Chapter 43: A Sudden Sense of Self

"I really don't have the right to speak on that. At the very least, Director Zhan, I thought you were extremely imposing today. Those few remarks you made, blending strict discipline with generous grace, actually made Secretary Lu and Mayor Zhao start sweating from their brows!"

"Ha, haha, that's just because they had too much soft-shelled turtle soup and it gave them excessive internal heat!"

"It certainly gives you some heat..." Liang Jiyong remarked. Having just consumed two bowls of turtle soup, he indeed felt a bit overheated right now.

Zhan Pengfei smiled knowingly. Such matters were meant to be understood intuitively rather than articulated aloud.

"Jiyong, although this is only our second time meeting, I feel a strong affinity with you. You are over a decade younger than me, yet the depth of your thinking leaves even me far behind."

"Director Zhan, are you trying to build me up just to knock me down later?"

"No, I am speaking the absolute truth. Moreover, I am not the only one who thinks so; even Secretary Zhou has mentioned that your mindset is remarkably mature, completely unlike someone not yet twenty years old."

At this moment, Liang Jiyong felt no sense of complacency; instead, he realized that from now on, he truly needed to conceal his capabilities.

"I really had no idea Uncle Zhou had praised me like that!"

"Secretary Zhou is an exceptionally rigorous person, so he rarely compliments anyone. Yet this is the first time I have ever seen him hold a young man in such high regard. To be honest, I was somewhat skeptical at first, but your remarks just now hit every single point precisely. Although I had vaguely similar views, I had never thought them through as thoroughly as you did! Today, I came here with the mindset of a learner, hoping to consult with you on how Longshan should develop under its current circumstances."

Liang Jiyong did not answer immediately. Instead, he pondered how to respond—keeping his words moderate while offering genuinely practical utility to Zhan Pengfei.

"Director Zhan, when I last came to Longshan and saw the Hongyun Ancient Town, the traditional craftsmanship at the Hongyun Garment Factory, and the magnificent scenery of Red Leaf Valley, I truly fell in love with this place. Later, after those events transpired, I learned a bit more about Longshan's situation through Jiang Lan. However, what I understand is merely an outline and certainly much more superficial than what you know. You came down from the provincial organs and lack grassroots working experience, but over the years, dealing with grassroots cadres, you must have communicated with them a great deal. Furthermore, having studied under Uncle Zhou for so many years, I am certain you already have your own blueprint in mind. How to be a party secretary and how to develop Longshan—that is not something I would dare to show off about. I can only offer some of my own insights, analyzing Longshan's current situation and positioning from the perspective of an outsider."

Zhan Pengfei nodded without interrupting him.

"From what I understand, whether looking at Longshan's economy or its social development, it can only be described in two phrases: riddled with scars, and awaiting rebirth from the ashes."

Zhan Pengfei sighed and agreed, "That's why I'm currently overwhelmed with headaches. The 'Thunder Action' campaign has Longshan bearing the brunt of it. It's practically digging three feet into the ground, putting everyone under a microscope. I'm not saying I oppose investigations—problems should be solved as they arise—but we still need to pay attention to our methods and approaches."

"The pressure from above falling squarely on Longshan County is only natural. Without breaking, there can be no building. I believe Uncle Zhou sent you to Longshan County because he undoubtedly has confidence in you and will provide you with sufficient support. At a time like this, it is also when you can display your discerning vision. The vast number of cadres and masses in Longshan County are eagerly waiting for you to hand out promotions and positions!"

"It's difficult, ah. I don't possess any supernatural discerning vision; otherwise, things wouldn't be this hard!"

"These difficulties are only temporary. Any difficult problem can be resolved through development. Since Longshan is already in this state, trying to take care of everything at once is, in my opinion, quite impossible. It would be better to start from just one or two points and accomplish one or two things that boost public morale. And while getting things done, it will become crystal clear who possesses true talent and who is merely mediocre."

