208: Chapter 208 The County Party Secretary Visits Blackstone Town

The morning mist of winter had not yet completely dissipated, yet the main street of Heishi Town was already presenting a completely different scene.

The sanitation workers had braved the bitter cold to hit the streets before dawn today.

Large brooms scraped against the uneven asphalt road, making a rustling sound, sweeping away the coal ash and fallen leaves that had accumulated overnight.

Deputy Director Wang Qiang of the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Brigade, leading four team members, was patrolling the streets on the outskirts of the farmers' market.

In the past, whenever leaders came down for inspections like this, Deputy Director Wang Qiang would have long since ordered a forced clearing of the streets.

Overturning stalls, confiscating scales, and even shoving or cursing at vendors were daily occurrences.

But today, the rules had changed.

At the corner of the intersection not far ahead, an old farmer wearing a tattered overcoat was squatting on the ground.

In front of him was a fertilizer bag spread out, on which were placed a few bundles of frost-covered Chinese cabbage and a few bunches of red-skinned radishes still stained with soil.

Deputy Director Wang Qiang walked up to him.

The old farmer looked up, saw the familiar uniform, recoiled reflexively, and scrambled to roll up the fertilizer bag on the ground.

"Old man, take your time, don't rush."

Deputy Director Wang Qiang spoke up, without his usual scolding.

He stepped closer and pointed to the designated area of the farmers' market about a hundred meters away.

"There is a big event in the town today, and the county motorcade will arrive soon. Your stall is set up at the intersection of the main road; not only does it block the road, but it also wouldn't be safe if you were to get scraped by a car. Let's move it inside."

The old farmer froze in place, his cloudy old eyes full of wariness.

Deputy Director Wang Qiang didn't say anything more, turned his head, and gestured to the team members behind him.

"Give him a hand, help the old man move the vegetables over. Be gentle, don't bruise the leaves."

Two young team members stepped forward, one on each end, and steadily lifted the fertilizer bag filled with cabbage, guiding the old farmer toward the yellow-lined area designated inside the market.

After helping to rearrange the stall and straightening the vegetable leaves, the team members retreated to Deputy Director Wang Qiang's side.

Watching this style of conduct that was completely different from the past, the old farmer's withered lips trembled for a long time, but he couldn't find a suitable sentence to say.

He hurriedly picked three or four of the best-looking cabbages from his stall, shoved them haphazardly into a red plastic bag, stumbled after Deputy Director Wang Qiang, and held the bag forward.

"Leaders... it's freezing cold, I've troubled you. These are just some vegetables I grew myself, they aren't worth much, take them back and make a soup." The old farmer said earnestly.

Deputy Director Wang Qiang raised his hand to decline.

"Old man, keep the vegetables to sell for money. This is our job, just set up your stall here with peace of mind, just don't go outside."

After saying that, Deputy Director Wang Qiang led the team and turned to leave.

The old farmer, carrying the bag of cabbage, stood in the biting cold wind, watching the backs of the uniformed men as they walked further and further away, and muttered to himself: "The times have really changed, there are still many good people."

An old man selling dry tobacco nearby tapped his pipe.

"You haven't figured it out yet? It's not that they found their conscience, it's that the new Secretary Zhu in town set the rules."

"Look closely."

The old farmer looked in the direction indicated.

He saw that a young man in plain clothes was following the law enforcement team led by Deputy Director Wang Qiang from a distance, neither too close nor too far.

The man was holding a portable video camera, recording the entire process of the law enforcement officers from stepping forward to advise to helping with the moving, without missing a single frame.

Once law enforcement operates in the sunlight, the monsters and demons have nowhere to hide.

This was the iron rule set by Zhu Wenhao.

Whenever there is comprehensive law enforcement or health inspection, a full-time clerk equipped with video recording equipment must accompany and film the entire process.

If violent law enforcement or extortion is discovered, they will be suspended on the spot and handed over to the Town Commission for Discipline Inspection for handling.

