Chapter 118: Government Work Report

  On the desk was a draft of the "Government Work Report". Xu Shaojie felt that it was a bit too childish. Secretary Ding Yuan presided over the Standing Committee meeting, which focused on studying the government work report. Perhaps Xu Shaojie's suggestion had an impact on Secretary Ding Yuan, as he repeatedly emphasized the importance of Party affairs in the government work report, which was under the charge of Vice-Secretary Lu Changzheng. The draft of the government work report was sent to Secretary Ding Yuan just two days after the Standing Committee meeting. Xu Shaojie felt that Mayor Huang Haitao had gone too far, completing the draft so quickly, and the ability of the municipal government office was also too prominent. The most likely explanation for this situation is that the government work report had already been drafted beforehand. Anyway, it's just a routine meeting, following the usual procedures, without any major changes. Whether or not the Standing Committee studied it, it would be the same thing.

  Xu Shaojie has carefully read the report twice, and there is no obvious difference from before. Secretary Ding Yuan's speech at the Standing Committee meeting did not have any effect. The report only talks about economic work and government work, and barely mentions party affairs work. It seems that party affairs work is just a matter for the municipal party committee, and the government doesn't need to mention it. However, this is not actually the case. Xu Shaojie thinks that he cannot take too big of a step or stimulate Mayor Huang Haitao too much. Adding a paragraph in the government work report to specifically mention party affairs work should be enough. Secretary Ding Yuan has already extended an olive branch to Lu Changzheng and believes that Lu understands the meaning behind it. Secretary Ding Yuan has started making preparations, and now it's up to Xu Shaojie to make his move.

  Xu Shaojie had been thinking of having a good talk with Qian Dazhi, but he needed to find the right opportunity. A sudden conversation would not get him genuine opinions, and in personnel matters, mistakes could not be made. Moreover, this was his first time truly taking action for Secretary Ding Yuan, so it had to be successful and achieve a perfect result. Xu Shaojie believed that Qian Dazhi would make an effort once he understood the situation, as people generally wanted to progress. As a secretary who worked closely with the leader, he could influence the leader's decision-making to a great extent.

  Discussing the government work report is a great opportunity, Qian Dazhi is clever and will certainly understand the meaning behind it. Some words need to be asked by Qian Dazhi himself, and Xu Shaojie will answer them. Qian Dazhi has worked in the municipal party committee office for many years, so he should know whose views Xu Shaojie represents.

  Xu Shaojie carefully considered and decided to take action, but the time was still a bit tight. The NPC would be held in mid-March, and now it was early March. By the end of the month, they would discuss personnel adjustments, and if Xu Shaojie couldn't succeed by then, this step would be considered a failure. Xu Shaojie knew that one conversation was enough, no need for multiple times.

  Qian Dazhi still goes to Xu Shaojie's office every day to sit for a while.

  "Qian Kechang, the government office has sent over a draft of the government work report. Can you take a look and offer some suggestions for revisions?"

  "Secretary Xu, stop joking around, I didn't do this thing, I don't have that kind of qualification yet."

  Qian Kechang smiled and said, "You've worked in the municipal party committee office for so many years, you have a good understanding of many aspects of the work. Take a look at the government work report, what aspects are not mentioned or are insufficient? Many people gathering firewood can make a high flame."

  Qian Dazhi blinked his eyes and did not answer for the time being. Xu Shaojie would not say such words so abruptly, there must be other meanings inside.

  "Qian Kezhang, it's like this, there is still time in the afternoon, take a look at the report."

  "Alright, alright, let me take a look. This way, I'll treat you to lunch this afternoon and we can go out and chat. I will definitely carefully read the government work report and see if I can come up with any opinions or suggestions."

  Watching Qian Dazhi take the discussion draft downstairs, Xu Shaojie smiled. Smart people don't need too much prompting and often understand the meaning from the words themselves.

  Still in the small restaurant, Xu Shaojie and Qian Dazhi sat inside a private room. The difference was that Qian Dazhi carried a canvas briefcase, which he had never done before. All matters were handled at the unit, so there was no need to carry a briefcase. Qian Dazhi smiled at Xu Shaojie and spoke cautiously.

