Chapter 850

Zhang Kaishan frowned and said, "This is indeed a problem, but it is also a historical legacy issue. Decades have passed, and it is not so easy to correct now; it involves dozens of households."

Su Xinghui said, "If it needs to be corrected, it must be corrected. Historical legacy issues are still problems. If the county really wants the Hou family to return to invest, this problem must be corrected. Besides, even if we don't want them to return to invest, problems that should be corrected must still be corrected."

Zhang Kaishan lit a cigarette and smoked it, his brow furrowed into a "chuan" shape. Not until he finished the cigarette did he heavily crush the butt into the ashtray: "You are right. No matter what, problems that should be corrected must be corrected. However, I have no good solution right now. Do you have any?"

This matter is indeed thorny. Those dozens of households living in Zhuangyuan Lane have lived there for decades. The best time to resolve the issue was missed, and their living there has almost become something tacitly approved by the county. If you ask them to move out now, won't they kick up a huge fuss?

Su Xinghui said, "To be honest, I don't have a good solution either. We can't forcibly drive them out; that would only escalate the matter."

Zhang Kaishan asked, "Then what should we do?"

Su Xinghui said, "Since the county didn't make them move out back then, it was a tacit approval that their living there was reasonable. Now, if we want to correct it, the county must pay a price."

Zhang Kaishan asked, "What do you mean?"

Su Xinghui said, "Didn't Nanmen Street get demolished? Isn't it being rebuilt? The government should spend money to move them to the residential community on Nanmen Street as public rental housing, charging a symbolic rent of a few yuan per month per family."

Zhang Kaishan asked, "Will they agree to that?"

Su Xinghui said, "They have to. Do they have property deeds for where they live now? Let them produce their deeds, and we will agree to their demands. Otherwise, they can only live in public rental housing; charging less rent can be considered a discount for them. If they want to buy a house, the public rental housing can be sold to them, and the government can provide them with a certain subsidy."

Zhang Kaishan pondered for a long time and nodded: "Your method is not bad. The county government can give it a try."

Su Xinghui said, "I think the possibility of them agreeing is quite high. The places they live now are not spacious; some families of seven or eight are living in houses of twenty or thirty square meters. During the last demolition on Nanmen Street, they wanted to be demolished too, but Zhuangyuan Lane was protected by the county government, which is why it didn't happen. Who wouldn't want to live in a better house?"

Zhang Kaishan sighed: "But the county will have to come up with a large sum of funds."

Su Xinghui said, "This is also a necessary price to pay. If those households want to buy houses, can't the county government recover a portion of the funds? Besides, if the Hou family is willing to invest in the county, they might invest tens of millions, making this price worth it."

Zhang Kaishan said, "That's the only way to think about it."

Su Xinghui said, "I think this work needs to be expedited. After the relocation work is completed, the county must renovate the Hou family's old residence so that when the Hou family returns, they will feel much more comfortable."

Zhang Kaishan said, "How about this: I will go with you to see Secretary Ji. This is a major matter; we must secure the support of the County Party Committee."

Su Xinghui nodded: "Yes, you are quite right. This matter requires the support of the County Party Committee."

Zhang Kaishan then called Ji Tao's office. Ji Tao told him to come over immediately, so Zhang Kaishan and Su Xinghui went to Ji Tao's office together.

Zhang Kaishan had Su Xinghui report the matter of the overseas Hou family to Ji Tao. Listening to Su Xinghui's words, Ji Tao's expression also became solemn.

After Su Xinghui finished his report, Ji Tao asked, "Does Mr. Hou Guangbi really want to return to his hometown?"

Su Xinghui nodded: "From my phone conversation with him, the possibility is very high. When I spoke to him in the Shangjun dialect, he was once so moved that he burst into loud sobs. He is over seventy years old this year; he said he wanted to return to his roots, but he has some concerns that make them afraid to return to their hometown."

Ji Tao asked, "Where do the concerns lie?"

