Chapter 30

Chapter Thirty: People Around

Wang Jian turned around and saw it was Zhao Dongbo. The office of the county finance bureau was located within the government compound, and he had coincidentally run into him.

"Director Wang, what a coincidence! Why didn't you call me when you came to the county government for official business?" Zhao Dongbo walked over with a broad smile.

"Oh, it was urgent and I didn't have time to contact you. Are you working in the government compound?" Wang Jian smiled and replied.

Zhao Dongbo exaggerated his expression and said, "Director Wang, that's not right. You don't even know where I work, which means you come here too rarely. You should come more often, and we should get together more!"

"Hehe, sure, I'm afraid you might get tired of me!" Wang Jian felt that Zhao Dongbo was very good at acting.

"Look what you're saying. I'd be happy, how could I get tired? Don't leave tonight, why don't we have a drink together?" Zhao Dongbo invited him enthusiastically.

Wang Jian smiled and politely declined, "Hehe, not today, I still have things to do. We did agree to meet this weekend, the day after tomorrow. I'll definitely come!"

Perhaps Zhao Dongbo didn't really want to invite Wang Jian to dinner today. Seeing the situation, he went along with it, "Alright, I've already notified everyone. You must come on time!"

"You can count on it. I, Wang Jian, never go back on my word!"

After shaking hands with Zhao Dongbo, Wang Jian got into the car and headed back to the township. Just as he was about to reach Xianhe Township, Chen Yu called.

"Wang Jian, I heard you became the township chief. Why didn't you call me to let me know? I could have brought my classmates to celebrate and have a big meal at your expense!" Chen Yu shouted loudly.

Wang Jian thought it must have been Zhao Yixuan who told him. He should have called Chen Yu at the time. Now, Chen Yu must be secretly saying that he values women over friends for not calling him.

"Sorry, Chen Yu. I was planning to call you tonight to chat. I didn't expect you to call first. How's your business doing?" Wang Jian had to lie to smooth things over.

Chen Yu knew the truth but, since Wang Jian was now the township chief, he couldn't hold a grudge. He laughed loudly, "Business is good, but it's not as good as being a township chief. Back then, you wanted to work with me, but now it seems I had good judgment! You're definitely on the right path in politics. I believe you'll go far, and we'll only be able to look up to you!"

"Hehe, what's the point? Being a big boss is more comfortable, making money every day. If I had your company, I wouldn't be a township chief!" Wang Jian chuckled.

"Don't be so pretentious. Who knows how miserable I am behind the scenes? Dealing with those officials every day is worse than being a nobody. It's just for the money. Otherwise, I'd rather work for someone else and live a peaceful life. Being a township chief is much better. Everywhere you go, you're treated with respect and surrounded by people. If I were a township chief, I'd give up this lousy company!" Chen Yu complained.

Wang Jian laughed, "Chen Yu, that's an exaggeration, isn't it? I don't feel that way."

"That's your humility. If you wanted to, you could do it. But it's not good to be too showy. The more low-key you are, the faster you'll be promoted. That's my experience, and I don't share it easily. I'm giving it all to you. Remember, I have a share in your future success!" Chen Yu became more excited as he spoke.

"Alright, alright, alright. You businessmen are so smooth-talking. I'm starting to feel a bit dizzy. Come and visit me when you have time. Xianhe Township is poor and needs some big bosses to invest. If you can help me contact a few, I'll be grateful!" Wang Jian shook his head helplessly. Wu Lei, who was driving, seemed to have heard Chen Yu's words and wanted to laugh but didn't dare.

"Wang Jian, do you know why we businessmen talk so smoothly? It's to win over officials like you. It looks like my skills have improved. But with you, I'm not just being smooth. We should be honest friends, true friends. If you want to invite some business owners to invest, I'll help you contact them. It's not a problem!" Chen Yu promised confidently.

"Alright, I'll leave it to you!"

They talked for a while, and after hanging up, Wang Jian sighed to Wu Lei, "This is a university classmate of mine. We're very close, and he's now a big boss!"

Wu Lei, driving, laughed and said, "Director Wang, you're now the township chief. I don't think those bosses are anything special. To be honest, even though I'm just a small staff member in the township, I know many of the bosses, and they still try to curry favor with me. It's just so they have someone to help them when they need to do business in the township. I know you don't care about these things, but that's how it is. No matter how much money they have, it's not as powerful as a word from an official!"

Wu Lei was telling the truth. Wang Jian wasn't unaware of these situations, but he found officials who acted arrogantly in front of the people to be despicable. Now that he was an official, did he have to become like them? If officials didn't abuse their power or act arrogantly, business owners wouldn't fear them!

"Brother Wu Lei, whether we're people or officials, we can't lose our conscience. Even though others may look up to us, we must always be vigilant and not let ourselves go. Otherwise, we'll make mistakes over time. We're young, and when dealing with these bosses, it's best to keep a clear head!" Wang Jian took the opportunity to say.

Wu Lei laughed and immediately said, "Please rest assured, Director Wang. I won't make mistakes. We're all from the same place, and we eat and drink together. There's nothing else!"

