270: Chapter 270 Re-election of Blackwater Village

The weather in Heishi Town turned overcast.

In the Deputy Secretary's office, Zhu Wenhao sat behind his desk.

Spread out on the desk was the final draft of the re-election plan for Heishui Village.

Director Xu Jie stood before the desk, waiting for approval.

Zhu Wenhao picked up his pen and circled several key positions.

"Zhang Yuanhang can be elected as Village Secretary, and he can hold the position of Village Director concurrently," Zhu Wenhao said, pointing at the paper.

"But the position of accountant must be given to someone from outside the clan. As for the quota for Deputy Director, reserve one for Third Branch."

Director Xu Jie glanced at the list.

For the past few decades in Heishui Village, the account books and the official seal had always been in the hands of Eldest Branch. Outsiders were treated as second-class citizens in the village, unable to even get close to the minimum living allowance.

"If Zhang Yuanhang sees this arrangement, he might have some emotional reactions," Director Xu Jie said. "He risked everything to take down Eldest Branch, hoping to be the one in charge."

"Those who conquer the territory often tend to view it as their private property."

"Even if he has emotional reactions, he will have to accept it." Zhu Wenhao leaned back in his chair. "How did Village Secretary Zhang Dahai become a cancer? It was because he had the final say on village affairs, with no one to check him. Power is a monster; you cannot let it out of its cage."

Director Xu Jie nodded.

"I will go make copies now and go to Heishui Village this afternoon to post the public notice."

Zhu Wenhao added, "Have Secretary Du Changhe go as well. He should read the security assurance plan himself. Since he accepted the assignment, he must see the job through to the end."

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Heishui Village, under the big locust tree.

A hundred or so villagers gathered in front of the village affairs bulletin board. People from Second Branch, Third Branch, and the outsiders who usually walked with their heads down had all come.

Director Xu Jie was wearing a black down jacket, holding a stack of documents.

Police Chief Zhao Gang stood on the perimeter with several police officers to maintain order.

Secretary Du Changhe stood on the steps, his face livid, looking unwilling.

Zhang Yuanhang had his left shoulder wrapped in bandages, standing at the very front of the crowd. His back was straight. Having suffered a knife wound, he was seen as a hero by the villagers for breaking the hegemony of Eldest Branch.

Director Xu Jie had someone paste several large sheets of white paper onto the bulletin board.

"Fellow villagers," Director Xu Jie said, taking the megaphone. "Today, the Town Government officially announces the re-election plan for the Heishui Village Committee."

The villagers pricked up their ears.

"This re-election will not distinguish by clan or by closeness. Eldest Branch, Second Branch, Third Branch, and outsider villagers are all eligible to nominate candidates as long as they meet the criteria."

Director Xu Jie read the detailed rules.

"On the day of the vote, the town will send people to supervise the entire process. The voting will be on-site, the counting will be on-site, and the results will be announced on the spot."

A stir went through the crowd. In past elections, Eldest Branch would always circle the candidates, just going through the motions.

Zhang Yuanhang listened. He had been prepared; with the votes of Second Branch plus the support of Third Branch, he would secure the position of Village Secretary.

Director Xu Jie continued reading.

"To ensure transparency in village affairs, the Town Government has decided that the members of the village committee will practice cross-appointment. The Village Secretary and Village Director can be held by one person. However, a Village Affairs Disclosure Committee will be established simultaneously."

"Village finances will be managed by the town. The village accountant must be elected from among the outsider villagers."

"The position of Deputy Director will be selected from the candidates of Third Branch."

Once these words were spoken, the area under the big locust tree exploded.

The complacency on Zhang Yuanhang's face froze instantly.

He turned to look at Director Xu Jie, his brows furrowing into a knot.

Outsiders as accountants? People from Third Branch as Deputy Directors?

Then, as Village Secretary, wouldn't he have two pairs of eyes watching him every time he moved a cent or handled a matter?

What kind of being in charge was this?

Several outsider villagers were stunned at first, then erupted into enthusiastic cheers.

"Town Government is wise!" an outsider man shouted at the top of his lungs. "This time, we outsiders can finally see the village's account books!"

In the past, they couldn't even get near a meeting, but now the town had handed the supervision of financial power directly to them.

People from the branches of Eldest Branch hid in the crowd, seizing the opportunity to stir up trouble.

"Zhang Yuanhang, you risked your life, but the town doesn't trust you at all!" a voice said sarcastically. "After all that, you're just a commander without an army. You can't even touch the account books!"

"Exactly. Getting outsiders to manage the money—isn't that just guarding against you like a thief?"

Zhang Yuanhang gritted his teeth and said nothing, but his hands hanging at his sides clenched into fists.

He had taken a knife wound and bled for this.

Zhu Wenhao had turned around and shackled him.

Zhu Wenhao's car was parked at the entrance of the village. He pushed open the door, his overcoat fluttering in the cold wind, and walked straight toward the bulletin board.

Seeing him approach, the crowd automatically cleared a path.

Zhu Wenhao walked up to the steps and took the megaphone from Director Xu Jie's hand.

"Why, does anyone feel it's unfair?"

Zhu Wenhao's gaze swept across the crowd, precisely locking onto the few members of Eldest Branch who were stirring up trouble.

Those few people shrank back.

"When Village Secretary Zhang Dahai was the secretary, did you think it was fair?" Zhu Wenhao asked.

