Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 209 Good Deeds Bring Good Fortune

How is the rectification of the town's nursing home progressing? Has the living condition of the elderly improved?

Wu Zhiyuan was deeply concerned and decided to take a look back.

He didn't invite anyone; instead, he walked there alone after get off work in the afternoon. You could call it a stroll, or you could call it a covert investigation.

The fact that he didn't deal with Liu Xiaojuan severely was already a huge concession to Li Changfu, the chairman of the town's People's Congress.

He wasn't afraid of Li Changfu and his younger brother, Li Changgui, the deputy county head, nor was he afraid to take real action. Rather, he was new to the area, and offending too many people would hinder his later work.

However, the problem must be solved.

The situation at the nursing home has indeed improved significantly.

The clutter piled up in the yard was cleared away, and the clothesline was full of washed sheets and duvet covers.

Several elderly people sat on newly added rattan chairs under the eaves, basking in the sun, chatting casually, and their faces were filled with smiles.

The aroma of stir-fried dishes wafted from the cafeteria, no longer the unpleasant smell of the past.

Wu Zhiyuan walked in and saw that the kitchen was clean and bright, with two women busy at work.

On the cutting board were fresh vegetables and good-quality pork belly, and the rice in the rice bucket was also of good quality.

Liu Xiaojuan came when she heard the noise.

"Secretary Wu, you've arrived! Following your instructions and with guidance from the Civil Affairs Office and the Health Center, we've done a thorough cleaning. We've thrown away everything that needed to be thrown away and replaced everything that needed to be replaced."

As for food, Mayor Fang is now personally overseeing the procurement, and the daily menu is posted publicly.

We also stocked up on some commonly used medicines, and the doctors from the health center come to make rounds every Tuesday and Friday…”

Wu Zhiyuan nodded: "The key is to persevere in the long term. I will visit the nursing home from time to time to see the elderly."

"Secretary Wu, we will definitely persevere in this endeavor and strive to make the town's nursing home a model nursing home for the entire county."

Liu Xiaojuan led Wu Zhiyuan into the dormitory.

The bed was clean, and the bedding had obviously been freshly washed.

"Dean Liu, where is the elderly man who was injured in the collapse of the vegetable market shed a while ago staying? How is he recovering?" Wu Zhiyuan asked.

"Follow me, Secretary Wu," Liu Xiaojuan quickly led the way.

In a relatively quiet corner of the nursing home, in a south-facing room, an elderly homeless man was sitting against the headboard.

He changed into a clean blue cloth outfit, and his hair and beard were trimmed.

On the small cabinet beside the bed, there was a warm water cup, snacks, and fruit.

When the old man saw Wu Zhiyuan, his lips moved a few times, as if he was trying to recall something.

"Grandpa, are you getting used to it here? Is there anything that's bothering you?" Wu Zhiyuan sat down by the bed.

The old man slowly shook his head, pointed to his clothes, and squeezed out a "good" from his throat.

It seems the old man understood and felt it.

Wu Zhiyuan felt a pang of sadness: "Grandpa, please rest assured and recover. We are also trying to see if we can contact your family."

The old man nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Wu Zhiyuan instructed Liu Xiaojuan: "The town's nursing home must take good care of the elderly until they find their relatives."

Liu Xiaojuan nodded repeatedly: "Don't worry, Secretary Wu, I've been taking care of him almost like my own father."

The next day, I received a notice from the county publicity department that a reporter from the Jiangzhong Daily was coming to Xindian Town to conduct interviews, focusing on grassroots livelihood issues.

In the afternoon, the group of reporters arrived.

To Wu Zhiyuan's surprise, one of the female reporters was Ye Xiaoman.

Ye Xiaoman said excitedly, "Secretary Wu, I heard on the way that the Party Secretary of Xindian Town is Wu Zhiyuan. I thought to myself, could this Wu Zhiyuan be you? I searched online and it really is you."

"That's great! I just arrived in Xindian Town, and I didn't expect to see an old friend. We'll need Reporter Ye's help to get things done in Xindian Town."

