Lingxi Pond is not very large, covering only a few hundred acres of water. The mountains are serene, and the water shimmers. If you walk a bit faster, it takes less than an hour to circle the pond.
"Min, if Secretary Shen leaves, and you can't follow him back to the provincial capital, your position in the county office will be a bit awkward. Have you thought about this?" Shuya tried to suppress the bashfulness and nervousness in her heart, searching for a topic to discuss.
"Hmm, everyone says that, but whether Secretary Shen will leave is still uncertain." Lu Weimin glanced at Shuya, surprised that this girl was so well-informed. But then again, Shuya's father had been the head of the county agricultural bank for many years and was now the deputy head of the regional agricultural bank, so she was familiar with these situations.
"Provincial officials usually serve one to two years, with two years being the maximum. Secretary Shen will definitely leave, but his rank is too low. When he returns, he will at most be a full-level section chief. A full-level section chief in the provincial government probably doesn't have the qualifications to bring a secretary. Without long-term planning, there will be short-term worries. Min, you need to consider your future development."
Shuya brushed the hair that had fallen onto her forehead, turning her head to avoid a couple who were kissing behind a pine tree. With the not-so-bright streetlights by the lake, she could clearly see the man's hand slipping under his girlfriend's blouse, a scene that only they could fully appreciate.
"Considering these things now seems a bit premature. I'm just a newly graduated college student. I have to follow the leadership's arrangements. Where do I have the qualifications to consider other things?" Lu Weimin was also touched. At least Shuya cared, and he appreciated it. "Right now, I'm just thinking about how to work hard and achieve results to satisfy the leadership. That's the most important thing."
"That's true. My father always says that the office is a crucible for training. Good materials can be tempered into steel here. The county office is even more so. With your character, you will definitely achieve something." Shuya's smile was full of anticipation.
When Lu Weimin returned to the county government compound, it was already past ten o'clock. He and Shuya had a very good conversation, so they didn't go back to the dance hall. Lu Weimin directly took Shuya home. Shuya's father had been transferred to the Liyang regional agricultural bank, but her mother still worked at the Nantang County Hospital, so they lived in the agricultural bank dormitory.
"Secretary Lu, just got back?" A voice came from the darkness, startling Lu Weimin. He looked closely and saw that it was Qin Lijun, the director of the county reception office, a middle-aged man who always had a smile on his face and was slightly bent.
"Yes, a few classmates got together. Why, Director Qin, haven't you rested yet?" Lu Weimin asked in surprise.
"Not yet. Secretary Shen just got back and asked if you had returned. I came to check." The county reception office and the county government compound were connected by a back door, making it easy to come and go. Qin Lijun was a clever person who could always understand and follow the leaders' instructions.
"Oh? Secretary Shen needs me for something?" Lu Weimin was surprised. He had taken leave from Shen Zilie before leaving, and Shen Zilie hadn't said anything.
"I'm not sure. Secretary Shen just asked if you had returned." Qin Lijun felt he had completed his task by relaying the message.
Lu Weimin thought for a moment and decided it would be better to go to Shen Zilie's residence. What if there was some urgent work that required him to work overtime at night?
Lu Weimin pushed the door open. Shen Zilie was sitting on the sofa reading a book. Seeing him enter, he waved for him to sit down.
There was a faint smell of alcohol in the room. Seeing Shen Zilie's slightly red face, Lu Weimin knew that he probably hadn't escaped the drinking at the dinner.
"Secretary Shen, did you need me for something?"
"Nothing much. The director of the Ministry of Railways, Mr. Zhang, and his team came to Nantang. Secretary An, County Chief Wang, and I accompanied them for dinner. I had a couple of drinks and can't sleep. I just wanted to chat with someone. How did the class reunion end so quickly?" Shen Zilie picked up his teacup and took a big sip, clearly in a good mood.
"Well, it was just that. Junior high school classmates, many years without seeing each other, a lot has changed." Lu Weimin replied.
"I heard that County Chief Wang's secretary, Xiao Guo, is your classmate?" Shen Zilie was not someone who ignored the world around him.
"Yes, a junior high school classmate. He didn't do well on the college entrance exam and only got into Linyang Teachers College. After graduation, he was assigned to the county government office as County Chief Wang's secretary. I see that County Chief Wang values him quite a bit." Lu Weimin wasn't sure what Shen Zilie's intention was in asking this question.
"Hmm, he's a pretty smart young man." Shen Zilie nodded. The door to the suite was open, and a server quickly came in to make tea for Lu Weimin. The county reception office usually had few guests. Apart from Shen Zilie, who was a permanent resident, only some state-owned units on business trips stayed there. Those with better economic conditions preferred to stay at the Tan Cheng Hotel or the Nantang Hotel.
"Secretary Shen, is there any good news with the Ministry of Railways coming to Nantang?" Lu Weimin remembered that the Jingjiu Railway had already been put on the agenda and was supposed to start construction in 1993. However, there were disputes over the route of the Jingjiu Railway, especially in the Linyang region, where there were several alternative routes, and the disputes were significant.
One route went through Linyang, and another through Fengzhou. In his memory, the dispute ultimately ended with Linyang winning, and Fengzhou missing out on a development opportunity. After the Linyang region was divided, the new Linyang region, consisting of the northern six counties of the old Linyang region, developed faster, while the Fengzhou region, consisting of the southern seven counties of the old Linyang region, developed more slowly, and the gap between the new Linyang region and the Fengzhou region grew larger