Chapter 1339: Chapter 159: Leadership Inspection (3)_2

"If I’ve retired, then I’ve retired. The so-called continuation of contributing is just causing trouble for the leaders. I don’t need that office, and I won’t join any Old Promotion Association or Care and Guidance Committee. As for the Old Cadres University, I’m already a professor-level senior engineer; what university would I attend?"

Han Yu believed he was speaking his mind because he was different from other old comrades.

He was blessed with a daughter, and given his age, he cherished every minute spent with her. Coming out for half a day, he probably already started missing his child, having no interest in hanging out with a group of retired senior officials.

Minister Yang also knew that Old Ge was not interested in activities from the Old Cadres Bureau, and joked, "It’s indeed not quite fitting for you to be a student at the Old Cadres University, but you could go there as a teacher and give some lectures to the old comrades."

"Stop joking. Giving lectures? Do you really think they’re there to learn? They’re just bored and can’t let go of the little power they had. When their influence wanes, and they can’t sleep at home, they go to the Old Cadres Bureau to find some sense of purpose and validation."

Old Ge showed disdain, almost as if his face read: "Look how low we have fallen!"

Han Yu couldn’t help but laugh, thinking that after the flood relief, Old Ge really didn’t have many friends left in Linghai. His worldview and status were at least at the department bureau level, and aside from Secretary Wang, who also participated in the flood relief, the retired officials in Linghai weren’t qualified to hang out with him, and even if they did, they wouldn’t have much to talk about.

As they laughed and talked, Yang Jianbo’s voice came through the radio on the table.

"Minister Yang, Minister Yang, the leadership convoy has reached the gate."

"Got it."

Minister Yang responded and immediately stood up.

Old Ge extinguished his cigarette butt, calmly stood up, adjusted his camouflage uniform without any military rank, and went out to greet him accompanied by Minister Yang and Han Yu.

Cars continuously drove into the camp courtyard one after another.

Zhang Erxiao, although not a reserve officer in the transportation system, loved to join in on the fun and even stand out. Not only did he come today, but he also waved a small flag to direct the parking.

Secretary Lu, Vice Mayor Qin, and Secretary Qian from Linghai accompanied Deputy Minister Yuan as they stepped out of the Toyota van. Old Ge, all smiles, quickly approached to greet them.

"Hello, Minister Yuan."

"Master Ge!"

"Minister Yuan, your memory is excellent. I didn’t expect you to remember me despite your busy schedule."

During the 1998 flood relief, there were only a few anti-flood models in the transportation system, and Old Ge was the oldest among them.

Later, Secretary Lu had Old Ge go to "run for funds," and during his "PR" efforts at the Ministry of Transport, he met Deputy Minister Yuan once more. Out of respect for the old model, Deputy Minister Yuan chatted with Old Ge for seven or eight minutes at the gate.

Because of this, Deputy Minister Yuan had a deep impression of Old Ge.

He looked Old Ge up and down, incredulous that Old Ge would appear here, tightly shook Old Ge’s hand, and asked with a smile, "Master Ge, are you also serving in the reserves? Are you also a reserve officer in the Linghai Reserve Camp?"

Secretary Lu introduced with a smile, "Minister Yuan, the Linghai Reserve Camp is a flood-control mobile rescue camp established upon the requirements of our Jiangnan Provincial Committee, Provincial Government, and Jiangnan Military District. It is highly specialized in flood relief and rescue, and not just anyone can complete the task. Thus, the Linghai Reserve Camp has set up an expert group, and Master Ge is one of the experts hired by the camp."

"Now that you mention it, I remember. If it weren’t for being an expert in the camp, Master Ge wouldn’t have gone to the Jingjiang Embankment for flood relief."

"Minister Yuan, you might find this hard to believe, but although the Linghai Reserve Camp is just a battalion-level unit, the specifications of its expert group are astonishingly high. Master Ge is a professor-level senior engineer, and in addition, there are professor-level senior officials from the Yangtze River Water Resources Commission, senior economists, and even professor-level senior engineers hired from the meteorological system."

Secretary Lu smiled and added, "The meteorological expert in the camp is Director Xiao Han’s father, Friend Salted Fish’s father-in-law. He was once our Binjiang Meteorological Bureau’s deputy chief engineer and chief forecaster."

"A gathering of talents indeed. No wonder you achieved such great success in the 1998 flood relief."

As soon as Deputy Minister Yuan finished speaking, Old Ge turned to look at Yang Jianbo and others who were on standby: "Don’t laugh at us, Minister Yuan. During the flood relief, we old folks could only help with logistics. The success was mainly due to the reserve soldiers of the transportation system."

Yang Jianbo, understanding Old Ge’s intentions, saluted Deputy Minister Yuan upon Han Yu’s indication: "Commander, the Linghai Reserve Camp is conducting military training. Please give your instructions, Camp Commander Yang Jianbo!"

"Greetings, comrades."

"Hello, Commander!"

"Comrades, you’ve worked hard."

"Serve the people!"

Today’s "military training" was specially held for the Yangtze River Bridge construction; if the performance wasn’t good, leaders from Linghai to Binjiang wouldn’t be pleased.

Moreover, the leaders inspecting today were not other leaders but those from the Ministry of Transport, an authority of authorities...

Sun Youyi, Wu Hai Li, and others stood tall and proudly, looking quite the part. Without looking at their military ranks, those unaware would think they were an active-duty force.

Changhang Police Bureau also belonged to the Ministry of Transport. Xiao Yu shouted the loudest, and Han Yu standing beside him quietly gave him a thumbs-up.

At this moment, Secretary Lu seized the opportunity to say, "Friend Jianbo, introduce the officers and soldiers to Minister Yuan."

"Yes!" Yang Jianbo collected himself, accompanied Deputy Minister Yuan to the front of the lineup, and introduced, "Commander, this is our camp instructor, Friend Sun Youyi, who is also the general manager of Linghai Transportation Road and Bridge Co., Ltd."

"Hello, Commander."

"Hello, hello."