Chapter 62: Liu Zhihua's Method

  This week's update schedule has changed, with one update in the morning and one in the afternoon. If this causes great inconvenience to readers, please forgive me. If you still find it readable, I'm deeply grateful.

  Ding Yuan was reading materials when Liao Hongyun came in.

  "Secretary Ding, Xu Shaojie has performed very well in Yudu District, this is all due to your keen eye for talent."

  "Lao Liao, do you know some news?"

  "Xiao Xu has been in Yudu District for only a few months, but has caused quite a stir in the area. Especially after starting the tobacco procurement work, all of Xiao Xu's actions have received very positive feedback from farmers. It's rare to see such a situation. You probably don't know that Xiao Xu even taught a lesson to some thugs at the tobacco procurement point and they no longer dare to cause trouble there. And then there's Yu FuGui from Huaguan Village, someone like him has been serving as village secretary for so long, it's unbelievable what the district government has been doing all this time."

  "Hehe, let's not talk about Xiao Xu's situation for now. Currently, there are some common problems in the grassroots organizations. Most young and middle-aged people have gone out to work, and the phenomenon of aging party members is very serious. In some villages, the village branch committees have lost their fighting power and appeal. This issue needs to be mentioned at the next organizational work conference."

  "Secretary Ding, the research report from the municipal party committee's policy research office last time has been sent to the organization department. This issue has already drawn attention and will be listed as an important agenda item at the upcoming organizational work conference to strengthen grassroots organization construction."

  "Hmm, that's good. At the meeting, I'll talk about the problems of grassroots organizations. Yu Fugui is a typical lesson. Such a loser has been serving as village branch secretary for a long time, how will the masses view our party organization?"

  "Secretary Ding, I think there is a serious problem with the team in Yudu District. There are village branch secretaries like this below. Do you think it's suggested that Huai'an Municipal Party Committee make some adjustments? I think Little Xu can take on the role of district party secretary."

  "It's not urgent, Little Xu has just started and it won't take long. Some things still need to be experienced by himself, I believe Little Xu will definitely have his own thoughts on this matter. Let him handle these things himself, we shouldn't interfere too much, let him go through the training and see how he handles these things next."

  Ding Yuan didn't mention Liu Zhihua's case, he believed that Xu Shaojie would definitely find a way to deal with it. When Xu Shaojie reported the matter earlier, Ding Yuan had already sensed Xu's anger. Now that Yu Fugui's case has been thoroughly exposed, Ding Yuan is even more convinced that Xu Shaojie will gradually reveal Liu Zhihua's wrongdoings until he is brought to justice. At this point, the municipal party committee intervened in a matter that should have been handled by Huai'an City, which didn't do any good for Xu Shaojie. Moreover, Xu Shaojie had only recently arrived at Yudou District and was suddenly promoted, so it's uncertain whether his subordinates would obey him.

  Everything in Yudu District seems normal on the surface, despite Yu Fugui's arrest, which sparked a brief controversy. However, this controversy quickly disappeared with the passage of time. But changes do exist, and those who feel the change are the members of the Yudu District committee. The district committee's decision-making rules have undergone some changes. In the past, personnel adjustments within the Yudu District were all decided by Liu Zhihua's word, and whoever he said would do what was done without any rules or regulations. However, since Xu Shaojie arrived, this situation has been disrupted. Several months have passed, and the district committee has not studied personnel adjustments, and Liu Zhihua has not even mentioned the matter. Secondly, Liu Zhihua's attitude has changed. His patriarchal style is well-known to all members of the team, who are used to his dictatorial tone and frequent use of foul language, which he does not consider insulting to others. Now, however, this is slowly changing, especially after Yu Fugui's arrest, Liu Zhihua seems to be intentionally controlling his emotions and has not sworn for a long time. Finally, Liu Zhihua's temper has changed. In the past, Xu Shaojie's approach would have been considered a serious offense, and Liu Zhihua would have taken drastic action against him. Now, however, there is no movement, and even the previous controversy is slowly disappearing. These changes make the team members feel that Xu Shaojie is not simple.

  The authority of the district party secretary is mainly reflected in two aspects. On the one hand, it is the personnel power. If you don't listen to him, he can adjust your position at any time, until you are asked to leave or even lose your job. If he likes you, he can promote you to a higher position by continuously recommending you to the superior. On the other hand, it is the financial power. Every unit and individual needs money, and having more or less money makes a big difference.

  Xu Shaojie's arrival is considered to have cut off one of Liu Zhihua's important powers. The team members do not believe that Liu Zhihua will remain unmoved, as this does not conform to his character. It is known that the mountains and rivers can be changed, but one's nature cannot be moved. Therefore, most of the team members are taking a wait-and-see attitude in this game, not speaking or expressing their opinions, waiting to see the next development, and waiting for Liu Zhihua's thunderbolt strike.

