Chapter 369: Reception (Part 2)

The "Three Talks" Office had seconded about twenty staff members, occupying more than ten rooms in the Grand Guesthouse. Signs indicating various sections and their responsibilities were nailed to the walls, and every desk was equipped with a computer. The setup appeared more formal than a standard office, significantly raising the档次 (level) compared to temporary offices like the "Three Funds" Office or the Debt Clearance Office.

"The hardest problems become easy once the top leadership pays attention. This 'Three Talks' campaign has received high attention from the Municipal Party Committee, so even the biggest difficulties have turned into minor issues."

Su Mingjun had previously been on good terms with Hou Weidong, though he harbored a subtle sense of superiority. Now that Hou Weidong had suddenly become Zhou Changquan’s secretary, Su Mingjun finally regarded him as a true colleague.

Leading Hou Weidong into the director’s office of the "Three Talks" Office, Su Mingjun stopped at the door and called out, "Xiao Guo, make some tea."

Guo Lan had come to the "Three Talks" Office along with Su Mingjun. When Hou Weidong entered, she was sitting in the corner, studying him intently, looking somewhat distracted. Hearing Su Mingjun’s call, she picked up a white ceramic teacup, brewed the tea, and carried it into Minister Su’s office.

"Guo Lan." Hou Weidong was slightly surprised to see Guo Lan, but he quickly understood. As a cadre from the Organization Department, it was normal for her to be seconded to the "Three Talks" Office.

Guo Lan wore no makeup, appearing elegant and clean. She smiled faintly and said, "Hou Weidong, I heard you were transferred to the General Section of the Municipal Party Committee Office. How long have you been here?"

"Less than a month. How is Professor Guo doing?"

"She’s doing okay. She goes to the library every day to read books and take a walk."

After setting down the teacup, Guo Lan turned to Su Mingjun and said, "Minister Su, the comrades from Wu Hai County will be arriving shortly. They want to report on the progress of the 'Three Talks' education."

Su Mingjun replied, "Please ask Group Leader Wang to receive them first. I will come over in a moment."

Once the door was closed, Su Mingjun said, "You and Guo Lan were once colleagues. She is in excellent condition, considered the most beautiful flower of the Municipal Party Committee. Many people pursue her, but she rejects them all."

Hou Weidong responded, "Guo’s wife is quite anxious about this matter. Marriage depends entirely on oneself; others worrying is useless."

Su Mingjun picked up a stack of documents and said, "These are the collected criticisms, suggestions, and opinions. Some are self-inspection reports from various units. Additionally, the 'Three Talks' Supervision Group has set up suggestion boxes, so that portion of the materials has not been consolidated into the 'Three Talks' Office."

He pointed to the materials with his finger and continued, "Following Minister Zhao’s instructions, we have divided the opinions into two parts. One part is made public within the 'Three Talks' Office. The other part is kept by me and is not disclosed externally. What I am showing you now are the non-public materials."

Hou Weidong said, "Brother Su, rest assured. I will only look through them here to understand the situation. I will not take them away or make copies."

Su Mingjun patted the file folder and said, "Take your time reading in this office. I will go receive the comrades from the Wu Hai County 'Three Talks' Office." As Su Mingjun closed the door, he turned back and gave Hou Weidong a meaningful smile.

The file folder was not very thick, but its contents were sharp.

One item reported on the land encirclement in the southern new district of Shazhou, stating that the land was "basking in the sun during the day and accompanying the moon at night." It suggested that the municipal government adjust its thinking, increase efforts to attract investment, and take practical actions to promote the construction of the southern new district. It also criticized the leadership of the southern new district and Director Gao Jian.

Another item reported on the backward infrastructure in the old city area of Shazhou. It noted that urban roads were severely damaged, back alleys lacked streetlights, and walking at night was inconvenient and unsafe. It hoped the municipal government would earnestly resolve issues concerning the people.

A third item was a letter from a citizen reporting that Old Kong from the Finance Bureau had abused his power for personal gain. It claimed he had collected huge amounts of kickbacks during the construction of the Finance Hotel and several other major projects, though the specific amounts were not disclosed. The letter further stated, "The Finance Hotel has become a pleasure nest for Kong Zhengyi and others. They often gather in the 'Leisure Pavilion' on the tenth floor to gamble and even engage in prostitution, squandering the people’s blood and sweat."

Hou Weidong did not know whether Kong Zhengyi had accepted bribes. As for the matters in the Leisure Pavilion, Hou Weidong himself had participated several times. Regarding Kong Zhengyi having several mistresses, it was nine times out of ten true.

Hou Weidong recalled how Kong Zhengyi had scolded his subordinates and concluded, "There must be an insider. Otherwise, they could not know the details so clearly."

Another item was a denunciation letter against Old Xing, the director of the Construction Commission. Hou Weidong commented, "Old Xing is lying in the hospital, already considered useless. Who is throwing stones at him while he is down? That is not decent."

The entire file involved seven or eight department heads, but no municipal-level leaders. The only document targeting a vice mayor of the municipal government contained vague rumors and carried little weight.

After finishing the file, Hou Weidong recalled what Zhou Changquan had said at the meeting the previous night. He gradually understood and thought to himself, "No wonder Secretary Changquan emphasized politics so much at the meeting. As the Municipal Party Secretary, he certainly does not want any problems to arise during the 'Three Talks' period. Stability always overrides everything."

Checking the time, Hou Weidong returned to his office. He had just sat down when Zhou Changquan and Hong Ang arrived together.

