NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1145
The fact is, the poorer the place, the more corrupt it is, no, no, no, the more extravagant it is.
In places like Nansha, when leaders come from the Provincial City or from the State, no matter what kind of leaders or how important their positions are, it is crucial for all four major bodies of the County Committee to go greet them and make proper arrangements for a welcome banquet.
At these meals, whether it's the leadership of the County Committee and County Government, or the regular staff, everyone, big or small, has a share—all two hundred or so of them.
Do you know how alarming the costs of such banquets can be?
Although the higher-ups have repeatedly mandated no over-the-top wining and dining, there's always a workaround for every policy. Especially in minority regions, policies are just policies, with no real effect when implemented.
Today, Liu Zhizhong assumed office, and the Lu Minister from the Province, along with Zhang Tianbao Minister from Yangzhou City, set out directly from the Provincial City, bypassing Dongguang State, to avoid another extravagant waste there by the State Committee and State Government.
As a result, tonight's welcome banquet in the county surprised everyone and left them dumbfounded.
The venue for this welcome banquet wasn't particularly extravagant or luxurious; it was actually held in the large cafeteria of the County Committee and County Government.
Since the County Committee and County Government operate jointly, there are many people, and even their regular meals are quite large in scale, so the cafeteria is also especially big.
The first floor is a hall that can easily accommodate thirty tables.
The second floor houses private dining rooms, where leaders usually eat. Every morning, the leaders gather to share breakfast and conveniently discuss and decide on major issues.
At noon, leaders have their own arrangements, and the same goes for the evening.
Tonight, for Liu Zhizhong's welcome banquet, the ground floor was full, and the private rooms upstairs were filled as well.
Would you think that in a place like Nansha Minority Autonomous County, with its backward economy, the welcome banquet would be something average? Like having average dishes, average wine, and average cigarettes?
Not at all.
Liu Zhizhong, Minister Lu, Zhang Tianbao, along with their secretaries, Nansha's County Party Secretary Mo Dayou and his personal secretary, Liu Zhizhong's County Government Office Director Hamuer, who would be his chief secretary in the future, all sat in the best private room on the second floor.
Regularly, this room is where the County Committee and County Government leaders eat. Today, other standing members of the County Committee were dining in another room and would come by to toast later.
Although the liquor appeared to be in regular bottles from the local distillery, when Secretary Mo Dayou opened it, the aroma was unmistakable to Liu Zhizhong and the others. They understood immediately.
Grinning widely, Mo Dayou chuckled, "County Magistrate Liu's first day on the job, with Minister Lu from the Provincial City and Minister Zhang from Yangzhou sending him off, Nansha is honored by your presence. Here in Nansha, please don't mind the simplicity. Nansha is poor, so we can only serve you our local Yusha grain wine."
In response, Vice Minister Lu Xiping from the Provincial Group smiled warmly, "Secretary Mo, your Yusha grain wine's brewing process is impressive. This aroma is almost indistinguishable from Moutai. I'm curious how it tastes?"
Lu Xiping's smile prompted laughs from Liu Zhizhong and Zhang Tianbao as well.
Mo Dayou chuckled heartily, "Minister Lu, your keen eye and discerning palate are commendable! You know, the aroma truly is similar to Moutai! Unfortunately, Nansha is poor! Come, come, let's have the leaders and County Magistrate Liu taste our own Nansha Moutai?"