Chapter 386

Who would have thought that the report Director Cai wrote would avoid the important issues and fail to get to the point, essentially just shirking responsibility? Naturally, Zhang Kaishan was furious after reading it.

Zhang Kaishan sighed, "The problem is very serious. Every year, so much water conservancy funding is allocated, but who knows where it went? If a major flood occurs this year, the consequences are truly too much for me to even imagine."

Only after truly sitting in the position of county magistrate did Zhang Kaishan realize how heavy the responsibility on his shoulders was. The well-being, and even the lives, of the hundreds of thousands of common people in all of Shangjun County rested on his every decision.

Water and fire are heartless. If a major flood that only happens once every few decades really occurred, it would certainly be difficult to withstand the pressure relying on these long-neglected embankments. If a breach occurred, it wouldn't just be a matter of whether he could remain county magistrate; he would likely end up in prison. Even if he didn't go to prison, the condemnation of one's conscience would be something most people couldn't bear.

One must know that the flood season was not far off.

Su Xinghui said, "This is all the evil caused by Shan Guozhi and his lot; it doesn't have much to do with you. Now, we just need to work hard to repair the embankment."

Zhang Kaishan shook his head and said, "While this is indeed the evil caused by Shan Guozhi and his lot, if something were to happen, I wouldn't be able to escape my responsibility. I can't exactly go to the underworld to settle accounts with Shan Guozhi, can I? Even if my responsibility wasn't pursued, I wouldn't have the face to continue being this county magistrate."

Su Xinghui smiled and said, "Uncle Zhang, we are Communist Party members; we don't believe in superstition. How can you talk about the underworld?"

Zhang Kaishan burst into loud laughter. After laughing, he asked, "Why have you returned at this time? Is there something the matter?"

Su Xinghui said, "It's like this: didn't several painters and calligraphers go to Meng Hu Ling to sketch last time? The paintings they created are to be entered into this provincial calligraphy and painting exhibition on the achievements of reform and opening up and economic construction. They invited me to attend."

Zhang Kaishan said excitedly, "That's a good thing! This is equivalent to promoting your Meng Hu Ling Township."

Su Xinghui said, "Yes, I just felt this was a very good promotional opportunity, which is why I came to tell you."

Zhang Kaishan said, "Come to think of it, our Shangjun County has really done too little in terms of publicity work these past few years. In the last few years, there have basically been no positive reports in provincial-level or higher newspapers. This time, once the matter with Shan Guozhi and his lot broke, there were negative reports in the 'Hudong Daily' again. If it weren't for your Meng Hu Ling appearing in the 'Hudong Daily' a few times, our image would have been completely lost."

Su Xinghui shook his head and chuckled. With a straw-brained propaganda director like Shi Meili in Shangjun County, how could the publicity work possibly be done well?

Zhang Kaishan said, "We must seize this opportunity well. How about this: come with me to Secretary Ji's house now."

Zhang Kaishan called Comrade Ji Tao and said he had something to discuss and was coming over. Comrade Ji Tao told him to come, so Zhang Kaishan got up and went to Comrade Ji Tao's house with Su Xinghui.

Comrade Ji Tao was still living alone. He had already brewed a cup of tea for Zhang Kaishan. Seeing Su Xinghui, he smiled and said, "Little Su is here too? Then I'll brew another cup."

Su Xinghui quickly took the cup and said, "How could I dare let the County Party Secretary brew tea? I'll do it myself."

Comrade Ji Tao laughed and let him be. Su Xinghui brewed a cup of tea for himself and refilled Comrade Ji Tao's cup before sitting down.

Comrade Ji Tao asked, "The two of you came to find me together; is there something the matter?"

Zhang Kaishan then told Comrade Ji Tao about Su Xinghui going to Jiangcheng to attend the calligraphy and painting exhibition. Upon hearing this, Comrade Ji Tao naturally and keenly discovered that this was a good opportunity to promote Shangjun County. He said, "We can make good use of this opportunity to promote our county."

Zhang Kaishan said, "Yes, I just felt this was a good opportunity, which is why I came to report it to you."

Comrade Ji Tao pondered, "The several provincial newspapers will certainly all report on this calligraphy and painting exhibition. The key is how to get them to report more on content related to our Shangjun County."

