Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

"I was in charge of some writing work in the student union at school, so I had some contact with them," Gu Mingyuan replied modestly.

Zhao Dahai nodded and said nothing more.

After get off work, Gu Mingyuan and Zhong Xiaoai settled down in the county committee's residential compound.

The organization took care of them and allocated them a single-story house. Although it was only a dozen square meters and the furniture was simple, at least they had a place to stay.

Zhong Xiaoai had already done a quick cleaning and hung up the floral curtains she brought, giving the little house a touch of warmth.

"How was it? Did your first day at work go smoothly?" Zhong Xiaoai asked with concern as she fiddled with the coal stove to prepare dinner.

"It's alright, my colleagues... are all quite interesting." Gu Mingyuan smiled and rolled up his sleeves to help.

"The county party committee office is like a small bureaucracy. Director Zhang is serious, Deputy Director Zhao is cautious, Old Qian seems a bit aloof, Little Sun is a bit timid, and Sister Liu is very enthusiastic."

"As for the county's leaders... Secretary Yi seems amiable, while County Chief Li has a very imposing presence."

Zhong Xiaoai listened, her eyes showing understanding and encouragement: "Take it slow, you'll definitely be able to adapt."

The young couple ate a simple dinner—vegetable noodles—under the dim light, but they ate with exceptional relish.

After the meal, Gu Mingyuan took out the documents he had brought back and continued to study them, while Zhong Xiaoai looked at the books brought by the Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

The small room was filled with a warm feeling of working together.

Life went on peacefully and fulfillingly.

Gu Mingyuan was diligent and conscientious, arriving at the office earliest every day and then starting to handle his work.

He not only completed the tasks assigned by Zhao Dahai, but also took the initiative to help Sister Liu organize documents and help Sun Heping proofread the information drafts.

He was a skilled writer, writing quickly and well, with rigorous logic and fluent writing. Even Qian Shu, who was always arrogant, would nod slightly when he occasionally saw a draft he had written.

Sister Liu then enthusiastically tried to find a partner for Gu Mingyuan. When Gu Mingyuan smiled and said that he was already married, Sister Liu was stunned at first, and then slapped her thigh in regret.

"Oh dear! What a fine young man, why is he getting married so young! What a pity!"

Everyone in the office laughed, and the atmosphere became much more harmonious.

Gu Mingyuan was not content with just sitting in his office reading documents.

He knew that without investigation one had no right to speak, so he would go down to the grassroots whenever he had free time.

Jinshan County is a mountainous county with extremely inconvenient transportation. Many towns do not have bus service, so he relies on his own two feet or hitchhiking on farmers' tractors.

He didn't go to the township government, but went directly to the village, to the fields and farmers' homes, to chat with the old farmers and listen to them talk about their harvest, their burdens, and the difficulties in the village.

He was wearing old clothes, carrying a notebook and a water bottle. His skin was tanned and he had lost weight, but his eyes were becoming clearer and clearer, and his understanding of Jinshan County was deepening day by day.

He learned that Yi Xuexi, the county party secretary, was a mature and prudent cadre who was wholeheartedly dedicated to doing things for the people, but he lacked decisiveness and often seemed powerless in the face of the powerful Li Dakang.

County Magistrate Li Dakang is a typical troublemaker, decisive and efficient, single-mindedly pursuing political achievements, especially valuing GDP growth. He strongly advocates launching some industrial projects, building roads and bridges, using tough methods, and not paying much attention to the actual difficulties faced by the people below.

Wang Dalu, the executive deputy county head, was Li Dakang's college classmate and his staunchest supporter. He was responsible for implementing many of Li Dakang's decisions and was known as Li Dakang's chief steward.

On the surface, Yi Xuexi was in charge of the overall situation in Jinshan County, but in reality, the steering wheel of economic development was firmly in the hands of Li Dakang.

As July arrives, the rainy season begins.

Jinshan County is mountainous with numerous rivers, which has significantly increased the pressure on flood control.

Li Dakang personally oversaw flood prevention efforts, demanding that all townships and towns maintain strict vigilance to ensure no major incidents occur.

That afternoon, the weather was as hot and humid as a steamer.

Gu Mingyuan had just returned from a research trip to a mountainous township, covered in mud and sweat.

He was preparing to organize his research notes when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps and noisy voices outside.

"Quickly! Notify the leaders at home to convene a meeting in the small conference room immediately! It's an emergency!" It was Director Zhang Jianguo's anxious voice.

Gu Mingyuan's heart stirred, he put down his pen and walked to the door.

