275: Do you still look like a county party secretary?

Hearing Lin Zifeng's words, Cao Mingxiu waved his hand and said, "Stop right there! Stop crying poverty to me. During this time, your county's Leadership Team Members have been treating the Municipal Party Committee Compound like a relay station, taking turns one after another!"

Urban construction support funds, education subsidies, medical subsidy funds, agricultural subsidy funds—the vast majority of subsidies have been snatched up by your Yushu County.

Even our stern Secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection came to complain to me yesterday.

He said that Qiao Zhenyu from your County Discipline Inspection Commission guarded his Office for three consecutive days and stubbornly demanded 20 million from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection's Office expenses and other funds before he was willing to leave.

And what about the other Standing Committee Members in your county? I won't list them one by one.

Adding the 500 million in special funds supported by the Mayor and me, your Yushu County leadership team has obtained at least 800 million in funds from the City Level. And yet, you, Secretary Zifeng, are still not satisfied!

I can see it now. With a difficult leader like you in Yushu County, it's a case of 'if the top beam is crooked, the lower beams will be slanted'—the subordinates are just following the example of their superior!"

Cao Mingxiu's tone carried a hint of helplessness and a bit of teasing.

Hearing Cao Mingxiu's words, a flash of embarrassment crossed Lin Zifeng's face, and he hurriedly said, "Secretary, you can't say that. The Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government are our support. When we have difficulties, who else should we turn to but our support?"

We aren't pretending to be poor either. According to our urban construction plan, there's a funding gap of a full four billion. Please help Yushu County a bit more!

How about this? I won't ask for much. You and the Mayor just give us an additional 500 million in special funds, and we'll find a way to cover the remaining gap ourselves."

"You really have the nerve to ask for so much! Another 500 million? I think you might as well just sell the Mayor and me!"

Cao Mingxiu was exasperated into laughter by Lin Zifeng.

"Secretary, you're joking. Even if I had a hundred times more courage, I wouldn't dare! If not 500 million, 300 million would work too!"

Lin Zifeng said hurriedly.

"Well, look at you, Lin Zifeng! You're playing the vegetable market bargaining game with me here. Anyone who didn't know better would think you're a dishonest merchant!"

You look at yourself now. Do you still look like a County Party Secretary? Instead, you're giving off the air of a rogue."

Cao Mingxiu said with an amused expression.

"Secretary, am I not also forced by necessity? If there were any other way, I wouldn't want to be like this either!"

Secretary, please show some mercy!"

Lin Zifeng's tone was filled with entreaty.

"I really can't do anything with you. Yesterday, the Provincial Party Committee just allocated 200 million in special funds for urban diversified development and construction to the City Level. Go find the Mayor! Don't be insatiably greedy anymore."

"Thank you, Secretary. Thank you, Secretary and Mayor, for your support of Yushu County. On behalf of all the Cadres and masses of Yushu County, I thank you and the Mayor."

Hearing the news from Cao Mingxiu, Lin Zifeng was overjoyed and hurriedly expressed his gratitude!

"Alright, don't waste any more time with me. Get to the Mayor's Office quickly! If the Mayor approves it for another district or county, then consider the 200 million I just promised void."

Cao Mingxiu said with a chuckle.

Hearing Cao Mingxiu's words, Lin Zifeng hurriedly stood up to take his leave.

Seeing the Office door close and Lin Zifeng's figure disappear from sight, Cao Mingxiu picked up his phone and dialed Jiang Shiyu's number directly.

After the call connected, Cao Mingxiu said with a smile, "Mayor, I really couldn't withstand Lin Zifeng's pestering! A dignified County Party Secretary pestering me with such persistence and nagging—it's truly hard to deal with!"

However, seeing that he's doing this for the sake of local construction, I just went along with it and promised him those 200 million in special funds. Finally, my ears are at peace."

"Secretary, Yushu County's move this time is quite significant! Investing 11 billion all at once and wanting to start several major projects simultaneously—that's a massive undertaking!"

Since Secretary Zifeng and the Comrades of Yushu County have such great determination and boldness, it's only right for our Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government to provide more support.

Since you've already relented, it'll be much easier for me when Secretary Zifeng arrives. To be honest, the last two times he came to my Office, he also pestered me to the point of helplessness!"

After Jiang Shiyu finished speaking, both of them laughed into their phones simultaneously.

Lin Zifeng arrived at Jiang Shiyu's Office. Without any hesitation, Jiang Shiyu approved another 200 million in funds for him. After expressing his thanks, Lin Zifeng left happily.

Lin Zifeng used every trick in the book and secured a total of 700 million in financial support from the City Level. Combined with the funds obtained by other Leadership Team Members from the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, Yushu County secured a total of 1.01 billion from the City Level.

Even though Lin Zifeng and the Leadership Team Members secured one billion from the City Level, under the unified coordination of the County Government, the eleven townships raised 800 million. Among them, Heping Town alone raised 200 million.

However, there was still a funding gap of over two billion.

Lin Zifeng took some time to hold a brief Standing Committee meeting with only one goal: to find a way to get money.

After some discussion, Lin Zifeng and the others decided to go to the corresponding departments of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government separately to seek financial support.

Although the hope of securing funds wasn't high—after all, the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government were in between—Lin Zifeng and the others still decided to give it a try.

After all, even if they couldn't get the funds, there wouldn't be any loss; it would just be a waste of some time.

If they could secure the funds, wouldn't that be even better?

However, it was impossible for everyone to go to the Provincial Capital together, so they decided to go to the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government during their spare time from work.

Currently, the project bidding work led by Xu Minghao is in full swing. Since the Yushu County Party Committee and County Government issued the public announcement, it has attracted more than thirty engineering and construction companies.

It has already reached the stage of reviewing strength and qualifications. On-site bidding will take place next week, and the winning companies will be announced on the spot. Therefore, the few people responsible for this work have no time to go to the Provincial Capital right now.

Lin Zifeng decided to head to the Provincial Capital in the near future to seek financial support. After work, he returned to his parents' home as usual.

While eating with his family, he said, "Dad, Mom, I'm going to the Provincial Capital on official business tomorrow and probably won't be back until next week. Do you have anything you need?"

"Oh, Zifeng, is your trip to the Provincial Capital for official business because several major projects in the county are starting at the same time, and you need to go to the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government to seek support funds?"

"Even the teachers at school are talking about it. Our county is not only going to build and develop Dongshan, turning it into Dongshan Forest Park, but also build Peoples Square."

"In addition, five expressways crossing the entire county will be built simultaneously. Everyone says that once these projects are completed, Yushu County will not only undergo a huge transformation but also usher in unprecedented major development. People are privately applauding and looking forward to a brand-new Yushu County!"

"Is it because all these projects are starting at once and the county's fiscal funds are insufficient that you have to go to the Provincial Level?"

Lin Jiahua asked with a curious expression.