Right path to power

At this moment, Yan Zhao hurriedly stepped forward and enthusiastically introduced, "Secretary Wang, this is Comrade Liu Jianguo, the village party secretary of Songmao Village, and this is Comrade Lin Xiao, who was sent by the township to be stationed in the village. He is a selected graduate of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department. He is young, quick-witted, and has a broad perspective. At the same time, he has solid theoretical knowledge and is serious and responsible in his work. He was just transferred back from the county government and is a key candidate for development in the township."

The praise from the township party secretary made Lin Xiao's heart itch, but it only lasted for a few seconds before he felt nauseous.

Wang Yuanze gave a slight nod with his eyes before shaking hands with Lin Xiao and Liu Jianguo respectively.

"You two seemed quite engrossed in your conversation just now; there must be something important going on!"

"Reporting to Secretary Wang, Comrade Xiao Lin is discussing the village's development plan with us."

"Is that so? Then please let Comrade Jianguo introduce himself!"

Afterwards, Liu Jianguo recounted the plans that had just been discussed, and finally mentioned the most important point.

"Secretary Wang, if we want to turn these plans into reality, I think it's probably not enough for our village to solve them on its own. We also need the approval and support of higher-level leaders so that they can be truly put into practice."

To be honest, I am somewhat incompetent as the village party secretary. Over the years, I have watched as the backwardness of the village has not been effectively improved, and I feel guilty. However, I am willing but unable to do anything about it.

If it weren't for Comrade Xiaolin coming to the village and patiently understanding our actual situation, pointing us in the right direction, we would have been completely clueless.

Today, Secretary Wang, your special trip to our village for research has filled us with even more hope.

Wang Yuanze nodded and said, "Comrade Jianguo, you said something very well: no matter how good the plan is, it is just empty talk if it cannot be implemented. Poverty itself is not terrible; what is terrible is losing confidence and fighting spirit."

From what you just said about the new plan, I feel that you have found a way out for yourselves, which is excellent. Of course, providing you with assistance is also the responsibility of the higher-ups.

Wang Yuanze turned to Huang Zaichuan and continued, "Comrade Zaichuan, your county party committee and county government must take the difficulties that Comrade Jianguo just mentioned seriously, come up with a concrete assistance plan as soon as possible, and implement it in a down-to-earth manner. We cannot let the villagers have hope only to end up disappointed."

Huang Zaichuan took a step forward, afraid that Wang Yuanze wouldn't see his solemn vow: "Secretary Wang, rest assured, we will definitely get on the work as soon as possible and build Songmao Village into a new model village, so that everyone can get out of poverty and become rich."

"You can't just shout slogans without doing anything. Even if the slogans are loud and clear, if you keep standing still, it's all meaningless. Remember, only when you do real work will the people support you."

"Understood, Secretary Wang."

Despite talking to others, Wang Yuanze noticed that Lin Xiao was occasionally jotting something down in her notebook.

"Comrade Lin Xiao, I see you've been taking notes on something. May I take a look?"

"Convenient, convenient, Secretary Wang!"

As Lin Xiao spoke, she handed her notebook to Wang Yuanze.

After taking the notebook, Wang Yuanze initially flipped through it briefly, but the more he read, the more he nodded, clearly very satisfied with the contents.

"Good, Comrade Lin Xiao, you have done a very solid job and grasped the key points. To do a good job in rural work, the most important thing is to understand the countryside, understand the farmers, grasp the actual situation in the countryside, and understand the difficulties of the farmers."

If we don't visit the villages for a year or two, if we don't go among the people, if we don't understand their needs and urgent concerns, how can our proposed policies and measures possibly be correct, and how can they truly help the people?

At this moment, Wang Yuanze looked at Liu Jianguo and asked, "Comrade Jianguo, how many times a year do the cadres from your township come to the village?"

Liu Jianguo paused for a moment, hesitated for two or three seconds, and then replied, "Reporting to Secretary Wang, the township leaders care about us a lot and come down to us often."

"Often? Then tell me specifically, when did they come this year?" Wang Yuanze was clearly dissatisfied with Liu Jianguo's vague answer, so he pressed on.

This put Liu Jianguo in a difficult position. To be honest, with two township leaders watching closely, it wouldn't be good for Songmao Village's future development if he embarrassed them.

