Chapter 56

"Double happiness?"

Lu Huisheng took the strong tea from the on-duty cadre, smiled, and confirmed, "The higher-ups aren't enforcing the restrictions on converting agricultural to non-agricultural status very strictly. Household registration has been for sale for several years. The county government was hesitant before, but now that others have gotten away with it, they've become bolder and just issued a document to relax the rules. A household registration costs 6,000 yuan. As long as you pay, you can convert from agricultural to non-agricultural status and become an urban resident."

For ordinary people, converting their household registration to non-agricultural status is quite tempting.

But you're not an ordinary person. How could you not know that this household registration is actually worthless?

So many enterprises in the county have collapsed, and tens of thousands of urban residents are unemployed or laid off. They don't get assigned jobs; they just get a booklet. Isn't this misleading? This isn't your style, Old Lu.

Han Bo was puzzled, and Niu Qingshan smiled without speaking.

Lu Huisheng put down his teacup and said excitedly, "Our Liangzhuang has a total population of 36,800, of which 1,921 are non-agricultural. In other words, if we sell 1,500 household registrations, the non-agricultural population will exceed 10% of the total population. This meets the criteria set by the State Council in the 'Report on Adjusting Town Establishment Standards' issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs."

Han Bo suddenly understood and blurted out, "Transform the township into a town!"

"Smart. Think about it. Once our Liangzhuang Township is upgraded to a town and stands on equal footing with Dinghu, how can he, with his mountain of debt and 29 months of unpaid wages for cadres and teachers, swallow us? The application materials are being prepared. The township government's request, the resolution of the township people's congress, the minutes of the township government's seminar on transforming the township into a town... It's not very complicated, and the comrades are very enthusiastic.

I've contacted all the old cadres who care about Liangzhuang's development, the Liangzhuang-born leaders, and military commanders who care about the construction of their hometown. They are very supportive. It's not an exaggeration to say that this is the will of the people. The wishes of over 30,000 cadres and masses in Liangzhuang must be seriously considered by the county. If the county disagrees, I, Lu Huisheng, won't accept it, and the people of Liangzhuang won't accept it either. We can say that everything is ready except for the 1,500 non-agricultural residents."

Liangzhuang has a longer history than Dinghu, and its economic situation is better. If all the criteria for upgrading to a town are met, and there is such strong support from old cadres, Liangzhuang-born leaders, and military commanders, the county can't stop it.

I've only heard of transforming townships into towns, not merging towns into towns.

If Liangzhuang Township becomes Liangzhuang Town, the threat of being merged into Dinghu will naturally be eliminated.

Cadres, teachers, and retirees won't have to worry about their wages being divided among the cadres, teachers, and retirees of Dinghu, who are in dire straits. Farmers won't have to worry about bearing the high fundraising burdens of Dinghu residents. This is truly the will of the people.

But what does this have to do with me? Could it be that I have to be assigned a task, with each cadre responsible for selling a certain number of household registrations?

"To serve the people, we must bring benefits to the region. Xiao Han, we have to bite the bullet and tackle this tough task. You've exceeded your debt collection target. The bonus for the excess will be settled tomorrow morning. You don't need to come; I'll have the finance office deliver it to you. I hope you will continue to work hard, achieve new successes, and complete the task of converting agricultural to non-agricultural status with the same enthusiasm."

What I feared has come true. It was indeed guessed correctly.

I am a police officer, a people's police. My job is to combat crime and maintain public order, not to do these messy things.

The police have no status, and in the face of overstepping orders, they can't refuse.

Although Old Lu is quite over the line, he's not particularly so. In a county in a western province, to adjust the industrial structure, to return farmland to forest, and to gradually transform an agricultural county into a semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral county, the county government planned to achieve a target of 9,000 dairy cows within two years. They required all departments to raise dairy cows, set targets, and meet them on schedule. Among them, the Public Security Bureau was given a task to raise 40 cows, with the bureau chief and political commissar each responsible for 10, and the bureau itself for 20.

It's absurd and incomprehensible.