Zhang Kaishan said, "Come to think of it, Shi Meili was simply too incompetent before. She was propaganda director for several years and didn't even build good relationships with several media outlets, only offending people. The fact that our Shangjun County hasn't had many positive reports in the papers has a lot to do with her!"

Comrade Ji Tao smiled bitterly, "To be honest, there wasn't anything in Shangjun County before that was worth reporting positively. If it weren't for Little Su's efforts getting Meng Hu Ling into the newspapers a few times, Shangjun County would have been completely unremarkable. By the way, Little Su, this time when you go to Jiangcheng, can you use Secretary-General Lu's connections again to get a bit more reporting on Shangjun County?"

Zhang Kaishan said, "Secretary Ji, how many times have we troubled Secretary-General Lu? Wouldn't it be bad to go to him again?"

Comrade Ji Tao said, "What other choice is there? It's all for our Shangjun County. Our Shangjun County has no name recognition, and investors don't even know this place exists. Who would come to invest?"

Su Xinghui smiled and said, "Secretary, County Magistrate, I don't actually need to go to Secretary-General Lu this time. His daughter, Lu Xiaoya, is currently an intern reporter at the 'Hudong Daily', and I have a classmate who is a reporter at the 'Jiangcheng City Daily'. I'll go find them when the time comes."

Su Xinghui's words made Comrade Ji Tao and Zhang Kaishan very happy. If it were an ordinary intern reporter, they certainly couldn't help with this favor, but Lu Zhenghong's daughter could absolutely help.

Comrade Ji Tao said, "Then you must build a good relationship with Lu Xiaoya. Spend whatever money is necessary, and come back to the county magistrate for reimbursement."

Zhang Kaishan shook his head and chuckled, "Secretary, you're the one who opened your mouth, yet you want him to come back to me for reimbursement. That doesn't seem to make much sense, does it?"

Comrade Ji Tao spread his hands, "I'd like to reimburse him, but isn't the financial power in the hands of you, the great county magistrate?"

Su Xinghui found this funny. Should he consider this "flirting on official orders"?

Zhang Kaishan was, of course, joking with Comrade Ji Tao. He added, "By the way, isn't Propaganda Director Jian Mingli from a media background? We could also ask her to help find connections."

Director Jian was the newly arrived propaganda director, Jian Mingli. She had been transferred from the 'Yulin Daily' agency, where she was the deputy editor-in-chief before her transfer.

Jian Mingli had been in the media for many years, so she should indeed have extensive connections in the industry.

Comrade Ji Tao nodded and said, "Mm, that's a good idea. Director Jian must have channels for this. I'll call Director Jian now."

Comrade Ji Tao called Jian Mingli. Jian Mingli also lived in the Standing Committee building and was currently living alone. Comrade Ji Tao told her that County Magistrate Zhang was here with him and had something to discuss with her. Jian Mingli agreed to come over immediately.

Comrade Ji Tao said this, of course, to avoid suspicion. Otherwise, since he was currently single, it would be inappropriate for Jian Mingli to come over alone at night. By saying Zhang Kaishan was there with him, there was no problem.

Within a few minutes, Jian Mingli arrived. She was a middle-aged woman around forty, but she had a very good temperament and still possessed charm. She wore her hair in a capable short style, had a beautiful face, and was the image of an intellectual woman.

Entering Comrade Ji Tao's living room, Jian Mingli smiled and greeted, "Secretary Ji, County Magistrate Zhang!"

Both men nodded and greeted her. Su Xinghui nimbly helped her brew a cup of tea and handed it to her. Jian Mingli smiled and took the cup, saying, "Thank you, Township Head Su!"

Su Xinghui asked curiously, "Director Jian, do you know me?"

Jian Mingli hadn't been in office long and hadn't yet gone around to visit every township. Su Xinghui hadn't returned to the county seat during this time, so the two hadn't met. Su Xinghui felt it was a bit strange that she actually knew him.

Jian Mingli smiled and said, "You are a big celebrity in our Yulin City now; how could I not know you? When I worked at the 'Yulin Daily', I saw quite a few photos of you."