Chapter 664: Layout

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. In these three days, I did two things. First, I had Xu Meili seconded from the Petition Bureau. When Lilian was signing the secondment letter, he didn't forget to ask me how his girl was doing.

Lilian's reminder prompted me to go see his girl once. Lilian's daughter, Li Mei, wore a pair of large, black-rimmed glasses, which made her look older than her actual age. Her figure was quite broad, to the point where no curves were visible; the only thing that caught one's eye was her skin, which was excellent—not only fair, but also carrying a soft luster.

Li Mei didn't talk much and kept smiling shyly. After I asked a few questions, she suddenly opened her mouth and said, "Will you take me?"

I was stunned for a moment, then said, "Of course. Your father is my superior, and besides, you meet my requirements for personnel."

She became much happier; her original shy smile turned into a joyful laugh. After laughing, she asked me, "Then when will I go to work at your place?"

I smiled and said, "Let's handle the paperwork first; we must get the personnel procedures in order."

She said readily, "Fine, I'll wait for you."

Getting Li Mei into the Industrial Park was not a simple matter. First of all, she was a fresh university graduate with no work experience. Moreover, the current system practiced two-way selection; she chose the park, but the park might not necessarily choose her. Because I now knew that arranging for someone to work in the park was not as easy as I had initially imagined.

The second thing was to settle the employment for Zhu Hua Yu. Unlike Xu Meili, she didn't need to go through secondment procedures; she could just be transferred directly.

But transferring Zhu Hua Yu still ran into trouble. After investigating the cause, I learned that although Zhu Hua Yu had obtained cadre status in Chunshan County, she still hadn't entered the civil service establishment. Simply put, Zhu Hua Yu was still a temporary worker, without even a personnel file.

If there is no file, one can be created! I called Wei Yan's mobile phone in Chunshan County and asked him for help. Wei Yan agreed without hesitation, saying that as long as it was for work, he would be duty-bound to help me.

I was half-believing of Wei Yan's words, so I had to call Yu Wei again, telling him to keep an eye on Wei Yan to get it done and not to drag it out.

Sure enough, Yu Wei did not let me down. On the morning of the third day, he delivered Zhu Hua Yu's personnel file to me and grinningly begged to follow me, saying he felt there was no point in Chunshan County and that he might as well continue driving for me as my permanent driver.

Yu Wei was a good person and kept his mouth shut. He knew what should be said and what shouldn't, and his driving skills, in my view, were at a god-like level.

But I couldn't bring him in yet. What I needed now were people who could lay out a plan—that is, people who could handle things on their own. Yu Wei had no pursuits other than driving. And what I lacked least right now were drivers.

Facing Yu Wei's request, I was in a bit of a bind; rejecting his idea directly was somewhat cruel. So I comforted him, saying, "Don't be in a hurry, wait a while. I promise you this: as long as I need a dedicated driver, I will definitely look for you."

Yu Wei was overjoyed to return to Chunshan County. Before leaving, he told me that the former Suxi Town Party Committee Secretary and Town Mayor, Liu Yuebai, had been released. However, she was now nothing; the position of Secretary had been replaced by someone else, and even the position of Town Mayor had been taken by another.

My heart gave a violent jump, and I asked him, "Then what is she doing?"

Yu Wei sighed and said, "I don't know exactly what she's doing, just heard that her business isn't over yet."

I gave a long "Oh" and saw Yu Wei out.

Once Yu Wei left, I called Zhu Hua Yu and Xu Meili over, and the three of us went to the Industrial Park for a meeting.

Xiao Yu had been waiting at the main gate for a long time. Seeing us walk in, his gaze lingered on the Honda car for a moment before shifting to our feet, and he smiled, saying, "Director Chen, they are all waiting in the conference room."

Today was the day I was to hear their work reports. Originally, such meetings were scheduled for the end of the year, but now, because I wanted to move people and take a knife to them, I had to find an excuse.

The conference room was indeed full of people, and there were a few faces I hadn't seen before, which seemed very unfamiliar.

The atmosphere this time was completely different from the last; it seemed very tense. This was exactly the effect I wanted, just like an executioner at an ancient execution ground—first, you have to apply psychological pressure.

As soon as I sat down, the few unfamiliar faces all stood up together, each introducing themselves first, and then explaining the reason for not coming last time—either someone in their family was sick or dead, or they had encountered an urgent matter and couldn't get away. In short, in one sentence, their failure to attend my inauguration announcement last time was not due to subjective intent, but objective hardship.

I listened noncommittally and smiled noncommittally. After they had all finished speaking, I pointed to Xu Meili sitting beside me and said, "This Section Chief Xu is someone I tried every possible way to second here. From today on, she will assist Director Xiao Yu in handling all administrative affairs of the office."

Before my voice had even faded, a round of applause erupted in the conference room.

Many people knew Xu Meili; after all, she was the wife of the Public Security Bureau Director back then and counted as a high-level cadre's family member. And everyone sitting in this conference room had intricate connections with high-level cadre families. They had had some intersection in their lives in the past, so not only was there no rejection of Xu Meili's arrival, but everyone actually appeared incomparably happy.

Next, I introduced Zhu Hua Yu, and after the introduction, I called for Song Ziyin and asked him, "Director Song, I am placing Xiao Zhu under your supervision; are you willing or not?"

Song Ziyin smiled awkwardly, his gaze sliding over Zhu Hua Yu a few times, appearing ambiguous and suspicious.

I deepened my tone and asked him, "Give me an opinion! Is it okay or not?"

