Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

Gu Mingyuan understood the deeper meaning behind the words.

"Secretary Pei, rest assured, I will definitely build Liping up well and live up to your expectations."

"Okay!" Pei Yihong patted his shoulder.

"I believe in you. I'll celebrate with you when Liping is completely lifted out of poverty!"

After seeing Pei Yihong off, Gu Mingyuan was filled with emotion.

The expectations of his superiors and the hopes of the people are the driving force behind his progress.

He wants to lead Liping to find a new path for poverty alleviation in mountainous areas.

On November 20th, Gu Mingyuan received an unexpected phone call.

"Secretary Gu, this is Li Dakang!"

Gu Mingyuan was taken aback, then said warmly, "Secretary Li! My old leader! What made you think of calling me?"

"What old leader? You're the county party secretary now, we're on the same level," Li Dakang said with a hearty laugh.

"Honestly, Secretary Gu, I truly admire you."

"It took me eight years to go from a junior staff member to a division chief, but you did it in just three years."

"I'm calling to discuss something with you. Our Jinshan County wants to organize cadres to go to Liping to learn from your experience."

Is this a convenient time for you?

"Convenient! So convenient!" Gu Mingyuan exclaimed.

"It is our honor that our former leader could come and provide guidance."

"When are you coming? Let's prepare properly."

"Don't prepare, we just want to see the real Liping," Li Dakang said.

"This Friday, I'm taking twenty people there for two nights, and we'll return on Saturday."

"Okay! I'll arrange the reception."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Mingyuan felt both happy and emotional.

Li Dakang was his superior at the beginning of his career. Although the two did not work together for long in Jinshan County, Li Dakang's decisive and efficient style left a deep impression on him.

Now, even Li Dakang is coming to him for advice, which makes him feel a little dazed.

Life is truly amazing.

On Friday, November 22, Li Dakang led a delegation from Jinshan County to Liping.

The team consisted of twenty people, including the deputy county head, township party secretaries, and heads of economic departments.

Gu Mingyuan greeted them at the county border.

Their hands were clasped tightly together.

"Secretary Gu, sorry to bother you!" Li Dakang was still the same as always, his hair was neatly combed and his white shirt was pressed flat.

"Secretary Li, welcome, welcome!" Gu Mingyuan said warmly.

"It is an honor for Liping that you can come."

"What honor or not? We're here to learn." Li Dakang looked around.

"Liping has changed so much! This road was a dirt road last year, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it's a newly paved asphalt road."

"Good! If you want to get rich, build roads first. You've put this principle into practice well."

The group arrived at the county party committee meeting room.

After a simple welcoming ceremony, Gu Mingyuan began to explain the situation.

"Secretary Li, comrades from Jinshan County, welcome to Liping. Let me first give a brief report on the situation in Liping..."

He spoke for forty minutes, covering topics from anti-corruption to development, from transportation to industry, from education to people's livelihood. There were no empty words or platitudes, only concrete practices and results.

Li Dakang listened attentively, taking notes from time to time.

After listening, he exclaimed, "Mingyuan, no, Secretary Gu, you've done an outstanding job this year!"

"I also focus on development in Jinshan County, but compared to you, my thinking isn't innovative enough, and my efforts aren't as strong."

"Secretary Li, you flatter me. Jinshan County is Jinshan County, and Liping is Liping County. The situations are different, and the approaches are different as well."

"But the principles are the same," Li Dakang said.

"The two special task forces you set up, which are fighting corruption and promoting development in parallel, are an excellent approach that we should learn from."

In the afternoon, Gu Mingyuan led the inspection team on a site visit.

At the tea garden in Yunwu Township, Li Dakang inquired in detail about the operating model of the tea cooperative.

"Tea farmers invest, and standards, brand, and sales are unified."

"This is a good idea! It ensures quality and increases farmers' income," he said to the Jinshan County officials who accompanied him.

"Our agricultural products in Jinshan County can also learn from this."

At the breeding base in Qingshi Township, Li Dakang was very interested in the company + farmer model.

"Companies provide seedlings, technology, and sales, while farmers are responsible for raising the animals."

"Risk sharing and benefit sharing – this model can be replicated."

In the evening, Gu Mingyuan hosted a banquet.

There are no delicacies from land or sea, only Liping's specialty dishes: stewed chicken with mushrooms, stir-fried bamboo shoots with cured pork, steamed river fish, and seasonal wild vegetables.

Li Dakang ate with relish: "These dishes are good, green and healthy, and taste delicious."

"Secretary Gu, the agricultural products from Liping are truly treasures!"

After dinner, the two took a walk in the yard.

"Secretary Gu, to be honest, I had some doubts before I came," Li Dakang said frankly.

"You're only twenty-six years old, and you've been the county party secretary for less than two months. What kind of achievements can you possibly make?"

"But after seeing it today, I'm impressed. You really are capable."

"Secretary Li, please don't say that. I learned a lot from you when I worked in Jinshan County. Your decisiveness and sense of responsibility are things you taught me."

Li Dakang waved his hand: "That's because you have good comprehension."

"However, Secretary Gu, the tallest tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind."

"Now that you have a reputation, you need to be even more careful."

"The officialdom is complicated. You are young and inexperienced, making you an easy target."

"Thank you for the reminder, Secretary Li. I will pay attention."

"Besides, fighting corruption is something that offends people," Li Dakang said in a low voice.

"You arrested so many people, there must be some with connections among them."

"Be wary of retaliation, and protect yourself and your family."

"I understand, security measures have been strengthened."

"That's good." Li Dakang patted his shoulder.

"Mingyuan, I am very pleased to see your current progress."

"Back in Jinshan County, I could tell you were no ordinary person."

"Work hard, your future is limitless."

The delegation continued their visit the following day.

Li Dakang was particularly interested in the transportation infrastructure in Liping, and was especially pleased to learn that Gu Mingyuan was still using the tiered fundraising method he had proposed in Jinshan County.

Gu Mingyuan's fundraising method is truly universally applicable.

This boy is incredibly talented!

"Based on economic capacity, wealthy households contribute more, average households contribute less, and impoverished households receive work-for-relief assistance."

"This method is fair and easy for the people to accept," he told the accompanying officials.

"This method was proposed by Gu Mingyuan back in Jinshan County. It's truly remarkable."

At noon, before the inspection team left, Li Dakang shook Gu Mingyuan's hand and said, "Secretary Gu, this trip to Liping has been very fruitful."

"We will take many of your practices back and learn from them, and we hope that you will have the opportunity to come to Jinshan County to provide guidance in the future."

"Secretary Li, you flatter me. I dare not presume to offer guidance, but I will certainly attend the training."

After seeing Li Dakang and his party off, Gu Mingyuan was filled with emotion.

He rose from a staff member in the Jinshan County Party Committee Office to the Party Secretary of Liping County in just three years.

Over the past three years, he has walked steadily and firmly.

Today, even his former superiors come to learn from him, which is both an affirmation of his abilities and an encouragement to him.

He must do better to live up to everyone's expectations.

In the last week of November, Liping's development entered a sprint phase.

Gu Mingyuan works more than sixteen hours a day, visiting construction sites, enterprises, and farmers during the day, and holding meetings, approving documents, and devising ideas at night.