Chapter 57

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Xu Junran knew that in the current situation, it was impossible for him to bring down the Huang family. He could only wait for an opportunity.

The most important thing was to find a way to make the Huang family dare not move against him.

Xu Junran didn't think that Huang Ziqi, the Secretary of the Organization Department of the Municipal Committee, would remain silent forever. If his memory served him right, in less than two years, Huang Ziqi would become the Secretary of the Organization Department of Quanzhou City and would rise steadily from there, eventually becoming a high-ranking official in Jiangnan Province from the position of Secretary of Quanzhou City.

If that were to happen, he would likely never escape Huang Ziqi's suppression for the rest of his life.

Therefore, no matter what, Xu Junran knew he had to find a way to not only prevent the Huang family from moving against him but also to get them to help him clean up the mess.

"Brother, let's put the article aside for now. I'll think about it some more and see if I can get it published in the internal reference." Xu Junran thought for a moment and said to Cao Junming.

Cao Junming was taken aback, then understood and shook his head, saying, "Why go to such lengths?"

He wasn't stupid and quickly realized that Xu Junran was issuing a challenge to Huang Zixuan.

Xu Junran didn't break the silence but smiled slightly and said, "After all, we are old classmates. I need to let him know that I, Xu Junran, am back!"

Cao Junming sighed but didn't say anything, just nodded silently.

After considering for a while, Xu Junran decided to act quickly. Since he had met with Cao Junming, he needed to get the rest of the matters done as soon as possible.

"Brother, there's one more thing that requires your wife's help."

Cao Junming's wife, Jin Li, worked at the Agricultural Research Institute. Her father was an expert in Chinese agriculture.

"What is it?" Cao Junming knew that Xu Junran was the type who wouldn't ask for help unless it was absolutely necessary. In school, he would rather eat a bun for a meal than ask for help. Today, he was asking for help, which made Cao Junming very happy.

Xu Junran explained his plan to start rice field fish farming in Lijia Town and concluded, "I want to ask your wife to help by conducting a pilot project in our commune under the name of the Agricultural Research Institute. This way, the county can support us better."

Cao Junming nodded, "That's a small matter. I'll talk to my wife later and have her apply for a project. She can lead an inspection team to Quanzhou, and it will be done."

Xu Junran smiled bitterly. The matter that had him and Yan Wangsong and Yang Weitian scratching their heads was just a phone call for others, which was truly something to marvel at.

Xu Junran took out the materials on rice field fish farming from his bag and handed them to Cao Junming. He had spent two nights writing them, believing they would provide some inspiration and help to Cao Junming's wife. Xu Junran also believed that after reading these materials, the professors at the Agricultural Research Institute would be willing to visit Wude County.

Cao Junming didn't understand these things, but he knew Xu Junran's feelings for his hometown and naturally took the matter to heart.

After chatting for a while, Xu Junran said, "By the way, Brother, can you help me book two train tickets to Lingnan Quanzhou?"

"You're going to Lingnan?" Cao Junming was somewhat surprised.

Xu Junran nodded, "I plan to start a construction team and get my second brother to help."

Cao Junming frowned, "That's not a good idea. There are many projects there, but if you go there rashly, even if your second brother wants to help, it will be difficult."

Hearing this, Xu Junran became curious and looked at Cao Junming, "Brother, what's the matter?"

Cao Junming patiently explained, "This isn't as easy as you think. Don't rush to Lingnan. Call Junwei tonight, and we'll have a good chat."

Looking outside, Cao Junming added, "Let's go, I'm about to finish work."

On the way, many people greeted Cao Junming, and Xu Junran joked, "Brother, you're a celebrity."

Cao Junming patted him, "Who's like you, always studying in the dormitory and library."

The two got on the bus and soon returned to Cao Junming's home.

At that time, most people lived in unit dormitories, with several families sharing a floor, which was quite lively. However, Cao Junming and his wife were not ordinary, so they didn't live in such conditions. They lived in a separate small house near the Gong王府 (Gong Wang Fu), which was assigned to Jin Li's father by the unit. The old man had only one daughter, and his wife had passed away early, so he let his daughter and son-in-law live with him.

Jin Chengyou was a man in his sixties, wearing glasses. Seeing his son-in-law bring in a young man, he was slightly surprised. Then he heard Cao Junming laugh, "Dad, this is Junran, the youngest in our dormitory. Do you remember him?"

Xu Junran stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the old man, "Hello, Uncle Jin, I am Xu Junran."

He held deep respect for this old man.

Jin Chengyou was a senior expert enjoying key national allowances, but he wasn't the type to stay in the office. Even in his eighties, he would go to the fields to conduct research, making significant contributions to the improvement of rice varieties in rural areas. Even in his last moments, he spent his time by the rice fields, and in his hands was a rice seedling!

Such a person deserved his respect.

Some say that thirty years later, it was an era without heroes. The thirty years of reform and opening up brought about tremendous changes to China, both in cities and rural areas. The three major items of the 1980s—television, watches, and bicycles—had been phased out by the wheels of history. The ideal of "electric lights, telephones, and modern plows and hoes" had become a reality, and color TVs and refrigerators had entered ordinary households. With the continuous increase in people's income, housing conditions had also improved significantly, and the old mud houses and thatched cottages had become places for people to recall the past.

However, as people's material lives improved, the gradual loss of spiritual life was a cause for concern. Vulgar language, indifference to uncivilized behavior, and other issues were telling a harsh truth: when someone was fighting alone on the front lines against fraud, the silence of the majority made it difficult for him to succeed; when people were grieving over the loss of loved ones in earthquakes, and the world was watching a small part of China, some individuals and companies were profiting from the national disaster...

Without the loss of spirit, there would be no corruption and bribery. Without the rampant material desires, there would be no unfair phenomena.

In contrast, the 1980s were not lacking in heroes!

Xu Junran had heard Jin Chengyou's name more than once. Seeing the old man now, he could no longer contain his inner excitement.

For someone born and raised in the countryside, this old man was a hero.