The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 342 Farewell to the Jianghu, Taking Up a New Post

The wheels rhythmically struck the rails, producing a monotonous and continuous "clang, clang" sound, like an endless march, urging this dark green behemoth across the North China Plain and toward the shores of the Yellow Sea.

The afternoon sun slanted through the car windows into the deluxe sleeper compartment, casting shimmering spots of light on the dark brown floor and snow-white bedding.

Qian Jin sat back on the lower bunk, with a rolled-up dark blue cotton pillow behind him.

He kept a stack of newspapers next to him, which he used as a pillow when he slept, so he could read the contents when he woke up.

He's looking at policies.

These past few months have been busy with drought relief efforts, and I haven't had time to carefully study the changes in the country's industrial, agricultural, and commercial economic policies in recent years.

In July, the state convened a national labor and employment work conference, proposing to implement the policy of "combining employment introduction by labor departments, voluntary organization for employment, and self-employment under the overall planning and guidance of the state."

This policy is very important to him.

Ordinary people can now 'voluntarily organize themselves for employment and self-employment'.

For college and vocational school students, this is certainly not a desirable path, but for unemployed young people, this policy makes starting their own business feasible.

He cut out the article and pasted it into his notebook, then continued reading.

On August 18, Deng Xiaoping delivered a speech on "Reform of the Leadership System" at an enlarged meeting of principal leaders. He pointed out that the problems of the leadership system and organizational system are more fundamental, comprehensive, stable and long-term. The various drawbacks of the current system, such as bureaucracy, excessive concentration of power, paternalism and lifelong tenure of cadres, must be reformed.

Upon seeing this news, Qian Jin quickly cut it out.

This speech is extremely important; it will become a guiding document for our country's political system reform.

They discussed this matter during their trip to Beijing, which is a signal.

The veteran cadres who rose to power through the revolution are retiring to the second line, and the country will appoint younger leaders with sharper minds and higher levels of knowledge to the front line.

Qian Jin felt a secret sense of satisfaction as he recalled the envious looks his colleagues had given him.

A total of 55 officials from various cities and prefectures attended the establishment ceremony of the Approval Committee in Beijing.

Qian Jin is the youngest, even excessively young.

He's the only one who's not even thirty yet; the second youngest is already 38 and almost forty!
Continuing with the news, the Third Session of the Fifth National People's Congress was convened, and several laws were passed, including the Nationality Law, the Marriage Law, the Income Tax Law for Sino-Foreign Joint Ventures, and the Individual Income Tax Law.

Ordinary people might not understand this, but Qian Jin can.

The introduction of the Individual Income Tax Law provides a safeguard for the self-employed model for all citizens.

In addition, the State Economic Commission submitted a report entitled "Report on the Progress of Pilot Work on Expanding Enterprise Autonomy and Future Opinions," requiring that the work of expanding enterprise autonomy be fully implemented in state-owned industrial enterprises starting in 1981...

State-owned enterprises are going to be in competition!

The food at many companies isn't as good anymore!

Qian Jin turned to another newspaper and continued to read it carefully.

In those days, sleeper carriages were relatively quiet, unlike the noisy and crowded hard-seat carriages.

But noise is still everywhere.

Qian Jin was doing alright. The passengers in the berths next to him saw him reading the newspaper as soon as he got up, and that he dressed like a cadre, so they didn't dare to bother him.

Across from him was an elderly man in a gray cadre uniform and wearing glasses. He was probably visiting relatives in the capital with his granddaughter. His granddaughter said she was hungry, so he carefully peeled a boiled egg.

The little girl tried to grab it, but the old man glared at her and said, "Don't disturb my work."

Qian Jin smiled, took out a can of luncheon meat from his bag, opened it, poured it out, cut it with a knife, and pushed it to the little girl.

The little girl immediately began to wolf down her food.

The old man pinched his granddaughter and whispered, "Did you thank your uncle?"

The little girl quickly said, "Thank you, uncle. Thank you, uncle."

Qian Jin smiled and nodded at him.

Seeing his smile, the older comrade tentatively asked, "Comrade Qian Jin?"

