104: Chapter 104 Underground Organization Department

Regarding Secretary Xue Hongtao's instructions, both Han Fei and Director Zhou Qiang expressed their complete obedience to the leader's directives.

However, it seemed he had thought of something. Just as he was about to speak, he glanced at Sun Ning and closed his mouth again.

Perhaps he was considering how to bring it up.

Secretary Xue Hongtao noticed his hesitation and asked, "If there are any difficulties, just say so directly."

"Party Secretary, Township Head, a reporter has come to interview us here, and the long journey must have been quite exhausting for him!"

"Should we also entertain Reporter Liu Peng according to the established rules?"

After Han Fei finished speaking, he looked at Sun Ning with expectant eyes.

There was no other reason!

The reputation of "Old Miser Sun" was far-reaching.

"Old Miser Sun" might not necessarily approve of this kind of expenditure.

Actually, the people of Mishui Township had misunderstood Sun Ning.

He had always been relatively strict with expense controls and would never approve unnecessary expenditures.

This had caused some people in the township with ulterior motives to have complaints.

The nickname "Old Miser Sun" was spread by these people.

But Sun Ning was actually quite generous.

For example, some time ago, Deputy Township Head Feng brought in an investor in the food industry.

Sun Ning approved the hospitality expenses for that without even asking.

The reason he kept an eye on the finances was simply that he didn't want the government departments to be spendthrift.

In some townships, examples of running up debts at restaurants and not paying them back were everywhere.

How was this situation caused?

Wasn't it simply due to lax supervision of the township finances, with everyone wanting to take advantage of the state?

Slowly, it accumulated more and more, and some Township Governments could owe hundreds of thousands.

Eventually, it slowly turned into a scandal.

Sun Ning was merely upholding his duties as Township Head, yet even this could lead to the spreading of his "Old Miser" reputation.

Sun Ning had always ignored such comments.

However, he also knew why Han Fei was looking at him.

Without waiting for Secretary Xue Hongtao to speak, Sun Ning said, "You are a veteran in the propaganda department; just handle it according to your own ideas."

Matters like giving "travel fees" were not suitable to be brought out into the open.

Therefore, no one discussed it in detail.

If strictly investigated, this kind of thing had the suspicion of bribery.

But, some things just couldn't be scrutinized too closely.

To put it bluntly, which local government would dare to offend a well-known reporter?

Not long after, Sun Ning's mobile phone rang.

Speak of the devil.

To show their importance to Reporter Liu Peng, the group went out to welcome him together.

This gesture made Reporter Liu Peng feel flattered!

To Reporter Liu Peng, this action by Sun Ning was equivalent to a son-in-law of a Marquis's estate meeting a minor official of the prefecture.

After some polite exchanges, both sides got down to business.

The reception work was left to Han Fei and Director Zhou Qiang.

Not long after Sun Ning returned to his office, Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian knocked and entered.

There are certainly many people with keen intentions!

Sun Ning sighed and let Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian take a seat.

Actually, this matter was purely a coincidence. Sun Ning had misunderstood; he didn't yet know that a reporter had come from the provincial level.

The main thing was that the news about the County Party Committee planning personnel changes had already spread throughout the county.

The news coming from the "underground Organization Department" was that the leadership team of Mishui Township might undergo major changes.

Some even went as far as to say that Secretary Xue Hongtao had voluntarily approached the Organization Department to request stepping into a second-line position, on the condition that Sun Ning must take over as Party Secretary.

Others said that Sun Ning was going to the County Party Committee Office to become a Deputy Director, preparing to succeed the current member of the County Party Committee Standing Committee and Director of the County Party Committee Office.

This news was somewhat ridiculous.

Although the Deputy Director of the County Party Committee Office was one of the most valuable regular section-level cadre positions in the county.

But the difficulty of being promoted directly to the County Party Committee Standing Committee was still very high.

There was an even more outrageous rumor: everyone was saying that because Mishui Township had achieved results, the Township Party Committee and the Township Government were going to have a major reshuffle to make room for those "scions."

