187: Chapter 187 The Provincial Experimental Field

Li Jingtang rubbed his hands together and gave a chuckle:

"County Magistrate Zhao, you've pushed the thankless task of handling the engineering projects onto me, but you at least need to explain clearly what 'original ecological planting' and 'ecological breeding' actually are, right?

"I've worked in agriculture for so many years; spring planting, summer management, autumn harvest—I understand those. But what you're talking about? I've never even heard of them."

Zhao Yang looked at Li Jingtang's grinning face, and it was crystal clear to him what was going on.

Li Jingtang knew perfectly well that there was profit to be made from managing projects.

But how to ensure the projects generated benefits after they were built, and how to ensure the common people truly received the benefits—that was the key to the issue.

This Vice County Magistrate in charge of agriculture had likely never even considered that aspect.

While he spoke of a "thankless task," he was probably thinking about skimming all the profits and then pushing the actual hard work onto someone else, right?

Zhao Yang gave a faint smile: "County Magistrate Li, what 'original ecological planting' is is clearly written in the project proposal. Go back and read it carefully, and you'll know."

"Furthermore, in terms of how to build the base, relying solely on our county's technical capabilities definitely won't be enough. I suggest you invite experts from the Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences to help with the design. Get it right the first time to avoid the hassle of rework later."

Li Jingtang was taken aback: "Invite experts from the province? That's going to cost a lot of money, isn't it?"

"Sharpening the axe doesn't delay the woodcutting."

Zhao Yang said in a calm tone, "Part of the funds approved by the province is specifically for preliminary planning and technical support. Spending a little money to accomplish big things—County Magistrate Li should understand that principle better than I do."

After saying this, Zhao Yang nodded at Li Jingtang and turned to leave.

Li Jingtang stood there, watching Zhao Yang's back disappear at the end of the corridor, and rubbed his chin.

He muttered under his breath: "This kid is slippery; his words are absolutely watertight."

He had originally intended to rope Zhao Yang in to be specifically responsible for the technical side, but it seemed that was a dead end.

Back in his office, Zhao Yang had just sat down when his phone rang.

The screen displayed: Sun Zhendong.

Zhao Yang quickly answered: "Leader, please give your instructions."

On the other end of the line, Sun Zhendong's voice carried a hint of seriousness:

"Zhao Yang, do you know why the province is providing such strong support to Cangyun County this time?"

Zhao Yang replied seriously: "Please enlighten me, Leader."

Sun Zhendong said, enunciating each word: "At the Governor's executive meeting, I specifically mentioned Cangyun County. I want Cangyun County to set an example and pave a path for poverty alleviation and development across the entire province."

"While you are there, you must not let the Cangyun County projects drop the ball."

Zhao Yang felt a jolt in his heart.

This meant that Cangyun County's poverty alleviation project was no longer just a county matter; it was an experimental field for the province.

If done well, the experience could be promoted throughout the province; if it failed, it would be the Governor who lost face.

"Rest assured, Leader." Zhao Yang's voice was steady and firm. "Cangyun County will certainly submit a perfect report card when the time comes."

"Good, I'll be waiting to see it." Sun Zhendong hung up the phone.

Zhao Yang put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long breath.

The pressure was significant, but the direction was correct.

After the funds arrived, Cangyun County, which had previously been a stagnant pool of water, was like a pond into which a stone had been thrown, stirring up ripples.

The officials in various departments walked with a spring in their step, and the lights for overtime work stayed on until late into the night.

Project design blueprints, bidding documents, construction plans...

Stacks of documents circulated between the various offices of the County Party Committee and the County Government.

In particular, the bidding for the Tongcang Road from Chengguan Town in Cangyun County to Tongan City was exceptionally intense.

This road was over sixty kilometers long and served as the main artery connecting Cangyun County to the outside world.

Built to national highway standards with a total investment of 300 million, it was the largest infrastructure project in the history of Cangyun County.

Once the news broke, construction companies from both inside and outside the province mobilized, and they all sent personnel into Cangyun County.

The only two hotels in the county were fully booked every day, and everywhere in the restaurants, people could be heard discussing the bidding.

In the end, three enterprises—Jianghan Construction Group, Nanling Road and Bridge Company, and Tongan Construction Engineering Company—competed, locked in a fierce battle.

The boss of Tongan Construction Engineering Company was surnamed Wang, named Wang Mancang, a prominent figure in the local construction circle.

This man was short and stout, with a round face and small eyes. He always had a smile for everyone and appeared harmless.

But in the business world, he was notoriously shrewd and ruthless.

One evening, a week before the bid opening, Wang Mancang quietly arrived at Wang Shoucheng's home.

A black leather bag, two million in cash, stacked neatly.

"Secretary Wang, Tongan Construction is our local enterprise. Building a road for our hometown, we are definitely more conscientious than outsiders."

Wang Mancang pushed the leather bag toward Wang Shoucheng, his face crinkling with a smile: "We are of the same clan; you can rest assured. The road will definitely be built beautifully."

Wang Shoucheng glanced at the leather bag. He didn't say anything, nor did he push it back.

The next day, Tongan Construction Engineering Company obtained the project's reserve price.

On the day of the bid opening, Tongan Construction won by a narrow margin and successfully secured the bid.

Zhao Yang immediately felt that something was suspicious. For such an important major project, Jianghan Construction Group, which had higher qualifications and more construction experience, should have won the bid.

But a feeling was just a feeling; without solid evidence, Zhao Yang could only wonder about it in his heart.

For the next period of time, Cangyun County was exceptionally lively.

People were building roads, constructing bases, and digging reservoirs.

Machines roared on construction sites, transport vehicles came and went, and Cangyun County, which had been silent for many years, finally had some signs of life.

While everyone was busy, Zhao Yang seemed to have become the most idle one.

He didn't go to the construction sites, didn't supervise the projects, clocked in and out on time every day, and occasionally flipped through documents or drank tea in his office.

When people passed by his office and peeked through the door crack, they could always see him looking relaxed and carefree.

"What's wrong with County Magistrate Zhao? He stopped caring after the project was approved?"

"He's in charge of industry. He doesn't interfere in agricultural projects and can't get involved in the road projects, so of course he's idle."

"Tsk tsk, he put in so much effort to apply for the projects, but in the end, others reaped all the benefits. What was the point?"

Zhao Yang was not unaware of the private discussions, but he didn't care.

He knew clearly that if Cangyun County wanted to truly become wealthy, it wouldn't be by building a few roads or planting a few acres of mushrooms.

Those things could solve temporary difficulties, but they couldn't support the future of a county.

What could truly allow Cangyun County to undergo a complete transformation was industry.

That evening, as Zhao Yang was returning from a rural research trip, passing by a village in Yunqi Town, he saw baskets of rotten kiwifruit piled up by the roadside.

He stopped the car, walked over, and took a look.

An old farmer was squatting by the side of the road, puffing on a dry pipe, his eyes full of helplessness.

"Old man, why are these kiwifruits all rotten?"

The old farmer looked up and sighed:

"The whole mountain is covered in kiwifruit trees, but I can't sell them. In previous years, I could at least sell them for thirty or fifty cents, but this year, nobody even asks."

"If I pick them, they rot; if I don't pick them, they rot. Might as well just let them rot on the trees."