Qian Jin was taken aback and looked closely at the old man: "Uncle, have we met before?"

Upon hearing this, the old comrade smiled and immediately extended his hand, saying, "We've never met, but I've seen you on TV."

Qian Jin shook hands with him, knowing that the man looked simple and honest, but his family must be quite well-off.

I took a sleeper train to visit relatives in the capital, and there was even a TV at home!

Moreover, he is now quite extraordinary, having already gained some fame in the coastal area, all thanks to his frequent appearances in newspapers and on television for his drought relief work.

The two greeted each other and gave brief introductions. It turned out that the old man was indeed a former leader who had worked in the government before his retirement.

The former leader's child has also become a leader and now works in the capital.

He asked Qian Jin what he was doing in the capital, but Qian Jin didn't answer directly. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the front page of a newspaper.

The newspaper is the People's Daily.

Its front-page headline is the usual political news, followed by a short article below the front page:

The National Approval Committee for Imported Technology and Equipment Projects was formally established.

[Reported by this newspaper] In order to adapt to the needs of socialist modernization, strengthen the unified management of technology import and equipment import, and improve the efficiency of import, the National Approval Committee for Imported Technology and Equipment Projects was officially established in Beijing recently with the approval of the State Council.

The committee will be responsible for the unified review, coordination, and management of technology import and equipment import nationwide...

The first batch of local branch office heads have been appointed and are taking up their posts one after another…

The text is concise, the report is official, and the content is somewhat dry.

But Qian Jin had read it several times, and now every single word in the newspaper was etched into his mind.

The appointment ceremony he had recently participated in was also on his mind.

The old comrade noticed his gaze and picked up the newspaper to take a look.

He placed the newspaper in the sunlight by the window, squinted his eyes and searched carefully, and soon found Qian Jin's name.

The veteran cadre was politically astute; he asked in surprise, "Oh, Comrade Qian Jin, are you the head of this organization's branch committee in Haibin City?"

Qian Jin nodded.

This is no secret; there's nothing to hide or conceal.

The veteran cadre gave a thumbs-up with admiration: "Excellent! In my judgment, your new agency has great power and great responsibility. Its establishment will be recorded in the history of the Republic."

"And you, Comrade Qian Jin, are also a part of this historical process, so I want to congratulate you!"

Qian Jin laughed and said, "Uncle, you're exaggerating. I think you should warn me. Working in our unit isn't easy."

Instead of constantly congratulating him, the veteran cadre actually nodded in agreement: "You are so young to be able to take charge of such an important department. You must have real talent. The fact that you can see this now is enough to prove your competence as the head of the subcommittee."

“When we were in the capital, my husband talked to me about your new agency. The power and responsibility you hold will be directly related to the country’s future technological upgrading and economic development.”

"As you said, your work will be very stressful in the future—what technologies will you introduce to the country? What equipment will you purchase? How will you balance the preciousness of the country's foreign exchange reserves with the local demand for development? How will you distinguish between genuine and fraudulent projects and their value?"

Qian Jin nodded admiringly.

The veteran cadre's words really hit the nail on the head.

"Clang!" The train passed a switch and lurched violently.

Qian Jin leaned against the metal box and looked out the window.

Outside was an endless plain.

The autumn harvest has already taken place here. The fields after the harvest appear vast and empty, with golden corn stubble stretching endlessly. Occasionally, one can see sorghum or millet that have not yet been harvested, swaying in the autumn wind in waves of deep red or light yellow.

In the distance, the outline of the production brigade was faintly visible in the bright sunlight, as were the figures of oxcarts, donkey carts, and the members of the production team.

The summer heat is like an old man who lingers in his twilight years; the sun still shines brightly during the day, but the wind that blows has already quietly brought the refreshing coolness of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the north.

Gazing at the harvested fields, Qian Jin thought about the work to be done in the future, and recalled some scenes from the capital a few days ago.

The week after welcoming the commando team back to the city, he, along with dozens of local representatives selected through a rigorous process across provinces and cities nationwide, accepted the appointment as the head of the new agency's subcommittee.

