272: Chapter 272 Village Accountant Li Maisui

Inside the Deputy Secretary's office, the heating was on full blast.

Zhu Wenhao sat behind his desk, looking at a document in front of him.

It was the final report on the Heishui Village committee re-election.

Xu Jie stood at the desk.

At the top of the list, as both Village Party Secretary and Village Committee Director, was Zhang Yuanhang.

This result was expected.

Zhang Yuanhang had been stabbed, and he had bested Secretary Du Changhe at the hearing; the votes from Second Branch and Third Branch were enough to push him into the position.

Because of Zhang Hu's arson and bribery case, no one from Eldest Branch dared to even raise their heads.

Zhu Wenhao's finger slid down the page and stopped at the line for Village Accountant.

Li Maisui.

Looking at these three characters, the image of the young girl who had blocked the way in front of Deputy Police Chief Li Sanqiang flashed through his mind.

Last time, when returning the compensation money, Old Man Li had said this girl wanted to go back to study and take the college entrance exam.

Zhu Wenhao's hand, holding his pen, paused on the paper.

"Li Maisui was elected as the village accountant?" Zhu Wenhao looked up.

Xu Jie nodded.

"Wasn't she going to repeat a year for the college entrance exam next year? Deputy Police Chief Li Sanqiang promised to sponsor her tuition. Why is she suddenly managing the village's accounts?" Zhu Wenhao asked.

Xu Jie took another copy of the village meeting records.

"There aren't many people with other surnames in Heishui Village, and most of the young, able-bodied men have gone to work in other cities, leaving mostly the elderly in the village."

"Last time, Zhang Xing threw Old Man Li and his wife into the field, causing them to develop chronic illnesses. They are old now, have trouble working the fields, and need someone to take care of them."

"Li Maisui doesn't want to go to school in another city; she plans to stay in the village to take care of her grandparents."

"This girl's grades at school were not bad, she is quick-witted, and good at math. The villagers with other surnames discussed it, and since Second Branch and Third Branch didn't object, they pushed her into this position."

After listening, Zhu Wenhao didn't speak.

The grassroots level lacks people, especially those who are educated and clear-headed.

This girl has a spirit of not giving up; she is good potential, and her path upward shouldn't be cut off just because of filial piety.

He picked up the black landline on the desk and dialed a number.

Linjiang Municipal Education Bureau, Education Section.

The call went through.

"Section Chief Li," Zhu Wenhao began.

Section Chief Li's voice came from the other end: "Secretary Zhu. Do you have something for me?"

Section Chief Li's position had been secured by Zhu Wenhao, so he had always been very grateful to him.

"Does your Education Section have any suitable channels for adult education and work-study programs here in Linjiang City?" Zhu Wenhao asked.

"Yes." Section Chief Li didn't ask for the reason, "There are several corresponding university correspondence stations in the city, as well as the Open University. As long as her academic foundation is decent, the enrollment procedures can be processed."

"There is a girl in Heishi Town, nineteen years old." Zhu Wenhao leaned back in his chair, "She originally had the foundation to take the college entrance exam last year, but due to family issues, she didn't report. She is very sharp and is currently working as an accountant in the village. Find her a work-study path, the kind that can lead to a bachelor's degree."

Hearing this, Section Chief Li understood the situation.

Zhu Wenhao personally inquiring about the educational qualifications of a village accountant meant this matter was not insignificant.

"Don't worry, Secretary Zhu. Later, have someone send me the girl's information. I will connect with a university in the city and go through adult continuing education."

Section Chief Li added: "Regarding tuition, I will look for relevant policies to make it completely free for her."

"The tuition should be paid as it should be." Zhu Wenhao set the rule, "Have her enroll next semester."

"Understood, I will get it done right away."

After hanging up, Zhu Wenhao turned to look at Xu Jie.

"Organize Li Maisui's household registration and academic documents and coordinate with Section Chief Li."

"Let her manage the accounts in the village while she earns her bachelor's degree. Once her path is steady, she will have the opportunity to take the postgraduate entrance exam in the future."

By handing the account books to someone he could trust and giving her a path to move upward, the finances of Heishui Village could truly belong to the "public."

"Okay, I will go make copies of the documents right now." Xu Jie picked up the file and walked out of the office.

The door closed.

Zhu Wenhao's personal phone, which had been face down on the desk, rang.

He picked it up and looked.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe.

He answered.

"Wenhao." Secretary Zhu Tianhe's voice came through.

"Father."

"The matter of Chairwoman Lin Yulan becoming the Director of the Audit Bureau is settled." Secretary Zhu Tianhe got straight to the point.

