130: Chapter 130 Unpleasant Guest Arrives

Mishui Township is very small; it takes less than ten minutes to travel from the Police Station to the Civil Affairs Office.

And that is considering the Police Station is in a relatively remote location.

As soon as Sun Ning got out of the car, he was recognized by the staff at the Civil Affairs Office, who hurriedly greeted him.

Sun Ning also hurriedly greeted them back.

The staff member had the intention to notify their director, but after glancing at Sun Ning, they held back.

Everyone in Mishui Township knows that Sun Ning never gives advance notice wherever he goes.

He could only offer a few seconds of silent prayer for his leader.

Sun Ning walked to the office area and looked inside; it was quite good, as there was no sign of people playing cards or eating melon seeds during work hours.

In fact, Sun Ning is fortunate.

Secretary Xue Hongtao's administrative style was previously quite strict, so the foundation he left for Sun Ning was very good.

Because Sun Ning did not intentionally hide his identity, he was quickly recognized by the staff.

Everyone greeted Sun Ning one after another.

Sun Ning also shook hands with each of these cadres one by one.

Director Zhang was quickly alerted.

He hurriedly walked out of his office.

"Comrade Pengfei, I have come to the Civil Affairs Office today as an unwelcome guest."

"Party Secretary, you are joking. All the staff of the Mishui Township Civil Affairs Office welcome the Party Secretary to visit and guide our work. The Party Secretary coming to our Civil Affairs Office shows that you value our work; we couldn't be happier!"

Zhang Pengfei was genuinely welcoming Sun Ning.

Sun Ning values commerce, and the director of the Administration for Industry and Commerce is now the Deputy Township Head.

During Sun Ning's tenure, he requisitioned land extensively, and the director of the Land Resources Office is now a member of the Township Government Party Group.

And what about him?

Still just a director of the Civil Affairs Office, the kind without any prefix.

Now that Sun Ning's second stop on his inspection tour was the Civil Affairs Office, how could he not be happy?

He felt that his opportunity had arrived.

That's right, the news that Sun Ning was going to walk around and take a look at the township had already spread.

Sun Ning's first stop was the Police Station, and all the leading cadres in the township knew about it.

But Zhang Pengfei never expected that Sun Ning's second stop would be the Civil Affairs Office.

With Sun Ning here, Zhang Pengfei hurriedly found a larger office to hold a meeting.

This was only to be expected!

When a leader takes office, they need to show their face in front of all the leading cadres in the township so everyone can get to know them.

Although everyone already knew Sun Ning, this meeting still had to be held.

After all, the content of a speech when one is a Township Head is different from when one is a Party Secretary.

In fact, the smaller the place, the less obvious the separation between the Party and the government.

This is even more true for townships; theoretically, the Civil Affairs Office is a department managed by the government.

However, the work involved in civil affairs is very important.

That is why Sun Ning chose to come to the Civil Affairs Office.

Sun Ning's speech did not take long; he did not like to make long-winded, empty remarks.

It was more about encouraging everyone to work hard and then hinting at some monetary rewards.

Although everyone's salary is fixed, bonuses can be flexible!

Now that Mishui Township has money, he could give everyone more bonuses.

After the speech ended, Zhang Pengfei led Sun Ning to his office.

"Comrade Pengfei, I am not joking. I came here today specifically to be an unwelcome guest."

Hearing this, Zhang Pengfei's heart skipped a beat. He remained silent, waiting for Sun Ning's instructions.

"How many Five-Guarantee households are there in Mishui Township? How many extremely impoverished households? How many impoverished households? How many minimum living guarantee households? And what is the situation with the distribution of the minimum living guarantee funds..."

As soon as Sun Ning arrived, he pointed directly to the heart of the problem.

Issues with the minimum living guarantee are generally a breeding ground for corruption.

The common people do not know the national policies, nor do they know exactly how much security funding the state has provided.

