Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

"Mingyuan, everything I bought for Mom and Dad is ready."

"Dad loves to drink, so I bought two bottles of Liping wine. Mom has arthritis, so I bought her knee braces and plasters."

"You've thought of everything." Gu Mingyuan hugged his wife.

"Xiao Ai, you've had a tough year. I've been busy outside, and the family has relied entirely on you."

"Why talk about hardship between husband and wife?" Zhong Xiaoai leaned on his shoulder.

"As long as what you do is meaningful, I'm willing to endure any hardship or fatigue."

On February 8th, the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, Gu Mingyuan and his family embarked on their journey back to their hometown.

As the car drove out of Liping County, Gu Mingyuan looked back once.

This small town appears peaceful and full of life in the morning light.

In just one year, it has changed its appearance.

And his story with this city continues.

After a six-hour drive, we arrived in Lincheng.

As soon as I entered the village, I saw the old Party Secretary Gu Changgui waiting with a group of people.

"Mingyuan is back!" Gu Changgui excitedly greeted him.

"Old Party Secretary, why are you here to pick me up again?" Gu Mingyuan quickly got out of the car.

"Yes, yes, we must welcome you! You're the county party secretary now, the pride of our village!"

The villagers gathered around, chattering amongst themselves:

"Mingyuan, I heard that Liping is developing very well?"

"Mingyuan, you're a high-ranking official now!"

"Xiao Ai is getting prettier and prettier, and Peng Peng has grown so much!"

Gu Mingyuan greeted everyone with a smile, showing no airs whatsoever.

When I returned to the old house, my parents had already prepared a meal.

Ling Fei, the mother, held Zhong Xiaoai's hand and looked her up and down: "Xiaoai, you've lost weight. Did you not eat well in Liping?"

"Mom, I'm fine. Mingyuan is very good to me," Zhong Xiaoai said sweetly.

Father Gu Yun looked at his son with pride in his eyes: "Mingyuan, you've done a great job in Liping. I saw it on TV."

"Dad, I just did what I was supposed to do."

"It's something that should be done, but not everyone can do it well." Gu Yun patted his son's shoulder.

"Remember, if an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes. Never forget this saying."

"I've got it."

The New Year's Eve dinner was very sumptuous, with more than 30 family members enjoying a lively and festive time.

During the meal, relatives asked all sorts of questions, and Gu Mingyuan answered them patiently.

"Mingyuan, how high a rank is the county party secretary?"

"The top official in the county is responsible for hundreds of thousands of people."

"This is a big responsibility! You'd better do a good job."

"Mingyuan, I heard you've arrested quite a few corrupt officials?"

"Yes, without eliminating corruption, Liping cannot develop."

"Well done! Those corrupt officials deserve to be arrested!"

"Mingyuan, you're so successful now, can you help the young people in the village?"

Gu Mingyuan thought for a moment and said, "How about this, after the New Year, I'll contact companies in Liping to see if there are any suitable job openings."

"But I want to make it clear: you can go, but you have to earn your living through your own abilities; you can't get special treatment."

"That's right, that's right, as long as you can give me a chance."

After the New Year's Eve dinner, the family stayed up all night to welcome the new year.

Zhong Xiaoai held her son and told him the story of Liping.

"Pengpeng, where Dad works, there are many mountains, many trees, and many hardworking people."

"My father built roads, planted tea, and raised chickens there, so that everyone could live a better life."

One-year-old Gu Pengyu seemed to understand but not quite: "Dad is a good person."

"My father was a good man, and also a public servant. A public servant's duty is to serve the people."

Gu Mingyuan listened from the side, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

As the clock struck midnight, Gu Mingyuan's phone rang.

It was Pei Yihong calling to wish me a Happy New Year.

"Mingyuan, Happy Chinese New Year! Please give my regards to the elders!"

"Secretary Pei, I also wish you a happy Spring Festival and a happy family reunion!"

"Mingyuan, the province attaches great importance to the matter of Liping being removed from the list of poverty-stricken areas."

"Even the governor asked me to tell you to do a good job, the province supports you."

"Thank you, Secretary Pei. I will definitely work hard."

I had just hung up when the phone rang again.

This time it's Gao Yuliang.

"Mingyuan, Happy Chinese New Year! I heard Liping has been removed from the poverty list. Well done!"