Wang Jian could tell from Wu Lei's laugh that he didn't take his words seriously. However, his purpose in saying these things wasn't to tell Wu Lei what to do. He was more warning himself and making a statement to those around him, showing what kind of official he, Wang Jian, wanted to be. Over time, these words would spread through Wu Lei, helping to build his image and benefit his future development.

"Big mistakes are avoided, and small mistakes are not made. Is that the idea?" Wang Jian half-joked.

Wu Lei, embarrassed, said, "Director Wang is so perceptive, you've hit the nail on the head. I don't have big ambitions. Working in the township is just for a living. If Director Wang thinks it's not good, I'll pay attention!"

"Hehe, Wu Lei, I was just joking. I'm not out of touch. I understand reasonable things. The fact that you can talk to me like this shows that you have a straightforward heart and nothing to hide. I think that's great. If there are any issues or problems in the township that need to be reported to me, feel free to speak up. I can accept both good and bad feedback. You and Xiao Bei are my right-hand people, and I'll need your help a lot. I hope you can assist me and give me more advice!" Wang Jian knew that he needed to both warn and win over those around him. Wu Lei wasn't a formal civil servant in the township, so he couldn't be too strict. Giving him some benefits was necessary to ensure his loyalty and usefulness.

"Director Wang, you're too kind. Although I'm not well-educated, I understand the township well. I know what to do. Please rest assured, I'll report any issues to you promptly!" Wang Jian's words made Wu Lei feel very appreciated. When Li Jiarong was the township chief, he would never have spoken to him like this. On one hand, it showed that Wang Jian was young and less formal, but on the other hand, it showed that Wang Jian was willing to be open and honest with his subordinates, which made Wu Lei willing to work hard for him.

"Alright, I'm getting out!" Just as he finished speaking, the car entered the township government compound, and Wang Jian got out.

He walked toward the party and government office. A few township officials saw him and greeted him. Wang Jian smiled and nodded, then entered the office.

"Director Wang, Old Lü from Xinhé Village is here to see you!" As soon as he reached the office door, Du Xiaobei, seeing Wang Jian return, stood up to report.

Lü Mingxiang and his son Lü Jun came to the township to see Wang Jian. After being discharged, Lü Jun had nothing to do and wanted to lease land in the village to grow vegetables in greenhouses, but the village secretary, Lü Fang, disagreed. They came to the township to ask Wang Jian for help, hoping he could speak to Lü Fang.

Hearing that Wang Jian wasn't there, Lü Mingxiang was about to leave when Wang Jian returned. Seeing the father and son, Wang Jian greeted them happily, "Old Lü, how are the vegetable greenhouses going?"

Lü Mingxiang smiled and said, "They're going well. Lü Jun also wants to do it, but we don't have any land left. He wants to lease some land from the village, but Lü Fang isn't very agreeable. We came to ask Director Wang to speak to Lü Fang and help us lease the land."

Du Xiaobei, hearing Lü Mingxiang still call Wang Jian "Director Wang," quickly corrected him, "It's Township Chief Wang now, not Director Wang!"

Du Xiaobei had already told him, but he had slipped up. Hearing her correction, Lü Mingxiang immediately realized it and said, "I slipped up. Director Wang has been promoted to township chief. Good officials like Director Wang should be promoted, while bad officials should be removed!"

Wang Jian had helped him a lot, and as an old farmer, Lü Mingxiang's feelings for Wang Jian were sincere, even if he couldn't express them eloquently. Wang Jian could feel it.

Wang Jian didn't mind Lü Mingxiang's slip of the tongue. Hearing that Lü Fang didn't support the villagers' efforts to adjust their agricultural structure, he was unhappy. He also harbored resentment over Lü Fang's past behavior. However, he couldn't do anything about it now. Village secretaries were harder to deal with than township middle-level officials, and even Zheng Shiguang couldn't easily remove a village secretary.

"Lü Jun wants to grow vegetables in greenhouses?" Wang Jian looked at Lü Jun, who seemed strong and capable, but he wondered if he could stick with it.

"Yes, Township Chief Wang. There's nothing to do at home, and working outside doesn't earn much," Lü Jun quickly answered when Wang Jian asked.

Wang Jian frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Lü Jun, can you drive?"

"Drive? Yes, I can. I learned in the army, and I can even drive a tank!" Lü Jun said, wide-eyed.

Wang Jian smiled and said, "Would you like to drive for me in the township?"

Lü Jun was caught off guard and didn't know why Wang Jian was asking this. He stammered, unsure of what to say. Lü Mingxiang, recognizing this as a rare opportunity, knew that driving for the township chief was a good and easy job. Seeing that Lü Jun wasn't reacting, he hit him and scolded, "Township Chief Wang wants you to drive for him, and you're hesitating?"

Lü Jun then realized it was a rare opportunity and, touching the back of his head, said shyly, "Alright, I'll give it a try!"

"Hehe, that's good. We can both try it out and see if it works. If it does, you can come and drive. If not, I'll speak to Lü Fang about leasing the land. How about that?" Wang Jian felt that Lü Jun was honest and trustworthy, but he wasn't sure if he was flexible enough. He decided to test him first.

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(End of the chapter)