Chapter 145

"Received, received. Right now, several leaders of our town government are also keeping a constant watch on this matter. These two coal mine extractions, in the short term, are a good thing that benefits the people of our Baishui Town; in the long term, they are an even more powerful catalyst for the economic development of our Yuyang City." Mayor Wang nodded, smiling as he spoke in grand, official language, not forgetting to flatter them, "With you leaders usually so busy with work, it is truly an honor for the people of Baishui that you could spare the time to personally come down to the countryside for a visit."

Zhang Ailing smiled, set down her teacup, and said, "We also came here entrusted by Vice Mayor Yu. Vice Mayor Yu is very concerned about this matter right now and asked us to come down personally to visit those two villages, to get a feel for the villagers' sentiments. We must ensure this relocation work is done well. For the sake of Yuyang City's economic development and to avoid affecting the coal mine extractions, this relocation work must be fast. Not only must it be fast, but we must also ensure no chaos arises during this process. I am giving you a heads-up on this matter first, Mayor Wang; you must do a good job in soothing the villagers' thoughts."

"Yes, yes, what you say is correct, leader. As soon as the documents from above arrive, our Baishui Town government will immediately launch the work for this land requisition and relocation. Recently, several of our main town government leaders have also held several meetings to discuss this matter, ensuring that the relocation work can be completed smoothly and quickly. It will absolutely not affect the economic development of our Yuyang City. You can rest assured, leader." Mayor Wang wore a look of integrity, speaking with great eloquence.

As soon as Wang Anguo heard "Xiaogou Coal Mine," he thought of how he had failed to secure the extraction rights for this mine for Gao Husheng. He wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant, smoking and drinking tea without a word. With Bureau Chief Zhang present, he found it inappropriate to interject and could only sit to the side as a listener.

Seeing Wang Anguo, who usually acted so official, looking so wilted, Li Shanshan found it quite funny. Sitting beside Bureau Chief Zhang, she lowered her head, covered her mouth, and secretly laughed at him. Ever since Zhao Desan was transferred to the Logistics Department by Wang Anguo, Li Shanshan had been wanting to find an opportunity to recommend Zhao Desan to Zhang Ailing, to have her find Zhao Desan a place where he could utilize his talents. But she was afraid that if she spoke too much, she might even lose her own position, so she had never dared to open her mouth. She planned to mention this matter to Bureau Chief Zhang in a roundabout way on the road back to Yuyang City after the inspection, to test her reaction.

After resting at the town government for over an hour, Zhang Ailing said, "Mayor Wang, we've had your tea and we've rested well. Let's go to Xiaogou Village and Heihe Village for a tour. Let's take a look; since Vice Mayor Yu entrusted us, we must at least go and see. If we don't go now, we won't be able to make it back before dark."

Mayor Wang said with a smile, "That's fine, that's fine. You leaders are truly so earnest and responsible in your work. I will go find an off-road vehicle for you leaders." Mayor Wang went outside and stood at the government entrance, dialed a phone call, and immediately adopted a different demeanor. He ordered in a condescending tone, "Manager Zhang, several leaders from the city have come to inspect Xiaogou Village and Heihe Village. Bring your off-road vehicle over... Yes, two of them... Hurry up!"

Within a few minutes, two black Land Rover off-road vehicles drove up to the town government entrance, one after the other. Although Baishui Town's overall economic level was very backward and it was a national-level impoverished township, because the local area was rich in coal resources, several small coal bosses had appeared. There were actually over a dozen such nice cars in the entire town.

Mayor Wang walked into the reception room and said with a chuckle, "Bureau Chief Zhang, Bureau Chief Wang, Secretary Li, the cars are ready for you leaders. Shall we depart now?"

Zhang Ailing nodded, took a sip of tea, set down her cup, and said, "Old Wang, Little Li, let's go. The sooner we go, the sooner we return; we still have to make time to get back."

The three of them walked out of the Zhenzheng Prefecture courtyard, followed by a long line of Zhenzheng Prefecture leaders holding various titles, creating a grand spectacle.

Walking out the main gate, Mayor Wang scurried over to open the car doors, respectfully sending Bureau Chief Zhang and Vice Bureau Chief Wang into the car first. He himself brought two deputy mayors, three leaders from the city's Coal Bureau, and three main and deputy mayors of Baishui Town government. The six of them sat separately in the two Land Rovers and drove along the rugged dirt road toward Heihe Village and Xiaogou Village.

Mayor Wang and Vice Bureau Chief Wang, the two Wangs, sat in one car. Only then did Wang Anguo finally have the opportunity to strike a bureaucratic pose. In the car, he crossed his legs, lit a cigarette, turned his head, and asked Mayor Wang, "Old Wang, has the government given you any specific arrangements for the relocation work yet?"

