26: Chapter 26 Going to the Provincial Capital to Make Money

Director Liao Ping was clearly a bit uneasy.

Her backer had fallen, and so quickly at that. Could she still hold onto her position as the Director of the Finance Office? More importantly, she had disregarded Qin Chuan multiple times before.

With twenty or thirty minutes left before the morning shift ended, she left early.

Director Zhou Xiaoyu was the only college graduate in the Finance Office. A graduate of the University of Finance and Economics, she was professionally trained, in her thirties, and quite beautiful—often called the "Flower of Dahe Township."

However...

Her life hadn't been easy these past few years. Township Head Liu Qiang had previously hinted that as long as she slept with him, he could promote her to Deputy Director and ensure she was highly valued.

Director Zhou Xiaoyu had her principles; she couldn't engage in such a dirty transaction with Township Head Liu Qiang. Consequently, it was only natural that she was given a hard time, suppressed, and marginalized.

Seeing Director Liao Ping leave, Director Zhou Xiaoyu felt a stir in her heart.

She felt that her opportunity might have finally arrived.

Based on her secret observations and analysis over the last few days, she felt that Secretary Qin was different from Township Head Liu Qiang; he seemed very upright. Director Liao Ping was likely to fall. Should I pay Secretary Qin a visit?

After this thought surfaced, she felt a bit hesitant again.

If she suddenly rushed to Secretary Qin's office, what would others think? What would Secretary Qin think?

She was torn...

...

In the afternoon, after work started.

Qin Chuan handled a few documents and then sat in his office chair, thinking. Now that Township Head Liu Qiang was gone, there would basically be no more internal friction and power struggles.

In the next phase, he needed to work hard on the development and construction of Dahe Township. Although this was the responsibility of the Township Head, as the top leader and the head of the team, he couldn't stay out of it.

Besides development and construction, the renovation of Dahe Township Central School was also urgent. Whether it was the teaching building or the dormitory, they were too dilapidated. If there was a day with heavy rain and strong winds, what if they collapsed?

That would be a major incident, and he, as the Township Party Committee Secretary, would also be implicated.

Funding. He had to get funding!

He needed to secure a sum of money from the higher-ups to properly renovate the school.

Should he go to the county or the city? He immediately ruled them out because Qin Chuan wasn't familiar with them and likely wouldn't be able to get much money. He would go directly to the province.

He'd try the Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League first. If that didn't work, he'd find another way. Regardless, he had to secure a sum of money...

While he was thinking this, there was a knock on the office door. Director Hu Qibin, the Director of the Party and Government Office, walked in and reported.

"Leader, here are the personnel files for the Township Finance Office. Please take a look."

Such an important department like the Finance Office had to be in his own hands. Director Liao Ping definitely had to be replaced; she was Township Head Liu Qiang's person and had even put on airs in front of him several times before.

Who should replace her?

He would look at the current personnel files of the Finance Office first.

There weren't many people in the entire Township Finance Office—less than ten in total. After flipping through the files in his hand, Qin Chuan said, "This Director Zhou Xiaoyu is good. She's actually professionally trained. Her professional skills should be quite decent, right?"

Director Hu Qibin felt a bit embarrassed and rubbed his hands together. "Secretary, you might not know yet, but she is my wife."

Oh, so there was that connection.

Qin Chuan said, "Call Director Zhou Xiaoyu over. I'll have a chat with her."

He believed he was a good judge of character. Qin Chuan was very confident that after a chat with Director Zhou Xiaoyu, he would have a good grasp of her.

Since she was Director Hu Qibin's wife, it was even better; she would be more likely to become part of his faction.

Soon, Director Zhou Xiaoyu knocked and entered.

To avoid any suspicion of impropriety, Director Hu Qibin tactfully withdrew.

"Secretary, you wanted to see me."

Qin Chuan nodded. "Yes, I called you here mainly to talk about your work. Relax, don't be nervous. It's just like a chat between friends."

The conversation lasted about twenty to thirty minutes.

Qin Chuan gained a deep and comprehensive understanding of Director Zhou Xiaoyu. He felt she was a good person, especially since, like Director Hu Qibin, she had been suppressed and marginalized by Township Head Liu Qiang and his lot. This meant she would be even more grateful and would stand firmly on his side to manage the Finance Office for him.

However, Qin Chuan didn't express his stance or say anything specific; he wasn't in a hurry to make a decision.

Two days later, Qin Chuan convened the second Party Committee meeting since taking office.

A series of personnel adjustments were made. Township Head Liu Qiang's faction was basically purged and replaced with his own people.

He didn't take everything for himself; some department heads were people belonging to Ma Zhengnan, Deputy Party Secretary Fu, or Vice Township Head Mu Xiuwen.

Because the three of them were part of Qin Chuan's faction, their subordinates were also considered Qin Chuan's people.

This series of personnel adjustments included the Finance Office.

Director Liao Ping was dismissed, and Director Zhou Xiaoyu was appointed as the Director of the Finance Office.

Soon, the official red-headed document regarding the personnel appointments in Dahe Township was posted on the bulletin board outside the main gate of the Township Government compound.

All at once, a crowd gathered.

"Secretary Qin is so bold; this is practically a major overhaul!"

"That woman Liao Ping is finally out!"

"Do you see? This series of personnel appointments and adjustments shows that everyone must align themselves closely with Secretary Qin."

"..."

Inside the office.

Ma Zhengnan and a few others sat on the sofa. Qin Chuan had just finished giving a series of instructions and arrangements.

"Secretary Qin, about how many days will you be in the provincial capital this time?"

"If things go smoothly, two or three days. Even if they don't, it won't exceed five days at most. I'll be back as soon as possible," Qin Chuan said. "While I'm away, you all need to be more diligent. Make sure no trouble arises."

Ma Zhengnan almost patted his chest as he said, "Secretary, don't worry. With the few of us here, nothing will go wrong."

Seeing this, Qin Chuan felt slightly relieved.

Everyone knew that Qin Chuan was going to the provincial capital this time to get funding, specifically to secure money for the Central School.

But no one, including Ma Zhengnan, was optimistic.

A Township Party Committee Secretary was considered a figure in a small place like Sanjiang County, but in the provincial capital, they were nothing.

Even if it were a County Head or a County Party Secretary, they would have to behave modestly in the provincial capital. Trying to get funding was extremely difficult.

However, seeing that Qin Chuan was in high spirits and seemed very confident, they didn't have the heart to say those words out loud.

At around three in the afternoon, Qin Chuan left Dahe Township.

He traveled light, carrying only a small bag without even a change of clothes. Only Director Hu Qibin accompanied him.

Of course, the driver was Chen Haisheng.

After dropping Qin Chuan and Director Hu Qibin off at the county train station, he drove back to Dahe Township and did not accompany them to the provincial capital.

Even after boarding the train, Director Hu Qibin was still a bit puzzled.

This trip to the provincial capital would take at least three to five days. Why didn't Secretary Qin bring any change of clothes?

Like Ma Zhengnan and the others, he didn't know that Qin Chuan was from the provincial capital, let alone that Qin Chuan's father was Provincial Party Secretary Qin Zhengdong.

Having a home in the provincial capital meant he naturally didn't need to bring a change of clothes.

During these few days in the provincial capital, Qin Chuan planned to stay at his own home, which was Provincial Party Committee Villa No. 1. As for Director Hu Qibin, he would stay at the Provincial Party Committee Guesthouse or a nearby hotel.

(I have a cold and feel miserable. What should I do?)