Chapter 287 Hong Kong One-Way Permit: Nothing Can Overpower a Single Thing of Power

The conditions in the steel plant's staff housing were limited. Even the highest-standard staff housing had narrow corridors and dim lighting.

Suspicion breeds fear, and as Lu Fengyan carried his luggage upstairs, he felt as if someone was following him.

With a "smack," a hand landed on his shoulder, startling him so much that he jumped three feet in the air: "W-what are you doing?"

The workshop foreman, who had just woken up after his night shift, was startled and stammered, "I, me."

Lu Fengyan turned around and saw his former mentor from when he first started working. He forced a smile and said, "Master, Master."

The workshop foreman had originally wanted to chat with him for a bit, asking what it was like to experience life in Hong Kong, but seeing his pale face and vacant eyes, he could only wave his hand and say, "You must be tired from your business trip. Go home now."

As if chased by a ghost, Lu Fengyan hurriedly said, "Goodbye, Master!" and then darted upstairs.

After opening his front door and locking it from the inside, he slumped into a chair, panting heavily.

Factory Director Lu was standing in front of a large square table, practicing calligraphy.

When his son came home from his business trip, he merely raised his eyelids and glanced at him: "What are you doing? You look terrible. Can't you say what's on your mind at the office? Why do you have to make your old man come home and wait for you?"

Lu's mother quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, you're scolding your son as soon as he gets home. Xiaoyan, don't pay him any mind, hurry up and eat."

"Dad, you have no idea what kind of evidence I got." Lu Fengyan dragged his bag directly to his father's feet, took out two envelopes, and slammed them on the table.

This time, even the ink in the inkstone was shaken so badly it almost splashed onto the paper, but he wasn't afraid his dad would beat him.

He risked his life and made great contributions.

He turned his head, didn't even wash his hands, and picked up the rice bowl and ate a large piece of braised pork.

His mother was surprised: "Hey, aren't you supposed to be careful about your cholesterol? Why are you eating braised pork again?"

Lu Fengyan ate meat with gusto, mumbling, "Life is short, so enjoy it while you can. Eat meat when it's time to eat meat."

Who cares about cholesterol!

"Mom, you have no idea. That machete was only this close to my neck."

"Oh dear, my goodness! Come quick, let Mommy check if you're hurt!"

"No, no. Tang Yicheng grabbed a fork, and—" He suddenly stood up, his elbow knocking over a soup bowl beside him, "and stabbed the man's wrist through!"

Lu's mother didn't even bother to clean up the soup bowls; she clutched her chest and exclaimed, "Is Hong Kong really that scary? Don't they have police?"

Factory Director Lu was already looking through the photos when he heard the question. Without changing his expression, he asked, "And then?"

"Later we rode motorcycles and escaped for three blocks!" Lu Fengyan gestured with his fingers, holding up chopsticks, making the number three.

I lost my grip on the chopsticks and they fell to the ground.

His mother quickly went to change his chopsticks.

Factory Director Lu couldn't bear to look anymore and turned his attention back to the photos: "Why are they chasing you? Who are they?"

"I don't know." Lu Fengyan's cheeks puffed out like a squirrel's. "They immediately tried to arrest the reporter, saying that Young Master Zhou had invited him."

His mother brought over chopsticks and slapped his hand: "You're a high school student already, and you're still eating with your hands. What kind of behavior is that?"

Factory Director Lu thought to himself: You only realize how unreliable he is now? At his age, he's been completely manipulated.

Where did this Mr. Zhou come from?

How many days have passed since the Hong Kong newspapers exposed Zhou Beifang's affair?

If he had wanted to get the rest of the revelations back from the reporters, he wouldn't have dragged it out until that idiot Lu Fengyan ran off to Hong Kong.

His wife, oblivious to the situation, asked, "Is the Zhou family really this arrogant? Do they dare to be this arrogant even in Hong Kong?"

