PDLP Chapter 101 We Can't Turn the Knife Inward
Chapter 101 We Can't Turn the Knife Inward
Zhou Xiangzhang, as expected of a seasoned official, maintained his enthusiasm even when sitting next to people he hated to the core.
The tea was brewed and served to Dawei.
While waiting for the tea leaves to steep, Dawei handed Zhou Xiangzhang a cigarette with both hands. Then, in front of Zhou Xiangzhang, he turned off his phone and showed her the black screen.
This is to tell the other party that you did not record the conversation.
Zhou Xiangzhang narrowed her eyes slightly, looked at Dawei for a few seconds with amusement, and then took out her phone and turned it off.
David nodded in relief.
"The Camphor Tree Secretary".
That evening, Minister Xiao invited several leaders from the county party committee and several comrades from the organization department to have dinner together.
I think his purpose was to promote harmony within our team.
The municipal party committee attaches great importance to the situation in Yuanshan County.
There were some things I wanted to discuss at the dinner table.
After much consideration, I think it best to exchange opinions with Secretary Xiangzhang privately first, to avoid disagreements at the dinner table in front of the city leaders.
Dawei put it mildly, but what he really meant was that they should talk about it privately first, and if they couldn't reach an agreement, they should bring it up at dinner that night and let the leaders make a decision and the municipal party committee intervene.
"What is it? Tell me." Zhou Xiangzhang understood immediately.
"I just had a meeting with some colleagues from the Agriculture Bureau today..."
Dawei revealed his ideas for establishing a fruit company to develop local navel oranges, pomelos, and other fruits, as well as his plan to use the fruit company to secure funding from higher levels of government.
Even if he didn't say it, Deputy Director Xie of the Agriculture Bureau would have told Zhou Xiangzhang.
"Logically, a meeting of a five-person county group should be held first to discuss the matter."
Ke Linwangyou was placed under investigation.
Minister Shao is spending another day with the municipal leaders.
Secretary Qi Dahai went to the city hospital for a follow-up medical examination in the afternoon.
There are only two of us who can make a group of five.
If I discuss this with you, I think we can finalize it.
Zhou Xiangzhang thought it was something difficult, but after hearing it, she smiled indifferently and said, "This is a good thing."
You are young, energetic, and have ideas.
This is something we old guys can't compare to.
I definitely support it.
He verbally offered his support, but secretly he had already revealed the inside story to the people in the neighboring Wufeng County, so that they would also adopt Dawei's idea and apply for funding from the province.
He was just waiting to see David fail and make a fool of himself.
"Thank you, Secretary Xiangzhang."
"That's all?"
"right."
Zhou Xiangzhang was still somewhat disappointed, thinking there was some major event that she could take advantage of to manipulate Dawei.
Dawei had many plans in mind, including the construction of the expressway and the adjustment of the leadership of the county party committee and county government.
But things have to be done one at a time.
While Minister Xiao is in the county, let's finalize the matter of the fruit company first.
If we ask for too much at once, Zhou Xiangzhang will definitely start negotiating terms. We can't let this old guy have his way.
Zhou Xiangzhang was somewhat disappointed. It was the first time Chen Dawei had come to visit, and the first formal meeting between the county's top two officials, yet they had failed to win him over.
"County Chief Chen, we've known each other for a long time."
You used to work in the county government office, so we saw each other often.
I highly approve of your writing style.
The undisputed best pen holder from Yuanshan County.
Zhou Xiangzhang first showered her with praise, then abruptly changed the subject.
"You've been in Yuanshan County for quite some time now."
They are quite familiar with the situation here.
The cadres have been replaced one after another.
There were so many secretaries and county heads before me.
Why has Yuanshan County failed to develop?
Is it really just a problem with the cadre team?
I don’t think so.
You used to be in frequent contact with the front lines, so you have a clearer understanding of what's happening there.
Yuanshan County is located on the provincial border. In the past, there were many bandits and highwaymen, and the local customs in some towns were exceptionally fierce.
Poor mountains and bad waters.
The literary style is not flourishing.
Male chauvinism is rampant in rural areas.
The able-bodied men gamble, drink, and curse their wives; they neglect their duties and lack ambition.
The mindset of ordinary people is also a major issue.
Thoughts are the hardest thing to change.
In small places like this, relationships are very complicated. Many county officials have kinship ties with people at the grassroots level, so it's inevitable that they'll favor acquaintances when getting things done, and ordinary people also like to seek help from acquaintances.
The implication is that the limited development of Yuanshan County is the problem of the people, not Zhou Xiangzhang's.
David scoffed at this viewpoint, saying that our people are the best people in the world, yet they are incompetent and try to shift the blame onto the people.
However, he listened with a serious expression, giving the other party face and also creating a false impression—making them think that he was a cooperative and easy-going person.
Zhou Xiangzhang picked up her cup, took a sip of tea, and continued leisurely, "I was young once too, so I can understand you."
But when I was your age, I was still the deputy director of the office, hehehe...
It's good that you want to do things.
But you can't turn the knife inward.
The county party committee and county government compound is filled with so many people; they are all your comrades-in-arms.
You've broken everyone's hearts and made them feel disheartened. How are you going to carry out your work?
Tell me, do you think what I said makes sense?
After asking her questions, Zhou Xiangzhang observed Dawei.
David also picked up his teacup and took a sip, concealing his dissatisfaction with a slight smile.
I've already understood the implied meaning.
Zhou Xiangzhang was pointing fingers at him; it was wrong of him to start by attacking someone right away.
Instead of wasting time on that, it would be better to do ideological work among the people and improve their overall quality.
There's another layer I haven't mentioned: we're all just passing through.
In a few years, Yuanshan County will eventually be handed over to someone else, and it will have nothing to do with me anymore.
Even if this group of people is replaced, Yuanshan County will remain the same in the future.
This is an implication that David should cooperate with him, to blend in with the crowd, and just get by, which would be beneficial for everyone.
Dawei nodded in agreement, feigning agreement: "Secretary Xiangzhang has a profound understanding; I've learned something from him."
The two probed again, but ultimately nothing came of it.
David glanced at the clock; the time Xiao Zhikai had set was almost up.
The two prepared to go to the county guesthouse to have dinner with Xiao Zhikai.
Everyone got into their own car.
This was a business trip, accompanying a leader, so naturally I was traveling in a county-issued official vehicle.
After receiving Zhao Kui's call, Lin Yunxing went to prepare the car early in the morning. She wiped the dust off the car's surface, turned on the air freshener, and put today's newspaper or something in the storage pocket in front of the back seat.
As soon as Dawei came out of the building, Lin Yunxing opened the car door.
Xiao Lili and her colleagues from the Old Cadre Bureau had already arrived at the guesthouse canteen ahead of them.
Xiao Zhikai, Shao Zhen'an and Xiao Lili from the county's Organization Department, and several other members of the county's Standing Committee were all present.
The atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant as everyone gathered together.
When we were halfway through the meal.
A commotion arose at the entrance of the guesthouse.
"Uncle Liu, the leaders are inside receiving city officials. Please keep your voice down. Can't you go to the county party committee's organization department tomorrow to discuss this?"
Standing outside the door were young comrades from the Organization Department, trying to persuade an elderly man with a full head of white hair.
"Get out of my way."
I only came because I knew the city leaders were there.
Move aside!
Shao Zhenan, you come out here!
The elderly man surnamed Liu shouted louder and louder.
In the private room of the cafeteria, Xiao Zhikai and the others put down their chopsticks upon hearing the noise.
Shao Zhen'an from the Organization Department immediately turned pale: "Leaders, I'll go see what's going on."