Chapter 277: The Shutdown Turmoil (Part 1)

Feiyue arrived breathless, barely managing to steady himself before Yang Senlin launched into a sharp rebuke. "This is no mixed bag of everything. Several of these amino acid production enterprises clearly fail environmental standards. How can they possibly establish a foothold in the development zone? If we proceed like this, genuine large-scale enterprises will never come here. Besides, the development zone is right next to the county seat. Look at that black smoke, billowing out openly in broad daylight, completely ignoring the existence of regulators."

He spoke sternly, "Director Qin, this is your jurisdiction. What is your opinion?"

Hou Weidong stood behind Yang Senlin in the crowd. Seeing Qin Feiyue caught off guard, he thought to himself: What is Yang Senlin trying to achieve with this? He is merely the deputy secretary presiding over work, not the actual Party Secretary of the county. This approach will certainly offend many people. Is he not afraid?

Qin Feiyue, accustomed to leadership, was stunned for a few seconds but quickly adjusted his emotions. "Secretary Yang, I will go and do the work immediately, striving to bring the pollution under control."

Yang Senlin pressed on relentlessly. "I don't think this pollution can be controlled."

Qin Feiyue knew it couldn't be controlled easily. If they truly needed to add equipment, the cost would be substantial. He said, "I will do the work and have these four enterprises move out of the development zone."

"Move? Move where? The pollution is so severe; I do not want these factories to come and harm the people of Yiyang."

He turned to Zhuang Ziguo in the office and said, "Director Zhuang, notify the Environmental Protection Bureau to come to the development zone tomorrow. Ask Director Qin to attach great importance to this matter and cooperate fully to thoroughly resolve the serious pollution problem in the development zone."

Vice County Mayor Gao, a deputy county-level cadre who had come down from the Shazhou Municipal Government in 1996, knew Yang Senlin. Although their relationship was not deep, they were always quite polite when meeting. Now, with Yang Senlin presiding over the work of the County Party Committee Office and acting so aggressively, it made Gao, as the divisional leader vice mayor, lose face. He smiled and said, "Secretary Yang, the investment attraction situation in several counties in Shazhou is not optimistic. Although these few factories have heavier pollution, they are major contributors to tax revenue. If we shut these factories down today, other counties will snatch them up tomorrow. I believe the immediate priority is to consider how to eliminate the pollution."

Vice County Mayor Gao’s words immediately won a wave of silent agreement. Of course, this agreement was only in their hearts; everyone’s faces remained poker-faced, revealing no attitude.

Yang Senlin did not answer Vice County Mayor Gao’s proposal immediately. He looked toward the southwest. Although they had traveled a considerable distance from the amino acid factory, he could still see a plume of black smoke in the sky. He pointed at the black smoke with his finger.

The other officials followed his gaze.

After a long pause, he said, "This year, I followed a provincial inspection tour to the Huai River Basin. The situation there was shocking. A once-beautiful Huai River has now become a giant stinking ditch. The money the state spends on pollution control far exceeds the economic benefits created by these small factories along the banks, not to mention the incalculable hidden damage."

Yang Senlin stated firmly, "Although the foundation in the Shazhou region is weak, we absolutely cannot follow the old path of the Huai River banks. Therefore, please understand this. I will communicate with County Mayor Ma. We would rather lose some fiscal revenue than leave a legacy of trouble for future generations."

Hou Weidong, having just taken charge of the new management committee, had conducted detailed research on the development zone, both overtly and covertly. He was also well aware of the current status of the four polluting enterprises.

Although the pollution from these four enterprises was severe, their products were very popular in the domestic market, and their profitability was good. They contributed over twenty million yuan in taxes to the local area annually. For a county-level city like Yiyang, this was a considerable income. Over the past year, although the County Party Committee and County Government knew these enterprises had serious pollution problems, they had adopted an attitude of continuously strengthening governance, allowing them to survive.

For the local residents, although they suffered from pollution, they gained the opportunity to work right at their doorstep. A few hundred yuan a month was not a low income for ordinary farming families. Their lives were changing because of these enterprises. On one hand, the air was filled with odors, no longer as fresh as before, and the small rivers had turned yellow and black, even becoming unsuitable for watering vegetables. On the other hand, family life had indeed changed; meat and dishes appeared more frequently on the dinner table, and household appliances like televisions had entered ordinary homes.

Pollution was so closely tied to real money that it plagued countless county-level governments, becoming a universal problem.

It was precisely because Hou Weidong saw the consequences caused by these polluting enterprises in the development zone that he had made up his mind to establish new-type enterprises with less pollution and higher technological content in the new urban area. In this regard, Hou Weidong’s viewpoint was consistent with Yang Senlin’s. However, having stayed in the Yiyang officialdom for a long time, he knew that many things could not be judged by appearances. He could not yet determine whether Yang Senlin truly wanted to control pollution or if there were other underlying motives.

Finally, after Yang Senlin finished his inspection, Qin Feiyue suggested having a simple meal in the development zone. Yang Senlin waved his hand and said, "Forget it. I will come over for a meal only after you have managed to control the pollution from those few enterprises."

Qin Feiyue was left standing aside. Watching the motorcade leave, he felt a mix of sour, sweet, numbing, spicy, and bitter emotions, like having eaten Chongqing’s famous specialty, strange-flavored peanuts. With a face turned iron-blue, he returned to his office, sat quietly for a while, and finally made up his mind.

