Linxia

Chapter 202, Relocation

Time passed quickly, the factory workers' dormitories were completed, the construction of the skills training class venue was also completed, teachers were recruited, and initial operations began.

All the benefits that Fang Lin had promised were fulfilled one by one, and at such a fast speed. Needless to say, the enthusiasm of the workers in the factory was greatly boosted.

This move also served as a big advertisement to the entire Huai'an worker community. Fang Lin's reputation became more and more popular. If his factory had not been fully staffed, workers from other factories in the city would probably have rushed over.

At this time, it was already the end of the year. After the Great Cold, a heavy snow fell, and the sky and the earth were covered in silver.

……

That day, Prefect Pu invited Fang Lin to have a drink.

After a heavy snowfall, there was snow on the roadside in the small courtyard of the Pu family. In the corner, three or two plum trees were in full bloom with white plum blossoms. A small red clay stove was warming old rice wine, and three or five small dishes were placed on the small table.

Compared with the Manchu-Han Banquet and the Hai Tian Feast, this is indeed simple, even crude, but it has a kind of pure and noble elegance.

"Nephew Fang, please sit down!" Prefect Pu invited Fang Lin to sit down.

Time reveals a person's true character. Over the past two or three years, the two have gotten along better and better, and have long been friends like uncle and nephew.

Fang Lin did not exchange too many pleasantries and sat down opposite him. He already had some guesses about what Prefect Pu was going to say.

As expected, Prefect Pu and Fang Lin chatted about their daily lives. After drinking two cups of wine, he said, "I have been here as prefect for six years. Next year I will be transferred and leave Huai'an."

Saying it is a transfer is just a humble statement. In fact, it is a promotion, and there is a high probability that it will be transferred to Beijing.

The term of office of local officials in Daxia is three years. Unless they commit serious mistakes, they can generally be re-elected for two terms, which is nine years.

Similarly, an inspection is also conducted every three years, which is called a "major plan". In addition, officials sent by the Censorate conduct irregular inspections, such as the floods that broke out in the Jianghuai area last year.

If local officials want to be promoted, they must have outstanding performance in such assessments, that is, political achievements.

'Uncle Pu has made many achievements, including the work of Mr. Zhuo Sanye, last year's flood relief, and the fight against land annexation... However, Huai'an is a major financial city in the Jianghuai area, and Uncle Pu is already a fourth-rank official. If he wants to be promoted to the third-rank official, it is actually very difficult.'

There is a saying in official circles that the fourth rank is a hurdle in one's career. If one can pass it, one will be able to rise to the top and have a bright future; if one cannot, one's future will be limited and one will waste one's life in mediocrity.

At this point, political achievements alone are no longer enough. If one wants to move up further, the Ministry of Personnel needs to petition the emperor and organize a "court recommendation", which requires sufficient influence and support in the court.

There is a political faction behind Prefect Pu. Hou Rubai, the magistrate of Haining County in Fang Lin's hometown, had been eager to join. This time, Prefect Pu's political achievements were sufficient, and the faction behind him made efforts. At the same time, Tao Chengbi, Dong Zugao's teacher, was the Minister of Personnel. With the help of Dong Zugao, Tao Chengbi also did a favor...

Another extremely important point is that Prefect Pu's disaster relief efforts last year and his presentation of sweet potatoes to Fang Lin and Dong Zugao earned him enough impression points in front of Hongtai.

——This impression score is both important and unimportant. It is important because even if you are included in the list through 'court recommendation', there will naturally be more than one candidate on the list, and the emperor has to choose one of them. Under the same conditions, the one with the highest impression score will naturally be most likely to be favored. It is unimportant because if you cannot reach this step, if you cannot even pass the 'court recommendation' and enter the list, then this impression score is of no use.

It can be said that it was due to various factors, including Pu Zhifu's own political achievements, the faction behind him, Dong Zugao's matchmaking, and Emperor Hongtai's impression of him, that he was able to make this leap from the fourth rank to the third rank.

"Congratulations, Uncle Pu!" Fang Lin congratulated.

Although from the perspective of his own interests, it would be in the greatest benefit for Prefect Pu to stay in office for another term, but how can one consider everything from the perspective of pure interests?

He was truly happy about Prefect Pu's promotion.

Prefect Pu had been in the officialdom for a long time and had a good grasp of people's hearts. He could naturally hear Fang Lin's true heart and felt warm in his heart. He stood up and poured a glass of wine for Fang Lin: "My present day is largely due to the contribution of my nephew Fang. The matter of Mr. Zhuo Sanye, the flood last year, and this time Dong Xiuzhuan's matchmaking... I have received a lot of kindness. I offer a toast to my nephew Fang!"

