Chapter 46

"Li Qiankun, what are you doing..."

Before Fu Zui could finish his sentence, a cheer erupted from the crowd.

Immediately after, the sound of gongs and drums filled the air, and Fu Zui saw the crowd suddenly become lively.

Turning his head slightly, he saw Xu Junran walking towards him with a smile on his face.

Before Fu Zui could speak, Xu Junran grabbed his hand and said with a beaming face, "Minister, you truly have great prestige. I heard that so many people spontaneously organized to welcome you."

As he spoke, Xu Junran gave a meaningful look to Li Qiankun, the People's Commune Chief and Party Secretary of Li Family Town: "Isn't that right, Secretary Li?"

Li Qiankun, a quick-witted person, immediately understood that Xu Junran was trying to help him and Fu Zui save face. He quickly responded, "Yes, yes, the villagers heard that Minister Fu was coming and specially organized a welcome for you. Minister, please come in."

He wasn't stupid and could see that Fu Zui's expression was not good. He soon realized that Minister Fu was dissatisfied with the grand welcome arranged by the Li Family Town Commune.

Thinking about it, he felt a headache. When the elders of the clan heard that Xu Junran was returning to serve as the Deputy Party Secretary of the Li Family Town Commune, they were overjoyed. Even the old scholar, Mr. Long Yin Yue, was so happy that he kept stroking his beard and laughing. After a discussion, the elders decided to organize a grand welcome ceremony, just like when they sent Xu Junran off to university, to warmly welcome the pride of Li Family Town.

Li Qiankun tried to dissuade them a few times but almost got beaten by Li Youde, his paternal uncle. Li Qiankun's father had passed away in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the old man had raised him, acting as a father figure. Seeing the old man really angry, he could only swallow his frustration.

Other members of the commune's party committee, even if they were dissatisfied with the high-level welcome ceremony, had no choice. This was the situation in Li Family Town, and not just there. In the entire Wude County, the situation was similar in all the communes. The clan power of several major families was extremely strong, and often the words of the clan elders were more effective than those of the county or commune leaders.

Just like today, the Li Family elders were clearly trying to establish Xu Junran's authority and show his status in Li Family Town.

"Cough, cough, since that's the case, let's go."

Fu Zui was also a smart person and knew that insisting on this matter would not end well. He decided to let it go and followed Li Qiankun inside.

Li Qiankun slightly lagged behind, nodded to Xu Junran, and called over a young man, giving him some instructions in a low voice. The young man then left, and Li Qiankun continued to follow Fu Zui inside.

The young man ran to Li Youde and Long Yin Yue, said a few words, and Li Youde's eyes widened, ready to react, but was stopped by the calm Long Yin Yue.

"Let it be. Our goal today has been achieved, to boost Junran's momentum. The rest, let Qiankun handle it."

Long Yin Yue said to Li Youde and the other elders of the Li family.

They exchanged glances and then instructed the crowd outside the commune compound to disperse.

The Li Family Town People's Commune compound had six production brigades, and the number of smaller teams under them was considerable. Most of them were surnamed Li or had close ties to the Li family. This situation was common in at least four or five of the eleven communes in Wude County, with Li Family Town, Da Wangzhuang, and Qin Family Fort being the most prominent.

At this moment, in the small auditorium of the Li Family Town People's Commune compound, members of the various production brigades and management committees were gathered, along with the commune and party committee officials, nearly a hundred people, making the auditorium quite crowded.

Fu Zui sat in the center, flanked by Li Qiankun and Xu Junran, and other leaders of the Li Family Town Commune.

Li Qiankun presided over the meeting and said with a serious expression, "Next, please allow Comrade Fu Zui, the County Party Committee Organization Minister, to announce the personnel appointment decision of the County Party Committee and County Government."

Fu Zui cleared his throat, looked around the officials with a stern gaze, and then slowly said, "After careful consideration by the County Party Committee and County Government, Comrade Xu Junran is appointed as the Deputy Party Secretary and Deputy Chief of the Li Family Town People's Commune, responsible for economic work, overseeing finance, taxation, and financial matters."

He paused and then began to introduce Xu Junran's background: "Comrade Xu Junran graduated from the Chinese Department of Jinghua University, one of the first university graduates after the restoration of the college entrance examination. This comrade has a high level of personal awareness and voluntarily gave up the favorable working conditions in a big city to return to our Wude County to serve his hometown. Now, let's give a warm welcome to Comrade Xu Junran to speak."

The room immediately erupted in applause. Most people here knew Xu Junran or had heard of him and understood that he was one of their own. The simple mountain people did not care much about how outsiders viewed them; they were the type who would support their own without hesitation.

Xu Junran's face was calm, barely suppressing his inner excitement. When the applause gradually subsided, he said, "Many of you here have watched me grow up. This is my home, the place where I grew up. Since I was young, I have hoped to make the villagers well-fed and warm. In the future, I will strive for this goal!"

The applause erupted again, even more enthusiastically than when Fu Zui spoke.

The meeting ended quickly, and after the crowd dispersed, Li Qiankun and Xu Junran escorted Fu Zui to the gate, as he had another meeting in the afternoon and needed to return to the county.

"Minister Fu, thank you for your trouble today," Xu Junran said respectfully.

Fu Zui laughed and patted Xu Junran on the shoulder, "Young man, work hard!"

With that, he turned and got into the jeep, driving away.

Watching the jeep drive off, Xu Junran suddenly said, "Uncle Qiankun, you've offended Minister Fu today."

Li Qiankun was taken aback, then his face turned bitter. He slapped Xu Junran's head and said angrily, "It's all your fault, you little rascal! If it weren't for you, why would the old man have arranged such a grand welcome? Now, Fu Zui will definitely hate me, and your Uncle Qiankun's promotion is out of the question."

Xu Junran laughed, "Uncle Qiankun, you're really obsessed with your career. If Grandpa hears you say that, he'll beat you with his cane again."

When Li Qiankun first became the commune chief, he was called a careerist by Li Youde and even got a few beatings, which made Xu Junran and the other younger generations laugh for a long time.

Li Qiankun shook his head helplessly. He had no way to deal with this young man he had watched grow up. He put his arm around Xu Junran's shoulder and said, "Let's go inside. I'll introduce you to the members of the commune party committee."

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