Chapter 1448: Chapter 1448

Marriage is the union of two surnames.

According to convention, Secretary Xiaozu is likely to marry someone within the circle, which has the advantage of mutual understanding and support. The downside is that both sides may have different political views, and at the end, she might have to make sacrifices...

In that case, it’s better to pick someone suitable on her own.

For a fleeting moment, she felt a slight affection for Qi Lin, but compared to her political career, it was insignificant.

It was just a coincidence.

But saying that is inevitably hurtful, so she should maintain basic decorum. Nonetheless, she thinks Song Tan would understand.

Song Tan pondered briefly and agreed: "You don’t have plans for children, do you?"

Secretary Xiaozu laughed: "In your twenties and thirties, it’s the prime time to fight hard. According to my family’s and my plans, we’ll probably be rotating through various impoverished rural areas. If unmarried, considering various realities, I might lose many opportunities."

Once in those positions, having children wouldn’t be part of the plan.

Once she’s over thirty, her political prospects become vaguely visible, with a stable family, solid achievements, and coincidentally a child... or perhaps no child, these are all quite timely.

Song Tan laughed: "That’s great, I think you’re capable."

She’s not flattering, she genuinely believes Secretary Xiaozu is competent.

Anyone who’s worked at the grassroots level knows that the more challenging the environment, the harder it is to get the work done.

Rural people have the tag of being honest, simple, and hardworking, but sometimes, some of them can be stubborn and short-sighted, only caring for immediate gains. Because their whole life is spent in this small realm, what they see is always limited to this small realm.

Take for instance Song Tan’s land at Shitou Slope. Shitou Slope actually offers some opportunities for prosperity. On the outskirts of the village, there’s a household at the hillside by the road.

When the road was built back then, just having it pass through their tea fields could connect the entire village. If someone relaxed a bit and applied, it could even directly connect to the village’s hillside.

That’s an extensive hillside spanning thousands of acres, covered with wild chestnuts planted in earlier years, with each household having a designated area. But improving chestnuts is a tedious job; wild ones require manual carrying down.

As young people leave the village, the economic value of that hillside fades away.

But if the road at the top of the hillside were connected, no matter what they plant, they wouldn’t have to laboriously ride motorcycles or carry through the long mountain path.

Yet, that household was unwilling.

They asked for exorbitant compensation from the construction team, so the team took a detour, sticking strictly to the planned repair length, and the compensation for the land they wanted was gone.

Years have passed, and the cement roads connecting the villages have gradually been upgraded to asphalt, yet they continue to live as they always have.

A couple of years ago, when the household was planning to build a new house for their child’s marriage, the bricks and cement had to be slowly pushed home by wheelbarrows.

This is the norm for many grassroots jobs.

And Secretary Xiaozu has only been here for over a year, with most villagers spending more time working outside, yet whatever she says or does, they immediately act, or regretfully hesitate, then miss opportunities only to act later.

Whether it was last year’s sky-high vegetable seedlings priced at 10 yuan each, or the smooth spring lease contract for the film crew’s needs under her promotion, none hit roadblocks.

Two who regretted not getting vegetable seedlings are still sulking at home, patiently waiting for next year’s opportunity.

With eyes gleaming, Secretary Xiaozu said, "At first, I came to find you to see if your family’s good stuff had any universal applicability—back then I wasn’t thinking thoroughly."

"But looking at it now, there’s no need for universality, you’re already benefiting the village."

"In a few more years, if you’re intent on development, you could even become the new emblem of Yun City."

Though this is unlikely because if Song Tan was truly planning for profit, she could scale any species from home for unified cultivation and branding, and be famous worldwide by now.

As it is, even sending a package requires stealth, with the address only filled at the local express station.

Song Tan chuckled, not directly answering but rather said to Secretary Xiaozu: "That’s my wish, fulfilled last year when work and life fell into place."

"Now I just hope that after you’re transferred, there’ll be someone reliable next."

Otherwise, there might be some troubles.

Secretary Xiaozu laughed heartily: "No rush, I haven’t achieved anything worth writing here yet! This is my first formal position, I need to settle down sincerely."

"Luckily, people from all over come to your house, let me observe more closely, and choose carefully."

"As for whoever comes after me... unless they’re foolish, no one would randomly offend the well-known local employer—if they are indeed foolish, just bring them over to your living room, let them admire your photo wall."

The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without words.

At this time, Lun Chuan lightly knocked on the door frame and smiled as Song Tan looked over: "The filming crew’s arrival date is set, April 18."

"Because it’s an important transition scene, plus the director might have some other thoughts, there will be quite a number of people, around two hundred."

"Director Zhu, the director hopes you could liaise with the town’s hotel, they need to book it, but hope you’d say a few words, and the facilities are checked over."

After all, the town’s hotel is only one, built in three layers, even the air conditioning is old models from many years ago, and who knows if the water heaters are faulty.

Secretary Xiaozu’s spirit lifted: two hundred people!

Zhang Yanping’s homestay prepared quite a bit for the film crew reception, able to accommodate nearly half, the town will handle the rest, almost perfect!

She immediately fingered her car keys: "Later I’ll go to the hotel, and connect with our town’s police station and town government."

Then, looking at Lun Chuan, thinking about the price positioning, she turned to Song Tan: "April 18, can the homestay open?"

Song Tan nodded: "Rest assured, Zhang Yanping handles things well. They actually set the trial opening for April 16."

Secretary Xiaozu was jubilant, then suddenly annoyed: "Oh! The news was too late, when I communicated with the villagers, asking them to plan vegetable planting, they haven’t caught up yet!"

By then, there’ll probably only be some quick-growing vegetables to supply. Fresh chapters posted on 𝗻𝗼𝘷𝗲𝗹•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥

Darn, this immense wealth will be snatched by the town’s market again!

Song Tan, however, was carefree: "No worries, my cafeteria on the mountain will also be purchasing vegetables."