"Oh my, Mom, you have no idea. He was surrounded by spectators in Hong Kong, reporters were practically chasing after him!" Lu Fengyan said, his voice filled with mixed emotions. "Tang Yicheng said Zhou Beifang's car costs over a million Hong Kong dollars, it's imported!"

Seeing the startled expressions on the mother and son's faces, Director Lu could only shake his head and sigh inwardly.

The two are still discussing and negotiating.

"Oh, thank goodness for Xiao Tang this time. Next time he comes to Jinning, remember to invite him over for dinner."

Factory Director Lu chuckled inwardly: "Little Tang, huh? Times have changed. When he really was Little Tang, you never invited him to dinner. Now, he might not have time for your meal."

But his son knew nothing about it: "Of course. Mom, you don't know, that reporter later escaped and kept pestering us for money. In the end, Mr. Tang paid out 10,000 Hong Kong dollars to get rid of him."

Mrs. Lu exclaimed in surprise, "Ten thousand Hong Kong dollars! That's so much money!"

Factory Director Lu flipped through the second envelope expressionlessly, muttering to himself: Nonsense, so many people are putting on an act for you, do you think they're working for you for nothing?

His hand suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on the copy in his hand, and he asked his son, "Where did this come from?"

"This is fodder that reporters are selling." Lu Fengyan was baffled, and felt that his father didn't know what he was talking about. "Dad, don't look at this childish stuff. Watch the videotapes! Good heavens, that's what you call extravagant and decadent. Even Hong Kong movies aren't as exaggerated as this."

Factory Director Lu showed no interest in touching the videotape, only staring at the Hong Kong one-way permit in his hand, his voice low: "You're wrong. All these things combined aren't worth as much as these few one-way permits."

Lu Fengyan didn't understand what he was saying. He knew that Hong Kong one-way permits were valuable, and that people were willing to pay 500,000 HKD to buy them.

Because things are valued for their scarcity.

Last year, the two governments reached an agreement to increase the daily quota for one-way permits from 75 to 105, of which 75 will be allocated to the mainland spouses of Hong Kong residents, and the remaining 30 will be used for children and other categories.

It's easy to imagine how difficult it is to obtain a one-way permit.

The key issue is that this is just a photocopy of the Hong Kong one-way permit for his wife and children in the north, something that can't even be sold as waste paper.

Factory Director Lu shook his head and patiently educated his son: "Remember what I said. Now everything revolves around economic development. When it comes to economic development, all principles can be compromised, but the one thing that must be upheld firmly is political stance, which can never be shaken."

Unfortunately, Director Lu's patience was doomed to fail because his son couldn't understand. How could a few photocopies of passes be related to politics?

The main problem is that politics is a very abstract and mysterious topic; it can be linked to anything, yet it seems like nothing really matters.

Factory Director Lu sighed inwardly once again.

He couldn't help but doubt his own ability to educate his children.

Take Xiao Tang for example. Back in 1990, when he was working for Wang Xiao in sales, he was just a lowly employee at a soap factory in a county that was on the verge of bankruptcy. He was honest and simple, and his thoughts were all written on his face.

In less than four years, they were able to completely control their mentally challenged son.

She's a carbon copy of Wang Xiao.

Then look at your own son, you take him by your side every day and give him all the advice, but he's grown taller than he's become at his age.

"Never mind," Director Lu consoled himself. He sent his son on a business trip to Hong Kong precisely so that Wang Xiao could arrange for someone to fool him. Everyone knew he was a simpleton, so it wasn't shameful that he got tricked.

Forget it, they've gone to so much trouble to make this act so convincing; they've already been very accommodating. It gives you a plausible explanation to give to your superiors.

Overwhelmed with mixed feelings, the old father had no way to express his emotions, so he returned to his desk, picked up his brush, and wrote: "Everyone raises their children hoping they will be clever, but I have been misled by cleverness all my life. I only wish my child to be foolish and dull, so that he may reach the rank of high official without disaster or hardship."

Although Lu Fengyan lacked literary cultivation, he was not so ignorant as to not understand Su Shi's poem.

