“Uncle Wen, you are at home?” Feng Yu was curious. Today was not Sunday and why was Uncle Wen at home resting? He should be busy as the year was coming to an end.
“Xiao Yu, you are back. Have a seat. Uncle needs to discuss something with you.” Wen Deguang smiled warily.
Feng Yu was puzzled. Did something happen to the district? Could it be that Uncle Wen found out about Dongjun and Zhang Han?
Wen Dongjun also walked out from his room and sat on the sofa. He kept signaling to Feng Yu with his eyes.
“Our district has been having problems with the electricity supply. For your father’s factory to operate smoothly, our district will cut off the electricity supply during the daytime. I wanted to ask the higher-ups for more electricity, but the higher-ups refused. They said that they have difficulties too. However, they are willing to build a power plant at our district if we are willing to contribute part of the cost. This power plant will also be supplied to the nearby districts. Do you think we should adopt this solution?”
Oh, it regarded his work. Feng Yu and Wen Dongjun were relieved.
Before Feng Yu could answer Wen Deguang, Wen Dongjun replied first: “It is not worth it. This power plant will be built in our district? It will be using our district’s land. It might even utilize our fields. We still have to pay for it? The electricity generated will still be distributed to the nearby districts. We are at the losing end.”
Feng Yu had thought that Wen Dongjun would say some constructive feedbacks. But his views were too stingy.
Wen Deguang stared at his son: “What losing end? This power plant will be built in our district, and our district will be the one that will get the priority to use the electricity. The extra electricity will then be distributed to the rest of the districts. Do you even understand what was going on? Also, the power plant will need workers. The people from our district will get the priority to work there. With enough electricity, or the district can do a lot of things. Last year, some foreign investors wanted to build a factory here. But they changed their minds when they found out that there was not enough power supply in our district.”
Feng Yu was also feeling helpless. He knew that Uncle Wen wanted this political credit. With enough electricity, a lot of problems could be solved, and this can be considered a considerable achievement. But Feng Yu felt that this was not worth it.
“Uncle Wen, can I ask what type of power plant will be built? Thermal power plant? Wind-powered or hydropower plant?”
“It will be a thermal power plant. Our river cannot generate enough electricity. The currents are not strong enough. Although we do have winds here, the wind is not strong enough for wind-powered power plants. Furthermore, the wind-powered plant does not generate electricity as fast as a thermal power plant. If we are going to ship coals from the Eastern provinces, it will also be very cheap. The electricity generated in one day is sufficient for a week’s electrical usage in our district. With this electrical supply, our district can do a lot of things.” Wen Deguang starts to imagine the district’s future. Not only the district’s residents’ lives will be better, and he could still attract more investors.
If it were a thermal power plant, then it would be meaningless. In another one- or two years’ time, the nearby power plants will be expanding, and there will be enough power supply to all the districts. Furthermore, they could build more wind turbines now. The people now might not realize that China’s electrical supplies would increase by several folds within a few years.
In another 20 years, after the few major hydropower plants, like the Three Gorges Dam, were completed, China could not even fully utilize all the electricity generated. China could also sell their electricity to the nearby countries.
“Uncle Wen, do you know how much pollution a thermal power plant will cause? Our district’s main source of revenue is from farming, and if we build a thermal power plant, that soot will be flying all over the place. Who would want to buy our farm produce? We are a farming district and why should we follow those industrialized districts?”
“But if we rely on farming alone, it would be hard for our district to grow. If it weren’t for your family’s food processing factory, our district’s revenue would be the lowest among all the districts.”
“Uncle Wen, we are rearing pigs, why can’t the others rear poultry or rabbits? Furthermore, our district is not far away from Bing City. It is only an hour drive. Why can’t we focus on vegetable farming?”
“Vegetable farming? Are you talking about those greenhouse vegetables?” Wen Deguang brightens up.
That’s right. It was hard for people to eat fresh vegetables in the Winter. Once in a while, there will be someone selling vegetables in the winter, but those were very expensive. Even their small district faced such a situation, that means the demand for fresh vegetables in the City will be higher?
“But no one in our district knows about greenhouses.”
Feng Yu smiled: “No one in our district knows about the greenhouse, but the Agriculture University knows. Did you forget that our Tian Peng Pig Farm have a professor from Agriculture University as a consultant? Why can’t you hire some specialists or professors in this field as your consultants? Many of those professors are still stuck in their theories, and our farms will be the best place for them to put their theories into practice. We can even set up an Agriculture University experimental farm here in our district.”
“Will this work?”
“You have not even started and how will you know that it will not work? Don’t go to the branch office. Go straight to the City and look for the leaders there. Maybe you can even get some policies and funding from the City Government.”
“Get policies and funding from the City? Will they give?” Wen Deguang looked at Feng Yu. Why was Feng Yu so confident?
Wen Dongjun said with his head bow down: “Dad, I also think what Feng Yu said made sense. If you don’t try, how would you know that it will not work? If your proposal attracted the attention of the higher-ups, you might even be promoted.”
Wen Deguang looked at his son and then turned to Feng Yu: “Are the two of you hiding something from me?”
Feng Yu smiled and replied: “Uncle Wen, don’t you think that you have been promoted too fast? There must be some leader among the higher-ups that have noticed you. Am I right, Dongjun?”
“Cough….. I think so too.” Wen Dongjun lowered his head guiltily.”
“Then we should start to build greenhouses before this winter. But the electricity issue in our district is still a problem. If this powerplant is not built, there will not be enough power supply for our district. The greenhouses will also need electricity.”
“Don’t worry about this. This year, the power plants in the north will be expanding. There will be an increase in electrical supply. We will have enough electricity. Furthermore, you can suggest using the wind power electrical plant. This type of power plant is environmentally friendly and also save resources. I heard that the Motor Factory had developed a new type of wind generator. They are looking for places to test the effectiveness of this generator. I can introduce Director Li to you.”
“How much does our district need to pay?”
“Not much. We also need to pay for the electricity generated. The electricity is also not free. But building this generator will definitely be cheaper than building a thermal power plant. What do you think?”
“When can we meet Director Li?” Wen Deguang asked eagerly.
“Uncle Wen, I have just returned. I will help you call him. Can we meet him after the Lunar New Year?” Feng Yu was speechless. The wind powerplant’s construction also cannot start now. The ground was still frozen.
“You are right. I am too anxious. The both of you can go out and play. I need to go back to work. I must discuss this with the others.” Wen Deguang carried his briefcase and hurriedly went out.
Feng Yu patted Wen Dongjun: “Eh, should you go and talk to Zhang Han for your father’s future?”
“Wen Dongjun was furious. What was the meaning of this? I am a man and will be the head of the family in the future!
After Wen Dongjun’s father left and he saw that his mother had not entered the room, he whispered to Feng Yu: “Eh, did Uncle Feng and Auntie Zhang asked you about you and Li Na?”
“Your mum and dad asked you?”
“I have been very discreet about my relationships. But you must not let your parents speak to my parents. That night, Uncle Feng and Auntie Zhang had seen Zhang Han and me sitting together.” Wen Dongjun said.
“What’s there to be afraid of? If your parents found out, you can tell him that you will be the son-in-law of a leader in the Provincial Government.”
“Get lost. In the future, I will be higher ranked than her father!” Wen Dongjun raised one hand in the air like he was swearing.
“Xiao Yu, Dongjun, why are the both of you hiding in the room? Come out and have some fruits.”
Wen Dongjun’s attitude immediately changed and shouted: “Okay, Mum.”
Wen Dongjun turned around and saw Feng Yu looking at him in despise.
