Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

"It's something that needs to be done, but not everyone can do it well." Pei Yihong sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Your judgment and decisive actions during this flood control effort were accurate, especially your suggestion to evacuate residents in advance, which prevented potentially significant losses. The provincial flood control headquarters has already issued a commendation to you."

Gu Mingyuan said modestly, "It was Secretary Pei's decisive decision and the tireless efforts of all the rescue team members."

"The credit that belongs to you is yours." Pei Yihong waved his hand.

"Focus on recovering from your injury. There's no rush with work. By the way, there's a provincial commendation conference for flood control and disaster relief next week. You'll be giving a speech as an outstanding representative, so get ready."

After Pei Yihong left, Zhong Xiaoai remarked with emotion, "Secretary Pei has always been incredibly kind to you."

"Yes, we cannot let down the kindness shown to us." Gu Mingyuan looked out the window, where sunlight filtered through the leaves and into the ward, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

After being discharged from the hospital, Gu Mingyuan immediately devoted himself to post-disaster recovery work.

Seven townships along the Qingjiang River were affected by the disaster, with farmland flooded, houses collapsed, and roads destroyed, making reconstruction a daunting task.

He led a working group to visit each township, verifying the disaster situation, coordinating supplies, and planning reconstruction.

One evening in late July, Gu Mingyuan had just returned from the disaster area when he received a call from his college classmate, Li Hua.

After graduating, Li Hua went to the General Office of the Provincial Party Committee of Handong.

"Mingyuan, I heard there was a big flood in Pingzhou. Are you alright?"

"It's nothing, just a minor leg injury, but it's healed now. Why did you think of calling me?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone: "There's something you might not know. Qi Tongwei is in trouble."

Gu Mingyuan's heart tightened: "What's going on?"

"You remember Liang Lu, right? She's always had feelings for Qi Tongwei, hasn't she? But Qi Tongwei rejected her and got together with Chen Yang."

"Liang Lu held a grudge and went to her father, Liang Qunfeng—who was the secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission—to sabotage her."

"How exactly was it done?"

"After graduation, Qi Tongwei, being a graduate student, should have stayed at the university or joined a provincial government agency. But guess where he got assigned? He became a judicial assistant at the Guyingling Town Judicial Office in Yantai City, Handong Province."

Gu Mingyuan gasped.

Guyingling is the most remote mountainous area in Handong Province, with poor transportation and poverty.

Anyone with eyes can see that assigning a graduate student from the Department of Political Science and Law to that place is a form of suppression.

"Qi Tongwei didn't contact anyone?"

"I did contact Professor Gao Yuliang, but he was in a difficult position. He said that Liang Qunfeng was in charge of the allocation of cadres in the political and legal system, so his words didn't carry much weight."

"We also looked for Chen Yang's father, Chen Yanshi, and guess what?"

"Uncle Chen should be able to help, right?"

"Help?" Li Hua smiled wryly.

"Not only did they not help, they reportedly even scolded Qi Tongwei, saying that he was too impetuous and needed to be tempered at the grassroots level. They said that young people shouldn't always think about taking shortcuts, and that a harsh environment can better temper a person."

Gu Mingyuan gripped the phone tightly.

He knew Chen Yanshi well; he was principled and sometimes even stubborn.

But treating one's daughter's partner in this way is rather inhumane.

"How is Qi Tongwei now?"

"What could he do? He packed his bags and went to register. Before he left, a few of us alumni got together, and he drank too much and cried. He said he wasn't afraid of hardship or fatigue, but he was afraid of this kind of inexplicable suppression. He also said..." Li Hua paused.

He said there is no justice in this society.

Gu Mingyuan fell silent.

He could imagine Qi Tongwei's despair—after twenty years of hard study, he thought he could finally realize his ambitions, but he was relegated to the sidelines because he rejected a relationship.

Such a blow is enough to destroy a person's belief.

"Mingyuan, I'm saying all this to remind you," Li Hua said seriously.

"The officialdom is treacherous; one wrong step could lead to utter ruin. You're doing well now, so you need to be even more cautious."

"I understand. Thank you, old classmate."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Mingyuan felt heavy-hearted.

