Chapter 63: All Is in Readiness

The black sedan smoothly turned into the courtyard of the Duoshui County Committee, its tires making a slight rustling sound as they rolled over the concrete pavement.

Li Yifei pushed open the car door, and the cool evening breeze brushed against his face. It blew away the fatigue of the long drive, but failed to disperse the heaviness weighing on his heart.

Straightening his collar, he quickly adjusted his expression into one that conveyed a hint of dusty exhaustion yet could not conceal a rising excitement—the exact look a grassroots party secretary ought to wear upon making a "triumphant" return from the city.

Without a moment’s delay, Li Yifei walked straight toward the office of County Party Secretary Wei Shili.

Along the corridor, he ran into several familiar section-level officials, nodding to them with a warmth that remained strictly within proper bounds, though his pace never slowed in the least.

Near Wei Shili’s office, any unnecessary lingering could easily be interpreted in entirely different ways.

After being announced by the secretary, Li Yifei stepped into the office that symbolized the highest authority in Duoshui County.

Wei Shili was bent over his desk reviewing documents. Hearing the movement, he raised his head, wearing his customary, inscrutable smile.

"Secretary Wei, I've disturbed you." Li Yifei’s voice was robust, carrying just the right blend of due reverence and a trace of imperceptible excitement. "I just got back from the city and came straight to report to you!"

"Oh? Comrade Yifei is back? Sit down!" Wei Shili put down his pen, leaned back into his spacious leather chair, and cast a seemingly casual yet actually probing gaze across Li Yifei’s face. "How did your trip to the city go? Do they have any instructions regarding our Duogang Town development plan?" He deliberately used the phrase "our Duogang Town," placing himself firmly in the position of the leader and dominant figure.

Li Yifei perched on the edge of the chair opposite Wei Shili, his back straight, his face radiating the exhilaration of someone who had not failed a trust. "Reporting to Secretary Wei! Mayor Sun highly approved of our plan! He said the rationale is clear, the entry point is precise, and there is great potential!" He paused intentionally, observing Wei Shili's reaction, and sure enough, caught a flash of hidden satisfaction in the superior's eyes.

"More importantly," Li Yifei raised his voice slightly, adopting the tone of someone bearing good news, "Mayor Sun made an on-the-spot decision, agreeing to grant Duogang Town a special municipal appropriation of 1.5 million yuan! This will be used to support the launch of the core projects in the plan!"

He placed special emphasis on the terms "special appropriation" and "core projects," respectfully laying a duplicate copy of the document on Wei Shili’s desk. "Mayor Sun also specifically mentioned that you, Secretary Wei, possess extraordinary vision, clear thinking on grassroots development, and immense boldness! He said that under your leadership, Duoshui County has accurately pinpointed its focal areas."

Li Yifei delivered these words with extreme naturalness and fluency, as if Sun Guodong’s praise had been intended entirely for Wei Shili.

He knew very well that in the mind of a local chief executive with such a tight grip on power as Wei Shili, the recognition of superiors—especially affirmation from the city’s primary leaders—carried immense weight.

This concerned not only the verification of one's work performance at a higher level, but also one's prestige and influence throughout the county.

True to expectation, the smile on Wei Shili’s face deepened noticeably, even taking on a subtle, unperceived smugness.

He picked up the copy of the approval document bearing the official seal of the municipal government office, glanced over it, and gently tapped his finger against Sun Guodong’s signature.

"Oh? Did Mayor Sun really say that?" he asked with simulated casualness, though his tone betrayed the comfort of someone whose itch had just been scratched in the right spot.

For him, this high praise and substantive financial support from the mayor were undoubtedly a tremendous affirmation of his leadership direction, opening up broader vistas for his future advancement. The news brought by Li Yifei was unquestionably a shot in the arm.

"Absolutely true, Secretary Wei! Mayor Sun said it himself," Li Yifei replied with absolute certainty, his gaze open and steady.

He was crystal clear on what mattered: the core of Wei Shili's current delight lay in the fact that this "political achievement" and "affirmation" were attached to his own name, adding a heavy, colorful stroke to his ledger of achievements and providing an important weight in his quest for greater upward mobility.