"I have reached an agreement with Secretary Lin Weimin. The department meeting process went very smoothly, and the candidate pushed by Mayor Su Changming was directly pushed aside."

Zhu Wenhao picked up his teacup but didn't rush to drink.

Secretary Lin Weimin was the top leader of the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee; if he could nod in agreement, he must have accepted enough bargaining chips.

"According to your previous analysis, I used the position of Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission to make a trade with Secretary Lin." Secretary Zhu Tianhe continued.

"Secretary Lin recommended the current Municipal Party Committee Secretary-General, Lin Zhichao, to succeed as the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

After hearing this, Zhu Wenhao put down his teacup.

"Lin Zhichao?"

"Yes." Secretary Zhu Tianhe sighed, "This Secretary-General Lin is a trusted veteran left behind by the former Secretary Tian. When Secretary Lin Weimin first arrived in Linjiang, Lin Zhichao was still putting on airs. Now, he has defected quite quickly."

Zhu Wenhao leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

"A wise bird chooses its tree to perch in, and a wise official chooses his master to serve. If he didn't defect, why would Secretary Lin Weimin reuse him?"

"Father, do you know the deeper meaning behind Secretary Lin pushing Lin Zhichao into the position of Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission?"

Secretary Zhu Tianhe didn't reply, waiting for the rest.

"A strategy of killing three birds with one stone."

"First, Secretary Lin is a newcomer and needs to digest the team left by the former Secretary Tian. Lin Zhichao is the leader of the old ministers from the previous administration. Promoting him to a crucial, powerful position like Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission is showing his magnanimity to all the old subordinates in Linjiang City."

"It tells them that as long as they are obedient, the head of the Municipal Party Committee will never be stingy. Once this move is made, those who were watching from the sidelines will immediately rush to pay their respects, and Secretary Lin's network and foundation will instantly double."

"Second, the Municipal Party Committee Secretary-General is the chief housekeeper for the Municipal Party Committee Secretary." Zhu Wenhao tapped his finger on the desk, "Moving Lin Zhichao away from his side is nominally a promotion, but in reality, it clears this key chair. Secretary Lin can justifiably arrange for his own trusted confidant to take over."

"Third, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission is the 'blade.' Lin Zhichao going to the Political and Legal Affairs Commission is equivalent to Secretary Lin forcibly inserting a steel nail."

After listening on the other end of the phone, Secretary Zhu Tianhe let out a long sigh.

"There is truly no one simple among those who sit in the position of the top leader," Secretary Zhu Tianhe said.

"Imperial statecraft is all about this kind of balance and co-option," Zhu Wenhao said, "But we didn't lose in this deal. With Chairwoman Lin Yulan entering the Audit Bureau, Mayor Su Changming's purse will have one more lock."

On the other end of the phone, Secretary Zhu Tianhe changed the subject.

"There is movement on Qinghan's side."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe said: "The Inspection Team from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection has officially entered the Municipal Finance Bureau. On the first day she led the team to audit the accounts, she discovered major loopholes in the payment nodes of several special funds. A sum of 300 million in urban construction funds was transferred directly based on a few notes without going through the Finance Bureau director's office meeting. This matter has already been written into the inspection daily report."

Zhu Wenhao looked at the overcast clouds outside the window.

"Qinghan came out of the Finance Bureau. She could find the tricks inside with her eyes closed."

"Secretary Li Li from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection saw the report and has already ordered to seize this issue and dig deeper along the flow of funds." Secretary Zhu Tianhe said, "The Finance Bureau is now in chaos, and that Deputy Director, Deputy Director Ge Qing, doesn't even dare to hold meetings."

"It's best if there are major results." Zhu Wenhao's tone was steady, "Even if we don't dig out direct evidence against Mayor Su Changming, just this move alone is enough to give the Municipal Government a hard time. Mayor Su Changming's days this Spring Festival will not be easy."

"By the way, I have already greeted Police Chief Li Jianguo as you instructed before." Secretary Zhu Tianhe added, "The Municipal Public Security Bureau has selected two reliable plainclothes officers to secretly follow the Inspection Team and protect Qinghan's safety."

Once Mayor Su Changming is pushed into a corner, there is no guarantee he won't use some underhanded methods.

Zhu Wenhao would never let the lesson of the car accident from back then repeat itself.

"Thank you, Father." Zhu Wenhao said.

"You should also be careful over there." Secretary Zhu Tianhe urged.

"Clowns, they can't make any waves." Zhu Wenhao answered decisively.

He hung up the phone.

Zhu Wenhao got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.