Chapter 617

Well then, I'll thank Director Geng, hoping to get more support and help in work going forward.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Su Yang accepted that accompanying gift symbolizing the drawing-in of corruption.

Good, very good, welcome County Party Secretary Ye Xianggao, all leaders, and County Magistrate Su to come anytime for inspection and observation at our Place: Shuanggou.

Today I won't bother the leaders any further; enjoy your food and drinks. I have something to do, I'll leave first.

Geng Miao's fundamental purpose in coming was simply to meet Su Yang; he wanted to see what extraordinary qualities this young Vice County Magistrate, valued by the provincial leaders, actually possesses.

As for when this meal would end, or whether the timing of coming and going was appropriate, it was irrelevant to him.

Otherwise, as a mere businessman, he would have to wait for the county leaders to disperse before he could leave.

But he is Geng Miao; all rules and unspoken rules mean nothing to him—not just today, even with the local County Party Committee leadership present, or even with Municipal Party Committee leaders, he comes and goes as he pleases.

Oh, we're about done too; I'll see Director Geng off. County Party Secretary Ye Xianggao said that, then hurried out.

Including County Magistrate Wen Qiren and Deputy Secretary Zhou Yanru, even the qualification to personally see someone off seemed to be lacking.

Geng Biao rose from his seat, stared hard at Su Yang for a full ten seconds, then flicked his sleeve and left. According to his thinking, he had to show Su Yang some toughness today, to let Su Yang know why the flower is so red.

After Geng Biao left, County Magistrate Wen Qiren and Deputy Secretary Zhou Yanru then rose to go out, and only after that did the other leaders follow.

Su Yang walked last; after going downstairs, the one who drove him back was still Jiao Qiang.

When Jiao Qiang saw the big red handbag in Su Yang's hand, a flicker of envy crossed his eyes. Although he too counts as a county government leader, compared to the County Standing Committee Members he's nothing. During holidays and festivals he does get a share, but a gift-giving like today? He doesn't even get a look-in.

Su Yang glanced at Jiao Qiang and said, "Director Jiao also likes accompanying gifts; otherwise, I'll give this one to you."

Jiao Qiang hastily waved his hands, saying, "No, no, this is what Director Geng gave to you County Standing Committee Members; I dare not take it. You probably don't know this yet, but on our side, the amount of money and frequency of gifts given at each level are set by standards."

Upon hearing that, Su Yang, who had been about to lean back and nap, suddenly perked up: "Oh, it's distributed by rank? Please tell me the details; I'm quite curious, after all I just arrived, and this is my first time receiving Director Geng's accompanying gift—I haven't figured out the situation yet."

Jiao Qiang said, "Let me tell you: Section Chief Level cadres receive an annual shopping card worth 2000 yuan and two boxes of Shuanggou daqu; Deputy Section Level cadres receive an annual shopping card worth 5000 yuan and five boxes of Shuanggou daqu;"

"Deputy Section Level cadres in key positions receive an annual shopping card worth 8000 yuan, eight boxes of Shuanggou daqu, plus a red envelope of no less than 1000 yuan;"

"Section Chief Level non-leadership positions receive an annual shopping card worth 10000 yuan, plus a cash red envelope of no less than 2000 yuan; if there are any matters to handle, they are calculated separately;"

"Section Chief Level leadership positions receive an annual shopping card worth 20000 yuan, with a cash red envelope of no less than 10000 yuan; Deputy Division-level leadership positions receive an annual shopping card worth 30000 yuan, with a cash red envelope of no less than 20000 yuan;"

"Going further up is your level: the shopping card is no less than 50000 yuan per year, the cash red envelope no less than 100000 yuan; of course, because duties differ, there may be minor differences."

"This is just a basic figure; as for the extra given during holidays and festivals, I'm not really clear. However, occasions like today count as extra, and the exact amount is known only to the leaders. Going further up are the Division-level leaders; I'm not well-informed enough to say much, since many things don't pass through my hands, so I think County Magistrate Su might hear about it from others."

Jiao Qiang would never have told Su Yang all this normally; although it's public knowledge that Su Yang will eventually learn, who says it makes a difference.

Moreover, his relationship with Su Yang hasn't reached that point; the reason he volunteered this information is because he already knew Su Yang had accepted Director Geng's accompanying gift, meaning Su Yang has already set one foot on Director Geng's big ship, making it impossible for him to extricate himself cleanly, so he spoke openly.

Upon hearing that, Su Yang exclaimed, "Great! My position's annual salary is just 10000 yuan, plus benefits totaling less than 20000. Serving as a cadre in Lieshan Xian is truly wonderful—having all this, one can have such income without embezzlement or extortion; cadres elsewhere would probably envy it."

Saying that, he lowered his head, opened his handbag, took a look—inside was a bundle of cash, 100000 yuan, simply stuffed in the bag, not mentioned as being placed in a tea canister or cigarette box, nothing of the sort. The gift was given just like that, outright and naked.

Although Su Yang didn't know how much others received, it's safe to say they didn't get 100000 yuan; the reason he got so much was likely to rope him in.

After returning to the guesthouse, he called Fang Jingwen.

The phone rang once, and Fang Jingwen answered: "Hello, County Magistrate Su, you called on your first day in office—are you wanting me to share in your joy?"

I say you're really not being proper; you're also a cadre of our Jincheng County—when you received your appointment, you should have informed our local head, regardless of past performance or how others view you; when leaving, a simple farewell gathering is always necessary. You just say you're leaving and go, leaving everyone's hearts feeling empty.

Having said that, she also felt something was off, and quickly added: "Go on, what's the call about? Could it be that you just took office, your rear not yet settled, and got set up? I tell you, at this time seeking my help isn't easy—you're not a cadre of our county, so I have no duty or obligation to protect you."

Su Yang then knew Fang Jingwen wasn't so easy to talk to. Originally, if he were leaving office, he should indeed have informed the top leader Zhou Hongtao and County Magistrate Fang Jingwen, at least making a phone call if the person wasn't present—that's the basic respect.

But Su Yang came in a hurry, and all along the way he was thinking about how to launch work in Lieshan Xian, genuinely overlooking these matters.

So he said rather embarrassedly: "Sorry, County Magistrate Fang, I had actually planned to report to you in person, but I'm not hiding it from you—this time it was Vice Provincial Governor Huang who directly appointed me, and the provincial Party Committee Organization Department leaders personally spoke with me, urging me to come immediately to take up the post, giving me no chance to return to the county; I haven't even packed up my things in Xiushui Xiang, and I just dove straight into Lieshan Xian."

To be frank, the situation in Lieshan Xian right now is far from optimistic. On my first day in office, just now, someone directly gave me a cash gift of 100000 yuan; I had no choice but to accept it, because in that setting, if I didn't take the money, I might be directly isolated from the County Party Committee leadership.

I hope you can understand my predicament. However, I definitely cannot keep this money; I originally thought to hand it over to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, but I fear that commission may already have been co-opted by them, so I want to turn it directly over to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission.

But you also know that everything follows procedure; directly calling the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission to report would also be inappropriate. So I'd like you to find an acquaintance within the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission to help me handle this.