Zhang Xiuquan was transferred from the position of Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Changjiang University to Secretary-General of the Changjiang Provincial Party Committee at the beginning of the 1980s. He then served as the Organization Minister and Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, working in the Changjiang Provincial Party Committee for a decade before stepping down from his position as Deputy Secretary at the beginning of the year to become Deputy Director and Deputy Secretary of the Provincial People's Congress.
Lu Weimin was truly a bit nervous. He had not expected that the views he and Shen Zili shared in their daily conversations would be discussed with his old father-in-law, and it seemed that Shen Zili had delved deeply into his perspectives with his father-in-law. Therefore, how could this influential old leader in Changjiang Province speak so highly of him, even with a bit of teasing, but still, for such words to come from this old leader, it was quite extraordinary.
"Uncle Zhang, your words really make me feel ashamed. County Magistrate Shen is very approachable and likes to chat with me. Sometimes I speak without thinking, and I certainly don't deserve such praise. Your words make me feel quite uneasy," Lu Weimin stood respectfully beside him, not daring to sit down.
"Ah, it's good for young people to be modest, but there's no need to belittle yourself. I know Zili's standards. If he didn't think highly of you, he wouldn't mention you to me. He has mentioned you several times, and he has also discussed some of your views with me, which I find very innovative and impressive," Zhang Xiuquan's sharp gaze fell on Lu Weimin's face, and he smiled, "Sit down, don't be so formal. When you're at Zili's house, treat it like your own home. You will work together with Zili in the future. As the old saying goes, revolutionary work has no hierarchy, only different roles. He is the county magistrate, and you are his secretary. This is just a difference in roles. In the office, you can treat him as your leader, but outside, we are all friends and colleagues, so there's no need to be so stiff."
"Sit down, Weimin. My father may look serious, but he is actually very open-minded and humorous," Shen Zili also invited Lu Weimin to sit down, peeling a kiwi from the coffee table, "Here, Dad, this is our Nantang kiwi. It's green, pollution-free, and a pure natural mountain specialty. It tastes delicious. It's been a few days, so it's just right to eat now."
"Um, your Nantang kiwi is quite famous now. Last week, Secretary Haihua of the Provincial Party Committee mentioned the success of your Nantang kiwi at the Beijing Asian Games, and he was very pleased," Zhang Xiuquan glanced at Lu Weimin, who only smiled and remained silent. Zhang Xiuquan nodded inwardly, this young man was neither arrogant nor humble, and he didn't seem like a college student but rather someone who had been in the government for years.
"Dad, this is all thanks to Weimin's idea. Otherwise, our Linyang kiwi would have been in big trouble this time," Shen Zili was not the type to take all the credit. In his view, if his subordinates could achieve good results, it was a testament to his ability to recognize talent. Those who liked to take credit were often insecure.
"County Magistrate Shen, don't say that. I just suggested an idea. The specific arrangements were all handled by you and Director Zhou," Lu Weimin quickly said, "County Magistrate Shen, let's not talk about this anymore. It's all in the past."
Zhang Xiuquan's impression of this young man changed. He didn't take credit and wasn't boastful. Even for something that even the Provincial Party Secretary valued, he could remain so calm in front of him. This level of mental fortitude was rare.
"Xiao Lu, you can't say that. Credit is credit, and no one can take it away," Zhang Xiuquan leaned back on the sofa, and Lu Weimin, being considerate, handed him the tea the maid had prepared, "I heard from Zili that you also reminded him to take the kiwi sales issue seriously, which made him more cautious. Otherwise, this matter might not have been so smooth."
"Um, Uncle Zhang, it was just a coincidence. I had seen kiwis when I was studying in Guangzhou. A few years ago, they were still considered exotic fruits in Guangzhou. Our Changjiang is not as open as Lingnan, so when I heard that there would be hundreds of thousands of kilograms of kiwis to be harvested this year during a field survey with County Magistrate Shen, I was quite surprised. I then investigated the kiwi market in Changjiang and found the situation was not good. I reported this to County Magistrate Shen, and fortunately, he made a timely decision and arranged for people to handle it. Otherwise, there would have been a big problem."
Lu Weimin cleverly attributed the credit to his leader. At this moment, taking all the credit himself would not be meaningful. As a college student who had just entered the county party committee, no matter how capable he was, he needed to be humble. Being low-key would not only win the approval of his leaders but also gradually build his reputation.
"Ha ha, Zili, it seems your judgment is correct. Xiao Lu is very excellent. I haven't met such an outstanding young man in many years," the old man's gaunt face showed a satisfied smile, "Xiao Lu has made a significant contribution this time. The Nantang kiwi has gained a good reputation, and the sales are not a concern, which is a great benefit to the people of Nantang."
"Dad, Weimin and I have discussed the issues with our Nantang kiwi industry. We think the situation might be more challenging next year," Shen Zili shook his head, "We have discussed this several times and are thinking about how to solve it."
"Oh?" Zhang Xiuquan was puzzled, "It shouldn't be that bad. The Nantang kiwi sells well in Changzhou, and it has gained a great reputation in big cities like Beijing. What could be the problem?"
"Xiao Lu, you explain," Shen Zili smiled, giving the opportunity to his secretary.
"Um, Uncle Zhang, you might not be aware of some details. The first year of kiwi fruiting, the yield per mu is between 200 to 400 kilograms. However, from the second year, it enters the peak fruiting period, and the yield can reach 500 to 600 kilograms per mu. This means the yield will increase by 60% to 80% compared to the first year. So, the Nantang kiwi yield next year might reach around 700,000 kilograms, and the total kiwi yield in the entire Linyang region might exceed 2 million kilograms. Although we have gained some reputation through the Asian Games, we are not sure if the market will grow at such a fast pace. Moreover, I know that kiwis from Shaanxi and Hubei will also enter the market in large quantities next year, which will add another variable to the market."
Lu Weimin patiently explained, "This year, Huai Shan lost 100,000 kilograms of kiwis due to spoilage. Next year, the yield will almost double, and a large number of kiwis from other provinces will enter the market. If not handled well, a bountiful harvest could turn into a disaster."