I slept with my sister's classmate, and she turned out to be my boss.

The first workday after the holiday.

The Agriculture Bureau of Qingshun County is bustling with activity.

Wang Desheng held a printed report in his hand—

The cover reads: "Special Report on Price Monitoring of Chinese Herbal Medicines in Qingshun County".

The date and number are marked below.

He didn't look at the main text because he had personally verified the data, and every line of numbers was in his mind.

He took the report and left the office, heading straight for the county government.

Ten minutes later, he knocked on Du Yuming's office door.

"Come in."

Wang Desheng pushed open the door and went in.

Du Yuming looked up at him and noticed that his expression was off:

"What's wrong?"

Wang Desheng placed the report in front of Du Yuming, turned to the first page, and pointed to the line of data highlighted in red in the middle:

"County Magistrate, the price of Codonopsis pilosula on the first trading day after the holiday has increased by 15 percent compared to the last trading day before the holiday."

It's currently at an all-time high, nearly tripling in value compared to the same period last year.

He turned to the second page and said worriedly:

"This is a preliminary survey of the total area under cultivation for Codonopsis pilosula in the county. The area planted this year has more than doubled compared to last year. It involves more than 3,000 households, and I had someone roughly estimate the total loan amount, which is over 50 million yuan."

Du Yuming looked down at the report, his face darkening.

The office was silent for almost ten seconds.

He reached out and turned to the last page of the report, where he saw a handwritten note by Wang Desheng:

"Based on the current rate of expansion, if prices collapse, the proportion of farmers who will suffer losses will exceed 40 percent."

He closed the report and placed it on the table, his fingertip lingering on the cover for a moment before he pressed the internal phone button.

"Xiao Wu, immediately notify Song Xiaofeng, Liu Haiyan, Zhao Zhijing, and Huang Xin from the Development and Reform Bureau. We will have a meeting in the small conference room in fifteen minutes."

He answered the phone, "Okay."

……

Fifteen minutes later, six people were sitting in the small conference room.

Du Yuming sat in the main seat, with Wang Desheng's report spread out in front of him.

Song Xiaofeng sat next to him, looking through a stack of photocopies.

Finance Bureau Chief Zhao Zhijing sat opposite him, her gaze fixed on the table, her expression silent.

Liu Haiyan and Huang Xin sat on either side of the long table, each looking down at the materials in their hands, occasionally glancing up at Du Yuming before looking down again.

Du Yuming didn't waste any time and went straight to the point:

"The price of Codonopsis pilosula has gone out of control. The planting area has doubled, and loans have exceeded 50 million yuan. If no measures are taken now, the county will not have the money to bail it out when the market collapses."

He glanced at Song Xiaofeng and asked:

"Executive Director, what's your opinion?"

Song Xiaofeng put down the materials in his hand:

"The guaranteed price for Guangjitang was originally scheduled to be implemented after the project went into production, but given the current situation, we can't wait any longer."

If Guangjitang could announce the guaranteed purchase price in advance, farmers would at least have some expectation, regardless of market fluctuations.

With expectations in place, panic will not spread.

Zhao Zhijing continued:

"It's a good thing that the guaranteed price is announced in advance, but the county needs to do some calculations."

Guangjitang's current production capacity cannot absorb the entire county's output. If prices collapse, farmers will come to the county again for help.

The county government will need to advance at least 20 million yuan to stabilize the situation. Where will this money come from?

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Twenty million is not a small sum for the finances of Qingshun County.

Last year, the county's general public budget revenue was only over 200 million yuan, and 20 million yuan is equivalent to one-tenth.

If it really comes to the point where we need to make advance payments, the funds for other projects in the county will be squeezed out.

Du Yuming remained silent.

He looked down at the few pages of report in front of him, his finger pausing on the edge of the table for a moment, then looked up at Liu Haiyan:

"Have you been in contact with General Manager Liu?"

Liu Haiyan nodded: "Yes. Communication went smoothly when we signed the contract before the Lunar New Year, and President Liu was also familiar with our situation."

"Then contact him this afternoon, explain the situation in the county to him, and see if the guaranteed price can be activated ahead of schedule."

Liu Haiyan responded and wrote it down in her notebook.

……

An hour later.

