Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 241 A fool becomes a village official

When his palm moved above his shoulder blade, Wu Zhiyuan moved even closer to make it easier to exert force.

His chest pressed against her back from time to time, and Lin Xue's body trembled slightly.

"Sister Lin, it would be best if you lay face down on the bed, and I'll help you loosen your back as well."

Lin Xue obediently lay down on the bed and buried her face in the soft pillow.

Wu Zhiyuan sat down on the edge of the bed, his gaze falling on Lin Xue's back.

Lin Xue's body was wrapped in a silk robe, and when she lay on the bed, the curves of her waist and hips appeared even softer.

Her already full hips were slightly upturned, exuding the unique charm of a mature woman, and her waist curved in a just-right arc.

Wu Zhiyuan applied moderate pressure, starting with the trapezius muscles below the shoulders, gently pushing and kneading with the heel of his palm, then slowly moving downwards along the spine.

"Zhiyuan, your technique is truly excellent. It's a pity you're in Qingshan, while I'm in Jiangzhou."

"Sister Lin, why don't you go back to Longcheng and become the Party Secretary of the Municipal Committee? With Sister Lin backing me up, I'll have more confidence in doing things in Qingshan."

Lin Xue is currently the deputy secretary of the provincial discipline inspection commission at the ministerial level. It's not impossible that she could be transferred to Longcheng to serve as the municipal party secretary.

"If the organization arranges for me to return to Longcheng, I will definitely obey the organization's arrangements. However, I will adhere to one principle: I will not seek official positions through improper means."

Some people become officials in order to gain personal benefits.

I never had that idea; I just saw it as a career.

Therefore, whether I get promoted or what position I hold is not important to me, and I don't care about it.

Wu Zhiyuan knew that Lin Xue was telling the truth.

"However, Zhiyuan, there's something I shouldn't tell you," Lin Xue said in a low voice. "The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection is currently investigating the Longcheng case. Ai Kun has already obtained solid evidence, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will officially open an investigation next week."

Wu Zhiyuan was not surprised that Ai Kun was being investigated.

Often walking by the river, how can there not be wet shoes?

Ai Qun's shoes were already wet, but he was good at disguising himself and was cunning, so he hadn't been exposed yet.

Even when his powerful patron Chiang Kai-shek fell from grace, he remained unharmed.

It now seems that this seemingly stable Buddha statue is truly about to collapse.

"Sister Lin, I know. Just pretend you didn't hear it, because this is a disciplinary red line."

"Zhiyuan, I know it's a red thread, and I'm still telling you, you should understand what it means."

"Understood. Don't worry, Sister Lin, I'll keep this to myself."

Wu Zhiyuan knew that before an investigation was officially launched against someone, it was all confidential.

The fact that Lin Xue was able to reveal this to him shows that she not only regarded Wu Zhiyuan as her former subordinate, but as someone she could entrust with her trump cards.

"Zhiyuan, with Ai Kun down, there's likely to be a major upheaval in Longcheng's officialdom. You need to be steady in your actions and avoid getting involved in those messy factionalisms. Just stay true to yourself."

"Thank you for your reminder and concern, Sister Lin. I won't take sides, I won't stand on any side, I won't get involved in anything shady. I just want to do a good job in Xindian Town and not get involved in those complicated matters."

"Zhiyuan, it's good that you know what you're doing. I'm just worried that you're young and impatient, and that you'll be used as a pawn."

"With Sister Lin's guidance, how could I have made such a mistake?"

"Zhiyuan, you're always so reassuring."

The massage is over.

"Sister Lin, is the pressure okay? If there's still any discomfort, I'll massage it for you again next time."

"It's much better now, I feel much more comfortable."

Wu Zhiyuan got up to leave. He could see that Lin Xue had a look of reluctance in her eyes, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

……

Wu Zhiyuan decided to conduct research in Qingshui Village.

He plans to spend some time traveling to every village in the town.

When I first arrived in Xindian Town, Sun Dewang told me that Wang Youcai, the Party Secretary of Qingshui Village, was good at putting on a good show and was a well-known model village Party Secretary and leader in getting rich in the county.

The greenhouse vegetable business in Qingshui Village seemed to be thriving on the surface, but in reality, it enriched the villagers while leaving the village impoverished. The village was heavily in debt, while he and his relatives made a fortune.

Accompanying Wu Zhiyuan on his village research trip were Sun Dewang and Xiang Jing, the deputy mayor.

Just as he was leaving, Yu Yue, the secretary of the Party and Government Office, handed Wu Zhiyuan a newly arrived copy of the "Jiangzhong Daily," with a news report written by Ye Xiaoman on the second page.

He didn't have time to look at it before taking it to the car.

A few days ago, he and Xiang Jing accompanied Ye Xiaoman to Qingshan Gorge.

Ye Xiaoman was captivated by the beauty of Qingshan Gorge, and her mood improved considerably amidst the green hills and clear waters.