They always repeat over and over again that national policies are getting better and better.

Especially those elderly people who have experienced war, lived through special periods, and gone hungry.

They know that the state is treating the people better and better.

They are more easily grateful for everything that treats them well.

Especially since the first day of this year, after the grain tax that had been paid for thousands of years was abolished.

The state's reputation among farmers reached its peak.

How to maintain this status quo is a current challenge for cadres.

Therefore, Sun Ning must pay more attention to the core interests of vulnerable groups.

After Sun Ning finished asking his series of questions, visible beads of sweat appeared on Zhang Pengfei's forehead.

This shows just how nervous he was.

However, Sun Ning did not see panic on Zhang Pengfei's face.

Sun Ning felt some relief inwardly.

He had just taken office, and if a scandal in the Civil Affairs Department were to break out, how would his superiors view him?

Are you specifically trying to target people?

Or does it mean that when you were Township Head, you only knew how to develop the economy and could not grasp the overall situation?

This is not a fantasy novel where one kills gods if they block the way and kills Buddhas if they block the way.

Slaughtering clans and exterminating families whenever one encounters an enemy.

If, let's say, your jurisdiction is full of corrupt officials, who do you think will suffer the consequences first?

"I am sorry, Party Secretary. I did not memorize these data points. I... I will go get the documents right now."

Zhang Pengfei does not have your, Party Secretary Sun's, skill of having a photographic memory.

Isn't it normal for him not to remember the data?

Sun Ning waved his hand to let him go find the documents.

About ten minutes later, a staff member from the Civil Affairs Office organized the documents and brought them over.

Sun Ning was looking at the documents.

Zhang Pengfei stood to the side, acting as a guide.

It could be seen that Zhang Pengfei was still a relatively competent cadre, and he had done a decent job with poverty alleviation work.

By the time he finished reviewing all the documents, it was almost noon.

"I wonder how Director Zhang intends to entertain this unwelcome guest?"

"Ah?"

Another surprise.

He did not know what was wrong with Sun Ning today.

If he was here to cause trouble, he didn't seem like it.

He had never heard of Sun Ning staying to eat at any unit.

This was the first time in history.

Zhang Pengfei ate the entire lunch feeling terrified.

He dared not take Sun Ning to a fancy meal, so they ate at a small restaurant opposite the Civil Affairs Office.

After the meal, Sun Ning wiped his mouth and looked at Zhang Pengfei, saying: "Comrade Pengfei, do you have anything to do this afternoon?"

"No."

"Very good. Then be an unwelcome guest with me again; take my car."

In the middle of the day, Sun Ning did not mention resting, and Zhang Pengfei dared not even suggest it.

Little Zhou also gained some experience at this moment, following closely behind Sun Ning.

This time, Sun Ning sat in the back row and let Little Zhou sit in the passenger seat.

"Brother Zhao, go to Liu Yuan Gou."

The driver started the car, and Sun Ning looked at Zhang Pengfei beside him again.

He said leisurely: "Comrade Pengfei, do you get carsick? Looking at your phone makes it easy to get carsick!"

"Party Secretary, I don't get carsick—no, wait, I do. Party Secretary, I don't like playing on my phone in the car."

"That's right. When being an unwelcome guest, you have to have the attitude of an unwelcome guest."

"I will listen to the Party Secretary."

Zhang Pengfei felt that he was more uncomfortable right now than if he were in prison.

Sun Ning did not know if Zhang Pengfei would tip anyone off.

But an old hand at the township level like Zhang Pengfei should know the Party Secretary of every village.

So he didn't want to gamble and directly warned Zhang Pengfei.

"Comrade Pengfei, do you think it is feasible to increase the monthly minimum living guarantee for every Five-Guarantee household and minimum living guarantee household in the township by 30 yuan?"

At this point, Sun Ning finally revealed his true purpose.

And Zhang Pengfei finally put his hanging heart at ease.