168: Chapter 168 Brother Xu

County Mayor Bai Weijun's motorcade arrived at the border of Hukuang Township at ten in the morning. A Coaster bus followed by three black sedans, a grand procession, more than double the size of a typical inspection.

The Deputy Party Secretary of the County Party Committee, the Executive Deputy County Magistrate, the Standing Committee Deputy County Magistrate, the Director of the County Government Office, the Director of the Development and Reform Commission, the Director of the Finance Bureau, the Director of the Transport Bureau, the Director of the Agriculture Bureau, and the Director of the Water Conservancy Bureau—almost everyone who could come, came. It was like a collective public appearance for the government sector.

When Xu Weidong received the notification, he knew this wasn't an ordinary inspection.

The new County Magistrate's first stop was Hukuang Township, and bringing so many people clearly indicated an intention to make Hukuang Township a benchmark for the entire county.

He had arranged the route in advance: the first stop was the Modern Agricultural Industrial Park, the second was the artificial lake converted from the old mining area, and the third was the apple planting base. Lunch would be at the Township Government canteen, and a discussion session would be held in the afternoon.

When Wang Jianguo submitted the plan, he took a look and said, "Make the dishes lighter, don't do anything flashy." Wang Jianguo acknowledged this and turned to make arrangements.

When the motorcade stopped at the entrance of the Township Government, Xu Weidong was already waiting there with the team members.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng stood on his right, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming on his left. Behind them, in order, were Committee Member Gao Jin, Secretary Zhou Song, Committee Member Chen Ruo, Zhou Lan, Deputy Township Head Gong Zizhen, Luan Ping, and several heads of stations and offices, arranged in two rows with respectful postures.

When County Mayor Bai Weijun emerged from the Coaster, he was wearing a dark jacket, his hair meticulously combed. He looked clean and sharp, carrying the capability and composure unique to ministry-level cadres.

His gaze swept over the crowd, landing directly on Xu Weidong. He walked over quickly and extended his hand.

"Comrade Weidong, I have long heard of you. I am County Mayor Bai Weijun."

Xu Weidong shook his hand and said with a smile, "County Magistrate Bai, welcome to Hukuang Township to guide our work."

County Mayor Bai Weijun did not let go of his hand, looking him up and down. The curve of his mouth grew slightly, and his tone suddenly became casual, as if he were a different person.

"Comrade Weidong, we are about the same age; I am a few years your senior."

"If you don't mind, you can call me Brother Bai in private, and I will call you Brother Xu. How about that?"

Xu Weidong was stunned. He had met all kinds of leaders, but this was the first time someone had tried to act like brothers upon their first meeting, especially someone like County Mayor Bai Weijun.

He recalled the call Secretary Wei Kuan had made to him yesterday, saying the new County Magistrate might be hostile and to keep his guard up.

He had been pondering how to respond, but he hadn't expected the other party to play this card right away.

His mind spun rapidly, his smile remained unchanged, but he had already made a judgment.

Seeing he didn't speak, County Mayor Bai Weijun added with a smile, his voice low, just enough for the two of them to hear.

"The relationship between the Bai family and the Xu Family has been good since your father's generation. My father specifically arranged for me to come to Changyuan County so we could interact more."

"Brother Xu, surely you won't refuse to give me this face?"

Xu Weidong was shocked. The Bai family, Secretary Bai, Governor of Xishan Province.

Uncle Bai apparently had a son working in the ministries, but since Uncle Bai joined his father's camp relatively late, Xu Weidong didn't know much about him and had never met him.

The relationship between the two families was indeed not built in a day.

He hadn't expected Secretary Bai's son to come to Changyuan County as County Magistrate, let alone that the other party would spell out this relationship the moment they met.

Looking at County Mayor Bai Weijun's sincere smile, his guard lowered slightly, though not entirely.

"County Magistrate Bai, you are too polite."

Xu Weidong said with a smile, his tone carrying a sense of appropriate proportion.

"Since you put it that way, I will accept the honor. In private, I will call you Brother Bai. But now is working time, so I will still call you County Magistrate."

"Rules cannot be broken, or others will say we are being disrespectful."

County Mayor Bai Weijun laughed out loud, patting his shoulder. The laughter echoed at the entrance of the Township Government, causing the cadres from the county behind them to glance over.

They couldn't hear what the two were saying, but seeing the County Mayor patting Xu Weidong's shoulder and laughing so heartily, their expressions all changed.

The Deputy Party Secretary of the County Party Committee stood in the back row, squinting at the scene, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

The Executive Deputy County Magistrate lowered his head, pretending to look at his phone.

The Standing Committee Deputy County Magistrate turned his head and whispered something to the Director of the County Government Office, and the two exchanged a knowing look.

