PCJ – Chapter 729 Do You Dare to Shoulder Even Greater Courage?

Su Xinpeng smiled and said, “No matter how much you praise Comrade Jiaohua, it’s useless. In the short term, the possibility of promoting him isn’t high. After all, he’s still too young. It may be better for him to accumulate more experience here in Bijiang City. This time I’ve come to Bijiang, there are still several places I must visit. The world’s best automobile production base—I naturally have to see it. Also, the pharmaceutical factory producing the special cancer treatment drug—I’ll need to stop by there as well. Actually, there are quite a few places to go. So, how about you all stop letting me listen to you praising each other here?”

Clearly, Su Xinpeng was very satisfied with the working atmosphere among Bijiang’s cadres.

Zhang Jiaohua quickly added, “Secretary Su, including the cancer-specialty pharmaceutical factory, the Meishan New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Plant, and so on—all of these are closely connected to me. You could even say they’re my enterprises.”

“I know,” Su Xinpeng chuckled. “If it weren’t for you, our province might never have had the chance to gain such benefits. And needless to say, Bijiang City even more so. In principle, Party cadres aren’t allowed to engage in business. But your situation is different. You’re the world’s top scientist. You have countless research achievements. If those results aren’t turned into productivity, wouldn’t that be a waste? Luckily, you came to our province—otherwise, how would we ever have such an opportunity?”

Seeing that Zhang Jiaohua was still a little concerned, Su Xinpeng continued, “If others could ‘do business’ the way you do, I’d be delighted! Unfortunately, a scientist like you exists only once in the entire world. No other place could dream of it. Jiaohua, don’t worry—your official duties won’t interfere with your research. For the day-to-day work, you can assign it to other comrades to handle.”

The first stop was the Meishan New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Plant. When Su Xinpeng saw the incubation workshop, his jaw nearly dropped. He was utterly stunned. He had never imagined that new energy vehicles could be produced this way. The process resembled a giant 3D printer, where the car gradually took form, piece by piece.

He witnessed with his own eyes the final completion of a new energy vehicle. At the moment it was finished, the car suddenly lit up, shifting from solid black to transparent. Su Xinpeng exclaimed, “Unbelievable!”

Zhang Jiaohua simply stood to the side giving introductions and didn’t interrupt further.

“Comrade Jiaohua,” Su Xinpeng suddenly called out.

“What is it?” Zhang Jiaohua quickly responded.

“The provincial committee wants to replace a batch of official vehicles. We’ve taken a liking to your new energy vehicles. The annual maintenance costs of government cars are sky-high, and the fuel consumption is staggering. Although replacing the fleet requires a large upfront expense, the savings on ongoing costs will more than cover it.”

Zhang Jiaohua nodded. “I can speak with General Manager Ji and have the plant sell a batch to the provincial committee at cost.”

“Excellent. Then it’s settled,” Su Xinpeng said.

Government cars often serve as a regional trendsetter. If Meishan’s new energy vehicles could become the standard for government fleets, it would be a win-win for both sides.

In fact, Bijiang City had already begun this practice. Official vehicles were restricted to new energy models only. On one hand, Bijiang City was pushing its ecological development strategy, and new energy vehicles fit that perfectly. On the other, they had become one of Bijiang’s most recognizable urban brands.

But even if Bijiang replaced all its government cars, it couldn’t compare to the influence of the provincial committee leading the way.

After visiting two industrial parks in Bijiang, Su Xinpeng made a special trip to Daihua County. Daihua had already become a star county in Bijiang, even across the province. In just a few short years, it had transformed from a nationally recognized poverty county into a famous tourist destination. Per-capita income had already reached a moderately prosperous standard. Its ecological agriculture had gone international, with organic produce exported abroad.

“Comrade Jiaohua, if the province were to entrust you with an even heavier responsibility, would you be willing to accept it?” Su Xinpeng asked as he prepared to leave.

Zhang Jiaohua was taken aback. After a brief pause, he shook his head. “Secretary Su, I’d rather focus on doing my current work well.”

Su Xinpeng nodded, smiled, and left.

On the way, Wang Zongxian asked him, “Secretary Su, is the province preparing to promote Comrade Zhang Jiaohua very soon? Wouldn’t that be a bit too fast? After all, he’s still very young.”

“Youth has never been the issue—especially not for someone as talented as Zhang Jiaohua. The problem is simply that his ambitions don’t lie in politics. Otherwise, if he were willing to come to the provincial level, who could say he wouldn’t change the face of the entire province?” Su Xinpeng replied.

“Change the face of a whole province? Impossible, isn’t it?” Wang Zongxian asked in surprise.

“Not by an ordinary person, no. But what if it’s a scientist who possesses the most advanced technology in the world?” Su Xinpeng countered.

Zhang Jiaohua kept mulling over Su Xinpeng’s words. He still had too many things to take care of. What he saw in the Kunlun secret realm continued to trouble him. Compared to the current Meishan Sect, even a single Kunlun holy land—one of the three great spirit veins—was enough to pose a major threat.

And if it were all three great sects combined? With Meishan’s current strength, he could easily imagine they wouldn’t stand a chance.

The Meishan Sect lagged far too far behind. At this point, trying to catch up through cultivation alone was impossible. Only spiritual weapons could rapidly boost the sect’s strength in a short time.

The Five-Thunder Sword and Nine-Dragon Sword couldn’t be called unmatched treasures, but combining the Five-Thunder sigil array with the Nine-Dragon sigil array would create a formation of immense power. After finishing his duties in Bijiang, Zhang Jiaohua hurried back under the Great Sword Tower to resume his weapon-forging endeavor.

“Master, look—I’ve already completed my first Five-Thunder Sword!” Kong Fangzhou exclaimed when he saw Zhang Jiaohua, quickly handing over the sword he had just finished refining.

Zhang Jiaohua glanced at it and shook his head. “This is your Five-Thunder Sword? At best, it’s a glorified electric baton.”

“What?” Kong Fangzhou could hardly believe it.

“Why not test it out and see?” Zhang Jiaohua said with a smile.

Kong Fangzhou picked up one of Zhang Jiaohua’s forged Five-Thunder Swords in one hand, and held his own in the other. He clashed them together. With a sharp clang, one of them instantly shattered into useless scrap metal. It was his own. His version couldn’t withstand even a single strike from Zhang Jiaohua’s.

The broken blade clattered to the floor. Zhang Jiaohua laughed, “Well, you agreed to it yourself.”

Kong Fangzhou, however, was cheerful. “So it broke—so what? One day, I’ll definitely forge a Five-Thunder Sword better than yours.”

Zhang Jiaohua felt a little embarrassed. “Actually, your Five-Thunder Sword wasn’t bad at all.”