Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 251 The Master's Wife is Coming to Qingshan

Xu Yunxi continued to tirelessly try to persuade Wu Zhiyuan: "Brother Zhiyuan, don't overthink it. This is really common in art majors; it's part of basic training."

Our teacher has said many times that to understand the internal structure and rhythm of the human body, external clothing is actually a distraction.

Just like how to understand the essence of a mountain, you have to first get rid of the surface vegetation and clouds...

At this moment, Wu Zhiyuan heard someone calling Xu Yunxi. The voice was very familiar—it was Liu Qingqing!

"Aunt Qingqing, you're back!"

"Shopping is so tiring! Yunxi, if you don't come shopping with me, who are you chatting on the phone with?"

"Brother Zhiyuan, Aunt Qingqing, would you like to say a few words to Brother Zhiyuan?"

Liu Qingqing took the phone: "Zhiyuan, I knew it was you just by your voice. This girl, once she gets her hands on you, she won't stop talking."

"Did Teacher Liu go to Hangzhou?"

"I'm on a business trip here, and my hotel is near Yunxi's school. I asked her to go shopping with me, but she didn't want to. Turns out she wanted to chat with you."

Zhiyuan, how's work in Qingshan County?

"It's alright, Teacher Liu. Grassroots work is quite specific and also good for personal development."

"Working at the grassroots level is tougher and more tiring, but it's the best place to hone your skills and see the realities of people's lives."

Youwei often says that you are a resilient young person who can focus on your work, and it would be good for you to accumulate more experience below.

However, it's also important to balance work and rest; don't just focus on work.

"Thank you for your concern, Teacher Liu. Teacher Liu, if you have time, you are welcome to come to Qingshan for inspiration."

"Great, that's exactly what I was planning to do. We artists need to travel and see more; green mountains and clear waters are the best sources of inspiration."

Furthermore, I'd also like to visit the place where you work and live now.

Yunxi always describes Qingshan Gorge as something out of a fairyland, and I'm really curious about it too.

"It is an honor for Qingshan County that Teacher Liu can come."

If you come, I will definitely be your guide.

Qingshan not only has mountains and rivers, but also an ancient town. The ancient town also has an old opera stage that has been preserved for nearly a hundred years.

Although it is dilapidated, the carved beams and painted rafters still reveal some of its former grandeur, and it is now a key cultural relic under municipal protection.

I heard that in the old days, opera troupes from all around loved to perform here.

During festivals and holidays, the sound of gongs and drums could gather half the city's population.

"Oh? There's an old stage that's been preserved so well?" Liu Qingqing immediately became interested. "The newly built stages are impressive, but they always lack that warm, inviting feeling that comes from years of human interaction."

When we opera singers stand on these old stages, stepping on the same spot where countless generations of performers have stood, the feeling is different, and it's as if we can connect with them on a deeper level.

"Zhiyuan, it seems you're definitely going to be the tour guide!"

"Thank you for your trust, Teacher Liu! I will make sure that Teacher Liu and Yunxi's trip is worthwhile."

Zhiyuan, "We trust you to handle things, that's all." Liu Qingqing handed the phone to Xu Yunxi, "Yunxi, here's the phone back, I'm going to take a bath."

Xu Yunxi took the phone and listened to Liu Qingqing's footsteps as she walked towards the bathroom and the sound of the door closing. She lowered her voice and said, "Brother Zhiyuan, did you hear that?"

Aunt Qingqing really likes you, and even offered to go with you!

"Teacher Liu is a senior artist, and it's a good thing that he can come to Qingshan."

"Brother Zhiyuan, let me tell you, my dad and Aunt Qingqing are very open-minded."

They told me long ago that if I met a boy I liked in college, as long as he was a good person, upright and ambitious, they wouldn't interfere.

Aunt Qingqing always says that matters of the heart are like drinking water; only the person experiencing it knows whether it's hot or cold. As parents, we can only help guide the process, not make decisions for them.

They trust my own judgment. So, when I date in the future, I won't feel any pressure from my family, and I won't worry about whether they like someone or not, as long as it's someone I truly like…”

Xu Yunxi's words carried more weight than any direct confession.

It's not just a young girl's feelings, but also a family's respect for and support of her right to choose.

Wu Zhiyuan said calmly, "Yunxi, your father and Teacher Liu are indeed very open-minded and treat you very well."

……

Wu Zhiyuan's previous heart-to-heart talk with Zhang Ping had served as a warning and deterrent.

During this period, Zhang Ping has noticeably toned down his behavior.

Sometimes, he would even stroll around Wu Zhiyuan's office with a teacup in hand, chatting casually.

Sometimes, the government would also proactively seek Wu Zhiyuan's opinion on matters concerning them.

