Chapter 354: Another Village (Part 2)

"The Southeast Asian financial crisis has proven that the large conglomerate model of Japan and South Korea has significant flaws. The Daewoo Group is a typical example. This is a lesson…"

"For Lingxi and Shazhou, this is a challenge, but I believe it is also a huge opportunity… To reverse the downward trend of the economy and the cooling of consumption, the only way is to stimulate domestic demand. For Lingxi, this is the opportunity…"

"This financial crisis will promote the restructuring and clarification of property rights. Methods such as employee stock ownership, capital introduction quantification, capital increase quantification, and bankruptcy restructuring…"

The issues Hou Weidong discussed were the same ones Secretary Changquan had repeatedly raised at meetings over the past two years. Hou Weidong had studied them in detail and extracted the points that Changquan cared about most. As expected, after he finished speaking, the room fell silent. Because the content and level of his speech were different from the usual remarks, no one rushed to speak immediately after him.

Guo Lan, one of the two young representatives from the Organization Department, also attended this symposium. She was not surprised to see Hou Weidong, but she was greatly shocked by his speech. In the Organization Department of Yiyang, she had briefly worked with Hou Weidong and had even been his superior. At that time, Hou Weidong only handled routine tasks in the section, copying reports and writing small articles. These were tasks that even an ordinary high school student could do. Therefore, Guo Lan did not actually understand Hou Weidong’s work ability or knowledge level.

When Hou Weidong finished speaking, Guo Lan suddenly felt that "one should look at someone with new eyes after three days." She thought to herself, "No wonder he became a prominent figure in Yiyang. He really has the ability. The achievements of the Yiyang New Management Committee today are largely due to him."

"What era is this? Still using the organization's name to practice 'a new emperor, new ministers'? This is a feudal remnant in real life." Guo Lan had been working in the organization department for several years and had seen the rise and fall of many officials. When Zhu Yan was transferred to Maoyun, Hou Weidong was transferred from the New Management Committee to the Science and Technology Commission. She saw the reasons clearly.

Shi Lei, the Secretary of the Municipal Youth League Committee, was the organizer of the discussion. He picked up the list of participants and asked the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Youth League Committee next to him, "Who is this? He introduced himself, but I didn't hear clearly. Is he from our Youth League system?" The person next to him said, "Not from the Youth League system. Seems to be from the Yiyang Science and Technology Commission." Shi Lei searched the list and finally stopped at "Hou Weidong, Yiyang Science and Technology Commission."

Secretary Changquan was also surprised. He said to Huang Zidi, "Who is this young man? He has a high level." He added, "Why do I feel he looks familiar? Have I seen him before?"

Huang Zidi turned his body and said, "Secretary Changquan, you have seen this young man. His name is Hou Weidong. He was previously the Director of the Yiyang New Management Committee and was transferred to the Yiyang County Science and Technology Commission this year."

"I remember now. When I visited the Yiyang New Management Committee, he was the one who gave the introduction. Why was he transferred to the County Science and Technology Commission?"

"I don't know the specific situation," Huang Zidi added. "Last year, the Lingxi Newspaper conducted a survey of development zones across the province. The Yiyang New Management Committee ranked fourth in the comprehensive ranking. It's quite good for a county-level development zone to get such a ranking. I remember he studied law, served as a deputy township head at the grassroots level, and was also the Deputy Director of the County Party Committee Office and the Director of the New Management Committee."

Besides Hou Weidong, Huang Zidi had arranged for two other people to attend this discussion. From his perspective, any of these three could serve as Secretary Changquan's secretary. After listening to Hou Weidong's speech and Secretary Changquan's reaction, he knew that the other two had almost no chance. So, he specifically recommended Hou Weidong to Secretary Changquan.

Secretary Changquan hummed, looked at Hou Weidong thoughtfully, and said, "It seems Shazhou also has talent. It's not just that outsiders can chant scriptures."

Hou Weidong was well-prepared and performed excellently on the spot. He gave himself a score of 9.5. After finishing his speech, he completely relaxed. He observed Secretary Changquan's expression but found that Changquan was not smiling. Remembering that Secretary Changquan liked steady people, he made his expression more steady, picked up his pen, and prepared to take notes seriously.

Including Shi Lei, the Secretary of the Municipal Youth League Committee, most people thought this discussion was an ordinary one, just an organic part of the Youth Forum.

Shi Lei had submitted the materials for the Youth Forum to Secretary Changquan and Deputy Secretary Huang Zidi, only inviting them to attend the opening ceremony to give some face to the provincial Youth League leaders. He never expected Secretary Changquan to suddenly attend the discussion. At the beginning of the discussion, he was a bit anxious, worried that the quality of the speeches would not be high and that the two leaders would look down on this group of young cadres.

When Hou Weidong finished speaking, Shi Lei finally put his heart at ease. He let out a long sigh and thought to himself, "Heaven really helps me."

Most of the other participants had not prepared sufficiently in advance. After listening to Hou Weidong's speech, they felt they were far behind. Therefore, when Hou Weidong finished speaking, the symposium fell silent for a moment. Shi Lei, the host of the meeting, had excellent eloquence. Seeing the silence, he began to deliver an enthusiastic mobilization speech and gave signals to several county Youth League secretaries. The Secretary of the Youth League Committee of Wu Hai County understood Shi Lei's signal, cleared his throat, and moved the microphone over.