  "Secretary Xu, I read the government work report and felt it was well-written. In the past, I didn't read much of this kind of material because I didn't think it had much to do with me. Since working in the municipal party committee office, I've been doing logistical work and rarely came into contact with document-related materials, so my opinions may be biased. Personally, I feel that there are two points that need to be highlighted in the report. One is about party affairs work - while the municipal party committee is in charge of party affairs, the government also has responsibilities. The municipal party committee leads overall work and the government executes the decisions of the municipal party committee. In any case, the municipal government works under the leadership of the party, so this aspect should be emphasized in the report. The second point is about anti-corruption work - it was only briefly mentioned in the report, which I think is inappropriate. There should be a section expressing the government's determination to fight corruption. The Supervision Bureau is a government unit that specifically investigates and handles discipline violations by cadres. These are just my thoughts after reading the report. As for economic work, I don't have the right to comment."

  "Qian Kechang, I'd like to toast you with a glass of wine. You've raised a sharp and insightful question in such a short time, I'm really impressed!"

  "Secretary Xu, I don't dare to be compared with you. I have been working in the municipal party committee office for many years and have always paid little attention to these issues, thinking they are the leaders' concerns. This is my shortcoming. From now on, I will definitely learn from you."

  "Qian Kechang, I haven't been working at the municipal party committee office for long, only a few months. From now on, if there's anything I do that's not good, please help me out."

  Qian Dazhi found it somewhat strange that Xu Shaojie's words today always carried a hint of other meanings. This afternoon, while watching the government work report, Qian Dazhi was deep in thought. As Secretary Ding Yuan's secretary, many times, the words that came out represented Secretary Ding Yuan. Of course, his private relationship with Xu Shaojie was good, and when they chatted together, what he said was an exception. But today, watching the government work report, it was absolutely not a coincidence. Among so many leaders and cadres in the municipal party committee office, why did Xu Shaojie specifically find him? Qian Dazhi was certainly not stupid; there must be something fishy going on here.

  "Secretary Xu, although I'm older than you and have been working in the municipal party committee office for many years, I shouldn't be compared to you. You're Secretary Ding's secretary, always thinking about big things, while my work is all trivial, logistical services, so my vision is limited. It should be me who learns from you."

  "Qian Kechang, actually we are all serving our leaders, the difference is that I am by the leader's side, just more direct."

  "This can't be compared, the entire municipal party committee office is serving the leaders, with different work responsibilities and requirements."

  "What difference does Qian Kezhang think there is?"

  ？”

  "Let's just talk about the simplest things, speaking. When I speak in the municipal office, I can chat with everyone, and occasionally say something wrong, it doesn't matter, everyone won't take it seriously, thinking that I'm drunk or talking nonsense. You're different, when you speak, people will think deeply about the reasons behind your words, so you must be careful when speaking. Just speaking alone has a big difference, let alone other things."

  "Hehe, it seems that Qian Kezhang's experience is very profound."

  "Secretary Xu, to be honest with you, working in the municipal party committee office is a big deal. Everyone knows that being a leader's secretary is very important. You're always by their side, with great responsibility and hard work. However, if you just follow the leader around all day and slack off in the office, you won't get any training or experience. People outside think it's easy working in the municipal party committee office, but only those who have done it know the bitterness and sweetness."

  Xu Shaojie looked at Qian Dazhi without speaking, and at this time, Qian Dazhi had already entered the main topic. Xu Shaojie would not take the initiative to speak, some words needed Qian Dazhi to say them himself.

  "Take me for example, I'm supposed to be the head of the personnel department, but in reality, I'm just a handyman. Whatever the leader decides, I'll do it without thinking twice. If the leader tells me to issue a certificate to someone, I'll issue it. Whether it's right or wrong, it's all up to the leader's intention. I don't need to think at all. Doing this kind of job for 8-10 years won't bring any progress, so I'm just going through the motions and getting by. Can't compare with you, though. After watching the government work report today, I suddenly realized that I'm also working in the municipal party committee office, and I'm a cadre of the main leading organ."

  "What plans does Qian Kezhang have after this?"

  "What else can I plan for? Just do a good job in my position, get promoted to a certain level, and then wait for retirement."

  Qian Kezhang smiled and said, "I see you don't think so."

  Qian Dazhi narrowed his eyes, today's opportunity was not bad at all, everything indicated that there was a topic, it seemed that his own idea was not wrong, Xu Shaojie must have had other intentions.