Zhan Pengfei's eyes lit up instantly. Liang Jiyong's words cleared the fog in his mind. Previously, Secretary Zhou had told him that a party secretary's core responsibility is managing personnel—handling personnel means both managing people and getting things done. Earlier, he hadn't quite grasped it, but at this moment, the concept was suddenly laid bare. If he didn't know that Liang Jiyong hadn't visited Secretary Zhou again since that previous occasion, he would have suspected that Secretary Zhou had sent Liang Jiyong here to point the way out of his maze.

"Then what do you think is the most urgent matter right now?"

"I don't even know which direction the gates of the Longshan county government face. What should be done is entirely up to you, since you are the secretary; you have the final say! I will only speak of my own view on Longshan's positioning. From the perspective of administrative division, Longshan belongs to Yunzhou, but it is close to Qingzhou, and its ties with Qingzhou are much closer. This has two sides: the positive side is that Qingzhou's economy is highly developed, and Longshan enjoys the advantage of being close to the water to get the moonlight first. The negative side is that Longshan is far from downtown Yunzhou, so the people of Yunzhou feel no sense of closeness toward Longshan, while in the eyes of the people of Qingzhou, Longshan is always an outsider. Therefore, neither loved by its maternal family nor cherished by its uncle's family, its status becomes somewhat awkward."

Zhan Pengfei nodded. For Liang Jiyong to perceive this point was no small feat; he must have carefully studied Yunzhou's overall layout and Longshan's conditions to figure out this awkward predicament.

"I believe that whether in interpersonal relationships or regional ties, as long as there are shared interests and you are needed by others, you will have status and weight."

Longshan's advantageous condition lies in its location along the Qing-Yun Expressway, providing convenient transportation—something many other places lack. Furthermore, its tourism resource foundation is very strong and possesses development value, while its ecological resources are favorable, making it suitable for the development of aquaculture and agriculture. Right now, the urban scales of both Yunzhou and Qingzhou are expanding, and their populations are surging. Yet in previous years, no one anticipated such an explosive growth in urban population. Food supply is not an issue; people can afford to eat nowadays. However, fresh meat and vegetables fall far short. In the past, when people had no money in their pockets, they could probably make do with a lump of salted vegetable and two cloves of garlic a day. But now, as the economy develops, people's quality of life will become increasingly high, creating a demand for both the variety and quality of food.

In the suburban counties adjacent to Yunzhou and Qingzhou, large-scale planting and breeding trends have also emerged. However, some things cannot be changed—namely, quality. Longshan's pristine natural environment is perfectly suited for producing high-quality ingredients. It can become the vegetable basket for both Yunzhou and Qingzhou, following a branding route. Although it is slightly farther from Yunzhou, within this region, no place is better suited for cultivation. Transporting certain high-quality vegetables from other provinces incurs even higher costs. If Longshan builds a reputation for its agricultural produce, its natural environment will also establish an exceptional reputation, which would be extremely beneficial for the development of tourism. This place could easily become the preferred weekend getaway for people from Yunzhou and Qingzhou. Once it develops further in the future, establishing a golf course or an upscale conference and exhibition center would allow enterprises and governments to easily host meetings or any kind of event here!"

As Zhan Pengfei listened and pondered, his eyes grew progressively brighter. Although these ideas were merely conceived in Liang Jiyong's mind, they were by no means impossible to realize. Achieving them would be long and arduous, but there was always hope.

"Good, wonderful, Jiyong! I, Zhan Pengfei, rarely admire anyone, but among the young talents I know, you, Liang Jiyong, stand alone!"

Zhan Pengfei did not stint with his lavish praise.

***

"Director Zhan, you are exaggerating far too much. At the very least, Chen Puer is quite good!"

Zhan Pengfei shook his head. "Chen Puer is indeed good, but his excellence is built upon a profound background. His upbringing is much more privileged than yours, and his exposure is broader. However, in terms of depth of thought and pragmatism, he still has a gap compared to you."

Liang Jiyong smiled faintly. Without the experiences of his past life, at the age of nineteen, he would still have been a reckless hothead trying to conquer the world with a pair of fists!

His conversation with Zhan Pengfei lasted only a little over twenty minutes because Zhan Pengfei had another very important meeting in the afternoon. Otherwise, he might have talked with Liang Jiyong through the night by candlelight!