The Director of the Development and Reform Commission, the Director of the Finance Bureau, the Director of the Transport Bureau, the Director of the Agriculture Bureau, and the Director of the Water Conservancy Bureau—figures who usually had the final say in the county—stood there like wooden statues, their expressions incredibly vivid.

None of them expected the new County Mayor and the Secretary of Hukuang Township to have such a good relationship.

The two stood at the entrance acting like brothers, laughing so loudly they were afraid others wouldn't hear them. Was this an inspection?

It was more like visiting relatives!

"Fine, fine, I'll listen to you."

County Mayor Bai Weijun let go of his hand, his smile undiminished, and turned to look at the group of dumbfounded cadres behind him, his tone returning to an official register.

"Comrades, let's go. Let Secretary Xu take us to see the achievements of Hukuang Township."

The group boarded the Coaster and headed toward the Modern Agricultural Industrial Park.

The bus was very quiet; no one spoke, only the low roar of the engine.

County Mayor Bai Weijun sat in the first row with Xu Weidong accompanying him. The two chatted in low voices, with occasional laughter.

The cadres from the county in the back had their own thoughts; some closed their eyes to rest, some looked down at their phones, some stared blankly out the window, but no one disturbed the conversation in the front row.

They were all old hands in officialdom; they knew clearly what to see, what not to see, what to hear, and what not to hear.

They had seen and heard the scene at the Township Government entrance, but from this moment on, they would forget it completely.

That the County Mayor's family and Secretary Xu's family were old friends—that wasn't a good thing to spread, and it was best not to pass it on.

Whoever couldn't keep their mouth shut would be asking for trouble.

In the Modern Agricultural Industrial Park, the machines of the apple deep-processing production line were roaring, workers in white coats were busy on the assembly line, and boxes of beautifully packaged apple juice flowed along the conveyor belt.

The cold storage door of the cold chain logistics center was open, forklifts were coming in and out, transporting boxes of apples into the warehouse.

The building of the Agricultural Product Quality Inspection Center had been capped, and workers were working on the exterior wall decoration.

County Mayor Bai Weijun walked slowly and looked carefully. Every time he reached a workshop, he would stop to ask a few questions: how much output, what was the production value, how many jobs were created, and where the products were sold.

Xu Weidong answered one by one, with detailed data and clear logic, neither exaggerating nor understating.

After listening, County Mayor Bai Weijun nodded with satisfaction and turned to the cadres behind him: "Comrades, do you see? This is the speed of Hukuang Township."

"In less than a year, it has gone from a piece of wasteland to what it is now. It is not easy."

"Secretary Xu... Comrade Weidong is young and promising; you should learn more from him."

The people behind nodded one after another, and some took out notebooks, pretending to take a few notes.

Xu Weidong was humble, saying this was the result of the county's support; without the correct leadership of the County Party Committee and the County Government, and without the strong cooperation of all departments, Hukuang Township could not have today.

County Mayor Bai Weijun laughed again, patting his shoulder and saying: "Brother Xu, you are too polite. If it is your credit, it is your credit; you cannot push it away."

Leaving the industrial park, they went to the artificial lake converted from the old mining area.

The mine pit had become a sparkling lake, the gangue mountain had become a grassy hillside, and the abandoned factory buildings had become an industrial heritage museum with gray walls and red tiles.

County Mayor Bai Weijun stood on the viewing platform, looking at the distant mountains and the nearby water, and took a deep breath.

"Brother Xu, you have done a good job here."

His voice was low, but his tone was sincere.

"Before I came down, my father told me that there is a young man in Changyuan County named Xu Weidong who has made a name for himself in Hukuang Township. He told me to learn from you when I arrived."

"I didn't believe it at the time, thinking what kind of name a township could make for itself. Today, having seen it, I believe it."

Xu Weidong stood beside him, looking at the distant scenery, the corners of his mouth slightly curled up, his tone calm and humble.

"County Magistrate Bai, you flatter me."

"Hukuang Township's success today is not my credit alone; it was achieved by the cadres and the masses of the whole township working together."

"You have just arrived and are not yet familiar with the situation in the county; if there is anything you need me to do, please feel free to instruct me."

County Mayor Bai Weijun turned to look at him, his gaze carrying something indescribable.

"Brother Xu, you are being too distant. I said, just call me Brother Bai in private."

"Between us, there is no need for those flashy pleasantries."

Xu Weidong smiled and said: "Alright, Brother Bai."

County Mayor Bai Weijun nodded with satisfaction and turned to continue walking forward.

Xu Weidong followed behind, his steps steady and unhurried.

The cadres from the county followed from a distance, and no one came up to disturb them.