55: Candidate for the new county party secretary

Seeing Wang Yongfa's extreme excitement, he quickly said, "Former Town Mayor, you can't say you're begging me; that would be too much.

The problem of unsold peaches for our town's fruit farmers is already within my scope of work. Even if you hadn't come today, I would have found a way to solve it."

"So you're agreeing to help me?"

Wang Yongfa pressed urgently.

"Former Town Mayor, don't rush. The cost of building a cold storage facility is not a small sum for our Heping Town.

You are our town's Former Town Mayor, and you should be aware of our town's financial situation.

Besides, building a cold storage is only a stopgap measure. It can store peaches, but if there's no sales channel, no matter how long they're stored, it's useless. It's treating the symptoms, not the root cause!"

"Then do you have a solution? Is there an even better way? Can you find sales channels?"

Wang Yongfa asked, puzzled.

"This is what I'm thinking, Former Town Mayor: peaches, as a fruit, can not only be eaten directly but also made into canned goods, or juiced to create various flavored beverages.

So, if we attract investment and get these relevant manufacturers to invest and build factories here, how could there be any unsold peaches?

By then, the surrounding villagers will rush to plant peach trees.

These manufacturers will build their own cold storage facilities, which will not only revitalize our town's economy but also provide many job opportunities. Isn't this a win-win situation?"

Lin Zifeng expressed the idea he had long been contemplating.

"Young people still have active minds and ideas. We old folks should have retired long ago.

If it's as you say, there's nothing more to discuss; it would definitely benefit the region!

However, attracting investment isn't that easy, is it?"

While happy, Wang Yongfa also voiced his concerns.

"Former Town Mayor, your Qianshan Village has many idle saline-alkali lands and some barren lands. We can provide land to these manufacturers for free for several years, and also offer some preferential policies on taxes.

With our peaches being the place of origin and the relatively cheap local labor, I don't believe we can't attract manufacturers.

As the saying goes, 'nothing is impossible for a willing heart.' If I really do attract investors, there will still be a lot of work that needs your support, Former Town Mayor!

For example, as I mentioned earlier, the land acquisition for factory construction. Don't underestimate those saline-alkali lands and barren lands; they're worthless now, and the common people don't even bother to look at them.

But if we really attract investing manufacturers, I'm afraid some people might have ulterior motives!"

He was very patient with Wang Yongfa.

"Who dares? Town Mayor Lin, don't worry. As long as you can attract manufacturers, leave all these matters you mentioned to me. If anyone dares to have ulterior motives and try to profit from it, I'll be the first to not let them off.

This is a major matter concerning future generations. If anyone dares to obstruct it, I will drive them out of Qianshan Village."

Wang Yongfa patted his chest and promised.

"Former Town Mayor, with your words, I am relieved. Since you've made a promise, I also assure you that I will personally oversee this matter. By the time the peaches are harvested this year, I guarantee to complete this task."

The main reason he took on such a huge responsibility was that it was his duty, and he genuinely wanted to do something practical for the common people.

Additionally, the Southeast Province Trade Fair, which he had been following, was scheduled for next month, mid-May, in the provincial capital, a large-scale trade fair lasting three days.

The Provincial Development and Reform Commission is the organizer, and all counties and cities can participate. He plans to go to this Trade-Fair Venue to try his luck, and he has already started preparing.

His primary purpose for attending this recruitment fair was to find partners for Heping Town's tourism development. He had also already planned to address the issue of unsold peaches there.

"Good, then it's a deal."

Wang Yongfa said happily.

Afterward, the two chatted about Heping Town's future development, and then Wang Yongfa excused himself.

Lin Zifeng tried to persuade him to stay for dinner, but Wang Yongfa politely declined.

He personally saw Wang Yongfa downstairs, asked Li Qiang to drive Wang Yongfa back, and only returned to his office after watching the car drive out of the compound.

Not long after, Wang Zhongyu knocked and entered.

"Town Mayor, I just received a notice from the County Party Committee Office, informing you to arrive at the County Party Committee's main conference room before 9 AM tomorrow to attend the county-wide meeting for cadres above deputy-section level."

Hearing Wang Zhongyu's report, Lin Zifeng was stunned, and he couldn't help but wonder, 'A county-wide cadre meeting at this time? Has the candidate for the new County Party Secretary been decided?'

He wondered if Xu Yanjun, who was so hyped up, would get his wish. In his heart, this possibility was small.

Thinking of this, he nodded and said, "I understand. When Li Qiang returns, tell him to drive me home after work tonight."

Wang Zhongyu agreed and left the office.

Just then, his phone rang. Seeing that it was a call from Comrade Li Chunchang, the Deputy Minister of the County Organization Department, he answered it casually.

"Brother Li, I was just about to call you to invite you for a drink tonight, but your call came first."

"You big Town Mayor, aren't you busy anymore? I wanted to call you some time ago, but knowing you had just taken office and had a myriad of tasks, I held back."

Comrade Li Chunchang's hearty voice rang through the receiver, filled with warmth.

"Brother Li, didn't I just receive a notice that I have a meeting in The County Seat tomorrow? That's why I was planning to go home early after work tonight.

How about it? Are you free tonight? Shall we brothers get together?"

"I called you for the same reason. I've put together a gathering for tonight; just be there on time.

Save your treat for another time!"

"Brother Li, may I ask who will be there tonight?"

"Of course, no problem. Besides me, there's Wen Hai, the Deputy Director of the County Public Security Bureau, Liu Fa, the Deputy Town Mayor of Yushu Town, and Wei Ting, the Deputy Secretary of Songshan Town. Just us few."

Comrade Li Chunchang answered him without hesitation.

Lin Zifeng knew that these people were all relatively close to Comrade Li Chunchang and likely part of a small circle.

In officialdom, it's essential to have one's own small circle, a principle Lin Zifeng also understood."

So he quickly agreed, "Okay, Brother Li, I'll definitely be there on time."

"It's a deal, brother. I'll send you the restaurant location in a bit. Let's set it for 7 PM tonight!"

"Okay, Brother Li, I also wanted to ask you something: Is tomorrow's meeting related to the appointment of the new Secretary?"

He was also a bit curious.

"I thought you could hold out and not ask! Indeed, our Deputy Secretary Xu's efforts have once again been in vain.

The new Secretary is transferred from the City Level; it's Wan Guoliang, the former Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee.

Brother, the Secretary of your Heping Town also went in, so tell me, do you have any thoughts?"

Comrade Li Chunchang answered him directly and also asked another question.