A family conference

Lin Yanzhou's car passed through strict inspections at three checkpoints before driving onto a small mountain that could not be found on any map. Armed police guarded the entire mountain, with sentry posts everywhere. Near the summit, several quiet courtyard residences stood half-hidden among the surroundings-anyone in the know could tell at a glance that this was a true seat of power and legacy.

The car finally stopped before an old, unadorned courtyard residence. This compound had been with the Lin family for more than half a century, every brick and tile steeped in the weight of time and the family's foundations.

Lin Yan sat in a Ming-style grand master's chair on the right. His grandfather and grandmother occupied the two seats of honor. Both had climbed the snowy mountains, and both remained hale and hearty in their nineties. They had two sons and one daughter.

Opposite him sat his father and mother. His father, Lin Xingguo, was in his prime, held high office, and ranked among those in Lingyan Pavilion. Like his eldest paternal aunt, his mother had inherited his grandmother's mantle and devoted her talents to medicine.

Had anyone else been present, they would have recognized them all as important figures who frequently appeared in the news.

"In a sense, this lateral transfer is also a warning to us. Under normal circumstances, even without two stints at the vice-ministerial level, you could have reached the position in one step."

"Do you know why I instead agreed to this disguised suppression from above and let you go serve as mayor?"

Lin Yanzhou considered this for a moment. "Grandfather, were you opposed to..."

Old Master Lin smiled with gratification. "Nothing gets past you, as expected. Someone in there has dirty hands and has filled the place with foul smoke and poisonous fumes. I explicitly criticized him. And some of the leads ultimately point to him."

Lin Yanzhou looked slightly surprised. "Won't the one who came to power this year speak up for me?"

Lin Xingguo took over. "Son, you've been put in a difficult position. He has only just taken office, and his foundations aren't secure yet. Some people refuse to accept him. Your grandfather and I discussed it and agreed that if you can accomplish your mission in Handong, your position will be secure. That will count for more than grinding out seniority on the coast."

Old Master Lin delivered the final word. "Yanzhou will understand us. You'll only have to bear this for the time being. We still need some time to make arrangements. You must first learn to protect yourself."

Old Lin, who had remained silent throughout, finally spoke. "Xiaozhou, don't overthink it. Just proceed at your own pace. If those below can pull you down, it means you still lack the ability to make a bid for the summit. We must also learn to accept being ordinary."

Only then did Lin Yanzhou see the light. He understood his grandparents' deeper meaning, and everything finally fell into place. So the proposal had come from an old comrade at the summit.

Concerned that he did not know what was happening at the highest levels, Old Master Lin continued, "The man who calls himself a farmer's son is getting anxious now. But his abilities truly are outstanding. Fortunately, his parents were genuine farmers. Otherwise, there really would be no one capable of keeping him in check."

Old Master Lin gave Lin Yanzhou a meaningful look. "Yanzhou, I know you're clever. But without the family's halo, judging by your record of governing locally, you're no match for him."

"Still, that is both his strength and his weakness. His lack of a systematic education growing up has left him unable to keep his composure. Otherwise, we wouldn't have found an opening. Even now that he has exposed a flaw, we'll find it difficult to shake him without a year or two of preparation."

The old man continued his earnest counsel. "Yanzhou, never underestimate people who have climbed up from the bottom. With people like that, cooperation is the best choice. Don't make enemies of them-unless they violate the law and cross the bottom line."

Old Master Lin's voice carried a rasp weathered by the years. Combined with what they had just discussed, it made Lin Yanzhou's nerves tighten involuntarily.

Lin Xingguo picked up where the old man left off. "Handong Province is a tangle of roots and branches. Some people have treated it as their own backyard. By sending you there, the higher-ups want to test whether you're a dragon or a worm."

His tone held none of an elder's usual concern for a younger family member. Instead, it carried a warning and scrutiny offered almost between equals. That attitude stemmed from the young man's seemingly offhand suggestions over the years, which had ultimately and precisely altered the family's decisions at critical junctures, time and again.

From his distinctive insights into economic policy to his accurate predictions of international developments, and then to reminding the old man of several former subordinates whom the family had overlooked but who were about to return to office... With vision and information ahead of their time, Lin Yanzhou had quietly transformed the once-conservative family into an unequivocal vanguard of reform.

Several farsighted public statements had increased the old man's influence rather than diminished it. His father, too, had distinguished himself amid fierce competition by spearheading several industrial initiatives of exceptional strategic foresight. His eldest uncle had won acclaim throughout the military for accurately anticipating international developments and leading the formulation of a scientifically grounded restructuring plan. All this had kept the Lin family from falling behind in the tide of the times and instead carried it to the crest of a new wave-and all those ideas had come from Lin Yanzhou.

For that very reason, no one within the family regarded Lin Yanzhou as a "child" who needed protection. He was a variable, a lucky star, and, more importantly, a leader of the third generation whom they could not see through yet had to rely upon.

When the higher-ups personally selected him for the assignment, there had been concerns within the family, but they ultimately chose to support him fully, quietly mobilizing resources to safeguard his course.

"I understand." Lin Yanzhou's voice was so calm that not a ripple could be heard.

"Muddy waters make it easier to catch fish-and to dredge out the silt. Since it's a private plot, it needs a new gardener all the more to do some pruning. Otherwise, it will only become overgrown with weeds and crawling with borers."

Lin Xingguo spoke again. "Yanzhou, none of us doubts your abilities or vision. But the situation in Handong is complicated. It isn't simply a matter of economic development. Zhao Lichun spent years cultivating his power there. Though he has left, the tree is tall and its roots run deep. Your first priority there is developing the economy. That is an explicit requirement from above, and it is also the foundation on which you must establish yourself."