Although the case of police officers raising dairy cows is rare, this phenomenon exists to varying degrees across the country.

A county planned to build a large-scale science and technology demonstration zone, led by the county political and legal affairs commission, with the Public Security Bureau, Procuratorate, and Court jointly participating. Despite the objections of the police officers, they raised 130,000 yuan and built a "Flower Demonstration Garden" using a shareholding system.

Due to lack of technical expertise, the seedless watermelons planted by the police officers grew like cucumbers. When cut open, they had no red flesh. One police officer said, "We are experts in solving cases and catching thieves, but when it comes to growing vegetables and melons, three of us can't match one farmer."

It's truly a case of neglecting one's own field to cultivate someone else's!

Han Bo looked worried and hesitated to speak.

He had just started working in Liangzhuang and didn't know many people, making it difficult to complete this task.

Niu Qingshan, knowing his concerns, smiled and said, "Xiao Han, the task for the police station is not heavy, only 40. Secretary Lu, considering your actual difficulties, has decided to formally hand over the public security patrol team to you. The patrol team members are familiar with the situation, so you can assign the task to them."

The patrol team should be able to handle this, but the key is how to manage them.

"Secretary Lu, what about the funding? Without funding, it's hard to carry out the work."

Before, there was no money, but now it's more abundant, and the public security patrol fees are not a big deal. Besides, there's a more important task for you to handle. Lu Huisheng was very generous, waving his hand, "Don't worry about this. From now on, the public security patrol fees will be used exclusively for this purpose."

With funding, they will be more cooperative. With over ten more people under his command, Han Bo could better carry out his work in the future.

Han Bo was overjoyed and immediately offered a cigarette, "Secretary Lu, as long as there's funding, I guarantee to complete any task and maintain the security of the entire township. I will make Liangzhuang the safest township in the county, city, and even the province!"

"I believe in your ability; you can definitely do it. However, the place for the sericulture guidance station is suitable for collecting cocoons or doing business, but not for a police station. The police need to have a deterrent presence. Working in a small office doesn't count. Besides, it's too small for the patrol team to move in.

Xiao Han, Minister Niu is a comrade-in-arms with your former unit's leader. We've inquired about your character and trust you. I not only trust you with the patrol team but also with the household registration records. This way, when people need an ID card or a certificate, they won't have to go to the township government first and then to the police station; they can go directly to the police station."

Handing over the household registration records is a significant sign of trust.

Han Bo was deeply moved and stood up to guarantee, "Please rest assured, Secretary Lu. Without the approval of the township party committee and government, I will not hand over the household registration records to the Dinghu Police Station."

"Good, that's how Liangzhuang cadres should be. Sit down, let's continue discussing the police station."

Lu Huisheng tapped the table and said, "A township can't do without a police station, and a town even more so! After the party committee meeting, it was decided to use the office building of the refractory materials factory as the police station. It's a three-story building with a yard, a guard room, and a canteen. It faces south, and the entrance is right on the Siliang Road. The working conditions are better than even the county Public Security Bureau, let alone the Dinghu Police Station, which is tucked away in a corner.

Move in tomorrow and start working. I'll have someone make the signs for you. There will be three: one for the Liangzhuang Township Police Station of the Sige County Public Security Bureau, one for the Liangzhuang Township Public Security Patrol Team, and one for the Liangzhuang Township Police Station of the Sige County Public Security Bureau. If the county Civil Affairs Bureau sends officials to survey the situation for transforming the township into a town, you can hang the police station sign. Once they leave, take it down. Do you understand?"

To fabricate for the transformation of the township into a town, you'll bear the brunt if anything goes wrong. What do I have to fear?

Besides, the Civil Affairs Bureau can't control the Public Security Bureau. It would be foolish not to take advantage of this. A three-story office building is a good deal. Han Bo smiled, "I understand. Everything for the big picture of transforming the township into a town. I know what to do when the time comes."

...

PS: The recommendation votes exceeded 500 yesterday. Thanks to all my brothers and sisters for your support. I'll add another chapter. Please continue to support me with favorites, recommendations, reviews, suggestions, and donations.