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

In mid-December, the offices of the Qingping Township government were piled high with reports from various villages.

Zhou Dequan came out of the agricultural technology station carrying a stack of account books. His cotton-padded jacket sleeves were worn shiny, and he was breathing out white breath.

Two young men followed behind him, each carrying a stack of ledgers, their chins pressing down on the top ones, walking with a jog-like gait.

"Mayor Yang!" Zhou Dequan pushed open the door and came in, putting the account book on the table, dust swirling in the light filtering through the window cracks.

"The data for the fourth quarter for all nine administrative villages in the township is complete."

Yang Fan looked up from the tea garden management records. On the table lay a notebook that Geng Yan had given him, filled with dense notes on fertilization times, pruning schedules, and pest and disease conditions. He rubbed his temples and took the summary sheet from Lao Zhou.

The first page contains the township's GDP estimate.

Last year, Qingping Township's GDP was 3.03 million.

In the first three quarters of this year, we have already reached 19.4 million.

"The data for December isn't fully available yet, but just from the shipments of mountain delicacies and the final payments from Apple, we can expect to contribute at least three million in the fourth quarter." Zhou Dequan poked his finger on the paper, mud still stuck in his fingernails.

"Full-year forecast - at least 22 million."

It increased more than sixfold.

The second page shows the per capita net income.

Last year, the average amount per person in the whole township was less than 200 yuan.

This year, the average income of households that bagged apples increased by about four times, the purchase price of mountain delicacies tripled, and although the tea gardens have not yet produced any tea, Hengtong's land expropriation compensation has already been distributed to each village.

Zhou Dequan's voice trembled slightly: "Mayor Yang, by the end of November, the per capita net income of the entire township had already exceeded 1,500. Once the final payment for the mountain delicacies is settled in December—1,600—it's a sure thing."

Yang Fan put the watch down.

Someone outside the window shouted at the top of their lungs, "Old Wang! Your walnut payment has arrived, go to the credit union to collect it!"

Wang Dashan's voice boomed from the other end of the courtyard: "We've arrived? How many have arrived?"

"Go see for yourself! There's a long queue outside the credit union!"

The footsteps faded into the distance.

Zhou Dequan rubbed his hands together and pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. "And this—the total savings balance of the whole township. Last year, the total savings of the whole township were less than 900,000 yuan. This year, the credit union alone had a balance of over 2 million yuan by the end of October."

Yang Fan took the paper without saying a word.

Zhou Dequan, standing to the side, suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

He had worked in agricultural extension for twenty years and had never seen such figures before. In the past, when reporting data, he would always understate it—afraid that the higher-ups wouldn't believe him, afraid that they would set even higher targets the following year.

This is the first time this year that the number has been so large that even he himself couldn't believe it.

"Mayor Yang, are you saying... all this money really belongs to the people of Qingping?"

Yang Fan folded the paper and placed it under the notebook.

"They're theirs, and there will be even more next year!"

------

Meanwhile, the Standing Committee of the Anyang County Party Committee had been in session for a full three hours.

The meeting room was filled with smoke, and a row of enamel mugs stood side by side, with tea leaves floating on the surface. Wu Aiguo, the county party secretary, sat at one end of the table, with the reports for the first three quarters of Qingping Township spread out beside him, and seven or eight cigarette butts stuck in the ashtray.

Organization Minister Zhao Dongsheng is reading out the list of nominees.

"Wu Xiang, the Party Secretary of Qingping Township, was formerly the Deputy Chief of the Comprehensive Section of the Municipal Planning Commission."

"Yang Fan, former member of the Party Committee and deputy mayor of Qingping Township, is the deputy secretary of the Party Committee and mayor of Qingping Township."

When he read Yang Fan's name, Zhao Dongsheng paused, looked around, and then continued reading.

"Sun Xiaohong, Organization Committee Member of Qingping Township, formerly Propaganda Committee Member of Qingping Township."

"Zhou Dequan, the publicity officer of Qingping Township, was formerly the head of the Qingping Township Agricultural Technology Station."

"Zhao Dayong, member of the Party Committee and deputy mayor of Qingping Township, was formerly the head of the armed forces department of Qingping Township."

After reading the list aloud, Zhao Dongsheng put it down.

There was a three-second silence in the conference room.

Deputy Secretary Li Nian spoke first.

"I'd like to say a few words."

He stubbed out his cigarette and tapped his fingers on the table.

"Everyone else on this list is fine. Li Chang'an is going to Anyang Town, and Zhou Guodong is going to Wangjiaping—these are normal adjustments; those who should be promoted are promoted, and those who should be left behind are left behind."

He paused.

"But I have a different opinion on Yang Fan's arrangement."

Wu Aiguo didn't say anything, but picked up the enamel mug and blew on it.

Li Nian continued, "Comrade Yang Fan's abilities are beyond question. Apple bagging, the mountain delicacies brand, Hengtong's 60 million investment—any one of these is a solid achievement. I, Li Nian, am convinced."

He then changed the subject.

"But he's only been in Qingping for a little over a year. He reported for duty last July, and it's December now, a total of seventeen months. Isn't it too fast to be promoted directly from deputy township head to township head?"

Organization Minister Zhao Dongsheng flipped through the files and then spoke.

"Secretary Li is right. According to the regulations for the selection and appointment of cadres, the term of office for promotion from deputy section chief to section chief is generally no less than two years. Yang Fan's term as deputy section chief was one year and six months, which is indeed insufficient."

He closed the file. "Of course, the regulations also state that exceptionally outstanding individuals can be treated exceptionally. But there must be a valid reason for such an exception, and it must withstand scrutiny."

Zhou Jianhua, the county party committee member in charge of agriculture and deputy county head, leaned back in his chair, twirling a lighter in his fingers.

