156: Chapter 156 Unprecedented Development in Hukuang Township

The modern agricultural industrial park had already begun to take shape, with factory buildings, cold storage facilities, and testing centers connected in a single complex, their white exterior walls standing out strikingly under the sun.

The apple deep-processing production line had already undergone trial runs. When the first batch of apple juice was bottled and rolled off the line, the workers gathered around, watching those bottles of amber liquid flow along the conveyor belt, and some secretly wiped away tears.

They were all local farmers who used to make a living by farming and couldn't earn much money throughout the year.

Now, they could work right on their doorstep, earning three to four thousand a month—many times better than before.

The cold chain logistics center had already started storing apples, with boxes of beautifully packaged hanfu apples stacked neatly, waiting to be shipped across the country.

The equipment in the testing center was being calibrated, and technicians in white lab coats were moving in and out, like a scene from a movie.

The renovation of the old mining area was more than halfway complete; the mine pit had been transformed into an artificial lake with sparkling blue waves, the gangue hills had turned into green, grassy slopes, and the abandoned factory buildings had become museums with gray walls and red tiles.

Hiking trails wound their way up, and viewing platforms had been built, from which one could overlook the entire landscape of Hukuang Township.

When the weather was good, people would drive from the county seat specifically to see the scenery, take photos by the lake, view exhibitions in the museum, and eat at the agritainment spots.

The old ethos of relying solely on the mines was gone forever; no one was obsessed with the resources buried underground anymore because everyone had seen that a green economy was more sustainable and profitable than a black economy.

More importantly, the income of the common people had doubled.

This was not an exaggeration; it was a fact.

For fruit farmers growing apples, they used to sell apples for two or three yuan a jin, and often couldn't sell them at all, letting them rot in the fields.

Now, Tianmu Group provided guaranteed purchases at a price two jiao higher than the market rate, so farmers no longer had to worry about sales.

For farmers raising Cashmere Goats, they used to sell cashmere to middlemen, and the price was suppressed to the lowest possible level.

Now, Tianmu Group purchased directly from them, cutting out the middlemen, and they could sell a jin of cashmere for several dozen yuan more.

Workers in the industrial park used to either farm or go out to work, earning only about ten thousand yuan a year.

Now, working at their doorstep, they earned three to four thousand a month, totaling forty to fifty thousand a year.

There were also those who opened agritainment venues, engaged in transportation, or ran small businesses, all of whom benefited as well.

The pockets of the common people were bulging, and their faces were filled with more smiles.

When leaders from the county came to inspect and saw the changes in Hukuang Township, they all praised it endlessly.

Secretary Yang Wei stood on the newly paved cement road, looking at the roadside trees and streetlights on both sides. He patted Xu Weidong on the shoulder and said, "You have done a good job and brought honor to the whole county."

Secretary Wei Kuan spoke at the industrial park's commissioning ceremony, saying that the experience of Hukuang Township should be promoted throughout the county, and all townships should learn from the development model of Hukuang Township.

Television reporters came with cameras several times, filming the apple orchards, the industrial park, the artificial lake, and the smiling faces of the common people.

After the news was broadcast, people from other townships called to ask, "How did your Hukuang Township manage to do this? How did it rise up all of a sudden?"

The people of Hukuang Township smiled and said, "Because we have a good secretary."

Those who once lined up at Xu Weidong's office to complain about Station Chief Sun Changhe had all quieted down.

Luan Ping was still serving as a member of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, but Director Bai Jie had already reported work to Xu Weidong's office several times. Each time she went, she brought thick materials, her attitude as respectful as a primary school student.

Committee Member Chen Ruo was still the Organization Committee Member, but he smiled at everyone he met now, and his speech was more confident because he was one of Xu Weidong's people.

Deputy Township Head Gong Zizhen still managed economic work as usual, but he was now closer to Xu Weidong, who often entrusted him with matters concerning the industrial park.

Although Secretary Zhou Song was expressionless, the work of the Discipline Inspection Commission was much smoother than before because he knew Xu Weidong was backing him.

Zhou Lan was still relatively laid-back, but she spoke up more during meetings now, always affirming Xu Weidong's work first before making suggestions.

Although Committee Member Gao Jin was still the Publicity Committee Member, he had more work than before because good things kept happening in Hukuang Township. He was so busy that he couldn't stop, telling everyone he met how remarkable Secretary Xu was and how promising Hukuang Township was.

As for Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, he was still the township head, but everyone knew that this township head was no longer an important role.

