Chapter 330: Neglecting Official Duties (Part 2)

Guangfen spoke with great enthusiasm. "I heard from Professor Guo’s wife that Guo Lan used to have a thing for you. I’ve seen her photos; she’s a very pretty girl. There are so many capable young men in the Criminal Investigation Detachment; surely one of them is a good match for her."

Hou Weidong was at a loss for words, caught between laughter and exasperation. "Mom, I didn’t realize you were such a social butterfly. You’ve been here less than a day, and you’re already worrying about Guo Lan’s marriage. You’re meddling too much. Why don’t you focus on my brother’s situation instead?"

Liu Guangfen busied herself tidying the room with swift, efficient movements. As she worked, she muttered, "It’s the heart of a parent, pitiful as it may be. I went grocery shopping with Professor Guo’s wife. Half the time she talked about Professor Guo’s illness, and the other half about Guo Lan’s marriage." She joked, "Professor Guo’s wife has a very good impression of you. She practically wants to adopt you as a son-in-law."

Guo Lan had not originally planned to return to Yiyang. However, since she had a business trip scheduled for Monday, she decided to come back early. Upon entering the house and seeing the table laden with delicious dishes, she dramatically hugged her mother. "Mom, I come back every month. Why did you prepare such a lavish meal?"

When she learned that Hou Weidong and his mother were being invited, Guo Lan felt a bit strange. "Why is Hou Weidong’s mother coming to Yiyang? I don’t remember her ever visiting before."

Professor Guo’s wife explained, "When your father fell ill, Hou Weidong helped us immensely. His mother is here, so we should be warm and welcoming. It’s a way of expressing our gratitude."

Hearing this, Guo Lan went to the bathroom. She washed her face carefully, applied a light touch of makeup, and then helped her mother set the table. Professor Guo was a scholar who preferred quiet and rarely had guests at home. Since the two families were on good terms, inviting Hou Weidong for dinner wasn’t considered a formal occasion. He remained in his study reading until Liu Guangfen and Hou Weidong were seated at the table, only then emerging from his room.

Seeing her father confined to the study all day, Guo Lan said, "Dad, you shouldn’t stay locked up in the study all the time. You need to go out and walk more. That’s what the doctor specifically advised."

Liu Guangfen added, "An old colleague from our school got this illness ten years ago. He insisted on walking on the school playground every day. Now his health is excellent, even better than before he got sick. You should eat more wood ear mushrooms, onions, and peanuts soaked in vinegar. These help soften the blood vessels."

Professor Guo’s wife asked detailed questions about the method of soaking peanuts in vinegar. The two women chatted animatedly on the topic.

Noticing that Hou Weidong was quiet and eating slowly, Guo Lan took the initiative to ask, "Working at the Science and Technology Commission must be much more relaxed than at the New Management Committee. Is Zhou Yongtai still in his deputy position?"

Since he was dining with the elders, Hou Weidong kept his tone light and casual. "It’s work wherever you go. I can only obey the organization’s arrangements. However, compared to the New Management Committee, the workload at the Science and Technology Commission is indeed much lighter. The colleagues there want to get things done, but they can’t find projects to work on. Zhou Yongtai is still the deputy director. He’s a veteran at the commission, so I hand over the trivial matters to him and enjoy the ease."

Guo Lan had worked in the organizational system for many years and had a clear understanding of the ups and downs of personnel matters. She knew Hou Weidong harbored some resentment regarding his transfer. She originally wanted to offer some advice but didn’t know where to begin.

"I recently accompanied leaders to inspect cadres at the Science and Technology Commission. Compared to the county-level commissions, the regional commission has it much better. They have projects and ample funding. You could try reaching out to see if you can secure a project for yourself."

Hearing about potential projects, Hou Weidong became interested. "I wonder if the Science and Technology Commission has any upcoming projects."

Guo Lan replied, "While eating, Director Yin Ming mentioned that the commission is planning to establish an agricultural scientific research base in the county. It’s a project from the provincial level, but it hasn’t been finalized yet."

Hou Weidong immediately recalled the responsibilities of the Yiyang Science and Technology Commission. The fifth item was: "Compile and implement key scientific and technological experimental projects, engineering technology research, and enterprise technology development centers; organize the implementation of pilot, intermediate, and final stages of high-tech industrialization projects; promote the scaling, commercialization, and related scientific and technological base construction of high-tech industrialization projects." He had studied the responsibilities carefully and remembered them clearly. When Guo Lan mentioned the agricultural research base, he sensed an opportunity he could leverage.

"Guo Lan, are you familiar with Director Yin Ming? Could you help make an introduction?"

Guo Lan knew that Hou Weidong had an unusual relationship with Su Mingjun. She said, "I don’t hold a position in the Organization Department, so my words carry little weight. Yin Ming has a good relationship with Minister Su. If Su Mingjun is willing to step in, the effect will certainly be different."

After the meal, Hou Weidong mentioned the matter to Su Mingjun. Su Mingjun agreed readily. "Leave it to me, brother. As long as the conditions are suitable, I’ll help persuade Yin Ming. Let’s arrange a dinner with him tomorrow. You should join us. The location will be the Shuilukong restaurant outside the Xinyue Building. I’ll call you later with the specific time."

Having inadvertently accomplished something meaningful for the Science and Technology Commission, Hou Weidong was in a good mood. He said to Liu Guangfen, "Mom, stop wiping the table. Even if you leave now, you’ll still need to eat tomorrow."

Liu Guangfen said, "You child, people always get hungry after eating. Do you think we won’t eat? A household still needs a woman. Xiaojia will be back soon. It’s not a solution for you two to be separated for so long." Thinking of Xiaojia, Liu Guangfen couldn’t help but think of Jiang Chu. "Jiang Chu is immature. Instead of living a normal life, she insists on getting involved in pyramid selling. If this continues, they might end up divorced."

