Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 364 Liu Yiyi Reunited

This is a pain that will forever remain in Hu Tianlong's heart!

Hu Tianlong muttered to himself, "Four years ago, my son was studying in high school abroad. During the summer vacation, he went out for a drive with his friends."

The car was speeding, and there was an accident. There were four people in the car, and three died. He was one of them.

Wu Zhiyuan was startled.

He never expected that Hu Tianlong, who seemed calm and dignified, would experience such a huge change in his family.

The blow of a parent outliving their child is enough to break any strong father.

At this moment, Hu Tianlong seemed to have instantly shed his armor as a department head, revealing the most vulnerable side of an ordinary middle-aged man.

"Director Hu, I'm sorry, I didn't know it would turn out this way."

Hu Tianlong waved his hand: "It's not your fault. In my whole life, what storms haven't I weathered in the officialdom?"

What hurdles haven't I overcome? But this one, I can't get over.

My son, my only child, is gone just like that.

My partner still hasn't fully recovered.

Wu Zhiyuan didn't know what words of comfort to say.

Hu Tianlong examined Liu Siyu's photo again and murmured, "I never thought I would have another daughter."

Yue'e lied to me back then, saying she had an abortion.

Is Siyu God's compensation to me?

After a pause, Hu Tianlong asked, "County Chief Wu, how is Siyu now?"

"Siyu is very outstanding. She has been very sensible since she was a child, studies hard, and has always been among the top students."

She is currently a senior at Jiangzhong University and will graduate next summer.

Jiangzhong University is a 985 university, and students who can get into 985 universities are naturally all outstanding.

"Does Siyu know me?"

"I don't know yet, but I made a special contact with Sister Liu Yue'e."

At first, she was resistant and didn't want Siyu to acknowledge her family.

But after I talked to her, her attitude softened.

But she doesn't know your attitude towards recognizing relatives.

She concluded by saying, "As long as you're willing to acknowledge your family, Siyu is also willing to do so; she has no objection."

"How has Yue'e been all these years?"

"She had a very hard life. After giving birth to Siyu, she remarried, and her husband was also a miner."

When Siyu was seven years old, her husband also died in the mine.

The husband and his ex-wife have a son, which Sister Yue'e raises as her own.

She then gave birth to another daughter.

She raised three children single-handedly by doing odd jobs.

Hu Tianlong said in a deep voice, "Yue'e has had a tough time these past few years. County Chief Wu, I know why you've come."

As the county magistrate, it must have been quite an achievement for him to do so much preparatory work for the transportation project.

I wanted to repair that road in Wuhe Town back then.

I've gone to the county and city countless times, but I still haven't been able to get through.

Back then, I was young and thought I could accomplish anything with just enthusiasm.

I later realized that some things can't be done just because you want to.

Now, I have the ability to do it. For the sake of the people of Wuhe Town, and for that time that can never be returned and the unfulfilled wishes, the Provincial Department of Transportation will give key support to this road.

After a pause, Hu Tianlong said, "County Chief Wu, I have a few suggestions regarding the highway project connecting Wuhe Town to the provincial capital. You can refer to them."

Wu Zhiyuan quickly took out his notebook from his briefcase, ready to take notes.

Hu Tianlong said: "First, the section from Wuhe Town to the Jiangzhou border is winding and narrow, with poor roadbed.

I've walked this route many times back then, and I know exactly where landslides are likely to occur and where visibility is poor.

The proposal you submitted involves widening the existing roadbed.

But from today's perspective, the standards for this road are too low.

Even if we broaden the scope, it won't solve the fundamental problem.

My suggestion is to re-select a route, straighten out the curves, and avoid several sections prone to geological disasters.

Wu Zhiyuan took careful notes.

Hu Tianlong continued, "Secondly, once you cross the Jiangzhou border and enter Jiangzhou territory, the road conditions improve significantly, as it was built by Jiangzhou City."

Therefore, the bottleneck of this road is entirely within Qingyan County.

