Chapter 146: Trendsetter

Mayor Huang Zhigang’s remarks left Wang Ziqing and Zhao Guoyang utterly speechless.

In their view, the Mayor was clearly treating Zhao Guoyang as an on-call laborer—and an unpaid one at that.

Though somewhat dissatisfied, since Mayor Huang had spoken and Senior Official Zhuo had tacitly consented, Wang Ziqing wouldn't dare utter a single word of refusal even if he had the courage of a lion.

Seeming to sense their waning enthusiasm, Mayor Huang couldn't help smiling and said, "By the way, little Zhao, you aren't holding this title of Special Technical Consultant for nothing. Mao Zhichun has already mentioned that a certain consulting fee will be provided to you every month. As for the exact amount, you'll find out in due time."

"Additionally, the Songjiang Municipal Machinery Industry Commission has decided to confer upon you the post of Special Researcher. However, there is no 'wage' to be collected for this position. Still, if you travel to Songjiang on official business, your travel expenses and the like will be fully reimbursable."

Hearing this, ripples of emotion stirred in Zhao Guoyang’s heart.

He had originally thought that the matter of the "Special Researcher" post was just casual talk by Mayor Huang and Liang Xiaofeng. Who would have thought it would be processed so swiftly?

In terms of sheer work efficiency alone, Songjiang City was undoubtedly leading the pack.

Perhaps to substantiate Mayor Huang's words, Liang Xiaofeng then retrieved a letter of appointment from his briefcase and solemnly presented it to Zhao Guoyang with both hands.

Seeing this, Senior Official Zhuo, sitting quietly nearby, felt a twinge of envy.

There was no help for it, though; fast as his own actions were, he hadn't managed to make Wang Ziqing arrange Zhao Guoyang’s "Special Researcher" appointment right here in Songjiang.

Nevertheless, Senior Official Zhuo had already made a silent resolution in his heart to initiate the process the moment he returned to Jiangnan Province, determined to secure the title of "Special Researcher for the Jiangnan Provincial Machinery Industry Commission" for Zhao Guoyang as well.

The events that made Zhao Guoyang happy were yet to come.

After Liang Xiaofeng handed him this extraordinarily precious letter of appointment, Mayor Huang turned to Wang Ziqing with a smile and said, "Director Wang, you and the rest of the Jiangnan provincial delegation have worked hard running back and forth this time. Mao Zhichun said that once their new model developed in cooperation with the Volkswagen Group rolls off the line, they will gift one to the Jiangnan Provincial Machinery Industry Commission."

"Ah!" Hearing this, Wang Ziqing felt as though a dream had come true.

He subconsciously glanced sideways at his direct superior, Senior Official Zhuo, only to see Zhuo Qingfeng nodding slightly toward him.

"This is... truly... we are immensely grateful to the Songqi Group, and thank you as well for your concern, Mayor Huang!" Wang Ziqing naturally expressed his gratitude repeatedly.

"Hey, don't thank me!" Mayor Huang waved his hand playfully and laughed.

"This matter is purely a business decision made from Mao Zhichun's perspective. If you want to thank someone, thank little Zhao. If he hadn't helped the Songqi Group out of a tight spot, Mao Zhichun wouldn't be showing such generosity. You've all heard the stories—Chairman Mao of the Songqi Group is famously tight-fist."

Mayor Huang's banter provoked rounds of laughter from everyone present, and even the normally stern Senior Official Zhuo couldn't help but crack a smile.

Undoubtedly, Mayor Huang’s tactic of first disparaging and then praising had achieved a marvelous conversational effect.

After throwing out a cascade of rewards, Wang Ziqing, who had harbored some silent complaints earlier, was now completely won over.

Seeing that the time was right, Zhuo Qingfeng addressed Mayor Huang, saying, "Mayor Huang, it's getting late, and it's time for Ziqing, little Zhao, and me to head back."