He muttered discontentedly, "Dad, I don't think I've come to this."

"Isn't this great?" Director Lu put down his brush, blew on the still-wet ink on the Xuan paper, and instructed his wife, "Have someone frame it and hang it on the wall."

Lu's mother was also unhappy, muttering, "Are you just going to let people laugh at your son?"

"What's wrong with my son?" Director Lu said seriously. "He's better than Zhou Beifang, isn't he? He's too clever for his own good."

He called to his son, "Come on, come with me to the provincial government."

Lu Fengyan quickly ate the remaining rice in his bowl, then ate a piece of braised pork, his mouth glistening with oil: "Dad, what are we going to the provincial government for? Don't you want to see those Russian experts?"

"Let's put that aside for now. Old Wang will take care of them. We'll host a banquet for them tonight."

Factory Director Lu repacked the envelope, put it in his briefcase, patted the bag, and then called to his wife, "Call a car."

It's not that he's delicate and needs a private car to go out, but rather that today's matter is of great importance, and it would be inconvenient not to take a private car.

The car drove all the way to the provincial government, where Secretary Fang was busy receiving guests.

Her secretary didn't make things difficult for Director Lu, but explained in a low voice, "General Manager Wang from your Jinning Steel Plant is here. He brought a Singaporean businessman to see if there are any investment opportunities."

Factory Director Lu smiled and said, "Then I'm not in a hurry. I'll wait. I can't delay the important matter of attracting investment."

Actually, at this moment, Wang Xiao was the only guest left in Secretary Fang's office.

She brought General Manager Zhao over to introduce him to Secretary Fang.

After all, he works very hard. In February, he agreed in Shanghai to find a way to introduce skilled workers from Beijing to work in Singapore. Before March was even over, he took concrete action.

Five hundred skilled workers with intermediate or higher levels of expertise can go to work in Singapore after passing a simple assessment. After deducting expenses, they can bring home about four or five thousand dollars a month.

This income is definitely lower than what one could earn working as a seasonal fruit picker in Germany.

However, its advantages are also quite obvious: it has high technical content, room for improvement, relatively easy work, and work can be done all year round.

Therefore, many skilled workers in Beijing are willing to sign up.

Mr. Zhao is over fifty years old, yet he's still so adventurous. Shouldn't Mr. Wang show him some appreciation?

Wang Xiao wasn't stingy; she immediately took him to Jinning and offered to partner with him to open a hotel on the unfinished building she had just taken over.

If you're not interested, that's fine too.

In Jiangdong, I can help you find places to invest wherever you want.

She didn't just talk the talk; she led the person to Secretary Fang.

Mr. Zhao, who had never considered investing in Jiangdong, suddenly became excited.

Hong Kong people are scrambling to buy Shougang's shares because they're interested in its leader.

Singaporean businessmen who come to invest are also looking at their relationships with local officials.

He now truly felt it, and he muttered to himself that Wang Xiao really was incredibly powerful and influential.

So he happily went to look at the information on the buildings and land.

So what if it's an unfinished building? As long as the property rights are clear, you might be able to make a great profit if you successfully take over.

The characteristics of Jiangdong province mean that its economy is diversified and cannot be sustained by a single province supporting a single city. If Jinning cannot find suitable investment projects, other cities can also be considered.

There's a dedicated investment promotion office to handle attracting investment, so Wang Xiao didn't accompany them anymore; he just went to the office to talk to Secretary Fang.

The door closed, and Secretary Fang looked at her, relaxed his shoulders, and sighed softly: "Now I'm all alone, and people hate me a lot."

Jiangdong Province has launched a comprehensive crackdown on the issue of receiving salaries without working, starting with the illegal study abroad incident, which has already caused a huge uproar.

Wang Xiao naturally couldn't pretend to be stupid and say that there was absolutely no such thing.

How could that be? Those who benefit from the status quo can only take advantage of others. Once their privileges are violated, they will retaliate like madmen.

