"Elder Zhou, we're not just acquaintances; we're colleagues," Cheng Lu said with a smile.
"Colleagues?" Zhou Kewang was taken aback.
"Yes, Chen Feng is the village head of Wulin Village, and I am the women's director there," Cheng Lu replied truthfully.
"You went to Wulin Village?" Zhou Kewang asked, puzzled. Cheng Lu's father, Cheng Liren, was the top official in Jiangcheng. No matter how they arranged things for Cheng Lu, it wouldn't lead her to a remote rural village like Wulin.
"Elder Zhou, please don't misunderstand. My going to Wulin Village as the women's director wasn't my father's idea. My father's relatives have connections in Jiangcheng, and he could have arranged for me to stay in the city. However, I wanted to rely on myself, so I went to Wulin Village. Besides, working with Chen Feng has been very enjoyable and rewarding," Cheng Lu explained.
Zhou Kewang, an old hand in politics, instantly understood the unspoken meaning behind Cheng Lu's words. She didn't want Chen Feng to know her father was the top official in Jiangcheng, nor did she want him to know she liked him. One could only say that a girl's heart was quite an interesting thing.
"Mm, gaining experience at the grassroots level is also good," Zhou Kewang replied with a smile.
"Elder Zhou, I thank you on behalf of Chen Feng. Thank you for giving the highway procurement order between the provincial capital and Jiangcheng to Wulin Village's crayfish project," Cheng Lu said sincerely.
"I am an old friend of your Cheng family, and Chen Feng is my benefactor. We don't need to be so formal between us," Zhou Kewang deliberately avoided mentioning that Cheng Liren was his capable subordinate.
"That's true. Then I won't say any more pleasantries. If you have time, you're welcome to visit our Wulin Village. Under Chen Feng's governance, Wulin Village is now thriving," Cheng Lu added, praising Chen Feng.
"I would love to visit a new rural village, but I've been extremely busy lately. I've been busy for months and still have no clear direction. So, visiting Wulin Village will have to wait," Zhou Kewang's brows flickered with a hint of worry.
"Elder Zhou, are you talking about the selection of a national-level development zone in the provincial capital?" Cheng Lu asked tentatively. She had heard her father mention this matter.
"That's precisely it. I'm under immense pressure. The provincial capital's development zone has been preparing for the national-level selection for over a decade, yet the application form is always stuck in the capital, with no news. If it's not approved this time, we'll have to wait for several more years," Zhou Kewang shook his head.
"Elder Zhou, you could let Chen Feng help with suggestions. He's very quick-witted!" Cheng Lu replied smoothly.
"Chen Feng? It's unlikely. While Chen Feng is talented, the selection of a national-level development zone for the provincial capital is a very tricky issue for the province. With Chen Feng's current experience, he wouldn't be able to handle it," Elder Zhou replied quietly. It wasn't that he didn't trust Chen Feng, but the difficulty of the matter was truly immense. He, the second-in-command of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, an old hand in politics, was at a loss, let alone Chen Feng, a newcomer to the political arena.
"Elder Zhou, I think you could let Chen Feng try. You have nothing to lose anyway, and what if it succeeds?" Cheng Lu said with a smile.
"It seems you have great faith in Chen Feng."
"Yes, Elder Zhou. To be honest, besides you and my father, Chen Feng is the person I trust the most. I've been working with Chen Feng for some time now, and no matter what difficulties we encounter, Chen Feng can always resolve them in an orderly manner," Cheng Lu said, looking at Chen Feng with admiration.
"That's possible too! In that case, after dinner, I'll give Chen Feng the relevant materials. When you get back to Wulin Village, have Chen Feng look them over carefully and see if he can provide any solutions," Zhou Kewang no longer refused. Chen Feng could make Wulin Village's multi-million dollar project so successful; providing some ideas for the provincial capital's issues shouldn't be an insurmountable task. As the second-in-command of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, a little hint could solve the problem. After all, his years of tempering in politics were not in vain!
After dinner, Chen Feng took Cheng Lu back to Wulin Village.
"Miss Cheng, going forward, please keep an eye on the matters concerning the women of Wulin Village and the crayfish project, especially the transportation of the new asphalt material to the highway construction site. I need to help Elder Zhou thoroughly review the application materials for the provincial capital's national-level development zone," Chen Feng stated directly.
"Don't worry, these matters in Wulin Village are already on the right track. They just need a little supervision, and it's not difficult. If absolutely necessary, I can call my father... No, let's forget that. If it's really necessary, you can personally oversee it. As for Elder Zhou, you'll just have to apologize to him." Cheng Lu's tone shifted. As long as it wasn't a last resort, it was best not to trouble her father with Chen Feng's affairs. If Chen Feng could help Elder Zhou, he should, and if not, he shouldn't. Elder Zhou wouldn't say anything.
Chen Feng confined himself to his dormitory for a whole day. Around seven in the evening, he finally found a solution from the numerous application materials for the provincial capital's national-level development zone. Simply put, the reason the provincial capital's development zone's application had been repeatedly rejected was not due to its scale or prospects... It was because one of the application documents did not comply with national policies. The nation advocated for new energy vehicles, while the provincial capital's development zone had a plan to establish a large automotive gasoline vehicle parts production base, which clearly conflicted with the higher authorities' direction. Disobeying superiors was a major taboo in politics!
With this in mind, Chen Feng immediately called Zhou Kewang.
"You figured it out so quickly?" Zhou Kewang asked in disbelief.
"Yes, Elder Zhou. Actually, given the current development status of the provincial capital's development zone, it fully qualifies for national-level development zone status. However, there is a principled error in one of the application documents. If this point is corrected or removed, the authorities can basically approve the application for the provincial capital's development zone," Chen Feng replied directly.
"Which point?" Zhou Kewang asked curiously.
"Vigorously developing the production of gasoline vehicle parts. This point does not align with the nation's new energy policies. If it were a small, insignificant place making such a proposal, the state might turn a blind eye. However, for a provincial capital's development zone to propose this, the state must strictly control it," Chen Feng explained word by word.
"Chen Feng, Chen Feng, your mind is too sharp! I've read those application materials over and over, checked them countless times, yet I couldn't find the problem. You discovered it in just one day. You truly have a talent for politics. Staying in Wulin Village is a waste of your potential. How about this: come to the provincial capital, and I'll arrange for you to join the development zone." Zhou Kewang said with admiration.
"Elder Zhou, thank you for your kind offer. As I said before, with my current capabilities, I can force my way into the provincial capital. However, I wouldn't be able to stay long. If I were to be unfairly removed, it would not only disgrace me but also you. It's better to start from the grassroots and build a solid foundation."
"Chen Feng, I underestimated you. Your vision is far greater than mine was at your age. Alright, I'll go along with you. You can temper yourself at the grassroots for a few years, and when the time is right, it won't be too late to come to the provincial capital. By the way, is Yongming County planning to heavily promote the Wulin Village crayfish project recently?" Zhou Kewang seemed to remember something.
"There is such a thing."
"In that case, why don't you come to the provincial capital again? I'll introduce you to someone. With this person's help, I guarantee the promotion of the Wulin Village crayfish project this time will be spectacular and brilliant," Zhou Kewang said confidently.