Chapter 33

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"Then I'll call you Xiao Xu. Even if it's a bit presumptuous, I'll recognize you as my college student brother."

Feng Yuan was also a smart person and took the opportunity to connect with Xu Junran as a relative.

She worked in the Organization Department, so she was naturally well-informed. Although Xu Junran's appointment had not yet been announced, could there be any doubt about the consensus reached by the county magistrate and the county party secretary? Moreover, as a recent college graduate, after working in the Organization Department for several years, Feng Yuan knew how much college graduates were favored. Not to mention, the entire state was not a culturally developed place. In other cities, there were at least hundreds or thousands of college graduates, but in the entire state, only two people had passed the college entrance exam that year, and one of them stayed in the capital, leaving only Xu Junran willing to return to his hometown.

Just based on this, Feng Yuan was confident that Xu Junran's future in the entire state was boundless.

Of course, this was not just her judgment; it also benefited from her aunt, who was a deputy minister in the Municipal Organization Department.

"Sister Feng, you're too polite. Since you're Brother Tu's wife, you're naturally my sister-in-law, and we are family," Xu Junran said with a smile.

More friends mean more paths, and Xu Junran understood this simple truth. Moreover, since she worked in the Organization Department, building a good relationship with the people in charge of official positions would be beneficial for his future development in Wude County. At the very least, if anything happened, he could get some advance information.

One should not ignore any enemy or any small person.

This was Xu Junran's philosophy in the political arena.

He was very clear that even with the advantage of rebirth, his path in the political arena would not necessarily be smooth. At least before he reached the peak of power, he would encounter all kinds of troubles. To overcome these difficulties, he needed to constantly weave a web, a web of interests. As long as he became an indispensable part of some interest network, even if he encountered someone like Huang Zixuan, a top official's son, he would not be as helpless as his adoptive father in the previous life.

To stand more firmly, one must stand higher.

"Can you two stop being so formal?" Tu Wen Yong, who was sitting beside them, couldn't help but speak up when he saw his wife and Xu Junran being so polite to each other. "We're not strangers. Although Xiao Xu has only been here for a few days, I think this kid is good and worth befriending. Wife, can you stop being so formal?"

Then he said to Xu Junran, "Xiao Xu, Brother Tu believes you will achieve great things in the future! As long as you don't mind, just speak up if you need anything."

Feng Yuan frowned. Her husband was a good person in every way, but he didn't know when to be serious. How could he speak so casually after only knowing Xu Junran for a few days?

To her surprise, Xu Junran was very pleased and nodded. "Alright, since Brother Tu says so, I won't be formal."

In the previous life, Xu Junran had seen too many hypocritical people and those who stabbed others in the back. He could tell whether Tu Wen Yong was sincere or not.

After decades in the political arena, if he couldn't even discern people, Xu Junran would have lived in vain.

Feng Yuan looked at Xu Junran in surprise. She hadn't expected her husband to get along so quickly with this new county elite. In her mind, Xu Junran, a graduate of a prestigious university and a rising star in the county's political scene, might be hard to get along with. Xu Junran's initial politeness confirmed her suspicions. Unfortunately, she guessed the beginning of the story but not the ending. Xu Junran indeed gave her a pleasant surprise.

"Sister, I'm a straightforward person and like to be friends with people like Brother Tu. Don't mind it," Xu Junran said with a smile to Feng Yuan.

Feng Yuan also let it go and nodded with a smile. "I was being too formal."

After some small talk, everyone took their seats. By this time, Lin Yuqing had already brought the food and drinks. It was clear that she and Feng Yuan's family were old acquaintances, probably because Yuan Xiaoyue often brought them here to eat.

In the early 1980s, restaurants were not a popular industry. People usually had to buy things with coupons and had little extra money to eat out. Apart from workers and government employees who had the time to eat, there were few others.

As for the farmers in the countryside, they were still in the production team era, earning work points. It was already good if they didn't owe the team anything by the end of the year.

"Sister Feng, you haven't come to see me for several days," Lin Yuqing said after finishing her work and sitting down at the table with six home-cooked dishes.

Feng Yuan smiled and held Lin Yuqing's hand without any pretense. "You're just too strong-willed. If it were up to me, I would have my aunt help you find a job instead of you suffering here."

Hearing their conversation, Xu Junran was somewhat surprised. He had thought Lin Yuqing and Feng Yuan were not close, but now it seemed they had a special relationship.

Tu Wen Yong smiled and said, "Your sister-in-law's father stayed in Lin Yuqing's village when he went down to the countryside."

Xu Junran nodded, understanding the connection. No wonder they were so close. The relationship between educated youth and local farmers was always a topic of interest.

While eating, they chatted casually. Feng Yuan and Tu Wen Yong often asked Xu Junran about Beijing, and upon hearing about the changes in Beijing, everyone couldn't help but sigh. Among the people present, except for Lin Yuqing, they were all part of the system. Even the innocent Yuan Xiaoyue had been influenced by the changes in society. As for someone like Feng Yuan, who worked in the Organization Department, she knew very well that China was in a period of great transformation.

"Xiao Xu, I read about the special economic zones in the newspaper a few days ago. Do you think Pengfei City can really develop? It's capitalist, you know!"

Tu Wen Yong suddenly said to Xu Junran.

Feng Yuan's face changed, and she pulled Tu Wen Yong's arm. Her husband's words were a bit too much. In the past, such talk would have labeled him as a capitalist roader.

Xu Junran, however, smiled and waved his hand at Tu Wen Yong. "Brother Tu, remember, Pengfei's development is just a pilot project by the central government. We will definitely continue to follow the socialist path, but it will be a socialist path with Chinese characteristics. Whether it's a black cat or a white cat, as long as it catches the mouse, it's a good cat. The central government is paying attention to the nature of the system, but what matters most is that the people benefit. Just like the household responsibility system, whether it's contracted to households or groups, as long as it can develop the economy of our county, it can be implemented."

Hearing Xu Junran's words, Feng Yuan's eyes suddenly lit up.