"Very well, very well!" Mayor Huang didn't hesitate, nodding as he spoke. "Since Senior Official Zhuo is eager to return, I won't detain you any longer."

After shaking hands with Zhuo Qingfeng and Wang Ziqing one by one, Mayor Huang finally grasped Zhao Guoyang’s hand, a smile gracing his face as he said, "Little Zhao, you must visit Songjiang often from now on! If there's no one else to host you, just look for Director Liang. If he ignores you, you can come looking for me!"

What Mayor Huang said might have merely been a polite courtesy, and Zhao Guoyang naturally wouldn't take it too literally.

Yet for a high-ranking official of his stature to say such things to a junior technical section chief from a small city and a minor state-owned enterprise—even if just pleasantries—was no small matter.

Regardless of whether the other party was being merely polite or entirely sincere, Zhao Guoyang could only express his gratitude to Mayor Huang a few more times.

Upon stepping out of the reception building, Senior Official Zhuo’s car was already waiting.

Originally, Zhao Guoyang intended to sit in the front passenger seat, but Wang Ziqing, realizing that Senior Official Zhuo probably wanted to have a private chat with him, took the initiative and claimed the front seat instead.

Once all three had boarded, the car started up and slowly drove into the distance.

Watching the vehicle gradually vanish into the horizon, Mayor Huang stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Without turning his head, he asked Liang Xiaofeng, who stood behind him, "Xiaofeng, based on the trajectory of this young man Zhao Guoyang's development, what do you think his future will look like?"

Liang Xiaofeng clearly had not pondered this question before. He scratched his head and wrung his hands for a long while, stammering without being able to give a definitive answer.

Mayor Huang didn't take offense at this, chuckling softly as he said, "You might find it abrupt when I say this. In my view, the future of this young man Zhao Guoyang is very likely to be that of a tide-turner guiding our nation's industrial development, standing among the very pinnacle of the industry."

Glancing back at the shock-stricken Liang Xiaofeng, Mayor Huang couldn't help letting out a soft sigh.

"When I say the pinnacle of the industry, I don't just mean within our own country..."

Mayor Huang's words left Liang Xiaofeng dumbfounded.

Though he had been amazed and deeply impressed by Zhao Guoyang's performance over the past few days, he had never imagined that this young man could reach such heights.

Liang Xiaofeng knew very well what kind of person Mayor Huang was. His extraordinary vision was certainly something ordinary people could never match.

Now that Mayor Huang held such an affirming view of Zhao Guoyang, Liang Xiaofeng realized that his previous estimations of Zhao Guoyang had still been somewhat conservative.

After a moment of silence, Liang Xiaofeng gradually recovered his wits, wearing a slightly embarrassed expression as he said, "Mayor, I honestly never imagined what kind of brilliance this little Zhao might achieve in the future. After hearing your assessment, I can't wait to see what he will look like when he leads the Republic's industrial development in the future."

"Rest assured, you will surely see it..." Mayor Huang said with unwavering firmness.

...

Zhao Guoyang naturally had no inkling of Mayor Huang's high appraisal; at that moment, he was in the car, answering Senior Official Zhuo's questions one by one.

Along the way, Zhuo Qingfeng inquired about Zhao Guoyang's thoughts on his current job, asking if he would be interested in pursuing further studies at Jinling University or Dongling University to obtain a doctorate, and then joining the Provincial Machinery Industry Commission in a leadership role such as a division chief.

Zhuo Qingfeng's intent was crystal clear: he hoped to bring Zhao Guoyang into the provincial commission to work.

As for helping Zhao Guoyang secure a doctoral degree, it was merely meant to lay the groundwork for advancing his official rank, with no intention of actually making Zhao Guoyang spend several years studying on a campus.

In fact, Senior Official Zhuo knew very well that, judging by the level Zhao Guoyang had already demonstrated, he had long since surpassed the ordinary definition of a doctoral student. Even renowned professors like Zhu Maotao might not necessarily be qualified to teach him.