14: Chapter 14 Welcome Banquet

During the brief pleasantries, Li Dakang shook hands with Chairman Shen Dawei, Deputy Secretary of the Township Party Committee Duan Yongping, and Director Su Zhiguo in turn.

As they walked inside, Li Dakang keenly caught a glimpse of several heads peeking out from behind doors on both sides of the corridor; seeing him look over, they quickly retracted, and the whispers spread through the air like an invisible web.

Guantian Township had a total of fifty-eight people, including the leadership team and registered staff, plus a few temporary workers, making it over sixty people in total.

Because the notice from the County Party Committee Organization Department came in a rush, the village party secretaries and village heads from each village could not make it in time.

(Note: The village party secretary is the village secretary, and the village head is the village director; one is a common term, the other is the official title, they are just called differently.)

In the conference room, when Minister Huang Lixin read the appointment document, he deliberately emphasized his tone: "The County Party Committee sent Li Dakang to Guantian to change the backward appearance of this place! If anyone dares to drag their feet..."

His sharp gaze swept across the room: "The County Party Committee's disciplinary rod spares no one!"

These words carried an air of absolute menace.

The cadres of Guantian Township were mostly "old slickers"; after all, this was a famously poor place in the county. Anyone with a way out wouldn't want to stay. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it an exile, so Minister Huang Lixin had to sound the alarm.

When it was Li Dakang's turn to speak, he stood up, his voice clear and forceful: "Comrades, I have come to Guantian Township for one word, and that is 'work'! Work to achieve results, work to create change! Let the pockets of the common people bulge, and let the face of Guantian Township become new!"

Decent applause finally broke out from the audience, but Li Dakang noticed that when the few leadership team members in the front row clapped, there was something complex hidden in their eyes.

From this moment on, Li Dakang was the Township Head of Guantian Township.

(Technically, it should be Acting Township Head, but this step was omitted for the sake of the plot.)

A twenty-two-year-old Township Head at the section chief level—not to mention Anjiang County, you couldn't find a second one in the entire Xinying City.

Although in ministries and provincial-level units, section-level cadres in their twenties are a dime a dozen, and even division-level cadres under thirty are not rare.

But there is a world of difference between a real post and a nominal one.

A Township Head manages at least dozens of people and tens of thousands of common folk, holding real financial and administrative power.

Whereas some provincial division chiefs only have a few people under them, and they themselves are still just errand runners.

The weight of this power simply cannot be compared.

Everyone in the audience looked at Li Dakang's excessively young face, their hearts pounding: It's hard to say if this new Township Head can get things done, but his background must be solid; otherwise, why would the Minister of the County Party Committee Organization Department personally escort him?

Regardless, he's not someone to mess with, so it's better to be well-behaved.

After the meeting ended, Secretary Sun Wei wanted to keep Minister Huang Lixin for a meal, but was politely declined.

This was because Guantian Township was too poor; the cafeteria really couldn't produce any decent dishes. Minister Huang Lixin had tasted it once before and had no desire to do so again.

Before leaving, Minister Huang Lixin patted Li Dakang on the shoulder: "Comrade Dakang, my mission is complete. Secretary Yuan thinks highly of you; do not let his and the County Party Committee's trust go to waste."

"Thank you, Minister Huang."

Li Dakang said with a firm tone: "Please convey to Secretary Yuan that I will certainly not let that trust go to waste."

"Good." Minister Huang Lixin smiled and got into the car.

Watching the Santana drive away, Secretary Sun Wei turned back and said with a smile: "Township Head Dakang, the cafeteria has prepared a simple meal to welcome you; shall we head over?"

"Many thanks, Secretary Sun, please go ahead." Li Dakang stepped aside to yield the way.

The cafeteria of the Guantian Township Government was right next to the office building, a mottled two-story building.

Where the wall plaster had peeled off, grey bricks were exposed, looking like patches.

The first floor was where the cadres ate daily, and there was a small private room on the second floor, generally used for hosting guests.

Li Dakang followed Secretary Sun Wei up the creaking wooden stairs; in the private room on the second floor, a table of food and wine had already been set.

"Township Head Dakang, today I specifically asked Old Zhou in the cafeteria to add a few substantial dishes."

Secretary Sun Wei said enthusiastically: "Our conditions in Guantian are limited, so please make do."

Li Dakang scanned the table: the braised pork was shiny and oily, the steamed fish was neatly plated, and there were a few green seasonal vegetables. In this poor township, such a meal was already considered sumptuous.

Party and Government Office Director Su Zhiguo was busy opening the wine, and the two characters "Baijiang" on the bottle shimmered in the sunlight.

This wine was named after the Baijiang River, the largest river in Xinying City; it was over forty percent alcohol but not harsh upon entering the mouth.

"Thanks to Township Head Dakang, my stomach has finally seen some grease," Deputy Secretary of the Township Party Committee Duan Yongping laughed, patting his round belly.

Chairman Shen Dawei teased: "Old Duan, if you keep eating, you'll burst through the doorframe!"

Secretary Sun Wei waved his hand: "Let's have a drink today to welcome Township Head Dakang!"

He looked around at everyone: "Except for Deputy Township Head Xiao Yan, fill everyone's glasses."

Li Dakang noticed that, apart from Deputy Township Head Zhang Xiaoyan who was using tea instead of wine, even the female propaganda committee member had picked up her wine glass.

In the officialdom of this era, alcohol tolerance is combat effectiveness; there is even a saying that "the higher your alcohol tolerance, the higher your official position." Often, performance at the dinner table can measure work "strength" better than reports.

"Come, let's toast Township Head Dakang together!"

Secretary Sun Wei stood up and raised his glass: "From now on, we are all one family!"

After clinking glasses and finishing them, Li Dakang picked up the wine bottle to refill Secretary Sun Wei's glass: "Secretary Sun, I toast this cup to you. Being new here, I hope for your guidance, big brother."