Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 353 The Spy Beside the County Magistrate

Also attending the dinner were Chen Jimin, member of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee and Executive Deputy County Head; Deng Haidong, Director of the County Party Committee Office; Shi Xianqiang, Director of the County Government Office; and Ma Baoping of the County Key Project Construction Bureau.

Deng Haidong is the county party committee's "chief steward," and previously served as the director of the municipal finance bureau's office.

Yuan Jin was transferred from the position of Director of the Municipal Finance Bureau to Secretary of the Qingyan County Party Committee, and Deng Haidong followed him to Qingyan County, where he served as Director of the County Party Committee Office.

This shows that Deng Haidong enjoyed Yuan Jin's deep trust.

Next, if things go as expected, under Yuan Jin's influence, Deng Haidong will be promoted to a member of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee and concurrently serve as the director of the County Party Committee Office.

Many county party committee office directors are not members of the county party committee standing committee, but the municipal party committee secretary-general and the provincial party committee secretary-general are usually concurrently members of the municipal party committee standing committee and the provincial party committee standing committee, respectively.

Deng Haidong asked Liao Chenggong, "Mr. Liao, isn't Sun Limin, the county tax bureau chief, here?"

Liao Chenggong said unhappily, "Sun Limin said that people from the Municipal Bureau are coming, so they can't come over."

I specifically mentioned that Secretary Yuan and other county leaders were present, but he still said he couldn't come.

Deng Haidong paused for a few seconds and then said, "The tax system is vertically managed, and the power to appoint personnel lies with the higher-level bureau, not the county committee."

However, in our small area, many tasks require our support, and we are counting on subsidies from the county government.

Yuan Jin's face was rather unpleasant. A mere tax bureau chief was actually being incredibly disrespectful. Liao Chenggong said he was there, but he didn't even come over!

He said coldly, "What do you mean by vertical? In Qingyan County, even a perfectly vertical object will be bent!"

Yuan Jin's gaze fell on Chen Jimin, the executive deputy county head: "County Head Chen, if Sun Limin doesn't know what's good for him, then the financial subsidies will be suspended!"

Chen Jimin nodded: "Understood, Secretary Yuan. Although the tax system is vertically managed, half of the funding comes from our county."

Yuan Jin's voice was stern: "I don't believe they can't be bent! Isn't their personnel power in the Municipal Bureau?"

"If Sun Limin doesn't obey, I can still have the Municipal Bureau transfer him away!"

Shi Xianqiang said, intentionally or unintentionally, "A few years ago, I had a relative who wanted to apply for the civil service exam in the tax system. I successfully persuaded him to give up. Later, he passed the exam and became a township civil servant. Now he is the deputy mayor. If he had passed the exam and entered the tax bureau, he would still be a staff member."

The vertical management of taxation is too closed off, and there are too many people involved. I have an uncle who works at the Jiangzhou Tax Bureau. He's almost retired, but he's only a deputy section chief.

He told me that going to their system would be a waste of talent.

Liao Chenggong invited Sun Limin because Wu Zhiyuan threatened to audit the accounts at Daling Coal Mine.

He was afraid, so when he invited Yuan Jin to the banquet, he also invited Sun Limin.

However, Sun Limin made the excuse that no one from the city bureau could come.

Deng Haidong suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, Sun Limin was transferred from Qingshan County. He used to be the director of the Qingshan County Bureau and had worked with Wu Zhiyuan."

Shi Xianqiang chimed in, "Yes, Wu Zhiyuan was previously the executive deputy county head of Qingshan County. The executive deputy county head is in charge of taxation, so he and Sun Limin should be quite familiar with each other."

Liao Chenggong chimed in, "So that's the connection. No wonder he specifically brought up tax matters today; he's trying to strangle me!"

"That bastard Sun Limin must have gotten permission from Wu Zhiyuan to dare disrespect me!"

Chen Jimin said to Yuan Jin, "Secretary Yuan, this Wu Zhiyuan doesn't seem to be a peaceful person."

