NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1152
With that remark, even Mo Dayou sat upright, nodded, and pointed at the other standing committee members of the county party committee.
Everyone perked up, sitting in a very proper manner. Some even held pens, looking as if they were going to take notes. In reality, it was all the secretaries jotting down some inconsequential words. It would be just for show if these committee members took notes themselves.
Liu Zhizhong said, "I have decided to spend three months immersing myself in every township across the county, to truly assess our county's customs and economic landscape, and to comprehensively understand each fundamental situation of this county, and it should be realistic situations."
This statement caused a slight stir among the attendees.
Public Security Bureau Chief Qu Hongsheng was the first to shake his head and said, "County Magistrate Liu, your revolutionary spirit is truly admirable! But aren't you here to carry out revolutionary work, you're here to overthrow yourself, it's purely putting yourself at odds!"
Laughter echoed throughout the hall.
Liu Zhizhong laughed and said, "Qu Ju, what do you mean by that?"
"Shanan County is so vast, some townships have inconvenient transportation, remote and isolated, getting down to the grassroots is too arduous. Moreover, some townships are near the border, where the mountains are high, the forests are dense, and miasma prevails all year round, conditions are genuinely too harsh. In some regions in the mountains, mosquitoes and snakes are abundant all year round, leading to quite a few deaths annually because of this! County Magistrate Liu, you are young; a gentle and tender revolutionary comrade like you really needn't take these risks! I mean it for your good!"
Following Qu Hongsheng's words, the publicity minister and organization minister and the likes all came forward to persuade Liu Zhizhong, advising against undertaking such backbreaking tasks as it wasn't worthwhile.
Even Secretary Mo Dayou was laughingly saying, "County Magistrate Liu, you really shouldn't do this! Coming from the position of Yangzhou Mayor's chief aide to this county mayor role is already quite a demotion for you. This place is hard; you know it yourself. Staying in the county town, occasionally visiting some well-accessible townships with better economic conditions around is enough! Going any further, it's not a revolution, but overthrowing yourself! Just staying in the county town and enjoying the little comfort is quite enough!"
Liu Zhizhong replied with a wry smile, "I understand everyone's good intentions. But without going down to the grassroots, I wouldn't understand the situation! As it's often said, a new official needs to light three fires. I can't just burn randomly, can I?"
Mo Dayou said, "Even if you don't light any fires, it's fine! Right now, we're having a closed-door meeting, and the secretaries can skip taking notes. I swear on my conscience, County Magistrate Liu, that coming here means you'll probably be stuck revolving around Dongguang State for the rest of your life."
"Everyone here knows the lay of the land. Don't think about striving upward, you're still young, just hang in there on your post, enjoy your blessings, eat well, drink well, and when time's up, maybe you can mix your way up to a deputy department retirement in the state, that wouldn't be so bad either!"
"We people, ruling a piece of land here, sounds nice as serving the people, but frankly, it's placing you here to loaf around waiting for death, ensuring border peace and people's safety, as long as the common people don't cause trouble or get into trouble, then it's alright!"
"This place of ours has been poor and backward since ancient times, everyone here are descendants of exiles, or somehow related to exiles, no need to think about any 'new official lighting three fires,' burn what? Even if it burns to the skies, we'll still be the impoverished and backward Shanan!"