Chapter 106: The Roundtable Meeting

  "That makes sense, where is the arrangement going to be?"

  "Secretary Huang helped to coordinate, and we prepared to hold it in the municipal party committee meeting room. The time was not long, just two hours. At that time, Secretary Xu would give a speech, and only Secretary Xu, Secretary Huang, and I from the district would attend."

  "Alright, you get ready, I won't worry about the speech script, it's just a formality, everyone knows what to say, no one will actually listen. By the way, make sure to arrange for food and drinks, invite some people from the cement factory who can drink, keep them company well, I really can't handle it."

  After Zhang Shiqiu left, Xu Shaojie could only smile bitterly. Is this considered corruption? Who can say it's not corruption? The leaders support the work, and during holidays, they show their appreciation. How can you say it's corruption? It's just normal courtesy, but there is a difference. This money, after being spent, won't have anyone signing for it, and it won't be reflected in the accounts. Anyway, they'll just find other invoices to fill in and sign off on later. A 2000 yuan gift isn't small, it's more than a year's salary for some cadres.

  Xu Shaojie and Zhang Shiqiu also attended many seminars, with a very tight schedule.

  Xu Shaojie stood at the door of the municipal party committee meeting room, shaking hands one by one with the heads of the municipal units attending the meeting. Everyone was old acquaintances, and they all knew what was going on. When they came in, they were all laughing loudly. Some leaders even handed Xu Shaojie an invitation as they entered, which had the time and place of a symposium written on it. Of course, the name on the invitation was also very clear. In short, one point was emphasized: you must attend in person, and under no circumstances can you be absent. Otherwise, it would be considered disrespect and non-support for the work. The attendees were all main principals of their units, and Xu Shaojie thought to himself that even if the municipal party committee and government held an important meeting, the personnel would not be as neatly arranged as this.

  Xu Shaojie's speech was not long, at this time, mainly to ask everyone to talk about their opinions and suggestions on Yudu District. There were no opinions or suggestions, just good words, let alone the fact that Yudu District's work is indeed good. The meeting atmosphere was very good, after a round of speeches, it finally came to an end, and the red envelopes that had been prepared in advance arrived in everyone's hands, no one would decline, this is only natural, everyone put the red envelope into their pocket with ease, saying apologetic words repeatedly, but there was no apologetic expression on their faces.

  Arrived at the restaurant, surprisingly everyone came, and the smiles on their faces looked even better. Probably because they saw the generous gift from Yudu District this time, with a large amount of money involved. Many unit leaders who are usually quite arrogant didn't attend ordinary banquets, but this time everyone showed up, clearly having high expectations for Yudu District.

  When drinking, Xu Shaojie and Zhang Shiqiu, Huang Guangming only found out that the previous arrangement was of little use. The cement plant accompanied by drinkers, the wine they drank was not less, these few people, the wine they drank didn't think about being less either. Everyone came to toast, Yudu District's cement plant and vegetable greenhouse, their reputation shook greatly, everyone knew, however, everyone had a better impression of Xu Shaojie, generous with his spending, not stingy at all. It is worth knowing that some districts and towns, when holding seminars, the red envelopes were only a few hundred yuan.

  Zhang Shikui and Huang Guangming both drank too much, Huang Guangming used to work in the municipal party committee office and was familiar with everyone. He hasn't been in office for long, so of course everyone wants to congratulate him. Xu Shaojie is slightly better off, not because he can hold his liquor well, but because he went out a few times during the gathering.

  "Secretary Xu, several units from the city have called and asked you and me to attend a symposium."

  Xu Shaojie took a look at the schedule.

  "What's the difference between this and fighting a war? Several places in one day, running around all over the place."

  "There's no way, it's been like this every year. The schedule is too tight and usually all the meetings are held within a week. We estimate that we'll be staying in the city for about a week, just attending meetings, nothing else."

  "Go ahead and open it, Old Zhang, you should consider the year-end welfare issues of the team members and cadres."

  "Secretary Xu, I was just about to report on this matter. In the past, the district government never issued welfare benefits. Usually, before holidays, members of the leadership team would gather for a meal and distribute some items, mostly pork and other goods that were collected as taxes and purchased at low prices by the canteen. Last year, nothing was distributed, but this year we are issuing welfare benefits. I think everyone must keep it confidential, it's not good if it gets out. Now even salary payments are having difficulties."

