Nominal: My senior brothers are all big shots

Lin Feng placed the letter on the table and looked at it for a long time.

Outside the window, the sky over Pingjiang was still hazy, but the fog seemed thinner than it had been a few days ago.

In the distance, at the mines, some of the mines that had been illegally mined were now closed, while others were still in operation, though the noise from the machines was much lower. He thought of the words in Old Zhou's letter—"Rare earth is a strategic resource for the country; after the cleanup, it must be used properly."

Old Zhou didn't mention Zhou Tianming at all. But Lin Feng knew that Old Zhou's silence carried more weight than mentioning him. To mention him would be a matter of personal feelings. To remain silent was a matter of principle. Old Zhou had suppressed his personal feelings and entrusted him with the greater good.

He picked up his pen, spread out the letter paper, thought for a moment, and wrote: "Old Zhou, I have received your letter. Rest assured, I will see the Pingjiang matter through to the end. Rare earth belongs to the country, but also to Pingjiang. After the rectification, I will lead the cadres and people of Pingjiang to forge a new path."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Take care."

After finishing writing, he read it over, folded it, and put it in an envelope. He didn't have his secretary deliver it; he drove to the post office himself. It wasn't that he didn't trust his secretary; it was just that he felt more at ease doing some things himself.

After leaving the post office, Lin Feng did not return to the municipal party committee, but instead had Lao Zhou drive the car to the rare earth mine in the east of the city.

This used to be Pingjiang's largest illegal mining site, where Zhou Tianming started his business. The mountainside was riddled with holes, resembling a gnawed beast. Sewage flowed everywhere, and not a blade of grass grew. Lin Feng stood there for a long time.

Old Zhou stood behind him without saying a word. The wind blew in from the mountain valley, carrying a pungent smell.

Lin Feng asked, "Old Zhou, do you think this mountain can be restored?"

Old Zhou thought for a moment and said, "Yes, it's possible. But it will take time."

Lin Feng nodded. "We have time. But we can't let future generations criticize us again."

It was already afternoon when Lin Feng returned to his office. He sat at his desk, the special investigation team's statistical report spread out before him. 50 billion yuan, 2 lives lost, 3 provincial-level officials, 17 division-level officials. Behind these numbers lay decades of accumulated problems in Pingjiang. The rectification was only the first step. What would happen to Pingjiang after the rectification? This was the real challenge he faced.

He opened his notebook and began to write. The title was "Some Thoughts on the Transformation and Upgrading of the Rare Earth Industry in Pingjiang." He wrote slowly, stroke by stroke, as if carving a monument.

"Rare earth is Pingjiang's largest resource, but not its only one. Years of extensive mining have led to resource waste, environmental damage, and widespread public discontent. After rectification, we must follow a standardized, intensive, and green development path."

First, shut down illegal mines, consolidate legal mining rights, and have them uniformly operated by a state-owned platform.

Second, introduce deep-processing enterprises to extend the industrial chain and increase added value.

Third, restore the ecological environment and give the people back their green mountains and clear waters.

He paused, thought for a moment, and then wrote: "Pingjiang cannot rely solely on rare earth elements. It needs to develop diversified industries and cultivate new growth points. First, utilize its red tourism resources to create high-quality red tourism routes. Second, develop distinctive agriculture and brand Pingjiang's tea, navel oranges, camellia oil, and other agricultural products. Third, attract industries transferred from coastal areas, introduce labor-intensive enterprises, and solve employment problems. Fourth, optimize the business environment and stimulate the vitality of the private economy."

He wrote for a long time, filling several pages. After finishing, he read it through again, making some changes and adding content. It was already dark outside, but he didn't want to leave work yet.

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the distant mines. Those mines had once been the pride of Pingjiang, and also its shame. Now, he would make them the pride of Pingjiang once more.

The phone rang. It was Su Wanqing. She asked him what he was doing, and he said he was thinking about Pingjiang. She asked what it was, and he said many things. She didn't ask any more questions, but simply said, "Take care of yourself, don't overwork yourself." He said okay.

He hung up the phone, sat back in his chair, and opened the notebook again. On the last page, he wrote a line: "The Pingjiang matter will be pursued to the end. This is not just a slogan, but a lifelong commitment."

Old Zhou's letter was locked in Lin Feng's desk drawer, along with Zhao Tiejun's account book, Chen Lili's USB drive, and the special task force's report.

Those things represent Pingjiang's past. But the outline he's writing in his hand represents Pingjiang's future.

The notice for the brainstorming session was issued three days ago.

When Qian Shumo was drafting the notice, he asked Lin Feng how to write the meeting theme. Lin Feng thought for a moment and said, "The Future of Pingjiang."

Qian Shumo didn't ask any more questions, but he knew that these four words carried more weight than any lengthy discourse.

The meeting was scheduled for Friday morning. There were few attendees; besides several key municipal leaders, there were the heads of the Development and Reform Commission, the Industry and Information Technology Bureau, the Natural Resources Bureau, the Ecology and Environment Bureau, and the Commerce Bureau.

Lin Feng specifically asked Qian Shumo to inform Lu Jianping and Yang Xuefeng.

Lu Jianping is the executive vice mayor, in charge of economic work. After Li Jianping was transferred, he became Lin Feng's most trusted economic advisor. Yang Xuefeng is the director of the Development and Reform Commission. In his early forties, with a postgraduate degree, he is one of the few local cadres in Pingjiang who understands economics and has a clear vision.

The meeting room is on the fifth floor of the municipal party committee building. It's not big; it can seat about twenty people.

When Lin Feng arrived, everyone was already there. Lu Jianping sat to his right, a notebook open in front of him, covered in writing. Yang Xuefeng sat in the back row, holding a document and still revising it. Everyone else sat upright, waiting for the meeting to begin.

Lin Feng sat down in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over every face. "Comrades, today's meeting is not about discussing specific work, but about one thing—the future of Pingjiang."

He paused, his voice not loud but clear, "The crackdown on the rare earth industry has come to an end. Zhou Tianming has been arrested, Liu Zhi has been arrested, Huang Zhiqiang, Han Ligang, and Wei Guoan have all been arrested. The sky over Pingjiang is clear for now. But after the clear sky, what should we do? How should we do it? I invited everyone here today to hear your thoughts."

The meeting room fell silent for a moment.

Lu Jianping was the first to speak, his voice steady: "Secretary Lin, I would like to share a few immature thoughts."

Lin Feng nodded.

Lu Jianping opened his notebook and read aloud: "Pingjiang's economy used to rely too heavily on rare earths. At its peak, the rare earth industry accounted for 40% of GDP, and more than half of the fiscal revenue came from rare earths. This single-structure approach is very risky. When the market fluctuates, the economy fluctuates; when policies are adjusted, the government's finances become strained. This rectification of the rare earth industry, although painful, has also given us an opportunity—an opportunity to force a transformation."

Lin Feng asked, "How exactly does the transfer work?"