43: Chapter 43 Going to Qili Village

Early the next morning, the Hukuang Township Party Committee meeting was held in the third-floor conference room.

The conference room was not large; an oval conference table occupied most of the space, and the five characters "Serve the People" were hung on the wall.

The sky outside the window was gray, and although the radiators were burning hot, the room felt inexplicably cold.

Attendees took their seats one after another. Secretary Hu Dakui sat at the head of the table, and Township Head Ge Jiefang sat on the left. A seat was left empty on the right, reserved for the Deputy Party Committee Secretary.

When Xu Weidong entered, seven or eight people were already sitting in the conference room, their gazes all falling upon him.

It seemed everyone had the habit of waiting for the "young master," and no one found fault with it.

"Comrade Weidong is here, sit."

Secretary Hu Dakui greeted him with a smile, looking very amiable.

Xu Weidong nodded and sat down on the right.

He scanned the people present. Besides Secretary Hu Dakui and Township Head Ge Jiefang, there were the Renmin University of China Chairman, the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary, the Executive Deputy Township Head, the Propaganda Committee Member, the United Front Work Committee Member, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Committee Member, the Renmin University of China Vice Chairman, the Head of the Armed Forces Department, and two Deputy Township Heads—a total of thirteen people!

The government side accounted for four people, which showed that Township Head Ge Jiefang still had some methods.

The Political and Legal Affairs Commission Committee Member was named Committee Member Chen Qing, in his early forties, with a thin, long face, deep-set eye sockets, and a gaze that always darted away when looking at people.

Xu Weidong noticed that from the moment he entered, Committee Member Chen Qing had not looked him in the eye, instead constantly flipping through the notebook in his hands, over and over, not knowing what he was looking for.

"Today's meeting has two main agendas: first, to study the consolation plan for the needy masses before the Spring Festival; second, to listen to the recent work reports from various departments."

"Comrade Weidong has just arrived, do you have anything to say?"

Xu Weidong took over the conversation and said: "Secretary Hu, I have an idea, and I would like to take this opportunity to keep everyone informed."

Secretary Hu Dakui nodded and said: "Go ahead."

"I want to go to each village to take a look and understand the situation of grassroots Party Committee work."

Xu Weidong said in a calm tone: "Especially remote villages, such as Qili Village."

"I have heard that transportation there is inconvenient, information is blocked, and there may be shortcomings in the Party Committee work."

"I want to go and see for myself to get a grasp of the situation."

As his words fell, the atmosphere in the conference room changed subtly.

Several people's expressions became unnatural. A Deputy Township Head picked up a teacup to drink water, drinking very slowly, while his eyes glanced toward Committee Member Chen Qing.

The Propaganda Committee Member looked down at his notebook, pretending to be writing something.

The Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary was expressionless, but his fingers were tapping lightly on the desktop.

Committee Member Chen Qing's reaction was the most obvious; a trace of discomfort flashed across his face, and he immediately lowered his head, staring at his notebook, motionless.

Secretary Hu Dakui seemed not to have noticed this, smiling and nodding: "Comrade Weidong's idea is good."

"Grassroots Party Committee work is our main responsibility and business. It is very necessary for new comrades to go down for research and get in touch with the grassroots."

"Qili Village... it is indeed remote, the road is difficult to travel. Let the police station send two people to follow; safety first."

Township Head Ge Jiefang also echoed: "Yes, let Director Li Zhongmin take a police officer to accompany him."

"The mountains are high and the roads are far; if something happens, we won't be able to explain it."

The two sang in harmony, making their words airtight.

Xu Weidong nodded and said: "Thank you, Secretary Hu and Township Head Ge, for your concern. Then it is settled."

Xu Weidong's gaze swept over Committee Member Chen Qing, who kept his head down the entire time, saying nothing.

The meeting continued, with agenda items passed one by one, discussing the consolation plan and listening to work reports; everything proceeded according to plan.

When Committee Member Chen Qing reported on the Political and Legal Affairs Commission work, he spoke very quickly, his eyes fixed on the manuscript in front of him. After reading it, he sat down without saying a single extra word.

