Chapter Eighteen: An Unexpected Encounter with Ma Qiu Shan

  After the Spring Festival, the weather gradually warmed up.

  As the southern special zone began to reform state-owned enterprises at the end of last year, the transformation of Wushan or Guangning model enterprises has received increasing attention. At the beginning of the new year, Red Flag published an article stating that reform needs "to suppress demand, stabilize prices; to give up development and seek stability; to slow down reform and focus on adjustment; to concentrate on large-scale and disperse small-scale".

  In the reform of state-owned enterprises in special zones, this article believes that we should be cautious and not rush to privatize, as the reform of special zones will set an example for the whole country. It is necessary to be prudent and not to privatize hastily, like some state-owned enterprises in Wushan area have implemented a good system of factory director's board of directors.

  Last year, the Southern Special Zone, which was rapidly advancing, suddenly faced criticism and questioning from all sides. The most pointed of these criticisms was that the special zone only focused on infrastructure construction and not industrial development, and its function of generating foreign exchange through exports had not been brought into play, but instead it was engaged in "speculative" trade, making money off inlanders, and the saying that "the Southern Special Zone relies on national blood transfusions to sustain itself" spread from this.

  As a result, the Secretary of the Southern Special Zone Municipal Party Committee, Xxx, was transferred away. Although the special zone's plan to issue its own currency has not been explicitly rejected by the central government, it has effectively been put on hold indefinitely. The political earthquake in the Southern Special Zone also affected Wushan, another special development region. "How should the Wushan reforms proceed?" This question is swirling in the minds of all officials.

  Lu Zhong, however, remains the same as before, except that recently, he has been spending more and more time at Xia Ma's place.

  Zhao Pingfan, secretary of the Party Committee and head of Mahetou Township, along with technical personnel from the Agricultural Commission, spent almost every day in the countryside. As spring warmed up, they set up a nursery at Mahetou Commune to research the cultivation and grafting of Qinglong peach tree seedlings.

  Xijie Township in Qinglong County borders Guangning to the west. Going further west from Xijie will lead to Dongguan Township in Guangning County. The road conditions are good going west, but the journey is treacherous and mountainous when heading east towards Qinglong County Town. Lu Zheng and Ma Weiguo plan to build a highway from Xijie to Matouying, which will pass through the county town.

  Because Qinglong County raised all the funds by itself and the declaration materials were complete, it was quickly approved by the municipal government. The highway survey and design work has been completed under the command of Lu Zhong and Wang Niyuan, and now it has entered the stage of fundraising and material preparation.

  The highway from Xiji to Qinglong County only needs to be expanded along the original Xi-Qing Highway, with only a small section of road changing its original route. In addition, a bridge about 50 meters long is needed.

  From Qinglong to Matouying, the highway has new sections and also involves land occupation issues. At present, county personnel are working day and night on corresponding compensation work. Ma Weiguo personally went to Wushan and received the first payment from Zhu Mingze, and the western section of the highway from Xiji to Qinglong County is ready to start construction.

  Everywhere in Xiji Town, you can see all kinds of large machinery and trucks coming and going to transport building materials. Although they raise clouds of yellow dust, on the streets, children laugh and curiously watch from a distance the busy vehicles and construction workers wearing safety helmets, finding it novel and exciting.

  Xijie State-run Restaurant, at noon, was very lively. There were several tables of customers who were workers from the construction team that had just arrived in Xijie yesterday. Since they didn't have much work to do for the time being, they were drinking and playing dice.

  Sitting by the window, Lu Zhong slowly savored his noodles, meat sauce noodles with scallions floating on top, and the flavor was not bad.

  Lu Zhong just went to Guangning and visited Cuihong Auntie and Guobin Uncle. This year during the Spring Festival, he finally managed to visit all the elderly relatives of the three families.

  Sitting opposite Lu Zhong was Ma Kui-shan, the deputy director of the Qinglong County Public Security Bureau. He had gone to the city for a meeting and on his way back, his Jeep broke down. Coincidentally, he met Lu Zhong's car and brought him along. The driver from the county bureau, Master Ma, stayed with the jeep, waiting for a passing truck to tow it.

  Ma Kui Shan and Lu Zhong had a few encounters, the first time they met was unpleasant. Ma Kui Shan led the joint defense team to Huang Jin's shore for training, where he coldly ridiculed Lu Zhong being reported as a first-class hero by the Public Security Department. However, a series of subsequent events forced Ma Kui Shan to reevaluate his view of the young county bureau chief Lu Zhong. After Lu Zhong arrived in Qing Long, he had no intersection with Ma Kui Shan until today when they sat face-to-face alone for the first time.

  Ma Kui Shan was worried about what Lu Zhong had hinted at, after all, the bad relationship between Lu Zhong and Gao Zhi Kai was an open secret in Qing Long. Although Ma Kui Shan was slightly dissatisfied with Gao Zhi Kai's strong attitude, he also didn't want to get involved in more complicated human struggles.

  But Lu Zhong all the way, did not say anything, even if he entered this restaurant, just chatted about family and talked about how to spend the New Year.

  When he saw Ma Kui Shan, Lu Zhong couldn't help but think of that night on the Gold Coast, and thought of Wei Xiangxiu, this little vixen, who was so capable of deceiving people, it really made him hate her to the point of grinding his teeth.