What you need to do is to repair this section within Qingyan County in one go.

The standards must be high; we can't build them this year only to find them outdated in a few years.

My suggestion is to design it according to the standards of a secondary highway, with four lanes in both directions.

Where conditions permit, provisions can be made for future widening.

We must do it all at once, leaving enough room for development for at least the next twenty years.

A Class III highway? Don't even think about it! That's shortsighted and irresponsible towards history and the future!

Wuhe Town is so close to the provincial capital that once the road is open, the traffic volume will increase exponentially.

In a few years, the third-class highway will become a new bottleneck. Expanding it then will be more costly and have a greater impact.

Although secondary highways require a high initial investment, they can last for decades.

Regarding funding, the province can cover more, and your county only needs to match a portion.

Wu Zhiyuan was overjoyed and quickly said, "Thank you, Director Hu."

Hu Tianlong continued, "This road passes through several villages. When you design it, you must fully consider the production and living needs of the people along the route."

Where culverts are necessary, they should be retained; where level crossings are necessary, they should be built. We cannot block the roads for the benefit of ordinary people just to build roads.

This is something you need to pay special attention to when planning.

Hu Tianlong concluded by saying, "Quality and integrity are the bottom line. This road carries too many expectations; it must not become a shoddy project, nor can it become a piece of Tang Monk's flesh for some people to line their own pockets."

Bidding and tendering processes must be open and transparent, and the entire construction process must be supervised. The road must be built well, but the people involved must not fall ill.

Wu Zhiyuan stated, "Director Hu, please rest assured! The Qingyan County Party Committee and County Government will certainly keep your instructions in mind and establish a high-level project construction command center."

Planning, funding, quality, and integrity—we pledge to ensure these are all implemented effectively, building this road into a road that stands the test of history, a road that satisfies the people, and a road to prosperity!

Hu Tianlong nodded, then suddenly said, "County Chief Wu, there's something else I'd like to ask for your help with."

Wu Zhiyuan said, "Director Hu, please speak."

Hu Tianlong's gaze fell on Liu Siyu's photo: "I want to see her."

Wu Zhiyuan was not surprised at all.

Hu Tianlong said, "I know this request is sudden and presumptuous."

I was absent from her life for twenty-two years and never fulfilled my responsibilities as a father for a single day. I have no right to ask for anything.

My son is gone, and I thought that was the end for me.

But now, God has let me know that I have another daughter.

County Magistrate Wu, can you understand this feeling?

Wu Zhiyuan nodded: "I understand."

"County Chief Wu, I don't know if Siyu will hate me, or if she can accept this fact."

"Director Hu, I will communicate with Siyu in advance. If she is unwilling, I will try to persuade her."

The reunion of father and daughter is a joyous occasion, and Siyu is a sensible child. I believe that deep down, she also longs for a complete father's love.

"Don't rush her, don't pressure her. Over the years, I've owed them, mother and daughter, so much. How can I demand that she accept me immediately?"

"Director Hu, blood is thicker than water, and this kinship cannot be severed."

Sister Yue'e has already given her approval. As long as we proceed step by step and communicate well, Siyu will definitely understand.

I'll go to Jiangzhong University as soon as I get back, and find a suitable opportunity to subtly bring it up with her, to gauge her reaction, making sure it doesn't seem abrupt to her.

"County Magistrate Wu, I'm entrusting this matter entirely to you."

Wu Zhiyuan solemnly promised: "Director Hu, rest assured, I will handle this carefully and strive for a satisfactory result."

Hu Tianlong stood up, walked to the window, looked at the bustling street scene of the provincial capital, and slowly said: "County Chief Wu, do you know? Sometimes, the debts owed by history will come back to you after going around in circles, giving you a chance to repay them."

This road in Wuhe Town is a debt I've wanted to repay to my fellow villagers for over twenty years.

Siyu felt the same way. "Thank you for giving me a chance to repay my debt."