According to the initial plan, these newly appointed heads of local approval commissions would need to undergo a two-week intensive training in the capital to learn about relevant policies and regulations, approval procedures, negotiation skills, and the latest developments in international technology trade.

However, this year, too many regions of the country have suffered from natural disasters, and a large amount of foreign exchange originally intended for importing advanced industrial and agricultural technologies and equipment has been temporarily diverted to importing flood control and drought relief supplies.

Many factories' planned import projects have been shelved, foreign trade import and export businesses have been severely impacted, and backlogged project reports awaiting review have piled up in relevant departments.

Considering that time was of the essence, after an emergency discussion and careful vote by the relevant leadership units, it was decided to postpone the training.

Qian Jin and all the newly appointed heads of local approval commissions immediately returned to their respective jurisdictions to learn on the job and explore in practice.

At the same time, the higher authorities also gave clear instructions:

During the subsequent training period, the initial work performance of each person in charge will be rigorously assessed!

This puts a lot of pressure on many people, as there is no job guidance or business action tutorials, and they have to figure everything out on their own.

It's easy to make mistakes here.

Qian Jin felt no pressure about this; in fact, he was quite excited.

To start the project directly?
He is familiar with this!
Anyway, he has information on the country's successful introduction of advanced foreign production technologies and equipment, and he will find suitable candidates for factories and enterprises in his jurisdiction from this information.

As I reminisced, the train began to enter the seaside city.

The car window was opened, and a cool autumn breeze rushed in, blowing away the stuffiness on Qian Jin's body and bringing the scent of the fields outside the window.

The journey from the capital back to the coastal city is from northwest to southeast.

The cornfields to the northwest have already been harvested, but the cornfields in the coastal city are still neatly arranged.

However, some farmers have already started harvesting corn.

However, what they have in common is that the drought relief efforts in the north are gradually coming to an end.

As the train pulled into the station, Qian Jin could also discern some clues in the coastal city area.

Clearly, the city, which has just endured a severe test, has had its wounds slowly healed by the warm autumn sun and is now brimming with renewed vitality.

The factory has fully resumed operations, and it's time to leave work; the roads are as crowded with bicycles as ever.

The summer vacation has ended, and it's time for school to let out. At the gates of primary and secondary schools, many children, carrying the now-common military green satchels, are running around like wild boars.

After getting off the bus, I walked home through the streets and alleys.

On the way, he could hear the elderly people chatting about things that gradually shifted from "tap water" and "drought" to "what activities are happening on the streets for National Day", "where to buy mooncakes for this year's Mid-Autumn Festival", and "that old building next to the Taixiang Farmers Market is making a rumbling noise again".

In fact, it's not just this evening; the atmosphere in Haibin City has become more relaxed, regardless of whether it's morning or night, day or night.

This months-long battle against drought, after a period of intense national anxiety, is gradually coming to an end.

However, the nationwide drought relief efforts of that year left a lasting mark on the city's history, becoming a deep imprint in the city's memory and a profound recollection in the minds of urban and rural residents.

After returning home, Qian Jin looked through some newspapers and reviewed the information about this year's drought relief efforts.

It was completely different from the records in the books he bought at the mall, such as "Agricultural Records" and "Natural Disaster Records".

History changed dramatically in his hands!

When Qian Jin compared the two, he had a very strange feeling.

I cannot say for sure.

In any case, it is related to macro narratives such as changing history, helping the people, and contributing to the country.

The day after returning to Haibin City, Qian Jin did not immediately report to his new workplace.

He needs to go back to the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives to handle the transfer order.

Today was his day off, and to avoid interpersonal troubles, he didn't rush to the head office before work started. Otherwise, he would have run into so many acquaintances who would have kept him chatting non-stop.

After the start of the workday, he entered the headquarters building in the warm autumn sunshine.

He looked up at the gray-yellow office building with its distinct Soviet-style architecture from the entrance.

The building looked somewhat old under the autumn sun, but it held an important memory from his career.

He originally intended to go to the foreign company's office building, but after thinking about it, he went to the president Wei Bin's office first.

Wei Bin was bent over his desk reviewing documents.

