Chapter 5141: Meeting

Because there was no large-scale change of terms at this People's Congress, and it was only an adjustment for a very few leadership positions, the podium at the conference was much less crowded than those grand People's Congresses before. In the past, the podium at every "Two Sessions" would not only be covered with slogans and banners, but would also be packed, but this time, only five chairman cards were placed on the podium. The two positions in the center were naturally Liu Xuemei and Mayor Zhang Dewang, the right side was Liu Deliang, who attended the meeting on behalf of the Municipal CPPCC. Although the CPPCC was not an agency with real power, because it belonged to the "Four Greats," it still had some status. Next to Liu Xuemei was Zhao Changtian, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Minister of the Organization Department, and the leftmost side was naturally Director Li of the Municipal People's Congress, who was presiding over this People's Congress.

At this time, the representatives were already seated in the venue, but the podium was still empty. The four seat cards had cold faces, as if mocking the smiling faces under the stage.

According to the meeting practice, before the formal election, the conference had to carry out relevant procedures and pass relevant resolutions. Raising hands to pass was just a formality, and it was all the same old routine. The representatives just needed to raise their hands, clap their hands, and go through the motions.

Each delegation sat in a fixed position according to the prescribed area. Before distributing the ballots, each delegation had to report the number of people attending the meeting, the staff would summarize and report it, and the host would announce the number of people who should be present and the number of people who were actually present to the conference. The atmosphere in the venue became solemn.

The staff distributed ballots to the representatives. Those who didn't get ballots looked around anxiously. Director Li on the podium said loudly, "Our representatives must fill out the ballots seriously and responsibly. You cannot discuss with each other, you cannot copy from each other, you must seriously shoulder the responsibilities of the people's representatives, and contribute the strength of the people's representatives to the organization's election," and similar words.

Hearing these words from Director Li, Liu Deliang, who was sitting on the side of the podium, couldn't help but cast his gaze on Wu Min in the first row below. All the leaders of the four sets of teams in the districts who were representatives sat in the front row. At this time, Wu Min didn't know when she had changed into a dark blue professional suit. That outfit looked very intellectual and noble, more like an important official. She was seen smiling at this time, and every gesture was mindful of her image and appearance. Sitting next to Wu Min was Secretary Sun from Linbei District. Looking at his slightly nervous appearance, he seemed less confident. His back was straight, his eyes were looking forward, and he was holding the ballot in his hand. Compared with Wu Min's atmospheric and calm expression, Secretary Sun appeared extremely lacking in confidence.

With Director Li's high-pitched voice, a soothing, faint melody sounded in the venue's speakers. The representatives who had written their ballots stood up one after another, lining up in a long queue toward the ballot box. Secretary Sun was the first to walk to the front of the ballot box, lowered his head, and put the ballot into the box. Following closely behind was Wu Min. She was seen holding her head high and walking forward with a full face of smiles, gently putting the ballot into the ballot box with both hands, giving people a feeling of being extremely proud of the spring breeze.

The first person on the podium to walk to the ballot box was Liu Deliang. Although there were five people on the podium, including representatives of the four sets of teams of the Municipal People's Congress and Minister of the Organization Department Zhao Changtian, a large ballot box was still placed there. Liu Deliang's face had almost no expression, and his voting action was neither mechanical nor deliberate, just appearing a bit perfunctory. Director Li stood in the center of the podium, smiling and watching the representatives voting. The representatives were still lining up and moving slowly toward the ballot box. Some people were holding ballots in their hands but looking around.

Mayor Zhang Dewang gave Director Li a wink. Director Li immediately understood and stepped forward, bending down to listen. Mayor Zhang whispered to him for a while, and he nodded, then pulled the staff member responsible for counting the ballots aside and whispered, "Little Li, from now on, you must watch the ballot box every moment. Don't miss anyone or any action!"

Little Li nodded and said, "Director Li, I know what you mean. Actually, I have already marked the ballots issued."

"What?" Director Li looked at Little Li in surprise.

"Director Li, I feel that this election is a bit strange, as if something is not quite right," Little Li said, "but if someone wants to play tricks on the ballots, the only way is to do something about the ballots that the representatives have already cast."

"Are you referring to 'replacing the civet cat for the crown prince'?" Director Li looked at Little Li and asked.

"Yes, all the ballots that the representatives received have a small check mark drawn with a black signature pen in the lower right corner on the back," Little Li said.

"Good, Little Li, go quickly. This matter can only be known by you and me. Don't let any wind leak out. If there is any situation, tell me in time," Director Li exhorted.

Before long, the voting ended, and the venue began to stir. Little Li and another staff member carried the ballot box toward the podium.

