Chapter 22 Acting Township Chief
"Secretary, Secretary Tie of the county party committee called." Bai Yachao is short and dark, looks malnourished, wears glasses, and has a serious expression. He is Bai Shuyong's nephew, and his family is in financial difficulty. Bai Shuyong has always helped him with his schooling and work.
So in the eyes of others, he is equivalent to Bai Shuyong's half son.
Bai Yachao is indeed capable, and this has been recognized by Hu Jiao. Of course, this ability to handle official documents is only limited to township politics. If he wants to move up to the next level, he must learn more and accumulate more.
Hu Jiao occasionally gave him some pointers. Although the two were of similar age, they complemented each other very well.
Hu Jiao nodded. He had just finished a meeting and was leaving the day after tomorrow, so he was packing up.
Tie Xiangqian was holding the phone in one hand while waiting for Hu Jiao, and with the other hand he was holding a pen, making a red line on a meeting record.
Turning to the second page, Hu Jiao's greeting came from the receiver.
"Jiaojiao, it's not easy to find you. I heard that you have been surveying various villages recently. Do you have any ideas? "
Hu Jiao pondered for a moment. Before he answered the phone, he had already thought about it in his mind. He had to report this matter to Tie Xiangqian and must gain his support.
Even if there is no support, the county must be informed so that the higher-ups will be mentally prepared in case anything unexpected happens.
After listening to Hu Jiao's words, Tie Xiangqian fell silent.
To be honest, in his current position, he is disgusted by such conspiracies and tricks, even if the starting point is for development and to solve the problem of food and clothing. He also hopes to publicize and work in an upright manner, communicate with the masses, win support, gain understanding, and work together to improve the local agricultural economy.
This thought only flashed through Tie Qianqian's mind for a moment before dissipating sadly.
"I know what happened. You must remember to keep it confidential. You must also prepare emergency plans for all kinds of sudden mass incidents in advance. You must be diligent in your ideological work with Chen Xiaohou. In principle, I personally disagree. Considering the special nature of the iron tree, I have no objection to your plan, but you must be careful in actual work."
Hu Jiao understood the good intentions of Tie Xiangqian's words. If it was just an ordinary group incident, it could be resolved within the scope of the county party committee. However, since eight old revolutionaries were involved, it was not something the county party committee could handle. If the incident was too big, it would probably have to directly alert the Military Commission.
After hearing these words, Hu Jiao's previous determination began to waver. The Party Committee and the government are a local administrative department, not a gang, and the goal of their governance is to benefit the people.
Hu Jiao shook his head, "Uncle Tie, let me think about it again."
"Today, several of our secretaries held a meeting. Deputy Secretary Li submitted a personnel appointment and dismissal report. Well, there is a nomination for the mayor of Tieshu Township. I will temporarily suppress it. What do you think?"
Hu Jiao's brows knitted together instantly. It seemed that all parties were exerting their efforts in this personnel change. From the information conveyed by Tie Xiangqian, Hu Jiao keenly realized that his position as the county party secretary was currently in some difficulties.
He suppressed a personnel nomination.
That means that at the meeting of the secretaries, before Tie Xiangqian had the chance to express his opinion, the other people had already reached a tacit understanding.
So, Tie Xiangqian's seeking Hu Jiao's opinion meant that he could only suppress it temporarily.
Hu Jiao had long understood the pros and cons of this kind of compromise.
Since Tie Xiangqian asked for his opinion, another meaning was that he did not intend to continue to get entangled with others over the position of Tieshu Township Chief.
According to Hu Jiao, Tie Xiangqian planned to release one township head in exchange for the appointment of another.
Sometimes, personnel appointments and dismissals in the leadership team are like being a banker. Only those who have been in the position of secretary for more than two years and have enough prestige can barely achieve "centralization", that is, have the final say.
How can new immigrants like Tie Xiangqian, who have no foundation at all, fight against local tyrants like Li Changsheng? Moreover, the county magistrate Wu Hao doesn't seem like the kind of person who would be under someone else's control for long.
"Uncle Tie, are you feeling well lately?"
Hu Jiao's speculations flashed by in a flash.
"Same old, I just often suffer from insomnia. The county magistrate and Deputy Secretary Li are very concerned about me."
Understood.
