NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1164
The most laughable and absurd part is that these people still remaining in the town meet County Magistrate Liu with cheerful smiles, without a hint of self-reflection.
For them, work discipline simply doesn't exist.
In fact, Liu Zhizhong even encountered a deputy town mayor at a foot massage parlor, who boldly opened two rooms and invited County Magistrate Liu and Director Ha to enjoy some massages first, asserting that the massage skills here are quite good, not inferior to those in the county town, very comfortable!
Liu Zhizhong didn't get angry, because he had decided not to start with the "three fires of a new official," preferring to first understand the situation.
Of course, he did not get a massage, nor did Hamuer; they merely let the deputy town mayor go ahead while they went elsewhere to explore.
Every time they were about to visit a place, Hamuer would brief Liu Zhizhong in advance on which secretary or town mayor or township chief belonged to which county committee member or came from which background.
Over the past several years in the county, Hamuer had indeed done a thorough job of understanding the network of personnel. As Liu Zhizhong's office director, he was truly suitable and competent.
Sometimes, the conditions in towns and villages really tempted Hamuer to get angry, but Liu Zhizhong remained calmer than him, so they'd just let it go.
In any case, at every town and village, Liu Zhizhong and Hamuer would take care of their meals themselves without accepting local hospitality, because if they did, oh dear, they'd be served with rare mountain treasures and river delicacies, whatever tasty protected animals there were, they'd get them.
Hamuer had said before that this was how county leaders ate when they visited towns and villages, so Liu Zhizhong was adamant about not accepting such hospitality.
Thus, County Magistrate Liu, with his gentle smile, temperate demeanor, and little talk, didn't become close with the grassroots comrades, leading to a unified grassroots impression. Most speculated that Liu was just here for sightseeing, camping, driving luxury cars, enjoying life, without any political ambition!
No political ambition?
Haha!
These were the exact words of a deputy town mayor!
He actually thinks Liu Zhizhong has no political ambition? Haha... indeed...
The reality of grassroots town structures is like this; the working and living status of town officials are also like this — idle and aimless, devoid of politics and serious matters. Matters that could be handled by leaving a few duty officers weren't considered matters; things that could be resolved following local customs and agreements were also not considered issues. Even when a new county mayor visited, it wasn't regarded as a matter. Timely payment of wages and performance bonuses, timely arrival of subsidies for national hardship areas, those were their big matters.
In the remote autonomous county, in this peculiar political soil, grew these peculiar party and government officials and civil servants. Seeing no hope, they simply hoped to lie flat for a lifetime, just muddle through to retirement...
However, the life and livelihood of the villagers incited considerable anger in Liu Zhizhong.
The minority residents were still quite poor, but they were quite prolific. Yet, born children couldn't be well educated, resulting in perpetual poverty, handed down from generation to generation.
Shanan lies in a semi-highland area, rich in forest vegetation, with little farmland, though the pastoral industry was quite feasible. However, many minorities just planted some potatoes and sweet potatoes, both of which had decent yields, enough to stave off hunger.
In terms of herding, large quantities would easily lead to fatalities, infections, and harm by mountain beasts, resulting in significant losses. Fewer cattle and sheep, however, were manageable.
The minority households all had minimum livelihood guarantees, but the disbursements were very few, far below national standards. This situation had only one explanation — upper management had been embezzling funds...