133: Chapter 133 A Dark Face

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng turned the idea of this personnel adjustment over in his mind for three days before deciding to go talk to Xu Weidong.

He chose a morning when the work on the government side was arranged, and there was no one queuing outside Xu Weidong's office; the timing was just right.

He knocked on the door with a folder in hand. Upon hearing a "Come in" from inside, he pushed the door open. Xu Weidong was leaning back in his chair reading some materials. The green plant on the windowsill had been replaced with a new one; its leaves were a vibrant, shiny green, and the desktop was clean enough to reflect a person's silhouette.

Every time Township Head Jiang Tiansheng entered this office, he had an indescribable feeling—it wasn't uncomfortable, just awkward.

It was like walking into someone else's territory; he even had to soften his breathing.

"Secretary Xu, there is a matter I would like to report to you."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng sat down opposite him and placed the folder on the table without opening it.

Xu Weidong closed the materials, leaned back in his chair, and nodded. His tone was as flat as if he were commenting on the nice weather today.

"Township Head Jiang, go ahead."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng carefully considered his wording. Having worked in the township for so many years, he had his own way of reporting work to leaders; he knew who to be direct with and when to beat around the bush.

With Xu Weidong, he felt it was better to be direct; this young man didn't like those superficial things.

"It is like this."

"Regarding the Forestry Station, you have also seen the recent work state of Station Chief Sun Changhe."

"Last time, the data for returning farmland to forest was wrong, which caused quite a joke at the leadership meeting."

"Although he rectified it later, I have observed that his work style really cannot keep up with the current pace."

"The Forestry Station is an important department in the township. Whether it is returning farmland to forest, forest fire prevention, or forest rights disputes, none of these can be taken lightly."

"Station Chief Sun Changhe is also getting older, and his energy cannot keep up. I was wondering if we could consider making an adjustment."

Xu Weidong did not reply; he picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng could not see his expression clearly; the teacup blocked half his face, revealing only a pair of eyes that were indifferent.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng continued, bringing out the plan he had prepared.

"I have a candidate in mind: Li Ming, Deputy Director of the Comprehensive Management Office. You might not be very familiar with this comrade, but he has worked in Hukuang Township for nearly ten years and has quite rich grassroots experience."

"He originally worked as the Deputy Station Chief at the Forestry Station, so he is familiar with the forestry business."

"Later, he was transferred to the Justice Office and also served as Deputy Director. He knows the ins and outs of things like mediating forest rights disputes."

"Now in the Comprehensive Management Office, he is also quite adept at handling conflicts and disputes."

"If this person is placed in the Forestry Station, there will be no problems with the business, and his work style is solid. He is more suitable than Station Chief Sun Changhe."

After finishing, he looked at Xu Weidong, waiting for his reaction.

Xu Weidong put down the teacup and tapped his fingers on the desktop twice, neither heavily nor slowly.

"Township Head Jiang, you just said that Station Chief Sun Changhe's work style cannot keep up with the pace. Which aspects are you specifically referring to?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng was stunned. He hadn't expected Xu Weidong to turn the question back on him. He was caught off guard for a moment but quickly steadied himself and said the words he had prepared.

"It is mainly that his work is not meticulous enough. The data for returning farmland to forest was wrong, and this is not the first time."

"Last time, regarding the seedling survival rate, the data reported from his side also had problems."

"And then there is the mediation of forest rights disputes. He handled a few cases, but the common people were not very satisfied, and in the end, it was only stabilized after the township stepped in."

Xu Weidong nodded, his expression showing no change.

He pulled a document from the stack on the table, opened it, glanced at it, and closed it again.

"Township Head Jiang, the problems you mentioned do indeed exist."

"Station Chief Sun Changhe has some lapses in his work; I do not deny this."

"However, lapses are lapses, and rectification is rectification."

"After the data for returning farmland to forest went wrong last time, I asked him to re-verify it. He spent less than a week organizing all the data. The format was standardized, the underlying figures were clear, and it was much better than the previous ledgers."

"What does this show?"

"It shows that he has the attitude for rectification and the ability to rectify."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng frowned slightly. He hadn't expected Xu Weidong to use the rectification as an argument. He had seen that rectification report; it was indeed better than before, but who couldn't do that kind of thing?

Does organizing data clearly prove that a person is capable?

He disapproved in his heart, but he did not show it on his face.

Xu Weidong continued, his voice neither hurried nor slow, as if he were talking about something unrelated to himself.

"The work of the Forestry Station is broad and extensive. Returning farmland to forest, forest fire prevention, forest rights reform, pest and disease control—none of these are easy tasks."

"Station Chief Sun Changhe has worked at the Forestry Station for so many years and knows the forestry situation of Hukuang Township like the back of his hand."

"He can tell you with his eyes closed which village has how much forest land, which mountain is prone to catching fire, and which plot of land for returning farmland to forest has complaints from the common people."

"This kind of experience cannot be replaced just by swapping in a new person."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng caught the drift of the conversation; Xu Weidong did not want to replace the person.

He had said so much, but translated, it meant one sentence: Station Chief Sun Changhe was useful to him, and he wanted Township Head Jiang Tiansheng not to move him.

A spark of anger flared up in Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's heart, but he suppressed it.

He knew he couldn't be impatient in front of Xu Weidong; the more impatient he was, the more passive he would become. He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip; the water was lukewarm and didn't burn his mouth.

Damn it! That dog, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, is still working behind the scenes!

"Secretary Xu's words make sense; Station Chief Sun Changhe's experience is indeed rich. But this is how I think about it: having rich experience is one thing, and work state is another."

"The Forestry Station's work cannot just rely on resting on past achievements; it needs a new atmosphere. Comrade Li Ming is young, energetic, and familiar with the business. Placing him in the Forestry Station can both utilize his strengths and inject some vitality into the Forestry Station."

"As for Station Chief Sun Changhe, we can consider moving him to another position to utilize his advantage of rich experience. Adjusting it this way is beneficial for the work and beneficial for the comrade."

Xu Weidong glanced at him, the corners of his mouth moving slightly, which counted as a smile.

"Township Head Jiang has considered this very thoughtfully."

"However, personnel adjustments must be considered from the overall situation. Station Chief Sun Changhe has worked at the Forestry Station for so many years; if not credit, he has at least put in the hard work."

"Recently, he has indeed put in the effort regarding the rectification, and this attitude is good."

"My meaning is to give him some more time to see if he can get a grip on the work. If it still doesn't work by then, it won't be too late to consider an adjustment."

"After all, it is easy to replace someone, but whether the replacement can do better than the current situation, no one can guarantee."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng knew there was no point in continuing. Xu Weidong had already said this much; if he insisted further, he would appear to be tactless.

He nodded and picked up the teacup to take another sip; the water had already gone cold.

"Secretary Xu is right; let's observe for another period of time then."

"I was just worried that the Forestry Station's work would drag down the whole township. Since Secretary Xu has considered it, I won't say anything more."

Xu Weidong nodded and picked up the material on the table to continue reading.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng stood up, picked up the folder, and turned to walk out.