The discussion had been going on for about forty minutes when Secretary Changquan received a phone call and had to leave the venue early. He delivered an encouraging speech to the young people and then left the discussion site. After Secretary Changquan, Huang Zidi, and others left, a buzz arose in the venue. Everyone's mood and expressions relaxed. Hou Weidong had completed his task, so he listened to the young people's discussion speeches like a spectator. These young people were elites from various places and systems, but their speeches lacked depth and nothing particularly brilliant.

"Perhaps it's because of long-term contact with leaders," Hou Weidong thought to himself.

Leaders like Zhu Yan had risen to the position of County Party Secretary through fierce, even brutal competition. Whether in terms of work ability or personal quality, they had reached a certain level. Hou Weidong had been by his side for a long time, had a broader scope of contact, and his horizons had expanded significantly. After becoming the Director of the New Management Committee, he often dealt with entrepreneurs. These experiences made Hou Weidong more mature than most of his peers.

After the meeting ended, Hou Weidong packed his bag and walked out. Along the way, many people stole glances at him. Near the door, he saw Guo Lan standing at the entrance, looking inside. Their eyes met.

"Your speech today was great."

"I often came into contact with this kind of content when I was at the New Management Committee. I just spoke from the heart."

"How is Professor Guo?"

Guo Lan said, "My parents bought a house in Shazhou. They moved in July. The house is very close to the Shazhou Library. He runs to the library every day. There's nothing I can do."

Hou Weidong glanced at Guo Lan's profile with the corner of his eye. Her nose bridge was slightly upturned, a feature that added some liveliness to her delicate contours. Her ear-length short hair was very neat. No earrings, no necklace, still elegant and quiet. Compared to a few years ago, there was almost no change. He said, "Professor Guo loves books. It's a habit he has had for decades. Reading enriches life. If he doesn't read, he would feel very uncomfortable."

Guo Lan also seemed to notice that Hou Weidong was stealing glances at her, but she didn't mind. She said, "After all, he has been ill. He is different from normal people."

The two chatted as they walked outside.

Shi Lei, carrying a large bag, was also walking in the crowd. He had just turned thirty-one this year and had many years of experience as a full department-level official. He was a young cadre with great development prospects in Shazhou City. In previous years, he had been busy with his career and had missed love several times. He met Guo Lan in an activity organized by the Municipal Youth League Committee, and the fire of love burned fiercely in his chest. He began to make a move on Guo Lan.

Seeing that Guo Lan knew Hou Weidong, he quickened his steps and caught up. He said, "Guo Lan, I want to ask you something." Asking a question was, of course, an excuse. He casually said a few words and then extended his hand to Hou Weidong, saying, "I am Shi Lei. Nice to meet you." Hou Weidong was unfamiliar with the Youth League system, but he had heard of the Secretary of the Shazhou Municipal Youth League Committee. He said, "Hello, I am Hou Weidong. I work at the Yiyang Science and Technology Commission."

Shi Lei smiled and said, "You work at the Science and Technology Commission, a scientific and technological talent. No wonder your speech was so brilliant." As the Secretary of the Youth League Committee, he had a sense of superiority in front of the comrades of the Yiyang Science and Technology Commission. He then said to Guo Lan, "Are you free at noon? The Organization Department supports this Youth Forum very much. I still need to express my gratitude."

Guo Lan instinctively refused, "I have to submit a document this afternoon. Forget it." She then smiled and said, "I am just a small clerk. I dare not represent the Organization Department." Shi Lei's eyes turned, and he took out his mobile phone to call Minister Yang. He said, "I am Shi Lei. Minister Yang, let's meet at the usual place today. Just a few people from the Youth League and the Department. No outsiders." Then he smiled and said, "Minister Yang and Section Chief Li are also coming to eat. You can't slip away." Hou Weidong saw a helpless smile appear at the corner of Guo Lan's mouth. He said, "You two chat. I'll leave first." He said to Shi Lei, "Secretary Shi, goodbye."

Shi Lei pretended to detain him, saying, "Hou Weidong, don't go. Let's go eat together."

Walking to the parking lot, he got in his car and drove away. Guo Lan was very familiar with this car. When the Bluebird started, she looked for the car with her eyes. The car was very agile, slowly driving into the main road, then speeding up suddenly, and then disappearing at the bend of the highway.

The Lingxi Expressway had been open for not long, and the road conditions were excellent. In less than half an hour, he got off at the Yiyang exit. As soon as he got off the expressway, the more than ten buildings of the New Management Committee came into view, with a strong impact. This had become a landmark building in Yiyang, but it had also gradually become a wound in Hou Weidong's heart.

Hou Weidong sighed slightly, turned the steering wheel, and drove into the county town from the old road.

As soon as he entered the gate of Shazhou College, Yang Liu called with an enthusiastic phone call: "Director Hou, I heard you attended the Youth Forum symposium. Several people from the Municipal Party Committee General Office also attended this symposium. As soon as they returned, they asked me about your situation. These guys are usually arrogant, but it can be seen that they are quite convinced by you."

She added, "I heard Secretary Changquan also attended the symposium. That's great. If Secretary Changquan notices you, it will be a great opportunity."

After Hou Weidong expressed his gratitude, he said, "Now it's just a one-sided wish. The key is to see Secretary Changquan's attitude. No one can control this."

Yang Liu said, "If there is any news, I will call you."