Su Xinghui stated the concerns of the Hou family again and also explained the solution to Ji Tao. Ji Tao nodded: "The County Party Committee firmly supports the work of the county government. As long as we can get the Hou family to return to Shangjun, the County Party Committee and the county government can do a lot of work. How about this: I will call Minister Liu of the United Front Work Department over to discuss it together."

Ji Tao then called Liu Xiancai, the Minister of the United Front Work Department, saying he had something to discuss with him. A few minutes later, Liu Xiancai rushed over.

After Liu Xiancai heard the relevant situation introduced by Su Xinghui, his expression also became excited. As the Minister of the United Front Work Department in the county, he couldn't be said to have much real power; at most, he organized activities for democratic parties and managed religious affairs in the county—to put it bluntly, he was in charge of the few temples in the county.

If the overseas Hou family really wanted to return to their hometown, and if they were as rich as Su Xinghui said and wanted to return to invest, then there would be a lot of room for Liu Xiancai to maneuver, and his status in the county would become important.

One must know that in many places, the Minister of the United Front Work Department is a member of the County Party Standing Committee, a proper deputy-county-level leader. But in Shangjun County, the Minister of the United Front Work Department is not a member of the County Party Standing Committee; Liu Xiancai is still only at the section chief level. If the status of the United Front Work Department were raised, perhaps he could even get a taste of becoming a member of the Standing Committee.

Ji Tao said, "Comrade Xiancai, in this matter, your United Front Work Department must shoulder the responsibilities it should shoulder."

Liu Xiancai nodded: "Secretary Ji, please rest assured, we will definitely do a good job with the Hou family and let them return to their hometown to participate in the economic construction of their hometown."

Ji Tao said, "Comrade Su Xinghui has a good relationship with the Hou family and has established a relatively good relationship of trust. Therefore, we should still listen more to Comrade Su Xinghui's opinions on this matter."

Liu Xiancai hurriedly said, "That is true, that is true. Mayor Su, where do you think we should start with this matter?"

Su Xinghui said, "How about this, Minister Liu: I will go to the Hou family in Zhuangyuan Lane with you in a while. The head of the Hou family, Hou Dali, is Mr. Hou Guangbi's nephew, and Mr. Hou Guangbi is also very concerned about him. I hope his nephew can contact him as soon as possible. I think we can work on Mr. Hou Guangbi through Hou Dali."

Liu Xiancai said, "This line of thinking is very good. Secretary Ji, County Magistrate Zhang, what do you think?"

Ji Tao nodded: "I think it's good."

Zhang Kaishan said, "You go ahead. If you need support from the county government, just say so."

Su Xinghui then left the county committee compound with Liu Xiancai. However, he did not take Liu Xiancai directly to Zhuangyuan Lane; at this time, he knew that Hou Dali was likely not at home and should be at the entrance of the Post and Telecommunications Bureau.

Anyway, the county town is not big, so Su Xinghui did not ask Zhang Kaishan for a car. He walked to the Post and Telecommunications Bureau with Liu Xiancai.

Liu Xiancai mocked himself: "Sigh, our United Front Work Department doesn't even have a car. I've wronged Mayor Su."

Su Xinghui said, "What kind of wrong is this? Anyway, it's just in the county town; it's not many steps to walk."

Liu Xiancai said, "Mayor Su is truly magnanimous. I admire you!"

Su Xinghui smiled faintly: "Minister Liu, you overstate it."

Liu Xiancai is a middle-aged man around forty. He is a teacher by background and usually likes to write small articles, so he can be considered a cultured person. Precisely because of this, he was transferred to the United Front Work Department—the United Front Work Department can also be considered a place that needs culture. Because of this, sometimes when he wants to say flattering things to others, he can't quite bring himself to do it.

Liu Xiancai heard Su Xinghui's words and didn't know what to say, so he just smiled awkwardly. ===== CHAPTER 852 =====