Upon seeing the money come in, he immediately put down his pen, a warm yet complex smile spreading across his face.

We can't scold this kid so easily anymore.

Now, this person holds the same rank as him, and even wields more power—the Haibin City Approval Committee oversees most of the city and prefecture-level factories and enterprises within the province.

"Comrade Qian Jin is back? How was your trip to the capital?" Wei Bin stood up, walked around the large desk, and extended his hand.

"Hello, Director Wei. Thanks to your kind words, things went quite smoothly." Qian Jin shook Wei Bin's hand firmly. "It's just that the time was tight, the task was heavy, and the pressure was considerable."

At this point, the conversation between the two people was no longer between superiors and subordinates, but had become a friendly exchange between colleagues of the same rank.

"I understand, I understand." Wei Bin patted the back of his hand; in the past, he would have patted Qian Jin on the shoulder.

"I saw the news about the establishment of your Approval Committee, and it's clear that the national leaders have high hopes for your organization."

"You could say that this is quite an impressive new government office!"

"With greater power comes greater responsibility!"

"Your selection as the person in charge is a testament to the organization's trust in you and an honor for our supply and marketing cooperative!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wei Bin personally accompanied Qian Jin to the personnel department to complete the transfer procedures.

With the president personally accompanying them, the procedures were completed exceptionally smoothly.

The personnel department has a new head, a female.

This woman was quick and efficient and knew how to handle things. She personally entertained the two leaders and then instructed her secretary to retrieve Qian Jin's file folder: "Be sure to be careful and don't miss any materials."

The female section chief brought out the file folder and then took out several forms that needed to be signed.

Qian Jin signed his name in the "Opinion of the Transferring Unit" column, and watched as the head of the personnel department neatly wrote "Haibin City Branch of the National Approval Committee for Imported Technology and Equipment Projects" in the "Transferring Unit" column, and then stamped it with the bright red official seal of the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.

The entire process, from searching to completing the task, took less than twenty minutes.

As the last form was stamped and became valid, Qian Jin watched the bright red seal fall, and a feeling he couldn't quite describe welled up inside him.

This means that his three-year working relationship with the supply and marketing cooperative has officially come to an end.

"The formalities are complete." The head of the personnel department handed Qian Jin a stamped copy of the transfer order. "Director Qian, we wish you a smooth transition to your new position!"

"Thank you, Section Chief Wang." Qian Jin accepted the transfer order and carefully put it away.

Wei Bin looked at Qian Jin and extended his hand again: "Now I have to give a fair assessment. You did a great job in the Foreign Business Office and cultivated a group of top business professionals for our unit."

"If nothing unexpected happens this year, your department—no, our Foreign Investment Office—should win an Outstanding Department Award from the National Head Office." Qian Jin sighed, unsure of what to say.

From then on, Xiao Lang was just a stranger.

He's an outsider now, so I can only offer my congratulations.

Wei Bin waved to him: "We've finished the formalities here. Go to the Foreign Investment Office and say goodbye to your old colleagues. They'll definitely miss you."

"We'll have many opportunities to meet after we get here. The next time we meet, you, Director Qian, won't be the same Director Qian you used to be!"

They are all directors.

Their job titles and authority are completely different.

No wonder the country is reforming its official ranking system; things are too chaotic right now.

Qian Jin nodded: "Okay, Director Wei, I'll be right there. See you next time."

The foreign business office is now busier with more business.

Qian Jin walked up the familiar wooden stairs, some parts of which were worn shiny.

An employee was hurrying downstairs when he glanced over and exclaimed with delight, "Director Qian!"

Before Qian Jin could respond, he scurried upstairs again, shouting, "Director Qian is back! Our director is back!"

Qian Jin realized this wouldn't do.

He couldn't be stuck in the stairwell, otherwise it would be inappropriate, so he quickly quickened his pace and went upstairs.

Then they were trapped in the corridor:
"Director Qian, you're finally back..."

"We miss you so much, you haven't been with us much this year..."

"Make way, make way! Director Qian, you went to the capital, you must be tired. Go to your office and rest..."

