20: Chapter 20 First Party Committee Meeting

Director Li Youfu thought it was about the homestead issue, so he prepared his wording in his mind and knocked on the door to enter.

"Secretary Qin, you wanted to see me."

Qin Chuan nodded slightly with a rather serious expression. Director Li Youfu would soon be dismissed, so there was no need to be warm towards him.

"Hmm, notify everyone immediately. A Party Committee meeting will be held at ten o'clock this morning. Every Party Committee member must attend!"

Upon hearing this, Director Li Youfu was slightly stunned!

It wasn't about the homestead issue; it was actually to announce a Party Committee meeting!!!

Interestingly, yesterday, also at ten o'clock in the morning, Township Head Liu Qiang had overstepped his authority to organize a Party Committee meeting, which ended up being a joke.

Today, Qin Chuan was actually demanding a Party Committee meeting. Wasn't this a slap in the face for Township Head Liu Qiang?

Seeing that Director Li Youfu was still dazed there, Qin Chuan waved his hand and said, "What are you still standing there for? Go and notify everyone immediately!"

"Oh, alright."

Director Li Youfu left the office and went to notify everyone one by one. He felt a bit uneasy; Secretary Qin was not saying a word about the homestead issue, and he didn't know what he was up to.

Notifying the other Party Committee members went quite smoothly, except for Township Head Liu Qiang.

It was already past nine o'clock in the morning, and he hadn't arrived at work yet. After receiving the notification call, he actually said:

"Tell Secretary Qin that I am planning to go to the county to report on work, so I cannot attend this meeting."

Director Li Youfu reminded him, "Township Head Liu, it won't be good if you don't attend. Secretary Qin might discuss some important matters while you are absent."

After hesitating for a moment, Township Head Liu Qiang said, "I know."

With a "clack," he hung up the phone. Township Head Liu Qiang felt a bit uncomfortable inside, even thinking that this guy surnamed Qin was definitely doing it on purpose. Not holding it earlier or later, but choosing this specific time to hold a Party Committee meeting was clearly a slap in his face.

Although he was annoyed, he had to attend.

On one hand, Director Li Youfu's reminder was right; what if Qin Chuan did something while he wasn't there? On the other hand, Qin Chuan was the top leader and had the authority to organize a Party Committee meeting. If he didn't attend and it reached the ears of the county leaders, he would at least receive a reprimand, which was completely unnecessary.

Because it was the first Party Committee meeting since taking office, Qin Chuan walked into the meeting room three to five minutes early and sat down in his designated seat.

Hearing that Secretary Qin was going to hold a Party Committee meeting, Ma Zhengnan and Deputy Party Secretary Fu were the first to arrive.

Seeing Qin Chuan enter, Ma Zhengnan said, "Secretary, you arrived so early!"

Deputy Party Secretary Fu also added, "Secretary, you should have made your entrance last."

Qin Chuan smiled slightly. These two could now be considered his staunch supporters, standing completely on his side.

A while later, the other Party Committee members arrived one after another. Seeing that Qin Chuan had arrived early, they were somewhat surprised.

What was even more surprising was that in addition to Director Li Youfu, Deputy Director of the Party and Government Office, Director Hu Qibin, was also attending the meeting.

Deputy Township Head Wang Feng was confused and gave Committee Member Zhou Fengjie a look, implying a question: Why was Director Hu Qibin sitting here? Wasn't he sent down to a certain village for poverty alleviation?

Committee Member Zhou Fengjie didn't know either and could only shake his head slightly.

Director Hu Qibin, Deputy Director of the Party and Government Office, was thirty-two years old this year, a university graduate, capable, and talented. However, because he offended Township Head Liu Qiang, he had been sent down to a village for poverty alleviation two months ago and was basically marginalized.

His sudden appearance here, and even attending the Party Committee meeting, seemed unusual.

This was, of course, Qin Chuan's intention: Director Li Youfu goes down, and Director Hu Qibin comes up.

This person was recommended by Ma Zhengnan. Qin Chuan had also spoken with Director Hu Qibin personally and felt that he was a good person who could be utilized.

Qin Chuan was quite confident in his judgment and felt that he shouldn't have misjudged the person.

At nine o'clock in the morning, out of the seven Party Committee members, six had arrived, except for Township Head Liu Qiang.

Qin Chuan glanced at Director Li Youfu, who was attending the meeting, and said with a serious face, "The meeting time has arrived. Let's start the meeting now. Director Hu, you will be responsible for taking the meeting minutes this time. Record any late attendees in the meeting minutes. Today's meeting minutes must be distributed to every department."

Director Hu quickly said, "Alright."

Director Li Youfu was slightly stunned; he had always been the one responsible for taking meeting minutes. After realizing what had happened, he still didn't forget to speak for Township Head Liu Qiang, "Secretary Qin, Township Head Liu must have been delayed by something. Let's just let it slide this time."

Qin Chuan's face turned slightly cold. Even at this point, Director Li Youfu was still standing on Township Head Liu Qiang's side, helping him speak.

Qin Chuan ignored Director Li Youfu and said in a clear voice, "We are now starting the meeting. This is the first Party Committee meeting since I took office. First, everyone, please briefly introduce your work so that I can understand it better. Let's start with Comrade Ma Zhengnan."

Consequently, each Party Committee member spent three to five minutes introducing themselves and briefly describing their work areas, and so on.

After a full twenty-something minutes, everyone had finished their introductions, and Township Head Liu Qiang finally arrived.

With a folder in one hand and a water cup in the other, he walked in with a steady pace, showing no awareness of being late.

Smiling, he said, "Sorry, I was delayed by some things and am a few minutes late."

After saying that, he sat down in his seat.

Qin Chuan said, "Township Head Liu, you are not a few minutes late, but twenty-seven minutes late. Director Hu, record this in the meeting minutes."

Director Hu quickly said, "Alright, Secretary."

Only then did Township Head Liu Qiang notice that Director Hu Qibin, who had been sent down to a village for poverty alleviation, was actually attending the meeting.

But he didn't take it to heart. Even at this point, he was still very confident, believing that Qin Chuan couldn't pull off any tricks at the Party Committee meeting.

Although criticized in public for being twenty-seven minutes late, Township Head Liu Qiang was not angry at all and said with a smile, "Sorry, I'll pay attention next time."

In fact, this was an act.

He was just that kind of person: he could harbor immense hatred for you inside while appearing smiling on the surface, and then stab you in the back with the sharpest knife.

Seeing that Township Head Liu Qiang's attitude was acceptable, Qin Chuan couldn't keep harping on this point. He changed the subject, "Since Township Head Liu has recognized his mistake, I hope you won't be late next time. Let's continue the meeting."

"Although I haven't been in office for many days, there is one matter that must be brought up for discussion. First is the issue of Dahe Township owing teacher salaries..."

In front of everyone, he briefly explained the matter.

In fact, everyone was very clear about this matter. As soon as Qin Chuan finished speaking, Deputy Township Head Wang Feng, acting as a pawn and lackey, spoke up first.

"Secretary Qin, you just arrived, so you might not be very clear about the real reason for the matter. There is a reason why teacher salaries haven't been paid in full these past few months."

Qin Chuan looked at him and said slowly, "Deputy Township Head Wang, then tell us, what is the reason?"