According to past practice, whether it was the election of the municipal or district change of terms, there were responsible persons to supervise the ballot counting scene, and Director Li, who could directly affect the election results, naturally avoided the ballot counting scene to the corridor outside the venue. Director Li stood far away at the corner outside the venue, not knowing what kind of role he was. He was thinking about the ballot counting scene. Although he was worried that there would be problems during the counting, he couldn't say clearly which link or where the problems would appear. He just felt that the election today was a bit uneasy, and the factors of human interference were too great.

About two or three minutes later, Little Li, who was responsible for counting the ballots, suddenly came out too. Little Li didn't seem to see Director Li standing at the corner, quickly entered the conference hall from the back door of the podium, and after a while, hurried into the temporary office for counting ballots. As for how the ballots were counted in the office, Director Li naturally didn't know, but he believed that Little Li was a smart person and would definitely handle it himself. More than ten minutes passed, and Director Li's mood gradually became tense. After all, this election was carried out with Mayor Zhang's mission. If the election result was not what Mayor Zhang had in mind, he would not be able to escape responsibility. In the past, during every election, a movie would be played in the venue during the counting of votes so that the representatives wouldn't have to wait too long and get anxious. This election had fewer people, a shorter time, and a simpler procedure. The representatives were just moving freely, chatting about some irrelevant topics inside and outside the venue, waiting for the election results to be announced.

Just at this moment, Director Li's phone rang. He picked it up and answered it, and Little Li's voice came from inside: "Hello, Director Li, please come to the temporary office."

Director Li pushed open the door of the temporary office and saw that Mayor Zhang was sitting on a chair, and Organization Minister Zhao Changtian was standing in the middle.

"Director Li, the statistical results of the ballots have come out." When Mayor Zhang said these words, there was a subtle change in his face, "The votes of Comrade Sun Dacai and Comrade Wu Min have not exceeded half."

Hearing Mayor Zhang's words, Director Li opened his eyes wide in surprise, opened his mouth, wanted to say something, but held back.

"According to the previously announced rules, another vote must be held." Mayor Zhang said, his expression becoming serious, "I have already negotiated with Deputy Secretary Liu, and she agreed to vote again according to the regulations."

Liu Deliang, who was standing on the side, naturally understood very well after hearing the election result. Wu Min and Sun Dacai's votes did not exceed half, so naturally, some people cast abstention votes. As for why such a result appeared, I am afraid it had something to do with Sun Dacai giving gifts to the representatives' rooms on the fourth floor before the preparatory meeting started.

Director Li listened to Mayor Zhang's words and then suggested, "Mayor Zhang, my opinion is that time is tight, and so many representatives are waiting for the results to be announced. Now, let's talk to the two vice mayor candidates first, and then reiterate the organizational discipline to the heads of each delegation, hoping that the delegations can maintain a high degree of consistency with the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government, and seriously exercise the power in their hands. What do you think?"

Mayor Zhang seemed to hear some implications from Director Li's words, his serious expression eased a little, and he nodded and said, "Your idea is quite good. Now, Deputy Secretary Liu and I will talk to Comrades Wu Min and Sun Dacai together. Director Li, you are responsible for contacting the leaders of the delegations to hold delegation head meetings separately. You are responsible for this matter. First, convene a short meeting of the People's Congress and the Standing Committee, and the time will be about half an hour."

After Mayor Zhang arranged the next things, the leaders of the four sets of teams gathered in the small conference room dispersed one after another. Only Liu Xuemei, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, and Zhang Dewang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Mayor, remained in the room.

Wu Min and Sun Dacai, who received the notice, entered this small office at almost the same time.

Seeing the two enter, Zhang Dewang stood up politely to greet them and said solemnly, "Come, come, come, Comrade Wu Min, Comrade Dacai, please sit!"

Seeing Mayor Zhang being so polite, Wu Min's sixth sense told her that the election situation today seemed not ideal, and her face immediately became a bit pale, and her gaze stayed on Mayor Zhang for a long time.

Seeing that Wu Min and Sun Dacai both looked a bit nervous, Zhang Dewang said to them kindly, "Don't be nervous, calm down, treat it with a normal heart. The competitive election for vice mayor is an attempt by the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government to reform the cadre and personnel system. The representatives are also participating in such an election for the first time, and they also have a feeling of being at a loss, so a result we didn't expect appeared. The two comrades must be calm, and don't have any emotions. No matter who is elected, it is not a problem with you yourself. I believe the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government will definitely be responsible for you. Deputy Secretary Liu, you should also say a few words to them?" After speaking, Zhang Dewang asked Liu Xuemei, who was sitting on the side without moving, to take action.

(Chapter 2790: Meeting)! ===== CHAPTER 5142 =====