Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

It was exactly 10:00 AM.

For the first contract, Lin Zhiyuan, founder of Tianhe Group, sat on the left side of the signing table. He Xia sat on the right.

"The Trina Group's 1.5 billion yuan new energy battery material production base project has been officially signed."

The two began writing at the same time, and thunderous applause erupted.

For the second contract, Chen Dingguo, chairman of Huarui Heavy Industry, moved to the signing table. Sun Liancheng, as the general commander of the Guangmingfeng project, sat on the other side and signed the strategic cooperation agreement.

"The Huarui Heavy Industry 1.2 billion yuan military-civilian integration industrial base project and the strategic cooperation agreement for industrial synergy development between Guangmingfeng and Luzhou were officially signed."

For the third contract, Li Wenchang and Professor Zhao sat down side by side.

"The 1.3 billion yuan carbon fiber composite materials project of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and the joint construction agreement of the joint R&D center of Luzhou University were officially signed."

Three contracts. Four billion.

After the signing ceremony, a CCTV reporter walked up to He Xia with a microphone in hand.

"Secretary He, with three major projects signed on the same day, what are your plans for the future development of Lüzhou?"

He Xia stood in front of the camera with her posture upright.

"Luzhou aims to develop industrial clusters and integrate industry and city. The goal is not to pursue GDP figures for a single project, but to create a self-sustaining industrial ecosystem."

The reporter pressed further: "Some people say that Luzhou's economy is terminally ill. How do you respond to that?"

He Xia's lips twitched slightly. It wasn't a smile, but it was enough to be noticed.

"There are many ways to treat illness. The key is what medicine the doctor prescribes."

That evening, it was broadcast on CCTV's evening news during prime time.

"A major project signing ceremony was held today in Lüzhou City, Handong Province. Three projects—Tianhe Group, Huarui Heavy Industry, and the Materials Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation—have a total investment of 4 billion yuan, which is estimated to drive the total output value of the upstream and downstream industrial chains to over 10 billion yuan. He Xia, Secretary of the Lüzhou Municipal Party Committee, stated that the city will use industrial clusters to drive its transformation and upgrading."

Forty-five seconds.

Includes visuals. Includes narration. Includes He Xia's interview audio.

The Provincial Party Committee's residential compound.

Sha Ruijin sat on the living room sofa. On the television screen, He Xia's face appeared on the news broadcast.

He didn't change the channel with the remote control in his hand.

The Longjing tea on the coffee table had been steeping for twenty minutes; the water went from hot to lukewarm, and then from lukewarm to cool.

He didn't pick it up.

In the provincial government building, Liu Changchun finished reading the news in his office, leaned back in his chair, and chuckled.

He picked up the phone and dialed Shen Zhong.

He only said one sentence after the call was connected.

"Secretary Shen, I'm impressed."

Shen Zhong didn't laugh. "There's nothing to admire about her. She's capable of doing things herself."

After hanging up the phone, Shen Zhong stood by the window.

There were no stars in the night sky over Handong. In the distance, the city lights stretched out as a blurry band of light.

Footsteps sounded at the door. Zhou Weiguo stood by the doorframe, holding a document in his hand.

"Sir, Old Xu called to ask if he needs to intervene in the follow-up of the matter in Luzhou."

"No need. Tell Old Xu that everything is proceeding according to plan."

Shen Zhong turned around and glanced at Zhou Weiguo. "Also, tell He Xia something."

"Please speak, sir."

Shen Zhong's gaze darkened.

"The signing is just the beginning. Sha Ruijin will not admit defeat. If the economic path is blocked, he will find another way."

At the Luzhou International Conference Center, the signing ceremony concluded and the crowd dispersed.

After seeing off the last group of reporters, He Xia turned to the director of the municipal party committee office beside her and said, "Pass down the notice that the municipal party committee will hold an enlarged meeting at 7 p.m. tonight. All attendees must submit a written report on the industrial development of Luzhou over the next three years, which must be no less than 3,000 words."

The director paused for a moment, then subconsciously glanced at his watch.

It's 4 PM now, and I have to write a 3,000-word report in three hours?

"Are you having difficulties?" He Xia's gaze swept over, devoid of any emotion.

"No! I'll take care of it right away!" The director snapped out of his daze, turned around, and jogged away.

He Xia got back into the car, fastened her seatbelt, but didn't start the engine.

She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and thought that the four billion yuan contract and forty-five seconds on the evening news would be enough for her to gain a foothold in the officialdom of Handong.

But she knew very well that this was only the first half.

That provincial party secretary named Sha Ruijin will not back down just because of a press conference.

The special-edition phone in my pocket vibrated.

It was a heavy text message, containing only one sentence.

"Hold onto your core base and don't take the initiative to attack."

Meanwhile, the Handong Provincial Military Region.

Shen Zhong stood in front of the huge sand table, on which the geographical model of Lüzhou had been accurately restored.

Three small red flags are planted in three different locations in the economic development zone, representing the three major projects that have just been launched.

Zhou Weiguo walked in with a freshly printed document and stood at attention.

"Sir, Li Dakang just called and expressed... verbal support for the Guangmingfeng industrial synergy plan."

Zhou Weiguo hesitated for a moment in choosing his words.

"Verbal support?" Shen Zhong asked without looking up. "He didn't mention anything else?"

"He mentioned it," Zhou Weiguo reported truthfully. "He said that Comrade Sun Liancheng's vision and courage are admirable, but he hopes that the subsequent industrial transfer will fully consider the overall interests of Jingzhou and avoid the loss of state-owned assets."

"Oh."

Shen Zhong let out a soft chuckle through his nose. His skill at shifting blame was maxed out, and now he was trying to claim credit and take control.

"He's leaving himself a way out. He's afraid of offending us, and he's also afraid that Sha Ruijin will settle scores later and accuse him of 'loss of state-owned assets'," Shen Zhong said incisively. "Don't worry about him. The authorization letter in Sun Liancheng's hand is his indenture. As long as the project can bring real benefits to Guangmingfeng, he can't cause any trouble."

"yes!"

"What's the latest news from Liu Changchun's side?"

"Governor Liu chaired an executive meeting of the provincial government this afternoon, with only one agenda item: how to promote Luzhou's successful experience in attracting investment throughout the province," Zhou Weiguo reported. "The meeting lasted an hour and a half, and Secretary Sha was not mentioned at all."

Shen Zhong walked to the window and looked at the distant horizon.

Liu Changchun, that old fox, is already eager to distance himself from Sha Ruijin and has even started to actively promote himself.

He's gambling.

I'm betting that Sha Ruijin won't stay in Handong for long, and that I'll have the last laugh.

"Have you gotten hold of Sha Ruijin's schedule?"

"Got it." Zhou Weiguo handed over a printed sheet of paper. "According to the internal arrangements of the Provincial Party Committee Office, he has no public activities tonight. But..."

Zhou Weiguo paused for a moment. "But what?"

"He instructed his secretary to inform Secretary Tian Guofu to come to his office at 11 p.m.

His heavy pupils suddenly contracted.

It's 11 p.m.

A secret meeting late at night between the provincial party secretary and the secretary of the discipline inspection commission.

When the economic path proved unsuccessful, he decided to try a different approach.

Shen Zhong picked up the red secure phone on the table and dialed Liu Changchun's number.

"Governor Liu, do me a favor."