He just arrived in Qingyan County and made such a big fuss in Daling Town, reprimanding cadres, giving General Manager Liao a warning, and bringing up work safety and taxation issues.

He's making a big show of things as a new official, and he's doing it quite quickly and fiercely.

It's good that young people are energetic, but their methods are too rigid and they don't know how to be tactful.

Yuan Jin slowly sipped her tea, and after a long while, she finally spoke: "Having drive and wanting to do things is not wrong in itself."

In recent years, Qingyan County has been peaceful and calm for a long time. Some people are content with the status quo, satisfied with their modest wealth, and even engaging in petty and despicable acts.

Are the problems Wu Zhiyuan pointed out in Daling Town today, such as leaders falsifying shifts by going down into the well, chaotic rural security, and inflated data on market entities, true? Yes, they are true.

He dared to confront problems head-on and even take action to solve them. This sense of responsibility is something some of our colleagues who have worked in Qingyan for many years probably don't even possess.

Chen Jimin and the others were stunned. Why was Yuan Jin speaking up for Wu Zhiyuan?

Yuan Jin then changed the subject: "However, Qingyan County is under the leadership of the county party committee, not a stage for showing off heroes or putting on personal performances."

After listening to Xianqiang's report, it can be concluded that Wu Zhiyuan's working methods are simplistic and crude.

For example, Mr. Liao is an outstanding private entrepreneur who has contributed to the development of Qingyan and deserves respect.

But what did he do? He publicly challenged Liao without holding back, cornering him and leaving the grassroots cadres speechless with criticism.

While it appears swift and gratifying, it actually pushes people to the opposite side, bringing problems that could have been resolved internally and gradually into the open, thus exacerbating the conflict.

This isn't solving the problem; it's creating new ones.

Liao Chenggong nodded repeatedly, "Secretary Yuan, what you said really resonated with me!"

I've worked in Qingyan for so many years, I must have put in a lot of hard work, even if I haven't achieved anything great.

I've paid taxes, created jobs, and donated to education—which of these have I neglected?

Today, Wu Zhiyuan showed me no respect whatsoever, and even wanted to investigate my taxes and my coal mine.

This is clearly a deliberate attempt to find fault, to make an example of me, and to establish his authority as county magistrate!

Yuan Jin took a sip of tea and said slowly, "President Liao, the county committee has seen your contributions, and the people of Qingyan are also aware of them."

Wu Zhiyuan's approach to today's matter was indeed inappropriate.

But you have to understand that he is, after all, a newly appointed county head, and he is bound to be eager to make a breakthrough.

As an influential local entrepreneur, you should have a broader perspective.

However, you should take the issues he raised seriously.

The road belonging to Dajiang Cement must be repaired, compensation should be paid where due, and the police station should handle the matter according to the law, giving the outside world an explanation.

The safety records and leadership duty logs of coal mines must be thoroughly rectified immediately and must withstand scrutiny.

This is the bottom line, and it's also about eliminating potential risks for yourself.

Liao Chenggong nodded repeatedly: "Secretary Yuan, rest assured, I understand. I will definitely do as you instruct and will not let anyone find fault with me again."

"As for the tax issue, to be honest, with sales of over 400 million, only 8 million in taxes paid is indeed too little. Do you dare say your company can withstand an investigation?"

Liao Chenggong chuckled and said, "Secretary Yuan, the taxation of private enterprises is not very standardized; this is a common problem."

The tax bureau can find some problems, more or less, in any company they visit.

Yuan Jin tapped her knuckles lightly on the table: "Since Wu Zhiyuan brought it up, you have to show some respect."

You instructed the finance department to conduct a thorough self-examination, and when the tax bureau came to your door, you actively expressed your willingness to pay the outstanding taxes.

Liao Chenggong nodded repeatedly: "Secretary Yuan, I understand. I'll arrange for the finance department to conduct a thorough investigation when I get back, and make sure everything that needs to be paid is paid. But..."

Liao Chenggong hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Yuan Jin asked, "Just what?"