  After returning from Beijing, Wei Xiangxiu resigned and the security company that Huang Si'er was preparing to set up immediately changed hands. Now, various licenses should have been issued more or less.

  Huang Sier said that Wei Xiangxiu was actually very capable, and she took special care of this security company. Moreover, she had many ideas and quickly grasped the dominant power in her hands. Speaking of which, Huang Sier gave a thumbs up, saying that my sister Wei is a talent, damn it, I think I won't need to worry about my future either. Now, the security guards at Feicui all know that Sister Wei is called, but they almost forgot that I, Huang Sier, exist.

  Lu Zhong was slightly worried, the current security company has always been in a gray area, half black and half white, and didn't know if the career he had advised Wei Xiangxiu to pursue would harm her.

  She thought about Wei Xiangxiu's cleverness and felt that she should be able to balance the relationship between them. Thinking about it, she was quite fond of her new job now, yeah, as long as she was happy, that was all that mattered.

  It's been more than half a month since I last saw her after the New Year, and I've been really busy.

  "Director Lu, would you like vinegar?" Jiao Ye's words broke into Lu Zhong's thoughts.

  After returning from Beijing, Jiao Ye fell into a strange cycle of obsession, almost every night he would call Lu Zhong to ask if he needed a ride the next day. This got on Lu Zhong's nerves and he scolded him several times, even using the serious word "harassment", before Jiao Ye dared not call Lu Zhong every night again. But from Qinglong to Guangning, the road was bumpy, and Lu Zhong really didn't want to drive himself, so he called Jiao Ye.

  Wu Shan just opened a digital pager in January this year. Jiao Ye received the BP machine assigned by the company a few days ago, and it's very convenient to find him now. "Don't." Lu Zhong was somewhat speechless. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have brought him to Beijing. This kid seemed to be stimulated and became overly diligent.

  Jiao Yue lowered his head, took out the pager from his waist and wiped it with his sleeve. It was clear that he treasured this new tool. No wonder, a pager like this one would cost over 2,000 yuan even in urban areas, which is equivalent to the annual salary of an ordinary worker in Wushan County. If you put it across the entire Hebei Province, the average monthly salary for all workers last year was just over 80 yuan, and it would take two and a half years' worth of salary without eating or drinking to buy such a pager.

  Ma Qiu Shan looked at Jiao Ye fondly playing with his treasure and asked: "Is this the beeper?"

  Jiao Yue nodded and said: "Yes, it was assigned by the unit."

  Ma Qiu Shan smiled, "Foreign companies, really can't be helped." Suddenly, he thought of something and his heart moved, glancing at Lu Zhong. Jiao Lei sighed, "Alas, there's no signal down here, but there is in the city."

  "It'll be fine eventually." Lu Zhong put down his chopsticks and pulled out a cigarette, apparently having eaten enough.

  "County Magistrate Lu, you still remember what I just told you, my second child is graduating this year..." Ma Kui Shan said hesitantly.

  Lu Zhong hummed: "I remember, it was in the provincial capital's secondary specialized school, right?"

  "It's a vocational school, but it's actually quite good." Ma Kui Shan hastily defended.

  "Hmm, now rural children, those who study well all take the vocational college entrance exam." Lu Zhong said as he lit a cigarette.

  "Ah, ah." Ma Qiu Shan said with a smile: "He originally wanted to attend high school and university, but his mother had shallow vision and insisted that he take the vocational school entrance exam. Lu Zheng nodded, suddenly understanding, and said: "Old Ma, are you thinking of him entering Changming after graduation?"

  Ma Kui sighed, "Isn't life just about busy for children? So many worries, sigh..."

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "Old Ma, you've got the wrong person this time. I won't be able to help with this matter. As for personnel issues in Changming, I never interfere. Recruitment of ordinary workers is fine, but when it comes to technical talent recruitment, I definitely can't get involved. You know that foreign companies have transparent rules and regulations, so everything must follow the proper procedures."

  Ma Kui Shan was silent for a moment, then smiled, "Alright, County Magistrate Lu, I think it's too simple. If everyone comes to you to get their children in through the back door, how many kids would we have to arrange? The foreigners wouldn't agree to that."

  Lu Zhong nodded: "You understand, this mouth, I can't open."

  Just as they were talking, the cafeteria suddenly erupted in a commotion. A naked woman with disheveled hair and a dirty body covered in mud rushed in from outside. Her face was obscured by her hair, but judging from her figure, she didn't seem to be very old.

  The waiter in a white apron rushed over and drove her out, pushing and shoving her, "Get out! Get out!"

  A furious woman was pushed to the ground by her.

  Lu Zhong furrowed his brow, "Xiao Jiao, isn't there a military coat in the car? Bring it over and wrap her up."

  Jiao Yan was stunned for a moment, then hastily responded with an "oh" and quickly got up and rushed out.

  Ma Qiu Shan also didn't understand, a madman, what's the point of reasoning with him? Maybe he'll freeze to death next winter.

  At this time, a 15 or 16-year-old girl rushed in from outside, wearing a flower-patterned dress with patches, looking very neat and clean. Seeing the madwoman fall to the ground, the little girl ran over to help her up, "Mom, get up quickly, let's go home, go home."

  The waitress who had just driven away the madwoman glared and scolded, "Xiao Qing, you clearly know your mother is crazy, why didn't you take care of her? You came here to stir up trouble for me on purpose, did you?"