"Uncle Pu, your words are serious. A blacksmith must be strong himself. I have only done some insignificant things within my job. Uncle Pu can take this step and transform from a dragon into a dragon because he is upright and loves his people like his own children." Fang Lin said as he stood up.

"Nephew Fang, you are still so modest. This time when I go to the capital, I really want to take you with me..."

Prefect Pu spoke from the heart, but unfortunately, he also knew that Fang Linzhi was not in the court, and entering the court might not be a good thing for Fang Linzhi.

This time, Fang Lin did not respond. Instead, at the invitation of Prefect Pu, they both sat down, raised their glasses, and clinked glasses with each other.

Prefect Pu took a sip of wine, exhaled a long breath, and said, "Nephew Fang, I am confident in your intelligence, but I still have some things to tell you. For example, the five families of Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao, and Duan in Huai'an City are not simple. Sixty to seventy percent of the officials in the government office come from these five families. The five families of Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao, and Duan are deeply rooted in Huai'an... Even now, I have to compromise with them on many things."

Fang Lin listened, put down his wine cup, and nodded solemnly to show that he understood.

During the past one or two years, the Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao and Duan families have been so honest because Prefect Pu was keeping a high profile and many of their tactics could not be used against him.

For example, if there had been no protection from Prefect Pu during the construction of the weaving workshop, what would he do if the Gu family used their connections in the government to make things difficult for him and to extort money?

Yes, Fang Lin also has connections in the government office, such as the Dong family connections and Qian Wenyan's documents. These are okay for ordinary people, but not enough for the level of the five major families of Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao, and Duan.

Even if Fang Lin still has connections with Dong Zugao in the capital and the Censor Han Yuanjing, it is still a long way to go and cannot help in an emergency. Besides, he cannot bother them every time for these trivial matters.

"In the past one or two years, facing my sudden rise, the Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao, and Duan families have indeed been honest, but it would be a big mistake to think that they are kind and harmless."

Fang Lin never dared to underestimate them. The fact that the five families of Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao and Duan could achieve such a level was definitely the result of bloody fighting.

'I'm planning to build the workers' dormitories and skill training facilities in the factory, all in one package, in order to avoid any more complications during Uncle Pu's last term!'

If these benefits were introduced one after another and operated meticulously, the factory workers would indeed be more grateful to Fang Lin for his kindness. However, compared with the uncertainty of facing the next prefect after Pu's term, it is not worth mentioning.

Therefore, he would rather let the factory workers' gratitude and appreciation towards him be reduced - after all, these things can be made up slowly, and he also wanted to complete the workers' dormitories and skills training classes in one go before Magistrate Pu left office.

"Of course, just pay attention to them. Nephew Fang, you don't have to think too highly of the Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao, and Duan families. It's true that these five families are deeply rooted in Huai'an, but they are by no means monolithic. There are contradictions within them, and they often fight among themselves, which requires pulling one group and beating another." Prefect Pu said, "You have a good relationship with the Fan family, so just be cautious and don't tie them up completely. There is no fundamental contradiction between the Ma, Shao, and Duan families, and whether they are enemies or friends depends on your opinion. As for the Gu family... You can't give it up unless you give up your factories and fleets, or maintain the current scale and don't expand it. However, it is just a competition in the business field, far from a life-and-death struggle."

"Besides, you defeated the Zhang family to establish your authority. After I left my post, the Gu family didn't have complete control, so I don't think they would tear their faces apart and use some small tricks to disgust people and make you hate them."

"Thank you Uncle Pu for your guidance." After hearing what Magistrate Pu said, Fang Lin felt that some things that were originally unclear to him suddenly became clear.

It was indeed as Prefect Pu said, even if he moved away, without the other party taking sides, he would at most be at a slight disadvantage facing any of the five families, Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao, and Duan.

"In addition, among the five families of Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao, and Duan, the Fan family has always wanted to win me over, so they can be brought in as external aid; the Ma, Shao, and Duan families do not have core conflicts, so they can indeed ease the relationship; the Gu family is fighting over the route, but it has not yet risen to the level of life and death..."

Of course, we can't simply think that Fang Lin has a good relationship with the Fan family and can be trusted and entrusted with anything - the Fan family may not have good intentions and always want Fang Lin to be completely bound and preferably dependent on their family. In this case, it is possible that they will trick Fang Lin in disguise under certain specific circumstances.

There are also the Ma, Shao, and Duan families. There are indeed some conflicts between them at present, and their relationship is a little distant compared to the Fan family, but it may not be impossible for them to become friends and deepen cooperation in the future.

These things cannot be generalized. It depends on the situation and we should act accordingly.