"Thank you, Professor Gao! And Happy Chinese New Year!"

"Mingyuan, you're a star cadre now, so you need to guard against arrogance and impetuosity. The officialdom is like climbing a mountain; the higher you go, the more cautious you need to be."

"I understand, thank you for reminding me, teacher."

Then, former leaders such as Li Dakang, Yi Xuexi, and Liu Chengfeng all called.

Gu Mingyuan answered each call, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

These leaders and teachers not only remember him, but also care about him.

This friendship is more precious than any honor.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Mingyuan took his wife and children to pay New Year's visits to the elders in the village.

At each place we visited, we would sit down for a chat and have a cup of tea.

The villagers gave Pengpeng red envelopes; although the amount was small, it was all a token of their goodwill.

"Mingyuan, you are a golden phoenix that has flown out of our village. But no matter how high you fly, don't forget that your roots are here." An elderly woman in her nineties said, holding Gu Mingyuan's hand.

"Grandma, I will never forget, I will never forget."

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Mingyuan and his family traveled to the capital.

When they arrived at the courtyard house, Zhong Zhengguo was already waiting at the door.

"Dad!" Zhong Xiaoai rushed over.

"Xiao Ai, Mingyuan, you're back!" Zhong Zhengguo smiled as he took his grandson.

"Pengpeng, call him Grandpa."

"Grandpa!" Gu Pengyu called out in a childish voice.

"Oh! Good boy!" Zhong Zhengguo was so happy he couldn't stop smiling.

Lin Jing, Zhong Xiaoai's mother-in-law, also came out of the house, took Zhong Xiaoai's hand, and looked her up and down: "You've lost weight. Was it too hard in Liping?"

"Mom, I'm doing well. Liping is developing very well now. The air is fresh, the environment is good, and it's a great place to live."

"That's good, that's good."

Dinner was plentiful, but the atmosphere was much more formal than back home.

Zhong Zhengguo inquired about the situation in Liping, especially the goal of becoming one of the top 100 counties.

"Mingyuan, the goal of becoming one of the top 100 counties is quite ambitious. Are you confident in achieving it?"

"Dad, I have confidence. Liping has resource advantages, a motivated cadre team, and hope for the people. As long as we follow the right path and use the right methods, it's entirely possible."

"Yes, your thinking is clear." Zhong Zhengguo nodded.

"But remember, the higher the goal, the more down-to-earth we must be. We cannot engage in formalism in pursuit of political achievements, nor can we sacrifice quality for speed."

"I understand. We have developed a detailed implementation plan, and we will proceed step by step in a steady and pragmatic manner."

"That's good," Zhong Zhengguo said with relief.

"Mingyuan, you're now a division-level cadre, and the next step is deputy director-general. This stage is crucial; you need to achieve results, but also pay attention to your methods."

"I have remembered Dad's teachings."

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the Zhong family's old house was bustling with activity.

More than thirty people came to the three-courtyard siheyuan—all of Zhong's relatives had come.

Gu Mingyuan was led by Zhong Zhengguo to greet each of the elders.

"Xiao Ai's husband is now the Party Secretary of Liping County, Hanjiang Province," Zhong Zhengguo said with pride.

"So this is a division-level cadre!" asked a cousin who works at the National Development and Reform Commission.

"Not bad! Still so young."

"Mingyuan is now a star cadre in Hanjiang Province, and Secretary Pei Yihong values ​​him highly," Zhong Zhengguo added.

Upon hearing this, the elders present all changed their gaze towards Gu Mingyuan.

I originally thought he was just an ordinary county party secretary, but I never expected him to have such achievements.

"Young and promising!"

"The younger generation is truly formidable!"

"Xiao Ai has good taste!"

Praises and accolades were heard one after another.

But Gu Mingyuan maintained a humble attitude throughout, remaining neither arrogant nor servile, and handled the situation calmly.

The party lasted into the evening.

When they left, Chung Cheng-kuo saw them to the door.

"Mingyuan, you did a great job today." Zhong Zhengguo patted his son-in-law on the shoulder.

"Being neither arrogant nor humble, but polite and respectful—that's how a son-in-law of the Zhong family should be."

"Thank you, Dad."

"I have a gathering with some old comrades and former leaders tomorrow. You should come with me. Let them meet you; it will be helpful for you."