"Not yet. Our Zhenzheng Prefecture has been waiting for notice from above. As soon as there is notice, we will assist in handling the relocation."

Wang Anguo glanced at him and said, "Old Wang, I heard that Lin Dafa's son, Lin Jianyang, is a secretary-general in the county, right? Now that his old man's mining group has won the bid for the Heihe Coal Mine extraction rights, has he greeted you about it?"

"That hasn't happened yet... But you can rest assured, leader. No matter which unit wins the bid for Heihe Coal Mine and Xiaogou Coal Mine, we will treat them all equally. The speed of the relocation work affects the coal mine construction, and our town government will definitely do a good job in coordinating."

They said they were coming down to understand the situation. First, they arrived at Xiaogou Village and took a look, then went to the nearby Heihe Village and took a look. The six people sat in the cars and didn't even get out. Altogether, they stayed for less than five minutes, which counted as having understood the situation.

On the road back to the town, Zhang Ailing's cell phone received a message. She took it out and saw it was from Vice Mayor Yu Yinliang: Old Zhang, have you gone down to the countryside to understand the situation?

Zhang Ailing hurriedly typed out a line of official language: Vice Mayor Yu, I have already understood the specific situation. Please rest assured.

Returning to the Zhenzheng Prefecture, the group again surrounded the three of them, ushering them into the reception room, serving tea and water, handing out cigarettes, and taking care of them with meticulous attention.

The sun was already about to set. After sitting down and resting for over ten minutes, Zhang Ailing rose to bid farewell to Mayor Wang. She, along with Wang Anguo and Shanshan, switched back to the Audi official car they had arrived in and returned to Yuyang City.

On the way back, Li Shanshan intentionally or unintentionally mentioned Zhao Desan to Zhang Ailing. Zhang Ailing said, "I've seen this young man, Comrade Comrade Xiao Zhao, in the hallway a few times, always when I was taking out the trash. His appearance is good, he has spirit. Why did Old Wang transfer him to the Logistics Department?"

"Bureau Chief Zhang, Zhao Desan is quite funny, glib-tongued, eloquent, and very humorous. He also has quite a bit of talent. I think it's a pity that Vice Bureau Chief Wang transferred him to the Logistics Department." Li Shanshan kept praising Zhao Desan in front of Zhang Ailing, hoping that some kind of turning point might appear. This was the greatest effort she could make to help Zhao Desan.

"Little Li, you know this Comrade Comrade Xiao Zhao quite well, don't you?" Zhang Ailing turned her head, a mischievous smile on her lips, "Are you interested in this handsome young man, Comrade Comrade Xiao Zhao?"

Li Shanshan felt a bit of a flush on her cheeks from what Zhang Ailing said and hurriedly shook her head to deny it: "Leader, no, no, I've just dealt with him a few times... I think he's a pretty good person."

Zhang Ailing laughed heartily and said, "I can roughly understand what you mean, but Comrade Comrade Xiao Zhao was transferred to the Logistics Department by Old Wang. If Old Wang could transfer him there, he must have his reasons. It's not easy for me to intervene in this matter. Let him train in the Logistics Department for now. If he truly has talent, as long as I am still the Bureau Chief of the Coal Bureau for one day, I will not bury talent."

Li Shanshan was racking her brains in front of Bureau Chief Zhang to speak well of Zhao Desan and help him, while Zhao Desan was racking his brains to find every possible way to help that temporary worker, Bai Ling.

At noon, after having a good time with Wen Qian in his office, as soon as Wen Qian left, Zhao Desan lay on the desk for a nap and actually fell asleep.

Around four or five o'clock, he heard the office door being knocked "dong, dong, dong." He hurriedly sat up, rubbed his eyes twice, and said, "Come in."

As the door opened, he saw that young woman, Bai Ling, had entered. Her stunningly beautiful face carried a hint of apology as she said, "I'm bothering you again. I'm so embarrassed."

Zhao Desan suddenly realized and remembered the idea he had given her in the morning. He asked her, "Did you go find Zhang Da?"

The young woman lowered her head slightly, her hands clutching the corner of her clothes like a prisoner, and said in a low voice, "Not yet."

Zhao Desan suddenly got angry. I went to such trouble to think of an idea for you to keep your job, and you're so dense! So, in his anxiety, he said loudly, "What's wrong with you! I went to such trouble to think of a way for you! You don't move unless I push you!"

Hearing his voice volume increase, the young woman lifted her watery apricot eyes to glance at him, clutched the corner of her clothes even tighter, and said in a low voice, "I don't know... I don't know if Zhang Da is in his office."