Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 245 A Reprimand

On the way back to town, Wu Zhiyuan fell into deep thought.

Qian Yougen, Song Xiaolong, Wang Youcai...

Which of these village officials is truly dedicated to leading the people to prosperity?

According to Sun Dewang, in Xindian Town, village secretaries and village heads are considered good cadres as long as they don't bully the villagers.

If this is the case in Xindian Town, then isn't it the same in other towns as well?

Back in town, Wu Zhiyuan instructed Wu Changchun to use Liu Dayong's cover-up incident as a breakthrough to thoroughly investigate the various problems existing in Qingshui Village.

Meanwhile, staff from the town's agricultural economic station and finance office were seconded to audit the village-level finances of Qingshui Village and the accounts of the village's vegetable cooperative.

Wu Changchun said, "Secretary Wu, as far as I know, Wang Youcai has a close relationship with Mayor Zhang Ping and Chen Junqiang, the former deputy secretary of the town party committee."

The cover-up incident occurred last year. Someone in the town's Party and government office must have stamped the fake document with the fake document number. This person must have been instructed by Mayor Zhang Ping or Chen Junqiang.

"We encountered significant resistance from Mayor Zhang Ping during our investigation."

Wu Zhiyuan pondered for a moment and said, "Don't worry about Zhang Ping."

You are free to investigate, address the issues as they are, and base everything on facts and in accordance with discipline and law.

During the investigation, if you encounter any obstacles set up by others, or if someone tries to contact you or pass you a note, report it directly to me.

Wu Zhiyuan decided to talk to Zhang Ping.

Last time, Zhang Ping and Jiang Furong were caught in the act by Sun Dewang and Wang Shi, who also filmed it.

However, since there is currently only conclusive evidence regarding Zhang Ping's lifestyle issues, Wu Zhiyuan decided to hold back for the time being.

However, Zhang Ping formed a clique and openly and secretly hindered Wu Zhiyuan at all times.

We need to give him a talking-to.

As the top leader of the town's Party committee, Wu Zhiyuan has the right and obligation to have heart-to-heart talks with other members of the leadership team.

Zhang Ping was summoned to Wu Zhiyuan's office.

Wu Changchun had already sat down at a small table to the side, opened his notebook and pen, and was ready to take notes.

This is a procedural requirement for a formal heart-to-heart talk.

"Mayor Zhang, I've been in town for a while now, and I've been looking for an opportunity to talk to you."

When we form a team, we emphasize unity and cooperation, working together with a shared vision and concerted effort. Only in this way can we do a good job in Xindian Town.

As per the requirements for a heart-to-heart talk, I'm having a formal conversation with you today.

Zhang Ping nodded.

Wu Zhiyuan said seriously, "Mayor Zhang, you have been working longer than me, have more experience in grassroots work, and are more familiar with the situation in the town. This is your advantage."

As the town mayor, you hold an important position, so the organization and the people have higher expectations and demands of you.

This requires us to always keep discipline and rules in mind at all times and under all circumstances, to maintain a firm stance on major principles, and to take responsibility and act proactively in implementing our work.

Zhang Ping nodded: "Yes, Secretary Wu's reminder was very timely, I will definitely pay attention."

"It's not a matter of paying attention or not," Wu Zhiyuan raised his voice, "but rather about internalizing it and putting it into practice."

The conduct of leading cadres is a window into the political ecology of a place.

Improper conduct not only damages an individual's image but also sets a bad example, affecting the development of an organization or region.

The public doesn't judge us solely by how many meetings we hold or how many documents we issue.

It depends more on what we specifically did and how we did it, especially the words and actions of us key leaders.

If there is something good on the top, it will be great on the bottom.

If we ourselves are not upright, it will be difficult to convince those below us to be honest, incorruptible, hardworking, and of good character.

Wu Zhiyuan continued, "It's normal for the team to have different opinions. Discussions and even debates are all for the purpose of doing the job better."

However, it is absolutely forbidden to pay lip service while acting against it, and it is absolutely forbidden to engage in underhanded tactics or create obstacles behind the scenes for the benefit of individuals or small groups.

This is a matter of principle, and also a matter of discipline.