Below the Thousand-Foot Cliff Waterfall, amidst the thunderous roar of the water, Ye Xiaoman let out several shouts.

This shout seemed to foreshadow that she was going to toast the past.

Wu Zhiyuan read Ye Xiaoman's news report word by word: The green mountains are silent, yet they echo—a dream of mountains and rivers waiting to be reawakened.

She truly is a talented woman; even her title is extraordinary.

The manuscript has three subheadings.

The first subheading is: "The mountains and rivers remain young, awaiting kindred spirits."

The text primarily describes the beautiful scenery of Qingshan Gorge, stating:

Qingshanxia boasts superior resources, and the foundation for its development had been laid. However, due to various reasons, investment was interrupted, and the project "fell into a slumber."

But nature's treasures have not faded; they are simply waiting in a "waiting-to-be-married" state for a true "connoisseur" who understands them and is willing to treat them well.

The second subheading is: "Guardians: Gathering Strength While Waiting".

The text primarily describes a group of guardians, stating:

They are not complainers defeated by setbacks, but guardians and preparers who proactively transform themselves and work diligently in the face of adversity.

Their "waiting" is not a passive waiting, but an active "guarding" and "cultivating inner strength".

This perseverance and pragmatism, which have become all the more precious despite the twists and turns, is precisely the "soft environment" that any investment in the future would most like to encounter.

The third subheading is: "The Key to Breaking the Impasse: Rebuilding Trust and Seeing the Value of 'Humans'".

This section refers to Wu Zhiyuan's speech: "It's like a bright pearl that's temporarily covered with a little dust."

What we are doing is carefully wiping away the dust.

It's not just about improving infrastructure; more importantly, it's about optimizing service concepts and strengthening support mechanisms so that every sincere investor can feel at ease and confident.

The report was followed by the reporter's notes, in which Ye Xiaoman wrote:

Standing on the viewing platform of Qingshan Gorge, the mountain wind is blowing fiercely.

This magnificence is tinged with a touch of regret, but more than anything, it possesses a quiet power poised to be unleashed.

Investing in Qingshan Gorge is not just about investing in a scenic spot, but also about investing in a possibility, investing in a group of people who have proven their resilience in adversity and are ready to embrace recovery.

The landscape of Qingshan Gorge has always been there, and its echoes are waiting for a new opportunity to resonate once again between heaven and earth.

Xiang Jing also read the report and exclaimed, "Reporter Ye's report has a really good angle."

She didn't just stop at simply promoting the scenery; instead, she integrated the plight of Qingshan Gorge, the perseverance of its people, and the hope for the future.

It both points out the problem and expresses expectations. This writing style and insight are truly exceptional.

Wu Zhiyuan nodded, folded the newspaper, and looked out at the fields.

The closer you get to Qingshui Village, the denser the rows of white vegetable greenhouses become along the roadside, with small trucks transporting vegetables coming and going frequently, creating a bustling and prosperous scene.

The village committee is a rather impressive three-story building with tiled facades, and several cars are parked in the square in front of it.

Upon hearing the car, a middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion and shiny leather shoes quickly came out to greet them; it was none other than Wang Youcai, the village secretary.

"Welcome Secretary Wu, Mayor Xiang, and Director Sun!" Wang Youcai's voice was loud and clear, his face beaming with a bright smile. "We've been eagerly awaiting your visit to Qingshui Village to offer your guidance and encouragement!"

He led the group on a tour.

The first place we went to was the office of the Qingshui Village Green Vegetable Professional Cooperative, which is located on the first floor of the village committee building.

The walls inside are covered with various plaques and certificates: county-level vegetable planting demonstration base, municipal-level demonstration cooperative, advanced unit for leading the way to prosperity...

Beautifully packaged vegetable gift boxes are displayed in the glass cabinet.

Wang Youcai spoke with great familiarity, recounting everything from variety introduction and technology upgrades to market expansion and brand building, his words brimming with confidence and pride.

"Our cooperative adopts a model of village committee + cooperative + farmers, giving full play to the leading role of the village committee."

As he spoke, Wang Youcai pointed to the rows of greenhouses in the distance, saying, "Most of those greenhouses belong to the core members of the cooperative and the farmers."

We provide unified seedling supply, unified technology, and unified sales, which has genuinely increased the income of the villagers!

Last year, our village's per capita net income ranked among the top in the entire county!

Afterwards, he led Wu Zhiyuan and others to visit a neat and impressive greenhouse area located next to the highway.

The vegetables inside the greenhouse are growing well, and several workers are busy at work.

Wang Youcai casually picked a cucumber and handed it to Wu Zhiyuan: "Secretary Wu, please try this. It's absolutely pesticide-free, crisp and sweet!"

On the surface, Qingshui Village does indeed appear to be as rumored: its industries are thriving, its officials are capable, and its residents are benefiting.

