Chapter 276: Adaptation (Part 2)

"Too much of a literary scholar’s temperament."

This was Hou Weidong’s assessment of Yi Zhongcheng. Having delivered this verdict, he cast Yi out of his mind. Zhang Jin remained in the office building, organizing the cadres for an emergency cleaning session. As Hou Weidong descended the stairs, Zhang Jin’s voice echoed from above: "Get some toilet cleaner! Whether the office is well-managed or not is first judged by the condition of the restrooms."

At the entrance to the New Administrative Management Committee, a dozen workers were erecting scaffolding. Seeing Hou Weidong step out of his car, Yang Liu approached alongside a young man. "Director Hou, this is Manager Chen from Jiajing Advertising Company," she introduced.

Hou Weidong examined the scaffolding under construction. "When will it be finished?"

Manager Chen sighed, pouring out his grievances. "The original plan was to complete it the day after tomorrow. But since the schedule was suddenly moved up—and because it was your directive, Director Hou—I halted all other projects and transferred every installer from the company here."

"Thank you for your support of the New Administrative Management Committee. Can you guarantee completion by two o’clock?"

Manager Chen glanced back at the workers still assembling the frame. "It should be no problem."

Hou Weidong turned to Yang Liu. "Jiajing Advertising is doing a good job. If the results today are satisfactory, they can become our fixed partners in the future."

A fine sheen of sweat covered Yang Liu’s forehead. Seeing Hou Weidong’s approval, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She turned to Manager Chen. "I’ll have someone deliver lunch to the site. Eat right there; don’t stop working."

"How is the quality of the tour guide?"

"Xiao Jia has good eloquence. She prepared a specific script earlier, and she can handle the presentation."

Hou Weidong’s mind was still preoccupied with the reporting materials. After giving Yang Liu a few final instructions, he hurried back to the company. In the car, he reflected: "Yi Zhongcheng has excellent writing skills and the ability to think critically. If utilized properly, he could be a capable hand. However, he does have flaws, particularly his tendency to drop the ball at critical moments. That is despicable behavior, and it must come at a cost."

Back in his office, he held his pen and pondered for a moment before sketching out six key areas for the report on paper.

At two o’clock in the afternoon, Yang Senlin arrived at the New Administrative Management Committee on time, accompanied by a group of officials. He wore a high-quality jacket with no visible logos. His face was thin, his eyes sharp. As he listened to the explanation, he scrutinized the grand blueprint, with a large crowd clustered behind him.

The guide was Jia Li from the Investment Promotion Section, a vocational school graduate majoring in tourism. She was a pure, crisp young girl. Although facing county-level leadership, she did not appear nervous, delivering her lines from the script fluently.

Suddenly, Yang Senlin turned around and fixed his gaze on Hou Weidong. "Director Hou, the blueprint for the New Administrative Management Committee is indeed drawn on cloth, and it is quite forward-looking. But do you truly have the confidence to turn this blueprint into reality?"

Hou Weidong had not expected such a direct question. "Once the expressway is completed, the geographical advantages of the New Administrative Management Committee will become prominent. Coastal regions will begin transferring certain industries inland. This is highly beneficial for Yiyang. All of us at the New Administrative Management Committee will not fail the heavy trust placed in us by the County Party Committee and County Government. We will build this area well."

"Director Hou, having this determination is a good thing," Yang Senlin said. "However, determination alone cannot accomplish great deeds. One must also possess a modern economic mindset." He shifted his gaze to Vice County Mayor Gao, Gui Gang, and Old Liu from the Organization Department. "Our country’s reform is a gradual process, simultaneously involving the gradual liberalization of private enterprises. In the previous phase, the state proposed 'grasping the large and letting go of the small.' The Director of the Provincial Commission for Restructuring and Reform also discussed the opinion of clarifying property rights."

"In the past twenty-plus years of enterprise development history, there were two paths available: one was the Sunan model, dominated by collective economy; the other was the Wenzhou model, dominated by private economy. The Sunan model once showed vitality, but practice has proven that the Wenzhou model is the truly successful path."

Hou Weidong listened as Yang Senlin spoke eloquently, his words carrying a strong sense of appeal. He thought to himself: "Yang Senlin was promoted exceptionally; he certainly has some level of competence. But I wonder about his specific operational capabilities?"

Yang Senlin shifted his tone, returning to the reality of Yiyang. "Most of Yiyang’s county-owned enterprises are suffering from severe losses. The silk factory has already gone bankrupt, and the Native Produce Company is undergoing restructuring. However, there are still seven or eight small county-owned enterprises that have not completed property rights reform. We must break the mental shackles, dare to overcome difficulties, and dare to fight tough battles. We must strive to complete the restructuring of all county-owned enterprises within one year. The longer these loss-making enterprises are dragged out, the harder they will be to resolve."

He looked at the crowd. "Today, I have specifically invited the Vice County Mayor in charge of industry, the Organization Department Minister, the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, and our 'God of Wealth.' This is to make everyone clear on this matter. Anyone who violates the overall situation of the reform will be handled separately by the Organization Department and the Discipline Inspection Commission. Furthermore, the Finance Bureau must use every possible means to guarantee the basic funds for restructuring. This is not just my personal opinion; it is also the directive of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government."