"Well, excellent, excellent!" Wei Shili put down the document, his smile growing even wider. "Comrade Yifei, you've had a hard time running up to the city this time! You've rendered a great service to Duoshui!" He rarely used the word "we," making the tone unusually intimate.

"It is all thanks to your brilliant leadership, Secretary Wei, which pointed out the direction for me. I merely ran the errands," Li Yifei immediately deflected the credit back, lowering his posture completely. "Without your strong initial support and the 500,000 yuan in seed money as a foundation, how would I have had the confidence to make such a request to Mayor Sun? Mayor Sun saw that our county and town genuinely want to get things done, which is why he agreed so readily."

Wei Shili clearly relished this formulation of "attributing all credit to the leadership." He leaned forward slightly, asking with a hint of inquiry, "1.5 million... Mayor Sun was uncharacteristically generous this time. Yifei, did you and Mayor Sun... know each other before?"

This was the question he truly cared about—on what grounds was Li Yifei able to extract such a massive sum from the notoriously tight-fisted Sun Guodong? The interpersonal network behind this feat was worth pondering.

Li Yifei had long prepared a contingency plan in his mind. A wry smile, just right and tinged with a "better left unmentioned" nostalgia, appeared on his face.

"Secretary Wei, you see right through me. It's not really knowing each other; back when I worked at the Development and Reform Commission, Mayor Sun came to the capital to pitch projects a few times, and our division handled the coordination on a few occasions. Mayor Sun has a rigorous work style and high demands, so I took my share of criticism from him. This time when I went, I had to bite the bullet and go with a try-it-and-see attitude, repeatedly reporting the difficulties of Duogang Town and your resolute determination. Perhaps our proposal genuinely moved Mayor Sun, or perhaps he felt that it wasn't easy for an 'old acquaintance' like me to go down to the grassroots and try to accomplish something... In short, I got lucky, sheer luck."

He cleverly diluted the "old acquaintance" relationship into a routine official intersection, emphasizing the experience of "being criticized." This not only explained Sun Guodong's "generosity" but also placed himself in a position of "good fortune" and "moving the leadership through effort and planning," thereby avoiding any excessive suspicion or wariness from Wei Shili regarding a "deep background."

Listening to this, Wei Shili’s eyes flickered as if he were digesting Li Yifei’s words.

In the end, he nodded, revealing an expression of sudden comprehension mixed with a trace of unperceived envy. "As expected of a comrade coming down from a ministry or commission; this kind of network and vision is simply different! When it comes to asking the higher-ups for support, your methods are always broader than ours at the grassroots!" His words were half-sigh, half-probe.

In his eyes, Li Yifei’s background as a former ministry official had transformed from an initial "parachuted gilding" into a bridge that could be leveraged to access higher-level resources.

He calculated rapidly in his mind: supporting Li Yifei meant supporting himself! The more achievements Li Yifei produced, the more attention he would attract from higher-ups, and he, Wei Shili, as the direct supervisor, would naturally deserve immense credit! This investment was entirely worth it.

"You flatter me, Secretary Wei. Grassroots tempering is the most precious experience of all, and I still have much to learn from you," Li Yifei responded humbly, knowing full well in his heart that the thirst for political achievements and the desire for upward mobility were indeed the vital driving forces behind cadres like Wei Shili.

He had cast the bait of "joint development and shared achievements," and Wei Shili, the big fish, had indeed taken it—biting far deeper than anticipated.

After exchanging a few more polite pleasantries, Li Yifei saw that his objective had been achieved and tactfully rose to take his leave. "Secretary Wei, you are managing a myriad of affairs, so I won't disturb you any longer. I'll head right back to the town, step up project implementation, and ensure I don't let down the expectations you and Mayor Sun have placed in us!"

"Good! Go all out and do it! The county committee will support you all the way!" Wei Shili waved his hand broadly, appearing exceptionally bold.

Li Yifei respectfully withdrew from the office, the door clicking softly shut behind him. The humble smile on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a gaze that grew calm and sharp.

He walked quickly away from the county committee building and drove back to Duogang Town. He had no way of knowing that less than five minutes after his departure, Wei Shili had immediately reached for the phone on his desk.