"When I first arrived in Huai'an, I had no team, so I divided, won over, and checked and balanced the five families of Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao, and Duan."

As Prefect Pu spoke, a look of reminiscence appeared on his face: "After all these years, it is only today that I have trained and promoted a group of useful people."

He gave Fang Lin a list of his people in the government office, and his evaluation: "I have explained these people to you. If you have any problems, you can go find them. Some of them have excellent character and ability, while some of them only have ability. Dealing with them depends on the interests... You can use my opinions as a reference. You must know that people's hearts will change differently depending on the specific matters, identities, and environments. You still have to investigate the specifics yourself. I can't help you with these."

"Thank you, Uncle Pu." Having said that, Fang Lin was already extremely grateful.

He knew that Prefect Pu was completely handing over his team in Huai'an. With these, if they were maintained well, they could make up for the shortcomings and would not be inferior to any of the five families, Fan, Gu, Ma, Shao, and Duan. This would truly be the foundation for becoming the sixth largest family in Huai'an.

"It doesn't matter. Compared to what you have done, these are nothing."

Prefect Pu waved his hand, a worried look on his face: "These are just minor details. The real core is the new prefect of Huai'an. At present, I still don't know who this person is, and whether he has any skills. If his means are insufficient, or he can't hold the bottom line, the current situation in Huai'an may take a sharp turn for the worse and collapse."

Having served as prefect of Huai'an for six years, he had deep feelings for the city and he really did not want to see Huai'an decline.

"Uncle Pu, don't worry. Huai'an is an important financial and taxation prefecture of our Great Xia. The government and the public are paying attention to it. The new prefect in the future will surely be a capable official."

"Too."

Prefect Pu nodded and sighed, "Forget it, let's not talk about this today, let's just drink."

In the afternoon, Fang Lin was drunk and said goodbye to go back.

……

Fang Lin returned to Xixiang Hutong and saw his own Huahua playing with the two dogs of the Mo family at the entrance of the alley.

——When I adopted Huahua, I came to the Mo family to ask if it had any diseases. It was also Granny Mo from the Mo family who delivered Tian Xuan. The two families had a good relationship.

The Mo family also had dogs, a hybrid pair. The male was called General, with jet-black, shiny fur that was short and close to the skin. When the sun shone on his body, it was shiny and the whole body looked strong and beautiful.

The other female is called Peony. Her fur is neither black nor yellow, with a little white mixed in. It looks as messy as a pair of dead grass in winter and a little sloppy.

The two dogs were adopted at the same time. They grew up together, like husband and wife, or like brothers and sisters, and they were inseparable all day long. The Mo family let them run freely, only feeding them at mealtime, giving them the same food as their own, and adding a basin of water, and not caring about anything else.

In this way, the general and Peony lived freely, playing, chasing each other, and biting each other affectionately under the blue sky and white clouds all day long, enjoying themselves to the utmost.

Huahua has a good relationship with them. When she has a quarrel with Guaiguai at home, she will come out to play with General and Mudan.

Huahua was extremely curious about Peony and would often try to smell it. The General would then block her left and right, maneuvering flexibly, sometimes even baring his teeth in a threatening manner, and Huahua was never able to get close to him.

"Granny Mo, is Mudan pregnant and about to give birth to a puppy?" Fang Lin asked when he saw that Mudan's belly was a little bigger.

"Yes, does your family want a puppy? If so, I'll give one to you when it's born."

Granny Mo, with gray hair and plain clothes, walked out with a hunched back and invited Fang Lin to sit down, then took out some frozen persimmons for him to eat.

Fang Lin sat for a while, then went back with the two frozen persimmons that Granny Mo had forced upon him.

At the Ou family, Master Ou sat alone at the door, warming himself by the brazier. The newly added firewood in the brazier crackled, reflecting a pair of cloudy eyes.

Fang Lin greeted her and recalled what Granny Mo had said just now: "Master, the Mo family's Peony is pregnant. She said she would give me a baby after the baby is born. I have a flower at home, can I give this one to you? It can keep people company and can also look after the house..."

"Okay!" Mr. Ou agreed.

Fang Lin was still thinking of reasons and trying to persuade him, but he didn't expect Master Ou to agree directly.

He was a little surprised, as he remembered that Master Ou once said that he had a dog named Ping An, and he also said, "These little things, if you have deep feelings for them, can also let you experience the pain of life and death."

Master Ou seemed to see what Fang Lin was thinking and said with a smile, "A dog can live for more than ten years. At my age, I can't say whether I will send it away or it will send me away!"

"Life is good nowadays. We are well clothed and well fed. But every day I feel empty inside. I watch the sun rise and set... I don't know when it will end. It's good to have a little one to keep me company, too!"

……

(End of this chapter)