Chapter 75

"Mrs. Fu, do you have any leftover wine, the dregs left by others? There’s a big meeting this afternoon, and Xiao Han doesn’t drink, so opening a bottle would be a waste."

"Only Si Gang Da Qu is left."

"Si Gang people drink Si Gang Da Qu, that’s perfect. Pour us three glasses."

Old Lu didn’t care much about the quality of the wine. As he put it, all wines over 5 yuan a bottle were pretty much the same.

Not having wine was absolutely unacceptable, just like smoking, it was an addiction. No matter where he was, he had to have a drink at noon.

He didn’t care much about the quality, and his wife was still a farmer, with land to tend. They raised several batches of silkworms every year, and Deputy Secretary Cui, who had to go home to do farm work right after work, cared even less. They only drank wine and tea, never soft drinks, and never thought to get soft drinks for the hardworking members of the arrest team.

The food was 80 yuan per person, the wine was the leftover Si Gang Da Qu, and there were no soft drinks at all. The celebration banquet was not exactly lavish, but the two leaders had the heart to treat everyone to a meal, which was already quite a feat.

Other township leaders and police leaders would only invite higher-ups, not their subordinates.

Chen Meng was very excited, and Xiao Ren was deeply moved.

Mi Jinlong was used to it and didn’t feel anything special.

Under Old Lu’s constant questioning, Han Bo recounted in detail the hospitality they received on this trip.

"Manager Wang invited the military division leaders when he went to Chang last year, and they also stayed at the military division guesthouse. When you retire, you can go to Beijing for a visit, and stop by Linfang to enjoy the same treatment."

"Secretary Lu, we are benefiting from your influence, and Chief Chang is giving us face because of you."

His words carried weight, and a single phone call accomplished such a big task, even stirring the Linfang Municipal Party Committee and the military division commander.

Old Lu was very pleased and pointed at him, laughing, "Xiao Han, seeing is believing. After this trip, do you believe I wasn’t exaggerating? In the county, they have the final say. Outside Si Gang, they are just on the sidelines."

"I believe, I’m convinced."

"Ha ha ha, work hard, and you’ll have your day too."

"Secretary Lu, my job is to offend people. I don’t think I’ll have that day, I can’t compare to you."

"Is there any job that doesn’t offend people? Not offending people makes you a mediocre official. I went to demolish Mi Jinlong’s house, which is almost like digging up someone’s ancestral grave, a major offense. But could we not do it? The village party secretary was having a second child, and without taking strong measures, how could we carry out family planning in the whole township?"

Old Lu brought up the sore spot, and Mi Jinlong grumbled, "Secretary Lu, so many years have passed, why keep bringing it up..."

"What’s wrong with bringing it up? You dared to have the child, so why be afraid of others talking about it? Mi Jinlong, I, Lu Huisheng, targeted you as a typical case!"

This incident caused a big stir back then, not just in the county, but in the city.

If the township didn’t take action, the higher-ups definitely would have.

Moreover, although the house was demolished, it wasn’t left in ruins. They were afraid the family wouldn’t be able to survive, so they found ways to help solve their practical problems.

Old Lu had a soft heart despite his tough words, and Mi Jinlong had never held a grudge against him. Continuing the conversation would be awkward, so Deputy Secretary Cui changed the topic, "Secretary Lu, today is a celebration, let’s talk about good things."

"Right, I almost got confused by this brat Mi Jinlong."

Old Lu slapped the table and laughed, "Comrade Han Bo, the township party committee has decided to appoint you as the assistant to the township head. From now on, you will have two roles: a regular township cadre and a police liaison. Old Li’s office will be reserved for you. When there’s work in the township, you’ll work at the township government; when there’s no work, you’ll go to the police station."

The position of assistant to the township head is not a leadership role and has no direct relation to rank.

Your rank remains the same, and your salary won’t increase, but in Si Gang and even in all of Nangang, this position is generally reserved for selected cadres and is appointed by the county party organization department, usually with the treatment of a deputy section-level position, though not officially a deputy section-level. After serving in a township, you will be promoted to a deputy section-level position.

It’s one thing to appoint a deputy director of the police station, but can you appoint an assistant to the township head at will?

Han Bo was at a loss, and he said with a bitter smile, "Secretary Lu, this isn’t appropriate. I’ve only been working for a short time and don’t have the qualifications."

"Let me finish."

Old Lu put down his chopsticks and said indignantly, "Everyone says I, Lu Huisheng, have no education, that I run a one-man show, and that I’m an independent kingdom. I may not be educated, but which word in the central and provincial documents do I not recognize? According to the rules, should there be assistants in townships? I haven’t seen any such documents. They are the ones running a one-man show, an independent kingdom, and setting up positions at will.

