The autumn wind blows and the crabs' feet itch, and the crabs come to smell the scent.

On the first day of August, Tangshan City had delivered the first net of crabs of this autumn.

Tangshan has now replaced Tianjin as the shipping center of northern Zhili. Eighty percent of the goods from the south are unloaded here, and eighty percent of the goods from northern Zhili and Kouwai are shipped here. Even the mountain products from Liaodong are shipped from the mouth of the Liaohe River and then transferred here.

In addition to the fact that Caofei Port is an ice-free port and the Luanhe Canal is faster, the more important reason is that Tangshan's administrative efficiency and management level are far superior to Tianjin Wei, the Tianzi Ferry where the military and civilians are mixed. Moreover, there is no corruption, all fees are clear, and customs clearance is punctual.

Apart from other things, if you accept an inspection in Tianjin, at least 10% of the goods will be lost. If you don't want to lose, you have to bribe. And you have to check again when you pass Dagukou and enter the Grand Canal, because the Canal Office is in charge again. You have to bribe again...

For many small businessmen, the cost of bribes alone can offset their sales profits.

But in Tangshan, these fees are no longer applicable. Moreover, because the Luanhe Canal was built with funds from Xishan Group, and it was granted the management rights for 99 years, Xishan Group announced to support its own son that merchant ships that paid fees at Tangshan Port could pass through the Luanhe Canal for free. In a short time, it took over all the business in Tianjin.

Tangshan also has the coal and steel consortium known as the 'backbone of the group'; Tangshan ceramics that monopolize the northern market; and Caofeidian Farm with more than one million mu of cultivated land. Driven by these pillar industries, Tangshan is now a thriving city with a permanent population of 300,000 and a floating population of more than 100,000 all year round. It is now a serious big city.

Every spring and autumn, Tanghai Fisheries Company organizes fishermen from Caofeidian to go out to sea to pull nets. The fish caught at sea are directly transferred to fish transport ships and sent to Beijing for emergency delivery.

This special fishing boat has an ice storage for preservation and artificial oxygen production equipment to oxygenate the live seafood, ensuring that it is still fresh when it is delivered to Beijing. The gourmets in Beijing often use ice buckets to transport seafood. But except for shellfish, the things in this sea are delicate, and you can't expect to see live fish and crabs in Beijing.

Therefore, although the price of "Tanghai Seafood" is very high, it is sold out as soon as it is launched. Nowadays, every time the good and large goods are shipped in, they are directly booked by major restaurants and dignitaries in Beijing. Ordinary merchants and wealthy families can only buy some not-so-valuable fish, shrimp, crabs and shellfish to taste.

It is said that many big restaurants and wealthy princes specially sent people to follow the Tanghai fishing boats out to sea, and when they caught good fish, they would place an order on the spot and have the fish transport boats deliver them to Beijing for pick-up. They especially focused on the first catch of the spring and autumn season, and they would bid a sky-high price on the spot every time.

What's the use of money? Money is bullshit. The most important thing is to be the first to eat what others can't.

But no one could hope to catch the first big catch of the year, because the young cabinet minister was in Beijing, and Tangshan Mayor Tang Hulu had already informed the fishery company and was waiting to use the big catch to honor the big boss.

The lively seafood was delivered to Zhaojia Hutong, and Zhao Hao was delighted. He asked people to share some with his eldest brother, and some with his godmother and several elderly people in Beijing. He also invited Tang Hulu to have afternoon tea.

As soon as you hear this name, you know that he is Tang Baolu's younger brother and Tang Youde's second son. Tang Youde originally planned to let him inherit the family business and run his own Tangji Southern Goods Store.

Yes, that store is still alive and well, and it’s still sixty-eight years away from becoming a century-old store.

Unfortunately, Mr. Zhao gave too much, and Tang Youde couldn't let his second son go in and out of that needle-nose nest all day long. He had already sent him to school.

Tang Hulu graduated from the full-time class of Caijiaxiang Primary School in the fifth year of Longqing, and then studied at Yufeng Middle School for two years. After graduating in the first year of Wanli, he joined the group. It has been fifteen years since then.

The group stipulates that secondary education is also counted as length of service, so he has seventeen years of service.

~~

While drinking tea, Zhao Hao first asked Tang Hulu how he was doing in Tangshan City, whether he had any difficulties, and whether he had any plans for the development of Tangshan.

Tang Hulu was a cadre from the Organization Department, and he was well prepared, so his answers were naturally clear and coherent, without any mistakes.

Zhao Hao nodded with satisfaction after listening to it and said with a smile: "Okay, I have put in some effort."

"My father often writes letters to urge students, saying that we must work ten times harder to live up to the principal's great kindness to our Tang family." Tang Hulu said respectfully.

He didn't dare to call Zhao Hao "uncle" like his brother did. But he didn't want to call him chairman, which was too distant. So he called Zhao Hao "principal" just like Cai Yimu and his group of students trained by Jiangnan Education Group.

Actually, Zhao Hao didn't like this name, but he could only let them do what they wanted...

"Hahaha, this is not something Fatty Tang would say." Zhao Hao laughed and said to Tang Hulu:

"But one thing is true, because your father is my first partner, and now he is the chairman of the Nanhai Group, a senior executive at the second level; your brother is also the CEO of the West Africa region, a senior executive at the fourth level of the group. So it is inevitable that others look at you with tinted glasses-"

"You did a good job, and it's what you deserve. But you can never compare to your father and brother. You are being questioned even after receiving an honor. Is there something fishy going on?" Zhao Hao brought Tang Hulu to tears with just a few words.

