Chapter 6: Grand Ceremony (6)
Here is the translation:
The opening toast was to wish Director Fan Duyu a happy birthday. He is a veteran journalist in Xiahe City, originally a correspondent for the provincial newspaper and later transferred back to Xiahe Daily due to family reasons. He was once famous in the Ningbei Province journalism circle for his five advantages: sharp nose, long legs, quick hands, sharp tongue, and good drinking skills. Due to his keen sense of smell, quick reflexes, and outstanding news performance, he has won numerous national, provincial, and municipal awards, making him unmatched in Xiahe City in terms of professional achievements. However, his sharp tongue and love for drinking have also led to him being stuck in a mid-level administrative position for over 20 years. What comforts Fan Duyu is that he is the only senior journalist at Xiahe Daily with a high-level professional title, earning a good salary and bonuses, although his official hat may be a bit smaller; but he still has the spiritual crown of being an "uncrowned king" among journalists.
Fan Duyu was well aware that Wu Bu's singing and meat feast were just a cover for the real purpose of the event, which was to celebrate his own birthday. The report on the opening ceremony of the "Oriental Holiday Hotel" was just a smokescreen. Who would have thought that this sesame seed would fall into the needle hole, and things would coincide so coincidentally? Fortunately, he had a good relationship with Gai Sanxian, and this favor still needed to be done. Fan Duyu hadn't seen Gai Sanxian appear, and he was a bit puzzled: in the past, when hosting news media, Boss Gai would always come out to show his hospitality, let alone today being Fan Daxiong's (Fan Ge) birthday. Wu Bu saw Fan Duyu's gloomy face and immediately understood what was going on. He filled a cup with wine and said: "Director Fan, Deputy Director Niu, friends from the news industry, Boss Gai has urgent business in Hong Kong and can't come back, so he entrusted me to accompany everyone to drink and appreciate the moon, to celebrate Director Fan's birthday. Come, I'll represent Boss Gai in toasting everyone a cup first, please enjoy your drinks."
Just as everyone was drinking and toasting, Miss Tian'e had another full glass, when Fan Deyuan's phone suddenly rang. Knowing that someone had sent a text message, Fan Deyuan immediately pressed the key and looked down at the screen, which displayed two lines of text: "The moon is bright in my hometown, happy birthday to Brother Fan!" After taking a look, he saw the four digits 5 followed by three 8s, and knew that it was Gai Sanyuan from Nanhai, who had not forgotten that today was his birthday.
Although it's now an era of thumb-typing and text messages flying everywhere, whether men or women, especially during festivals like birthdays or Valentine's Day, they still care about who is thinking of them.
Putting aside all the background and hidden emotions, nostalgia can be said to be a beautiful emotional sustenance between people. With this short message, Fan Deyuan suddenly became like he had taken a stimulant, immediately becoming talkative and eloquent, with a bit of an intoxicated tone, as if the wine wasn't intoxicating him, but rather he was self-intoxicated.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today is Mr. Fan's birthday in his zodiac year of birth, I would like to first thank General Manager Wu for the generous banquet. Deputy Director Niu is our superior in the Xiahe news circle, and with several famous TV hosts and journalists present, this gathering can be considered a reunion of elites in the Xiahe news circle during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Since it's a gathering of news elites, we should drink to objectivity, fairness, and transparency. I propose: let Deputy Director Niu Qinghai serve as the chairman of tonight's banquet, are there any differing opinions?"
"No, unanimous pass!" Everyone applauded enthusiastically in agreement, except for Niu Qinghai. However, this Deputy Minister Niu, although a former military press officer turned civilian official, was a bookworm who feared alcohol like a tiger. He knew the rules of Xiahe wine gatherings: once you took on the role of toastmaster, you had to down a glass of 150ml baijiu in one gulp. And today's drink was high-proof Wuliangye, whose intensity and kick were equivalent to killing someone once.
"No, no, no, Director Wu, fellow journalists, brothers and sisters, I really don't have the ability." Niu Changwu almost pleaded with everyone to apologize, "Please ask someone else for help, don't listen to Director Fan's nonsense, I'm really not capable of it."
Wu Bu smiled but didn't speak. He knew that Fan Dajuan was using the tactic of striking first to take down this bookish Minister Niu Changwu's military. After a fake attack, the wine chairman would still be Fan Dajuan's. He was too familiar with Fan Dajuan's character - straightforward and hot-tempered, hating evil like an enemy, speaking his mind without reserve, and not hiding anything in his heart. This might be the flaw in his personality that made him professionally excellent but unsuccessful in his official career. "Hiding one's light under a bushel" was a phrase Fan Dajuan only used when writing articles, but he didn't understand it at all in interpersonal relationships.
