Chapter 1311: Knowing the Ways of the World Without Being Worldly!

The next morning, Tang Ye learned the news from Ma Ran immediately.

County CPPCC Chairman Gao Zhangyong died last night after emergency treatment failed.

"How could Gao Zhangyong die so suddenly?"

Ma Ran sighed, "Chairman Gao asked Director Feng of the Finance Bureau to come to his office yesterday morning to have tea and discuss matters. As it turned out, Director Feng received an emergency task and went to the city for a meeting, so he didn't go. Chairman Gao organized a meeting with several Vice Chairmen, collectively criticizing Director Feng for being a snob, and also cursed County Magistrate Zhao for being an ungrateful wretch. While he was cursing, he suddenly collapsed to the ground. After being sent to the hospital, he couldn't be saved!"

Tang Ye was surprised, "Why was he so agitated?"

Ma Ran said, "He wanted to apply for funds to renovate the CPPCC office, and also wanted to apply for an Audi car. Director Feng had submitted an application before, but it was rejected by County Magistrate Zhao."

Tang Ye mused that Zhao Kaiyuan was in charge of finance, and his greatest characteristic was being particularly harsh regarding every single expenditure.

Whether it was the CPPCC or the People's Congress, funding was being cut!

In the final analysis, it had nothing to do with the Finance Bureau; it was mainly Zhao Kaiyuan's opinion.

However, cutting financial expenditures was in response to the national call.

There was no problem with Zhao Kaiyuan doing this.

Tang Ye even supported him in doing so.

Gao Zhangyong was a veteran leader of Yechuan County; before Zhou Songtao served as County Magistrate, he had held the position of County Magistrate and was Zhao Kaiyuan's old leader.

Gao Zhangyong felt that he had promoted Zhao Kaiyuan back then, which was why he cursed him as an ungrateful wretch.

"Make an appointment with County Magistrate Zhao."

"He didn't come in this morning; he is out participating in research."

"Then let's make it this afternoon!"

Around two o'clock in the afternoon, Ma Ran knocked on the door of Tang Ye's office.

"County Magistrate Zhao is here."

"Please ask him to come in!"

A moment later, Zhao Kaiyuan walked in, a look of helplessness on his face.

Tang Ye poured a cup of tea for Zhao Kaiyuan, "Drink some tea. You still need to be flexible when doing things in the future."

Zhao Kaiyuan drank the tea and said gloomily, "It really is bad luck! If I had known Lao Gao had this condition, I would have agreed."

Tang Ye comforted him, "You weren't deliberately making things difficult."

Zhao Kaiyuan said, "Lao Gao's family is spreading it everywhere, saying I am the culprit who angered Lao Gao to death. Lao Gao was an old County Magistrate, and everyone gave him face; his official car was even better than yours. The three Vice Chairmen of the CPPCC all changed to new cars, and he demanded the Finance Bureau change to a new one, specifically requesting an Audi; this is an over-standard configuration.

Old Feng from the Finance Bureau said funds were tight, so I said, could we postpone the configuration, or buy a Santana, and as a result, he wasn't happy."

Tang Ye was not very particular about the cars he used, but there was indeed a type of person in officialdom who cared very much about these things.

He advised, "All departments want to get more money from the finance department, but there is only so much money in a year. Whoever is in charge has it hard."

Zhao Kaiyuan mused that Tang Ye still understood him, "County Magistrate Tang, I am not afraid of being resented. I feel that government money must be used where it is needed most."

Tang Ye nodded and said, "This matter is actually not a bad thing. With Lao Gao as a precedent, everyone will weigh things carefully when applying for funds in the future, and they will gradually be able to adapt."

The county held a meeting and specifically established a Funeral Arrangement Leading Group.

County Party Secretary Ding Zhen served as the Team Leader, and County Magistrate Tang served as the Deputy Group Leader.

The Municipal CPPCC attached great importance to it and arranged for a Vice Chairman to come and express condolences.

On the day of the funeral, both Ding Zhen and Tang Ye attended.

The Finance Bureau sent a wreath, which was thrown aside directly by Gao Zhangyong's son.

