Chapter 20: A Refreshing Revelation Leaves Everyone Astonished!

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Tang Ye skillfully connected his laptop to the projector. He opened a video titled "Wellness Town" and set it to full screen. Accompanied by the background music of "Spring Returns to the Earth," the wide-angle shot began with a sweeping lake view. A boatman, dressed in a straw raincoat and wearing a bamboo hat, rowed a flat boat through the reeds, softly singing a local water-town folk tune.

The scene then shifted, displaying the words "History, Present, Future." In the conference room, many attendees began whispering to each other. "The opening is well done; it feels like watching a blockbuster." "I didn’t expect Pinghu Town to have such a trump card!"

Twenty years from now, when governments compete to attract investment, local promotional videos have become a standard tool. Back in 2005, government project presentations mainly relied on PowerPoint slides, reading from scripts as a routine procedure. Previous town meetings involved handing out piles of written materials to the investigation team, with speakers standing on stage to promote their projects.

However, Tang Ye’s use of a video presentation was refreshingly innovative. Everyone was captivated by this new, striking, yet elegant approach. The attendees who had been dozing off were now fully awake, eyes fixed on the screen, thinking this direct and effective method provided a sensory stimulation.

But what about the cost? Hiring a professional team must have cost at least hundreds of thousands. The town certainly didn't have spare funds for such a video, so it must have been Tang Ye’s own work. Xia Haiqiao lowered his head, clenching his fists tightly. He hadn’t expected this fellow to have a hidden ace up his sleeve. They had been holding preparatory meetings for days, yet Tang Ye never revealed this secret weapon.

Could it be that this inspection team had been designed by him all along? Then all the hustle and coordination Xia Haiqiao had done in the past few days was just to make a fool of himself. Xu Yiping, who had been calm, now felt utterly frustrated—as if trying to hold back a fart in a jar. It was clear: when comparing efforts, the difference was obvious.

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The contrast between Xu Yiping’s presentation and Tang Ye’s was stark. It was immediately clear who was earnest and who was perfunctory. Xu Yiping had not anticipated that Tang Ye would use this approach to prove his competence, effectively relegating him to a mere backdrop.

The former was mediocre. The latter, breathtaking. Tang Ye narrated alongside the video, describing the integration of Pinghu and the resort. "Pinghu is a historic town with over three thousand years of history. We build upon this cultural heritage to transform Pinghu into a town where ancient culture and modern civilization shine in harmony. In our plan, the resort is just one part of the wellness town. Besides that, I envision cultural tourism, hospitals, large supermarkets, and more.

"Of course, we have disadvantages compared to other towns, but visible problems are solvable. Although Pinghu seems empty now, it is precisely because it is a blank slate that makes it easier to design."

Jiang Jinpeng, watching his favorite student, nodded repeatedly. The reason he valued Tang Ye so highly was that calling him a genius in urban planning was no exaggeration. His team often advised governments nationwide, and Tang Ye always delivered the most suitable plans and solutions. From another perspective, Tang Ye was completely outclassing the competition in this setting.

After ten minutes, the screen went dark, and Tang Ye switched on all the lights in the room. Mayor Zhao led the applause, followed by County Chief Du, and the clapping grew louder. Taking a deep breath, Tang Ye felt that all his preparation over these days had paid off. After countless late nights revising details and exhausting his mental energy, it was worth it.

As the room quieted, Mayor Zhao took the microphone. "Although our visit to Pinghu Town was not smooth—raining and even an accident—we didn’t expect such an exciting promotional presentation. It was truly inspiring. Young Tang is indeed Director Jiang’s prized protégé, demonstrating extraordinary professional skill. He taught us a lesson: investment promotion cannot follow the old ways. We must broaden our horizons, seek new elements and methods, and approach township planning from a higher level with fresh and innovative strategies."

Tang Ye smiled humbly. "Thank you for your encouragement, Mayor Zhao. There are still many imperfections, and I welcome your guidance and criticism."

"Of course, the details of the video can be further refined," Mayor Zhao remarked casually. These minor suggestions showed he cared; if he didn’t, he would have just said ‘noted.’

Tang Ye diligently took notes. Mayor Zhao glanced at his watch. "It’s getting late. Let’s conclude here today; we still have to return to the city."

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Du Chengfeng stood, a smile spreading across his face. The Pinghu Resort project had originally been slated for a neighboring county. But judging by Mayor Zhao’s attitude today, Tianling County might still have a chance. With over two billion yuan of investment at stake, securing this project would be a monumental achievement.

Tang Ye exhaled in relief. He had been somewhat nervous earlier, but from the mayor’s praise, the outcome seemed favorable. The meeting ended.

Jiang Jinpeng approached Tang Ye alone and patted him on the shoulder. "You didn’t embarrass me."

Tang Ye laughed. "Were you afraid I’d let you down, so you deliberately ignored me at first?"

"I figured no matter how badly you did, you’d still outshine the previous speakers," Jiang Jinpeng grinned proudly. "Of course, I was just waiting for the right moment. When you stunned everyone at the forum, that’s when you made a lasting impression!"

They exchanged glances, silent for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. Having worked together for years, they knew each other’s quirks well. Today’s presentation not only proved Tang Ye’s worth but also Jiang Jinpeng’s expertise. The better Tang Ye performed, the more it affirmed that hiring Jiang as an advisor was no empty title.

Trying to impress others with sugar-coated tactics is never sustainable. The highest level is mutual achievement.

Jiang Jinpeng looked at Tang Ye’s lean jawline. "You’ve delivered many reports before, but I’ve never seen you sweat so much."

Tang Ye smiled. "Before, you always had my back. If my report was poor and the client dissatisfied, you would take the blame. Now, I must be responsible for myself and for the people of Pinghu Town. If I fail, many will miss an important opportunity."

Jiang Jinpeng straightened Tang Ye’s shirt collar, making him look more composed. "You’re steadier than before. My worries were unnecessary."

Tang Ye sensed genuine care in his mentor’s tone and felt unexpectedly moved.

From afar, Du Chengfeng watched Jiang Jinpeng and Tang Ye interact warmly. Having such a renowned and brilliant "think tank" as a teacher was a rare political asset. This young man was no ordinary talent, though as a temporary official from the municipal party committee assigned here, Tianling County might not be able to keep him.

Such exceptional talent was hard to come by.