The law is never just empty words written on paper, but a sword hanging over the heads of the officials.

At the same time, inside the compound of the Heishi Town Government, they were already in battle array.

Secretary Qiu Dehai had long been standing on the steps in front of the office building.

Behind him, all the cadres of the Town Government above the section level were lined up in a V-formation according to their rank.

Secretary Qiu Dehai frequently raised his wrist to check his watch, and then turned his head to scold a few cadres who were standing with poor posture.

Today, Secretary Lu Guoliang of the Qingjiang County Party Committee was visiting in person, and there could not be the slightest flaw.

In the temporary accounting room on the second floor, the atmosphere was completely different from the sycophancy outside.

Director Xu Jie of the Party and Government Office was sitting in the center, and on the conference table in front of her, yellow kraft paper envelopes were neatly stacked.

On every envelope, the name and the corresponding compensation amount were printed.

The returned funds were turned into cash and packed into these heavy envelopes.

Director Xu Jie held the roster in her hand and was conducting the final check.

This money was forcibly squeezed out of the county treasury by Zhu Wenhao. People from the eldest branch of the Zhang Clan would definitely be jealous, and no one could guarantee whether they would engage in tricks like impersonation during the payment collection process.

"Go through the procedure again." Director Xu Jie's gaze swept over the financial staff in front of her, her tone cold.

"One villager comes, they collect one portion of money. Before distributing the money, the four certificates must be verified on the spot."

She held up four fingers.

"The original ID card, the original household registration book, the land contract confirmation certificate from that year, and the certificate of non-receipt of compensation funds. All four certificates must be combined; if even one is missing, this money will absolutely not be released."

"After verification is correct, the villager must sign the receipt ledger and press a red fingerprint with their right index finger. The entire payment collection process must be filmed by a designated person for archival purposes."

A financial cadre wiped his sweat: "Director Xu, isn't this procedure too cumbersome? Not many of the common people below are literate. With the four certificates combined, what if someone can't get them all..."

"If they can't get them all, tell them to go back and get them before coming again." Director Xu Jie did not back down at all. "This is life-saving money, not welfare distributed during festivals. It is cumbersome to prevent petty people. If there is a mistake, can you bear the responsibility?"

The cadre immediately fell silent and lowered his head to continue reviewing the accounts.

Director Xu Jie knew Zhu Wenhao's logic for employing people very well.

What he wanted was not flattery, but for every policy to be executed seamlessly.

"Beep—"

Secretary Qiu Dehai's phone rang.

"Report to Secretary Qiu, the county party committee motorcade has exited the provincial road."

The scout stationed at the outer intersection sent back an urgent report.

"Attention everyone! Fix your uniforms, perk up!"

Secretary Qiu Dehai perked up and ordered loudly.

He walked quickly down the steps and stood at the welcome position at the main gate of the compound.

Town Mayor Luo Xingbang followed leisurely, while Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao fell half a step behind, standing beside Town Mayor Luo Xingbang.

Fifteen minutes later, several black official cars drove steadily into the Heishi Town Government compound.

The cars had just come to a steady stop, and before the doors were fully opened, the liaison officer was preparing to get out of the passenger seat to open the rear door.

Secretary Qiu Dehai had already moved.

Taking two steps in one, he rushed ahead of the liaison officer, pulled open the rear door of the car, and placed one hand extremely skillfully on the upper edge of the door frame to prevent the person inside from bumping their head.

"Secretary Lu, you've had a hard journey. The Heishi Town Party Committee leadership team is lined up to welcome the county party committee's inspection and guidance." The smile on Secretary Qiu Dehai's face crinkled.

A pair of polished black leather shoes stepped onto the ground.

Secretary Lu Guoliang of the Qingjiang County Party Committee stepped out of the car.

His gaze swept over the welcoming team, "Comrade Dehai, why make such a big scene? It affects normal office work." Secretary Lu Guoliang reprimanded him casually, but extended his hand.