As expected, after the delicious dishes were served one after another, several famous TV hosts and reporters couldn't resist Deputy Minister Niu Qinghai's repeated invitations, and they all turned to ask Fan Dajuan to be the master of ceremonies for the wine.
This is exactly what Fan Deyuan wants. He said: "My name, Fan Deyuan, was taken from the meaning of 'the great origin of Tao comes from heaven, and heaven does not change, so Tao also does not change'. The party is our heaven, and when the party's policy changes, we adapt to the changes with the times. Since Niu Changwu insists on yielding, I will not decline."
As they spoke, Wu Bu Neng had already asked Miss Tian'e to pour a full glass of Wuliangye. Fan Dajun picked it up without hesitation and gulped it down in one breath, as if drinking plain water.
Everyone was shocked, and then it was a burst of applause and admiration. "Only great heroes can be true to themselves." Wu Bu was able to quickly ask Miss Tian'e to pour another cup of "Wu Sheng Shan" mineral water for Fan Dayout, letting him drink a few sips to dilute the effects. After all, he was almost fifty years old, and he was afraid that if he drank too much wine, something unexpected might happen. Wu Bu was smooth-tongued, but his heart was still very kind. However, Fan Dayout didn't think so, and immediately began to exercise his power as the host of the banquet, letting Miss Tian'e fill all the wine cups to the brim.
This is one of the rules for drinking at Xiahe Wine House. The name is called: Competition for the post. The implicit rule is: integrity and self-discipline, a good person must first discipline himself. Whoever drinks the wine in this glass will obtain the qualification to enforce the law as the president of wine. The game rules from now on are that no matter how big or small the officials at the table are, they all have to listen to the orders of the president of wine. Just like ancient times when leading soldiers to fight, this glass of wine is like a sacred decree or a magic sword.
Fan Deyuan said: "The host has spoken, drinking should be objective, fair and transparent. Today's wine scene does not drink alone, nor does it drink with brothers, three gods and four ghosts. The starting point is from the three cups of wine of the gods, without distinction between guests and hosts, and treating everyone equally. To protect the golden voices of our TV station's big mouths, you can only drink a small cup of white wine, and the remaining amount will be supplemented with red grape wine."
Fan Dayuan announced the wine scene method, which combined practical work with fairness and justice, immediately won everyone's enthusiastic response. The wine circle naturally went smoothly. Starting from Niu Changwu, followed by Wu Bunan, then two deputy directors of the TV station, several reporters, and several big-name mouths. In less than an hour, two newly opened bottles of Wuliangye were emptied.
As the effect of alcohol took hold, everyone's thinking became more lively and the atmosphere at the dinner party also became more heated.
The host of the "Economic Landscape" program on Xiahe TV, Liu Wenying, is not only the head of the column but also the director of the special topics department. She is both a household name and a famous mouthpiece, with several large enterprises vying to hire her as their image spokesperson. The young woman was curious and had no experience in drinking, so after downing three small cups of Wuliangye, she continued to drink red wine, which quickly made her blood rush to her head, turning her pale face into a pomegranate flower. Liu Wenying was once an outstanding student in the Broadcasting Department of Beijing Broadcasting Institute, with a relatively solid cultural foundation. Emboldened by the wine, she asked Minister Niu in an interview style: "Minister Niu, this time the opening ceremony of the 'Oriental Holiday Hotel' is being organized on a municipal scale, almost mobilizing all industries and sectors in the city. Isn't it a bit overdone?"
"It should be said." Niu Changwu said bluntly, "Such propaganda momentum and preparation scale, even our department has a bit of a headache. But since the municipal party committee and government have established an organizing committee and issued a red-headed document, we can go all out to create propaganda momentum. Development is the hard truth, this will never be wrong."
Wu Bu was the only representative of the Dongfang Group, following Chairman Ji's baton, three cups and three cups in a circle, already somewhat drunk and dizzy. The woman in the drunken man's eyes is all flowers, let alone facing Liu Wenying who is the queen of flowers.
"Director Liu, Liu Taohua, what era are we in now? What rules can't be broken? If you don't break some rules, what can you accomplish? I'll send you a set of DVDs later, take a look at the online-downloaded movie 'Lust, Caution', the international version. Ang Lee is on fire! He won five major international awards, swept them all away. That's what they call liberation of thought, coming and going without a care in the world. Don't believe me? You can ask Minister Niu."
"Is 'Lust, Caution' really that good?" Liu Wenying actually hadn't seen the movie, she had only read the film's brief introduction in the TV guide.
Niu Qinghai had already seen it online and said: "What Director Wu said is true, that video really is over the top."