"Is this the Finance Bureau? It's Wei Shili." Once the call connected, Wei Shili’s voice carried an unquestionable authority. "The Duogang Town development project is a pilot initiative personally designated and heavily focused upon by Mayor Sun from the city! It is our county's top-priority project right now! Follow the procedures immediately, handle it as a special case, and allocate 1 million yuan to them from the county treasury! Yes, build upon the original 500,000 and add to it until it reaches 1 million! It must hit their account before close of business today!" His tone was ironclad, allowing no room for questioning.

On the other end of the line, Finance Bureau Director Xue Mingmin was clearly taken aback and asked cautiously, "Secretary... this... allocating so much all at once? The project funds for several other townships are still..."

"Put those other projects on hold for now!" Wei Shili interrupted, his voice carrying undeniable resolution. "The Duogang Town project is a political task! It's a major undertaking that concerns the image of Duoshui County throughout the entire city and even the province! It is being personally monitored by Mayor Sun! On this project, if anyone dares to drag their feet, throw up obstacles, play games with the allocation and use of funds, delay progress, or impair the results, I, Wei Shili, will deal with them severely and show no leniency! Do you understand?!"

His final words fell with a resounding thud, laden with warning. This was not merely an order to the Finance Bureau, but a declaration to the entire county: this project was his core concern, and anyone who dared cross it would face grave consequences.

"Yes! Yes! Secretary! I'll get on it immediately! I guarantee the funds will be safe and arrive promptly!" Xue Mingmin promised repeatedly on the other end. She knew Wei Shili’s work style all too well; this secretary meant precisely what he said.

Wei Shili grunted with satisfaction, softening his tone slightly. "Hmm. Furthermore, a special allocation of 1.5 million yuan from the municipal finance department will soon be coming down, also for Duogang Town. The moment that money hits the county's account, transfer every single penny of it over to them immediately! Remember, these are earmarked funds! They must be used strictly for their designated purpose! No one is allowed to stretch out their hands! If anything goes wrong, I will hold you solely responsible!"

"Understood! Rest assured, Secretary! Absolute adherence to designated use, and transferred at the very first moment!" Xue Mingmin promised instantly.

Hanging up the phone, Wei Shili leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag. Amidst the curling smoke, his gaze flickered with intense anticipation and the determination of victory.

Li Yifei’s success or failure was intimately tied to his own political achievements and future! The greater the investment, the greater the future political dividends and enhancement of his influence! He calculated this ledger with absolute clarity.

It was already night when Li Yifei returned to Duogang Town. Early the next morning, full of energy, he called a meeting of all members of the town party committee and government leadership, heads of various stations and offices, and secretaries and directors of key villages.

The conference room was hazy with cigarette smoke and the atmosphere was somewhat heavy. Everyone knew the secretary had returned from the city and was waiting to hear the outcome of the "money-seeking" mission.

Li Yifei sat in the primary seat, his steady gaze sweeping across the room, his face bearing the restrained elation of someone who had achieved preliminary results through hard work. Without excessive preamble, he went straight to the point:

"Comrades, yesterday I went to the city and reported in detail to Mayor Sun regarding our Duogang Town development plan and our current difficulties. Mayor Sun highly approved of our plan!" He paused, watching the eyes of the people below light up, "And, Mayor Sun made an on-the-spot decision to allocate 1.5 million yuan in special funds from the municipal treasury to support us in launching our core projects!"

"Wonderful!"

"Too good!"

A suppressed murmur of low exclamations and whispers broke out in the conference room, joy painting everyone's face. 1.5 million yuan! For a Duogang Town that had always been impoverished, this was absolute astronomical wealth!

Li Yifei pressed both hands downward to signal quiet and continued, "At the same time," he increased the weight in his voice, "County Secretary Wei has poured unprecedented concern and support into the development of our Duogang Town! Under Secretary Wei's personal care and forceful promotion..." He paused intentionally, casting his glance toward Finance Station Director Wang Youcai sitting to one side. "Director Wang, report to everyone: how much special funding for this development plan has currently landed in our accounts?"

All eyes instantly converged on Wang Youcai. Wang Youcai had clearly only received the latest figures shortly before, and his face still bore a trace of almost disbelieving astonishment and ecstasy. He stood up excitedly, his voice trembling slightly:

"Reporting to Secretary Li! Reporting to all leaders! Just now... just half an hour ago! The county finance department made two separate allocations totaling... totaling 2.5 million yuan! It has all been credited in full!"