  Last Spring Festival, Xu Shaojie certainly knew that going home empty-handed was out of the question.

  "Let's put it this way, everyone has worked hard this year. Each member of the team will get 2,000 yuan and each district government staff member will get 1,000 yuan. Don't be too modest, everyone."

  Zhang Shikui stared at Xu Shaojie, his eyes wide with astonishment.

  "What's wrong, is it too much?"

  "Secretary Xu, you don't understand the situation at the grassroots level. In other districts and towns, being able to give out 500 yuan is already considered very good. Giving out 2,000 or 1,000 yuan would be too much and might have a negative impact."

  "Old Zhang, you say, is there really so much money?"

  "Money is no problem, it's just over 500,000."

  "That's it, according to this standard, the red envelopes we give to municipal units are also 2000 yuan. The members of our team have suffered more than them, and they should get these benefits. Besides, if other districts and towns have opinions, let them go ask for themselves."

  "Secretary Xu, if Mayor Xu finds out, will he take us down?"

  "It doesn't matter, receiving is also a form of giving to me. Mayor Xu must know it's my opinion. Just listen to it then. When asking for money next year, the attitude will be the same. Anyway, it's just a cry."

  For a whole week, Xu Shaojie and Zhang Shikui attended the symposium of municipal units. Of course, there were also leaders from other districts and towns. However, the municipal units were not handled in accordance with the methods of Yudu District. There was a person's name on their red envelope. Xu Shaojie didn't quite understand but couldn't say anything. It was Zhang Shikui who told the truth.

  "Secretary Xu, the size of the red envelopes is different, and the treatment between the municipal units and our district and town is also different. There are close and distant relationships, so the red envelopes have individual names."

  Xu Shaojie suddenly realized that there was such a way, and it seemed that handling things like this wasn't as simple as he thought, requiring wisdom.

  Wisdom and IQ.

  Still drinking, the units arranged to entertain and eat at the end are mostly harmful departments, such as the Planning Commission, Finance Bureau, etc. The middle-level cadres of each unit are all out in full force. If a unit has only a few members, I estimate that they would drink until vomiting blood. Not one person participating in the meeting will fall down. Such a banquet, of course, no one will be absent. The scene of drinking is earth-shaking, with wine being brought up piece by piece. In winter, it's all about drinking white wine, and you have to drink good wine. It's considered a year-end dinner, so how can you not prepare well? Generally, it's either Maotai or Wuliangye.

  At first, Xu Shaojie was still drinking with relish, after all, it's rare to drink Maotai and Wuliangye throughout the year. But later on, no matter what wine it was, as long as he could drink less, that was great. On the table, on the ground, everywhere was wine, as long as he wasn't caught red-handed, there wouldn't be any trouble. Xu Shaojie also felt like this was like committing a crime, but if he didn't think about it being a crime, he would just drink it down. The final result was that his head was spinning and he couldn't even walk on the road. The feeling of getting drunk was too unbearable.

  A week later, Xu Shaojie and Zhang Shiqiu returned to Yudu District, attended numerous meetings, drank countless good wines, but felt dizzy and lightheaded, having drunk too much wine and eaten too little food.

  Xu Shaojie counted all the money in the red envelopes, totaling 37,000 yuan. Holding this amount of money, Xu Shaojie's hands trembled slightly. This money came too easily, unimaginably easily. According to current salary standards, it would take him 10 years to earn this much. Of course, no one would be foolish enough not to accept this money, and Xu Shaojie was no exception. He locked the money at home, not daring to let others know. The unit that hosted the dinner party was aware of this, so they deliberately ended the gathering a little earlier, allowing everyone to take their red envelopes back home or find a safe place to put them away. After all, it wouldn't be good if someone got drunk and lost theirs.

  Xu Shaojie wanted to talk to someone, but he didn't dare to say it. He even didn't dare to tell Zhang Shaocai about it, as this was an official matter. Zhang Shaocai often gave New Year's greetings to certain officials, and Xu Shaojie didn't ask how much money was needed. Xu Shaojie even thought that if he used the cement factory's name to give money to the person in charge of the municipal unit, would it be considered giving himself money? It was just a formality, making such behavior completely legitimate.