Song Ziyin seemed to have been suddenly awakened, saying repeatedly, "Okay! How could it not be okay! I was just worrying that I had no one at hand to carry out the work. Director Chen sending me a great general is exactly what I was hoping for."

As for the others, such as those in demolition, relocation, engineering, and bidding, I didn't move a single one. I needed to maintain a stable state right now. After all, these people had been messing around in the Industrial Park for several years and were somewhat familiar with the work processes. Although their work performance was not satisfactory, this couldn't be blamed on them either; the work achievements of a unit have an absolute relationship with the leadership.

After everyone was introduced, the next step was the work report.

Throughout the morning, I was surrounded by a chorus of self-praise. All those reporting had seven parts achievement, two parts helplessness, and one part problems to be improved. From their report materials, I could hardly find any faults, so I suddenly had a thought: I even suspected these materials were written by one person.

Sure enough, when the meeting continued in the afternoon, the first speaker, Hu Zhenhua, threw away the manuscript in his hand and said straight to the point, "Director Chen, fellow leaders, I won't use a speech manuscript. Because I feel that speaking from a manuscript is too fake."

The conference room was stunned; everyone was shocked by his sudden move. Having thrown away the speech, what was he going to say?

Xiao Yu was just about to stop him, but I waved my hand and said, "Very good, Director Hu, please go ahead. Speak your mind, and say everything you know."

Hu Zhenhua smiled, cleared his throat, and said, "First of all, I feel that the work of my department is not as good as everyone said; to tell the truth, it is very poor. For two or three years, the demolition task has only been completed by one-third. This is not only holding back, but serious nonfeasance. Therefore, I must first criticize myself."

Hu Zhenhua's words made me look at him with new eyes. He was the first person to dare to admit problems, and compared to the morning's chorus of self-praise, he seemed completely out of place. It was as if he were a grain of sand in a bowl of white rice, making one's teeth ache and feeling uncomfortable.

Hu Zhenhua spoke for more than five minutes. Finally, he picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip of water, and said, "I suggest that the park remove me from my position. I hope to be an ordinary employee and prove myself with actual actions."

The conference room was in an uproar. Someone was calling his name in a low, urgent voice: "Old Hu, Old Hu, don't harm us."

I kept my head down, looking at the documents in front of me, turning a deaf ear to the commotion.

I couldn't fall for Hu Zhenhua's trap! Him proposing his own removal at this time was a show of force against me.

This was my third time coming to the Industrial Park. The first time I came to find Guo Wei, I was purely a guest. The second time was three days ago, when the Municipal Organization Department sent me to take office. Today was the third time. If I were given a show of force today, it would definitely not be easy for me to get by in the future.

After the commotion in the conference room gradually subsided, I raised my head, looked at Hu Zhenhua, and said coldly, "Director Hu, your suggestion is very important, but it is not the topic for today. Today I am here to learn from everyone; you are the seniors of the park, and there is much worth learning from you."

They should have studied my background and identity long ago. A cadre who climbed up step by step from the grassroots level would not deny or affirm someone based on a few words or a few events. They didn't dare to look down on me; someone who had served as an Executive Deputy County Magistrate would not be easily fooled.

My so-called learning from them was actually warning them that I had everything about them under control, and I wouldn't believe whatever they said.

After Hu Zhenhua hit a soft nail with me, he hung his head and sat down, saying nothing more.

The people who continued to report afterwards still read from their scripts. Hu Zhenhua was like a meteor streaking across the sky; his act of reporting without a script did not cause others to follow suit.

By the time the last person finished reporting, a layer of twilight had already permeated outside the window.

The work report meeting lasted a whole day, and everyone looked very tired. Some were yawning, waiting for me to announce the end of the meeting.

I glanced around the conference room, turned my head, and whispered to Xiao Yu to go to a restaurant outside to book a few tables; I was going to treat them to dinner that evening.

Xiao Yu hurried out. I coughed lightly and said, "Everyone, you've all worked hard!"

They laughed, all laughing together.

I said, "Before dinner, I have a few words to say to everyone. After dinner, everyone go back and think carefully. If you find any problems, please tell me immediately."

Everyone stared at me, not knowing what I had to say.

I smiled and said, "Everyone doesn't need to be nervous, everyone relax. After the meeting, I will toast everyone."

The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became much more relaxed. My saying I would treat them to dinner meant I wasn't angry and was satisfied with their reports. If I were angry, not only would I not treat them to dinner, I might even scold them severely.

Actually, these people didn't understand me very well. I am a person who likes to kill invisibly.

My work arrangements were also very simple, just three things.

One is for the office to complete the national project application report within two weeks.

One is for the Demolition Office to complete two-thirds of the demolition tasks before the New Year.

The last thing is for all personnel of the Investment Promotion Department to prepare for the work of attracting investment outside the province within three days.

After the three things were arranged, not a single person made a sound.

I scanned everyone and asked, "Do you have any difficulties?"

Song Ziyin was the first to answer me, "Director Chen, we are completely in the dark about outside the province; how can we go to attract investment?"

I smiled and said, "Old Song, if you have no confidence, just stay at home and let the young people go." I pointed at Zhu Hua Yu, and my smiling expression made Song Ziyin's heart suddenly feel empty.

Hu Zhenhua originally wanted to speak, but seeing me give Song Ziyin a bitter persimmon to eat, he opened his mouth but ultimately didn't make a sound.

I stood up and said, "If everyone has no objections, I'll treat everyone to dinner now!" ===== CHAPTER 665 =====