Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

After getting off work, Gu Mingyuan returned home.

Zhong Xiaoai had already prepared dinner: two simple dishes and a soup, all steaming hot.

She took off her apron and, seeing her husband looking preoccupied, softly asked, "Mingyuan, what's wrong today? Did you run into some trouble at work?"

Gu Mingyuan shook his head, took the rice bowl his wife handed him, but did not pick up his chopsticks immediately.

Looking into Zhong Xiaoai's clear and concerned eyes, he decided to stop beating around the bush.

"Xiao Ai, there's something I'd like to discuss with you." His voice was steady.

Zhong Xiaoai put down her chopsticks, sat up straight, and looked at him seriously: "Go on."

Gu Mingyuan recounted the entire conversation between Li Dakang and him, without omitting any details.

This includes Pei Yihong's appreciation, Liu Chengfeng's coordination, Li Dakang and Yi Xuexi's regret and attempts to retain her, as well as the opportunities and challenges this job may bring, especially its impact on family life—the busy nature of secretarial work may mean less time spent together and that she will have to shoulder more responsibilities.

He finished speaking in one breath, and the room fell into a brief silence.

Zhong Xiaoai listened quietly, without the unease Gu Mingyuan had expected.

She simply tilted her head slightly, seemingly processing this information, but her eyes remained bright and resolute.

After a long while, she reached out and gently covered the back of Gu Mingyuan's hand, which was resting on the table. Her hand was warm and soft.

"Mingyuan." Her voice was soft yet firm.

"Do you remember what I said when you graduated, choosing to come to Jinshan instead of going to Beijing or staying at the university?"

Gu Mingyuan nodded.

"I said back then that no matter what decision you make, I will support you. Wherever you go, I will go." A gentle smile curved Zhong Xiaoai's lips.

"That statement still stands."

"But I'm unfamiliar with Pingzhou, and the work of a secretary is..."

"There's no 'but' about it," Zhong Xiaoai interrupted him, her tone slightly coquettish yet even more resolute.

"Secretary Pei values ​​you so much because it's a recognition of your abilities. A higher platform means more opportunities to do things, which is a good thing."

"As for me, you don't need to worry. The work at the Federation of Literary and Art Circles is pretty much the same everywhere. I can take care of myself and you too."

"What I mean is, even if it means using connections, I won't leave you."

Gu Mingyuan's most tender spot was deeply touched.

He gripped his wife's hand tightly, a thousand words choking in his throat, but in the end, they all boiled down to one sentence: "Xiao Ai, thank you."

All the weighing and hesitation seemed insignificant in the face of his wife's unconditional support.

He knew that Zhong Xiaoai was not an naive girl, and her support was not blind obedience, but rather stemmed from the deepest understanding and trust.

"Then we'll have to move," Gu Mingyuan said with a smile, looking at his wife.

"Move it!" Zhong Xiaoai nodded vigorously, her smile radiant.

"My man, Zhong Xiaoai, should be able to showcase his talents in a wider world. Jinshan County is good, but you deserve a better stage."

"The key point is that you earned this stage through your own abilities, so it's only right and proper."

With the family meeting concluded, a huge weight was lifted from Gu Mingyuan's shoulders.

The next morning, he reported his decision to Li Dakang and Yi Xuexi respectively.

After listening, Li Dakang remained silent for a moment, then patted Gu Mingyuan on the shoulder, his tone complex: "That's good, people should strive for better things. Secretary Pei is a leader with vision and decisiveness; you'll learn a lot from him. Do a good job over there, don't bring shame to Jinshan County or Luzhou!"

Yi Xuexi, on the other hand, was more emotional. He held Gu Mingyuan's hand and said earnestly, "Mingyuan, I really hate to see you go. You have great potential. After a few years of honing your skills at Jinshan, you will definitely achieve great things."

"However, it is your destiny and good fortune that Secretary Pei personally named you. Remember, no matter where you are, you must maintain the same spirit of perseverance, tenacity, and dedication to speaking out for the people that you had in Jinshan."

When Liu Chengfeng, the Party Secretary of Lüzhou City, learned that Gu Mingyuan had agreed to the transfer, he felt regretful for losing a capable subordinate, but he was also happy for Gu Mingyuan. He personally instructed the Organization Department and relevant departments to handle the matter as a special case and expedite the inter-provincial transfer procedures for Gu Mingyuan.

He even mentioned at a small municipal party committee meeting: "Although the transfer of Comrade Gu Mingyuan is a loss for our Lüzhou, it also shows that Lüzhou produces cadres and talents! We should have this kind of broad-mindedness."

In the days that followed, Gu Mingyuan handed over his work while assisting with various transfer procedures.

Zhong Xiaoai also took action, communicating with her family by phone.

Zhong Zhengguo was quite surprised to learn that his son-in-law had gained the appreciation of the Party Secretary of Pingzhou City, Hanjiang Province. He knew his son-in-law was capable, but he did not expect him to be this outstanding.

He respected Gu Mingyuan's choice immensely and quickly coordinated through connections to transfer Zhong Xiaoai's work to the Pingzhou Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

After all, his daughter and son-in-law might not understand, but he knew very well that Pei Yihong, the Party Secretary of Pingzhou City, was no ordinary person.

This municipal party secretary has an even more powerful background than the Zhong family.

The son-in-law has met a true benefactor.

Everything is proceeding efficiently and in an orderly manner.

When Gu Mingyuan's colleagues in the county party committee office learned that he was being transferred to become the secretary of a municipal party secretary in another province, they were surprised but also offered their best wishes.

With tears in her eyes, Sister Liu handed Gu Mingyuan a pair of insoles she had made herself, murmuring, "Little Gu, now that you're in a big city, don't overwork yourself. Just live a good life with Xiao Ai..."

Zhao Dahai, Qian Shuzhong, Sun Heping, and others also expressed their reluctance to part and their best wishes.

By the end of December 1992, all the formalities had been completed.

Gu Mingyuan and Zhong Xiaoai bid farewell to Jinshan County, where they had lived for only half a year but which held the memories of their early struggles and deep friendship, and boarded a train to Pingzhou City in Hanjiang Province.

This time, it wasn't a green-skinned train, but a slightly better express train.

The scenery outside the car window rushed past, gradually changing from the hilly and mountainous areas of eastern Handong to the vast plains of the Han River.

Gu Mingyuan held Zhong Xiaoai's hand, his heart filled with anticipation for the future, but also with a touch of trepidation about the new environment.

He knew that the position of secretary to the municipal party secretary was far more complex and sensitive than that of deputy director of the county party committee office. It was the true power center of a prefecture-level city, and every word and action required extra caution.

"Don't be nervous." Zhong Xiaoai seemed to see through his thoughts, leaned on his shoulder, and whispered.

"You are you, the Gu Mingyuan who quotes classic texts in class, the Gu Mingyuan who offers crucial suggestions on the front lines of flood control, the Gu Mingyuan who writes reports that even the municipal party secretary praises. Just be yourself, and there will be no problem."

Gu Mingyuan looked down at his wife, feeling an overwhelming sense of warmth and strength welling up inside him.

With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?