Nominal: My senior brothers are all big shots

In early autumn, Pingjiang was bathed in clear skies and gentle breezes. Lin Feng stood on the newly leveled construction site in the east of the city, thick layers of yellow earth beneath his feet, and distant, rolling mountains. The sunlight was bright, almost blinding, but his gaze remained fixed ahead. There, the largest industrial project in Pingjiang's history would be built—"Rare Earth Valley." The name was suggested by Yang Xuefeng, who said, "The US has Silicon Valley, why can't Pingjiang have a Rare Earth Valley?" Lin Feng didn't speak at the time, but thought about it all night. The next day, at the Standing Committee meeting, he said the name was acceptable. Not because it sounded impressive, but because it represented ambition.

A makeshift stage had been erected at the construction site, with a blue backdrop that read "Groundbreaking Ceremony for Pingjiang 'Rare Earth Valley' Industrial Park." Several hundred people sat below, including city officials, business representatives, miners from the mining area, and reporters carrying cameras. Zhao Tiejun sat in the third row, wearing a faded blue cotton jacket, his hair neatly combed, and his beard clean-shaven. He was there representing the people of the mining area. When the town government officials informed him, he hesitated for a long time, saying, "What am I going there for? I don't understand all that high-tech stuff." The town government officials replied, "You may not understand, but you are a representative of the people of the mining area. Go and see the new changes in Pingjiang."

Zhao Tiejun arrived. He sat there, gazing at the flat land in the distance, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He remembered his son saying over a decade ago, "Dad, once Pingjiang develops, I won't have to go out to work anymore." He remembered those years, the mine entrances riddled with holes, sewage flowing freely, barren and desolate. He remembered the day Zhou Mingyuan was arrested, the afternoon he spent alone at his son's grave. Now, a "Rare Earth Valley" was to be built here. He didn't know what "valley" meant, but he knew Pingjiang had changed.

Lin Feng walked onto the stage, and the audience fell silent. He stood in front of the podium without a prepared speech, his gaze sweeping over every face in the audience. After a moment of silence, he began to speak.

"Comrades and friends, today is a good day. The Pingjiang 'Rare Earth Valley' project has officially started."

The applause was enthusiastic. After the applause subsided, Lin Feng continued, "'Rare Earth Valley' has a planned area of ​​20 square kilometers and a total investment of 30 billion yuan, covering the entire industrial chain including rare earth permanent magnets, rare earth catalysis, and rare earth luminescence. The first batch of 10 high-tech enterprises to settle in includes many of China's top 500 companies and industry leaders."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear, echoing across the empty construction site. "In the past, Pingjiang's rare earth industry sold raw ore, resulting in low profits, high pollution, and low tax revenue. From today onwards, Pingjiang's rare earth industry will shift to selling materials, components, and solutions. We want to keep the value of rare earths in Pingjiang, keep the tax revenue in Pingjiang, and keep the jobs in Pingjiang."

Applause erupted from the audience again. Lin Feng continued, "Pingjiang aims to transform from a major rare earth city into a leading rare earth city. This isn't just a slogan; it's a path. This path is long and difficult, but we've already taken the first step."

He paused, his voice lowering slightly. "The 30 billion yuan investment and ten leading enterprises are just the beginning. We aim to build 'Rare Earth Valley' into a first-class domestic rare earth new materials industrial base within three years; and to establish it as an internationally influential innovation hub for the rare earth industry within five years. Pingjiang's future lies not in the mines, but in 'Rare Earth Valley.'"

The applause rang out a third time, even more enthusiastic than the first two. Zhao Tiejun was also clapping; his hands were rough, and his applause was loud. He didn't fully understand what Lin Feng was saying, but he understood the last sentence—"Pingjiang's future isn't in the mines, it's in the 'Rare Earth Valley'." He remembered those years he spent mining in the mines, from sunrise to sunset, from youth to old age. He thought his life would end like this, but he never expected to see Pingjiang change.

The groundbreaking ceremony began. Lin Feng stepped down from the stage, took a shovel tied with red silk, scooped up a spadeful of soil, and sprinkled it on the foundation stone. Lu Jianping, Yang Xuefeng, and several other company representatives also shoveled soil in turn. Zhao Tiejun was invited onto the stage and stood next to Lin Feng. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the shovel, scooped up a spadeful of soil, and sprinkled it on the foundation stone. He didn't know what that spadeful of soil meant, but he knew it was the most meaningful thing he had ever done in his life.

After the ceremony, Lin Feng was interviewed by reporters. One reporter asked him, "Secretary Lin, what does the 'Rare Earth Valley' project mean for Pingjiang?" Lin Feng thought for a moment and said, "It means that Pingjiang has shifted from a resource-dependent economy to an innovation-driven economy. It means that Pingjiang's rare earth industry has shifted from selling resources to selling technology. It means that the people of Pingjiang have shifted from relying on the mountains for their livelihood to relying on their intelligence for their livelihood."

The reporter then asked, "What are your expectations for the 'Rare Earth Valley'?" Lin Feng replied, "My expectation is that in five years, Pingjiang will no longer be just a 'major rare earth city,' but a 'strong rare earth city.' In ten years, Pingjiang's rare earth industry will be able to represent the country in international competition."

After the interview, Lin Feng stood on the construction site, gazing at the distant, rolling mountains. The sunlight was bright, shining on the mountains that had once been riddled with holes from excavation. The trees on the mountains had grown considerably taller, lush and green, rustling in the wind. He recalled his early days in Pingjiang, the letters of complaint, the account books, the photographs, and the weeping faces in court. Those days felt like a dream. The dream was over, and Pingjiang had changed.

At the end of the year, Pingjiang's GDP data was released. Lin Feng was reviewing the report in his office when he received it. The report stated: Annual GDP increased by 9.3% year-on-year, ranking third in the province and achieving Pingjiang's best performance in nearly ten years. The added value of the rare earth industry increased by 28.7% year-on-year, contributing over 40% to GDP growth. Fiscal revenue increased by 15.6% year-on-year, with the proportion of rare earth industry tax revenue rising from 12% before the rectification to 31%. Lin Feng studied the report for a long time, then placed it on the table, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes. Outside the window, the sunlight was perfect.

The news spread like wildfire throughout Pingjiang. Zhao Tiejun heard it at the mining park. He was planting trees by the lake when a town government official rushed over, panting, and said, "Master Zhao, great news! Pingjiang's GDP growth rate is third in the province!" Zhao Tiejun paused, then asked, "What's GDP?" The official explained, "It's the rate of development in Pingjiang." Zhao Tiejun nodded and continued digging holes and planting trees. He didn't know what GDP was, but he knew that life in Pingjiang was getting better.

That evening, Lin Feng called Su Wanqing. Su Wanqing said on the other end of the line that their daughter could say "Dad" now. Lin Feng was stunned for a moment and said, "Really?" Su Wanqing said, "Really, listen." A childish voice came from the other end of the line: "Dad...Dad..." Tears welled up in Lin Feng's eyes instantly. He gripped the phone, speechless.

Outside the window, Pingjiang's night is ablaze with lights. In the distance, at the "Rare Earth Valley" construction site, lights blaze and machines roar. Pingjiang's tomorrow is taking shape there, bit by bit.