Chapter 1264

Weng Guoying laughed loudly, "It's nothing. I've been running on the river embankment every day during this period, and I've been tanned by the sun. My meals haven't been regular, so naturally I've become darker and thinner. It's no big deal. Don't you see my spirit is quite good?"

Su Xinghui looked at Weng Guoying carefully. His spirit was indeed quite good. Only then did he feel slightly relieved. He said to Weng Guoying, "Brother Weng, you still need to pay attention to your body and not be too tired. Meals should still be regular. Only by taking care of your body can you better work for the country and the people."

Generally speaking, telling a cadre to pay attention to his body so he can better work for the country and the people is mostly flattery. But Su Xinghui saying this to Weng Guoying was absolutely sincere.

Weng Guoying's work was indeed too important; it was indeed a major matter for the country and the people.

Weng Guoying shook his head and sighed, "I dare not delay. Who knows if a major flood will occur next year? We have already delayed too much time. Moreover, the situation of the river embankment is not optimistic. I wish I could figure out the situation of all the river embankments within a day and start the river embankment rebuilding project immediately."

Weng Guoying didn't know like Su Xinghui that the super-major flood would happen in 1998. Although he predicted that a major flood might occur in the next few years, he wasn't a god and couldn't accurately predict which year. For him, a major flood could happen every year after, and maybe even more than one. How could he not be worried?

Su Xinghui asked, "How is the situation of the river embankments you have inspected so far? Is it really not optimistic?"

Weng Guoying said solemnly, "Yes, many of the embankment sections in the two or three hundred kilometers downstream of Jiangcheng have been in disrepair for years. Some were rebuilt in recent years, but their flood prevention standard is at most a fifty-year flood standard. If a major flood really comes, the situation is not optimistic!"

Su Xinghui said, "The situation of the embankment sections within Jiangcheng shouldn't be too bad, right?"

Weng Guoying shook his head and said, "To be honest, it's not as good as the embankment sections within your Shangjun County. Looking along the way, only the embankment sections within your Shangjun County have the best situation."

Su Xinghui said, "Shangjun County has been reinforcing and rebuilding the river embankment every winter for the past two years. It can be considered that Shangjun County's fiscal situation has been relatively good these two years. Moreover, Shangjun County has suffered from water disasters for a long time in history, so it has never dared to neglect the matter of repairing the embankment."

Weng Guoying said, "Does it mean only your Shangjun County has suffered from water disasters for a long time? Did those places not suffer from water disasters? In the final analysis, it's whether local officials put the people in their hearts."

Su Xinghui nodded silently. Weng Guoying's words hit the nail on the head.

Weng Guoying said, "The Changjiang is naturally the mother river of our Hudong Province. For thousands of years, the people of Hudong have been nurtured by the Changjiang. But how have we treated this mother river? We have cut down trees on a large scale, letting mud constantly flow into the Changjiang, and reclaimed land from lakes, making the burden on the Changjiang heavier and heavier. If this continues, how can the Changjiang not turn from a docile mother river into a raging evil dragon?"

In his past and present lives, Su Xinghui didn't know how many times he had been on the river embankment. He naturally knew how violent the Changjiang, which is usually docile, would become when it turned into a raging evil dragon with the help of wind and rain, especially the major flood in 1998 in his past life, which he remembered for his whole life and couldn't forget for a moment.

He nodded and said, "Yes, so we must lock this evil dragon and not let it harm the people."

Weng Guoying said, "In fact, this is not a fundamental solution, only a stopgap measure. To get to the root, we must increase forest coverage, return farmland to lakes, and combine it with water conservancy projects. That is the fundamental solution."

Su Xinghui said, "After the river embankment rebuilding work is finished this time, I ask Brother Weng to write another article and write both the stopgap and fundamental solutions on it for decision-makers to refer to."

Weng Guoying nodded and said, "I am just about to do this."

Su Xinghui said, "Brother Weng, the position you are in is indeed very powerful, but to truly do things well, you will inevitably offend many people. Have you prepared for this, Brother Weng?"

Weng Guoying's expression became solemn. How could he not know that this position would offend people?

