Chapter 78

Lu Zheng smiled and greeted, "Director Cheng." Cheng Mingyuan didn't like others calling him "Old Cheng," a taboo that Cheng Kai had secretly told Lu Zheng about.

Cheng Mingyuan nodded and said, "A gentleman should be slow to speak but quick to act. Well done!" Cheng Mingyuan always spoke with a scholarly air, reflecting his former role as a leader in the cultural system.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "You flatter me too much. Old Zhang is sleeping. As a young man, should I wake him up? Visiting him is just a gesture, and the gesture is enough."

Cheng Mingyuan looked through the hospital window at the lonely father and son inside and said, "Do you think this gesture shouldn't be known by Old Zhang? It would be a comfort to him!"

Clearly, Cheng Mingyuan was reflecting on how people's attitudes changed after Old Zhang retired, in stark contrast to the bustling scene in Old Zhu's ward. Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Director Cheng, I don't think the lack of visitors for Old Zhang is due to the coldness of the world. When a patient is admitted, the visits are frequent, one after another, making it hard to keep up. But after some time, the visitors become fewer. After all, they are not family and can't come often. For the patient, it's often during the later stages of hospitalization, just before discharge, that they feel lonely. Their condition stabilizes, and they have the energy to talk, but there's no one around."

"So I think, caring for a patient should be done with sincerity."

Cheng Mingyuan looked at Lu Zheng with surprise and, after a moment, nodded. "So, you chose to visit Old Zhang now?"

Lu Zheng nodded slightly and said, "I've already visited Old Zhu. I'll go again when he's feeling better. I'll visit him more often then. Right now, Old Zhu is worried about his condition and is physically weak. Dealing with visitors is actually a tiring and difficult task for him."

Cheng Mingyuan was silent for a long time and finally nodded. "It's rare to see such thoughtfulness in a young person like you."

Lu Zheng smiled but didn't say anything.

Cheng Mingyuan waved his hand and said, "Let's go. I'll follow your example and not disturb him. I'll come back tomorrow. Let's walk together; I've been wanting to chat with you."

As they talked, the two of them walked down the stairs together.

...

The next morning, at the request of Old Huang, Lu Zheng accompanied An Yiming to Qinglong. This time, the treatment was much different. Lu Zheng had called ahead, and when he and An Yiming, along with the accompanying financial and planning personnel, arrived at the Qinglong County Reception House, Ma Weiguo was there with a group of officials, including Deputy Secretary Zhao Pingfan from Matouying Commune, who had come to greet An Yiming's group.

An Yiming originally wanted to visit the communes immediately, but Ma Weiguo stopped him, saying it was almost noon and they should have a meal first. The food was already arranged in the county reception house canteen, and they could eat a simple meal.

Unable to refuse the hospitality, An Yiming and Lu Zheng exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

Zhao Pingfan, feeling helpless, had to use the reception house phone to call back and inform the secretary, director, and the welcoming crowd that the reception had to be rescheduled for the afternoon.

Although Ma Weiguo said they would eat a simple meal in the canteen, the small restaurant in the reception house was filled with a lavish spread. At the table, Ma Weiguo frequently urged An Yiming to drink. It wasn't hard to imagine what An Yiming, this financial god, meant to Ma Weiguo, a promising official eager to achieve something. If Qinglong could attract investment through An Yiming, it would be the first foreign investment, and Ma Weiguo's name would be recorded in Qinglong's history.

Lu Zheng was naturally seated next to An Yiming, and Ma Weiguo treated him very politely, introducing him to all the officials. At the table, many people toasted Lu Zheng, and he and Ma Weiguo clinked glasses warmly. At that moment, the officials present, who didn't know the details, thought that Lu and Ma were old colleagues with a close relationship.

The local officials were all good drinkers, and after several glasses of white wine, Lu Zheng felt he couldn't keep up. He whispered to Ma Weiguo, "I need to use the restroom." Ma Weiguo smiled and nodded.

To the others, this whispered conversation made them even more convinced of their close relationship.

Lu Zheng lifted the curtain and left the room, and saw Zhao Pingfan hurrying over, looking somewhat displeased.

"Director Lu," Zhao Pingfan greeted, lifting the curtain to look inside. He saw Ma Weiguo raising his glass to An Yiming, and a look of displeasure flashed across his face as he slowly let the curtain fall.