Hu Jiao closed his eyes. Tie Xiangqian was a little overwhelmed. He originally thought that Li Changsheng would not go against him, but he didn't expect that. He had to consider the work of the new township head after he took office.
Fortunately, the previous two months were not wasted. At present, it can be said that the three Chen brothers are basically on his side. Even if Chen Xilai and Bai Shuyong flirt with each other, it cannot shake his will.
Come to think of it, it would be a good idea to have a new village chief.
"Haha, Secretary Changsheng has been in Tong County for a long time and is familiar with everything. County Magistrate Wu Hao is a young and energetic man. Uncle Tie, please introduce the new mayor to us."
Tie Xiangqian's voice was obviously more cheerful than before. "She is a female cadre, very beautiful. I heard that her sister is the village party secretary in Tieshu. Her surname is Gui."
Hu Jiao suddenly realized, this is the sister of Guiying, the Party Secretary of Guatian Village?
"Sister, right?"
"Yeah, I'm not sure about that. Her name is Guilan, and she's the deputy director of the Civil Affairs Bureau. She was nominated by County Magistrate Wu. Well, she's also a military dependent. That's pretty much it."
Hu Jiao thought about it and decided that it would be a good idea to find someone he knew. He had been on good terms with Guiying and Chen Xiaohou recently. With an older sister acting as a middleman, there shouldn't be any conflicts, right?
Hu Jiao put down the phone. He didn't feel any resentment at all. Instead, he felt a mixture of laughter and tears.
His superiors had promised him that he would shoulder both party and government responsibilities, but less than three months later, they changed their tune.
Although Hu Jiao also hoped to have an opponent, he would fight with him just for exercise.
But thinking about it yourself is one thing, and being pressured by others is another.
But it's true, a new emperor appoints new ministers, from provinces to cities, and then to counties and townships, everything has been completely changed.
The leaders who made such remarks earlier should either step down or be appointed to other posts. It is better for the county magistrate to be in charge now.
He walked out of the office, stood by the wooden railing on the second floor, took out a cigarette and slowly lit it.
This was a gift of comfort that Li Juan brought to him personally, fifteen packs of Nanzhao cigarettes, worth 4,500.
Nanzhao Tobacco Factory is one of the top three taxpayers in the country and a signature enterprise of Nanzhao Province. In 1984, Nanzhao cigarettes were selected as one of the central government's internal supply cigarettes.
The market price is 30 yuan per pack, and ordinary cadres simply cannot afford it. All members of the leadership team of Tieshu Township are heavy smokers.
Each person got one, and Hu Jiao kept the rest.
Anyway, no one loves the adopted baby. Li Mingyong doesn't smoke himself, but provincial leaders have a fixed quota, five a month. Li Juan secretly took one from home, and Hu Jiao got it for free.
Hu Jiao took advantage of several township officials in Tieshu, and even Chen Shoulai, who was always silent, rarely said a word: "Does this count as bribery by the secretary?"
Thinking of Chen Shoulai and Chen Fulai, Hu Jiao couldn't help but nodded secretly. Although these two people have a low level of education, they have their own work ideas and work styles.
It's a pity that he has always been limited by his situation and trapped in Tieshu Township. He lacks a sense of the overall situation, the experience and courage to do big things, and has a strong rural style.
To put it bluntly, it means being petty, sometimes only caring about the present, being good at calculating, and loving to take advantage of small things.
That night, Hu Jiao did not inform anyone else. This was what Tie Xiangqian said to him privately, and it did not mean that a formal conversation had been organized.
Sure enough, the next day, the township received a call asking Hu Jiao to go to the County Party Committee Organization Department in person.
Hu Jiao originally planned to let Bai Shuyong go, but then he thought better of it. He had been here for such a long time, but he had never formally reported his work to the county leaders, which was bound to cause misunderstandings. In addition, the expansion project of Tong Railway would be implemented soon, so he would have to ask County Magistrate Wu Hao for alms.
Sitting in the off-road vehicle does give one a feeling of upgrading one's rifles to other ones. Liu Laopi is very proud now. This is Hu Jiao's second visit to the county. The first time was to attend the county people's congress. He was on a business trip.
This time, both cars were available, but Hu Jiao still chose his, which made him feel like he had met an old friend.
There are still bumps along the way, even if you change to an off-road vehicle.
