Chapter 831

Early the next morning, Su Yang brought the already-prepared materials for applying for the highway project approval to the Provincial Transportation Department.

Originally, these materials were first sent by the County Transportation Bureau personnel to the Municipal Transportation Bureau, and after approval by the Municipal Transportation Bureau, they were then forwarded to the Provincial Transportation Department.

Su Yang knew that if they followed this procedure, even if construction were said to start in March next year, it might not actually start until March ten years later.

So he simply handled it specially, taking the materials directly to the Transportation Department; of course, without this connection, if he brought them to the Transportation Department, they wouldn't even bother with him.

At most they'd give you a cold, curt remark: 'Follow the procedure.'

Zhaikai naturally took all the materials: 'Su Yang, don't worry, I will definitely do what I promised last night. But the funding gap is something you need to work out; as long as the other funds are settled, I guarantee here that the funds I promised can be matched at any time.'

There's another issue I didn't mention last night: for this project, your local government must contribute at least 20%, which means you need to come up with at least 400 million. You'd better figure this out early; otherwise, when the other funds are in place and you're stuck holding the bag, it'll become a laughingstock.

Su Yang said: 'Thank you for the reminder; I will definitely find a way to raise our county's funds. When the project gets underway, please do me the honor of letting Lieshan Xian participate in the groundbreaking ceremony.'

Zhaikai said: 'That's for sure; with so many highway projects at the provincial level, you've snatched one away, so I'll definitely be there. If construction starts in March or April, I wonder whether your Party Secretary Guo will attend?'

Su Yang thought to himself: Director Zhao still never strays from his line of work! He's still fixated on the position beneath Party Secretary Guo's backside; this kind of question is really too blunt.

Su Yang said: 'I really don't know this; the schedules of the municipal leaders aren't something a low-level staffer like me can know. But whether he attends or not won't hinder your attendance, right?'

Zhaikai laughed and said: 'That's true; Party Secretary Guo oversees so many counties in a city, with so much busy work every day—who has time to keep an eye on your place? But no matter what, I will definitely go. Yesterday we were arranged by Director Bai; if you're not busy, I'll treat you to a simple home-cooked meal at noon.'

Su Yang checked the time; it was only just past 9 a. m., but since they had already said so, he didn't want to refuse their face.

The two of them, pulling this way and that, talked for over half an hour; when it was past 10 o'clock, Zhaikai pulled Su Yang out to go eat.

After finishing the meal, it was already 2 p. m.; during the meal they inevitably drank another two bottles, and when Su Yang came out he still felt a bit dizzy.

It seems Director Zhao really didn't hold back on drinking last night.

On the way back, Shi Haoyun continued to drive very smoothly, allowing Su Yang to catch another nap in the back seat.

When they arrived at Lieshan Xian, it was already quitting time, so Su Yang simply went back to the guesthouse to sleep.

In the following days, the Transportation Bureau and related departments were extremely busy, and these newly appointed officials were unusually proactive.

Now everyone is basically working together in unity, making up for all the work that Lieshan Xian had fallen behind on.

The newly appointed head of the Investment Promotion Office, Xie Siyang, was also running around busy these days; Su Yang hardly saw him at all over the course of almost a week.

The rest of his time was spent outside handling investment promotion work; according to him, several companies had already expressed willingness to settle in.

Su Yang, meanwhile, spent these days touring the townships; most of the townships had no major issues, and he had no involvement whatsoever with Geng Miao and the others.

At most, he had helped Geng Miao and the others promote pesticides, fertilizers, and seeds, without forcing the farmers to accept them.

However, two townships appeared unusually enthusiastic on the surface, but in reality they said one thing and did another.

At least in terms of eating and drinking, they behaved extremely recklessly; currently, all county officials are banned from extravagance and waste, banned from official banquets, and banned from drinking during work hours.

But the situation in these two townships was similar to that of Xiushui Xiang back then: during work hours, nobody was around—either they were playing cards or drinking.

Even though the county government office had already notified Su Yang to go down for investigation, they still went their own way.

Especially in Guantan Gou Town.

Su Yang exploded on the spot: 'The county has repeatedly ordered no extravagance and no drinking during work hours. You're not only drinking and playing cards on the job, but some people aren't even at their posts—is this still a work unit?'

Yao Daya, the Town Party Committee Secretary, his face flushed red and staggering as he walked, seemingly frightened, said: 'We just got a call from the government office saying you were coming down for an inspection, but they didn't specify whether you were going to Horse Link Mountain first or coming here.'

So some officials went to the villages to guide work; you know the village work isn't easy these days—those people are locals, and if things go slightly wrong they just drop their tools and quit. I certainly know the county has an alcohol ban; in principle we don't drink during work hours, and we don't drink after work either.

But when the village Secretary and village head come, I have no choice but to accompany them; in their eyes there's no such thing as an alcohol ban, and the rules we have in our Cultivation Organization can't constrain them.

They're still at the restaurant; County Magistrate Su, would you like to join us for a meal? Although we don't have any good liquor here, all the dishes we serve are locally grown, pure, natural, unpolluted, and harmless.

Saying this, he moved to grab Su Yang's hand.

Jiao Qiang, standing beside Su Yang, shouted angrily: 'Yao Daya, do you know who you're talking to? You'd better go splash some cold water on your face and come back to speak when you're sober.'

He had previously told Su Yang that this old secretary leans on his age and sells his seniority, completely disregarding the county leaders. Before, he hadn't gained much profit anyway, and now that he's nearing retirement, he acts without restraint. Originally he was just trying to smooth things over so everyone could have a way out.

Yao Daya then said: 'I haven't drunk that much; it's just that my face turns red when I drink. The leaders who come here for inspection all like to get along with us, but County Magistrate Su just looks down on us township officials.'

Su Yang saw that Yao Daya had gone this far, and coldly said: 'During work hours, lacking organization and discipline, openly drinking, ignoring the spirit of the county's documents. Since you love drinking so much, you might as well go home to drink. Those few people will take him home; starting today, he is removed from his post as Town Party Committee Secretary of Guantan Gou Zhen, and later someone from the organization will talk with him to go through the procedures.'

As soon as he said that, Yao Daya, who had been bleary-eyed and spitting saliva, sobered up considerably: 'You can't just dismiss me arbitrarily; you have to go through the County Standing Committee. Don't think that because you're in charge you can do as you please—I'll go sue you in the city!'

Su Yang's face instantly darkened; he wasn't afraid of being reported, but faintly felt this matter wasn't that simple—a Town Party Committee Secretary with no grudge openly provoked him.

If there's no one behind this, he certainly wouldn't believe it.