Hong Ang said, "Secretary Zhou, phosphate mining also needs to be standardized. Barbaric mining is a waste of resources, and neither the city nor the county levels are receiving much tax revenue."

Zhou Changquan replied, "The municipal government is working on a plan. You go and ask them to speed it up."

After Hong Ang left, Hou Weidong handed over several newly arrived documents from the Lingxi Provincial Party Committee. Zhou Changquan asked, "Have you heard any feedback regarding the 'Three Talks'?"

Hou Weidong felt confident and replied calmly, "I just visited the 'Three Talks' Office and looked at the opinions they have collected and summarized. Some of the opinions are quite sharp."

Zhou Changquan showed interest and said, "Tell me the specific details."

After listening to the people Hou Weidong mentioned, Zhou Changquan did not express an opinion. He only said, "You should also pay attention to collecting public sentiment in your daily work. In your spare time, interact more with the grassroots people. Without investigation, there is no right to speak."

Hou Weidong tentatively suggested, "The Supervision Group also has suggestion boxes. The 'Three Talks' Office does not have control over that content."

Zhou Changquan rubbed his face and said, "Yi Zhongda is from Yiyang. You should interact with him more. Relatives become closer the more they visit; if they don’t visit, they grow distant. The same applies to friends."

Hou Weidong thought for a moment and said, "If there are no major arrangements tonight, may I invite Section Chief Yi to dinner?"

"Hong and I have matters to attend to outside. You can arrange your evening yourself."

Zhou Changquan waved his hand and said, "I only manage direction and principles. I don’t have time to manage these details. In the future, for matters that are certain, you can judge and handle them yourself."

Before getting off work, Hong Ang, a member of the Municipal Standing Committee and Secretary-General, walked into Zhou Changquan’s office and said, "Secretary Zhou, the time is about right. Let’s set off."

As Zhou Changquan stood up, Hong Ang took the cashmere coat hanging on the rack and handed it to him. At the same time, Hong Ang’s gaze fell on Hou Weidong.

Zhou Changquan said, "Xiao Hou is not going. He has other arrangements."

After Zhou Changquan and Hong Ang left the office, Hou Weidong called Ji Haiyang.

"Secretary Ji, this is Hou Weidong. I am reporting a matter to you. Section Chief Yi Zhongda of the Provincial Party Committee’s 'Three Talks' Supervision Group is from Yiyang. I would like to invite him to dinner in the capacity of a fellow townsman. As a Yiyang leader, could you make an appearance?"

Although Ji Haiyang was the deputy secretary in charge of organization, it was not easy for him to meet with comrades from the Provincial Organization Department. He readily agreed, saying, "Good. What time, and where?"

Hou Weidong quickly replied, "If Section Chief Yi agrees, we will arrange it at the Transportation Hotel."

Ji Haiyang said, "Old Liu’s place is nice. Good, I will wait."

Hou Weidong dialed Yi Zhongda’s number and said enthusiastically, "Section Chief Yi, this is Hou Weidong from the General Section of the Municipal Party Committee. Today, Ji Haiyang, Deputy Secretary of the Yiyang County Party Committee, is in the city for business. Do you have any plans for tonight? He would like to invite you to dinner on behalf of our hometown people and report on Yiyang’s work."

Yi Zhongda replied with some reserve, "I already have arrangements. Secretary Ji Haiyang is too polite."

Hearing that his tone was not firm, Hou Weidong said, "Section Chief Yi, please take some time to meet with us grassroots comrades."

Yi Zhongda then said, "Alright. Since the hometown officials have come, I will push aside my other arrangements first."

With the matter roughly settled, Hou Weidong called Liu Linyi, Deputy Director of the Municipal Transportation Bureau.

Liu Linyi was the former transportation bureau chief of Yiyang. After serving a term as deputy county magistrate, he was transferred to the municipal transportation bureau as deputy director. After Hou Weidong was transferred to the General Section of the Municipal Party Committee, Liu Linyi had specifically visited him once, patting his chest and saying, "Secretary Hou, if you need anything in the future, just give the order. Don’t be polite. Being polite makes us strangers."

Upon receiving Hou Weidong’s call, Liu Linyi did not break his promise. He said, "Secretary Hou, leave this matter to me." He then asked, "After dinner, shall we arrange some entertainment? Mahjong or singing? If Section Chief Yi likes singing, I will go to the office and assign a few young female comrades who can sing and dance. We cannot let the provincial leaders feel neglected."

"Then I will trouble you, Director Liu."

A month ago, Ji Haiyang, Liu Linyi, and others were high-ranking leaders. Now that their positions had changed relative to Hou Weidong, they cooperated with him very actively. Hou Weidong had not changed, but his background had. Previously, he only represented the county science and technology commission. Now, to some extent, he represented Zhou Changquan, and the name Zhou Changquan represented the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee.

Hou Weidong arrived at the Transportation Hotel earliest. Liu Linyi was already waiting in the luxury suite. Upon seeing Hou Weidong, he immediately apologized, saying, "Director Teng has gone to the province for a meeting and cannot come to accompany the leaders."

As he spoke, he handed over the phone. Hou Weidong took it, and Director Teng’s loud voice came through, "Secretary Hou, the fact that you, Section Chief Yi of the Supervision Group, and Secretary Ji Haiyang can come to the Transportation Bureau shows that you look up to us. I am currently accompanying Director Qian in the province and cannot rush back. I have asked Director Liu to ensure you eat well and play well."

After Ji Haiyang arrived from Yiyang, Hou Weidong called Yi Zhongda again. Section Chief Yi delayed for another seven or eight minutes before finally arriving at the Transportation Hotel.