In Li Changsheng's office in the county party committee building, Guilan was in a very complicated mood. To be honest, she didn't want to work in the countryside. She was just an ordinary staff member in the Propaganda Department with basically no practical work.
Later he was promoted to deputy minister, but still had little practical work.
Normally there is a minister, and for major events there are deputy secretaries and deputy county magistrates in charge. For bigger matters, there are also secretaries and county magistrates. She, as the deputy minister, is just a decoration.
And she didn't have the mind to fight for power, but since four years ago, everything has changed, from an ordinary staff member to deputy minister, and then transferred to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Tong County Civil Affairs Bureau is the most profitable unit after the County Finance Bureau.
She jumped from an insignificant and unimportant deputy director to the executive deputy director of the Civil Affairs Bureau, in charge of civil affairs disaster relief work, and became a pivotal figure in the county. Tens of millions of dollars flowed through her hands every year, and with just a pinch of her fingers, she could be the first to enter a well-off life legally and reasonably.
Everything she had obtained was due to the Deputy Secretary Li Changsheng in front of her.
Four years ago, at a reception held by the county party committee, the propaganda minister arranged for her to participate in the reception of leaders who came to Tong County for inspection.
Eat, drink, and then dance with the leader.
It was nothing. At that time, Guilan had just graduated from a teachers' college a few years ago. She was an art major and was good at singing and dancing, so she was assigned to the kindergarten teacher class at the county vocational college.
A year later, he was caught by the Minister of Propaganda because of his stunning performance at a cultural evening hosted by the county.
Even in the past few years, various departments in the county have been spreading the news that she had an ambiguous relationship with Li Changsheng, and some people even swore that she was Li Changsheng's mistress, and that her current husband was also a cover arranged by Li Changsheng.
She doesn't care what others say. Guilan looks weak, but she is strong-willed. She goes to class and dances as usual, and ignores all the rumors that slander her. She just does what she wants.
Li Changsheng looked at her with a hint of intimacy in his eyes and a faint smile, looking very gentle.
Guilan could never guess Li Changsheng's intentions.
No matter what the rumors were outside, only she knew that Li Changsheng had always respected her, and even their verbal exchanges were never excessive.
Normal work interactions, normal chatting, and occasionally caring about her family and her life.
But when it comes to emotional matters, he never mentions anything.
Guilan was certain that Li Changsheng must have feelings for her. This was a woman's intuition, especially when she was facing Li Changsheng alone, and saw the meaning in his eyes.
That is not the lust of possession.
Just like a lover admires the object of his affection, without any worldly thoughts, he just quietly watches you, loves you silently, and follows your joys and sorrows.
Unfortunately, this was just Guilan's feeling. She was not afraid of Li Changsheng, nor was she afraid of being alone with him, but she hated this feeling that she couldn't make clear.
Could she ask Li Changsheng: Are you secretly in love with me?
Regardless of Li Changsheng's status in Tong County, Guilan couldn't even ask about his age.
Even if Li Shengchang really loved her, did she really have to sacrifice herself for an old man who was about the same age as her father?
"Deputy Director Gui, this is an organizational arrangement. Don't have any negative thoughts. Tieshu Township is extremely well-known in the county, even in Fenghuang, Nanzhao, and the whole country. The higher-ups sent Hu Jiao, a talented man from the municipal party committee, to develop Tieshu as soon as possible. This is an opportunity. Do you understand?"
Guilan certainly knew that the iron tree was famous. From elementary school to high school, she went to the Red Army Cemetery almost every year. The stories about the Red Army have been carved into a template and are deeply imprinted in the minds of every Tongxian citizen.
"Secretary Changsheng, first of all, I will declare that I will obey the organization's arrangements. But..."
Li Changsheng waved his hand to interrupt, "It's good that you have this attitude. If you have any requests, you can tell me as much as possible. If there are any inconveniences in your personal life, the organization will try its best to help you solve them. If you have any difficulties at work, you can come to me."
Seeing the gentle smile on Li Changsheng's face, Guilan finally gave up the struggle in her heart. It was good, so that she wouldn't be asked to talk about work for no reason. She wouldn't dare to express her feelings directly, and her words would be serious, making her seem like a popular decoration.
"No, I will fully cooperate with Secretary Hu at work."