"Secretary Wu, this visit to Xindian is part of a series of reports by our newspaper on grassroots governance innovation and improvement of people's livelihoods."

While I was gathering clues, I saw posts on forums and some social media platforms mentioning that the nursing home in your Xindian Town had undergone a "major transformation" and that "the elderly were able to eat meat after the Party Secretary got angry." Although the information was fragmented, I thought it was a very good starting point.

The operation and supervision of grassroots elderly care, especially township-level nursing homes, is a common challenge and pain point.

If the new store truly offers any practices worth learning from, or reveals any deeper issues, it would be very valuable for reporting.

Ye Xiaoman got straight to the point and explained her purpose.

Wu Zhiyuan was somewhat reluctant to publicize his personal achievements, but Ye Xiaoman was not promoting herself, but rather focusing on issues related to people's livelihoods.

More importantly, he always kept the homeless elderly man in his heart. If he could use the influence of the Jiangzhong Daily to spread the word about the elderly man's situation, there might be a real chance to find his family.

Wu Zhiyuan hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "Reporter Ye, the nursing home incident does reflect some shortcomings in our work."

We welcome and are willing to present the actual situation, including shortcomings and confusions.

We also hope that, with the help of the media, we can help one of the homeless elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's disease find a home.

"A homeless old man?" Ye Xiaoman was taken aback.

Wu Zhiyuan gave a general introduction to the situation of the homeless elderly.

Ye Xiaoman's eyes lit up: "This story is very interesting and heartwarming."

From the accidental exposure of safety hazards, to the unwavering commitment to the most vulnerable individuals, and then to the resulting rectification of nursing homes.

Secretary Wu, isn't this a vivid example of "putting people at the center" in grassroots governance?

Wu Zhiyuan accompanied Ye Xiaoman to the nursing home.

Ye Xiaoman looked at it very carefully.

She first walked around the courtyard to observe the overall environment and hygiene, then went into the canteen to check the food storage and sample retention records, and inquired about the procurement channels.

She went among the elderly people, talked to them, and asked about their meals, sleep, regular cleaning, and what to do if they got sick.

The elderly people were more willing to say a few more words to this smiling and kind-hearted young woman.

A few days later, the second page of the Jiangzhong Daily published a report entitled "An Extra Responsibility Under the Collapsed Shed - A True Account of the Proper Resettlement of Injured Homeless Elderly People in Xindian Town, Qingshan County".

The article provides a detailed account of the incident, affirming the responsibility and people-centered approach taken by the Xindian Town Party Committee and government, especially its main leaders, in handling the emergency.

It also subtly mentioned common issues such as the safety maintenance of grassroots public facilities and the supervision of elderly care institutions, and included photos of elderly people eating in nursing homes after the rectification and Wu Zhiyuan visiting homeless elderly people.

The reporting is down-to-earth, yet it is both empathetic and thought-provoking.

After the report was published, opinions differed. Some felt that Wu Zhiyuan was wholeheartedly for the people, while others thought he was "showing off" and "praising himself."

A few days later, Wu Zhiyuan was in his office looking at the flood prevention documents issued by the county when Hu Lijing knocked on the door and came in: "Secretary Wu, the family of that homeless old man has come! They want to see you."

The old man has a son, Wei Guochun, who is the investor in the unfinished Qingshanxia project.

Wu Zhiyuan was overjoyed: "The homeless old man is Wei Guochun's father?"

Hu Lijin quickly replied, "Yes, I know Wei Guochun. He was very grateful for your kindness and even said that he has a special connection with Xindian Town."

Originally, he never wanted to come, but unexpectedly, his elderly father arrived in Xindian Town and was properly settled.

Wu Zhiyuan said excitedly, "Let's go downstairs and meet Wei Guochun!"

Wu Zhiyuan walked quickly down the stairs, feeling both gratified and overwhelmed by an indescribable sense of destiny.

Who would have thought that an ordinary safety accident, and a homeless old man who was rescued by chance, would lead to the discovery of a key figure in the old case of Qingshan Gorge?

Five or six people were standing at the entrance of the reception room on the first floor of the town government building.

One of them was Wei Guochun.