However, Wu Zhiyuan noticed that most of the ordinary villagers he encountered along the way had very indifferent expressions, and some even turned away as soon as they saw them from afar.

We returned to the village committee meeting room for a discussion.

Wang Youcai was well-prepared. He turned on the projector and used a beautifully crafted PowerPoint presentation to systematically introduce the development path of Qingshui Village.

He is an excellent orator, passionate and eloquent, and can readily draw upon data, case studies, and future prospects.

"...So, the situation that Qingshui Village has achieved today is inseparable from the support of higher-level leaders, and even more so from the unity of our village leadership team, who led the masses to dare to forge ahead and work hard!" Wang Youcai concluded, his face beaming.

After listening to the report, Wu Zhiyuan said a few words of encouragement, but then changed the subject: "Secretary Wang's introduction was very comprehensive, and the materials were also very well prepared."

However, the main reason I came down here this time was to hear more about the thoughts of ordinary villagers.

Well then, Secretary Wang and the village committee members have been busy all morning, let's take a break first.

I asked Mayor Xiang and Director Sun to accompany me as we strolled around the village, looked around, and chatted with some of the villagers.

To understand the situation, it's best to hear the original, unfiltered account.

Wang Youcai's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and nodded repeatedly: "Of course, of course!"

Secretary Wu goes deep into the masses and has a down-to-earth work style; he is worthy of our learning! I'll arrange for someone to do it right away…”

"No need to make arrangements." Wu Zhiyuan waved his hand, interrupting him. "We're just taking a walk, chatting with whoever we bump into. There's no need to look for anyone specifically, and we shouldn't disturb anyone. You all go about your business."

Before Wang Youcai could say anything more, Wu Zhiyuan stood up, picked up his coat from the back of the chair, and nodded to Xiang Jing and Sun Dewang: "Let's go, let's go for a walk."

After leaving the impressive village committee building and passing the large exhibition area, Wu Zhiyuan led the two into the depths of the village.

Unlike the glamorous sights along the way, the houses in the village appeared somewhat uneven, and many of the old houses looked quite old.

They walked slowly along a small river, occasionally encountering elderly people sitting in their doorways basking in the sun. Wu Zhiyuan would stop, offer them cigarettes, and squat down to chat for a few minutes.

Ask about the harvest, the prices, the cooperative, and the village's expenses.

The elderly people were initially a bit reserved and cautious in their speech, only saying "It's alright" or "It's about right".

Wu Zhiyuan wasn't in a hurry. He smiled and chatted casually about the weather and the work in the fields, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

A middle-aged man raised a problem with Wu Zhiyuan.

"I have a cousin named Liu Dayong. He's not very bright. He had a fever when he was a child that damaged his brain."

People in their forties or fifties are about the same age as children in their teens. They wander around the village, doing simple manual labor, and struggle to even put food on the table, mostly relying on help from relatives and neighbors.

Wu Zhiyuan nodded, signaling him to continue.

"A few days ago, my cousin's family had some business to attend to in another province. They said she was seriously ill."

My cousin's wife thought, let's take Dayong to see him, maybe it will be the last time.

My cousin-in-law has never traveled far from home, so she asked me for help to see if I could buy two high-speed rail tickets online.

My son, who works in another city, does it on his phone.

Guess what happened? We couldn't buy it!

The notification says Liu Dayong has been "restricted from high-end consumption"!

"I can't take the high-speed rail, let alone a plane, not even a sleeper berth!"

Wu Zhiyuan, Xiang Jing, and Sun Dewang were all stunned.

Is a mentally challenged person who is unable to take care of himself and relies on charity to survive being restricted from high-end consumption?

"Is there a mistake? Is it a duplicate name?" Sun Dewang couldn't help but ask.

"At first we thought it was a mistake. But my son looked closely and the ID number was correct; it was indeed Liu Dayong."

We were completely baffled. What was going on?

Later, my son asked an acquaintance at the county court for help.

Upon investigation, they told us that Liu Dayong is the legal representative of Qingshui Village. Because the village had debts and was sued, and the debts were not repaid after the court judgment, he was placed on the "restricted spending" list.

"Legal representative? From the village?" Wu Zhiyuan frowned. "Is he a village official?"

The middle-aged man was both amused and exasperated: "Yes, the village officials! They said they saw the document issued by the town's Party committee and government."

"It's all in black and white, and there's an official seal. Liu Dayong is the Party Branch Secretary of our Qingshui Village."

"This...how is this possible?" Sun Dewang exclaimed in astonishment. "Isn't Wang Youcai the Party Secretary?"

The middle-aged man smiled wryly and said, "The document clearly states that it doesn't say Wang Youcai, but Liu Dayong!"

My cousin Liu Dayong, who can't even get enough to eat and can barely speak properly, is actually the highest-ranking official in our Qingshui Village!