  The time for the holiday is approaching, and the treatment of team members and district government officials has been determined. As for the township government, Xu Shaojie and Zhang Shiqiu are both powerless, there are too many people, and it is impossible to take care of them. The township government can only think of its own way, Xu Shaojie also wants to solve some problems, but Zhang Shiqiu feels that it is difficult. After comprehensive consideration, according to the standard of 200 yuan per person, additional living expenses and office expenses will be allocated, as for how the township government spends, the district committee and district government will not ask.

  When holding a team meeting, benefits were presented on site.

  The team members' reflection, Xu Shaojie looked at it in his eyes, no one would have thought that they could get so many benefits, the smile on their face was very sincere. If it were a year ago, or not long ago, Xu Shaojie would also have had such a reaction, but now Xu Shaojie didn't have any surprised expression, he finally understood why many people were desperate to be an official and wanted to be the main leader.

  Here is the translation:

  "During the Spring Festival, work arrangements and duty schedules were finalized at this meeting. Of course, there was no special treatment for Xu Shaojie or anything like that. All those whose families are not in the local area will return home for the New Year, while members of the team whose families are in the district and town will be responsible for being on duty. The usual arrangement is to start work on the eighth day of the first month, but Zhang Shiqiu specially emphasized that the official working hours will begin on the sixteenth day of the first month. This year, we won't bother with those formalities. The cadres in the district and town usually work hard, so they can't get a good rest during the holidays. During the Spring Festival, take a few more days off to rest. Still, it's the team members from Yudou District who will be responsible. Everyone applauded in agreement, saying that this arrangement should have been made long ago. In previous years, the arrangement was just for team members to come back a few days early, but there was nothing to do, and they couldn't go home, so they just hung around at the district office."

  Next was the district government staff meeting, Xu Shaojie did not attend and did not care about everyone's performance. 1,000 yuan seemed like a lot, but to Xu Shaojie, it was nothing.

  The time for the district and town to take a holiday is also earlier, generally after the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, they slowly start to rest. This year, the only one in Yudu District that does not take a holiday is the cement plant. The sales momentum of cement is good, so production will continue during the Spring Festival, but the wages are higher than usual.

  Xu Shaojie must leave last, he is the district party secretary, no matter what, can't leave early, otherwise it's not justified. As for going to work, Xu Shaojie also made plans, on the eighth day of the first month, still come to the district office for a trip, after showing up, then return to the provincial city, and come again on the sixteenth day of the first month.

  As time passed day by day, Zhang Shikui was quite busy during this period and had to consider the financial problems of the district's units. Zhang Shikui once found Xu Shaojie, but Xu Shaojie didn't care about these things and asked Zhang Shikui to handle them himself. Anyway, as for the district's financial affairs, Xu Shaojie generally wouldn't ask questions, as long as what he said was done, it would be fine.

  On December 16, Liu Mu found Xu Shaojie, and the sales of greenhouse vegetables were very good. After deducting wages and inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, Liu Mu brought 3,100 yuan. Liu Mu told Xu Shaojie that with the Spring Festival approaching, the greenhouse vegetables in Huaguan Village are in high demand, and many merchants are waiting at the village entrance every day, directly contacting farmers. So far, all loans for the 100 greenhouses in Huaguan Village have been repaid, and the credit union director is inquiring about other villages' plans to develop greenhouses. If there are interested parties, the credit union will register and record them.

  Xu Shaojie was surprised, in less than half a year, the loan was fully repaid. It is estimated that the credit union saw business opportunities in it, or the credit association had assigned tasks to conduct statistics. The district committee and district government did not arrange for this matter because the municipal party committee and municipal government were uniformly planning, and after the new year, they would start building large vegetable greenhouses.

  Xu Shaojie inquired about some specific situations, and the situation of Huaguan Village has indeed changed. Many farm households have planned to build houses. The first batch of farm households that built houses caused envy among countless people in the village. Many male owners of households have returned home and are planning to rebuild vegetable greenhouses.

  Xu Shaojie thought of something, the 10 vegetable greenhouses built by Zhang Shaocai should be dealt with. Originally, it was meant to take the lead, and since the purpose has been achieved, they cannot be maintained. Don't do things that compete with farmers for profit. Farmers don't make money easily. Xu Shaojie told Liu Mu this opinion, and Liu Mu patted his chest and said there's no problem, only fearing that all villagers will rush to want them.