For the road upgrade and renovation, Xu Weidong had Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming take the lead, and Township Head Jiang Tiansheng couldn't get involved.

For the modern agricultural industrial park, Xu Weidong put Deputy Township Head Gong Zizhen in charge, and Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had no say.

For the renovation of the old mining area, Xu Weidong had Wang Jianguo keep an eye on it, and Township Head Jiang Tiansheng didn't even know the situation well.

He, the township head, was nominally the top leader of the government, but in reality, he had already been sidelined.

During meetings, he sat next to Xu Weidong, but his speeches became fewer and fewer, and what he said became shorter and shorter.

Previously, his word was law in Hukuang Township; now, no one listened to what he said.

Before, wherever he went, people would greet him; now, when others saw him, they just nodded, polite but distant.

He used to think he was irreplaceable; now, he discovered that the world would keep spinning without anyone.

But Township Head Jiang Tiansheng did not leave. He still sat in the township head's office, coming to work and leaving on time every day, signing the documents that needed signing, attending the meetings that needed attending, and expressing his stance when necessary.

He didn't argue or make a scene, didn't fight or grab; he was like an old tree transplanted to a corner, its branches and leaves still there, but no one paid attention to it anymore.

He knew he couldn't beat Xu Weidong, and he knew his days in Hukuang Township were numbered, but he didn't want to leave in such a dismal way.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng just wanted to wait for the right moment to take the initiative to propose to the county that he was old, in poor health, and wanted to change to a more leisurely position.

Leaving this way would not be shameful.

Luan Ping sometimes came to see him, and the two sat in the office drinking tea, chatting aimlessly.

Luan Ping said that Director Bai Jie was doing well on Xu Weidong's side; Xu Weidong trusted her very much and entrusted many important matters to her.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng smiled after hearing this and said, "That's good. She was trained by you. If she has a future, you will also have glory."

He didn't mention the past, about how he had wanted to take advantage of Director Bai Jie.

Luan Ping was silent for a while and said, "Township Head Jiang, have you really thought it through?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Thought it through. Sooner or later I have to go, so it's better to leave with dignity."

Luan Ping didn't ask again, and the two silently finished the pot of tea.

In October, Hukuang Township was cool and pleasant.

The hanfu apples were red, covering the mountains and plains like burning clouds.

Fruit farmers were busy picking, sorting, and packing. The entrance of the cold chain logistics center in the industrial park was lined with large trucks, waiting to transport apples to all parts of the country.

The hazelnuts were also ripe, and people holding woven bags to pick hazelnuts were everywhere on the hillsides, with laughter echoing in the valley.

The Cashmere Goats had grown new cashmere, fluffy, huddling together to bask in the sun like clusters of white clouds.

The artificial lake in the old mining area had sparkling blue waves, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and the red leaves on the hillsides.

The Industrial Heritage Museum had already opened. The exhibition hall displayed old photos, old tools, miners' hard hats, and mining lamps. On the wall was a huge display board describing the past and present of Hukuang Township.

There weren't many tourists, but everyone who came would stand by the lake for a while, walk around the museum, and have a meal at an agritainment spot.

An old man from the county seat stood by the mine pit for a long time and said that when he was young, he had dug coal here. At that time, there were many people at the mine, and it was very lively. Later, the mine closed, people scattered, and it became desolate.

Now it was good, and it was lively again. Although it was different from before, it was better than before.

Xu Weidong stood on the viewing platform of the artificial lake, looking at the distant mountains and the water nearby.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming stood next to him, holding a document, waiting for him to sign.

Xu Weidong took the document, signed it, handed it to Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, and said, "The planning for the second phase of the industrial park must be accelerated; construction must start next spring."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming took the document, responded, turned around, and left.

Xu Weidong stood on the viewing platform and watched for a while longer.

In the distance, the white factory buildings of the industrial park were shining in the sun, the newly paved cement road wound through the mountains like a silk ribbon, and the leaves of the roadside trees were red, rustling in the autumn wind.

He remembered when he first came to Hukuang Township last year, it was a completely different scene.

Dilapidated streets, muddy dirt roads, abandoned mine pits, and gloomy common people.

In less than a year, everything had changed.

It wasn't because he was so capable; it was the era that gave him the opportunity, the background that gave him resources, and the policy that gave him the stage.

He was just standing on the shoulders of these giants, doing what he ought to do.

Of course, to put it bluntly.

If Hukuang Township hadn't encountered Xu Weidong, I'm afraid it would have been difficult to usher in such development even in decades.