Wu Zhiyuan also stood up and said sincerely, "Director Hu, you flatter me. This is not about paying off a debt, but about making up for regrets and creating new possibilities."

This applies to the people of Wuhe Town, to you, and to Siyu.

Hu Tianlong shook hands with Wu Zhiyuan: "County Chief Wu is young and promising, loyal and righteous, and has excellent methods."

Qingyan is blessed to have you. Let's work together to build this road.

For other transportation projects, including the village-to-village road construction project, I will speak to the relevant department to ensure that policies are more favorable to Qingyan County.

Qingyan County is an impoverished county, so the preferential policies are justified and well-founded.

Their hands were clasped tightly together.

Wu Zhiyuan knew that with Hu Tianlong's words, Qingyan County's transportation construction would have the strongest support.

In many matters in China, the top leader's word carries too much weight.

The thinking of the top leader determines the development direction of an organization or system.

Just like China's high-speed rail, its achievements are obvious to all. There are many reasons for such great achievements, but we must thank one person. Without him, things might be very different.

As he emerged from the Transportation Department, he was greeted by Deputy County Head Yuan Zhibei and the Director of the County Transportation Bureau, among others.

Yuan Zhibei asked anxiously, "County Chief Wu, how's it going? What about Director Hu...?"

Wu Zhiyuan smiled slightly: "Director Hu said that the road in Wuhe Town will be replanned and built to the standards of a Class II highway, with four lanes in both directions. The province will provide key support and shoulder more of the financial burden."

"Great!" The people in the car were all very happy.

Deputy County Head Yuan Zhibei was overjoyed: "Second-class road standard? And key support at that? County Head Wu, you really know how to do things!"

Wu Zhiyuan smiled faintly: "Director Hu worked in Wuhe Town back then and has feelings for that land."

As long as we sincerely serve the people, the leaders will naturally support us.

Next, land acquisition, demolition, and matching funds will all be tough battles, and everyone needs to be prepared for a tough fight.

After leaving the Transportation Department, Wu Zhiyuan did not rush back to Qingyan.

He told Yuan Zhibei and the county transportation bureau chief to go back first, while he stayed in the provincial capital.

"County Magistrate Wu, aren't you going back together?" Yuan Zhibei asked.

"Tomorrow is the weekend, and I happen to have some personal matters to attend to in the provincial capital."

Once you return, immediately begin the preliminary work for the project.

Land acquisition and demolition preliminary investigation, environmental impact assessment, and land pre-approval should be carried out simultaneously where possible. Time waits for no one.

"Understood!" Yuan Zhibei nodded. "Don't worry, County Chief Wu, I'll get on it as soon as I get back."

After seeing Yuan Zhibei and the others off, Wu Zhiyuan took out his phone and dialed Liu Yiyi's number.

"Director Liu, thank you so much for your help today. I was wondering if you're free tonight? I'd like to invite you to dinner as a way of expressing my gratitude."

On the other end of the phone, Liu Yiyi chuckled lightly: "County Chief Wu, you're too kind. It was nothing at all. Director Hu agreed to see you mainly because your work has been so thorough."

"Director Liu, you flatter me. Without your mediation, Director Hu wouldn't even have met with us."

I was unfamiliar with the provincial capital and didn't know which restaurant was suitable.

"Director Liu is an expert in the provincial capital, could you recommend a place?"

Liu Yiyi thought for a moment and said, "How about this, I know a private restaurant that's quiet and has good food."

I'll send you the address. We'll meet there at 6:30 PM.

Wu Zhiyuan added, "Director Liu has some friends who come over."

Liu Yiyi answered readily, "Okay, thank you, County Chief Wu."

hang up the phone.

Wu Zhiyuan's mind wandered: If it weren't for a twist of fate that led him to save Liu Yiyi's lover, he might still be guarding the deep forests of Qinglong Mountain.

The road of life may be long, but only a few steps are crucial.

Sometimes, a single opportunity can change a person's life.