Director Feng did not dare to attend himself; the person who came to deliver the wreath was a young girl, who was scolded until she was teary-eyed and left crying.

Gao Zhangyong's photo was one from ten years ago, when he was still the County Magistrate of Yechuan, looking spirited and sharp-eyed.

Tang Ye mused that both his predecessor and the one before him were gone.

Thinking about it this way, the position of County Magistrate of Yechuan seemed cursed; it really was unlucky.

Ding Zhen had never dealt with Gao Zhangyong, so he said a few polite words.

When leaving, Ding Zhen glanced at Tang Ye, who was being pulled aside by Gao Zhangyong's wife to talk.

An inexplicable irritability surged in Ding Zhen's heart, musing that this Tang Ye really knew how to put on a show.

Gao Zhangyong's wife held Tang Ye's hand and choked with sobs, "County Magistrate Tang, my Lao Gao's health was very good; he had a physical examination every year and took medicine regularly. He was angered to death by a villain."

Tang Ye held Gao Zhangyong's wife's wrist and said softly, "Please grieve in moderation; if there are any difficulties, the organization will take care of them."

Gao Zhangyong's wife sobbed and said, "My son works at the Transportation Bureau; he wants to change his environment and work at the Land and Resources Bureau; I hope you can help."

Tang Ye mused that people were truly realistic; seeing an opportunity, they immediately played the emotional card to fight for benefits for their children.

He said softly, "The organization will consider your needs."

Tang Ye left the memorial service and walked side by side with Shi Guangrong.

Shi Guangrong said in a low voice, "County Magistrate Tang, just now Gao Zhangyong's wife proposed to me, hoping to resolve her daughter's work problem. Her daughter works at the Water Conservancy Bureau, and the benefits are quite good; she wants to be transferred to the Finance Bureau."

Tang Ye was a bit surprised; it turned out the Gao family had found him and Shi Guangrong separately to propose a request each.

"She proposed to me that I resolve her son's work transfer. Wanting to resolve her son's problem and then her daughter's problem, and finding the two of us separately—the Gao family is truly calculating."

Shi Guangrong heard Tang Ye's dissatisfaction.

Gao Zhangyong had once been a formidable figure in Yechuan County.

Now, he lay quietly in the cemetery, waiting for his descendants to visit the grave during the Qingming Festival and the Spring Festival.

Slowly, the number of people visiting the grave would naturally become fewer and fewer, and eventually, this cemetery would become a piece of scenery, and not many people would remember the status the person inside once held.

Shi Guangrong said softly, "When a person leaves, the tea shouldn't go cold! Lao Gao made contributions to Yechuan; let's handle the requests of the bereaved if we can!"

Tang Ye did not agree; the children of leaders had many more choices than ordinary commoners.

For ordinary people, being able to enter the system was already a great blessing from their ancestors.

But the children of leaders could easily jump from one department to another.

He said very seriously,

"Secretary Shi! I believe that the demands put forward by the Gao family still need to be considered at length.

Why did Lao Gao meet with an accident?

If we investigate deeply, his method of demanding funds from the Ministry of Finance is highly controversial!

The county recognizes Lao Gao's contributions and has specially established a funeral committee, which has already given him enough dignity and respect.

However, on matters of principle, we cannot make any more concessions."

Shi Guangrong was silent for a moment, then patted Tang Ye on the shoulder, "Handle it according to your decision."

Shi Guangrong had been good to Tang Ye before, mainly because Tang Ye had helped him.

But at this moment, Shi Guangrong saw an attribute in Tang Ye that was different from ordinary people.

Tang Ye is a person who understands worldly wisdom very well.

Yet he is able to know worldly wisdom without becoming worldly himself.

Facing wrong issues or phenomena, he is able to bravely raise objections.

With such young people, those bad habits can be changed, and the country has hope.

……

Returning to the office.

Ding Zhen sat in his seat, using a fountain pen to write the three characters Gao Zhangyong stroke by stroke, and then drew a circle around them!

The position of County CPPCC Chairman had suddenly opened up.

To him, it was clearly a chess piece worth utilizing.

If he operates it well, perhaps he can use this to break the deadlock!