Secretary Qiu Dehai grasped it with both hands: "Secretary Lu, you have come to the grassroots to understand the public sentiment, and the comrades came out to welcome you spontaneously. It's windy outside, please wear more."

Secretary Lu Guoliang did not commit, let go of his hand, and stepped forward half a step.

Town Mayor Luo Xingbang stepped forward at the right time to shake hands and greet him respectfully.

Secretary Lu Guoliang nodded slightly, counting as a response.

Subsequently, his gaze crossed Town Mayor Luo Xingbang and landed on Zhu Wenhao.

The two met eyes.

There was no sycophancy of a subordinate toward a superior, nor the awkwardness of hiding one's edge.

In Zhu Wenhao's eyes, there was a sense of composure that had traversed the years.

Secretary Lu Guoliang extended his right hand.

Zhu Wenhao raised his hand to shake it.

The two hands touched.

Secretary Lu Guoliang's palm was broad and powerful, and he did not pull away immediately like he did with the previous two.

On the contrary, he held Zhu Wenhao's hand and stayed for a full half-minute.

Zhu Wenhao's heart was as clear as a mirror.

This top leader of the county party committee was full of contradiction and apprehension at this moment.

The storm that Zhu Wenhao stirred up in Heishi Town not only cut down the Zhang Clan but also faintly tore apart the inherent balance of Qingjiang County.

Secretary Lu Guoliang held it for these three seconds; the first layer of meaning was a warning: Young man, your edge is too sharp; the sky of Qingjiang County is ultimately supported by me, Secretary Lu Guoliang.

The second layer of meaning was a test: to see if this sharp blade capable of piercing the sky knew how to restrain itself and knew how to offer the credit with both hands.

Do not want empty fame, only seize real power.

Zhu Wenhao's expression did not change, the strength in his hand was neither humble nor arrogant; he neither catered to the other party's pressure nor showed resistance to confrontation.

He just returned the grip with an extremely standard strength.

"Comrade Zhu Wenhao, the work at the grassroots level has a thousand threads and a hundred strands, you have done well."

Secretary Lu Guoliang left behind an intriguing evaluation and finally let go.

As for the Deputy Town Mayor, Chairman of the Renmin University, and others lined up behind Zhu Wenhao, Secretary Lu Guoliang didn't even glance at them and directly put his hands behind his back.

Seeing this, Secretary Qiu Dehai hurriedly stepped forward, trying to control the rhythm according to the established procedure.

"Secretary Lu." Secretary Qiu Dehai turned to lead the way, "It's cold outside, the Town Party Committee has prepared detailed report materials in the large conference room on the second floor. Please go upstairs to drink a cup of hot tea and listen to the Heishi Town Party Committee's preliminary work report regarding this special fund return..."

"No need."

Secretary Lu Guoliang raised his right hand and directly interrupted Secretary Qiu Dehai.

He put on a compassionate and pro-people posture, concerned for the common people.

"The common people's life-saving money has been delayed for so many years. The masses are looking forward to it in the cold wind, how can there be leisure time to sit in a heated room and listen to you read scripts?"

"Empty talk harms the country, practical work makes the nation prosperous. Take me directly to the venue, I want to watch with my own eyes this money being handed over to the villagers of Heishui Village, not a cent less!"

This unconventional and rule-breaking style of governance immediately allowed the county television station's lens to find the best news entry point.

Secretary Qiu Dehai was thrown into chaos by this sudden change in formation, and the report script he had prepared all night rotted in his stomach.

But he reacted very quickly and immediately put on an expression of being taught: "Secretary Lu is right! We will go to the venue now!"

Zhu Wenhao watched this scene coldly from the side.

The stage had already been set, and this big play by Secretary Lu Guoliang could not be said to be anything but spectacular.

Borrowing others' setup to establish his own prestige.

"Lead the way."

Secretary Lu Guoliang waved his hand.

The group marched majestically around the office building and walked toward the open-air plaza behind the Town Government.