Lu Zheng took out a cigarette and said, "Let's go for a smoke? It's a bit stuffy in there."

Zhao Pingfan sighed and nodded.

The environment of the Qinglong County Reception House was quite good, with greenery and rock formations outside the restaurant, creating a serene atmosphere.

The sun was already quite strong at noon, so Lu Zheng and Zhao Pingfan found a shady spot by the rock formations, where a gentle breeze provided a cool and comfortable feeling.

Seeing the Red Pagoda cigarette Lu Zheng offered, Zhao Pingfan smiled bitterly. "Is Director Lu also in business?"

Now, it wasn't a big taboo for officials to do a bit of business on the side. Even the central government had issued documents encouraging party members and officials to lead the way in business, and some high-ranking officials who had resigned to start businesses were held up as role models.

Lu Zheng knew that a few years later, when the Shenzhen Stock Exchange was established, no one wanted to buy stocks, as many people considered stocks to be a form of gambling. The central government then issued a directive requiring party members and officials to lead the way in buying stocks, even setting minimum purchase amounts for officials at different levels. This was to ensure that these people would benefit from the initial boom in the stock market, given the significant influence of the government on the market.

Zhao Pingfan's question, which would have shocked many officials twenty years later, was not a big deal now. Lu Zheng smiled and said, "I have family in business."

Zhao Pingfan smiled and said, "I believe Director Lu would be very successful in business. I've heard that many businessmen in Guangning have benefited from your ideas."

Clearly, after their first meeting, Zhao Pingfan had quickly found out about Lu Zheng's background.

Lu Zheng smiled and waved his hand. "That's just hearsay, not to be taken seriously."

Zhao Pingfan said sincerely, "But I think Director Lu should focus on his career and serve as a local official for a few terms. That would be a blessing for the people. The various proposals you made in Guangning are now being implemented, and I believe they will prove to be effective in the future."

Last month, Jiang Haiyan had been appointed as the Party Secretary of Guangning County, and the relocation of the fertilizer factory had already begun. Through a transparent bidding process, a contractor had been selected, and a financial oversight committee composed of veteran workers had been elected.

Another state-owned enterprise reform was also underway using the same model.

Essentially, everything was following the path set by Lu Zheng.

Not long ago, the provincial advisory committee had proposed the establishment of a "Fine Law" to the central government, which had received significant attention. The initial proposal had come from the legal system in Guangning.

Although the current driving force behind the reforms was Jiang Haiyan, in the eyes of officials familiar with the grassroots situation in the surrounding areas, Lu Zheng was undoubtedly the true pioneer.

It seemed that Zhao Pingfan had also thoroughly investigated these matters and genuinely admired Lu Zheng's ideas and courage, speaking with sincerity.

Lu Zheng smiled, smoked, and remained silent.

Zhao Pingfan sighed. "It's a pity. Those who stand out are often misunderstood and marginalized."

Lu Zheng smiled. "You're putting me on a pedestal, let's not talk about this." From their first meeting, Lu Zheng had a good impression of Zhao Pingfan, who was not only skilled in politics but also had his own ideas and principles.

Now, seeing Zhao Pingfan confide in him, Lu Zheng changed his address to him.

Zhao Pingfan smiled. "Alright, what do you want to talk about?" Clearly, with his shrewdness, he could sense Lu Zheng's closeness.

Lu Zheng said, "Let's be down-to-earth and talk about the rural primary schools. That's our most important task now."

Zhao Pingfan nodded but then shook his head. "Can we really do it? I think County Magistrate Weiguo would rather keep An Yiming in Qinglong and have him invest in a hotel in the county. I can't understand why he would do such a thing."

Ten minutes ago, Zhao Pingfan wouldn't have said such things to Lu Zheng, but now he felt close to him and could talk freely.

Lu Zheng smiled. "Building a hotel and donating to education are not contradictory. This isn't a zero-sum game. Even if you gave Ma Weiguo ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to interfere with Old Huang's plans. It will just be a hassle for the officials waiting for An Yiming. They were told he would arrive at noon, but I think it might be late afternoon or even evening."

Mentioning this, Zhao Pingfan shook his head helplessly. Just now, he had called Zhang Secretary to inform him that An Yiming might arrive