Liao Chenggong said, "I'm afraid the tax bureau will come and audit the accounts, which would probably require me to pay a large sum of money. If I also have to pay late fees and fines, then I'm finished."

Yuan Jin said dismissively, "If Wu Zhiyuan wants to investigate, let him investigate."

But how to investigate and how deep the investigation goes is not up to him alone.

Young people have a lot of energy, which is a good thing, but he hasn't figured out how deep the waters of Qingyan are yet.

Let him struggle for a few days. Once he runs into trouble, he'll realize that some things aren't as he wishes.

Chen Jimin chimed in, "That's right, grassroots work can't be done well just by having a lot of enthusiasm."

The food and drinks were served, and everyone toasted each other.

Deng Haidong, holding a wine glass, toasted Yuan Jin while saying, "Secretary Yuan, County Chief Wu's performance today in Daling Town, especially in Xigou Village, caused quite a stir."

The people felt relieved, but the local officials are probably filled with anxiety, thinking that the new county head is here to cause trouble and establish his authority.

If this continues, how can those below be expected to work freely and efficiently?

Yuan Jin knew exactly what Wu Zhiyuan said and did, ultimately because Shi Xianqiang, the director of the county government office, was his confidant.

Shi Xianqiang chimed in, "Yes, today in Xigou Village, County Chief Wu showed no mercy to Ma Zhenshan, Fan Xiaoyong, and Xia Lin, and was almost ready to point his finger at them and hurl insults at them."

Grassroots work is already complex and stressful; if they get scared like this, they'll probably be even less willing to do anything in the future.

In fact, many things are not subject to the will of grassroots cadres.

For example, can we report the GDP growth rate accurately? Even if we do, the city will definitely reject it, because it's dragging down the entire city's overall performance...

Yuan Jin listened without showing any emotion.

This was at a dinner table, not in a meeting room. Although the officials present were his confidants, Liao Chenggong was a private business owner, and the two were just drinking buddies.

After everyone had said a lot, Yuan Jincai said calmly, "The problems in Xigou Village have been piling up until now, and the people are full of complaints. Can Ma Zhenshan and his ilk say they bear no responsibility at all?"

Wu Zhiyuan is young and energetic; letting him burn some pus and squeeze out the boils might not be a bad thing.

However, Hai Dong and Xian Qiang are also right: criticism should be moderate, and methods should be considered when doing things.

The work in Qingyan County is carried out under the unified leadership of the county party committee. No individual can be above the organization or undermine the overall situation of unity and hard work.

Yuan Jin glanced at Deng Haidong and the others: "You guys are in key positions, so you must be politically astute."

Your every word and action should be conducive to unity and stability.

Report what needs to be reported, communicate what needs to be communicated, don't say what shouldn't be said, and don't do what shouldn't be done.

Yuan Jin's gaze settled on Shi Xianqiang: "Especially you, Xianqiang, the government office directly serves the county magistrate and is also the central link connecting the top, bottom, left, and right."

You must play your role well, not only serving the county head, but also reporting important information and developments from the government, especially Comrade Wu Zhiyuan's important ideas and trends, to the county party committee in a timely and accurate manner.

This isn't tattling; it's being responsible to the county party committee and to the work in Qingyan.

Shi Xianqiang quickly said, "Secretary Yuan, please rest assured, I understand my responsibilities."

We will certainly serve the county head well, resolutely implement all decisions and plans of the county party committee, ensure the smooth flow of government orders, and ensure timely reporting of important situations.

During this meal, Liao Chenggong also invited his son, Liao Jinshen.

Ostensibly, they were providing services, but in reality, they were trying to curry favor with the leaders.

Liao Jinshen was a spoiled brat who was not cut out for studying.

But he has a good father.

I studied abroad and even got a master's degree from a diploma mill in the Philippines.

After graduation, the county arranged a low-level position for him, introducing him to the county's key construction projects bureau under the guise of talent recruitment—a legitimate public institution position.

Liao Chenggong hopes his son can be promoted to deputy section chief and then become a civil servant.