112: Chapter 112 A Perfect Ending

After the report, Party Secretary Bi Youshan said with satisfaction, "Township Head Mao Yungang has a very thorough grasp of the production situation! It seems that the leadership team of Guantian Township is not only united but each member also has their own skills."

"Li Dakang knows how to employ people, and Township Head Mao Yungang is steady and hardworking. It is hard for such a pair not to achieve results!"

...

After the inspection, Party Secretary Bi Youshan presided over a symposium in the simple meeting room of the Guantian Township Government.

On the mottled wall, the red slogan "Serve the People" was particularly striking. The participating cadres sat around a chipped wooden conference table, looking focused.

Party Secretary Bi Youshan scanned the room and finally looked at Li Dakang, "Comrades, I am quite touched by the changes in Guantian Township today. Especially the drive of Li Dakang in leading the township leadership team to work in a down-to-earth manner is worth learning from by cadres throughout the city."

He turned to the head of the Municipal Organization Department, Liu Wenxin, beside him, "Minister Liu, for young cadres like Comrade Dakang who have ideas and are daring and capable, the organization should focus on cultivating them."

Liu Wenxin adjusted his glasses and immediately said, "Secretary Bi's instruction is very important. Our Organization Department has always adhered to the employment principle of 'the capable advance, the mediocre step down.' For outstanding cadres like Li Dakang who have achieved results at the grassroots level, we should provide a bigger stage."

While speaking, he quietly sized up Li Dakang, recalling that he had seen this young man go to the home of Municipal Party Secretary Guo Zhenhua in the Standing Committee compound. Although he was unclear about the specific relationship, being valued by two main leaders in the city meant this young man's future would certainly be bright.

There was immediate whispering in the meeting room.

Cadres at the city and county levels exchanged glances; the Municipal Party Committee Secretary and the head of the Municipal Organization Department expressing their stance simultaneously was a rare signal in cadre appointments.

In the corner, several county leaders whispered, "Being potentially at the deputy division level before twenty-five is rare even in the whole province!"

Li Dakang sat upright in his seat, his expression calm.

He knew clearly that the leader's affirmation was not only encouragement but also a spur.

The sunset outside the window stretched his shadow long, as if indicating that there was a longer road waiting for him to walk.

Party Secretary Bi Youshan looked at Li Dakang with eager eyes, "Comrade Dakang, the changes in Guantian Township have inspired me greatly. You have walked a realistic path of development and set an example for the whole city."

The meeting room was quiet, and everyone was holding their breath and listening.

Party Secretary Bi Youshan paused and continued, "I hope you maintain this drive and build Guantian Township into a window for the reform and opening up of our Xinying City, making this place a demonstration point for showcasing the new look of the countryside."

Li Dakang straightened his back, his voice forceful, "Please rest assured, Secretary Bi! We will definitely remember your instructions, continue to carry forward the spirit of 'daring to be the first,' lead the cadres and masses of the whole township to work hard and realistically, and achieve the goal of poverty alleviation and prosperity early!"

...

As the sun set, Party Secretary Bi Youshan's motorcade moved further and further away.

In the courtyard of the Township Government, cadres stood in twos and threes, but no one dared to step forward to talk to Li Dakang.

Township Head Mao Yungang quietly watched this young secretary; his tall and straight figure was stretched long in the afterglow of the sunset, just like a green pine tree growing upward.

"Secretary..." Township Head Mao Yungang rubbed his hands, wanting to speak but not saying anything.

Li Dakang turned around, his face still maintaining that calm appearance, "Don't just stand there, we have to work tomorrow. Remember, the leader's affirmation is a spur to our whole township."

After speaking, he strode towards the office.

Behind him, the township cadres straightened their backs simultaneously.

...

After rolling around at the grassroots level for some time, Li Dakang gradually savored the deep meaning of the "three turns."

In the morning, turning around the wheels, going to the countryside to investigate and see the real situation;

At noon, turning around the plates, receiving and sending off guests to do reception work;

At night, turning around "skirts," dealing with trivial matters both inside and outside the home.

As Li Dakang's prestige in Guantian Township grew day by day, various banquet invitations also increased.

Although he always kept in mind that "revolution is not a dinner party," grassroots work emphasizes interpersonal relationships, and being too stubborn won't work either.

Usually around four o'clock in the afternoon, the old-fashioned telephone on Li Dakang's desk would start ringing "ring, ring."

The heads of various stations and offices in the township and the party secretaries of various villages all wanted to use the dinner party to say a word or have a chat, which counted as both reporting work and connecting feelings.

"Secretary Li, tonight the Agricultural Machinery Station wants to invite you to taste the newly opened farmhouse restaurant. The vegetables are all freshly picked from the fields..."

"Secretary, the old party secretary of Wangjia Village specially brought some cured meat from home, saying you must give it a try..."

...

Facing these invitations, Li Dakang had a scale in his heart.

He understood the principle that "being too rigid is easy to break," and while sticking to principles, he would also choose suitable gatherings to attend.

Firstly, he could hear the truth from the grassroots, and secondly, he could get closer to the cadres and the masses.

But he set rules for himself: do not touch high-end alcohol, do not accept gifts, and must pay the bill himself after the meal.

He always remembered the words of the old secretary from his previous life's unit: "As a leader, you must stand as straight as a green pine, but you must also know how to bend down to listen to people."

"If you are too aloof, the truth will not float into your ears."

As the twilight slowly settled, Li Dakang rubbed his sore eyes and stuffed the last document into the filing cabinet.

At this moment, the phone on the desk rang again; this was already the eighth invitation call of the day.