I was married off to a disabled hero in lieu of marriage; my in-laws doted on me and I aspired to gr

Zhou Zhonghai returned to his office and immediately called Gao Bing, the secretary of Liushan Commune.

Everyone has selfish desires. These 100,000 tea seedlings are just a drop in the ocean for the army, but for the Liushan Commune, they would be a huge side business.

Right now, people are starving and no one drinks tea. But in a few years, when people are well-fed, tea will definitely be a hot commodity.

Tea trees are incredibly profitable; they have a long growth cycle, lasting decades or even centuries. Even if I die, they won't die.

What a great side hustle! Why didn't I think of that before?

When the call connected, Gao Bing was astonished to receive a call personally from the Minister of Agriculture of the province, who was even offering to provide the commune with wealth for free. His voice trembled with excitement.

"Minister Zhou, don't worry, I'll go to Dashui Village right away to investigate and see what kind of place is suitable for growing tea trees."

"Gao Bing, I've looked into it. As long as it's not sandy or alkaline land, it's suitable for planting tea trees. You should quickly clear out a barren mountain and plant tea seedlings there."

"Yes, Minister Zhou, I'll verify it right away. When will the tea seedlings be delivered?"

"At most a week."

"Okay, received."

After hanging up the phone, Gao Bing didn't dare to delay for a moment. He called Li Feng and asked him to go to the Second Brigade to find Secretary Wang Jiakun, and then to Dashui Village to find Squad Leader Zhao Gui. He called on the laborers from each village to go and reclaim the wasteland and clear out a barren mountain at the west end of Dashui Village.

Gao Bing promised that once the barren mountain is cleared and planted with tea, within five years, the entire village can enjoy the tea mountain for free, and everyone can pick the tea leaves.

The 10,000 tea trees that were acquired by chance have become a memory for generations and a symbolic product of Dashui Village.

It was truly an unexpected stroke of luck.

Ten thousand saplings, though not large in size, still require trucks. Zhou Zhonghai prepared to go to the truck convoy to see when the trucks would be available.

Just as he was about to leave the office, Governor Feng's secretary arrived: "Minister Zhou, Governor Feng requests your presence."

The Ministry of Agriculture is several miles away from the provincial party committee building. Couldn't they just make a phone call? Why did they have to send their secretary to come in person?

"I have something to do, let's talk tomorrow."

We just had a fight, and now they're inviting me again? Are we going to have another fight?

"Governor Feng knew you would decline, so he specifically instructed me to make sure you return," the secretary said with a polite smile.

"What's the matter? Why the rush? Wu Zhengkai has been sentenced?" Zhou Zhonghai asked impatiently.

"It won't be that quick. Governor Feng invited you to discuss the selection of the Party Secretary of Huailin City. The Governor said that you are quite familiar with Huailin City, and your opinion is very important." The secretary still smiled.

Choosing a candidate for the municipal party secretary? That's definitely more important than finding a truck.

"Come on, did you drive here? If not, I'll call Xiao Gu."

"It's open, please."

Upon arriving at Feng Shiguang's office, Zhou Zhonghai's expression changed completely; he beamed with joy, as if basking in a spring breeze.

"Governor Feng, I got some tea seedlings from the research institute. I'll take care of your tea from now on," Zhou Zhonghai said obsequiously.

"Alright, I've given you two ounces of tea, but you have to take a tin of it back with you. I can't possibly accept your gift."

"Look at what you're saying. We're all comrades, so we should share the good things together. That's what it means to share joys and sorrows."

"You're quite good at making excuses."

"To be honest, I never make excuses."

"Alright, let's get down to business. Regarding the appointment of the Party Secretary of Huailin City, we plan to promote someone from among the county Party secretaries. Who do you think is suitable?"

"Fu Sanjun, the Party Secretary of Tonggang County. Don't let his unsavory appearance fool you; he's incredibly resolute. Even when Wu Zhengkai tried to sabotage him, he never took a single needle or thread from the people. Besides, he's a former soldier; we studied together at the Party School. His entire being seems to embody the five characters: 'Serve the People!'"

"I knew you would choose Fu Sanjun."

"What? Is there something wrong with him?"

"He is an upright and righteous man, but he is a bit timid and doesn't dare to take responsibility," Governor Feng said, expressing his concerns.

"What kind of weakness is that? It's a strength. Someone like Wu Zhengkai, who is fearless and audacious, is bound to cause trouble. Fu Sanjun is good at lying low. Once he has power, he can fully utilize his intelligence and talent to push Huailin City's economy to unprecedented heights."

"Zhou Zhonghai, I've noticed that you're particularly protective of your own. You see the flaws of people as virtues." Governor Feng looked at Zhou Zhonghai with suspicion.

"I protect those who are loyal. Why was I injured and in a coma for a year? It was for my police officer, Liu Songming, who is now the head of the Armed Forces Department of Huailin City. In my eyes, there is no difference in status, only the difference in loyalty."

Fu Sanjun is about my age, and he doesn't have many years left. It would be a real shame not to give him a chance. Moreover, under his leadership, everyone in Tonggang County, from officials to ordinary citizens, is incredibly motivated.

"Tonggang County is your home base. If he dares to make any trouble, you'll probably have to send a fake gun to his door again," Governor Feng said with a sneer.

"No, Fu Sanjun wouldn't do something so ruthless. Just like me, if I were truly an utterly wicked person, Governor Feng, you wouldn't have tolerated me so readily."

"When have I ever been tolerant of you?"

"I threatened the municipal party secretary with probation. If you hadn't put in a good word for me, you'd probably be in jail now. Governor Feng, everything is self-evident, I remember it all."

"Haha, you're not such a heartless bastard after all. Alright, go ahead and get busy. I'll give Fu Sanjun's matter serious consideration."

"Alright, I'll go check on the convoy. I'm really worried about getting 10,000 tea trees to Dashui Village. I'm afraid Director Xia might change his mind."

"Look at you, you don't act like a teacher at all, you're just a petty, opportunistic woman from the marketplace."

Managing agriculture is like managing a household; it requires careful planning and thrift.

In his heart, he was cursing: You don't give me money, and you accuse me of trying to take advantage of you? You're so generous, so generous that ordinary people can't even afford to eat flour.

Zhou Zhonghai is a soldier, and he is efficient and decisive. If something can be done in one day, he will never leave it for the next day.

The fleet has no trucks this week, and Zhou Zhonghai is unhappy. How come there isn't even one truck available out of ten?

The convoy leader said with a bitter face, "Minister, this is the task you assigned us. We have to deliver herbicides and fertilizers to other counties."

"Did I arrange this?"

"That's right. You said the herbicides and fertilizers researched by the agricultural university are very good. We'll send some to each county and then buy more when we have the money."

"Am I... am I being too diligent? I arranged the work two months ago? Here's what we'll do: don't send the ones from Liuxian yet, send me the tea seedlings first."

"Oh well."

"Okay, it's settled then."

"Minister, would you like to make a work manual to prevent accidents from happening again when we need to use the vehicle in the future?"

"I know, I know it perfectly well."

Do you even know the ropes? All you do is assign tasks. You've only been in office for less than six months, and our team has already had two days off.

The vehicles in the convoy don't need to rest, but the drivers do.

He's nowhere near as good as the former Minister of Agriculture; he barely uses his car more than a few days a month. Humph!