Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

"Doing things well is fundamental, but proper promotion and showcasing are also very important. The airport project is Pingzhou's best calling card and your personal best achievement."

"I understand, thank you for your guidance, Secretary Pei."

"Do a good job." Pei Yihong gazed at the fleeting scenery outside the window.

"When the main airport construction is completed at the end of the year, provincial leaders will come to inspect it. You need to be prepared to give a presentation then. This is a great opportunity to showcase Pingzhou, and also to showcase yourself."

One evening in late September, Gu Mingyuan, unusually, left work on time and accompanied Zhong Xiaoai for a walk.

The two walked in the small garden of the municipal party committee's residential compound. The autumn wind blew by, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus flowers.

"Mingyuan, look at these osmanthus flowers, they're blooming so beautifully." Zhong Xiaoai gently sniffed them.

"Mmm, smells good." Gu Mingyuan put his arm around his wife's shoulder, his movements careful.

After walking around, I sat down on a bench.

Zhong Xiaoai suddenly said, "Oh, right, I got a call from a college classmate today, and he told me something interesting."

"What is it?"

"Hou Liangping and Wang Ting are officially married. They will hold their wedding on National Day," Zhong Xiaoai said.

"I heard it was a big event, with many people from the Handong Provincial Procuratorate attending."

Gu Mingyuan raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

Zhong Xiaoai glanced at him and continued, "And there's more. Wang Ting was just promoted to section chief because of her family connections, and she's now in the provincial procuratorate's public prosecution department. Hou Liangping is still a deputy section chief in the anti-corruption bureau."

She paused, then lowered her voice: "People in the classmates' group are saying that Hou Liangping is a gigolo who got promoted because of his wife's family."

Gu Mingyuan was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "We won't comment on other people's affairs. Everyone chooses their own path."

"I know," Zhong Xiaoai said, leaning on his shoulder.

"Just a thought. Back in school, Hou Liangping was so arrogant, I never expected..."

"Everyone has their own ambitions." Gu Mingyuan patted her hand.

"Some people are willing to take shortcuts, while others are willing to work hard. We just need to live our own lives well."

Despite saying that, Gu Mingyuan knew in his heart that Hou Liangping might be able to go very fast on this path, but his foundation might not be solid.

Moreover, relying on the Yue family's influence may be an aid in the short term, but it could become a hindrance in the long term—the principle of "he who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding" applies equally to officialdom.

In contrast, although he seemed to have a slower start, he took every step himself, which made him feel grounded and at ease.

"I don't want to think about them anymore," Zhong Xiaoai changed the subject.

"Can you come with me to my prenatal checkup tomorrow?"

"Yes, I've already asked Secretary Pei for half a day off," Gu Mingyuan said gently.

"From now on, I'll go with you to every prenatal checkup unless there's an urgent meeting."

Zhong Xiaoai smiled sweetly: "Okay."

The moonlight shone on the two of them, creating a peaceful and beautiful scene.

In early October, the airport project reached a critical juncture – the bidding for the general contracting of the surrounding supporting construction.

This is a huge opportunity, attracting more than a dozen large construction companies from within the province and even across the country.

The bidding process was conducted strictly in accordance with procedures, and Gu Mingyuan, as the deputy director of the leading group office, participated in the supervision of the entire process.

On the day of the bidding, the conference room was filled with company representatives.

Gu Mingyuan sat in the supervisor's seat, his expression solemn.

The bidding process, evaluation, and scoring are all conducted transparently.

Ultimately, Hantong Construction Group won the bid with its reasonable price, excellent technical solutions, and rich experience in airport construction.

After the results were announced, Gu Mingyuan stayed behind and had a talk with the representatives of Hantie Construction.

"Welcome to Pingzhou to participate in the construction." He got straight to the point.

"But there are a few points I must emphasize—first, quality is the lifeline, and there can be no ambiguity."

"Secondly, safety in production is paramount; no accidents can be tolerated."

"Third, we must treat workers well and pay them wages on time and in full. These three points are red lines; whoever crosses them will be out of the game."

The project manager from Hantie Construction nodded repeatedly: "Director Gu, rest assured, our group has strict management systems and will definitely complete the construction task with high quality and quantity."

"Okay, I'll remember your promise." Gu Mingyuan's expression softened a bit.

"Pingzhou Airport is a project of great significance for the next century, and I hope we can cooperate happily."

The bidding process has been successfully completed, and the supporting infrastructure projects have entered the construction phase.

Gu Mingyuan's work focus has also shifted from the initial preparation to the supervision of the construction process.

He spearheaded the formulation of the "Pingzhou Airport Project Construction Management Measures," which clarified the control standards and responsibility system for various aspects such as quality, safety, progress, and investment.

He attends the weekly site meeting every week unless there are special arrangements.

In late October, the first safety accident occurred at the construction site—a worker fell from a height of three meters while erecting scaffolding due to improper fastening of his safety belt, injuring his leg.

Upon receiving the report, Gu Mingyuan rushed to the scene immediately.

At the hospital, the injured worker had completed his examination and was found to have a fractured left leg, requiring hospitalization.

Gu Mingyuan inquired about the details of the accident and then went to the construction site to inspect the accident scene.

Back at the project site, he convened a meeting with the construction, supervision, and owner parties.

"Today's accident may seem accidental, but it exposes a problem of inadequate safety management," Gu Mingyuan said seriously.

"Why didn't the on-site safety officer notice that the seatbelt was not fastened correctly? Was the pre-job safety training just a formality?"

The project manager from the construction company, sweat beading on his forehead, said, "Director Gu, it was our oversight. We'll rectify it immediately."

"It's not just about immediate rectification, it's about immediate rectification," Gu Mingyuan said firmly.

"Starting now, all operations will be suspended for one day to conduct a comprehensive safety inspection and training."

"All workers must undergo safety training again, and those who fail the assessment will not be allowed to work. The number of safety officers must be increased, and responsibilities must be assigned to specific individuals."

He looked at the supervision unit: "You also bear responsibility for inadequate supervision. From today onwards, send me a copy of the supervision log to my office every day; I need to read it."

He then turned to the colleagues at the airport office: "We also need to reflect on whether there are blind spots in our supervision. From now on, I will personally participate in the weekly security inspections."

This action was swift and decisive, showing no mercy.

The news spread, and everyone on the construction site became extremely cautious about safety.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yihong specifically mentioned at the Standing Committee meeting: "Comrade Mingyuan handled the safety matter very well. For key projects, progress is important, but safety and quality are even more important. This strict and rigorous management style should be promoted."

In November, the weather in Pingzhou turned cool.

As Zhong Xiaoai's due date draws closer, Gu Mingyuan's work becomes increasingly busy.

But he insisted on going home as early as possible every day to talk to his wife, touch her round belly, and feel the baby's movements.

"The little guy was kicking really hard today." Zhong Xiaoai took his hand and placed it on her belly.

Gu Mingyuan felt the movement under his palm, his eyes filled with tenderness: "It must be a lively one."