After seeing Zhan Pengfei off, Liang Jiyong returned to Red Leaf Villa, but he did not see Chen Puer and the others.

Just as he was about to look for someone to ask, he saw Jiang Lan walking toward him.

Liang Jiyong could not help feeling a fluttering distraction in his heart.

Jiang Lan was wearing a matching skirt ensemble, looking very much like an urban white-collar professional. Although still somewhat green, she was showing hints of ripening maturity.

Liang Jiyong looked left and right, whereupon Jiang Lan said in a melodious tone, "Stop looking, your two girlfriends aren't here!"

"What two girlfriends..." Liang Jiyong feigned ignorance!

"Play dumb, go ahead and play dumb!" Jiang Lan walked over, took Liang Jiyong by the arm, and pulled him toward one of the courtyards in the villa.

"Hey..."

"Hey what? Your two girlfriends are playing the guitar in the maple grove, having a wonderful time and not even thinking about you for the moment!"

"Where are Puer and the others?"

"They went back to Yunzhou. I reckon the turtle soup from today was so potent that Fang Zhan and Wei Min are probably already resting at the Longshan Guesthouse by now!"

Liang Jiyong was momentarily stunned, but he also instantly felt that he really was a bit overheated! Knowing what Jiang Lan was dragging him off for, Liang Jiyong still found himself unable to resist. This feeling was simply too...

Entering a courtyard, Jiang Lan directly closed the door and then pulled him into a quaint suite.

"I missed you!" Jiang Lan's azure-blue eyes carried a hazy, intoxicating light. Whether it was because she had also drunk the turtle soup today, her feminine allure was even stronger at this moment!

Liang Jiyong drew a couple of heavy, rough breaths!

"There's a secret door here; we won't get trapped in the room. I won't harm you!"

Liang Jiyong let out a breath, pulled Jiang Lan into his embrace, and kissed her.

"Vixen, you are truly my vixen!"

Jiang Lan smiled brightly. "The vixen is going to devour someone now..."

Inner anxiety and physical desire combined to make Liang Jiyong a contradiction of conflicting forces. Although Jiang Lan had said there was a secret exit door, he still hoped to make it a quick battle. It was just that the turtle soup from the past few days was far too potent!

***

After taking a shower, Liang Jiyong went to the maple grove. Di Yutong and Su Wanqing were still playing their guitars and singing!

The two of them were singing "People Who Don't Understand Love," a classic old song from his memories, though in reality, it had only been released this very year!

*I cannot believe you are truly leaving,*
*Yet I cannot let go of the affection you gave me.*
*And yet you do not know, do not know that love can harm everything.*
*I cannot accept the ending of a breakup,*
*Even less can I forget your wrongs against me.*
*And yet you do not know, do not know that love can conceal everything.*
*You say you want to leave without looking back, so just go—*
*I will no longer let love follow you like this.*
*You say you want to leave without regret, so just leave—*
*I will no longer love someone who doesn't understand love.*

Liang Jiyong quietly sat down beside Su Wanqing, listening to them sing while Di Yutong played the guitar, looking effortlessly cool. However, this song carried a trace of sorrow. After finishing it, Su Wanqing was in a low mood and leaned against Liang Jiyong's shoulder.

Liang Jiyong beckoned to Di Yutong.

Di Yutong immediately stood up and sat down beside Liang Jiyong.

"I want the guitar!" Liang Jiyong said with a smile!

"You don't even know how to play!" Di Yutong assumed Liang Jiyong was saying it on purpose.

"Who says I don't? I've been practicing secretly for a long time. Since all of you are so talented and artistic, if I'm going to hang out with you lot, I need to have a bit of artistic flair myself!"

"Go on, it's not artistic flair, it's artistic cells!" Di Yutong handed the guitar to Liang Jiyong.

"You guys have cells, I have a whole culture. Let me think, which song to play..."

"Heh, it'll be a miracle if you don't go out of tune, let alone which song..." Di Yutong muttered as she shifted backward so as not to block Liang Jiyong's arm or affect his performance.

