71: Chapter 71 After the Laba Festival, the New Year is just around the corner.

These days, the results of the various evaluations in the county have been released.

Because Mishui Township only started its major development in November, these figures were not particularly striking when spread across the whole year.

However, its economic indicators moved up two or three places among the townships in Gongfan County.

In terms of economic vitality, it received praise from the County Government.

As for various awards, they were distributed in a "sharing the fruits" manner, and Mishui Township received a few awards for excellence.

What was even more pleasing was that the finances of the Township Government had become prosperous due to land sales.

With the Spring Festival approaching, Sun Ning loosened that tightly stretched string in his mind a little.

Consequently, the number of smiling faces in the government compound also increased.

On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Director Zhou Qiang knocked on the door of Sun Ning's office.

Ever since Director Zhou Qiang learned that Sun Ning had proactively increased the number of Township Party Committee member positions by two, his attitude toward Sun Ning had become even more respectful.

He was not like Vice Township Head Wang Penghui and the others; previously, the director of the Party and Government Office in Mishui Township was not part of the leadership team.

As the director of the Party and Government Office, he was only a section-level cadre.

It was Sun Ning who proactively brought up his appointment to a deputy section-level leadership position.

It was also Sun Ning who went to the Organization Department to finalize these two positions.

To a certain extent, Sun Ning was like his second father.

"Township Head, the Spring Festival is almost here. This is the preliminary proposal drafted by the Party and Government Office regarding holiday benefits. Please take a look!"

Sun Ning took it and looked it over.

How should he put it? This benefit proposal was standard and conventional, not much different from the past, except for one extra bag of rice.

It was likely that this was Director Zhou Qiang showing a new official's new style, wanting to leave a good impression on everyone.

He wanted to leave a good impression on all the township cadres, and naturally, Sun Ning wanted to as well.

After the Spring Festival, Mishui Township would hold its People's Congress.

Sun Ning had been the Acting Township Head for three months, and finally, the word "acting" could be removed.

He had been in Mishui Township for several months, and his prestige in Mishui Township had already been established.

He didn't dare to dream of a unanimous vote, but he was quite confident about passing with a high number of votes.

As for this opportunity to boost his favorability among the township cadres through Spring Festival benefits, he would not let it pass.

A new official brings a new atmosphere!

Letting all the township cadres feel the spring breeze brought by the new Township Head was also the right thing to do.

Anyway, it was all public money.

Moreover, in the few months since Sun Ning arrived, all the township cadres had worked very hard.

The township finances were prosperous now, so rewarding everyone was only right and proper.

"You can be a bit bolder!"

"The Township Government's finances are relatively comfortable this year. Hand out more goods and set the bonuses higher. How about this: triple the amount based on this proposal."

"Let the comrades have a prosperous New Year, and let everyone feel the development of our Mishui Township."

"Draft a new proposal and submit it directly to Party Secretary Xue Hongtao for approval."

Upon hearing Sun Ning's arrangement, Director Zhou Qiang was very happy.

He quickly said, "The Township Head is truly considerate of his subordinates."

Although this matter was decided by Sun Ning, Director Zhou Qiang could also earn some goodwill.

The improvement in benefits had a lot to do with him as the director of the Party and Government Office.

Moreover, although the benefits looked like they had tripled this year, the actual increase was not that much.

Previously, Mishui Township was too poor, and the township finances relied entirely on allocations from above.

Therefore, the benefits were set very low to begin with.

The base was low before, so tripling it now was just for show; it sounded good.

However, the tangible benefits had indeed increased quite a bit.

By the afternoon, the news about the Spring Festival benefits had spread throughout the entire government compound.

For most people in the township, these things were what really mattered.

Some people were section members their whole lives and could only rely on their salaries to get by.

And the increase in the year-end bonus was a real increase in income for them.

For a time, those younger ones were all shouting things like "Long live the Township Head."

Obviously, those with a discerning eye knew who had brought about this treatment.

When Liaison Xiao Yuan told Sun Ning about this, Sun Ning was also beaming with joy.

He also instructed Liaison Xiao Yuan to spread the word that performance bonuses would be even higher next year, provided that everyone worked hard, and so on.

On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, truckloads of supplies were pulled into the Mishui Township compound.

As the saying goes, "Once the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month passes, it's New Year."

Sun Ning called Director Zhou Qiang directly and asked him to notify the people in each department to come and collect these benefits.

To let them have a good New Year, the benefits definitely had to be distributed in advance.

Only with money could they prepare for the New Year's goods, right? And those rice, flour, and cooking oil could be put to use.

More than ten days passed, and with the New Year right around the corner, Secretary Xue Hongtao called Sun Ning to his office.

"Sun Ning, why are you still running from one school to another when the New Year is almost here!"

"Party Secretary, I'm taking advantage of these few free days to go around and check. The construction progress is very fast; some schools will be ready for occupancy after the start of the semester."

"You must pay attention to balancing work and rest. You've worked hard. Go home a few days early. As for duty, I'll put you on the last day."

"Then thank you, Party Secretary!"

Being on duty was mandatory; sometimes there would be unscheduled inspections from above.

Moreover, the duty leader had to set an example, and Sun Ning's professional ethics would not allow him not to be on duty.

But asking for leave was allowed!

Most of the leaders in Mishui Township were from Gongfan County, and only Sun Ning's hometown was in Bianzhou.

Letting him go home a few days early was also reasonable.

As for Sun Ning, he was also very happy to be able to go home for a reunion early.

Since Secretary Xue Hongtao had taken the initiative to give him time off, Sun Ning convened a meeting in advance.

The theme of this meeting was just two words—Stability Maintenance!

Stability maintenance work during the Spring Festival had always been a key task for the country.

During these days when the whole country celebrates and every household is lit up, there could be no mistakes.

Whoever caused a problem would be dealt with.

It was only because Secretary Xue Hongtao was willing to help him share the workload, and because the members of the government team were quite capable, that Sun Ning could return to Bianzhou with peace of mind.

Sun Ning could return to Bianzhou with peace of mind.

But before leaving, he still had to take the relevant staff to conduct one last major inspection.

This included issues such as forest fire prevention and mass gambling.

This inspection took two days.

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Sun Ning prepared to head to the Township Government to check in before driving home himself.

The trunk of his car was packed with benefits like rice, flour, and cooking oil issued by the government.

These things didn't look like they were worth much, but they could really make his family happy for a while.

He still remembered the first year he started working in his previous life; he only bought New Year's goods after he returned home.

And when his parents discussed what other families' children had received for the Spring Festival, they were a bit disappointed when they talked about him not bringing anything back.

Especially a family in the village who worked in the county; they were carrying bags full of things.

In his father's words, that was a good employer!

As the saying goes, the best way to show filial piety is to make one's parents happy. This year, Sun Ning was prepared to take every single item of the benefits home.

He couldn't even bear to give these to his landlord for the New Year, for which he had bought expensive cigarettes and alcohol.

But just as he had finished walking around the township, a Land Rover drove into the compound.

When two beautiful figures appeared at Sun Ning's office, he couldn't help but rub his forehead.

The key was that this was the first time he was seeing the two women after he had gotten together with Zhao Xue.

For some reason, he felt a bit guilty.

"Xiao Ningzi, two great beauties have arrived. Aren't you going to welcome us quickly?"