26: Chapter 26 Meeting the Mayor

Li Dakang took the cigarette: "I have an appointment in the city today, I will visit after I return the day after tomorrow."

He looked in the rearview mirror as the archway of Guantian Township grew smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing into the dusty country road.

"Alright, it's settled then. Contact me in advance the day after tomorrow."

...

The Anjiang County bus station was bustling with people.

Li Dakang declined Secretary Sun Wei's kind offer to have a driver take him to the city and boarded the bus to Xinying City alone.

The bus carriage was filled with the smell of sweat and low-quality tobacco; he found a window seat and sat down, clutching his briefcase tightly to his chest.

After the bus pulled onto the provincial road, the scenery outside the window gradually opened up.

Li Dakang took out his notebook from his bag, which was densely packed with notes on his visits over the past few days: the tofu from Zhengjia Village, the chestnuts from Liushugou... each village name was followed by several lines of scribbled annotations.

"Comrade, can I borrow a light?" The middle-aged man sitting next to him interrupted his thoughts.

Li Dakang looked up and saw a face tanned dark by the sun, with thick finger joints and indelible engine oil embedded in his fingernails.

"Are you... going to the city for business?" The middle-aged man lit his cigarette and started chatting.

"Yes, visiting relatives."

Li Dakang closed his notebook and asked casually: "And you?"

"My daughter is studying at Xinying Normal College." Pride appeared on the middle-aged man's face.

"I haven't given her this month's living expenses yet." He patted his bulging inner pocket, and the coins clinked crisply.

During the conversation, Li Dakang learned that the man was a worker at the Anjiang Farm Machinery Factory, with a monthly salary of less than two hundred yuan, about the same as his own as a Township Head.

Outside the bus window, the setting sun dyed the fields gold, and thick smoke billowed from the factory chimneys in the distance.

In front of the guard post at the Xinying City Standing Committee compound, the bayonets of the armed police soldiers glinted coldly in the setting sun.

Li Dakang stood outside the cordon, carrying a gift bag, feeling sharp gazes scanning his body.

"Comrade, please stop." The armed policeman's voice was devoid of any emotion.

"Hello, comrade. My name is Li Dakang, and I have an appointment at Mayor Guo's house." Li Dakang said with a smile.

"Please wait a moment, let me confirm."

The guard picked up the phone, communicated briefly, and hung up.

"Comrade, Mayor Guo's secretary will come out to receive you."

"Thank you for the trouble."

In less than five minutes, a young man in a dark suit walked over quickly, carrying the cautious gait and appropriate smile typical of government officials.

"You must be Township Head Li, right? I am Secretary Chen Bin, Mayor Guo's secretary." He extended his hand.

"Hello, Section Chief Chen, I am Li Dakang."

The mayor's secretary usually concurrently serves as the Section Chief of the Secretarial Section of the Municipal Government Office (full section level), and those with seniority hold the position of Deputy Director of the Municipal Government Office (deputy division level). Judging by Chen Bin's age, Li Dakang addressed him as "Section Chief."

"Let's go in, Mayor Guo is waiting for you at home." Secretary Chen Bin smiled and led the way.

There were eleven independent small buildings in the Standing Committee compound, corresponding to the eleven Standing Committee members.

Secretary Chen Bin led Li Dakang to Building No. 2, which was the residence of Municipal Party Secretary Guo Zhenhua.

As Li Dakang entered the building, a tall, slender middle-aged man in front of Building No. 6 not far away happened to see this scene, turned his head and asked his secretary: "Xiao Qi, have you ever seen that young man who just entered Municipal Party Secretary Guo Zhenhua's house?"

"I haven't seen him, Minister. He must be a relative of Municipal Party Secretary Guo Zhenhua, right?" Xiao Qi thought for a moment and said.

This person called "Minister" was none other than Liu Wenxin, Minister of the Municipal Organization Department of Xinying City.

He looked at Li Dakang's back, lost in thought: "Perhaps."

The living room of Building No. 2 was spacious and bright. Municipal Party Secretary Guo Zhenhua was wearing a casual cotton and linen shirt, brewing tea in front of the coffee table. Seeing Li Dakang come in, he smiled and beckoned: "You came just in time; try this year's Mingqian Longjing tea."

"Uncle Guo."

Li Dakang handed the gift to Xie Xiaomei, who came up to greet him: "A small token of my appreciation."

"Brother Dakang!"

Guo Yaoyao, wearing a ponytail, rushed out of the room, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the toy box in his hand: "Is it for me?"

"Yes, little Yaoyao, take it and play." Li Dakang patted Guo Yaoyao's head.

"Thank you, Brother Dakang." Guo Yaoyao took the toy and ran off happily to play.

"Dakang, come and sit."

Municipal Party Secretary Guo Zhenhua spoke up: "How is it? The work in the township is not easy, is it?" He wore a smile, his eyes revealing concern.

"Uncle Guo is right. The main problem is that the foundation is too weak. When I first arrived, the salaries of the community-run teachers had been in arrears for half a year." Li Dakang put down his teacup and sighed softly.

Municipal Party Secretary Guo Zhenhua frowned and asked: "Has this problem been solved?"

"Temporarily solved. I borrowed a sum of money from the Credit Cooperative to pay the teachers' salaries and cadre subsidies; otherwise, work really couldn't be carried out."

"That's good, but this is not a long-term solution. To change the status quo, you must have a stable source of fiscal revenue." Municipal Party Secretary Guo Zhenhua reminded him earnestly.

"I know, Uncle Guo. I am currently conducting a thorough investigation to have a clear understanding. Once I have figured it out, I will consider the next step of development based on the actual situation." Li Dakang said with a serious face.

"Mm, without investigation, there is no right to speak. You must not make decisions blindly based on impulse, otherwise, it is the common people who will suffer." Municipal Party Secretary Guo Zhenhua smiled with gratification.

...

After finishing dinner at Municipal Party Secretary Guo Zhenhua's house, Li Dakang and Secretary Chen Bin left the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee compound together.