Official title: Refused to stay at the university, started his career in a rural town.

Headquarters of Hengtong Group, Guangming District, Jingzhou City.

Deputy General Manager Zhao Wendong is carefully reviewing the information about Qingping Township.

The materials were a thick stack, including the provincial newspaper article "Treasures Hidden in the Deep Mountains: Qingping Mountain Delicacies," a reprint from the city newspaper, and a broadcast script from the county radio station. There was also an investigation report, a thin three-page document, which his subordinates had retrieved from Anyang County.

Zhao Wendong opened the investigation report, and the first page made him raise an eyebrow.

Yang Fan, a member of the Party Committee and Deputy Head of Qingping Township, completed his undergraduate and master's degrees at Handong University. During his time at the university, he served as the student union president and proposed the "Handong University Model," which was commended by the State Education Commission. After graduation, he refused to stay at the university and voluntarily applied to work at the grassroots level.

In less than a year since arriving in Qingping, he has successively promoted apple bagging technology, revitalized old tea gardens, and integrated the mountain products industry. Apple bagging technology has been promoted throughout the city, the tea gardens are now ready to produce their first batch of tea this year, and the tea gardens have not yet been developed. The sales of the Shanzhen brand are expected to exceed one million yuan in three months.

Zhao Wendong put the report down.

Handong University.

Of course he knew about Handong University, the top university in the province and a key national university.

Although the Department of Political Science and Law is particularly famous in Handong, it doesn't mean that other departments are weak; they just aren't as prominent as the Department of Political Science and Law.

This Yang Fan, a combined bachelor's and master's degree student and student union president, refused to stay at the university—with this resume, he would be qualified to work in a provincial government agency, but he has been stuck in a poor mountain village for a year.

Zhao Wendong picked up the investigation report again and turned to the last page. The investigator's notes read: "This person has a clean financial record, no illicit income, and during his postgraduate studies, he wrote the historical novel 'Those Years of the Tang Dynasty' under the pen name Handan Chun in his spare time, earning stable royalties."

Zhao Wendong tapped his fingers twice on the table.

He has plenty of money, isn't in a hurry to join a government agency, and has connections to the Handong faction.

If someone can stay in a remote mountain village and has achievements to show for it, then this is probably another candidate that Handong University is pushing hard for.

He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Old Zhou, help me look up someone. Yang Fan from Handong University. Yes, he's in a combined bachelor's and master's program in economics. Find out which professors he was close to during his time at university, and who he was on good terms with in the student union."

After hanging up, he dialed the marketing department again. "This is Zhao Wendong. Ask Manager Sun to come over."

Sun Weiping was a middle-aged man in his early forties, with his hair neatly combed. He came in carrying a notebook.

"Mr. Zhao."

"You personally lead the team to that project in Qingping Township. The focus isn't on the local delicacies."

Sun Weiping paused, his pen still.

Zhao Wendong pushed the materials over. "The mountain delicacies are just the facade; the real treasure is their century-old tea tree, and..."

Zhao Wendong threw Yang Fan's profile, the tea garden's survey data, and Yang Fan's promotional materials in front of Sun Weiping.

"Song Huaiyuan, a professor of tea science at Handong University, personally inspected the plant and determined that the variety was unique and the quality would not be bad."

Zhao Wendong leaned back in his chair.

"I've heard of Old Song. He was recruited from Hanjiang Agricultural University. He's stubborn and never endorses anyone. The fact that he's willing to go to Qingping means that tea tree really has something special. If that tree doesn't have anything special, then that's even better..."

Sun Weiping looked up. "What General Manager Zhao means is—"

"Go and see if that tea tree is really worth it, and see if their tea garden can be scaled up. Most importantly, see if that Yang Fan is truly capable, or if he's just been hyped up by Handong University."

"If the tea trees are truly valuable, we'll definitely take all the tea from Qingping. As long as we don't lose money, we'll do our best to help! It's a win-win situation, understand?"

Sun Weiping closed his notebook. "Understood."

Zhao Wendong walked to the window and looked at the traffic below. "Also, we should send a letter through the Provincial Department of Agriculture, using the proper channels. If we don't go, we don't care; if we do go, we should make them take it seriously."

"Yes."

Zhao Wendong turned around. "Go in person, bring a tea expert with you. Remember, be polite, and don't offend anyone even if the deal falls through."

Sun Weiping nodded, turned around and left.

Zhao Wendong picked up the investigation report again and turned to the first page. Yang Fan, Handong University, graduated in 1993.

Three days later, the phone on Zhao Wendong's desk rang.

"Mr. Zhao, we've found it." It was Lao Zhou's voice on the phone.

"During his time at the university, Yang Fan had a very close relationship with President Wang Jianmin. Wang Jianmin groomed him as his successor, and Vice President Su Huaishan was also his mentor. Professor Li Shusheng of the College of Agriculture corresponded with him. It was Su Huaishan who facilitated Professor Song Huaiyuan's move to Qingping."

Zhao Wendong gripped the microphone tightly but didn't speak.

Old Zhou continued, "Furthermore, the Handong University model was commended by the State Education Commission, and the initial plan was proposed by Yang Fan. He has a very good reputation among Handong University alumni, especially among the older generation of professors, who all acknowledge him as their student."

The older generation? They all approve of this student?

"Understood," Zhao Wendong replied calmly.

The top leader of Handong University, the future top leader, and some of the senior professors! Yang Fan, you're just a student from a small mountain village, do you really want to become a dragon?

He thought for a moment, then dialed another number.

"Professor Li? I am Zhao Wendong from Hengtong Group. I apologize for bothering you, but I would like to ask you about someone—Yang Fan from Qingping Township."

On the other end of the phone, Professor Li Shusheng seemed to pause for a moment: "Yang Fan? What's wrong?"

"Our company is interested in cooperating with Qingping Township on tea production and would like to learn more about the situation there."

Li Shusheng remained silent for a few seconds.

"Mr. Zhao, how could a general manager of your stature possibly pay attention to a mere deputy township head?"

Zhao Wendong hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair.

The setting sun outside the window dyed the skyline of the provincial capital orange-red.

After pondering for a while, he picked up his pen, crossed out Sun Weiping's name on the leadership list of the inspection plan, and finally wrote down—Zhao Wendong!

On April 20th, the inspection team of Hengtong Group drove into Qingping Township.

The three cars were led by a black Audi, followed by three Cherokees.

The vehicle was covered in yellow mud—the road from the county to Qingping was still that same dilapidated dirt road.

Zhao Wendong pushed open the car door, his leather shoes clicking on the muddy ground. He was in his early forties, tall and thin, wearing gold-rimmed glasses; his eyes behind the lenses were indifferent. Sun Weiping followed behind him, followed by two tea experts and an assistant.

In the courtyard of the township government, Ma Zemin, the executive deputy county head of Anyang County, stood at the front, followed closely by Zhao Kai, the deputy county head, and the rest were leaders and cadres of Qingping Township.

With Ma Liangchen and Li Chang'an at the head, the two groups formed a goose-like formation on both sides.

Zhao Wendong walked over and extended his hand. "Hello, County Chief Ma! I'm Zhao Wendong from Hengtong Group."

Ma Zemin shook his hand. "Mr. Zhao, welcome, welcome. This road is difficult to travel, you must be tired."

Zhao Wendong smiled. "The roads are bad, yet they still managed to achieve such results. That shows that Qingping Township is truly under the leadership of the county committee!"

Zhao Wendong gave a subtle compliment to the cadres of Qingping Township. Out of the corner of his eye, he casually glanced at the Qingping Township members in the back row. The young man with bright and piercing eyes was probably Yang Fan!