Chapter 57

Li Tian smiled slightly and said, "This is a military order I have signed, so my 3 million is fully funded. Here I have no unfinished tasks."

"Hundreds of villagers are waiting for rescue there; if I can't raise this money, how will they survive? If I can't raise it, do I still deserve to be the standing deputy town mayor?"

His words are practically like a savior's; without him, these villagers would be doomed!

His staunch supporter, Propaganda Committee member Bai Jing, immediately said, "Leaders, you've worked hard, Mayor Li, you also put in great effort for our town this time; this is a blessing for the villagers of Huatian Village!"

Su Yang heard it and gave a hehe cold smile; this is the grassroots bureaucracy—even if the corresponding task isn't completed, under your flattery and praise they feel self-satisfied, muddle through, and even get an illusion of outstanding performance.

How can such a person be entrusted with township work and do it well?

At that moment, Qin Chuan took a puff of cigarette, then looked at Su Yang: "Town Mayor Su, everyone has reported their numbers; now it's up to you. If I remember correctly, the military order proposed 3 million back then—you can't just let it slide, can you?"

Besides, you're not like us; you came down from the city—your connections could easily secure not just 3 million but even 10 million. How about it? Haven't you let everyone down?

Qin Chuan first gave Su Yang a flattering hat, then thought about giving him a good dressing-down later.

Even though he knew Su Yang had gone to the county finance bureau, later he learned Su Yang only obtained 1.5 million there.

Adding the 1 million from the civil affairs bureau makes a total of 2.5 million, which still falls short of Su Yang's promised amount.

He could completely use this opportunity to harshly humiliate Su Yang, venting the frustration he suffered that day at the finance bureau.

Su Yang glanced at everyone and said slowly, "The military order matter was my doing, so this trip I also gave my all to solve the people's problems."

"I requested 1 million from the county civil affairs bureau..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Tian said, "In three days you only brought back 1 million, and you still have the nerve to sit here and say that? Look at us—among the three of us, even if Qin Jing is a bit short, we have 1.8 million, and I have the full 3 million."

"According to our earlier agreement, whoever fails to secure the money must resign outright if they fall short."

"How about this: let the person who secured the least money resign? That would be fair, and I believe nobody objects. Secretary Qin, what do you say?"

"Yes yes yes yes yes, I agree with Mayor Li's suggestion: the one with the least should resign taking responsibility."

Xu Jin immediately chimed in, not noticing that Qin Chuan's face had actually turned very dark.

Because he also ran into Su Yang at the county finance bureau; if Su Yang got 1 million from civil affairs, the finance bureau should at least be able to give 800k or more, so together it should be more than his.

Then the one who ends up spicy will be himself.

He now starts blaming Li Tian for speaking ignorantly without knowing the situation, which will embarrass him.

He was about to remind him for a day, but Li Tian continued, "Don't go back on your word later—we said it, we'll do it; a spit is a nail."

"We're all grown men; nobody should chicken out."

Anyway, he has 3 million, which is more than Qin Chuan's, so he won't be the one embarrassed in the end; thus he doesn't mind speaking decisively.

As soon as he said that, everyone's gaze snapped onto Su Yang's face.

"Town Mayor Su, you don't need to beat around the bush—if it's not enough, it's not enough; saying you'll move heaven and earth won't change the outcome."

"Don't worry, we won't make things difficult for you—you've only been here a few days; coming and leaving is actually good for you."

"Right right right, how does that saying go? I come lightly and leave lightly, taking not even a wisp of cloud."

The other Party Committee members also joined in the clamor, purely for the spectacle, not caring how big the matter is.

Su Yang gave a cold smile and said, "You each asked for only ten or twenty thousand, yet you have the nerve to kick up a fuss here?"

"All together it's just over a hundred thousand, and you still have the face to criticize others?"

"If everyone were like you, the villagers of Huatian Village would have to spend their whole lives in temporary resettlement points."

"Is what you're saying even human talk?"

"Why don't you say it to the disaster victims' faces?"

"I haven't finished speaking—I went to the county finance bureau and got 1.5 million."

Before his words landed, Li Tian interrupted again: "Whoa, 250—that number sounds quite vivid."

He said that with his mouth, but inside he already began to faintly worry.

Because he actually only got 3 million, while Su Yang already has 2.5 million; if you add what Su Yang got from the municipal finance bureau, it's definitely more than 3 million.

The other Party Committee members who had just been clamoring are now silent as if their father had died.

Now they also realize that this young Town Mayor Su cannot be offended.

Even if they all swarm him at once, they could still be whipped back by a big lash from him.

"250 is quite vivid, yes, this number is indeed vivid, but it's not—it's not a good match for you, Deputy Mayor Li."

"You may not know this, but our Deputy Mayor Li is very capable—just one trip to the city and he can directly pull down a section chief of the finance bureau's budget division."

"Others spent decades of painstaking effort to climb to that position, but our Mayor Li only needs a slick maneuver and he'll have to obediently step down."

"How does it feel to take people out to show off and end up getting embarrassed instead—does that feel good?"

This remark again made Li Tian's face flush red.

He thought he could disregard martial virtue and vilify Su Yang without limit.

But he forgot that Su Yang is the same age as him, yet even sharper and more vigorous.

It is precisely because of Li Tian's slick maneuver that Section Chief Tan was honorably demoted and became a cadre supporting the village.

I reckon that Section Chief Tan will be greeting all the women in Li Tian's family.

Su Yang then said, "I went to the municipal finance bureau, which allocated 2 million; the urban civil affairs bureau granted 1 million, plus a large amount of supplies. All told, that should be 5.5 million."

"Secretary Qin, in your view, is Deputy Mayor Li's amount over 1.8 million, over 3 million, or over 5.5 million? If your elementary math isn't good, I can give you a lesson."

At once everyone was speechless, staring at each other.

Especially those who had just spoken harshly, using Su Yang's supposedly insufficient funds as grounds to force him to resign, now wished they could disappear on the spot.

Because they had already sensed a terrifying killing intent from Qin Chuan's face.

If it weren't for these people, Qin Chuan wouldn't be so embarrassed right now.

Li Tian also looked at Su Yang with disbelief; he knew Su Yang could get money from the finance bureau, but getting 2 million in one go? That's too awesome.

Could it be that the woman from the municipal Party Committee's Organization Department who ate with them helped?

Yes, that must be it; otherwise, what does Su Yang have to rely on?

He was hesitating, when Su Yang continued, "If it's only that 5.5 million, I have no reason, no right to sit here bragging, flattering, or stepping on others."

"Just yesterday I went to the Provincial Civil Affairs Department and the Civil Affairs Department, met with the relevant comrades, explained our disaster situation, and specifically asked them for 5 million."

"But the comrades at the Civil Affairs Department, after comprehensive consideration and taking their own circumstances into account, finally approved us 8 million and the corresponding supplies."

"All the funds I mentioned will be credited before this afternoon."

"Secretary Qin, Deputy Town Mayor Li, according to what you and the committee members just said, isn't the person who raised the least amount of funds the one who should resign taking responsibility?"

"Then I ask the comrades present to tell me loudly, who should most take responsibility and resign?"