Qian Jin was somewhat puzzled and said, "It can't be that bad, can it? Didn't you read the newspaper? You can't possibly not know I was transferred to..."

"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!" Cheng Xia squeezed in to interrupt him, grabbing his wrist and leading him to the director's office door.

The office was just as it had been when he left, still spotless.

The dark brown desk was neatly arranged with documents, reports, English correspondence, a typewriter, and a fax machine.

The wall is covered with world and China maps, as well as portraits of great figures that he himself nailed up.

The others behind them shook their heads, saying, "We don't know anything."

The young girl, Li Xiang, said with a slight sob in her voice, "Yes, we knew it. Once you come to the Foreign Investment Office, you'll be our Director Qian!"

Everyone nodded vigorously.

Qian Jin was held hostage by them.

These people are really good at creating drama; they've made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

Riding a swift horse in the spring breeze, I disbelieve in the possibility of separation in this world.

But all good things must come to an end.

The employees in the main office continued to come out and surround him, and greetings such as "Hello, Director Qian" and "Director Qian, you're finally back" kept ringing out.

Looking at these familiar faces and hearing these familiar voices, Qian Jin was filled with mixed emotions.

Some things don't need to be delayed.

Qian Jin didn't go into the director's office, but went into the main office, and then said crisply, "Dear colleagues, my comrades and my fellow soldiers, as you can guess, I've come here today to say goodbye."

“My work has been officially transferred to the newly established Approval Commission—that’s good, isn’t it? We’ll still be dealing with foreigners, and we’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact with them in the future.”

Then the atmosphere in the office froze instantly.

The surprise turned into silence, and Qian Jin could feel a strong sense of reluctance in the air.

"Director Qian, are you... are you really leaving?" Li Xiang, who had worked alongside him for many years, immediately teared up. "What will our Foreign Investment Office do if you leave?"

“Yes, Director Qian,” Sun Meijuan said softly, “You led us in foreign trade, taught us foreign languages, and helped us research. With you around, our department had a pillar of support. Now that you’re gone, we feel uncertain…”

Others chimed in.

Sun Jian looked up at him, his expression even more complicated than Qian Jin's: "Director Qian, our department really can't do without you."

Qian Jin patted him on the shoulder: "What did I tell you? A grown man, a grown man, don't say the word 'no,' or I'll argue with you every time you say it."

He then smiled and said to everyone, "There's no need to be so sad, everyone. I'm being transferred, not dead. We'll have plenty of opportunities to meet again in the future..."

"Pah, pah, pah, Director Qian, don't talk nonsense." Li Xiang quickly waved her hand.

Cheng Xia sighed heavily and called out to the crowd, "Alright, comrades, Director Qian is getting a promotion, it's a good thing! We're all reluctant to see him go, but as the old saying goes, you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub..."

"Can you use that phrase like that?" Someone immediately laughed.

The atmosphere finally relaxed.

Cheng Xia laughed too: "Pretty much. Anyway, if Director Qian can't bear to leave our Foreign Investment Office, then he can't go to the Approval Committee. So, you guys choose one: stay here for us or get promoted to a new unit for the country?"

Now no one had any objections.

Cheng Xia walked up to Qian Jin, extended his large, strong hand and shook hands with him: "To be honest, Director Qian, I, Cheng, really hate to see you go! You built this Foreign Investment Office from scratch, and we really feel confident working with you."

"Our department is probably quite well-known throughout the national supply and marketing cooperative system now. We negotiate with foreigners, import all kinds of goods, and open up sales channels for various materials. It's all thanks to you..."

The retired military officer's voice betrayed a hint of sadness: "I still remember the scene when our unit was first established..."

"Back then, Director Cheng, you even wanted to sideline Director Qian," Sun Jian laughed. "Of course, I also overestimated myself and had that idea."

Cheng Xia wasn't embarrassed; he laughed and said, "You're telling the truth. After witnessing how formidable Director Qian was, I immediately became obedient. Well, Director Sun, you're even more obedient than me."

Then he said to Qian Jin, "I heard that your Approval Committee is a big temple, with a group of big Buddhas transferred from many cities and prefectures."

