Sail across the sea

Chapter 372 An Unprecedented Change in a Century
When Xu Ying received a call from Gao Yiping, and heard it was about rare earth elements, she started complaining on the other end of the line:
"Hey Lao Gao, can't you keep an eye on your precious son? I know he's capable, he knows about fertilizers, cleaning agents, and he even invented vitamins. But at least those are all within the chemical industry. Why is he messing around in the geological and mining system now?"

Gao Yiping discerned that Xu Ying's words contained at most three parts criticism and seven parts indirect praise, but he could only feign helplessness and say:
"Director Xu, this really isn't Xiao Fan's fault. This was a task assigned to him by Minister Zheng, so I couldn't very well stop him, could I?"

Xu Ying said, "Ask that kid why Minister Zheng would give him this job out of the blue. Did he just brag to the Ministry of Chemical Industry again?"

Gao Yiping handed the phone receiver to Gao Fan and said, "Aunt Xu is asking if you bragged at the Ministry of Chemical Industry. You can tell Aunt Xu yourself."

Gao Fan took the phone and said with a grin into the receiver, "Aunt Xu, I swear, I absolutely didn't brag at the Ministry of Chemical Industry. At most, I just let it slip. Minister Zheng found out about how I helped my dad's factory develop rare earth catalysts the year before last."

"It just so happens that the Ministry of Chemical Industry and the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources have such a cooperation. Minister Zheng said that this matter involves Maolin, and I am from Maolin and have also studied rare earths, so he asked me to participate, mainly to broaden my horizons."

Xu Ying smiled and said, "Little Gao Fan, Minister Zheng didn't just send you to broaden your horizons. He said you have a Midas touch and will play an important role in this national joint rectification. The ministry already called the department yesterday, asking them to fully support your work."

"Young Gao Fan, if this were ancient times, you would be considered an imperial envoy. If you came to the hall, even Director Chen would have to come out to greet you personally."

"Aunt Xu, don't scare me like that, okay? I'm still a baby." Gao Fan quickly tried to act cute.

Xu Ying felt a little embarrassed; she had been so focused on joking that she hadn't realized she'd gone a bit too far. She coughed lightly and changed the subject, saying:

"Alright, since you say you're still a baby, I won't tease you anymore. Regarding the rectification of the rare earth industry, the Ministry of Chemical Industry and the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources have issued a joint notice. The department is preparing to contact the Department of Geology and Mineral Resources. You should go with them."

"You probably know the ministry's considerations on this matter best, so please explain them to everyone later."

“Okay, I will report my understanding to the leaders of the two departments,” Gao Fan said modestly.

After agreeing on a time to go to the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Gao Fan hung up the phone and turned to look at Gao Yiping, only to find that Gao Yiping's expression was somewhat solemn.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Gao Fan asked.

Gao Yiping said, "I heard what Director Xu said to you just now. I think you've really been too restless these past two years, too sharp and aggressive, which isn't a good thing."

Gao Fan asked, "You mean what Aunt Xu said about the imperial envoy?"

Gao Yiping nodded: "Director Xu was obviously joking with you; she meant no harm, so you don't need to be nervous. But words reflect the heart. The fact that Director Xu used such an analogy shows that she already has some feelings about this, and it might not just be her feeling, but also the feelings of other leaders in the department. Think about it, you're still just an 18-year-old junior in college. Being able to speak directly with the minister so easily, and even having the minister call the department to recommend you—how could the department leaders not have any thoughts about that?"

Gao Fan said, "There's nothing we can do about it. As you know, my acquaintance with Minister Zheng was purely accidental. Besides, if I hadn't persuaded Minister Zheng, the Ministry of Chemical Industry's pilot project for converting ammonium to urine wouldn't have been able to be carried out at Canghai Fertilizer Plant, and none of the subsequent events would have happened."

"You now manage a fertilizer plant that produces 4 tons of urea per year, and you're also organizing the conversion of ammonium to urea in four other plants. Don't you feel a great sense of accomplishment?"

“There is definitely a sense of accomplishment.” Gao Yiping couldn’t lie to his son, so he said, “But with a higher position comes more people looking for faults. Compared to now, my job was much easier in the past, unlike now, where I have to be careful with every step I take.”

"Then stop looking back and forth," Gao Fan laughed. "Dad, I remember you said that a person who isn't envied is mediocre. When you were the factory director at the fertilizer plant, no one envied you, but no one respected you either."

"When you go to the county to get something done, don't you have to bow and scrape to people? Now when you go to Cangtang County to get something done, who would dare to give you a hard time?"

Gao Yiping was a little embarrassed and argued, "Who said I have to bow and scrape to people? Go back to Cangtang No. 1 Middle School and ask around. If it weren't for my connections, with your grades, would you even be able to get into the honors class?"

"Uh, okay, Dad is wise and mighty." Gao Fan quickly changed his tune. Blowing at his father's pride couldn't be done overnight; it had to be done gradually, like a frog in slowly boiling water. He'd been a bit too blunt, stirring up Gao Yiping's shame, so he couldn't continue.

"Dad, have you noticed that the pace of national reform has accelerated in the past two years? I feel it even more strongly in Beijing. I think we are now facing a major transformation that China has not seen in a century. In the next thirty years, the entire Chinese society will undergo earth-shattering changes."

"As the ancients said, 'Only in turbulent times can true heroes emerge.' In such a period of great change, we should not worry about getting our clothes and hair wet, but rather go with the flow and seize the lead."

"Whether a few individuals are jealous or deliberately trying to trip us up, as long as we have the strength, we have nothing to fear. Take you, Dad, for example. In the past, even a minor section chief in the county dared to covet your position. Would he still dare to have such aspirations now?"

"You mean Wu Yawei?" Gao Yiping chuckled, recalling the past. "He's doing quite well now. He's been transferred to the provincial level and is now a section chief at the Provincial Economic Commission."

Gao Fan didn't remember the name, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he continued, "What I want to say is that now is a good time to make achievements and build a career. Every industry needs doers. Some people in the Chemical Industry Bureau may be jealous of me, but so what?"
“I borrowed $2500 million from the Hatch Group and generated $4000 million in foreign exchange annually. Those people can’t control me.”

"Dad, you're the same. As long as you do a good job converting ammonium to urine at these four factories, no one can steal your credit. Because if someone else were to do it, they wouldn't be able to do it. At that time, even if someone from the Chemical Industry Bureau wants to cause you trouble, someone from the province will stand up for you."

Gao Yiping nodded firmly this time: "You're right. Now that we have such a good opportunity, focusing on doing our work is the right thing to do. As long as we do things well, it won't matter if others try to scheme or plot against us."

(End of this chapter)