At ten-thirty, the meeting ended, and everyone stood up to leave.

When Xu Weidong walked out of the conference room, he caught a glimpse of Committee Member Chen Qing lagging behind, taking out his mobile phone and walking quickly toward the end of the corridor.

Committee Member Chen Qing walked to the window at the end of the corridor, confirmed that no one was around, and dialed the number.

"Hello, Old Wei, it's me."

A hoarse voice came from the other end of the phone: "Committee Member Chen? Calling so early, is something up?"

Committee Member Chen Qing lowered his voice: "That newly arrived Deputy Secretary Xu might go to your village for research this afternoon."

"You... clean things up over there."

The other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds, then laughed: "Committee Member Chen, is that it?"

"Rest assured, what kind of situation have we not seen here?"

"A deputy secretary comes, so what?"

"Don't take it lightly."

Committee Member Chen Qing said in a serious tone: "This person has a significant background. On the day he took office, four standing committee members from the city personally escorted him."

"Secretary Hu and Township Head Ge are both yielding to him; don't cause me any trouble."

"Alright, alright, I know."

The other side said perfunctorily: "I'll have the village cleaned up, and everything that needs to be hidden will be hidden, ensuring he sees a beautiful Qili Village."

Committee Member Chen Qing frowned and said: "Also, that batch of... things recently, transfer them first; don't let anyone run into them."

The other side laughed and said: "Committee Member Chen, you can rest assured."

"We've been doing this for so many years, when have we ever had an accident?"

"That Director Li Zhongmin from the police station, how many times has he been here, and didn't he leave dejectedly?"

"A twenty-something kid, can he really turn the world upside down?"

Committee Member Chen Qing was about to say something else, but the other side had already hung up.

He stood by the window, looking at the bare old locust tree in the courtyard, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

This newly arrived Deputy Secretary Xu always made him feel something was wrong.

But he couldn't put his finger on what was wrong.

Hukuang Township, Qili Village.

The village committee office was an adobe house with two rooms, an outer room for office work and an inner room for living.

A few yellowed certificates were pasted on the wall, and a few old thermos bottles were placed on the floor. The stove was burning vigorously, and the room was warm.

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao hung up the phone, moved closer to the stove, and lit a cigarette.

"Whose call?"

Village Head Wei Laosan came out from the inner room, holding a bowl of hot tea.

"Committee Member Chen Qing."

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao exhaled a puff of smoke and said: "He said that the new Deputy Secretary Xu from the township is coming to investigate this afternoon and told us to clean up."

Village Head Wei Laosan sneered, sat down on a stool, and said: "Coming again?"

"Have there been few people coming from the township these years?"

"Which one doesn't just take a turn and leave?"

"Is it worth taking seriously?"

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao didn't speak, just smoked.

Village Head Wei Laosan took a sip of tea and suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, Old Guai sent over a few new goods yesterday, and they are still in the old place. Do you want to..."

"Move them first."

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao flicked the ash, his tone flat: "Put them over by the pigsty and cover them with grass."

"Wait until that Xu guy leaves."

Village Head Wei Laosan laughed: "The pigsty?"

"That place is dirty and smelly, don't suffocate them."

"Those are good goods; one of them is quite pretty and can sell for a good price."

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao glanced at him and said: "If they suffocate, it's on me."

"Stop talking nonsense and go do it."

Village Head Wei Laosan stood up reluctantly, walked to the door, then turned back and said: "Brother, do you think we really need to be this careful?"

"What's the background of that Xu guy?"

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao was silent for a while, then slowly said: "Committee Member Chen Qing said that on the day this person took office, four standing committee members from the city personally escorted him."

Village Head Wei Laosan was stunned for a moment, then laughed again: "So what?"

"Can those big leaders really reach our remote mountain corner?"

"Besides, even if they really investigate, who are they investigating?"

"Investigating us?"

"Are we, these small fish and shrimp, worth their effort? They aren't afraid of dirtying their hands."