"Look, you still don't believe me, Old Brother Wu. The film is truly extraordinary, at least unprecedented in Chinese history. Clinton and Lewinsky's scandal is nothing compared to this, it's like a small fart! If you still don't believe me, you can go ask our host Chairman Fan, he's a veteran journalist and former editor-in-chief, he wouldn't make things up!"
Fan Duyu, although not a small drinker, drank too much and accompanied two rounds, couldn't withstand the onset of drunkenness, and his words were somewhat incoherent. "That film is... great, very vivid, can be used as a party educational film to implement the spirit, remember the 'eight honors and eight shames'..."
Fan Dajuan's drunken words were unbridled and humorous, fairly speaking, they also pierced some social ills, making everyone laugh loudly. Liu Wenying laughed so hard that her face turned red, and it took her half a minute to catch her breath.
This drunken speech and impromptu Q&A was both humorous and serious. In the end, they supported each other to send the drunkard home. It turned out that after having tea and dinner with Xia He, there was an extra anecdote to laugh about.
Rainbow Gate
Li Maixin boss accompanied Gai Sansheng to turn a circle in the Macau market, then entered Zhuhai through Gongbei Customs, and after packing up goods at a jewelry store in Zhuhai, they were ready to head straight to Shenzhen Bao'an Airport.
After checking the bill, Ge San County randomly sampled the goods in the box and found that they were almost identical to the samples she had seen at the jade store in Hong Kong. The texture was equally smooth and the glossiness was quite good. When it came time to pay by card, the Jade Guanyin and Mile Buddha, which were priced at 7-8 thousand yuan in Hong Kong, were all settled for 780 yuan.
This price made Gai Sanxian surprised. Li Boss's bald head was full of business opportunities. Li Boss laughed and said: "Gai Boss, rest assured, this batch of goods is produced by the same factory as the Hong Kong store, just with different supply channels and varying quantities. If you don't believe me, go back to Beifang Commercial City in the provincial capital and check the jade specialty counter, the price of the same thing will not be less than 6,000 yuan."
"Boss Li, I must admit defeat to you. There's a saying from my hometown that goes 'a fox can live for decades and become a spirit', similarly, if someone has been in the business world for decades, they probably would have become an expert too?"
"You're making me laugh. The difference between becoming a spirit and becoming an immortal is just one word. In my eyes, you are the fox fairy from 'Liaozhai's Records of the Strange'."
Whenever there was a topic, Boss Li would always beat around the bush and after a long time, he would always try to steer the conversation towards romantic relationships. Gai Sansheng could only use laughter to stop him. Sometimes she would also secretly sigh: "In this chaotic world, how can there be so many unscrupulous men? And why did General Zhao allow those unscrupulous people to hold so much shiny silver in their hands?"
After getting off the plane in the provincial capital, Gai Sanxian and Li Boss drove back to Xiahe. She had already spoken with Wu Bunan on the phone and scheduled a review at 5 pm to conduct a simulated drill for the six teams from the Dongfang Group that had been training intensively for a week.
Right next to the national highway is Xiahe City's first major entrance from east to west. As they were about to enter the city, Ge San let the driver stop the car by the side of the road. She had spotted Mayor Lu and Executive Vice Mayor He Zhi Da supervising the construction of a rainbow gate at the entrance. Almost all officials in Xiahe City recognized her bright blue BMW. Not getting out to exchange pleasantries would be impolite. Moreover, the mayor and many other leaders from relevant departments were busy with preparations for the Dongfang celebration ceremony.
Lu City Mayor and Vice Mayor He Zhi Da, accompanied by the directors of Urban Management, Environmental Protection, Transportation, Industry and Commerce, Health, Food and Drug Administration, as well as Fan Deyuan, Director of the Editorial Department of Xiahe Daily, Liu Wenyin, host of the city TV station, and reporters carrying cameras, spent the entire morning inspecting the progress of urban beautification and lighting along the welcoming route.
Xiahe City is the largest resource-based heavy industrial city in the western mountainous area of Beining Province. At the beginning of its establishment, the fiscal revenue was less than 200 million yuan, and after nearly twenty years of development, the current target is to exceed 10 billion yuan. "Development is the hard truth", Comrade truly deserves to be the chief architect of reform and opening up and a great man of his generation, using just seven words to arrange decades of work for hundreds of millions of Chinese people that cannot be completed in several decades, and even after several decades, these seven words will not only be correct but also forever timely. Therefore, people entering and leaving Xiahe City, as soon as they see the golden characters "Development is the hard truth" on the slogan wall, they cannot help but feel the earth-shaking changes that this coal town has undergone in the past thirty years.