"What?!"

"2.5 million?!"

The conference room instantly exploded! This was even more shocking than hearing about 1.5 million just moments before! Even Li Yifei appropriately displayed a look of "astonishment," as if he had been completely unaware.

Yet tiny ripples of emotion stirred within his heart: Wei Shili had indeed taken the bait, and his actions were so swift and his force so immense! A full 1 million added on top!

This exceeded his expectations, further proving the high degree of importance Wei Shili attached to this "core political achievement."

This 2.5 million yuan was a powerful driving force for development, but it also meant that his entanglement with Wei Shili on this boat had grown deeper.

Li Yifei quickly reined in his "astonishment," his face blooming with deep "emotion" and "elation." "Comrades! Do you see this? This is the deep affection and earnest expectation that County Committee Secretary Wei holds for our Duogang Town! 2.5 million yuan! In the history of our Duogang Town, this is an unprecedented level of investment!"

He stood up, his voice ringing with strength and resonance. "This heavy funding is a trust, but even more, it is a responsibility. Secretary Wei has placed such a heavy burden upon our shoulders; if we fail to make something of it, whom could we possibly face?!"

His words were genuine and deeply infectious. The people below, stirred by both the massive sum of money and the secretary’s emotional delivery, straightened their backs one after another, their gazes turning fervent.

Only Vice Mayor Qian Youfao, sitting in the corner, lowered his eyelids, his fingers spinning a pen unconsciously while the corners of his mouth seemed to curve into an imperceptible, ambiguous smile.

"The funds have arrived; the next step is to roll up our sleeves and get to work!" Li Yifei shifted his tone, turning stern and pragmatic. "I announce that the Liuzhuang Aquatic Eco-Park project is officially launched! Headed by the vice mayor in charge of the Liuzhuang sector, with coordinated efforts from the planning office, the land office, and the water conservancy station, the bidding process shall commence immediately!"

His gaze swept across the room like lightning, carrying an unquestionable authority and profound meaning. "Regarding the bidding requirements, I will emphasize only two points: First, corporate qualifications must be rock-solid, with a good reputation, a clean history, and zero blemishes! What we want are partners who can get things done, accomplish things, and stay out of trouble! Second," his voice abruptly rose, "from project approval to construction landing, all links must comply with laws and regulations, operating with high efficiency and smoothness! No department or individual is permitted to set up obstacles, demand bribes, or create red tape under any pretext! We must foster the best business environment in the county and the city! This is a project personally overseen by Secretary Wei and registered at the municipal level! If anyone dares to play crooked games with this project, smash Duogang Town's rice bowl, or affect the progress and results, that is sabotaging the overall development of the county! The county party committee and government will pursue responsibility relentlessly! Weigh the consequences for yourselves!"

These words were a mix of soft and hard, combining benevolence with severity. They not only clarified the requirements and drew the red lines, but also brandished the "imperial sword" of Wei Shili and the city, clearly outlining the project's political elevation and potential risk points.

The heads of the various departments below all felt a chill in their hearts, especially those accustomed to playing "petty tricks," who instantly grew inwardly alert: this project was a high-voltage wire that must not be touched!

Watching their reactions, Li Yifei remained as calm as ever inside. He intended to use the dual pressure of Wei Shili's "heightened attention" and the massive funds to force the machine of Duogang Town to operate efficiently along the tracks he had set.

As for those problems hidden in the corners... His gaze swept seemingly unintentionally over Qian Youfao's lowered head, thinking to himself: *Let the work advance a little further.*

Development was both the explicit line and the finest catalyst and testing agent. Once the water started flowing, whatever was meant to settle to the bottom would eventually reveal itself.

The meeting concluded, and the crowd dispersed with varied thoughts lingering in their minds. Li Yifei stood by the window, looking out at the somewhat dilapidated streets of Duogang Town, his fingers tapping lightly against the windowsill.

The 2.5 million yuan was already in the bag, and Wei Shili’s "support" was at an all-time high. But this was merely the beginning. He had to make good use of this temporary "tailwinds phase," quickly and solidly establish the Liuzhuang project as a "benchmark," and use visible progress and hope to firmly steady Wei Shili while rallying the hearts and minds of Duogang Town.