So Liu Jianguo gritted his teeth and made up a story: "Secretary Yan visited the village at the beginning of this month, and Mayor Kong just came last week."

Yan Zhao and Kong Changgeng, who were standing to the side, were sweating profusely and their legs were trembling. They hadn't discussed their story with Liu Jianguo beforehand, and now they were in trouble.

However, Wang Yuanze smiled and said, "Comrade Zaichuan, it seems that our work is not thorough enough, especially in terms of work style, which needs to be improved."

At this moment, Huang Zaichuan wished there was a hole in the ground he could crawl into and stay inside for a while. He first glared at Yan Zhao and Kong Changgeng, then said with trepidation, "Secretary Wang, it was our work that was not done properly, and I apologize to you. Next, the county will launch a special rectification campaign throughout the county to vigorously strengthen the construction of work style."

At the same time, we will continue to thoroughly implement the central government's guidelines on agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. I will take the lead in going down to the villages, ensuring I visit at least once a month, to gain a deep understanding of the actual situation at the grassroots level and promote the in-depth and effective implementation of agricultural, rural, and farmers' work throughout the county.

Wang Yuanze remained noncommittal. He closed his notebook, patted it, and said, "Whether the work is done thoroughly or not depends not on what you say, but on what you do. Look at Comrade Lin Xiao. He has only been stationed in the village for a short time, but his notebook is already filled with information about all the villagers. He has also discussed practical development plans with the villagers. That's what you call responsibility and hard work."

I just took a look, and I was shocked by what I saw. Comrades, the current situation in Songmao Village is truly appalling.

Comrade Yan Zhao, Comrade Chang Geng, as the most important township-level practitioners of rural work, do you understand the actual situation of each village? How many villages have you actually visited? Have you even been to Songmao Village?

Wang Yuanze's series of questions instantly turned Yan Zhao and Kong Changgeng pale, and the two were utterly ashamed.

Liu Jianguo, standing to the side, was also taken aback. He figured Wang Yuanze had seen through his fabricated story, so he steeled himself and continued:

"Secretary Wang, Comrade Xiao Lin has been thinking about how to change the status quo of the village since he came to the village. He visited villagers from house to house in order to find a way out for our Songmao Village based on these situations. All of us in the village, young and old, are very grateful to him and are willing to listen to his call."

However, we don't understand why such a good cadre would be punished. Therefore, on behalf of the entire village, I would like to ask Secretary Wang for help to see if the county can rescind the punishment against Comrade Xiaolin. We believe that as long as Comrade Xiaolin leads us in development with peace of mind, our Songmao Village will definitely be able to escape poverty and become prosperous.

Yan Zhao shuddered, nearly staggering to the ground in fright. The resolve he had shown earlier in punishing Lin Xiao and ignoring Gong Lei's pleas for leniency vanished instantly, leaving his head buzzing.

"Comrade Zaichuan, what's going on? What mistake did Lin Xiao make that warrants punishment?" Wang Yuanze turned to Huang Zaichuan and asked calmly.

Huang Zaichuan, equally bewildered, replied in confusion, "Secretary Wang, the county hasn't made any disciplinary decision regarding Comrade Lin Xiao, so it must have been the township that made it. Yan Zhao, quickly report to Secretary Wang what exactly happened?"

Yan Zhao was in a terrible predicament. He could only stammer, "Secretary Wang, this...this is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. Here's what happened: Some time ago, the township launched a campaign to rectify work style. Comrade Lin Xiao was in the city on business and not in the township. The comrade in charge of attendance mistakenly thought he was absent without leave and reported the situation. However, after verification, it was found that Comrade Lin Xiao had indeed called to request leave, so there was no punishment involved."

Huang Zaichuan chimed in, "Secretary Wang, it seems it really was a misunderstanding. However, this precisely shows that Comrade Lin Xiao's work has indeed been recognized by the villagers; otherwise, they wouldn't have stood up for him, haha..."

A cold glint flashed across Wang Yuanze's lips. Although he rarely used these polite phrases used in officialdom, he was not unaware of them; on the contrary, he knew them by heart.

If someone in his position can't even see through or guess the petty schemes of his subordinates, then he'll probably find it difficult to make any further breakthroughs.

Then, he said cryptically, "I think the atmosphere in Nangang Township should be rectified."