Gai Sancun not only has a slender and beautiful figure, but also moves with the wind. With one swing of her slender legs, she walks slowly, leaving Li Maixin almost running to keep up. As they approach the supervision team's circle, Gai Sancun says loudly: "Mayor Lu, Secretary He, all department heads, Director Fan, Liu Jingmei, everyone! Let me introduce you first, this is Mr. Li, the Hong Kong major shareholder of our Dongfang Group and chairman of Southeast Asia Maixin Co., Ltd."
Mr. Li hastened his pace by two steps and shook hands with each of the three county heads introduced by Mayor Lu in order.
"Hello! I'm honored to meet the young and promising Mayor Lu! Mayor He is an old friend I haven't seen in a long time! Let's get together sometime, I'll treat you to dinner!" As he shook hands with the two mayors, Boss Li was eloquent, but with other staff members, it was just a simple "hello". However, when shaking hands with Liu Wenying, not only did he hold on tight and refuse to let go, but also used his left hand to pat her hand again, and then went on and on with his smooth talk.
"Delighted to meet new friends! With such a beautiful girl in Hong Kong, it's like having good fortune all around! She's even more stunning than our Bauhinia flower! Beauty is the best natural resource, and with an advantage like that, you can't help but make a fortune!"
Mr. Li's problem is that he can't help but talk nonsense whenever he sees a beautiful woman, so let's get to the point and change the subject.
"Governor Lu and Secretary He rushed back and forth between Hong Kong and Macau for three days. Luckily, thanks to Old Master Li, all the roads were open and everything was taken care of."
"You've all worked hard. We must thank Director Li properly. I'll treat you to lunch today, and we'll have a good time." said Mayor Lu.
"No need, no need, I'm a 20-year-old veteran sugar daddy, one drink and I'll shrink into a ball. Thank you for the municipal leader's kindness." Mr. Li hurriedly thanked him, his favorite was with women, and what he feared most was drinking with officials.
As they spoke, the Rainbow Gate had filled with air and in an instant a large red archway flew up over the wide entrance, like a dazzling rainbow descending from the sky.
The mayor of Lu looked around and said, "The Rainbow Gate is quite majestic. We need to add a large banner on top to make it clear and explicit, and then hang two couplets on either side to set it off. That would be a grand sight! What do you think we should write on the couplets?"
When it comes to quick thinking, Xia He is no match for Fan Dajuan. With just a little thought, he came up with: "Let's consider all aspects, and I'll make a bold suggestion. The top couplet is: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, the east wind brings spring to our eyes; The bottom couplet is: Welcoming noble guests, respecting beautiful wine, Xia He's hundred industries are all red."
"Wonderful!" Everyone cheered in unison. Mayor Lu praised: "Cao Zijian composed a poem in seven steps, Fan Dajing spoke out a couplet, and his talent surpassed that of Xia River."
Talent is always enviable, especially when it wins the favor of female colleagues. Gai Sancun and Liu Wenyin almost simultaneously cast their affectionate glances at Fan Dajing.
The mayor of Lu personally led the team to supervise the city's appearance and layout for the celebration ceremony, which made the three counties feel particularly moved. So he said from the bottom of his heart: "Mayor Lu, you are busy with a million things, but still take the lead in directing the city's appearance and layout for the celebration ceremony, it really makes people feel ashamed."
"The National Day is approaching. I will work with the various princes to grasp the progress of urban construction, which is a routine task. Even without the Eastern Celebration, we must make our city clean and festive for the National Day. With the celebration ceremony, it adds positive factors and driving force. When ordinary people get married, they also renovate their houses, let alone such a big city with so many thriving enterprises, everyone wants to put on a good face. Managing urban appearance is like shaving and washing one's face, it takes effect quickly. Unlike old enterprises' energy-saving and emission-reduction, which requires painful efforts."
The mayor of Lu country is not only a pragmatic and practical person, but also fully understands the situation on the ground. His words are all heartfelt and to the point. "The 2008 Olympics are already counting down. We are so close to Beijing, and the pressure to build an ecological environment is particularly great. Therefore, the municipal party committee and government have made a determined effort to implement the 'Eight Ones' project: energy conservation and emission reduction 'Three Ones', shutting down 100 dusty enterprises, transforming 100 enterprises that do not meet emissions standards, dismantling 100 coal-fired boilers and replacing them with gas; urban and rural environmental remediation 'Three Ones', demolishing 1 million square meters of illegal buildings and outdoor advertisements, clearing and disposing of 1 million cubic meters of urban and rural garbage, renovating and expanding water system projects by 100 kilometers; ecological environment also has 'Two Ones', that is, planting 10,000 trees in the city area, and greening 10,000 mu of barren mountains.
The reporter carrying the camera has recorded the conversation between Mayor Lu and Gai Sanxian, including audio and video. To make a program, Liu Wenying took the opportunity to insert an interview microphone for on-site interviews.