153: Chapter 153 Provincial Gazetteer Records

Upon hearing this, Township Head Mao Yungang's face immediately displayed an expression of respect.

He rolled down the car window, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag: "Secretary Li..."

Amidst the smoke, Township Head Mao Yungang's eyes became distant: "He has only been in Guantian Township for a little over a year, yet he has accomplished more concrete work than in the past ten years combined."

"The funding for the Village-to-Village Connectivity Project was something he fought for at the provincial level."

"The renovation of the school's dangerous buildings was planned entirely by him."

"Even the sales channels for the Bean Products Factory were initially negotiated by him personally..."

Township Head Mao Yungang paused, his voice low and firm: "He always puts the interests of the masses first and keeps the welfare of all the fellow villagers in his heart."

Photographer Wang Lu's pen slid rapidly across her notebook, and she suddenly interjected: "But Secretary Li didn't mention a single word about any of this today."

"That is his style."

Township Head Mao Yungang extinguished his cigarette, his tone filled with emotion: "Secretary Li has always been low-key and pragmatic, never one to boast, but everything he does is for the common people of Guantian Township."

The car drove across the newly built concrete bridge, with a babbling brook flowing beneath it.

Township Head Mao Yungang pointed to the Township Government office building, which was faintly visible in the distance: "Look, the best building in the entire township is the school, while the most dilapidated one is the Township Government."

"Secretary Li often says, 'Officials are not here to enjoy themselves; they are here to bring benefits to the common people.'"

Reporter Zhang Chen gazed at the darkening sky outside the window and suddenly said: "Township Head Mao, we would like to conduct an exclusive interview with Secretary Li. Such a good cadre should be known by more people."

"This..."

Township Head Mao Yungang rubbed his hands together in a dilemma.

"Secretary Li is strongly opposed to personal publicity. The last time the municipal television station wanted to interview him, he flatly refused."

"However..."

Township Head Mao Yungang's eyes lit up: "If you can write from the perspective of the common people, it might work."

The car pulled up in front of the Township Government office.

In the twilight, a window on the second floor was still lit.

Township Head Mao Yungang said softly: "Look, Secretary Li must be working overtime again."

"Ever since he arrived, that light has basically been the last one to be turned off in the Township Government every night."

Afterward, Township Head Mao Yungang warmly invited the two reporters to dine at the Township Government canteen.

"Resources are limited, so please bear with the simple meal."

Li Dakang had appeared at the entrance at some point, holding a stack of documents: "You've worked hard today, running around all day."

During the meal, Reporter Zhang Chen carefully began: "Secretary Li, we would like to invite you for an exclusive interview to talk about the development experience of Guantian Township."

Upon hearing this, Li Dakang set down his chopsticks and shook his head with a smile: "If you want to write something, write about our ordinary cadres."

Photographer Wang Lu couldn't help but interject: "But everyone says these changes wouldn't have been possible without your leadership."

"That is not correct," Li Dakang said sternly.

"Without the support of the masses, even the best policies would be nothing more than castles in the air."

"Take the Village-to-Village Connectivity Project for example; the villagers volunteered their labor, and some elderly people even donated their pension money..."

His voice choked up slightly, and he quickly took a sip of soup to cover it.

When they left, moonlight flooded the small courtyard of the Township Government.

Photographer Wang Lu looked back; the light on the second floor was still on, and the silhouette of Li Dakang hunched over his work was faintly visible.

She whispered to Reporter Zhang Chen: "Perhaps the best way to report this is not to write about him directly, but to let readers discover the value of this grassroots cadre for themselves through the changes in Guantian Township."

Reporter Zhang Chen nodded and wrote in his notebook: "A man who refuses to be praised lives on in the hearts of the common people."

The night breeze rustled the pages, as if echoing this silent tribute.

A few days later, the Jiang Province Daily published a long feature article titled "Guantian Township: A Small Town Demonstrating Great Achievements."

The report depicted the transformation of this remote township with delicate brushstrokes.

From muddy paths to broad roads, from dilapidated schoolhouses to bright classrooms, from traditional farming to modern agriculture...

Behind every change lies the gathered wisdom and sweat of the grassroots cadres and the masses.

In the Jiang Province Provincial Party Committee building, Provincial Party Secretary Zhao Lichun was sitting in his office.

Although Provincial Party Secretary Zhao Lichun was nearly sixty years old, his entire being exuded a sense of majesty and confidence—the self-assurance brought by power.

He was the second-generation head of the Zhao family, the leader of the eight great families in the capital. The Zhao family and the Li family were related by marriage; the wife of Li Dakang's older brother, Li Daping, was the daughter of Provincial Party Secretary Zhao Lichun's younger brother.

When Li Dakang met him, he had to respectfully address him as "Uncle."

Morning sunlight streamed through the window into the office. As usual, Provincial Party Secretary Zhao Lichun picked up the Longjing tea his secretary had just brewed and opened the Jiang Province Daily, which still smelled of printer's ink.

Amidst the swirling aroma of tea, Provincial Party Secretary Zhao Lichun's gaze was suddenly drawn to the report, "Guantian Township: A Small Town Demonstrating Great Achievements."

The vivid details in the report caused the furrowed brow of this powerful provincial official to gradually relax.

The scene of children reading aloud in their new classrooms, the trembling hands of villagers stroking the newly built concrete roads, the busy figures of workers in the village-run enterprises...

Provincial Party Secretary Zhao Lichun's fingertips gently caressed the newspaper, as if he could touch the beating pulse of that remote township.

"Interesting."

Provincial Party Secretary Zhao Lichun set down his teacup, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes behind his glasses.