"Director Qian, you'll probably be busy for a while longer."

Qian Jin laughed nonchalantly: "When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it!"

A young man said impetuously, "Director Qian, it's alright. If you can't handle him..."

"Don't talk nonsense. Director Qian can handle those arrogant Englishmen at the ICI, and he can even handle drought conditions. How much more so can he handle his own subordinates?" Sun Jian winked at the young man.

He pushed up his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses slightly moist: "Director Qian, at this point, we're all family here, so I won't say anything outside the rules."

"We are truly grateful to you, not only for leading us to achieve results, but also for your strict demands on us!"

He started it, and the others immediately chimed in with their own opinions:

"Yes, I am very grateful to you for pushing us to learn foreign languages, forcing us to watch those original foreign films, and forcing us to study those thick international trade rules and English contract templates..."

"They even forced us to take the grueling exams you organized. If we failed three times, we'd be transferred. The pressure was immense..."

"What are you all saying? I wasn't forced, I did it voluntarily..."

"Hey, look who's hiding among the sheep! What are you trying to prove, you dark-skinned bum? I'm reporting Xiao Su; he's been complaining behind my back about how strict Director Qian is with our studies..."

The crowd roared with laughter.

Xiao Su quickly said, "I complained at first, but I later really understood Director Qian's good intentions."

"If he hadn't forced us back then, we wouldn't have the ability to handle foreign business correspondence independently and negotiate basic business with foreign businesses today!"

“That’s true,” Sun Jian said with deep emotion. He grasped Qian Jin’s right hand with both of his hands and said earnestly, “Director Qian, the learning method you taught us is the most important. It’s a real skill that can sustain us for a lifetime!”

Li Xiang asked, "Director Qian, now that you're leaving, will we still have those learning benefits? Like watching foreign movies, movies from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and listening to foreign songs and popular songs from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan?"

Qian Jin laughed and said, "Of course you can. This won't be considered a welfare benefit anymore. The country is about to loosen its control over culture. You can watch it at home or in the cinema, openly and legitimately!"

This inspired the young people.

That's good news.

Sun Meijuan asked, "What about the business study groups you organized? Will they be held again in the future?"

Qian Jin laughed and said, "You guys are quite capable now, you can all work on your own, don't you want to learn..."

"Yes! I want to learn!" Sun Meijuan said enthusiastically.

Then she added, "But without you guiding us in analyzing cases and simulating negotiations, we wouldn't have anything to learn."

The others nodded in agreement.

These are not just empty words.

Qian Jin forced them to study and improve their professional skills, which made them suffer a lot.

But it's just like drought relief work.

With the drought successfully controlled, the autumn harvest season has arrived, bringing a bumper harvest.

Although their studies were tiring, the gains in their abilities were immense!

Currently, the foreign business offices of the supply and marketing cooperatives in various cities and prefectures within the province frequently conduct business together or exchange ideas, and Haibin City is undoubtedly the leading city in this regard.

After meeting their colleagues from other organizations, they realized—not targeting anyone in particular, but I'm saying you're all a bunch of weaklings.

Now, some key staff members in the Foreign Investment Office have a vague idea that they are about to be promoted and will probably be transferred to other Foreign Investment Offices in the province as leaders.

Who is responsible for this?
It was indeed through money.

So everyone's gratitude came from the bottom of their hearts, which stirred up a lot of emotions in Qian Jin, leaving him with a strange feeling.

He wiped his mouth and sighed, "Comrades, thank you for your understanding. To be honest, as the former director of the Foreign Trade Office, I have let you all down, and I have let down the Foreign Trade Office!"

"Helping factories introduce equipment, helping them fight against unfair foreign trade practices, and later participating in drought relief, disaster relief, and rural outreach..."

He shook his head and let out a long sigh.

These things took up too much of his energy.

Many tasks were figured out by these people themselves, so everyone thanked him, but he still felt somewhat ashamed.

However, as he said, there's no need for everyone to be sentimental.

We'll all be working in the same city, and our workplaces are even only two kilometers apart as the crow flies, so we'll have plenty of opportunities to meet in the future.

