Chapter 791: Selection of the Investment Promotion Office Director

Jiao Qiang thought for a long time, but he didn't know what to answer. He couldn't say that he had a good work attitude, defected early, or was a bit clever and clung to a powerful patron early.

"County Magistrate Su, I'm not very bright; I really can't think of anything."

Su Yang said: "I don't care how many times you've violated organization discipline and walked the edge in the past. But you never abandoned your bedridden wife over all these years, and you even brought her to the county seat for care—that alone is enough."

Jiao Qiang burst into tears. For all these years he has been cautious and timid; even when there were big opportunities to make money, he refused them, solely trying to look good in Geng Miao's group in order to get a big cash red envelope and more shopping cards than his peers, to provide better physiotherapy for his bedridden wife.

Only a few people know about this, and he wouldn't voluntarily tell others, but I don't know how Su Yang found out.

"Thank you, thank you, County Magistrate Su. As a man, this is what I should do. I made mistakes before only because my salary wasn't enough, so I went after their cash red envelopes and shopping cards. No matter what you say, you are a benefactor to me and my whole family."

Su Yang said: "Do your job well; if a suitable opportunity arises, I'll help you consult a relevant traditional Chinese doctor to see if there's a chance for recovery."

"Alright, I won't say anything else. You don't need to keep thanking me; just do your work solidly, and that's the biggest reward for me. Contact the investors and tell them we'll entertain them at the cafeteria today at noon."

Su Yang didn't give Jiao Qiang a chance to keep speaking his thanks, and he had no time to listen. Just then someone knocked on the door outside—it was the old principal of No. 1 Middle School, Zhang Boxin, who had just been promoted to chief of the Education Bureau and naturally came to express his thanks.

"County Magistrate Su, I've come to report on my work."

Su Yang immediately stood up, poured a cup of tea for the former principal of No. 1 Middle School, and said: "What work is there to report? You've been working in education for many years; you understand our county's education matters better than anyone. So letting you serve as chief of the Education Bureau is what everyone hopes for, not the will of any single person."

"Of course, I also hope you can completely reverse the previous educational divisions and greatly improve education quality. If we could get a few students into top universities in the next two years, that would be even better."

Principal Zhang Boxin repeatedly said nervously: "Thank you, County Magistrate Su, that's exactly what I wanted to say. I know our county's education—teachers' conduct is terrible. Male teachers play cards all day, female teachers go out dancing all day, none prepare lessons properly; they just read from the textbook in class."

"Having such teachers, we might as well just put anyone on the podium to read. Our education system's philosophy needs to change; these bad practices must be firmly corrected, otherwise the children of Lieshan Xian will all be delayed."

"Over the years, we haven't even gotten a few students into name-brand universities. I guarantee that within three years we'll have students admitted to top domestic universities; if not, I'll resign taking responsibility."

Su Yang said: "Principal, just do what you think is right; I believe in you, and so do all the parents in the county. I had planned to come talk to you, but now it seems unnecessary."

"How about this: after a while I'll specially treat you to a meal and we can discuss education issues more. But today I still have a meeting with investors, and my time is indeed limited, so…"

Principal Zhang Boxin naturally heard the implication in Su Yang's words and said: "Thank you, County Magistrate Su, I'm heading back now. If you ever have time, County Magistrate Su, I'll treat you to a meal using my own salary—please don't worry."

After the principal left, Su Yang called Xie Siyang again.

Xie Siyang answered Su Yang's call, very surprised: "Senior County Magistrate Su, you finally remembered me! What's up? Do you want to treat me to a meal, or what? If you're back, I can treat you to a meal too."

"I heard you're mighty now—you've rounded up all the county officials in one pot; they must hate you so much their teeth itch. They've been taken away, but this lot surely still have connections in society, so you'd better be careful."

Su Yang felt warm hearing the carefree girl's concern: "So you mean, if any of those people left in society want to strike at me from behind, you could protect me? If so, I'll try to get approval from above to transfer you to our county as my personal bodyguard."

Xie Siyang said: "What are you thinking? As a division-level leader, you don't have a personal bodyguard, and I'm not cut out for that either. If you really want that kind of so-called bodyguard, I can still introduce you to someone—don't underestimate me, I actually have the connections."

Talking with this carefree girl always makes Su Yang feel inexplicably relaxed, but he's pressed for time today, so he got straight to the point:

"I hear you're just talented but unrecognized, ambitious but stifled. Our Lieshan Xian is now in dire need of revival; today the Standing Committee just approved the establishment of an Investment Promotion Office."

"In our county I've been planning this for a while, but I still haven't found a suitable person to take on the role. What do you think? If you're willing to come, I can discuss it with the other leaders. The head of the Investment Promotion Office is a deputy section-level post, planned to be promoted to section-level after one year."

Su Yang was obviously painting a big pie for Xie Siyang, but she was delighted: "Whether it's section-level or deputy section-level doesn't matter; what's important is that I really want to work in investment promotion right now, and I actually enjoy it."

"I've been so idle I'm about to mold; this is a perfect chance to show my abilities. Oh, right, what did you just say? The head of the Investment Promotion Office is deputy section-level, correct? Can it be promoted to section-level after a year?"

Su Yang laughed and said: "Do you think I'd lie to you about this? It's not just me speaking off the cuff; it has to be discussed by the Standing Committee. If you can come, I welcome you on behalf of the county's leaders; if you don't want to, I can't force you."

"Our county also has some young officials with a bit of connections and background who are eager to try for this post; I've heard someone's already started pulling strings."

Xie Siyang said: "You really can't see gold inlaid jade; I'm a natural hand at investment promotion. If someone else comes up and messes up our county's investment work, what then? Let's settle it like this—hurry up and process my paperwork; if you find it inconvenient, I'll figure something out myself."