Chapter 605

Luo Xiaomei called out, "Xue Qin, come in and sit."

Xue Qin nodded, then pulled Chen Ping'an's hand and walked into the private room together, sitting down beside Luo Xiaomei. Luo Xiaomei said, "Xue Qin, who is this? Aren't you going to introduce us?"

Xue Qin said, "This is my boyfriend, Chen Ping'an. He works at the Power Bureau."

Chen Ping'an shook hands with everyone honestly and then found a place to sit down.

Zhang Cheng and Wu Yuansheng both looked at Su Xinghui with an expression of relief for him.

Next, Xu Xiaoguang arrived. Su Xinghui asked him, "Xiaoguang, how is that project you're doing?"

Xu Xiaoguang said, "It will take a few more months."

Su Xinghui said, "You're quite hardworking too. Whenever there's a project, you have to run around."

Xu Xiaoguang said, "There's no way around it. Having a project is always a good thing."

After a while, Wu Jun and others also arrived. The group was complete. After Zhang Cheng consulted everyone's opinions, he ordered the dishes. Not long after, the food and wine were served.

Wu Yuansheng said, "Xiaomei and I would like to toast everyone first. Everyone helped a lot when we got married last time. Thank you."

Everyone raised their glasses and had a drink with the couple.

Luo Xiaomei said, "Let's toast Zhang Cheng and Xue Qin too. Zhang Cheng has a girlfriend, and Xue Qin has a boyfriend. Maybe it won't be long before we can drink their wedding wine."

After Luo Xiaomei finished this sentence, everyone began to take turns to toast them.

When Su Xinghui toasted Xue Qin and Chen Ping'an, Xue Qin was somewhat unnatural, but she forced herself to be calm, smiled, raised her fruit juice, and had a drink with Su Xinghui along with Chen Ping'an, also saying "Thank you."

Seeing that Xue Qin didn't drink alcohol today, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. If she had drunk alcohol and lost her composure, it wouldn't have looked very good.

After the meal, Xu Xiaoguang wanted to invite everyone to sing, but everyone felt that singing during the day was meaningless, so the singing didn't happen, and everyone dispersed.

A few days after returning to Meng Hu Ling Township, Dong Jianshu called Li Maofa, Shao Xianzhu, and Su Xinghui over, saying they wanted to discuss the welfare benefits for the township government staff this year.

Although the country carried out wage system reform at the end of 1993, and staff wages had increased significantly, prices were also soaring. Generally, a person's monthly salary was only enough for a meal at a better restaurant, so many people's lives were still stretched thin.

In this way, the welfare benefits before the New Year were very important to the staff. Many staff members were looking forward to these benefits, so Dong Jianshu had to discuss this matter with Li Maofa, Shao Xianzhu, and Su Xinghui.

Of course, the specific amount and how to distribute the benefits still had to be discussed and passed by the Township Party Committee. However, before that, Dong Jianshu had to solicit the opinions of Li Maofa, Shao Xianzhu, and Su Xinghui in advance. They were the township head, executive deputy township head, and deputy township head in charge of the economy. One managed the overall situation, one managed the money bag, and one earned the money. They had a great say in the distribution of welfare benefits.

As long as the four of them unified their opinions, the matter was basically settled.

Dong Jianshu let the three sit down. Su Xinghui still rushed to pour tea for everyone before sitting down, which made the other three feel very comfortable. Su Xinghui could be said to be a popular figure in the county now, young and successful, yet he wasn't arrogant at all, remaining so humble and cautious in front of everyone.

Dong Jianshu threw a cigarette to Li Maofa and Shao Xianzhu each, then smiled at Su Xinghui, "Comrade Xinghui, haven't you learned to smoke yet?"

Su Xinghui said, "Secretary Dong, I might not be able to learn this."

Dong Jianshu lit a cigarette and took a hard puff, saying with a smile, "It's good that you can't learn it, it's good. I regret learning to smoke now."

Li Maofa and Shao Xianzhu also lit cigarettes and said, "Yes, regret is regret, but we just can't quit. We don't have the willpower."

Dong Jianshu took another puff, and half of the cigarette was already gone. He said, "Three township heads, you must set the rules for how to distribute the welfare benefits this year."

Li Maofa said, "For such a small matter, the Secretary can just decide."

Shao Xianzhu and Su Xinghui also nodded in agreement.

Dong Jianshu said, "How can that be? I don't manage the money bag. The money bag is in your hands, so my decision doesn't count. Don't push it. This is originally your business, speak up quickly."

Li Maofa looked at Shao Xianzhu and said, "Township Head Shao, speak up. You manage the finances."

Shao Xianzhu said, "The township's fiscal situation is quite good now, relatively affluent, so there's no problem with distributing some welfare benefits."

Dong Jianshu said, "Comrade Xinghui, you speak up too. You handled the welfare benefits last year."

Su Xinghui pondered for a moment and said, "I did handle the welfare benefits last year, with a standard of 500 yuan per person, about half in cash and half in kind. The township's fiscal situation is good this year, as Township Head Shao just said, so I think the welfare benefits this year can be a bit more, which can also improve the comrades' work enthusiasm."