Our Liangzhuang is also a level of the party and government. If the higher-ups can do it, why can’t our Liangzhuang township party committee? Whoever appoints you has to explain it. I say you are, and you are. Of course, to show respect to the county party organization department, I asked Secretary Cui to submit a report, and the county didn’t object. Instead, they issued an appointment document, as if our Liangzhuang township party committee’s appointment was invalid and only theirs was valid."

The county not only considers your appointment invalid but is also worried that other townships will follow suit, leading to a flood of assistant appointments that would be hard to manage.

More importantly, you are already on the county party organization department’s list of reserve cadres, have attended the young cadre training program, and all your classmates have been promoted to deputy section-level positions, except you. Appointing you as an assistant to the township head is a way to resolve the issue of the young cadre training program.

Deputy Secretary Cui, who handled the matter specifically, knew the ins and outs but didn’t want to disappoint Old Lu, so he never explained.

He tried to suppress his laughter and said solemnly, "Xiao Han, the township’s appointment of you as an assistant to the township head has a reason, including the public arrest meeting this afternoon, all to prepare for the upcoming work."

"What kind of work?"

"Secretary Lu, shall I explain?"

"Go ahead, I’ll fill in any gaps."

Deputy Secretary Cui cleared his throat and said, as if giving a report, "First, for the social security of the entire township. The autumn harvest is almost over, and many villagers have nothing to do. Migrant workers are returning home, and students will be on holiday at the end of the year, making the security situation increasingly severe. The judicial office has only two people, and they have been assisting the civil affairs office with funeral reform. The comprehensive governance office has only Zhou Zhengfa and a sign, so the police station is the only one that can really make a difference. Appointing you as an assistant to the township head will allow you to take charge of legal education and dispute mediation.

Second, starting from the end of the month, the township will launch several major projects. Three teaching buildings for Liangzhuang Middle School, one teaching building and a canteen for Liangzhuang Primary School, a building for the nursing home, a road from Liangdong to Liunan, the renovation of several sluice gates on the Liuxia River, and the renovation of dangerous bridges in six villages, plus the construction of a new Liangzhuang village, with a total investment exceeding 10 million yuan!

In other words, Liangzhuang will soon become a large construction site. It was not easy to raise this money. It includes funds obtained from the higher-ups, funds raised by the people, and more importantly, the fiscal surplus saved by the township over the years. Building materials must not be stolen, construction sites must not have accidents, and the construction schedule must be guaranteed. You need to ensure the smooth progress of the construction, and the position of assistant to the township head will make your work more convenient."

Everyone says Old Lu is barely holding on, and everyone is waiting for Liangzhuang to become a debt-ridden township.

If Liangzhuang really had no money, would Old Lu dare to launch so many construction projects at once?

It turns out he had a big plan!

This isn’t just a rush to build; it’s a way to reduce the pressure on his successor.

For example, the "universal nine-year compulsory education" standard has been set, and it will be inspected in a few years. If he doesn’t complete part of it, the next party secretary will have to take on debt to start the projects, as no one can come up with so much construction money at once.

Han Bo secretly admired him and asked curiously, "Secretary Lu, Secretary Cui, what’s the new Liangzhuang village? I’ve never heard of it."

Mentioning this, Old Lu was proud, "People outside are right, our Liangzhuang government has no money, but the people do. Urban household registration is unexpectedly popular. We planned to sell 1,500, but in a week, we sold more than 2,000. Becoming urban residents, of course, they want to live in the city. When I went to the villages a few days ago, everyone asked me how to solve the housing problem, and everyone wanted me to approve homesteads, all for their children.

Primary and secondary schools have been merged, and the distance to school is too far, which is inconvenient and unsafe. It makes sense. Liangzhuang Middle School and Liangzhuang Primary School have many teachers who don’t live in Liangzhuang and have been squeezed into the old school dormitories, which are in poor condition. They have always wanted to build houses. So, we decided to build them together, right across from your police station. It will be apartment buildings, commercial housing, with indoor bathrooms, just like in big cities. If you’re interested, you can buy one."

It’s a case of not making a sound until you make a big noise, and he’s even getting into real estate.

Unlike Manager Zuo in Jiangcheng, if he dares to build, the houses will definitely sell, or perhaps people have already paid.

Buying a house is out of the question; the new house in the county is empty, and he has to ask Yang Xiaomei to open the windows and ventilate it every few days, or it will mold.

But this meal wasn’t for nothing; at least he got the position of assistant to the township head.

Although his salary didn’t increase and his rank didn’t change, it sounds good.

Director Zhang is the assistant to the county head, and I’m probably the first assistant to the township head in the entire county police system. How about the police station chief, and the criminal investigation team? Who can be a half-leader in the township like me?

Thinking about this, Han Bo felt a bit elated.

…………………………

PS: Cover, resentment.

Do I really have to make a cartoon cover? Do I really have to go to an advertising company? My elementary school teacher didn’t teach me Photoshop, and I’m really frustrated at this critical moment.

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