14: Chapter 14 Publicity Committee Member Furayokichi

Not long after he returned, someone took the initiative to seek him out.

A man with black-rimmed glasses and graying hair, of medium height and looking to be in his fifties, entered.

The man knocked and entered.

"Secretary Qin, I am Principal Yang Qi from the Central School. I have something I need to report to you."

Qin Chuan was slightly stunned.

This didn't seem like someone coming to report on work; it felt more like someone coming to cause trouble.

"Principal Yang, take your time and tell me what the matter is. Don't be in a rush."

Principal Yang Qi went straight to the point, looking a bit indignant. "Secretary Qin, our teachers' salaries have been in arrears for half a year. I want a definitive answer on when the wages will be paid."

What!

It was already 2010, yet wage arrears were still happening.

After a brief moment of surprise, Qin Chuan said, "Principal Yang, I have just taken office and am not familiar with many situations. Can you explain to me exactly what is going on?"

Principal Yang Qi nodded and explained the situation.

It turned out that starting half a year ago, the township claimed financial difficulties and began defaulting on teachers' salaries. At that time, they were still paying half the salary each month. Two months ago, they couldn't even pay half. Last month, they said they would definitely pay it all this month, but this month they were saying next month.

One month delayed after another—when would it end? Many teachers relied on this salary to support their families. With the salary constantly delayed, some teachers began to stir up trouble.

Finally, Principal Yang Qi couldn't hold them back anymore. With no other choice, he had to come to find Qin Chuan.

As for Township Head Liu Qiang, he was completely disappointed.

He had looked for Township Head Liu Qiang several times, but each time was just perfunctory. He stopped going to him and came directly to Qin Chuan.

After briefly understanding the situation, Qin Chuan was shocked. They were actually several months behind on salaries. Was Dahe Township really this poor?

As the top leader, he had to firmly grasp control of finances and personnel.

The head of the Finance Office was interesting. He had been in office for two or three days, yet she hadn't even shown her face, let alone reported on her work.

It seemed the person in charge of the Finance Office was one of Township Head Liu Qiang's people. She must have thought that with Township Head Liu Qiang's support, she had nothing to fear, and she didn't take him, the top leader, seriously at all.

"Principal Yang, give me a few days. I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."

Perhaps considering that Qin Chuan was new and in the dark about everything, Principal Yang Qi nodded.

"Secretary Qin, then I will go back and wait for your news. You must not let us down; many teachers are waiting for this money to put food on the table."

"I definitely won't let you down," Qin Chuan replied.

He personally saw Principal Yang Qi to the office door, then picked up the phone on his desk and called Director Liao Ping of the Finance Office directly.

As soon as the call connected, Qin Chuan stated his identity directly: "I am Qin Chuan. Director Liao Ping, come to my office immediately."

It took more than half an hour before Director Liao Ping finally arrived.

Her attitude was relatively good; she apologized as soon as she walked in.

"Secretary Qin, I'm truly sorry. I was delayed by some matters and only just managed to get away."

Qin Chuan was highly experienced and had a sharp eye. He could tell at a glance that Director Liao Ping was faking it, but he didn't expose her.

"Director Liao Ping, do you know about the issue of the Central School teachers' salaries being in arrears?"

"I am aware of it. It's not just the Central School; across the more than ten schools in the township, a total of over 3.7 million in wages is in arrears."

"Why are there so many arrears? Tell me, how much money is currently in the township finance account?"

Hesitating for a moment, Director Liao Ping still said, "There is a total of over 14 million, but..."

Before she could finish, she was interrupted.

Qin Chuan was a bit angry. Damn it, they had over 14 million, yet they wouldn't take the money out to pay the teachers' salaries.

"I order you to immediately issue all the outstanding teachers' salaries. I will sign for it."

Who would have thought, Director Liao Ping replied very firmly, "Secretary Qin, I cannot comply with this. We have a regulation: anything over 10,000 must be signed by Township Head Liu."

What!

Even I, the top leader, am not enough? It needs Township Head Liu's signature???

Qin Chuan laughed. He was laughing out of anger. This Director Liao Ping was another one of Township Head Liu Qiang's people. It seemed he had to replace her. It had to be his own person; the Finance Office had to be in his own hands.

Since she was Township Head Liu Qiang's person, there was no need to continue the conversation. Qin Chuan waved his hand and said, "Then you may go."

Director Liao Ping didn't waste words. She didn't even offer an apology, just got up and left. After leaving the Party Secretary's office, her face turned cold.

She thought dismissively, "A young kid who isn't even dry behind the ears wants to order me around? He really thinks he calls the shots in Dahe Township? Heh, let him try to beat Township Head Liu first."

Qin Chuan's gaze also turned cold.

He was truly angry.

This person must be taken down; the Finance Office must have a change in personnel!

Time quickly reached five in the afternoon. The Township Government staff began to get off work one after another, while Qin Chuan was still thinking about how to break the deadlock.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Outside the office door, there was a knock.

Qin Chuan looked up and said in a loud voice, "Please come in, the door is unlocked!"

To his surprise, the person who pushed the door open was Ma Zhengnan.

He wasn't alone; behind him was another person, Party Committee member and Propaganda Committee member Deputy Party Secretary Fu.

There were a total of 7 Party Committee members in Dahe Township: one Party Secretary, three Deputy Party Secretaries, plus the Organization Committee member, Propaganda Committee member, and Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary.

The Party Secretary was Qin Chuan. The Deputy Party Secretaries were Township Head Liu Qiang, Deputy Township Head Wang Feng, and Deputy Township Head Mu Xiuwen.

Following convention, Dahe Township had three sets of bodies: the Party Committee led everything, the government managed the economy, and the People's Congress was responsible for People's Congress affairs. The three bodies performed their own functions and took their own responsibilities, forming the basic power structure of Dahe Township.

But everything was conducted under the leadership of the Party Committee. Whoever controlled the Party Committee completely controlled the power of Dahe Township.

Ma Zhengnan had already completely aligned himself with him, and now he was bringing Propaganda Committee member Deputy Party Secretary Fu over. Could it be...

Guessing at this possibility, Qin Chuan felt slightly excited, but he controlled it well. His face didn't show any excitement, only enthusiasm.

"Secretary Ma Zhengnan, Comrade Deputy Party Secretary Fu, you've come. Please, have a seat."

Ma Zhengnan said, "Secretary Qin, we've come to bother you."

"Not at all, not at all, it's no bother at all."

The atmosphere was good. After the three chatted for a few minutes, Ma Zhengnan suggested, "Secretary Qin, are you free? How about we go for a couple of drinks?"

"Sure, I was just wondering where to go for dinner." Qin Chuan readily agreed.

Thus, the three of them went out together, chatting and laughing. Although it was almost 5:30 in the afternoon, there were still some people in the Township Government compound.

Consequently, a few people saw the three of them leave the main gate of the Township Government compound together, cross the street, and enter a restaurant diagonally opposite.

Some were a bit slow and didn't take this scene to heart, but others were more sensitive and immediately thought of something.

They thought to themselves, "Ma Zhengnan, Deputy Party Secretary Fu, and Secretary Qin are getting so close. Could it be that the situation in Dahe Township is about to change?"