Me! A high-ranking official!

After praising him, Zhang Baocheng put on his official airs again. As the top leader, if he accepts all of his subordinates' proposals, how can he demonstrate his role in overseeing the process?

He tapped the table with his knuckles, his tone becoming serious: "However, Jianguo, the general direction is fine, but I've looked at the specific implementation details and there are two points that need to be revised. Please write them down."

He immediately pulled out a notebook and pen from his pocket, adopting a posture of attentive listening: "Director Zhang, please give your instructions."

"First," Zhang Baocheng said, pointing to one of the NPC training programs, "the guaranteed minimum wage plus commission you've set for the village NPCs, which amounts to 150 to 250 yuan a day? That's too high! These farmers used to earn so little farming. My suggestion is to lower the standard; 50 or 60 yuan a day is the maximum! We need to control costs for the county finance department and the investment group!"

"Secondly," Zhang Baocheng turned to the next page, his brow furrowing even deeper, "Your monthly performance evaluation system—if someone doesn't meet the standards, they get their salary docked or even replaced? That's too harsh! Jianguo, you've been in the office all your life and don't understand the complexities of grassroots life. Those people in Xiaozhai Village are notorious holdouts and troublemakers! If you use this kind of corporate-style high-pressure approach to manage them, and they collectively petition and cause trouble in the county, who can bear that political responsibility?!"

After hearing these two insightful points, he couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

With Zhang Baocheng's mind, he can only be a mediocre official for his entire life. He cuts the wages of lower-level workers and is so afraid of taking responsibility that he doesn't even dare to take on normal management duties. What great things can such a person accomplish?

He remained expressionless, closed his notebook, and explained in a deep voice, "Director Zhang, your concerns are very reasonable and far-sighted." He first gave a soft rebuff, then changed the subject: "But regarding the salary standards, I set them after referring to the operational data of several mature ancient villages in the surrounding provinces and cities."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone steady: "Director Zhang, we're not running an ordinary tourist attraction; we're creating an immersive experience. Tourists pay a hefty price to see authentic ancient life. If the wages are too low, the villagers will just be there to get by, putting in the work but not putting in the effort. If the tourist experience is severely compromised, our reputation will be ruined, and we'll lose everything! This labor cost is not only unavoidable, but it must be fully compensated. A generous reward will surely attract brave men; only when they're paid enough will they treat this as their own business!"

Zhang Baocheng was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting him to use the tourist experience as a counter-argument, and was speechless for a moment.

He didn't give him time to react, and immediately threw out a second response: "As for your concern that strict assessments will lead to villagers petitioning and causing trouble, that is indeed a big bombshell."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Baocheng immediately nodded: "That's right! In grassroots work, stability is paramount!"

"Therefore, the red lines for performance evaluation cannot be removed, but we can change the methods of implementation." He smiled slightly: "Director Zhang, my suggestion is that the government and the investment group absolutely should not play the villain! Let the villagers of Xiaozhai Village elect several respected leaders or clan chiefs themselves, and we will directly delegate the evaluation standards and punitive powers to these village-elected team leaders!"

His gaze was intense: "Let them convey and implement it! That way, if they don't do a good job and get punished or fired, it's a rule set by the villagers themselves, and they can't blame the government! This is called resolving conflicts internally. Our Culture and Tourism Bureau will only act as a superior referee, absolutely staying out of the mud!"

Resolve the conflict internally!

Upon hearing these eight words, Zhang Baocheng's eyes lit up instantly!

This kind of bureaucrat, who is most afraid of taking responsibility, is exactly the kind of person who likes to hear about methods that can completely absolve him of risk.

"Wonderful..." Zhang Baocheng leaned back in his chair, smacked his lips, and looked at him with a completely different gaze. This kid not only had a strong pen, but his methods of manipulating power and controlling the grassroots were so shrewd that they sent chills down one's spine!

"Good! What a brilliant idea to handle this internally!" Zhang Baocheng was completely convinced this time. He no longer insisted on his own cleverness and readily waved his hand: "We'll do it your way! Go back and add those two points you just refuted—namely, the generous rewards for quality improvement and self-governance—into the plan using official language! Before work this afternoon, print out a complete copy and bring it over for my signature!"

"Okay, Director Zhang, I'll change it right away."

He picked up the plan on the table, turned around, and left.

Back in his office, he immediately turned on his computer and added the two points he had just verbally added to the document, using extremely formal official language. The formatting, printing, and binding were all completed in one go.

1:30 PM.

Holding the new proposal, still smelling of fresh ink, he pushed open the door to the director's office once more.

This time, Zhang Baocheng didn't even open the cover. He simply picked up the pen on the table and signed his name in a flamboyant manner in the "Recipient" section of the cover.

"Go ahead, get the official stamp from the bureau office, and then submit it directly to the county party committee office."

Zhang Baocheng handed him the proposal, stood up, straightened his suit jacket, and a look of resolute determination flashed in his eyes, along with a complex sense of entrusting his fate to someone else.

"Jianguo, prepare two sets of materials. I'll report at the county's progress meeting this afternoon. If the county leaders ask about the key details..." Zhang Baocheng gave him a deep look: "You can add the details from the side!"

2:30 p.m., the third conference room of the county party committee building.

The heavy, solid wood double doors were tightly closed. The air conditioning in the conference room was on full blast, but the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

At the oval conference table, several key figures from Linshui County were present. County Party Secretary Zhou Qingyan sat in the central seat, wearing a well-tailored dark suit, his hair neatly pulled back, his eyes sharp. To his left sat County Head Han Baomin, holding a thermos, his expression composed. To his right was Lian Wei, the Executive Deputy County Head in charge of culture and tourism. In addition, the heads of several relevant departments, including Public Security, Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and Natural Resources, were also present as observers.

Zhang Baocheng sat in the center of the reporting area, with Guo Nanguo and Li Dafang on his left and right respectively. Zhao Jianguo, as a junior staff member at the deputy section chief level, sat very properly on the extra seat behind Li Dafang, with a thick stack of spare materials on his lap, his head slightly lowered, seemingly lost in thought.

"Let's begin, Director Baocheng." Zhou Qingyan opened the folder in front of him, his cold voice echoing in the conference room without a single superfluous word of politeness.