This news was so absurd that it claimed the son of the Director of the provincial Development and Reform Commission was coming to be the Party Secretary, and someone else's grandson was coming to be the Township Head.

Setting aside whether it was normal for the son of a provincial Development and Reform Commission Director to only be a regular section-level official at thirty-five.

Just considering why they would come to such a rural place if they wanted to "gild" their resumes.

In fact, Sun Ning didn't know any of this news.

He knew too few people in the county.

He was only relatively familiar with Secretary Li Chengping, but Secretary Li Chengping certainly wouldn't tell him about these random rumors.

As for the heads of the Transportation Bureau and the Finance Bureau, with whom he frequently dealt, they were just drinking buddies.

Perhaps they were just waiting to see Sun Ning step down; why would they pass on news to him?

Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian put down the teacup Sun Ning had handed him, and the two chatted casually for a few moments.

After a few minutes, when the timing seemed right, Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian kept rubbing his hands together.

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said, "Township Head, I heard that the county is going to clean us all out to make room for others."

It was the first time Sun Ning had heard such an absurd claim; he almost choked, spraying tea all over the floor.

It was only in the township that leading cadres didn't have so many taboos when speaking.

Otherwise, with such a tactless remark from Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian, Sun Ning might have just kicked him out.

Anyone with a brain wouldn't believe that the entire Township Party Committee and Township Government would be reshuffled.

Who would dare to do that?

Isn't that just looking for trouble?

Although a township is not big, if it descends into chaos, the consequences could be very serious.

"Comrade Cui Xiaotian, you are the Deputy Party Secretary of Mishui Township; you cannot believe every rumor you hear."

"Township Head, at first I didn't believe it either, but there are all sorts of rumors in the county, and furthermore, Secretary Wang Shengli really hasn't adjusted any personnel since taking office."

The point here that was most convincing was that Secretary Wang Shengli had not adjusted any personnel since taking office.

It was precisely because Secretary Wang Shengli had not adjusted any personnel that Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian believed that absurd rumor.

"Personnel adjustments are a matter for the leadership; we just need to obey the Organization Department's arrangements."

The relationship between Sun Ning and Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian was one of shallow acquaintance but deep conversation.

He had always relied on Secretary Xue Hongtao and didn't have a very powerful backer in the county.

However, the entire Mishui Township leadership team had almost no conflicts, and Sun Ning wouldn't target Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian anyway.

"Township Head, the situation in Mishui Township was brought about by you, and our work was mentored by you. The higher-level leaders shouldn't just adjust us whenever they want, right? Working in other townships is still work, but it's not as good as being here in the township, where all the work is familiar."

Only now did Sun Ning catch the drift.

So, Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian didn't want to be transferred to other townships.

Thinking about it, it was also quite easy to understand.

Mishui Township was just at the time of producing results; they might be transferred to the county town someday while in Mishui Township.

If they were transferred from Mishui Township to other townships, they might be stuck in the countryside for the rest of their lives.

Although Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian openly and secretly considered himself a subordinate, Sun Ning would not speak recklessly about personnel matters.

"Comrade Cui Xiaotian, our results in Mishui Township are so good, the Organization Department sees it all. We must trust the Organization Department!"

This was the last time Sun Ning discussed personnel matters with Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian.

How could Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian not understand such an obvious refusal?

He chatted with Sun Ning about some household matters and then left.

Watching the back of Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian as he left, Sun Ning sighed secretly; it seemed he needed to make some preparations.

He let out a soft breath and said calmly, "I'm going to the county later."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian's body paused. He turned his body back and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Sun Ning knew this was his way of saying thank you.

Actually, Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian might have had another thought in coming over.

If Secretary Xue Hongtao retired, given Sun Ning's connections, he would definitely push Vice Township Head Wang Penghui to take office.

In that case, Deputy Secretary Cui Xiaotian would be completely stuck in the township.

This was not what he wanted.