions."

These words boosted Hou Weidong’s confidence.

After giving a few more instructions regarding Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory, Zhu Yan said, "The provincial Party School class begins on April 15th. Registration is on the 14th."

The curriculum for the reserve class for department-level cadres was personally arranged by Shen Enjie, the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee. It was divided into three phases. From April to July, they studied political theory, with visits to places like Yan’an and Zunyi. From July until before the Spring Festival of 1998, they focused on modern economics, law, and central policy guidelines. After the Spring Festival, they would go to the United States for two months of exchange and study.

Zhu Yan had already received the schedule in advance. He was quite satisfied with the overall study arrangement and planned to take the opportunity to read some books quietly during his studies.

Although Hou Weidong had always known Zhu Yan was leaving, when the time actually came, he felt a hollow emptiness inside, and his confidence was not as strong as before. He said, "Secretary Zhu, you are leaving so soon."

Zhu Yan also intended to give Hou Weidong some final advice. "Yang Senlin from the Comprehensive Division of the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee Office will come to serve as Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee and preside over the daily work of the County Party Committee. The official notice has been issued. Before I leave, Yang Senlin will come to report for duty."

As Hou Weidong was about to leave, Zhu Yan emphasized again, "As the head of the new management team, regardless of who takes office, you must devote yourself wholeheartedly to the construction of the new management team. As long as you achieve results, the organization will know. Just keep this principle in mind, and that will be enough."

Leaving Zhu Yan’s office, Hou Weidong felt a mix of emotions churning inside him. Reflecting on Zhu Yan’s words, he thought to himself, In Yiyang, Zhu Yan is always the boss. I shouldn’t overthink things. I’ll just focus on doing my job and ignore the gods fighting among themselves.