He Ying was organizing the outline of her graduation thesis in her dormitory at the Party School when her phone rang.

She picked it up and glanced at it; it was a call from Du Yuming.

She answered the phone, and Du Yuming's voice came from the other end, sounding a bit deeper than usual:

He Ying held her phone but did not answer immediately.

She quickly did a mental calculation—

The price of Codonopsis pilosula is currently at an all-time high, but the higher it goes, the more drastic the fall will be.

If farmers cannot be locked into the price guarantee agreement before prices fall, then no one can save them when the market collapses.

"Contact Mr. Liu immediately and announce the guaranteed purchase price ahead of schedule, without waiting for the original timeframe."

She paused for a moment:

"Tell Mr. Liu that the county will cooperate with him to do a good job in the preliminary publicity and signing organization, so that he doesn't have to worry about the signing rate."

Du Yuming replied, "Okay. I'll have Liu Haiyan contact General Manager Liu this afternoon."

After hanging up the phone.

He Ying opened her notebook and wrote a line on the day's entry page:

"The price of Codonopsis pilosula is out of control - we will start the guaranteed price ahead of schedule - and contact Mr. Liu."

Then she picked up her phone, found Mr. Liu's number at Guangjitang, hesitated for a moment, and didn't dial it directly—

Let Du Yuming handle the coordination first.

She's waiting for news.

……

At four o'clock that afternoon, Liu Haiyan called back:

"Secretary, General Manager Liu has agreed. He said the guaranteed price can be implemented earlier, but the county needs to cooperate on two things—"

First, we must organize the signing mobilization in all townships as soon as possible to ensure the signing rate;

Secondly, provide detailed data on the county's total ginseng production and the distribution of farmers over the past three years.

He needs to determine the acquisition batches and funding arrangements based on the data.

After listening, He Ying didn't hesitate: "The county has all the data. Have the Agriculture Bureau compile it tonight and send it over first thing tomorrow morning."

Regarding the signing and mobilization efforts, all townships will begin door-to-door outreach tomorrow. When will the guaranteed price announcement be issued?

"Mr. Liu said that he needs to go through some internal procedures within three days."

"Then it will take three days. On the day the announcement is released, all townships will simultaneously begin the signing process."

Liu Haiyan replied, "Okay."

After hanging up the phone, He Ying sent Du Yuming a message:

"General Manager Liu has agreed. The guaranteed price will be announced within three days, and signing will begin simultaneously in all townships."

Du Yuming replied with a single word: "Okay."

……

That evening, He Ying's phone rang while she was having dinner.

She glanced at it; it was a video call from Chen Dapeng.

She took her tray, found a corner to sit down, and answered the video call.

The screen lit up, and Chen Dapeng's face appeared on the screen, with his living room in the background.

He glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Sister Ying, what's wrong? You don't look well."

He Ying lowered her head, ate a mouthful of rice, and only spoke after she finished chewing:

"The price of Codonopsis pilosula in the county has skyrocketed, the planting area has doubled, and loans have exceeded 50 million yuan."

If we don't lock farmers into guaranteed minimum income agreements now, no one can protect them when the market collapses.

Chen Dapeng looked at her and asked with concern:

"So how did you arrange it?"

"I spoke with the county head and told him to start the guaranteed price for Guangjitang ahead of schedule and to issue an announcement within three days. All townships will start signing contracts simultaneously."

Chen Dapeng paused for a moment, offering no comment on her arrangements:

"Sister Ying, why don't you take two days off to rest?"

He Ying did not answer.

She lowered her head and shoveled another mouthful of rice into her mouth, chewing for a long time.

Then she looked up and glanced at him through the screen:

"Let's talk about it after the minimum price is finalized."

Chen Dapeng didn't urge her or try to persuade her further; he simply said:

"Then make sure you get some rest and don't stay up late. Let me know if anything happens."

He Ying nodded: "Okay."

After hanging up the video call, He Ying put her phone on the table and continued eating with her head down.

But in her mind, she was already planning her arrangements for three days from now—

Announcements, signing contracts, door-to-door outreach, loan coordination—every step requires someone to oversee it.

She set a reminder on her phone.

Then he stood up, cleared his tray, and left the cafeteria.