  "Secretary Xu, to be honest with you, I'm also fed up with being the head of the personnel department. If I say I don't have any ideas, that's not true, but I just don't have the opportunity. The municipal party committee leaders are always the same few people, and there are so many capable people in the office, how can it be my turn? So, I just have ideas, that's all."

  Qian Kechang treats me like a brother, speaking so sincerely and from the heart.

  "Everyone has ideas, but whether they can be realized is another matter. I just told you these words today, and I hope you won't laugh at me. The people in the municipal office think I'm doing logistics work, next step, maybe managing small vehicles or something, nothing too impressive. I thought so myself, time flies by."

  "Qian Kechang, I think your view is a bit too pessimistic. Being a leader's secretary also comes with many risks. If you make mistakes, the consequences can be severe. Moreover, the pressure is huge every day and there's no freedom in terms of time."

  "There's no gain without effort, everything has risks, there's no free lunch in life. If you say that, I'll think you're mocking me. Who wants to spend their days idle and useless like a wooden puppet?"

  "Qian Kechang, you think being a secretary is pretty good."

  "Nonsense, working in the municipal party committee office, who doesn't want to be a leader's secretary? The pavilion nearest the water enjoys the moon first, I shouldn't have said this in front of you. You're Secretary Ding's secretary, young and promising, only a fool wouldn't look out for you."

  "The result of being a county magistrate is not so good."

  As for Li Ming, Qian Dazhi certainly understood that at this time, Qian Dazhi must express his own views.

  "That's Li Ming's own problem, having followed Secretary Ding for so long. In the past when he worked in the policy research office, he would smile at everyone he met. But later on, how did he become like this? Moreover, being a secretary isn't about acting like that. You're a secretary, not a leader. You should be low-key in front of leaders and also in front of everyone else. Even if your identity is special, you don't need to show it off. Keep the pride in your heart, but if you display it like this, who can stand it?"

  "Qian Kechang, what we are saying is different, Li County's attitude is one thing, my key point is to say his work."

  Qian Dazhi had worked in the municipal party committee office for many years and still knew some inside information. He looked at Xu Shaojie, didn't speak for a while, obviously thinking. Xu Shaojie didn't urge him, the two ate their food, and the private room was quiet for a moment.

  "Secretary Xu, I don't think it's right for me to comment on Li Ming's work, but I do have some personal opinions. As the secretary of the municipal party committee and government, I know a thing or two about what's going on. As a leader's secretary, you can't just think about showing off in public; you represent the leader. In your work, are you always considering the leader's interests? Are you able to help the leader resolve difficulties? If you're afraid of this and that, then why be a secretary at all? You need to stick to your principles and not just cater to the leader's every whim. Anyone can do that kind of secretarial work. What I think is important for a secretary to uphold is the overall development of Huaiyang City."

  Qian Dazhi said all these words in one breath, and he probably felt that he had said too much. He raised his wine glass and clinked it with Xu Shaojie's.

  "Qian Kechang, since you have such an idea, I'll speak directly. If you were to become the leader's secretary, what would you do? Specifically speaking, there are some situations that you also know about, and we all understand."

  "I haven't really thought about it seriously, but one thing is certain, maintaining the leader's interests. Director Xu, you are Secretary Ding's secretary, you know what to do better than me, I won't need to guide you, will I?"

  Xu Shaojie ignored Qian Dazhi's probing words and continued to ask.

  "What would you do if there were some inconsistent views among the main leaders?"

  "It's hard to say, the principle is to maintain the main leader's point of view, of course, if there are obvious mistakes or disputes, it's not something a secretary can intervene in, can only do their best."

  "Qian Kechang, you taught me a lesson, thank you."

  "Secretary Xu, I'm just a humble person, how dare I lecture in front of you? These are just my personal opinions, I don't know what's right or wrong, please, Secretary Xu, criticize and correct me."

  "Director Qian said something, what he said today, Director Qian should think more about it, especially the latter part of his speech. As for the situation in Huaiyang City, I believe Director Qian is clear about it. Maybe there will be opportunities, the key depends on how Director Qian grasps them."

  Xu Shaojie's words left Qian Dazhi stunned and even forgot to eat.