Me! A high-ranking official!

At this point, Xu Ling suddenly straightened her expression: "Oh, right, Director Zhang just instructed that you need to accompany Director Zhang, Deputy Director Guo, and Li Dafang to the county for a project promotion meeting at 1:30 this afternoon!"

After hearing this, he couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Zhang Baocheng's plan backfired spectacularly. He thought that with his own scheme, Li Dafang could easily fool the Party Secretary and the County Head with a few casual drafts, but his true colors were revealed. Now, seeing that he can't hide the truth any longer, he's resorting to using Zhang Baocheng, the original author, as a scapegoat.

"Going to a meeting in the county? Didn't Director Zhang always put Director Li in charge? Why did he suddenly bring me along?" He feigned surprise and probed in a low voice.

Xu Ling curled her lip and said disdainfully, "What else could it be? The county leaders issued a strict order: at this afternoon's progress meeting, we must come up with a concrete NPC training plan and an operational implementation plan for Xiaozhai Village! Their shoddy work from yesterday was rejected, and now they're in a real bind. Besides you, the big shot appointed by the government, who else in this bureau can clean up this mess in half a day?"

Just then, a series of dragging footsteps came from the corridor.

Xu Ling quickly shut up and turned around, pretending to be there to borrow a stapler.

The door was pushed open.

Li Dafang walked in looking disheveled. His usually slicked-back hair was a bit messy today, and there were two obvious dark circles under his eyes, indicating that he had stayed up all night and hadn't accomplished anything significant.

Seeing Xu Ling there, Li Dafang awkwardly tugged at the corners of his mouth, forcing out a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Jianguo, you're here early today." Li Dafang walked to his desk, rubbed his hands together, and his tone, which had been arrogant when he was vying for credit before, now carried a hint of flattery and helplessness: "It's like this, you took the day off yesterday, right? The county suddenly issued a new requirement, telling us to quickly come up with a concrete NPC training plan and an overall project operation plan. Director Zhang and I wrote a draft last night, but the county leaders weren't satisfied and asked us to refine it further."

Li Dafang swallowed hard, then shamelessly tried to justify himself: "Director Zhang said that in our bureau, when it comes to the depth and sophistication of our materials, you, Jianguo, are the best. Director Zhang has high hopes for you. That's why he's sending you to hurry up and draft these two proposals. We're going to a meeting in the county this afternoon; this is our bureau's chance to turn things around!"

He sat in the chair, looking at Li Dafang's arrogant yet obsequious and utterly hypocritical face, and felt a wave of nausea.

They're quick to claim credit, but when things go wrong, they come out and try to shift the blame.

However, although he looked down on Li Dafang, he could distinguish between what was important and what was not. This plan was the culmination of his hard work and a project that would lay the foundation for his political career. He would never joke about his political future and the project.

"Okay, Director Li, since it's Director Zhang's instruction, the work is urgent, I'll get on it right away." He didn't waste any words or make sarcastic remarks, and readily agreed.

This attitude of prioritizing the overall situation surprised Li Dafang. All the words of reassurance and pressure he had prepared stuck in his throat. He could only nod with a dry laugh and slink away.

The moment the door closed, his eyes turned cold.

He flexed his fingers, opened the document, and his hands moved across the keyboard in a blur.

The core logic of these two plans was already etched into his mind.

Regarding NPC training, he didn't write about those fancy etiquette services, but instead directly presented what he had been thinking about all this time: immersive village rules and regulations. All villagers don't need to memorize lines; they just need to dress in coarse linen clothes according to their ancient identities and act naturally. There is only one assessment standard: no modern items are allowed to appear in the tourists' sight. Violators will have their daily revenue share deducted.

Regarding the operational plan, he further detailed the silver note exchange mechanism and the 50/50 profit-sharing model between villagers and the county's industrial investment group, thus completely binding the interests of the villagers with the revenue of the scenic area.

More than two hours later, around 11:30 a.m.

With the printer whirring away, two logically sound and highly practical solutions were produced.

He stapled the documents together, tucked them under his arm, and headed straight for the director's office.

Just as I reached the corner of the corridor, I bumped right into Li Dafang, who was holding a water cup and about to get some water.

Li Dafang's gaze immediately fell on the document under his arm. His eyes lit up as if he had grasped a lifeline. He quickly moved closer and reached out to take it: "Jianguo, finished writing? Oh, you've worked so hard! Here, give it to me. I'm going in to report to Director Zhang and will pass the proposal on to him for you."

As long as this plan is handed over to Li Dafang, he can still forcibly claim a share of the credit for the revisions and improvements!

His eyes turned cold, and he subtly took half a step to the side, avoiding Li Dafang's hand.

"Director Li, what a coincidence." He gave a professional yet aloof smile, his tone calm but unquestionable: "Director Zhang just specifically instructed me that these two proposals are of great importance. He told me that after I finish writing them, I must personally deliver them to him and report my revision ideas to him in person. I dare not disobey the director's orders, so I won't trouble Director Li to do it for me."

Using the rules set by leaders to intimidate others is the most impenetrable shield within the system.

Li Dafang's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, his face changing several times in an instant, turning pale and then red. He knew in his heart that Zhang Baocheng had never said such a thing, but he had blocked the question. If he were to forcefully seize power again, it would be considered a power grab.

"Hehe... Is that so? Okay, then we have to follow Director Zhang's rules. Go ahead." Li Dafang awkwardly withdrew his hand, chuckled, and didn't insist any further. He turned around and slunk away towards the boiler room.

He sneered, strode to the director's office door, and knocked lightly twice.

"Enter."

Pushing open the door, Zhang Baocheng was putting down the landline phone. Although he still looked tired, he was much more relaxed than he had looked yesterday, as if he had lost his parents.

"Director Zhang." He stepped forward and handed over the proposal with both hands.

Zhang Baocheng glanced at him, a rare smile appearing on his face, and pointed to the chair opposite him: "Jianguo, sit down. You're moving pretty fast. Let me take a look first."

Zhang Baocheng put on his reading glasses and opened the plan.

This time, he didn't do it perfunctorily like before. He had been severely scolded by Zhou Qingyan in the county yesterday, and his official position now depended entirely on this project, so he had no choice but to take it seriously.

The office was extremely quiet, with only the sound of papers turning.

Zhang Baocheng watched for a good seven or eight minutes, occasionally picking up a red pen and drawing a few circles on the paper.

Finally, he closed the file, took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and looked at him with an undisguised admiration.

"Excellent! Well written!" Zhang Baocheng slapped the document heavily, exclaiming sincerely, "Jianguo, your mind is truly sharp! This plan is vivid and logically sound; this is something that can be presented to the county committee!"