Wang Xiao smiled and said, "I remember when I was studying history, Fan Zhongyan, a politician in the Northern Song Dynasty, was determined to reform. He was criticized for affecting the livelihood of the family of the person who was deemed incompetent. Fan Zhongyan's reply was, 'What's wrong with one family crying? It's better to cry all the way!' He truly deserves to be called the great Fan Zhongyan, who was concerned about the world's troubles before enjoying its pleasures."

The March sunlight was filtered through the sycamore trees outside the window, and through the window, it dappled across Nuo's face, like dancing light.

Her eyes were bright and clear, as if she had become one with the spring sunshine of March.

Secretary Fang laughed and repeated, "It's better for one family to cry than for the whole group to cry!"

As he spoke, he nodded and sighed, "It's just that some older comrades are still upset, feeling that their children's hopes of going abroad to study hard, so that they can have more opportunities to learn and return to serve their country have been cut off."

Wang Xiao almost burst out laughing.

She had to lower her eyes, the celadon teacup slowly turning in her palm, the rising steam blurring the fleeting sneer on her lips.

How should I put it? Sure enough, those who benefit from the system are all quite shameless.

She shook her head with a smile: "My view is exactly the opposite. If someone goes abroad to study through illegal means or special methods, then it is highly likely that he or she will not serve his or her country."

"Because he (or she) has enjoyed privileges and genuinely felt the benefits they bring, how could he (or she) possibly believe in the equality of all under socialism?"

"If you don't even believe in it anymore, how can you talk about serving your country?"

“I actually hope they don’t come back once they’ve gone out. If they do come back, nine times out of ten they’ll become compradors for foreigners, continuing to leech off the people. Or they might even become spies, using their family’s special status to steal state secrets and betray their country.”

“Therefore,” Wang Xiao said with a smile, “Secretary, your swift and decisive action in curbing this unhealthy trend is beneficial to all the people and will be a great achievement for generations to come.”

Secretary Fang was amused by her: "You're just saying nice things. Fine, I'll take the scolding. There's no such thing as doing something without getting scolded."

There was a knock on the office door, and the secretary came in with documents for the boss to sign.

Secretary Fang casually asked, "Are there any other arrangements?"

The secretary took the opportunity to announce, "Director Lu from the steel plant is here."

Wang Xiao quickly and tactfully said goodbye: "Well, Secretary, you're busy, I won't bother you any longer."

The bodyguard helped her push her wheelchair out, and they ran into Director Lu as soon as they stepped outside.

The latter immediately said, "Hey, Xiaoxiao, you don't have to leave. You can listen to it too."

Wang Xiao smiled and shook his head: "I can't do that. You are the Party Branch Secretary of the steel plant. Speaking to the Provincial Party Secretary is a matter between Party cadres. I dare not violate the discipline."

She looked up again and saw Lu Fengyan's face clearly against the light. She was quite surprised. "Oh! Director Lu, you're back? Did my dad come back with you?"

Lu Fengyan quickly replied, "He's back. Xiaoxiao, don't worry, your dad is fine. He didn't go to the ice room when he was being chased that day."

"Huh?" Wang Xiao asked, bewildered. "What chase? How could I be being chased?"

After listening to Lu Fengyan's explanation, which was full of scribbling, she couldn't help but complain, "Oh dear, Tang Yicheng is really something. I guess in his eyes, anything that doesn't result in a death is a minor matter. Um, factory manager, you guys are busy, I have to hurry back to see my dad."

Well, to put it bluntly, at least on the surface, she will absolutely not get involved with Shougang.

Factory Director Lu didn't press the matter and nodded, "Then you should go home early and see what good things your dad brought you."

She spoke in the tone of an elder to a younger generation, as if she were still a child who hadn't grown up and was looking forward to gifts while the adults in the family were away on business trips.

Turning around, Director Lu entered Secretary Fang's office, and it was a completely different scene.

After greeting everyone, he didn't say anything, but directly opened the clasp of his briefcase, took out two large envelopes, placed them on the table, and then began to sigh: "Logically speaking, I really feel bad troubling you, Secretary. But now, there's really no other way."