He said, "Don't believe me. Actually, you all rely on yourselves. The Foreign Investment Office is supported by everyone. I, as the director, am actually not doing a good job!"

"Director Qian, please don't say that," Sun Jian said hurriedly. "Although you are often away from home, your heart is always with the Foreign Business Office..."

Qian Jin looked at him in astonishment.

Seriously, man, you actually said that?
Sun Jian explained, "What I mean is, every time you come back, you bring us new ideas for solving our work, and you can actually solve any problems we encounter over the phone—in short, you are our backbone!"

"Yes, Director Qian," everyone echoed.

Qian Jin laughed and said, "From now on, you'll have a new pillar of support. But if you want to learn, I, Qian Jin, am still welcome."

“We at the Approval Committee will also have to learn from this in the future. The content of the learning is quite similar to your work environment. If you are willing to continue learning, then I, Qian Jin, welcome you!”

"Great!" Li Xiang clapped and cheered.

Sun Jian was also very happy: "Director Qian, you can't lie to us about this."

“That’s absolutely impossible,” Qian Jin thought for a moment and said, “You all know that I have a training school on Kunlun Mountain Road. I will probably be running foreign trade and foreign language classes there on weekends.”

"Since you're interested, I'll save you seats first..."

"I'm definitely interested, I, Lao Cheng, will sign up!" Cheng Xia was the first to respond.

Others also flocked to respond.

Sun Jian teased Cheng Xia: "Deputy Director Cheng, aren't you the one who hates studying and taking exams the most?"

Cheng Xia said, "But you can't improve without studying. In the future, we still need to seek progress!"

Qian Jin guessed that Wei Bin must have talked to him and made some promises to him.

Very normal.

The foreign trade office in Haibin City is doing well. With the current momentum of reform and opening up, supply and marketing cooperatives in various cities need foreign trade talents.

The people Qian Jin has are like seeds; if scattered everywhere, they can grow into towering trees.

He asked Sun Jian to compile a list of colleagues who went to the training course, and appointed Li Xiang as the class's study committee member, instructing her to compile the list of participants for each session in order to develop the curriculum.

Then he returned to his director's office, took out his keychain from his desk drawer, and slapped it to Sun Jian.

“Comrade Sun Jian,” Qian Jin said, his tone becoming more serious, “the Foreign Investment Office can rely on you from now on. Do a good job.”

Sun Jian nodded silently and solemnly.

Wei Bin must have spoken with him before he took over Qian Jin's position, so there was no need for Qian Jin to keep it a secret.

Holding the cold brass key, Sun Jian was overwhelmed with emotion: "Director Qian, to be honest, I'm really worried that I'm not up to the task of managing the Foreign Investment Office. I'm not like you, I don't have you..."

“You’re capable!” Qian Jin interrupted him, his tone resolute. “I’ve seen your abilities and your sense of responsibility, and the leaders have seen them even more!”

"I've rarely been to the office these past two years, so why hasn't our department run into any problems? It's because you've been in charge!"

"So you need to have confidence in yourself. The leaders and I have confidence in you. We are all at ease entrusting the Foreign Investment Office to you!"

He glanced at the time, waved his hand, and said, "It's getting late. I won't disturb your work any longer. I should leave now."

"I'm entrusting this key and the responsibility of the Foreign Investment Office to you! I believe you can do a better job than I can!"

Sun Jian shook his head inwardly.

He knew he wouldn't do a better job than Qian Jin.

But he will try his best.

He took a deep breath and said firmly, "Director Qian, I will definitely live up to your trust and the organization's expectations! I will do my best to do all the work of the Foreign Investment Office well!"

Qian Jin nodded with satisfaction.

He then shook hands with Cheng Xia, Li Xiang, Sun Meijuan, and others to say goodbye.

At this point, no further words are needed; everything is understood without being said.

Finally, Qian Jin took one last deep look at the office that had served him for two or three years, turned around, and strode out.

He walked out of the office building, and the windows above him were crowded with heads and arms sticking out.

Qian Jin waved to them, leaving without a trace of sorrow.

(End of this chapter)