No one answered from below.

"One family dominated everything. They contracted village land to whoever they wanted and gave minimum living allowances to whoever they wanted. What was the result? It fattened a few people and made the whole village suffer."

Zhu Wenhao's voice was steady but had great penetration.

He turned to Zhang Yuanhang.

"Heishui Village will never return to that old path again."

"Power must have checks and balances." Zhu Wenhao's words were resonant. "The Secretary manages the overall situation, the accountant manages the accounts, and the masses manage the supervision. No one should think they can cover the sky with one hand in this village."

"The cadres you elect are here to serve everyone, not to be kings and masters. This is the rule of Heishi Town!"

The outsider villagers and the people from Third Branch took the lead in applauding.

The applause was loud.

Zhang Yuanhang did not applaud; he lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking.

Zhu Wenhao handed the megaphone to Secretary Du Changhe beside him.

"Secretary Du, please read the security assurance plan to everyone."

Secretary Du Changhe took the megaphone, his palms sweating.

He had lost face at the hearing yesterday, and today he had to come and endorse the re-election.

"The Political and Legal Affairs Commission, in conjunction with the Police Station, has formulated a strict security plan." Secretary Du Changhe read from the script. "During the re-election, any form of vote-buying, election bribery, or picking quarrels and provoking trouble will be severely cracked down upon."

As he read those clauses, he knew in his heart that the delaying task assigned by Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan had completely failed.

He could only honestly act as the captain of the security team now.

Police Chief Zhao Gang stepped forward to add, "The Police Station has already arranged plainclothes officers and patrol cars. On the day of the vote, the entire scene will be recorded."

Director Xu Jie took the glue and pasted the long list of election procedures squarely in the center of the bulletin board.

With matters settled, the villagers dispersed, their discussions lingering.

Night fell.

Heishi Town Government cadre dormitory building.

Zhu Wenhao sat at his desk, reviewing the progress report of the South Street project during the day.

Very light footsteps came from the corridor outside.

A knock on the door sounded.

"Come in."

The door pushed open, and Zhang Yuanhang stood outside.

The old military coat he wore carried the chill from outside, and his left shoulder still seemed stiff.

He walked in, stood still, and made no move to sit.

"Secretary Zhu." Zhang Yuanhang's voice was somewhat dry.

Zhu Wenhao closed the document and looked at him.

"Sit."

Zhang Yuanhang pulled out a chair, sat down, raised his head, and looked directly at Zhu Wenhao.

"Secretary Zhu, I saw the list configuration on the bulletin board today," Zhang Yuanhang began.

"Did you understand it?"

"I understood it. You are putting a bit in my mouth." Zhang Yuanhang gritted his teeth. "I, Zhang Yuanhang, even risked my life to topple Eldest Branch. I thought you trusted me. As a result, you arranged for an outsider to be the accountant and someone from Third Branch to be the deputy. In this village, who will be in charge in the future?"

Zhu Wenhao did not answer, stood up, walked to the water dispenser, filled a cup of warm water, and placed it in front of Zhang Yuanhang.

"You feel aggrieved."

"Yes." Zhang Yuanhang did not hide it. "I am not convinced. I will not fish in troubled waters and exploit the village like Village Secretary Zhang Dahai. Why do you still have to guard against me?"

Zhu Wenhao quietly looked at this retired veteran.

"Zhang Yuanhang," Zhu Wenhao said, his voice not loud. "Let me ask you, when Village Secretary Zhang Dahai first became the village secretary, what kind of person was he?"

Zhang Yuanhang was stunned for a moment.

"I have checked the files of Heishui Village," Zhu Wenhao continued. "Twenty years ago, Village Secretary Zhang Dahai led the whole village to build a reservoir, and he didn't close his eyes for three days and three nights. At that time, he was also a capable person, a good person who wanted to get things done."

"But what happened later? Why did he become a village tyrant?"

Zhang Yuanhang did not answer.

"Because he had no restraints in his hands." Zhu Wenhao tapped the desk. "For all the big and small matters in the village, he made the final decision alone. How the money was spent, he decided alone. Without rules to constrain him, selfish desires would consume a good person completely."

Zhu Wenhao leaned back in his chair.

"You say you won't become Village Secretary Zhang Dahai. I believe you. But the law doesn't believe it, and the rules don't believe it."

"Power without restraint is poison. I am putting a bit in your mouth today, not to guard against you, but to protect you."

Zhang Yuanhang's hands, resting on his knees, gradually relaxed.

He looked at the cup of water that was still steaming.

"You took a knife wound for Heishui Village; the town keeps a record of this account. You are worthy of the position of Village Secretary."

Zhu Wenhao looked straight at him.

"Trust is not handing you a knife and then closing your eyes to sleep."

"Trust is letting you know clearly where the scabbard is when you hold the knife. Letting you know that the bottom line cannot be touched."

The study was so quiet that one could only hear the faint sound of the heater operating.

The unwillingness in Zhang Yuanhang's eyes slowly faded under this word-by-word beating.

He had been in the army for many years, and in his bones, he knew what obedience was and what the iron law was.

Zhu Wenhao was not suppressing him; he was teaching him how to be a real village official.

"I understand, Secretary Zhu." Zhang Yuanhang stood up, standing straight. "I have no objections to the candidates for accountant and deputy director. I will build a good team with them."

He turned and left.