"But remember, economic issues can never be separated from political ones. Some lids cannot be lifted just because you want to lift them; some balances cannot be upset just because you want to upset them. Handong is not Southern Fujian. Sometimes, even our whips cannot reach that far."

He continued his cautious instructions. "Hide your light and bide your time; still waters run deep. Put down roots first and produce tangible results. Only when you have bargaining chips in hand can you speak with authority. The family's support also needs legitimate grounds."

Lin Yanzhou nodded. He understood what his father was leaving unsaid. His father had personally experienced a similar situation-their allies back then had ultimately suffered the fate of "the tree that towers above the forest is sure to be battered by the wind" because their second generation had attracted too much attention. Coupled with the family's rigid thinking, their second-generation leader had remained stuck in place for over a decade and was destined to have no further opportunities. His own father, by contrast, had kept a low profile and advanced steadily, ultimately astonishing everyone.

The family was his backing, but it could not step forward on his behalf in every matter. Particularly in a contest against another power bloc, he had to learn to act within the rules, or even create new ones. If all he could do after taking a beating was call for his parents, he would never improve, and no one would dare entrust him with a heavy responsibility.

That was also why he had insisted on using an alias after transmigrating (explanation: before the protagonist transmigrated, the script for In the Name of the People did not yet exist, so within the Handong storyline, just treat the protagonist as a native. He does not know how the plot of In the Name of the People unfolds, nor does he know which characters are good or bad; he has to judge everything through experience), and had left a central ministry for the grassroots. He knew full well that without grassroots governing experience, he would essentially have no chance of reaching the highest level in the future.

Besides, what he aspired to was no ordinary position.

His grandfather set down his teacup. "When necessary, someone on the provincial Party standing committee will speak up for you. The higher-ups want you to gain experience in several areas. You've already proved yourself in economics, but you still need polishing when it comes to political balancing. If we make too many arrangements in Handong, we'll only be pulling up seedlings to help them grow. That isn't what that person wants to see."

"But if anyone tries to shake your foundations, you needn't tolerate it. A man must have some temper, or people will take him for a soft persimmon. At the same time, you must let those who follow you see hope. Only then will they remain steadfast."

Lin Xingguo looked at his son, curiosity filling his eyes. Every decision Lin Yanzhou made even gave him the feeling that this son had come from the future. He could see none of the limitations of the era in him.

"Grandfather, Grandmother, Dad, Mom, don't worry." He set down his teacup.

"I know what I'm going there to do. The economy must develop, and rules must also be established. On Handong's chessboard, I'll play a new game. Some people want to treat me as a disruptor. Then I might as well stir this pool even muddier and see who actually catches the big fish in the end."

"Zhou'er, your grandmother doesn't have many years left to live," the old lady said softly.

"When the men devote themselves to the country, I won't stand in their way. But that girl Yue'er mustn't go to Handong. If she leaves, my heart will feel empty. Even if she must go, let it wait until us two old things are in the ground..."

"Grandmother, don't worry. Su Yue's work assignment hasn't changed. She'll still be in the capital keeping you company."

"Ah, good, good... That's good."

"Xingguo, it's time Su Yue's position moved up, too. Research is important, but it mustn't hold back her prospects. Arrange a deputy position at the Association for Science and Technology or a university, and get her vice-ministerial-level benefits settled."

"Dad, the Su family has already arranged it. She'll hold a nominal position at the Association for Science and Technology."

The next day, the interview originally scheduled with the executive vice minister of the Central Organization Department was changed at short notice to a personal meeting with the minister. The venue was consequently moved from the department to the compound.

"Comrade Yanzhou, Jingzhou is Handong's economic engine and a pilot site for the transformation of old industrial bases. The higher-ups have high hopes for Jingzhou's economic development."

The minister's opening remarks went straight to the heart of the matter. "Your task is clear: invigorate the economy, stabilize the overall situation, and explore new paths. As for anything else, leave it alone and do not get involved."

"Before long, Comrade Sha Ruijin will take office as Handong Provincial Party Committee secretary. Your respective assignments have different emphases. His work will focus on putting the cadre ranks in order and cleaning up the political environment. Your core mission, meanwhile, is to remain firmly focused on economic development. Do you understand?"

The message could not have been clearer. Sha Ruijin was going there with an imperial sword of authority to dredge out the silt, while Lin Yanzhou was going to build nests to attract phoenixes and maintain growth. One would focus on tearing down, the other on building up.

What the higher-ups wanted was for Handong's economy to remain orderly while Sha Ruijin eradicated its entrenched maladies and accumulated abuses. It certainly could not collapse. Instead, it had to rise against the tide and become the ballast that stabilized the situation.

Looking at Handong's economy, all thirteen guardians were working hard. Yet over the past two years, the provincial capital had dropped the ball time and again and was now firmly in third place, having been overtaken by Lüzhou. You could say its geographical proximity to the sea brought great wealth. In recent years, Hannan's economy had been booming, with its per capita GDP firmly ranked first in the province. The provincial capital, by contrast, despite being an ancient capital of six dynasties with a rich heritage, had seen persistently sluggish growth in recent years.

"Minister, please rest assured, and assure the central leadership as well. I understand my responsibilities," Lin Yanzhou answered crisply.

"Economic development is the top priority. You must deliver results."

After the meeting, Lin Yanzhou walked out of the compound and glanced back at the gate that symbolized supreme power. He could no longer suppress the yearning in his heart.