Wei Guochun immediately recognized the young and capable town party secretary in the photo.

He strode forward and stretched out his hands from a distance: "Secretary Wu! I am Wei Guochun!"

Wu Zhiyuan quickly stepped forward and shook hands with him tightly: "President Wei, welcome back! The old man is doing well, shall we go see him now?"

"Good! Good!" Wei Guochun nodded repeatedly, as if he had a thousand words to say, but at this moment they all turned into the simplest gratitude. "Secretary Wu, I can't thank you enough! I, Wei Guochun, will remember this kindness for the rest of my life!"

On the way to the nursing home, Wei Guochun recounted the circumstances of his father's disappearance: "My father suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Half a year ago, the caregiver wasn't paying attention and he walked out on his own."

We reported it to the police, published notices in the newspapers, and sent out countless missing person ads. We searched all over the surrounding provinces, but we still couldn't find a trace of him.

To be honest, Secretary Wu, I've almost given up over the past six months.

I'd considered every possible worst-case scenario. But when I saw the newspaper and the photos, I simply couldn't believe my eyes.

How did my father end up here?

Wu Zhiyuan said, "I heard that it was urban management officers from other places who transported the homeless elderly to this place at night and abandoned them."

In many places, when urban management officers clear out homeless people, they simply transport them to another location and abandon them.

At the nursing home, Wei Guochun met his elderly father, who had been missing for more than half a year.

Before parting, Wei Guochun once again expressed his gratitude to Wu Zhiyuan: "Secretary Wu, I have traveled all over the country for so many years and have seen too many things."

It is easy to add icing on the cake, but it is difficult to send charcoal in the snow.

Besides, you not only saved my father in that situation, but also took such good care of him.

I just looked at this room, the bedding, the care...

You genuinely care for him, treating him like a human being and showing him the respect due to an elder. I understand that sentiment.

Just now downstairs, Director Hu said that I said I had a connection with Xindian Town.

Yes, this connection is so profound and so extraordinary.

Qingshan Gorge is a place that has been a source of deep sorrow for me, a place that once made me disheartened and vowed never to set foot there again.

Unexpectedly, after going through such a long and winding road, I've come back here because of my father.

And it's in such a way that I'm filled with gratitude that I've returned.

Wu Zhiyuan seized the opportunity to mention the redevelopment of the Qingshanxia project.

Wei Guochun said sincerely, "Secretary Wu, to be honest, if someone else were the secretary and they talked to me about restarting Qingshan Gorge, I would probably just say a few polite words and then keep my distance. But you are different."

Because I can see your sense of responsibility towards Xindian Town, and I can see your bottom line and warmth in your actions and conduct.

My father's experience has convinced me that under your leadership, the business environment in Xindian Town will be clean and transparent, promises will be kept, and I feel at ease working here.

Wu Zhiyuan said with emotion, "President Wei, I understand how you feel."

Qingshan Gorge is like a piece of unpolished jade covered in dust.

Your previous setbacks were due to a variety of reasons, including favorable timing, location, and, most importantly, interpersonal issues.

But now, our Xindian Town Party Committee and government are genuinely eager to polish this gem and let it play its due value.

What we need are partners who truly understand and cherish it, and who have the ability and sincerity to restore its glory, not opportunists who want to make a quick buck and leave.

You are the most suitable candidate, without exception.

Wei Guochun was silent for a moment, then said, "Secretary Wu, you've convinced me. At least you've given me the courage to go and see it again."

How about this, I'll bring my father home first so he can rest and recuperate, and then our whole family can be reunited.

After that, I will contact two old friends who have been investing in cultural tourism and health care as soon as possible. They are more mature in terms of funds, experience and channels than I was back then.

I will tell them the situation here, especially about you, the secretary.

Then, we'll find the time to come together, set aside all past prejudices and burdens, and revisit this place as if it were our first time, to see it all again, and to evaluate it completely.

Wu Zhiyuan shook hands with Wei Guochun: "President Wei, we are ready to serve you anytime!"

Qingshan Gorge will always open its doors to those who truly appreciate jade!