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She said to Hou Weidong, "Xiao San, look at this. If Chu divorces your brother, why not introduce Guo Lan to him? They would be a perfect match."

Hou Weidong reached out and touched Liu Guangfen’s forehead. "Mom, are you running a fever? Why are you talking nonsense in broad daylight? The saying goes, 'Advise reconciliation, not divorce.' As a mother, why are you thinking about your son getting divorced? Besides, Guo Lan works in the Municipal Party Committee’s Organization Department. Her standards are very high."

Liu Guangfen pretended to be angry. "Disrespectful! Who talks to their mother like that?"

"Having such thoughts is wrong."

Liu Guangfen had only been joking. She sighed and said, "Another day, I’ll look for Jiang Chu’s parents. We’ll work together to persuade her to cut ties with pyramid selling completely. If only she were as sensible as Guo Lan."

Hou Weidong drove Liu Guangfen back to Wu Hai County. As soon as he entered his home, Su Mingjun’s phone call came through. "Are you free tonight? I’m going south with Comrade Changquan for an inspection tomorrow."

"No problem. Tonight works."

"Six o’clock. Shuilukong. The most eastern private room."

Hou Weidong rested briefly at home, then drove straight to the Xinyue Building. He arrived at the entrance at five o’clock. He returned to his apartment at the Xinyue Building, took a hot shower, changed into a clean white shirt, and turned on his computer. Seeing that Zhu Mei had sent him six emails, he took the time to reply to them.

He arrived punctually at the small private room on the east side of Shuilukong. After waiting a few minutes, Su Mingjun and a middle-aged man in his fifties with a scholarly appearance walked in. After introductions, Hou Weidong took the initiative to apologize. "Director Yin, I’ve only been reporting to the Science and Technology Commission for a few days. I was preparing to report to you personally. I’m a rookie in the science and technology system, so please criticize and guide me in the future."

Director Yin Ming of the Science and Technology Commission responded warmly. "Welcome, Director Hou, to the science and technology front. This field needs energetic young people like you." The fact that a county-level Science and Technology Commission director could invite the Executive Deputy Director of the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee’s Organization Department to accompany him surprised Yin Ming internally.

With Su Mingjun present, the atmosphere was lively. Yin Ming did not put on any official airs. He spoke openly and thoroughly, and Hou Weidong truly gained a lot from the conversation. Although his position as director had been imposed on him, he maintained an attitude of doing his duty faithfully for as long as he held the post, unwilling to slack off. However, during the dinner, he did not bring up the matter of the agricultural science and technology base.

On Monday, Hou Weidong called Yin Ming, saying he wanted to come to the county Science and Technology Commission to report on his work. Yin Ming agreed readily. "Come over. I have matters to discuss with you as well."

After hanging up, Hou Weidong invited Deputy Director Zhou Yongtai to his office. For the first time, they seriously discussed work, and Hou Weidong shared his ideas. Zhou Yongtai lacked confidence. "Could such a good opportunity really fall into our hands?" Hou Weidong asked in return, "The municipal Science and Technology Commission needs to establish points. Why can’t it be in our Yiyang? We need to act fast. I’ve already drafted the document. Let Xiao Ning print it out. We’ll go see Director Yin Ming."

Hearing that they would go directly to the head of the Science and Technology Commission, Yin Ming, Zhou Yongtai became hesitant. "This matter is under the supervision of Director Zhang. We should go to the divisional leader first." He thought for a moment and then spoke honestly. "Director Yin Ming has a big ego. You’re not familiar with him, so going directly to him might not yield good results."

Hou Weidong did not explicitly state that he had already made an appointment. "We’ll only know if we try."

The Science and Technology Commission did not have a car, so Hou Weidong drove personally. He and Zhou Yongtai went to the Shazhou Municipal Science and Technology Commission together. Zhou Yongtai was a veteran and very familiar with the municipal commission. As he just got out of the Bluebird car, he encountered a section chief from the municipal commission passing by. The man smiled and said, "Old Zhou, your commission is doing well. You’ve even got a Bluebird car. That’s the best car a county commission can have."

Zhou Yongtai quickly introduced, "This is Director Hou of our commission, the top leader." Seeing that Hou Weidong was quite young, the section chief shook his hand and said, "Director Hou is probably the youngest top leader in the entire science and technology system."

Zhou Yongtai asked, "Is Director Yin Ming here today? We’ve come to report on our work." The section chief looked toward the courtyard. Yin Ming’s car was still parked there. "He should be. His car is still in the yard."

As they went up the stairs, Zhou Yongtai suggested again, "I think we should still go to the divisional leader first." Hou Weidong said, "To shoot the man, first shoot his horse. As long as Director Yin Ming agrees, the matter is done."

Something unexpected happened to Zhou Yongtai. When the two of them entered the office, Director Yin Ming’s attitude was surprisingly good. He stood up to shake hands and then engaged in friendly conversation, appearing very amiable. Hou Weidong reported seriously on the work of the Yiyang County Science and Technology Commission. Finally, he said, "Director Yin, our commission plans to apply to establish a scientific research base. Without a base to support us, the county commission lacks backbone."

Yin Ming reviewed the request. "This base requires fifty mu of land. Can the county provide that?" Hou Weidong replied, "Vice County Mayor Gao strongly supports my idea. Land is not a problem. The New Management Committee has allocated a large piece of land. If the municipal Science and Technology Commission supports us, I’d like to secure one hundred mu."

Yin Ming praised, "Director Hou is very ambitious."