Chinese rural official

Author: Chen Liang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: A realistic long depicting the raw political life in rural areas, a vivid and emotional political tragedy-comedy full of suspense and twists. Based on the author's personal experiences, the book, under the name of the village and the name of the contemporary era, comprehensively portrays the real life of 4.8 million grassroots officials in China. Renowned critics Zeng Zhennan and Yan Zhaozhu believe that it is a realistic long reflecting the raw political life in rural areas, a vivid and emotional tragedy-comedy of grassroots politics. Under the name of the village and the name of the contemporary era, it truly depicts the life of 4.8 million grassroots officials in China. The struggle for the position of village party secretary, the self-immolation of farmers in front of the village government office, the confrontation at the construction site of a famous enterprise, the investigation team from the provincial party committee conducting thorough inspections, kidnapping, petitioning, and bloody incidents. In over two weeks, a series of turbulent events unfolded, a story of governance that was both legal and realistic. After the storm calmed down, their souls and faces were fully revealed. At the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, with everything in chaos, it was not the best time to adjust cadres. However, our organizational departments often resort to major restructuring of the cadres at this time. Over the years, some people have ed idle talk, saying, "The New Year has come, the official hats have jumped. Some are sad, some are happy. Don't laugh too much, don't be too upset. Next year, at the end of the year, things will be reversed." Therefore, for those who make a living in the official circles, the New Year is both a dragon gate and a hell gate, both a blessing and a curse. And here we are, just as this idle talk predicted. Liu Shihuai, the party secretary of Da Wang Township, "popped" like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, being nominated and elected as the deputy party secretary of Gaoshan County. The thunderous announcement of his promotion from a county-level rank to a prefecture-level rank, Liu Shihuai, was overjoyed and rode to his new post. The question of who would fill the position he left behind became the focus of the interview, not only causing hardship for the leaders of the county party committee and the organization department but also for those in Da Wang Township who aspired to the position of party secretary and the golden chair. According to rumors, the most competitive candidates were not more than two: one was Wang Changsheng, the head of Da Wang Township, and the other was Li Daquan, the chairman of the people's congress of Da Wang Township. Both came from well-established families: one had political backing, and the other had a solid economic foundation. They were like a general meeting a worthy talent, a chess game where both were evenly matched. According to the old saying, "With someone inside, it's easier to be an official," Wang Changsheng, the head of the township, had the best chance; based on the theory that "economic foundation determines the superstructure," Li Daquan was also not bad. Who would ultimately win, everyone waited with bated breath. Da Wang Township is the industrial powerhouse of Gaoshan County. But those who know the inside story dared not agree. They had their own measure. The work of Da Wang Township appeared on the surface to be vigorous and prosperous, like a radiant sun in the sky, splendid and magnificent, but in reality, it was not the case. They said that while they could not describe the evaluation of Da Wang Township as "golden on the outside, rotten on the inside," all the work seemed like a tangled mess, impossible to untangle, hiding countless contradictions and problems. Whoever became the party secretary would be like riding a tiger, though glamorous, it would be difficult to dismount. It was also like sitting on a powder keg, not knowing when, upon waking up, they would reach out and find that the official hat they had painstakingly acquired had already been blown to pieces, leaving no trace. However, the vast majority of cadres in Da Wang Township were competent and well-liked. Their eyes were fixed on their work, on the daily necessities of their families, and on their wives and children. They had no interest in politics. The party secretary might be gone, but they would still do what they had to do, without any worry or tension. The may be iron, but the officials are like water. Whether it was the party secretary or the head of the township, it didn't matter. As long as they could receive their full salary from the administrative staff on the 10th of each month, they were satisfied. However, some were not like that. Without a leader, they were happy to have a leisurely time. Some even "worked from 8 to 9, left before 10." Work was also "a cup of tea and a cigarette in the morning, reading the newspaper for half the day; in the afternoon, half a dozen woolen threads and half a basket of talk, closing the door to play chess." Office Director Zeng Shaoxiong was in a headache, feeling that it was time for the party secretary or the head of the township to step forward and make a move. At 10:30 in the morning, he finally managed to corner Wang Changsheng in the office of the head of the township and asked, "Wang Township Head, what should we do?" Wang Changsheng was one of the first township cadres recruited nationwide. He was well-educated, had a solid foundation, and had considerable political acumen. Later, after kicking out his wife and sleeping with the daughter of the county people's congress director, he relied on the shelter of his, and in his career, he was like Sun Wukong in the novel by Wu Cheng'en, getting whatever he wanted, whether it was wind or rain, making others speechless with his smooth sailing. Liu Shihuai's departure gave him great confidence, and he was full of ambition, determined to win. According to the usual practice of cadres' spiral advancement, when the party secretary left, the head of the township was naturally expected to move up half a step and take over the party secretary's hat. But he still felt a bit uneasy. Even cooked ducks can fly away, let alone this was just his one-sided wish. In these days, he was busy making arrangements everywhere, already having no time to pay attention to the affairs of the township government. He was a bit annoyed by Zeng Shaoxiong's question, feeling that it was not the right time to bring it up, and frowned, saying, "Organizational discipline is a matter of cadres' style. This belongs to Secretary Dong. You should go and ask Secretary Dong how to handle it." Secretary Dong's name is Dong Zhikang. He is 42 years old this year, the deputy party secretary of the township, mainly responsible for Party construction and ideological work. Dong Zhikang is a person with strong principles, impatient, and acts decisively. When he criticizes, he shows no mercy. Many cadres in Da Wang Township have been criticized by him. People are both afraid of him and like him. They are afraid of his severity but like his straightforwardness. He is a cadre transferred from the county party committee. He worked as a secretary in the county party committee office for five years. He was promoted to deputy township head around the age of 38, and then transferred to the position of deputy party secretary of the township. Although the deputy party secretary and the deputy township head have the same rank, their political treatment is very different. In the Party, the deputy party secretary is the second in command, on par with the head of the township. Zeng Shaoxiong stepped out of Wang Changsheng's office but did not go directly to Dong Zhikang's office. He knew that Dong Zhikang had gone to the village yesterday and had not returned to the township, staying in the village. He glanced back, turned around, and slipped into the office of Li Daquan, the chairman of the people's congress of Da Wang Township. He had his own little secrets. Now the curtain has not yet been lifted, who will take office and who will shine, is still uncertain. No matter which deity is underestimated! P1-3