He went to the study and opened the scrapbook.

In the photo, Qi Tongwei is full of vigor, reciting "A Young China's Manifesto" at the gala, his eyes bright and full of ideals.

Who would have thought that just two years later, he would be exiled to a remote mountainous area?

Zhong Xiaoai brought in a glass of hot milk and saw him staring blankly at the scrapbook. She asked softly, "What's wrong?"

"Qi Tongwei has been assigned to the Guyingling Town Judicial Office."

Zhong Xiaoai was stunned: "How could that be? He's a graduate student!"

"Made by Liang Lu."

Zhong Xiaoai fell silent.

As a woman, she could understand Liang Lu's pain of unrequited love, but to retaliate in this way was really excessive.

"What about Chen Yang? Didn't she try to do anything?"

"Chen Yanshi not only didn't help, but also said some hurtful things."

Zhong Xiaoai sighed: "Chen Yanshi... he's too cold-blooded."

Gu Mingyuan closed the commemorative album: "This incident serves as a warning to us. Power, when used properly, can benefit the people; when used improperly, it becomes a weapon that harms others. No matter what position we hold in the future, we must exercise power with caution."

"Would you help Qi Tongwei?"

Gu Mingyuan smiled wryly: "How can I help? I don't have the ability to transfer people across provinces, especially from remote townships. Besides, this is an internal personnel arrangement within Handong Province, so it would be illegitimate for me to interfere."

He recalled what Pei Yihong had once said: In officialdom, one must not only know how to do things and how to create momentum, but also how to protect oneself.

The matter concerning Qi Tongwei is too complicated; getting involved rashly could backfire.

"I can only hope he stays strong." Gu Mingyuan looked out the window at the dark night sky.

"Adversity can sometimes be a great thing. I hope he can pull through."

In September 1993, all supporting facilities for Pingzhou Airport were completed and entered the acceptance and commissioning phase.

As the director of the airport project leadership group office, Gu Mingyuan organized more than a dozen simulation exercises, repeatedly testing every step from check-in, security check, boarding to baggage check-in.

On September 15, the first calibration aircraft landed on the runway of Pingzhou Airport.

As the silver-white plane taxied, the onlookers burst into enthusiastic applause.

Standing in the control tower, Gu Mingyuan watched the plane land smoothly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

From a single report to the plane's takeoff and landing, it took one year and three months.

Only those who experienced it firsthand know how many sleepless nights, how many heated debates, and how many close calls there were during this period.

Pei Yihong also arrived. He patted Gu Mingyuan on the shoulder and said, "Mingyuan, this airport is your child. You brought it into this world. Now, it's time for it to take flight on its own."

"It is the result of the correct decision of the municipal party committee and government, and the joint efforts of all the builders," Gu Mingyuan said modestly.

"The credit that is rightfully yours is yours," Pei Yihong said with a smile.

"Let's go check out the terminal."

The newly built terminal is spacious and bright, and is equipped with all kinds of modern facilities.

In the VIP lounge, Pei Yihong and Gu Mingyuan sat down to drink tea.

"Mingyuan, the airport project is basically finished. What are your plans for the future?"

Gu Mingyuan knew Pei Yihong's words had a hidden meaning, and cautiously replied, "I will obey the organization's arrangements. If possible, I would like to continue working in the industrial or urban construction sector to further promote the reform of state-owned enterprises and urban construction."

Pei Yihong nodded, then shook his head: "Your idea is good, but the scope could be broader."

"You've worked in the government for two years, participated in major projects, promoted important reforms, and accumulated a wealth of experience. But you're still missing one thing."

"Please advise, Secretary Pei."

"Experiences in governing a region." Pei Yihong took a sip of tea.

"As I told you last time, the time is almost right now."

"For a cadre to truly mature, he must have served as the head of a county or district."

"That's the most demanding job—a thousand threads above, a single needle below."

"Economic development, social stability, improvement of people's livelihoods, and the construction of organizations... all aspects must be managed, and we cannot relax at any moment."

Gu Mingyuan's heart started racing.

He understood what Pei Yihong meant.