Chapter 106

Not long after chatting, Meng Qingchi started to complain, saying, "Secretary, you're back, I have no second words, I must support the work. If someone else came to be this Secretary, to be honest, I've had enough of this work; it's meaningless!"

Lu Fan smiled and said, "Stop complaining. Work is an attitude, and even more so a responsibility. Without results that can be shown, the organization won't cast its eyes on Baishu Bay. Let's work together to grasp the work; only when our backs are straight will we have the confidence to recommend you. Old Meng, I know you've been the People's Congress Chairman for a long time. Recommending cadres to the organization is my duty as Secretary. I will keep your matter in mind. We will use the strength of the whole township to push you forward. When the time is ripe, I will strongly recommend you to Secretary Gao."

With things said to this point, how could Meng Qingchi be so ignorant of the situation? He hurriedly said, "Thank you, Secretary. When a person can't see hope and the future, it's inevitable to be confused. I was just complaining a bit; don't laugh at me! But I have absolutely no second words about doing the work. I definitely have this Party principle; I guarantee I'll hit wherever you point!"

"Old Meng, let's talk about work now. There are two tasks I want to entrust to you. First, carry out a concentrated rectification of weak and lax village Party organizations, effectively play the leading and exemplary role of village Party branches, and consolidate the fighting fortresses of rural grassroots Party organizations. You know the situation in Baishu Bay better than I do. There are too many people drifting along. Relying on them to lead the masses to prosperity is no different from a reflection in a mirror or blowing fire with a fart!"

"My idea is to focus on the 'pain points,' conduct a comprehensive screening, 'sift' through the 13 administrative villages and 89 natural villages one by one, go into villages and households to conduct research and investigation, listen to the masses' opinions, conduct comprehensive analysis and judgment, focus on the 'lesions,' treat the symptoms, and resolutely remove those village cadres who do not seek government in their positions, do not take responsibility, and do not act. Don't let them occupy the latrine without shitting. Select a group of capable people who have brains, ideas, drive, are willing to work, and dare to work, and let them lead the villagers to prosperity."

"Secretary, I accept this task. There are indeed a group of village cadres who do nothing. When they receive tasks assigned by the township government, they delay as much as they can; they mess around all day long, muddy the waters, and when there's nothing to do, they stand on the sidelines pointing fingers, gossiping, and bewitching people's hearts; they are seventy or eighty years old and still eyeing other people's young wives, using their tiny bit of power to line their own pockets, engage in corruption, and form cliques, making things difficult for this person and that person, wishing they could put all the relief funds into their own pockets. If we don't rectify this properly, the atmosphere in Baishu Bay won't be good!"

"That's good, this matter is entrusted to you. You should plan the work plan as soon as possible, arrange the timetable, roadmap, and personnel arrangements, and report it at the Party Committee meeting. My opinion is to remove a batch, handle a batch, deter a batch, and educate a batch, so that a good work style becomes the norm."

"Good, then I'll go prepare now."

"Old Meng, wait, there's one more thing that can be handled together. Collect all the petition cases in Baishu Bay Township, understand the reasons and crux of the petition problems, and we will resolve them one by one."

"The task is not light, I will do my best! As far as I know, many petition problems are caused by village cadres, so they can be handled together. If these problems are not solved, no matter what the township government does, they will definitely jump out to cause trouble. It's very annoying! Secretary, there is no time to lose, I'll go get busy."

"Old Meng, thank you for your hard work!"

Two problems have already been arranged. This is the advantage of being the top leader; one can decide at will what work to do, how to do it, and who to let do it, especially in townships, where one doesn't have to consult anyone at all. This has created the overbearing character of township secretaries who are decisive, arbitrary, and whose words are final.

This situation has both advantages and disadvantages. If the secretary is capable and has the right ideas, they can quickly develop a township; if the secretary is an incompetent person who talks on paper and boasts, it is a disaster for the township.

The third problem is the breeding industry. Vigorously develop and promote Baishu Bay thyme mutton. According to the work principle of whoever is in charge is responsible, if the ability is not enough, it can be adjusted, but the rules cannot be messed up. Lu Fan asked the document clerk to call Deputy Township Head Zhang Qiang over.

"Secretary, you looking for me?"

"Zhang Qiang, sit down, I want to talk to you about work."

"Seeing that the Secretary is so busy, I summarized the work for the whole year and was just planning to find time to report to the Secretary."

"I called you here to discuss how Baishu Bay can develop thyme mutton. One side of water and soil supports one side of people. We have unique advantages in the mutton industry, and it is also an industry that enriches the people. We cannot guard the treasure mountain without recognizing the treasure."

Zhang Qiang said, "Indeed, our mutton here is famous far and wide, but it hasn't been transformed into an industrial advantage. Thyme, scientifically known as thyme, makes the sheep meat fat but not greasy, lean but not tough, fresh but not mutton-flavored when they eat it. Baishu Bay has about 500,000 mu of wild thyme. After implementing the mountain closure and grazing ban, farmers have successfully experimented with planting thyme. We have a very good industrial foundation. The only flaw is that the scale is too small; it has the fame but hasn't formed a climate."