Li Changsheng looked at his watch. "If there is no traffic jam, he will be there soon. Alas, the problem of the iron tree has long been known to everyone, but it is difficult to solve it. After you go down, you still have to think of a way to start with the road repair. Even if you have no achievements in other things, as long as you can repair the railway, it will be a great achievement."
Guilan understood that this was Li Changsheng giving her instructions on work, and at the same time, he was also giving her heartfelt advice and instructing her on how to go into politics.
"As for Hu Jiao, he is the son-in-law of the current Vice Governor Li. Vice Governor Li once said that Hu Jiao was the first person in the municipal party committee. He has a double degree, which cannot be fake. Of course, no matter it is about people or things, we must seek truth from facts and evaluate a person objectively. Hu Jiao has a high theoretical level, but he does not have enough grassroots work experience. Sometimes, you have to remind him more. Okay?"
Guilan had no choice but to nod. She had heard that a handsome township secretary had come to Tong County, but she had never had the chance to meet him. She never expected that she would have to join a team now.
Next, Li Changsheng seemed to be chatting about Hu Jiao's life, some of which were once circulated in the Municipal Party Committee, and some of which were unknown.
For example, Hu Jiao's lukewarm personality is widely known, and Li Changsheng even commented that "it's a pity that Hu Jiao is a man."
What is not well known is the case that happened last year, involving the lover of the current county magistrate Wu Hao. Li Changsheng pointed out very vaguely that Hu Jiao once had a crush on the county magistrate's wife.
Faced with Li Changsheng's unreserved guidance, Guilan did not appreciate it. On the contrary, she sympathized with Hu Jiao and admired this weak young man.
Think about it, who can survive in that kind of environment? After a few months, I didn't collapse.
She sympathized with Hu Jiao for falling in love with a female cadre of the Commission for Discipline Inspection without knowing it. Now, she had to face the revenge .
Subconsciously, Guilan developed a strong curiosity about Hu Jiao. He was good-looking, had a good family background, and was not to mention a good student. On the surface, he was like a cup of lukewarm water, but in his bones he was extremely strong. What kind of man was he?
A traditional scholar with a noble temperament?
Li Changsheng looked at the cadre in front of him who could be called the most beautiful woman in Tong County. Of course, her cadre status was facilitated by him.
Every time he saw Guilan, he felt a purely spiritual pleasure, which was pleasing to the eyes and soothing to the heart.
Li Changsheng is a very rational person. His first wife is a pediatrician. She is romantic and loving. She is in her early fifties but still has charm. They have a harmonious relationship and respect and love each other.
His two children, a son and a daughter, were not good at studying, but both stayed in the provincial capital. One of them worked in a state-owned enterprise and earned a good income, while the other started her own business and, with his help, achieved some success over the years.
Li Changsheng felt that he was satisfied with his life.
Having both a son and a daughter, a happy family, a loving couple... Occasionally looking at a beautiful woman and chatting with her can arouse some youthful enthusiasm, and when you go home and spend time with your wife, it will be a different kind of fun.
Guilan's husband is a battalion-level officer in an artillery unit. He joined the army after graduating from high school and was admitted to the Artillery Academy in his third year. After graduation, he returned to his original unit and was promoted from deputy company commander to company commander, then to deputy battalion commander and battalion commander.
Guilan's husband is named Li Changxue, a younger cousin of Li Changsheng from his hometown. Li Changsheng is very proud of the matchmaking between the two.
Of course, considering Guilan's talent, character and appearance, why should she marry a soldier and endure the pain of living apart from him?
This is entirely thanks to Li Changsheng.
God knows, did he deliberately introduce an officer to Guilan? Was it just to make it easier for him to find Guilan to please her?
Guilan had once made such malicious guesses, but Li Changxue was indeed a good person. He had the masculine beauty of a soldier and the murderous temperament of an officer, and he was not bad looking either.
In addition, although Guilan is famous, no one pursues her... As to whether it is because of Li Changsheng's reputation or because the young men feel inferior and cannot match her, it is unknown.
Anyway, it was not until Guilan was 26 years old that she officially began her first love with Li Changxue through the introduction of Li Changsheng. As a result, they were in love all the time and got married.
One morning, until the end of get off work, Hu Jiao still didn't show up. It seemed that he was still on the road. Guilan had no choice but to accompany Li Changsheng for dinner.