"I'd like to say a few words."

Wu Aiguo raised his chin.

"I acknowledge Yang Fan's achievements. Everyone has seen the data for Qingping Township this year—GDP has increased more than sixfold, per capita income has risen from 200 to 1,600, and savings balance has increased from 900,000 to 4 million. Hengtong has invested 60 million, and the tea garden will produce its first batch of tea next spring."

Zhou Jianhua put the lighter down.

"But achievements are achievements, and rules are rules. My suggestion is to let him serve as deputy secretary first, as a transition period of a year or two, before promoting him to township head. This way, his achievements will be acknowledged, and people won't gossip about him."

Some people in the conference room nodded.

Han Zhi, the county discipline inspection commission secretary, leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers twice on his knee.

"Let me say something too."

Everyone's eyes turned to them.

Han Zhi is usually not talkative, but when he does speak, he gets straight to the point.

"I had someone investigate Comrade Yang Fan indirectly. During his year or so in Qingping, he handled a considerable amount of money—payments for mountain delicacies, compensation for Hengtong's land acquisition, and materials for road repairs under the work-for-relief program. Every single transaction is documented and can withstand scrutiny."

He paused.

"Not only is he not greedy himself, but he also keeps a close eye on things. When Hengtong was acquiring land, someone tried to tamper with the compensation, but he stopped them on the spot."

Han Zhi picked up the enamel mug, but didn't drink from it, and put it down again.

"You can trust the cadres like these."

County head Li Jianmin remained silent.

Wu Aiguo glanced at him. "Old Li, what do you say?"

Li Jianmin lit a cigarette and took a puff.

"I've been thinking about Yang Fan's matter for several days." He flicked his cigarette ash. "To be honest, at first I also thought it was too fast. Eighteen months, from deputy township head to township head, without even experiencing the position of deputy secretary, it seems like a rocket ride to anyone."

He paused.

"But then I thought of a question—how many years has it been since our Anyang County produced a cadre like this?"

No one responded in the meeting room.

Li Jianmin continued, "Everyone here knows what Qingping used to be like. It was the poorest township in the county, and eight college graduate cadres left in nine years. The roads were impassable, the electricity was unstable, and the per capita income was less than two hundred yuan. Anyone who went there would have a headache."

His voice rose an octave.

"Yang Fan left, and in just over a year, he transformed Qingping. Apples were sold, mountain delicacies were sold, 60 million yuan of investment was secured, and roads were started to be built. The people have money in their pockets, and the credit union's deposits have quadrupled."

Li Jianmin put out his cigarette.

"If we continue to let cadres like this steadily accumulate seniority, allowing them to remain in the position of deputy secretary for another year or two—do you think that wouldn't be disheartening?"

Li Nian opened her mouth, but didn't say anything.

Zhou Jianhua lowered his head and twirled the lighter in his hand.

Wu Aiguo slammed the enamel mug on the table. The sound wasn't loud, but everyone fell silent.

"Old Li is right."

He stood up, picked up the report from Qingping Township, and shook it.

"I've looked at this data at least ten times. Every time I look at it, I think about one question—was Yang Fan given this position as township head by us for free, or did he earn it himself?"

No one said a word.

"He earned it himself!"

Wu Aiguo slammed the report on the table.

"For the three pilot trees, he paid for the paper bags himself. When it was promoted throughout the township, he rode his bicycle to nine villages. When mountain delicacies couldn't be sold, he led people to Ningzhou city to shout through loudspeakers. When Hengtong came to inspect, the proposal he wrote convinced Zhao Wendong to add 30 million yuan."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word landed heavily on the table.

"Merit must be rewarded! This is the rule for personnel management in Anyang County! Yang Fan has made such a great contribution; if he isn't promoted exceptionally, how can we demonstrate the county's determination to develop the county?"

Wu Aiguo scanned the area.

"He's the first! If there's a second person who achieves what he has, I'd dare to promote him even if it's an exceptional promotion!"

There was a three-second silence in the conference room.

Then Ma Zemin raised his hand.

"I agree."

After some thought, everyone raised their hands in agreement.

When the meeting ended, Li Nian was the last to leave.

Wu Aiguo called out to him.

"Old Li."

Li Nian turned around.

Wu Aiguo handed him a cigarette.

"Your suggestion today is correct. According to the rules, Yang Fan is indeed not old enough."

Li Nian took the cigarette and twirled it in her hand.

"But rules are rigid, people are flexible."

Wu Aiguo lit a cigarette and took a puff.

"Our Anyang County has been poor for so many years, and it's only recently that a capable person has emerged. If we hold people back because of the word 'years of service,' who will dare to do anything in the future?"

"My intention through this exceptional promotion is to show all the cadres in Anyang County that if you have ability, you should demonstrate it, and I, as the county party secretary, will promote you first!"

Li Nian was silent for a while, then lit a cigarette.

"Secretary Wu, I understand." He took a drag. "I just feel that once this door is opened, it might be difficult to close it later."

"That's the right thing to do," Wu Aiguo said, looking at him. "I'm just afraid that if we tighten the reins too much, we'll strangle the capable people."

Li Nian didn't say anything more, nodded, and turned to leave.

In the corridor, Zhao Dongsheng followed behind Wu Aiguo, carrying a file folder.

"Minister Zhao, are you familiar with Wu Xiang's background in the city?"

Wu Aiguo paused for a moment.

"The general directly appointed by the city is said to be Mayor Wu's nephew."

Zhao Dongsheng frowned slightly.

"Vice Mayor Wu Chunlin?"

Wu Aiguo frowned, sighed, and shook his head.

"With such a large forest, all sorts of birds will fly in!"

Zhao Dongsheng didn't dare to reply, but just kept his head down and followed closely.