"If you don't do it well, it will be a big sin. With such good conditions, you still fail. You are really like a tiger father and a dog son, and a dragon brother and a rat brother!"

"Yes, the principal is right." Tang Hulu said with a sour nose, "Since I was sent out, I have been pointed at behind my back. It's really frustrating."

Zhao Hao thought to himself, otherwise why do children of high-ranking officials all use pseudonyms to work?

"This is something you have to bear." Zhao Hao said calmly, "Because even if your father never cared about you, his influence in the group will make it easier for you to make progress than others."

Tang Baolu's face immediately turned red, and he said with a chuckle, "The principal is right."

When he graduated, a junior high school diploma was still very rare. As a highly educated person at the time, he was a senior clerk at the 13th administrative level when he first started working.

In the third year of Wanli, he was promoted to administrative level 12 and served as deputy section chief of the Senior Cadre Management Bureau of the Organization Department of the Group and the Comprehensive Section of the Education and Training Department.

In the sixth year of Wanli, he was promoted to the head of the General Affairs Section, administrative level eleven.

In the ninth year of Wanli, he was promoted to deputy director of the Group Organization Department, Senior Cadres Management Bureau, and Teaching and Training Department, administrative level ten.

At the beginning of the 12th year of the Wanli reign, he was promoted to Director of the Education and Training Department, administrative level 9. In the twelfth month of the same year, he was transferred to Xingang City as Deputy Mayor and Director of the Organization Department, administrative level 8.

In June of the 15th year of Wanli, he was promoted to the mayor of Tangshan City, Danluo Administrative District Management Committee, administrative level 7...

No one can say no to this resume, and the grading is completely in accordance with the regulations, with a promotion every three years. The only time I was promoted beyond my normal level, I also followed the Group Organization Department's "Regulations on Encouraging Cadres to Work Overseas", which states that "all local cadres transferred overseas have only one chance to be promoted to the next level".

But if he was not Tang Youde's son, he would have no chance to be assigned to the group's organization department, which was known as the "minor official department", as soon as he joined the group.

Moreover, it is the Senior Cadre Management Bureau, which is responsible for the cadres above the sixth administrative level. It is also the Education and Training Department, which often has to deal with senior cadres and can easily sell favors.

If I were assigned to the archives department, I might work there for three years without knowing a single senior official...

Tang Hulu was also very particular about the place where he was sent. First, he went to Xingang City, where there was a statue of his father. With the blessing of such a wonder, there was naturally no problem with adaptation, and it was very easy to achieve results.

Tangshan City, which was upgraded this year, was set up by Xishan Group, where his father had served as vice chairman. And most importantly, Zhao Hao's family and the group's senior executives had to get on and off the ship at Caofei Port every time they entered or left Beijing...

In fact, unless it was an emergency, they would stop at Xingang City. Although the two cities where Tang Hulu was transferred were busy with reception affairs, they were also a great place to show off in front of the group leaders!

If it were in Renmin City in the same administrative region, or Yogyakarta City in the Java administrative region, or Zamboanga City in the Sulu administrative region, you might not see any senior executives of the group during your entire term of office, except for the four, five, or six people in your own management committee.

Of course, Tang Hulu didn't just rely on his father. He also worked hard and won various honors such as the group's outstanding cadre many times. He was also classified as a young cadre who was focused on training by the group's organization department...

But there are countless young cadres in the group who are willing to work hard and strive for success. What they may lack is such a father...

~~

Zhao Hao was quite open-minded about this matter. No matter what time or system, it was inevitable to rely on one's father for support. As long as one could be promoted step by step in strict accordance with the rules, it was understandable.

He didn't mean to criticize Tang Hulu, but with his current status, if he said anything casually, the people below would think about it for a long time. What's more, it was such a targeted statement.

Seeing that Tang Hulu was about to lose his balance, Zhao Hao comforted him, "Don't worry, I haven't finished talking yet."

Tang Hulu quickly pulled himself together and listened attentively to his instruction.

"You said you feel pressured. It's good to feel pressured, but don't have negative emotions. Others have mouths, so let them talk!" Zhao Hao encouraged loudly: "Don't argue with them. The correct way to fight back is to use outstanding performance to make everyone shut up! For example, your brother has long been a senior official in the fourth administrative level, but who would say that he relies on his father? Who would say that he doesn't deserve it? Because his group has expanded its territory and made great contributions; he has always been responsible for the most dangerous tasks despite life and death!"

"Yes, I will definitely learn from my brother!" Tang Hulu straightened his chest and expressed excitedly.

"Of course you have to learn, but the group doesn't need senior cadres to risk their lives now." Zhao Hao said eagerly: "Do your job as mayor well and build Tangshan into the most powerful city in the group, which is the greatest achievement!"

"Yes, I promise that I will never leave Tangshan until I become the number one among the 98 administrative cities!" Tang Hulu was still young and was fooled into signing a military order.

"Haha, good, kid, you have great ambitions. I'm optimistic about you." Zhao Hao patted his shoulder with satisfaction and ordered in a deep voice: "In addition to your own development, you must strengthen your ties with Liaodong! Whether you can be on par with your elder brother in the future depends on your relationship with Liaodong!"

"Yes, students will remember the principal's teachings!" Tang Hulu was so excited that he almost suffocated, but he felt that the world was more open than ever before.