Director Zhang was instructing Sun Heping: "Go find County Chief Li and County Chief Wang quickly. Secretary Yi went to a meeting in the city and hasn't returned yet."

Sun Heping responded and ran out quickly.

Gu Mingyuan hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward: "Director Zhang, is there anything I can do for you?"

Sweat beaded on Zhang Jianguo's forehead as he spoke rapidly: "A sudden downpour hit the upper reaches of the Qingshui River, causing the water level to rise sharply and exceed the warning line."

"Several villages in Xinglin Township downstream are located in low-lying areas and could be flooded at any time."

"The county's flood control headquarters needs to hold an emergency meeting. You...you go to the meeting room and help take notes."

"Yes!" Gu Mingyuan did not hesitate at all, immediately picked up his notebook and pen, and ran to the small conference room on the second floor.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was tense.

Li Dakang sat in the main seat with a livid face, while Wang Dalu kept making phone calls beside him. The heads of several relevant departments, including the Water Resources Bureau, the Meteorological Bureau, and the Transportation Bureau, arrived one after another, all with solemn expressions.

"Is everything clear now?" Li Dakang went straight to the point.

"The water level of the Qingshui River is still rising, and Xinglin Township is in a state of emergency."

"We must immediately organize the evacuation of the people downstream. Wang Dalu, please explain the contingency plan."

Wang Dalu put down the phone, his tone heavy: "County Chief Dakang, according to the contingency plan, we should immediately organize the relocation of about 800 people from the three low-lying villages in Xinglin Township to the nearby hillsides and higher ground."

"But... the biggest problem now is that the best route to those villages requires crossing the old stone bridge in Heishiyu."

"The township just reported that the stone bridge foundation has been washed away by the flood, and the situation is unclear. It is risky to try to cross it quickly."

"Is there a risk? How big is the risk? Has it been assessed?" Li Dakang pressed.

"There wasn't enough time for a detailed assessment, but local officials reported that the bridge was already showing signs of slight shaking."

The meeting room immediately erupted in discussion.

If we don't take the stone bridge and instead take another route, it will take at least two or three more hours, and the flood won't wait for anyone.

If we were to cross the stone bridge and it were to collapse, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Can we reinforce it urgently?" Li Dakang asked the director of the Transportation Bureau.

"County Chief, with the current strong winds and heavy rain, it's difficult to send manpower and resources up the mountain, and there's no time to spare," the Transportation Bureau Chief said with a troubled expression.

"So we're just going to stand by and watch the people get flooded?" Li Dakang slammed his hand on the table, his anger barely concealed.

Everyone fell silent, terrified.

Gu Mingyuan sat at the notepad in the corner, quickly taking notes on the discussion, his heart clenching with anxiety.

His mind raced as he recalled what he had learned during his research trip to Xinglin Township a few days earlier.

He recalled chatting with an old Party branch secretary who mentioned that in the early days of the People's Republic of China, a simple, abandoned walkway had been built about one kilometer upstream of the old stone bridge in Heishiyu for war preparedness. It was passable by people and small vehicles, but it had been abandoned for many years.

As the argument reached a stalemate, time ticked by.

Gu Mingyuan took a deep breath and raised his hand: "County Chief Li, County Chief Wang, I have something I'd like to report."

All eyes immediately focused on this young, unfamiliar face.

Li Dakang frowned, clearly not recognizing him.

Wang Dalu did have a vague recollection of him; he seemed to be a recent college graduate working in the county party committee office.

"Who are you?" Li Dakang asked impatiently.

"County Party Committee Office, Gu Mingyuan." Gu Mingyuan stood up, his voice clear and neither humble nor arrogant.

"County Chief Li, when I went to Xinglin Township for research last week, I heard from the local former Party Secretary that there is an abandoned boardwalk built in the early days of the People's Republic of China, about one kilometer upstream from the old stone bridge in Heishiyu."

"The foundation is relatively solid. If we can quickly organize manpower to do some simple cleaning and reinforcement, it might be able to serve as an emergency evacuation route."

These words shocked everyone present!

"An abandoned plank road?" A glint flashed in Li Dakang's eyes.

Is the news reliable?

"That old Party Secretary is named Tian Fugui; his words should be credible," Gu Mingyuan replied quickly.

"Okay!" Li Dakang made the decision immediately.

"Dalu, you will personally oversee the command center to coordinate supplies and subsequent resettlement."

"The Transportation Bureau should immediately dispatch a capable team, equipped with tools, and led by township officials familiar with the situation and the old Party Secretary, to urgently clear the plank road."