Chapter Eighty-Three: Liu Dexin’s Promotion

A County. Early morning.

"At last, I can enjoy the leisurely days of a retired official," Lu Kun sighed, basking in the sunlight from his reclining chair, savoring the tranquility of time. Suddenly, the phone on the table rang urgently.

"Who is it?" Lu Kun's tone was less than friendly.

"Kun, it's me! Haha, my family is moving to the city in A County too!" Liu Shixun's excitement was palpable.

Lu Kun rubbed his forehead; even through the receiver, he could sense Liu's brash, naive pride.

"Why is your family moving to Guian out of the blue?" Lu Kun asked, clearly annoyed.

"My old man got promoted again, hehe!" Liu Shixun said, thrilled, like a child showing off a new toy to his friends.

Lu Kun was silent.

He listened absentmindedly as Liu Shixun rambled on, but a sudden unease crept into his heart. In his previous life, he remembered that Liu Dexin, that old miser, had stayed in Ping'an Town for several more years. Why the sudden promotion now? Was there more beneath the surface?

Lu Kun gripped the receiver tighter and asked in a low voice, "Shixun, did you say your father was promoted?"

"Yeah!" Liu Shixun found Lu Kun's question odd. Had he not been listening this whole time?

"Did your father get promoted to chief official in another township, or was he transferred to a department in A County's government?" Lu Kun asked nervously.

He had every reason to be anxious. Ping'an Town was where Lu Kun had launched his "Worker-Peasant Integration, Worker-Peasant Cooperation" pilot project. As long as Liu Dexin remained the town chief, this collaboration could continue. If Liu Dexin was transferred, the new chief's attitude toward "worker-peasant cooperation" was uncertain. Should an old conservative take charge of Ping'an's industry and agriculture, both the Huakun Group and the townfolk stood to lose greatly. Not to mention, Huakun Group had invested over two hundred thousand in building a robust county-town logistics system.

"My mom said my dad's been promoted to head a unit under the A County Party Committee—he's even a senior official in the Youth League," Liu Shixun relayed, straightforwardly revealing his source.

At the end, he lowered his voice and muttered, "But my dad doesn't seem too happy about the promotion."

Lu Kun's eyebrow twitched.

Who could be happy getting transferred to the Youth League Committee, that quiet, powerless office? Even though Liu Dexin had been promoted over two levels, such a position was nowhere near as satisfying as reigning over Ping'an Town. The title might have more prestige, but the tangible benefits were few; nothing compared to supervising industry and agriculture in Ping'an, with all its perks.

"Is your father home? Call him, tell him I want to chat," Lu Kun said into the phone.

"What could you want with my old man?" Liu Shixun grumbled, but obediently called for his father. He knew Lu Kun wanted to discuss serious matters.

Liu Shixun always thought of himself as only seventeen, still a kid. When grown-ups talked business, he’d rather amuse himself elsewhere.

A few minutes later, Liu Dexin came on the line.

"Haha, Brother Lu, don't mention it. Didn't we agree last time to find a chance to drink together? And you just ran off to enjoy yourself in the city." Liu Dexin sounded jovial.

Lu Kun was puzzled. Hadn't Shixun said Liu Dexin was in a poor mood lately? Why did he sound genuinely pleased?

Lu Kun couldn't quite figure it out, so he probed, "Absolutely, next time I'll book a few tables at the Guian Grand Hotel to celebrate your flourishing career!"

"Oh, please, that's too flashy. Let me finish up this busy spell, then I'll invite you over to my place for a quiet drink and chat," Liu Dexin quickly declined.

"Hmm?"

"Brother, I heard you're getting promoted to a senior position in the Youth League?" Lu Kun asked carefully.

"Ah, it's just that some people couldn't stand me and wanted me gone," Liu Dexin's tone shifted from subdued to spirited. "But I'm not such an easy target! Hehe!"

Liu Dexin's sly, cold laughter reached Lu Kun's ears, reassuring him.

Indeed, Liu Dexin had managed to amass wealth and remain stable in his past life for good reason.

This old fox surely had more tricks up his sleeve.

Lu Kun's mind raced, and suddenly he thought of another possibility. "Brother, did you... did you become a member of the County Party Standing Committee?"

"Haha, I knew you were sharp, Brother Lu! You're no ordinary man!" Liu Dexin laughed heartily.

Lu Kun didn't care for the compliment, but Liu Dexin's political future was clearly about to soar.

Being promoted two levels to a quiet office wasn't difficult if managed well, but joining the Standing Committee was no simple feat. Without it, Liu Dexin's presence in the county would barely register outside his department. But with it, everything changed—no one would dare ignore him, lest he cast a dissenting vote at the committee meetings.

Once on the Standing Committee, regardless of his portfolio, Liu Dexin would be a major player in Guian.

"So... Brother, can our 'Worker-Peasant Cooperation' project continue smoothly? Will the new chief..." Lu Kun asked cautiously.

"Haha, there's nothing for you to worry about.

In fact, my promotion is thanks to your 'Worker-Peasant Cooperation.' Word of it must have reached higher-ups, and that's how the big bosses noticed me.

As for the cooperation, the leaders above have given their approval. It can continue, and once conditions are right, we can expand it further," Liu Dexin replied earnestly.

With Liu Dexin's assurance, Lu Kun finally felt at ease.

He pondered the situation.

It was now 1990, the peak of reform. By 1991, "reform" would become the mainstream voice of society. The economy would take center stage.

After some thought, Lu Kun called the heads of Huakun Group's Public Relations and Information Departments, instructing them to investigate the matter.