Zhang Ping knew very well that as long as he kept Wu Zhiyuan in check, his scandalous affair with Jiang Furong would not be exposed.

At the town party committee meeting, regarding the selection of the director of the town party and government office, Zhang Ping took the initiative to suggest that Sun Dewang take over.

Furthermore, Zhang Ping suggested that Wang Shi be appointed as the deputy director of the town's urban construction office.

He attempted to indirectly persuade Sun Dewang and Wang Shi not to report him by promoting them.

The town's Party Committee successfully approved the appointments of Sun Dewang as Director of the Party and Government Office and Wang Shi as Deputy Director of the Urban Construction Office.

Regarding the reform plan for the town government canteen, based on the opinions of employees and the employee vote in the early stage, a semi-contracting approach was chosen, that is, only the labor services of the canteen are purchased, while the procurement of canteen materials, supervision and management of the canteen are all handled by the canteen supervision and management committee elected by the employee representative assembly.

The committee consists of seven ordinary employees who rotate regularly. They supervise the entire process of food procurement, food quality, price calculation, and kitchen hygiene, and publish the accounts weekly.

After the new plan was implemented, the canteen's menu quickly increased from the previous monotonous "three dishes" to seven or eight kinds, with a mix of meat and vegetables, and seasonal freshness. Breakfast even added soy milk, fried dough sticks and local specialties. The standard lunch consisted of two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes and a soup, which the employees were very satisfied with.

Official receptions should be held in the canteen rather than a restaurant whenever possible.

Previously, the canteen was contracted out to Chen Youfu, and official receptions arranged in the canteen were settled at market prices. Now, they are almost at cost price, which has greatly reduced the burden on the town's finances.

Wu Zhiyuan cracked down on the practice of using public funds for lavish meals, which affected the interests of some people, but he also won the hearts of ordinary employees by improving the canteen's food.

……

By focusing on improving the work style of government agencies, the phenomenon of being late or leaving early has been basically eliminated.

However, a new situation arose: after get off work in the evening, the town government building was brightly lit, and the offices of various departments were bustling with people, creating a lively and bustling scene.

Are you really that busy?

Wu Zhiyuan found it hard to believe that, apart from special circumstances such as the flood season, there could be so much work that required working overtime to complete.

If an organization has long-term overtime work, it's either because formalism is on the rise again, or there's a problem with human resource allocation.

That evening, Wu Zhiyuan decided to wander around the different floors and happened to see Sun Dewang coming towards him.

"Director Sun, how's the overtime situation in each department lately? Are you aware of it?"

Sun Dewang hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "Secretary Wu, since you started cracking down on work style, everyone's enthusiasm for work has indeed increased, and many comrades are voluntarily working overtime..."

"I want to hear the truth," Wu Zhiyuan interrupted him. "Tell me, how much of this overtime work is truly necessary?"

Sun Dewang smiled wryly and said, "Secretary Wu, since you asked, I will tell you the truth."

"These days, at least half of the overtime work is just for show."

"Go on."

"After your last talk with Zhang Ping, Zhang Ping did indeed restrain himself a lot, but he repeatedly emphasized at the meeting that we should see a 'new look for the new store' and embody the 'spirit of getting things done and starting a business'."

When this message reached the lower levels, many people interpreted it as meaning to work more overtime and perform better.

Zhang Ping often comes to the office in the evenings, and if he sees anyone working overtime, he will praise them.

After a while, everyone started working overtime voluntarily, especially the young people. They wanted to advance, so they had to work overtime.

Wu Zhiyuan lamented: "The manifestations of formalism at the grassroots level are varied, but at their core they all boil down to one word: 'fake'."

False busyness, false diligence, and false implementation will ultimately harm both oneself and others.

"Secretary Wu, shall I accompany you to walk around the various offices and see how many are truly working overtime?"

Wu Zhiyuan nodded.

In an office next to the Party and Government Office, Yu Yue was racking her brains to write a report.

Upon seeing Wu Zhiyuan arrive, Yu Yue stood up.

"Xiao Yu, what materials are so urgent that we need to work overtime tonight?" Wu Zhiyuan asked.

"Mayor Zhang is going to a meeting in the county the day after tomorrow to report on our town's poverty alleviation work."

Mayor Zhang has high standards for written materials, saying they must reflect political stance, have theoretical depth, and be expressed in an innovative way…

Wu Zhiyuan glanced at it and saw that it involved focusing on one central task, grasping two key points, highlighting three priorities, implementing four measures, and strengthening five types of awareness...

Yu Yue said with a long face, "This is my eighth draft. Mayor Zhang said the title is not parallel enough and asked me to rewrite the subheadings. Tonight is the time to rewrite the title."