Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

"Humility is a good thing, but we should also acknowledge what deserves recognition," Gao Yuliang waved his hand.

"You're more composed than you were in school, and you consider things more thoroughly. This shows that practice is the best teacher. Secretary Pei Yihong is a leader with vision and decisiveness. You should follow him closely, learn more, observe more, and think more."

He then shifted his tone, adding a hint of advice: "However, the officialdom is different from school, and also different from the county party committee office. The higher you go, the more complex the relationships become, and the more temptations there are. You must always stay clear-headed and hold fast to your principles. Remember, power is given by the people, and it is meant to be used to get things done, not for personal gain. I've said this in class before, and I'm giving it to you again today."

"Yes, Teacher Gao, I will keep your teachings in mind," Gu Mingyuan replied solemnly.

He knew that this was the most precious message Gao Yuliang, as his teacher, had given him.

Although this trip to Lüzhou was short, it was of great significance.

This not only strengthened the cooperative relationship between Pingzhou and Lüzhou, but also allowed him to reunite with his mentor, Gao Yuliang, and receive invaluable guidance. Gu Mingyuan felt that his vision and perspective were constantly broadening through repeated experiences and interactions.

Upon returning to Pingzhou, Gu Mingyuan immediately threw himself back into the intense work of advancing the airport project.

In June and July, Pingzhou entered the sweltering summer, and the airport project also entered a critical stage of intense development.

After several rounds of intense debate and scientific evaluation, the final site was determined to be a relatively flat and open area at the border of Longkou District and neighboring counties. The geological conditions here are stable, the total amount of demolition is relatively controllable, and the distance from the city center and major traffic arteries is moderate.

With the site determined, the most challenging task of land acquisition and demolition was immediately put on the agenda.

The project involves the relocation of two districts and counties, five administrative villages, nearly 1,200 households, and some township enterprises.

Compensation standards, resettlement locations, compensation for standing crops, and replacement of homestead land... every issue is sensitive and complex, directly related to the vital interests of the people. If not handled carefully, it may trigger serious social conflicts.

Gu Mingyuan was well aware of the difficulty of this task.

He suggested to Pei Yihong and the project leadership team that a strong land acquisition and demolition command center be established, headed by an experienced vice mayor, and that a working group be formed by drawing elite personnel from the land and resources, housing and construction, civil affairs, public security, courts and relevant districts and counties, to go down to the villages and take charge of each household.

As the head of the comprehensive coordination group, although he was not directly responsible for front-line negotiations, he bore the heavy responsibility of policy review, information collection, conflict mediation, and logistical support.

He personally participated in drafting the "Implementation Rules for Land Acquisition, Demolition, Compensation and Resettlement for the Pingzhou Airport Project," repeatedly deliberating on each clause to maximize the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of farmers whose land was acquired within the scope permitted by policy.

He proposed the concept of transparent demolition, requiring all policies, standards, procedures, and results to be made public and subject to public supervision.

In early July, the conflict began to surface. Some villagers in Dawancun, Longkou District, believed that the compensation standard was too low and gathered at the entrance of the village committee to obstruct the measurement and assessment personnel from entering the site.

When the news reached the command center, the atmosphere immediately became tense.

Some advocated a hardline approach, demanding police intervention and a forced clearing of the area.

Some people think that the compensation should be increased appropriately, and that it's a matter of buying peace of mind.

After understanding the situation, Gu Mingyuan raised a different opinion: "I have learned about the situation in Dawan Village. The villagers' main objection is not to the standards themselves, but to the location of the homestead replacement. They feel that the newly designated resettlement site is too remote, too far from their original farmland and social circles. This is a matter of emotional and practical convenience, and it cannot be solved simply by adding more money."

He suggested, "We should take a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, the working group should continue to visit the villages and patiently explain the policies, especially the future plans for the resettlement sites, such as the future development of supporting facilities like bus routes, schools, and hospitals. On the other hand, we should ask the planning department and the Longkou District officials to further study the matter and see if there are any better resettlement site options, or if we can accelerate the planning and construction of supporting facilities based on the existing resettlement sites, so as to reassure the villagers."

His suggestion was adopted by the command leadership.

Gu Mingyuan volunteered to go to Dawancun with the work group.

In the village committee's simple office, Gu Mingyuan did not sit on the platform, but sat with several emotional village representatives, patiently listening to their demands.

He understood their deep attachment to their homeland and frankly explained the benefits of the airport construction for Pingzhou's future development and for their descendants.

"Fellow villagers, once the airport is built, Pingzhou will be connected to the world. With the influx of logistics, people, and capital, will there still be development opportunities? The resettlement site may seem remote now, but it could become the new town center! The government's promised supporting facilities will be implemented as soon as possible; I, Gu Mingyuan, can guarantee that here!"

He was sincere and his words were meaningful, showing both a broad perspective and empathy for the hardships faced by ordinary people.

At the same time, he made it clear that the airport construction is a key project of the country and the province, which is related to the long-term development of Pingzhou. Supporting the construction of the project is the responsibility of every citizen. Legitimate and reasonable demands will be resolved, but obstructing construction is unacceptable.

After repeated communication and coordination, Longkou District finally adjusted the plans for some resettlement sites, promising to prioritize the construction of infrastructure and public services in the resettlement areas.

Seeing the government's attitude and sincerity, most of the villagers calmed down, and the work was able to continue.

This incident established Gu Mingyuan's authority within the land acquisition and demolition command center.

Everyone could see that this young municipal party committee secretary was not only a skilled writer and quick-witted, but also adept at working with the masses, able to immerse himself in the community and resolve conflicts.

At the same time, significant progress has been made in fundraising.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Gu Mingyuan and others, the final approved funding amount from the National Development and Reform Commission and the Civil Aviation Administration of China was 15% higher than initially expected. The plan to utilize preferential foreign loans also made progress.

Although the plan to introduce social capital has been temporarily shelved, the overall funding pool has been basically formed, greatly alleviating the financial pressure of starting the project.

In late July, the preliminary design review meeting for the airport project was successfully held, marking the eve of the project's entry into substantive construction.

In the past few months, Gu Mingyuan has demonstrated his outstanding comprehensive abilities at an astonishing rate of growth: strategic vision, coordination skills, pragmatic approach, and ability to solve complex problems.