  "The year is coming to an end, and the municipal party committee will soon start inspecting all aspects of work. Through everyone's joint efforts, all the work in the district has been carried out well and achieved great results. Just now, all members of the team made reports on their respective work, and I am very satisfied. The purpose of today's meeting is to do a good job of summarizing and welcoming the inspection by the municipal party committee and government. Today, I would like to specially commend the work of Yulin Township Government. The tobacco procurement is nearing its end, and Yulin Township Tobacco Procurement Point has collected the most tobacco with the best order. This is inseparable from the hard work of township government officials, and they should be commended. I hope Yulin Township Government will continue to work hard and achieve even greater results. Secretary Xu, at the end of the year, the district party committee and government will commend advanced units, and such exemplary models should be commended. I'm saying this in advance today."

  The meeting room was very quiet, and everyone did not expect that Liu Zhihua would actually propose to commend the Yulin Township Government. Xu Shaojie was the resident leader, and for several months, the Yulin Township Government had almost been out of Liu Zhihua's supervision. Big or small things were all decided by Xu Shaojie, and such a typical case was actually going to be commended. Not many people could see through Liu Zhihua for the first time.

  "Thank you, Secretary Liu, for your affirmation of Yulin Township Government's work. I will definitely tell all the cadres in the township government to continue working hard and achieve even greater results."

  "Alright, this matter is settled. The Yulin Township Government will be commended as an advanced model, and Comrade Xu Shaojie will represent the District Committee to convey the meeting's decision to the Yulin Township Government.

  There's another matter that needs to be brought up before the meeting ends. Yu Fuquan from Huaguan Village is a heinous criminal who has done something that makes people ashamed, causing great harm to the image of the Party and government. In my opinion, even if such a person were executed, it would not be enough to make amends.

  The leadership team in Huaguan Village was previously manipulated by Yu Fuquan, and they were unable to do their job properly. Comrade Xu Shaojie, representing the District Committee and Public Office, made a decisive adjustment of personnel, and Comrade Liu Mu took charge of the work in Huaguan Village. He has done an excellent job during this period, and the village's appearance has undergone significant changes.

  A few days ago, I visited the village, and the farmers all expressed gratitude to the Communist Party and the government. I am very satisfied with what Comrade Xu Shaojie has achieved in redeeming the negative impact caused by Yu Fuquan and maintaining the image of the District Committee and Public Office.

  I agree with Comrade Xu Shaojie's proposal that Comrade Liu Mu be appointed as Deputy Secretary of the Yulin Township Party Committee, concurrently serving as Village Secretary of Huaguan Village, responsible for reorganizing the village branch committee. Does anyone have any differing opinions?"

  Liu Zhihua said that Xu Shaojie must make a corresponding explanation on this matter. After Yu Fugui's incident, Xu Shaojie considered the village branch and committee of Huaguan Village and temporarily appointed Liu Mu to be in charge of the work in Huaguan Village. After Huaguan Village returned to calm, he made a special report to Liu Zhihua and suggested that Liu Mu temporarily take on the role of secretary of Huaguan Village. This was a bold move. Liu Mu was a national cadre, taking on the role of village secretary was a bold innovation, and now there is no such precedent in the whole city.

  "I'd like to make a brief explanation. Comrade Liu Mu is a state cadre and also serves as the village secretary of Huaguan Village. Due to some special circumstances in Huaguan Village, it's necessary to maintain stability. Comrade Liu Mu is different from other village secretaries; he has a salary and doesn't receive any subsidies from the village. At the same time, he can't neglect his other responsibilities. Just now, Secretary Liu proposed that Comrade Liu Mu take on the role of deputy secretary of Yulin Township Party Committee and concurrently serve as Huaguan Village secretary. I completely agree with this arrangement, which reflects the attitude and wisdom of the district committee and government in handling this matter."

  Xu Shaojie still admired Liu Zhihua, after all, he was from the grassroots level. Xu Shaojie had been considering this difficult problem. If Liu Mu lost his national cadre status because of this, it would be a joke he created himself. Liu Mu wouldn't agree to that, and neither would Xu Shaojie. At present, the higher-ups were discussing the reform of the cadre system, so Xu Shaojie was being cautious at this critical moment. Therefore, Xu Shaojie reported to Liu Zhihua privately and expressed his own doubts. As the district party secretary, personnel adjustments were a matter that Xu Shaojie couldn't avoid involving Liu Zhihua in. He hadn't expected Liu Zhihua to easily resolve the issue.

  After Xu Shaojie made the explanation, the conference room was filled with discussions. The matter of a national cadre serving as a village secretary was something that everyone had never seen before, so no one spoke up or expressed their opinion.