*Thrum...*
*Clang-do...*
*Drip-drop...*

Liang Jiyong tried a few strings in succession, as if searching for the right feel.

By this time, even Su Wanqing could not help smiling slightly. "Alright, stop messing around!" She assumed Liang Jiyong was acting up just to make her laugh.

Soon, however, a fluid melody drifted out, and both Su Wanqing and Di Yutong were dumbfounded. They were Liang Jiyong's closest companions. In the past, Liang Jiyong had no interest in playing the guitar; he only liked sports like roller-skating, swimming, billiards, and basketball. The only thing remotely connected to music he enjoyed was dancing! Yet the tune flowing out now sounded genuinely smooth.

However, after playing a few notes, he stopped, restarted, and struck a much deeper, lower chord!

*I heard you talk about the morning sun rising and falling,*
*Weather is unpredictable and the road is full of footsteps.*
*I have already grown accustomed to your sudden self,*
*I will tightly enshrine your heroic spirit in my heart.*
*In the cold of winter, I will reminisce about your gentleness,*
*Filling my heart with your open-handed joy,*
*Even heartbreak comes with smiling tears.*
*Countless reunions, endless waiting—*
*If this life is all we have, why wait for a fresh start?*

The two girls were utterly stunned. As Liang Jiyong sang and played, they silently watched him, his slightly weathered tone seeming to draw their minds and bodies right into the song!

"My god!"
"Unbelievable! You actually know how to play the guitar? When did you learn?" Di Yutong asked in shock.

Su Wanqing silently closed her eyes, as if reviewing the song she had just heard.

"What is this song called?" Su Wanqing asked.

"*Sudden Self*!"

"*Sudden Self*? How come I've never heard it before?" Di Yutong asked. She was a music fanatic, and all popular songs invariably found their way onto her cassette tapes.

Liang Jiyong said nothing, looking alternately at Di Yutong and Su Wanqing!

"What is it? It's just a song, what are you playing at? Even though this song is super nice, if you're trying to fish for some unreasonable demands, we definitely won't agree!" Di Yutong said half-jokingly, half-seriously.

Liang Jiyong could not help laughing.

"Give me a kiss from both of you at the same time, and I'll tell you!"

Di Yutong and Su Wanqing looked at each other. "You have to teach us first!" Di Yutong stipulated, and Su Wanqing raised no objection.

"Deal!"

"Close your eyes, no peeking!" Su Wanqing reached out to cover Liang Jiyong's eyes.

Liang Jiyong cooperatively closed his eyes.

Two warm touches landed simultaneously on the corners of his lips!

Uh, this was not quite what he had imagined. He had only expected the two of them to kiss his cheek simultaneously, never expecting them to be so straightforward!

Yet happiness comes quickly and departs just as fast!

"Alright, spill it!" Di Yutong's voice rang out.

Liang Jiyong took a deep breath and asked, "Do you trust me?"

"What do you think?" Di Yutong retorted.

Su Wanqing said nothing, but her gaze said it all.

Liang Jiyong put down the guitar, took both of their hands in his, and said with great solemnity, "Lately, I've been agonizing over whether or not I should tell you. But today, I've made up my mind to tell you."

"What on earth is going on? Don't scare me!" Di Yutong's voice carried a hint of panic!

"It's nothing bad, don't worry. It's just that it feels like a dream to me!" Liang Jiyong smiled faintly.

"What do you mean?" Su Wanqing looked into Liang Jiyong's face.

"It's just that I suddenly had a dream—I dreamed of thirty years of life experiences, and upon waking up, it felt as though none of it was quite real!"

Di Yutong gave a nervous, neurotic chuckle. "You... you aren't going to tell me that you learned this song in a dream, are you? And that you learned to play the guitar in a dream too?"

"Yes. Your... your personality suddenly changing was also because of this dream?" Su Wanqing suddenly realized something.

Liang Jiyong let out a breath and nodded.

"Yes. Don't ask me about the things in my dream; talking about it won't do any good. My dream was too vivid, making it hard for me to tell whether the present is actually a dream or not!"