Lu Fan nodded and said, "The understanding is very in-place. What we need to do now is to maximize the transformation of resource advantages into economic and development strengths. Small mutton can become a big industry that enriches the people. Vigorously developing thyme mutton is the top priority for the township government in the next few years. What is the current forage area in Baishu Bay? How many sheep are in stock?"

"Secretary, the forage area is about 11,000 mu, and the sheep stock is about 3,500. The main reason is that the young and strong laborers have all gone out to work, and those who raise sheep are basically old farmers. This family has twenty or thirty, that family has fifty or sixty, and the largest breeder has just over a hundred."

"Too few, too few. It can't form an industrial cluster effect at all. Zhang Qiang, we must have ambition, responsibility, liberate our thinking, and dare to think and act. I propose a short-term goal: can we develop the forage area to 30,000 mu in 2013? And have over 10,000 sheep in stock?"

Zhang Qiang pondered for a moment and said, "Secretary, to achieve this grand goal, first we must mobilize those who go out to work to return to start businesses; people are the basic guarantee for development. Second, we must have policy leverage—to put it bluntly, it means using money to talk, mobilizing the enthusiasm of breeders, and providing subsidies for vegetable planting, pen construction, equipment, etc. Finally, we must solve the sales channel problem and let everyone see the economic benefits."

Lu Fan smiled and said, "These words hit the key point. Let's base ourselves on reality and solve problems. You should immediately start mobilizing the masses to start businesses. It's almost New Year, and those who work outside are all coming back. We must go into villages and households to mobilize, focusing on existing breeders and letting their children come back to help. As for subsidies, you should combine the existing policies of the province, city, and county, summarize a few dry goods that farmers can understand for publicity, promise that they can enjoy the existing policies, and our township government will be responsible for striving for them, ensuring that the subsidy funds are implemented for them. At the same time, the township government can also introduce its own support policies. I will give you the authority of 500,000 yuan to provide subsidies to breeders according to local conditions, so as to mobilize the enthusiasm of breeders."

Zhang Qiang was moved. He had no money and no backing. If he wanted to be promoted, he could only rely on results. Everyone has a heart of progress, not to mention the Secretary's great support. Maybe he could really make a splash, so he said, "Secretary, as long as you are determined to do it, I guarantee I will go all out."

Lu Fan added another fire: "Zhang Qiang, you have been Deputy Township Head for five years? You are the ones charging to the front in work; don't worry about the rest. I will definitely do my best to help you strive for what should be strived for."

"Thank you, Secretary!"

"First, come up with a feasible plan, pass the Party Committee meeting, and then I will take it to the County Party Committee and County Government to ask for funds and policies."

"Okay, Secretary, I'll get it done as soon as possible."

Lu Fan knew deeply that to develop a place, not only must one have good ideas, but support from higher levels is crucial. It can be said that political achievements are all piled up by policies and funds. Therefore, the next task is to thicken his face and try every means to ask for support funds.

Document clerk Li Yanxin came in to deliver documents. Lu Fan stopped him and said, "Yanxin, close the door, I want to talk to you about work."

Li Yanxin's heart "thumped," realizing something. After closing the door, he sat on the sofa properly.

"Your status is a public institution, right?"

"Yes, Secretary, I was recruited in the 2006 Rural Grassroots Talent Revitalization Plan and have been a document clerk for five years."

"I know this. You were a document clerk under Director Li Daqiang, and I was still in Baishu Bay then. A public institution status cannot directly hold an administrative position; that belongs to irregular promotion. I plan to recommend you to the organization to be the head of the Animal Husbandry Station. What do you think?"

Finally, he had reached this day. Li Yanxin suppressed his excitement and said gratefully, "Thank you, Secretary, for your promotion. I guarantee I will work hard. Whatever the Secretary asks me to do, I will do. Wherever I need to grease the wheels, I will go all out. I listen to the Secretary entirely."

"That depends on the situation. After all, the current atmosphere is like this, there's no way around it. Letting you go to the Animal Husbandry Station is to have a task. Our Baishu Bay grows various medicinal plants such as plantain, licorice, rhubarb, angelica, codonopsis, and large amounts of natural wood ear, which cannot be wasted. After becoming the station head, you must transform these resource advantages into economic benefits and plan a new path for the people of Baishu Bay to increase their income."

With motivation, a person's potential is infinitely great, whether physical or intellectual, and can be fully exerted.

Li Yanxin said firmly, "Secretary, I don't know if I can do it well, but I will definitely do my best and will never let down your trust."

"Hmm, do more research, learn more, and coordinate more with higher-level departments. If you need me to come forward to coordinate, tell me at any time. After you achieve results, I will find a way to transfer you to an administrative position."

A well-drawn cake can indeed satisfy hunger. Lu Fan was the secretary of the County Party Secretary, which for the cadres of Baishu Bay, was quite a background. Being exiled to this poor and remote place, they basically had no connections at home. If they didn't rely on the Secretary, who else could they rely on?