Hou Weidong had just returned to his office and had not yet had time to drink some water when his phone rang frantically. Accustomed to using a mobile phone, its convenience brought many benefits to himself, but it also brought many troubles.

He took out his phone with some disgust and saw that the call was from Qin Feiyue, so he answered.

"Brother, what instructions did Yang Senlin give to the new management committee? The development zone really hit a wall today."

Hou Weidong smiled and said, "The new management committee has been established for too short a time; there is nothing presentable. I just put up a promotional poster at the entrance and asked Secretary Yang to look at the planning."

"I heard Yang Senlin complained that the new management committee is developing too slowly? I think he is too eager for quick success. If the four enterprises are really driven away, there will be twenty million less in a year. Not only will the fiscal situation be difficult, but it will also affect Yiyang County’s year-end ranking."

Qin Feiyue added, "Before Secretary Zhu went to study, did he brief you?"

Hou Weidong knew Qin Feiyue was coming to probe the truth. He said, "The document from the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department is very strict. Secretary Zhu is studying full-time, and he has also expressed that he will not interfere with Yiyang’s affairs."

Qin Feiyue chuckled on the phone and said, "Brother, don’t play games with me. Secretary Zhu is after all the Party Secretary of the county; he cannot rest easy about Yiyang’s affairs."

Since Qin Feiyue was removed from office due to the prostitution incident, he had inexplicably become close friends with his former subordinate, Hou Weidong. Since Hou Weidong became Zhu Yan’s secretary, their interactions had become even more frequent, and their conversations more casual.

Hou Weidong no longer used official jargon and said vaguely, "In the future, we will keep each other informed of any news."

He then changed the subject and asked, "What should be done about the four polluting enterprises in the development zone?"

"What can be done? Yang Senlin spoke out in front of so many people; how can I oppose him directly? If they must be closed, they will be closed. At most, this year’s assessment indicators will be affected. Moreover, it is not only the development zone’s indicators that will be affected. Twenty million is a large sum for the county finance. If the county finance is not anxious, I naturally am not anxious."

"I understand. One cannot be an official for a lifetime. Follow the leader’s instructions, avoid unnecessary anger, and take on less responsibility."

Hou Weidong understood: Qin Feiyue also wanted to see Ma Youcai’s attitude.

The next day, the County Environmental Protection Bureau sent personnel to the development zone, bringing various instruments to test the several polluting enterprises.

The four polluting enterprises had all been moved from Lingxi. The reason for the relocation was also due to excessive pollution. They had long dealt with environmental protection departments and knew exactly how much pollution their enterprises caused. The four bosses did not show up; instead, they let their subordinates lead the environmental protection department for testing.

Environmental Protection Bureau Director Xia Mingguo sat in Qin Feiyue’s office with a heavy expression. Xia Mingguo had previously been the deputy director of the Township Enterprises Bureau and had worked with Qin Feiyue, so they were very familiar. With the door closed, they began to chat.

Xia Mingguo said, "I spoke with Sheng Kui on the phone. County Mayor Ma said that since Secretary Yang has spoken, we must execute it seriously." Qin Feiyue said, "Director Xia’s meaning is to strictly enforce environmental protection regulations and immediately close these four enterprises."

Xia Mingguo had high blood pressure, a grayish complexion, and was on the older side. He had always believed that it was better to avoid trouble than to create it. Furthermore, the county protected the enterprises they had attracted. For most polluting enterprises, he adopted an attitude of turning a blind eye, mainly dealing with them by imposing fines. He had only closed two very small polluting enterprises. This time, Yang Senlin had specifically assigned the task, and he could not shirk it.

"Secretary Yang has issued the order to close them; what can I do?"

Qin Feiyue sighed, "Closing them is easy, but I’m afraid it will lead to disputes."

By mid-May, the four enterprises were completely shut down, and the thick black smoke stopped entirely. Coincidentally, the rain in Yiyang came particularly early. After several heavy rains, the small river channels, usually black and yellow, became much cooler and clearer.

Hou Weidong secretly went to check a few times. The difference before and after the rectification was naturally obvious. However, he also received news that over three hundred villagers from two villages near the four enterprises were petitioning the County Party Committee and County Government for an explanation.

On May 12, Hou Weidong was called to Yang Senlin’s office. They had just begun discussing the housing development of the new management committee when a commotion arose downstairs.

Comprehensive Section Chief Ren Xiaowei came in to report, "Several hundred villagers from the development zone have arrived, saying they are demanding land compensation from the government."

"What land compensation?"

Ren Xiaowei was not familiar with the development zone either and stammered, unable to explain clearly. Yang Senlin then asked Hou Weidong, "You have served as Deputy Director of the Committee Office; do you know the situation?"

"When these four enterprises moved in, they enjoyed a policy of three years of tax exemption followed by two years of half tax. The land was priced at three-quarters of the market rate. However, due to tight funds in the development zone, the four enterprises were required to bear the demolition compensation for the relocated households. The demolition compensation was calculated strictly according to normal standards by the development zone, to be paid off by the four enterprises within five years. Only two years have been paid so far."

Yang Senlin understood clearly. He stood by the window, looking at the banners and the chaotic crowd outside the door, and said to Ren Xiaowei, "Call the Party Secretaries of the development zone and Chengguan Town to the County Party Committee. They must bring their people back."