This position shoulders the heavy responsibility of water conservancy construction across the province and is very powerful. From bidding to the specific construction process, to supervision and acceptance, the whole process is managed by them. If one wants to make a fortune, it's too easy. The financial resources invested in water conservancy construction across the province every year are in the hundreds of millions and billions. Just by loosening the mouth a little, one could put huge wealth into one's pocket.

But is Weng Guoying that kind of person? If he were that kind of person, he wouldn't have risked his family being ruined to report and petition when he was in Qingxi County. He could have lived a safe life and made a fortune if he had colluded with Duan Mantang and the others. He didn't do that there, and he wouldn't do that in the Water Conservancy Department either.

But if he wants to do things well, he is destined to block many people's financial paths, and naturally, he will offend many people.

Blocking someone's financial path is like killing their parents!

Weng Guoying said, "Xinghui, I am very grateful for the many things you did for me. But do you know? When your sister-in-law wanted to remarry me, I originally didn't agree. Do you know why?"

Su Xinghui said without thinking, "Brother Weng definitely didn't want to implicate your sister-in-law, right?"

Weng Guoying nodded and said, "Yes. I know that after arriving at the Provincial Water Conservancy Department, with my style of doing things, I will definitely offend many people. I already owe her too much. I really don't want to implicate her anymore. However, she threatened me with death and insisted on remarrying me. She has deep affection, so I could only remarry her. From now on, we will just live and die together."

Although Weng Guoying didn't answer Su Xinghui's question, his words already answered it. He had already fully prepared himself psychologically to offend people.

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "What a 'live and die together.' Brother Weng truly has the heroic spirit of 'even if there are thousands of people, I will go forward'! You are indeed worthy of your name, a hero of the country!"

Weng Guoying laughed, "When my father gave me my name, that was the meaning. He originally wanted to have another younger brother for me, named Weng Guoxiong. Unfortunately, he didn't add another younger brother for me later. If I could have had another younger brother, I could have entrusted my elderly mother to him."

Su Xinghui said solemnly, "Speaking of which, I am sorry for you, letting you be in such a position, doing things that offend people, and not letting you and your family live a few peaceful days."

Weng Guoying smiled freely, "What are you sorry for? With my character, no matter what position I am in, I will offend people all the same. Did I not offend people when I was in Qingxi County?"

Su Xinghui laughed dumbly. Indeed, Weng Guoying's character was too upright. In what position would he not offend people? Even if he were just an ordinary person, as long as he saw something he couldn't stand, he would report it if he should, and petition if he should.

Since that was the case, it was better to let Weng Guoying do a little more in his current position. In the current officialdom, people like Weng Guoying were too needed.

Weng Guoying said, "Xinghui, aren't you also a person who likes to offend people? You even dared to offend the governor; your courage is much bigger than mine!"

Su Xinghui and Weng Guoying looked at each other, and the two laughed loudly together. They laughed until tears came out. Yes, these were two people who were bold enough to offend anyone.

After laughing, Su Xinghui said, "Brother Weng, how many more days do you need to finish inspecting the river embankments across the province on this patrol?"

Weng Guoying said solemnly, "It will take about a month. Anyway, I must try to speed up. Time waits for no one. In another half a year, the flood season will come again. Who knows when the flood will come?"

Su Xinghui said, "Brother Weng, I know your character is upright, but there is also a saying: 'Too rigid is easy to break.' I hope you can smooth out your edges a little in the future. Only then can you go further, reach a higher position, and have greater achievements. Just like Hai Rui, didn't he also have a smooth side?"

Weng Guoying knew this was Su Xinghui's heartfelt advice. He couldn't help but ponder. After a long time, he nodded and said, "Xinghui, I understand your meaning. I will remember it."

Su Xinghui raised his teacup and said, "Brother Weng, you still have a long journey ahead, and there are many difficulties and obstacles on the road ahead. I toast you with tea instead of wine, hoping you can overcome thorns and go forward without looking back!"

Weng Guoying also raised his teacup and said, "Rest assured, I will definitely preserve my useful body and strive to do a little more for this country and the people!"