Chapter 15

"Regarding this matter, County Chief, you need to take some responsibility," Xu Junran said slowly to Yang Weitian.

Yang Weitian was taken aback, and his expression towards Xu Junran became somewhat dissatisfied. So, you went through all this just to ask me for help?

"What do you mean by that?" Yang Weitian said coldly.

The little bit of good impression he had of Xu Junran vanished instantly after Xu Junran asked him for help. In his mind, if anyone should take responsibility for this matter, it should be the old secretary, Yan Wangsong. After all, Yan Wangsong had been handling the disputes between the two communes for many years. The current situation is a direct result of his negligence.

As for himself, a cadre who had only been working in Wude County for a few years, there was no need or reason for him to take responsibility for this matter.

Naturally, Yang Weitian did not have a good attitude towards Xu Junran for proposing this idea.

"County Chief, you misunderstood. I mean you need to step in and help by making a guarantee," Xu Junran said.

Yang Weitian's eyebrows raised, and he said with an unhappy expression, "You want me to make a guarantee? Do you know how serious this matter is? Wude County is a poor county. Without mentioning other things, the two communes almost fight every year over irrigation water. Since you grew up in Lijia Town, you should know this. I'm not afraid of taking responsibility, but can you tell me if your method can completely solve this problem? If it can't, who will take responsibility then?"

Looking at Yang Weitian calmly, Xu Junran said seriously, "County Chief, what do you think is the root cause of the problem between the two communes?"

Yang Weitian said impatiently, "Isn't it because they can't get enough food?"

"Yes, they can't get enough food," Xu Junran said calmly. "Food is the first priority for the people, a saying I heard long ago. Now, some of our cadres think these villagers are too barbaric and lack awareness, but how can we talk about propriety and integrity when a person's basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not met?"

"I can see that you are a good person, County Chief, a cadre who truly wants to do something for the people of Wude County. That's why I am earnestly asking you to step in and be the arbitrator for the negotiations between the two communes."

Without showing any emotion, Xu Junran flattered Yang Weitian.

Yang Weitian was not a fool. He knew Xu Junran was clearly flattering him, but he was very pleased. Everyone likes to hear good things, especially when the flattery comes from a top student from Jinghua University, not some ignorant bumpkin. The old men from Lijia Town called this young man a "zhuangyuan" (top scholar), and as one of the first batch of college students after the resumption of the college entrance exam, Xu Junran deserved the title.

Moreover, he looked like someone who had returned from a big city, always addressing him as "County Chief" rather than "County Chief Yang" like the local cadres, as if he were just one of many county chiefs.

"Just be honest, what do you plan to do?" Yang Weitian asked Xu Junran, then added after some thought, "Just say it. If it doesn't work, I won't blame you. After all, you are young and lack work experience. This problem has been unsolved for many years, so it's not your fault if you can't solve it."

Unconsciously, Yang Weitian was defending Xu Junran, clearly showing that he had developed some good feelings towards him.

In the early 1980s, officials did not have as many ulterior motives as in later times. Even if some had strong desires for power or were a few bad apples, they were a minority. Most cadres valued talent. People like Yang Weitian, who knew that Xu Junran was promoted by the old secretary Yan Wangsong, still cared for this talent. He was very clear that for a region to develop, educated and capable people were essential.

"County Chief, this is what I plan to do..." Xu Junran lowered his voice and spoke to Yang Weitian word by word.

After a while, Yang Weitian looked up, "Do you have confidence in this? Moreover, I've never heard of the method you mentioned before."

Xu Junran smiled, "County Chief, the Central Committee is now asking us to liberate our thinking, innovate, and break free from past constraints. Isn't it about mobilizing the masses and using various methods to develop productivity? In August of the year before last, a special economic zone was established in Lingnan Province, and foreign companies have even started investing in our country. I've read a lot about this in Beijing. Now, the focus of our country's work has shifted from class struggle to economic construction. The first step is to ensure that the people have enough food. The next step is to improve their lives and achieve a well-off society as soon as possible. Don't you agree?"

These ideas, to be precise, would be strongly advocated a few years later, leading to a nationwide discussion about "what flag to raise."

At this moment, for Yang Weitian, Xu Junran's ideas seemed to have some merit, but they also seemed slightly different from what he had always known, which made him feel uneasy.

In fact, if the person in front of him were an old cadre or a superior leader, Yang Weitian would not be so surprised, as they were experienced in life and politics. But coming from Xu Junran, it made Yang Weitian hesitate.

Am I going to follow this young man and take a wild risk?

"County Chief, whether it's a black cat or a white cat, a cat that catches mice is a good cat!" Xu Junran slowly said the last sentence.

Yang Weitian was stunned!

The "cat theory"!

The "cat theory" proposed by the great leader who was now a key figure in China!

As a young cadre with a promising future and his own aspirations, Yang Weitian could not be unaware of this theory. Since it was proposed in the 1960s, it had always been controversial and even sparked some disputes within the party, especially in the era just after the turmoil. The rigid and powerful system and theoretical framework still had a strong hold, while the social economy, impoverished for many years, was on the brink of collapse. The impulse for change and the rigid ideology were like oil and water.

What can be done? What cannot be done? What is socialist? What is capitalist? There were no ready answers.

The "cat theory" completely changed the old habit of thinking that everything must be considered from an ideological perspective, everything must be viewed politically, and everything must be questioned against dogma. It can be said without exaggeration that the "cat theory" became a theoretical symbol of China's shift in focus to economic development.

Xu Junran's mention of the "cat theory" at this moment was the last straw that broke the camel's back, making Yang Weitian make up his mind.

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