Chapter 245: Confident Secretary Gu

In the banquet hall of the Linyang City Party Committee's guesthouse on May 20, the atmosphere was lively. Not only were all the leaders from the four departments of the Linyang City Party Committee and the Nan Hui County Party Committee present, but many business owners from Linyang also attended.

The banner hanging in the center of the hall read: "Congratulations to Comrade Gu Ping on the successful investment promotion work!" It was clear that the event was organized to honor Gu Ping. After the provincial approval of the rural industrial park, the Investment Promotion Bureau was established, and Gu Ping, the Secretary of Nan Hui County, became the first head of the bureau. As the head of the Investment Promotion Bureau, Gu Ping would inevitably need to engage in investment promotion activities.

Previously, Linyang had no concept of investment promotion; the Investment Promotion Bureau and rural industrial parks were initiatives started by Zhou Ming this year. As it was the first time, the Linyang City Party Committee decided to hold a farewell banquet.

"Wishing Comrade Gu Ping a successful trip south and the ability to attract major enterprises from Lingnan Province or even the whole country to settle in Linyang, creating more miracles for Linyang! Also, my Linchu Machinery Factory will need Comrade Gu Ping's attention. To a brighter future for Nan Hui's rural industrial park, I toast to Comrade Gu Ping! May Comrade Gu Ping achieve great success and may the rural industrial park thrive!"

As someone else came to toast Gu Ping, it was none other than Liang Tian, the Chairman of Linchu Machinery Company. Liang Tian had come to inspect and formally sign a contract for establishing a factory in the industrial park the day before.

Since Gu Ping was about to officially start his investment promotion work, Chen Da thought the establishment of Linchu Machinery's factory in the industrial park was a good start and invited Liang Tian to the banquet.

Zhou Ming shook his head disapprovingly at the scene, but Su Han, who was accompanying him to the banquet, was displeased. "That Liang Tian is really despicable! He knows that Secretary Gu is mostly just going through the motions, yet he pretends to congratulate him. How shameless!"

Zhou Ming smiled and lightly tapped Su Han's small nose. He knew Su Han was standing up for him. It was clear that Liang Tian's congratulations were intentional and meant to mock Gu Ping, just as Su Han had said. Liang Tian had seen Zhou Ming propose the rural industrial park concept during the provincial People's Congress. As for Gu Ping, he probably didn't even understand what investment promotion was or how the industrial park operated and collected taxes; he was merely a figurehead.

Yet Liang Tian still went out of his way to congratulate him, especially in front of Zhou Ming. Wasn't that deliberate?

"Alright, Xiao Han, his goal is to deliberately provoke us. We just need to ignore him," Zhou Ming said.

Su Han nodded. "Who knows what other schemes he has behind the scenes? I'm not foolish enough to get angry with him!"

"That's the right attitude!" Zhou Ming praised Su Han.

As Zhou Ming and Su Han spoke, Chen Da took the microphone and walked onto the stage. The venue quieted down, and Chen Da said, "With the rural industrial park being discussed and approved at the provincial People's Congress and receiving attention from the provincial and even central authorities, as the Secretary and Mayor of Linyang, I am very pleased. Linyang has always been an important city in the Jingchu region. Previously, the administrative restructuring of Linyang into a city was a sign of great expectations from higher authorities. Although Linyang has been developing steadily, it has not had a qualitative leap, and it has been a headache for our entire Linyang leadership team."

Chen Da continued, "However, with the establishment of the rural industrial park, I believe it will bring a revolutionary change to Linyang's economic development."

Chen Da then invited Gu Ping to the stage and said, "Comrade Gu Ping, no matter how much we talk about grand principles, the fact is that our Linyang's foundation is still very weak. The concept of industrial parks and investment promotion is new to us. Your trip is a pioneering effort. You carry a heavy burden! The success of your investment promotion work will directly impact many future tasks."

Gu Ping straightened his back as Chen Da spoke and promised, "Please rest assured, Secretary Chen. I will not let you and the organization down. I will put in all my effort to do this job well and strive to deliver a satisfactory result."

Gu Ping's words were met with warm applause. Amidst the applause, Chen Da toasted Gu Ping and then invited Zhou Ming to the stage.

When facing Zhou Ming, Chen Da did not speak immediately but took some time to gather his thoughts before saying, "Comrade Zhou Ming is familiar to many people here. The stock market's Eight-Treasure Porridge and the rural industrial park are closely related to him."