“A couple of days ago, our factory’s deputy director, Wang, who is Xiaoxiao’s father, took my son Lu Fengyan to Hong Kong, hoping to recruit the former director of the Azov Steel Plant to our factory.”

"Back in 1992, when Deputy Factory Director Wang went to Ukraine to buy scrap steel, he met Mr. Rybakov once. So this time, they got so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't go out."

Since Wang Xiao clearly didn't want to get involved, he, as her uncle, naturally had to respect her opinion and remove Wang Tiejun from the picture.

He pointed at his son: "My son Lu Fengyan went to eat at an ice cream parlor on the street. It was a coincidence that when the group was discussing the possibility of successfully recruiting Comrade Rybakov, a reporter eating next to them realized that he was also from the steel factory and said that he had something good to sell to him."

Seeing his father wink at him, Lu Fengyan quickly stammered out what his father had just told him on the way: "I didn't take it seriously at first. But when I came out of Hong Kong Airport, I happened to see Zhou Beifang from Shougang, and I remembered his appearance."

Very good, this explains why he was able to confirm that the person in the photo was Zhou Beifang.

After all, Zhou Beifang isn't some TV or movie star who's constantly in the news. If you don't interact with him, it's practically impossible for an average person to recognize him.

"I knew something was wrong as soon as I saw the photo, and I wanted to ask the reporter again. Suddenly, a group of people with blue dragon tattoos rushed into the ice room, trying to grab the reporter, saying something about Mr. Zhou..."

Factory Director Lu quickly interrupted him: "They're speaking Cantonese, how can you understand it? Don't talk nonsense, don't label people randomly."

Lu Fengyan nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, actually I didn't hear it clearly at the time, it was too chaotic, but it felt a bit like it. The fighting was in complete chaos at the time, and when I was hiding, I grabbed the wrong bag. When I went back and looked, I realized that it seemed to be that reporter's thing."

He looked distressed. "I was terrified at the time, and I didn't dare stay in Hong Kong any longer, so I came back quickly."

Factory Director Lu picked up where his son left off, and began to sigh: "As soon as I saw what was in the envelope, I knew it was a hot potato."

"Logically speaking, I should have reported this situation to the Ministry of Metallurgy."

"But Shougang is Shougang after all. Old Zhou was a pioneer of reform, and Comrade Zhou Beifang was also a well-known young talent."

"I'm afraid that the leaders of the Ministry of Metallurgy are too fond of talent, which turns into spoiling him and will harm the young man, leading him further and further down the wrong path."

Director Lu sighed repeatedly, "It's not easy for the country to cultivate an outstanding cadre, so if they have problems, we must be even more strict in pointing them out and correcting them."

He gestured to the photocopy of the Hong Kong one-way permit on the table. "Let's talk about this. What's going on here? How did his wife and children end up in Hong Kong? This is a violation of foreign affairs regulations, this is reckless!"

"Look at these people. Secretaries of Beijing municipal leaders should be even more careful with their words and actions. How could they cause such a scene on the yacht? If outsiders saw this, they would misunderstand and think that if a secretary behaves like this, then who knows how much more dissolute the leaders will be."

Secretary Fang nodded, his face full of remorse: "Our cadres should indeed be more careful with their words and actions. Especially when they go abroad, they should always remember that they represent the image of the country!"

She suddenly praised Lu Fengyan, "Director Lu, you've done a great job educating your children. Even though they went to Hong Kong, our Comrade Lu didn't indulge in any debauchery or seek pleasure. He still ate at the ice cream parlor."

Lu Fengyan was suddenly called out by name and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Did he not want a fancy meal? The reporter made the appointment for an ice cream parlor.

But I certainly can't say that in front of my boss.

In his desperation, he unexpectedly broke into a speech, blurting out: "How can I face eating at fancy restaurants? In Hong Kong, everything costs Hong Kong dollars. Shougang controls the export share of pig iron, and we at Jingang can't even earn foreign exchange through exports. How can I face spending foreign exchange?"