  "Alright, this matter is settled. After the meeting, the district committee will immediately issue a document. Secretary Xu, who is in charge of organizational work, will represent the district committee and district government to announce the formal appointment, and also have a talk with Comrade Liu Mu. Today's meeting will end here, dismissed."

  Xu Shaojie really couldn't understand why Liu Zhihua would do this. The two things brought up at the meeting were both beneficial to himself. Firstly, commending Yulin Township Government, he was the stationed leader, commending Yulin Township Government was equivalent to commending himself. Secondly, regarding Liu Mu's appointment decision, Liu Zhihua's consideration was very mature, solving the identity problem. Liu Mu concurrently served as the secretary of Huaguan Village, and his main position was still deputy secretary of Yulin Township Party Committee. Who didn't know that Liu Mu was now Xu Shaojie's trusted confidant? Was it possible that Liu Zhihua was preparing to make amends with himself?

  The members of the Yu Du district team were even more confused, what does this mean? Is it said that Liu Zhihua and Xu Shaojie had already reached an agreement privately, and the previous entanglements between them had disappeared? This is not in line with Liu Zhihua's style. Everyone was really puzzled and became even more suspicious.

  Zhang Shikui sat in Liu Zhihua's office, with a look of doubt on his face.

  "Shi Wei, don't ask anything, I also know what you want to ask."

  "Secretary Liu, I really don't understand, you didn't have to do this."

  "It's easy to invite a god but hard to send him away. Xu Shaojie has an extraordinary background, I don't dare offend him. What do you think, is there any good solution?"

  "Oh, Secretary Liu, I understand now, you're really clever. In that case, the municipal party committee will definitely take it into consideration."

  "Uh, it's almost the end of the year. This matter, just knowing is enough, don't leak any information, especially don't let Xu Shaojie find out. He just started working and isn't familiar with these aspects yet. If he figures out our plan, there will be trouble."

  "Secretary Liu, don't worry, I know what's at stake."

  Xu Shaojie, on behalf of the district committee and government, went to the Hualin Township Government to announce the decision of the district committee meeting. Zhao Deli and Dong Guihua were overjoyed and shouted that they would go to a restaurant to eat, also asking Liu Mu to treat them. Liu Mu's expression was somewhat strange, unable to say whether he was sad or happy. Of course, so-called "private treating" was just a joke. Nowadays, everyone's salary is not high, and they need to support their families. One meal would mean that the wife and children at home would have no food for half a month. The current salary situation is also infuriating, with salaries often not being paid in full each month, accumulating debt month after month. Fortunately, it was almost year-end, when salaries are usually fully paid. Xu Shaojie knew that this was due to the city's circumstances, and Huai'an City was relatively good, always paying salaries on time. However, Huaiyang City had two counties under its jurisdiction that could not pay salaries in full, instead using locally produced cigarettes as compensation, which led to strong dissatisfaction among cadres and staff, but there was no solution.

  Xu Shaojie finally decided to have dinner at the township government, which was financially difficult and didn't have the power to eat and drink extravagantly. The township government's annual budget was pitifully small. Zhao Deli and Dong Guihua didn't insist, but felt a bit embarrassed. Dong Guihua still went to arrange for food in the cafeteria. Both of them said that if they received recognition from the district committee and district office, there would definitely be rewards. At that time, everyone could go to a restaurant and have a good meal together.

  When it comes to eating, everyone was a bit shy at first. Xu Shaojie, the deputy secretary in charge of organizational work, had many opportunities to eat at restaurants, but for various reasons, he rarely went to restaurants. When guests came from the city, if they were slightly important, the secretary and district head would accompany them, and Xu Shaojie wouldn't go. For general guests, Huang He represented the agency to entertain them, and Xu Shaojie didn't like to go. No one at the station had invited Xu Shaojie to eat, and until now, he hadn't inquired about the station's affairs. He only emphasized doing a good job at relevant meetings and educating the station head after asking for instructions once, but then disappeared from sight. The cultural station was too poor to invite guests to dinner. This also involves the issue of smoking. Xu Shaojie shouldn't have needed to buy his own cigarettes, as someone should have been responsible for providing them. However, since he arrived a few months ago, he had always paid for his own cigarettes. These details reflect some actual problems.

  Xu Shaojie didn't care about these things, so Zhao Deli and Dong Guihua didn't mind them either. Xu Shaojie wasn't a fool, of course he understood the subtleties, having been working for almost half a year now. If he had to rely on his salary to live, Xu Shaojie was afraid he would have to pawn off even his pants. It was all because Zhang Shaocai was supporting him from behind, so Xu Shaojie didn't care. Not one cent of Xu Shaojie's salary was touched, and every time Zhang Shaocai would put a few hundred yuan and some cigarettes in Xu Shaojie's room. When Xu Shaojie returned to the city, there would always be money and cigarettes on his desk, and he wouldn't decline them, taking them without hesitation.

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