"While it is said that the journey is difficult, paving the way is even harder," Chen Da said, "While we encourage Comrade Gu Ping, we must not forget Comrade Zhou Ming. Without Comrade Zhou Ming, the concept of rural industrial parks might not have been introduced for years, or even longer. But now, with Zhou Ming, the rural industrial park concept has emerged!"

"Moreover, Lingnan is also Zhou Ming's stronghold. The success of Comrade Gu Ping's investment promotion work will largely depend on Zhou Ming's support."

Chen Da concluded, "Today, we wish Comrade Gu Ping a successful investment promotion mission, but we should also thank Comrade Zhou Ming for his help!"

Chen Da was the first to raise his glass, and almost everyone in the room followed suit, toasting and calling out for Zhou Ming.

Compared to the applause for Gu Ping, the cheers for Zhou Ming were heartfelt. Everyone knew that Gu Ping was merely lucky, and since Zhou Ming had already proposed the rural industrial park, success was almost guaranteed. But Zhou Ming was different; he was the mastermind behind the idea of the rural industrial park, a true genius!

In the midst of thunderous applause, Liang Tian, the chairman of Linchu Machinery Company, looked somewhat embarrassed. He had just deliberately toasted Gu Ping, and now, with Chen Da's speech and the applause from everyone, it felt like he was getting slapped in the face with every clap!

...

On May 23, the day Gu Ping was to depart, a grand send-off ceremony was held for him in front of the Nan Hui County Party Committee building. The square was filled with smoke, fireworks were set off extravagantly, balloons soared into the air, and banners were displayed with messages like "Following the Party in the New Long March of Reform and Opening Up," "Striving to Build the Nan Hui Industrial Park," and "Wishing Comrade Gu Ping's Investment Promotion Work Smooth Sailing."

In the square, the county mayor, along with all county party officials, bid farewell to Gu Ping: "Wishing Secretary Gu a victorious trip to Nanjiang and a smooth investment promotion process. This journey to Lingnan is a breakthrough for the economic development of Nan Hui County. The 200,000 people of Nan Hui County are a strong support for Secretary Gu, and we will all wholeheartedly support your investment promotion work!"

With the county mayor leading, other county officials also came forward to offer their blessings from various angles.

The scene made Gu Ping appear quite impressive. As the county party secretary, his prestige in the county had reached unprecedented heights. This was understandable, given that the provincial recognition and focus on the rural industrial park and Gu Ping's dual role as the city's Investment Promotion Bureau chief indicated his significant political status in Linyang.

Because of this, while the county mayor used to be able to challenge Gu Ping, now he had to be content with being Gu Ping's second-in-command.

In response to the send-off from all the county officials, Gu Ping said, "Thank you all for your blessings. I will keep them in mind. I also believe that with your blessings and the expectations of the people of Nan Hui County, I will surely achieve success!"

As Gu Ping finished speaking, the scene erupted into enthusiastic cheers. Fireworks went off again, and many balloons were released, pushing the send-off ceremony to its peak.

After the ceremony, Gu Ping and Zhou Ming went to the city train station. In the VIP waiting room, Gu Ping said to Zhou Ming, "Mr. Zhou, today's send-off ceremony represents the support and trust of all the Nan Hui County officials and people. We must work hard and achieve results!"

Zhou Ming could see that Gu Ping was full of confidence. This was understandable, as Gu Ping, despite being a county party secretary, was still human and subject to vanity. The flattering from so many county officials at the send-off ceremony and the previous banquet hosted by Chen Da undoubtedly inflated his confidence.

"Rest assured, Secretary Gu. With the expectations of the 200,000 people of Nan Hui County, we will definitely achieve results," Zhou Ming said.

Gu Ping nodded in satisfaction. "But we must not just wait passively for results to come to us. We must actively seek them out to gain more."

"Secretary Gu's words are very true," Zhou Ming agreed.

Gu Ping continued, "Mr. Zhou, I know you've been to Nanjiang before, but this investment promotion work is different from your previous business activities. So once we're in Nanjiang, you need to follow my instructions and maintain some discipline. Don't just do whatever you want. Do you understand?"

Zhou Ming smiled, "Don't worry, Secretary Gu. The rural industrial park is my proposal, and I will handle it well."

Soon, station staff announced that it was time to board the train. Gu Ping stood up and said, "Alright, it's time to go to Nanjiang. We must give it our all!"