Secretary Fang's expression turned emotional. He tapped the table lightly with his finger, looking deeply moved: "Look, this is what a child raised in a normal, outstanding cadre family should be like!"

"They live a life of extravagance and waste money, spending the hard-earned money of ordinary people. They may look glamorous, but they are all show and no substance, nothing but empty words."

She thought of what Wang Xiao had said: "Those who enjoy privileges and benefit from them will never serve the people; they will only leech off the people."

As expected.

If Secretary Zhou hadn't used his connections to send Zhou Beifang to the countryside as a lowly soldier, allowing him to escape the "Down to the Countryside Movement" and enjoy the benefits of special privileges, he might not have ended up the way he is today.

Lu Fengyan was flattered. It was rare for him to be praised so generously by such a high-ranking leader, and he was very willing to listen to a few more words.

Unfortunately, the higher the rank of the leader, the more reserved they are. After praising him a couple of times, Secretary Fang seemed to suddenly remember something and changed the subject: "Old Lu, you said your steel plant poached an expert from the Ukrainian steel plant. Did you succeed?"

"It's done!" Factory Director Lu exclaimed with delight. "It's all thanks to our Deputy Factory Director Wang's perseverance and determination. Xiaoxiao brought in experts from Russia and Ukraine to work on chips, and we found quite a few. There were also experts from other industries. As soon as Old Wang heard that Mr. Rybakov had gone to Hong Kong, he immediately went after him."

“I originally wanted to go too, to at least show my sincerity. But it was really inconvenient for me, so I asked Lu Fengyan to go in my place. Finally, we moved them and they agreed to come to our Jinning Steel Plant.”

Secretary Fang asked with great interest, "This Comrade Rybakov is quite remarkable!"

“Indeed.” Director Lu nodded affirmatively. “He is an expert in cold-rolled steel. Our Jingang Steel now wants to improve the technology to fill the gap in the domestic market for cold-rolled steel.”

Secretary Fang nodded in agreement, showing a surprising understanding of the market: "Last year, our country's steel production reached 89 million tons, surpassing the United States for the first time to become the world's largest crude steel producer. However, there are still structural shortcomings in the high-end steel sector. Jin Gang's enterprising spirit is something all comrades should learn from."

Factory Director Lu sighed, “We can’t afford to be complacent. Last year, our country imported more than 3 million tons of cold-rolled steel, accounting for more than 60% of the total market demand. Cold-rolled steel is more than three times the price of hot-rolled steel. Where does the country get so much foreign exchange? Since we at Jingang can’t earn foreign exchange, we have to find ways to save foreign exchange for the country.”

Thus, this conversation, from the beginning of recruiting Soviet steel experts in Hong Kong to the successful recruitment, had a clear beginning and end, with a distinct main theme.

Both parties were quite satisfied with the conversation.

When Director Lu finally took his leave, Secretary Fang even offered to treat them to a simple meal in the canteen.

Factory Director Lu smiled and shook his head, declining: "No, our factory is hosting Comrade Rybakov tonight. It would be too inappropriate for me not to show my face."

Secretary Fang naturally wouldn't stop the proper reception work.

She personally escorted him to the entrance of the provincial government building. Before he got into the car, she made a point of emphasizing to him, "Our provincial government fully supports Jin Gang's work. Rest assured, we will do our utmost."

The car door closed, the car started, and the car drove out of the provincial government gate and onto the main road.

After merging into the traffic, Lu Fengyan couldn't help but ask, "Dad, with Shougang's connections so far, don't you think these things will end up in Secretary Zhou's hands?"

Factory Director Lu squinted slightly, looking at the setting sun on the horizon: "Do you think Wang Xiao is stupid?"

In officialdom, especially after reaching a certain position, it's all out in the open who is whose person.

Otherwise, when someone goes out representing another person, how will outsiders know who to give face to?

The sun slowly sank below the mountain.

The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it's nearing dusk.

No matter how glorious the achievements, they can't withstand the power of momentum.