Gui Gang nodded in agreement, but inwardly he groaned. Having served as the Finance Bureau Director for over a year, he knew that Yiyang’s finances were a typical "payroll budget"—barely enough to cover salaries. To resolve the burden of county-owned enterprises, requiring the finance bureau to additionally provide tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions, of yuan was basically an impossible task.

Yang Senlin addressed the television cameras. "This is a matter of county-wide importance. The Standing Committee must form a resolution as soon as possible. As for implementation, it is simple: as long as all cadres in the county unify their thinking, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. As for cadres who act slowly, it is even simpler: if there is no action, there will be a change in personnel."

Most of the officials in Yiyang were homegrown cadres who understood the reality extremely well. Hearing Yang Senlin’s words, they smiled on their faces, but their thoughts were complex.

"In the future, all enterprises in Yiyang’s urban area must be moved out of the city center and placed in the New Administrative Management Committee and the Development Zone. The vacated factory buildings, mostly in the city center, can be publicly auctioned. The proceeds from these auctions will serve as the startup capital for the reform."

Hou Weidong understood that Yang Senlin was taking the opportunity of inspecting the New Administrative Management Committee to release his political manifesto to the entire county. He recalled Zhu Yan’s instructions and thought: "Yang Senlin is indeed full of vigor. However, making such a major decision before he has even settled in seems too hasty. It seems I should keep my distance from this new leader for now and observe for a while."

After viewing the blueprint, Yang Senlin requested to see the jurisdiction of the New Administrative Management Committee. At that time, the committee had already requisitioned four square kilometers of land, and many houses had been demolished. However, the land had not yet been leveled, and no real estate developers had moved in. Everywhere was a sea of wild grass.

The entire group sat in an Iveco van. Hou Weidong stood at the front of the vehicle, explaining the situation to Yang Senlin and the others. Yang Senlin’s expression clearly showed displeasure. When Hou Weidong pointed to a large empty plot and said, "This is the square for our new urban district,"

Yang Senlin interrupted. "Director Hou, does the New Administrative Management Committee only have plans, with nothing tangible to show?"

Hou Weidong quickly replied, "The New Administrative Management Committee was established last year. The previous phase was mainly focused on land requisition."

"It has been over a year," Yang Senlin said. "Where are the plans you mentioned? Where are the documents? Have they been discussed and approved by the County Party Committee Standing Committee?"

Hou Weidong answered honestly. "The new plan is still with the Shenzhen Design Institute. The final draft will be completed this year."

"Comrade, social development advances by leaps and bounds. After a year, the New Administrative Management Committee is still in this state."

Yang Senlin did not continue on that point but added, "The Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government are very interested in the expressway strategy proposed by Yiyang. They have praised it many times in large and small meetings. The upcoming expanded Municipal Party Committee meeting will absorb Yiyang’s strategic thinking. This is Yiyang’s contribution to the Municipal Party Committee. Once the idea is proposed, it must be followed by action. Of course, this is not entirely the fault of the New Administrative Management Committee team. First, the time has been short. Second, relying solely on the New Administrative Management Committee cannot accomplish such a major task. In the next step, the County Party Committee Standing Committee, in addition to the restructuring of county-owned enterprises, will study the development of the New Administrative Management Committee, issue a specific decision, clarify the思路 (thinking), raise awareness, and promote action."

After touring the New Administrative Management Committee, Hou Weidong said, "Secretary Yang, the inspection of the main areas of the New Administrative Management Committee is complete. Our office building is currently rented; shall we go take a look?"

Yang Senlin waved his hand. "The Development Zone is not far from here. Let’s go to the Development Zone."

This was not part of the original arrangement. Hou Weidong thought: "I wonder if Qin Feiyue is prepared. If he is not, he will certainly be caught off guard by Yang Senlin."

However, in front of Yang Senlin, Hou Weidong had no way to notify Qin Feiyue.

The Iveco drove for about ten minutes before entering the Development Zone. Upon entering, a huge plume of black smoke was immediately visible. Even with the windows closed, the pungent odor could still be smelled.

Hou Weidong knew this was from several factories in the Development Zone producing basic acids. Several of these factories specialized in collecting hair for processing. It was very profitable, but it had a significant negative impact on the surrounding environment.

Yang Senlin’s expression gradually darkened. He said to Vice County Mayor Gao, "Is this the territory of the Development Zone? Why are they still operating such low-end factories here? How can this black smoke pass the environmental protection standards? Does the Environmental Protection Bureau not see this?"

"Pursuing short-term benefits while disregarding the health of the people… this kind of development will come at a price."

Vice County Mayor Gao smiled. "Secretary Yang, Yiyang’s finances are difficult, and the environment is not particularly special. Attracting investment is hard. Qin Feiyue exerted tremendous effort to bring these factories here. This area is in the downwind zone of the county seat, so it should be fine."

He added, "Just a hundred meters further, there are several more modern factory buildings. Let’s go take a look."

Yang Senlin, being new to the area, was still relatively polite to Vice County Mayor Gao and did not continue pressing the pollution issue. "These factories are all mechanical processing types."