Zhang Ping didn't speak, only nodding occasionally.

Wu Zhiyuan knew, of course, that Zhang Ping's nod was not an agreement, but a perfunctory response.

Wu Zhiyuan continued, "Next, I will focus on talking to you about your lifestyle."

This issue may seem like a personal matter or a trivial matter, but in reality, it is an important benchmark reflecting a cadre's character, resolve, and principles.

A lack of discipline in one's lifestyle is often the beginning of a decline in moral character and the first step towards making bigger mistakes.

"We are Party cadres and public officials."

The public not only watches what we say on stage, but also what we do off stage;

They not only look at our performance at work, but also at our behavior outside of work hours, in private settings, and outside of our families.

Some people appear respectable and preach high principles in public, but in private, they lead decadent and morally corrupt lives, and even engage in power-for-sex transactions.

Such two-faced people are hateful and extremely dangerous.

Because what he damaged was not just his personal reputation, but also the image of the entire cadre team and the credibility of the Party and the government.

Wu Zhiyuan never mentioned Zhang Ping and Jiang Furong in his words, but he hinted at it between the lines.

Zhang Ping was helpless; after all, someone had caught him red-handed.

Wu Zhiyuan continued, "Some people always think that now that the times are more open, lifestyle issues are minor matters, personal privacy, and that the organization has no say in them and the masses can't see them."

This idea is completely wrong!

Party discipline and national laws have clear provisions regarding the lifestyle discipline of Party members and cadres.

A corrupt lifestyle, moral depravity, engaging in or maintaining improper sexual relations with others, or abusing one's position or subordinate relationship to engage in sexual relations—these are all clear violations of discipline. Lifestyle issues are by no means trivial matters!

"If an official cannot control his desires and cannot uphold the bottom line of life, he may make mistakes in women today, stumble over money tomorrow, and take risks on bigger issues the day after tomorrow in order to cover up these mistakes."

A thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant hole. Once the door of moral failings is opened, it's like opening Pandora's box; all sorts of problems will follow, inevitably leading to disgrace and irreparable regret.

Zhang Ping lowered his head, like a child who had made a mistake and was being scolded by his parents.

"Mayor Zhang, you're an old comrade, you should understand these principles better than I do."

It's not easy for an organization to cultivate a cadre, and it's even more difficult to get them to their current position.

As Party members and leading cadres, we must constantly reflect on ourselves and examine whether we have relaxed our standards in the details of our lives, or whether we have acted improperly or in a way that violates the rules.

If there are faults, correct them; if not, strive to improve. One must tread carefully, as if standing on the edge of an abyss, and never harbor any illusions or think that if something is done discreetly, others will not know.

The eyes of the masses are discerning, and the supervision of the organization is omnipresent. If you don't want others to know, then don't do it in the first place!

Wu Zhiyuan's heart-to-heart talk with Zhang Ping this time was to use the issue of his lifestyle as a starting point to warn him against causing more internal strife.

To put it nicely, it's a warning; to put it bluntly, it's a wake-up call.

Wu Zhiyuan concluded by saying, "If a leading cadre doesn't focus their mind on the right path and doesn't devote their energy to their work, but instead spends all their time scheming about things that are beneath their dignity..."

Or if one is preoccupied with cultivating one's own small circle or clique, it will be difficult for him to truly devote his mind and wisdom to promoting development and serving the people.

Such a person can easily become a discordant note in a team, or even an "intestinal obstruction" that hinders work.

The development of Xindian Town cannot tolerate internal friction, and the expectations of the people cannot be ignored.

I still maintain that forgiving the past is giving people a chance, but opportunities are not unlimited.

If someone pretends to be ignorant and insists on going down the wrong path, stubbornly engaging in underhanded tactics and sabotaging others, then don't blame me for being ruthless. I'll have to follow the rules, and in that case, no one can protect anyone else!

……

Shen Yuwei has arrived.

Accompanying her were several mid-level managers from Dingyue Group, all of whom were members of the inspection team.

Shen Yuwei wore a beige fitted suit skirt, which accentuated her voluptuous yet not bulky figure.

She wore light makeup, exuding the competence of a working woman, and her dimpled smile was very charming.