Riding the wind of rebirth

"I'm working on my doctoral thesis, but it's still in the humanities—the reconstruction of Middle Chinese phonology," Zhou Zhi laughed. "However, these days all sorts of research projects can be linked to information technology, and my project requires the support of multimedia databases and voice retrieval and analysis software. It's hard to separate the humanities and sciences anymore."

"I expect it will be like this in the future. The requirements for information technology in all positions will become higher and higher. Everyone will have to know basic computer operation and software use." Li Yutang said, "By the way, Zhouzi, since you have business with the base, have you considered investing in building factories in the prefecture?"

“Well, the specific business is actually coordinated by several ministries. We and AXA mainly just control and supervise the progress and allocation. In fact, we don’t interfere with the specific production operations…” Zhou Zhi thought for a moment: “However, currently our funds are directly transferred to several provincial branches according to the base’s requirements. But as far as I know, the base has special fund accounts in several banks in the state, and the funds can actually be directly transferred and deposited into the base’s special fund account in the state.”

“It’s just that we can’t get involved in this matter. It should be the responsibility of the banks in the autonomous prefecture to work with the base and their own superior banks to get the funds into their own accounts.” Zhou Zhi laughed. “We are just following orders. As long as the base designates which account to transfer funds to, we will transfer the funds to that account.”

"Our colleagues in the financial system are still too insensitive!" Li Yutang said angrily. "They should be the ones actively fighting for this kind of thing, and now we need you to remind us! I will pay attention to this matter. It's clearly a great thing for them, but they still have to nudge it and make a fuss. They have no initiative at all!"

"It's not entirely their fault," Zhou Zhi said with a smile. "The base's projects are usually classified, and people don't usually know about them, so it's become a habit."

"But you're right to criticize. At least the news has already said that this is the first time the base has undertaken a launch mission for a domestic company. If they didn't think about it after receiving this information, then, as you said, their sensitivity is indeed too poor."

Financial companies today have not yet undergone restructuring, or at least the superficial changes have been made. For example, the smart terminal business and intercity network deposit and withdrawal services are doing quite well, but core changes such as strict performance-based incentives and accountability systems have not been strictly implemented. As a result, there is still a lot of "inertia" within these companies.

The gap between inland and coastal areas, especially in terms of financial service awareness, is enormous.

"Let's eat and chat," Liu Meie said with a smile. "Don't turn this into a pilgrimage meeting again. I remember Xiao Miao likes braised fish. Come and try this braised Qionghai carp."

There are three special fish species in Qionghai Lake named after the lake: Qionghai carp, Qionghai whitefish, and Qionghai red bream. All three species have since become protected species. However, nowadays, except for the red bream which is not very tasty, the other two are often found on the tables around Qionghai Lake.

Qionghai carp has a higher back and wider body than ordinary carp, making it more suitable for dry-frying. It is still a famous dish at Qionghai Hotel. It may take several years before it is included in the list of prohibited fish.

Zhouzhi will certainly not be pretentious about this; it is not yet listed as a protected area, so people can eat as usual.

Li Yutang raised his glass: "That's true. Zhouzi has worked hard these past few years. Not only has he helped Lianhe Township get rid of poverty, but he has also brought a lot of industrial investment and cultural attention to our prefecture. Most importantly, he has actively contributed ideas and suggestions to our future development path, and even personally taken charge. He has done better than many officials. On behalf of everyone, I would like to express my gratitude to you!"

"You're too kind." Zhou Zhi quickly raised his glass in return: "It's all fate. To be honest, when I first arrived in Lianhe Township, I just wanted to visit Grandpa Chiri and do some field research on Yi ethnic customs. I didn't expect to hit it off with everyone so quickly and have stayed until now."

“I am very grateful for everyone’s genuine care and help during this time, including Xiao Miao. We should be toasting you.” “Xiao Miao, you should also raise your glass.” Li Yutang said with a smile, “You two should support and help each other in the future. Daliang Mountain is your second home. Remember to come back and visit often!”

“That’s for sure!” Zhou Zhi said. “The cherries and pomegranates in Lianhe Town will be ready for harvest next year. We’ll need the Party Secretary to give us more care and help so that the villagers can see the prospects of developing the orchard economy. That’s how we can boost their morale.”

After everyone had finished their drinks, Li Yutang said, "Once the highway to Wazu Station is completed, the prefecture will have another entrance to the Chengdu-Kunming Railway, and the importance of Lianhe Town will be further enhanced."

This is to reassure Zhouzhi; everyone understands what it means.

Zhou Zhi laughed and said, "Then maybe next time Xiao Miao and I come, we can take the train and get off at Wazu Township."

“It’s so easy talking to you. There are still many comrades in the prefecture who don’t know you well. They’ve suggested I keep you in the secretariat, saying you’re a talent in this field.” Li Yutang understood what he meant, and smiled as he clinked glasses with Zhou Zhi again: “Hahaha, you are indeed a talent, but I, the prefectural secretary, can’t keep you!”

"Not at all, it's all thanks to your trust. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't have taken my words, a college student, seriously," Zhou Zhi said. "It has also given me a completely new understanding of the breadth of vision and character of the leaders of the autonomous prefecture. To be honest, before I met you, my first impression of the cadres in the autonomous prefecture came entirely from Ren Zhong. Back then, well, he was like that..."

Wu Renzhong quickly picked up his cup: "We don't complain about each other to each other's faces, you know! Back then, we couldn't find a way to exert our strength! After you pointed out the direction, I wholeheartedly supported you!"

Zhou Zhi and Wu Renzhong also had a conversation: "How could a grassroots cadre become a national representative without working incredibly hard? This in itself is the greatest recognition."

“Don’t cover for him either,” Shamaricong laughed. “Everyone knows what he was like before he met you.”

Everyone laughed again. After several rounds of drinks, Li Yutang changed the subject: "I heard from Renzhong that you have a suggestion for the joint development of culture, tourism, radio and television in the prefecture?"

“Well, actually I recently discovered that we can also add a ‘body’,” Zhou Zhi said. “If population and economy are the hard power of local development, then culture, tourism, television, radio, and sports can actually be considered the soft power of local development.”

"Of course, this is not my original idea; it's a theory first proposed by the American scholar Joseph Nye in the 1990s." (End of Chapter)