The Second Volume: Provincial Wind and Cloud Chapter 43: A Hot Face Stuck on a Cold Butt

  Namjiang Province Transportation Department, Comprehensive Planning Division 2, 3rd Floor.

  Two departments are mainly responsible for proposing national and provincial special fund investment policies and funding arrangements, supervising the implementation, undertaking or participating in the review and approval of highway and waterway engineering designs throughout the province, which is a relatively large department in the comprehensive planning office.

  Yang Jie arrived at the Second Department, walked through the open door of the Second Department, and saw that in addition to a large office, there were four other offices with closed doors, which he guessed were the offices of department leaders.

  As soon as they entered the gate, they saw a crowd of people gathered inside, mostly county and city officials who came to run for special funds. Yang Jie found Zhu Jiangxin and Deng Zixiang in the crowd, who were asking something from an employee of the Second Department.

  "Are you here on business or looking for someone?" A woman in her thirties, wearing glasses and looking serious, walked in from outside with a report in hand, saw Yang Jie blocking her way, and asked coldly with furrowed brows.

  "Excuse me!"

  Yang Jie turned around and saw that he was blocking the way, so he quickly stepped aside. Before he could explain his purpose for coming here, the young woman walked past him with a cold face, opened the door to an office in the back of the large office, and disappeared inside.

  One of the female staff members from Department 2, who witnessed this scene, saw Yang Jie standing there looking somewhat embarrassed and kindly smiled as she said: "Young comrade, that's our department's Deputy Director Luo Xiaona. She hasn't been in a good mood lately, it wasn't intentional to target you. Don't take it to heart."

  "It's okay. I just accidentally blocked the way earlier. Thank you!" Yang Jie said with a slight smile, taking the opportunity to chat with this female colleague.

  Yang Jie, who was originally sunny and handsome, had a very approachable smile. With his open and sociable personality, he quickly opened up to the female colleague and learned that her name was Zheng Mei. He immediately started calling her Sister Zheng, rapidly narrowing the distance between them.

  "Xiao Yang, since you are a staff member of the provincial office in Huarong County, are you here to handle business or look for someone?" Zheng Mei chatted with Yang Jie for a while and only asked about Yang Jie's intentions after learning that he was a staff member of the provincial office in Huarong County.

  "Zheng Jie, I was thinking of coming to understand the application situation regarding the special funds for rural transportation construction. Can you tell me about it?" Yang Jie's words immediately drew a sideways glance from Zheng Mei.

  There are many people who come to the Transportation Department every day, and there are countless local cadres who apply for special funds in the Second Section of the Comprehensive Planning Division. However, it is rare to see someone as young as Yang Jie coming to run for funding alone. Zheng Mei had never met anyone like him before.

  Zheng Mei had a chat with Yang Jie earlier, and she still had a good impression of this polite young comrade. He didn't put on any airs, looking at Yang Jie's empty hands, he slightly furrowed his brow and said: "To apply for special funds, you must prepare the relevant project application materials and go through the audit and reporting procedures with the county and municipal leaders. Didn't you bring those things?

  Yang Jie heard this and hurriedly explained with a smile: "Zheng sister, I came with the leader. Our county's Deputy Secretary Lei went to visit Director Fang at the Construction Management Office to apply for materials and related documents are with the leader. I'm here in advance to understand the situation in Section 2. Can you tell me?"

  After hearing Yang Jie say that, Zheng Mei couldn't help but laugh dryly. She had previously thought it was just Yang Jie who came to run the funds, but it seemed she had misunderstood. Such an important matter, how could it be left to a young comrade like Yang Jie who had only recently joined the workforce?

  "The special funds for rural transportation construction are set up by the central and provincial governments, which are specifically used to promote the development of rural characteristic economy and the construction of transportation in poor villages. All cities and counties in the province have submitted applications for this special fund, and the approval is very strict, with a relatively small proportion of approvals."

  Zheng Mei furrowed her brow slightly after hearing Yang Jie's intention to understand the application for special funds for rural transportation construction, and didn't think highly of Yang Jie and his team's chances of getting the funding.

  Rural transportation construction, as it involves impoverished rural areas and comprehensive agricultural and mining development, is not comparable to other special funds. It must meet several specific basic application principles, such as the project applying for special funds having a positive impact on improving local impoverished areas, the project applying for special funds meeting the requirements of rural characteristic economic development, etc.

  According to the relevant matching fund ratio requirements of the central government for Nanjiang Province, this special fund has a relatively high allocation ratio from the central government, reaching a 6:4 level with local matching funds.

  In other words, if the special fund application is approved, for a road repair project with a total investment of 100 million yuan, the central government will allocate 60 million yuan in special funds, and local matching funds need to bear 40 million yuan. However, these 40 million yuan in matching funds are also borne by the provincial, municipal, and county governments at all levels according to the proportion.

  According to the regulations of Nanjiang Province on the central special fund matching ratio, the local matching fund ratio for rural transportation construction is divided into 60% for Nanjiang Province, 20% for project counties, and 20% for regional and municipal levels.

  So if the local matching funds need to bear 400 million, the province will bear 60% of the 400 million, which is 240 million, while Changyang City will bear 20%, which is 80 million, and Xianghe County will also bear 20%, which is also 80 million.

  The matching funds for Yunhe County and Changyang City have been in place. When applying for special funds for rural transportation construction, there are several principles, one of which is to prioritize the matching of foreign-funded projects. The marble material project involves foreign capital, and the road passes through two towns and more than a dozen villages along the way. The township where the quarry is located is a well-known poverty-stricken township in the province, so it meets the prerequisites for applying for this special fund.

  Yang Jie briefed Zheng Mei on the situation in Xunhe County, and then Zheng Mei also gave Yang Jie a detailed introduction to the relevant matching situations of this special fund, as well as the proportion of investment.

  After Yang Jie said that the relevant matching funds from the city and county had all arrived, Zheng Mei took out an application form for Yang Jie to fill in. When Lei Shuping came, they would send the application materials and form to the department head for approval together with the county and city's application documents regarding this project.

  After Qin Le finished the comprehensive planning department's morning meeting, he had just walked into the second section when he was quickly surrounded by a group of leaders waiting for him.

  Looking at the crowded front, greeting and asking about the grassroots leaders of various counties and cities, Qin Le frowned, his face showing a hint of displeasure, and said in a low voice: "Please note that this is a provincial government office, please do not make loud noises, if you have business to attend to, please follow the proper procedures, submit your application, and wait for the approval result."

  Qin Le's words suddenly made the originally noisy office fall silent.

  His dignity was embodied, and a hint of pride appeared in Qin Le's eyes. The more than 20 county and city leaders who wanted to apply for special funds in front of him might have been powerful leaders in their local areas, but when they came to the Transportation Department, to the piece of land under Qin Le's control, even a dragon had to bow down.

  Wang Qunsheng saw Qin Le and hastily went forward with Deng Zixiang, Wang Qunsheng's face showed a flattering smile, slightly bowing his waist, respectfully said to Qin Le: "Director Qin, hello! This is our county's vice mayor Deng Zixiang."

  Qin Le had dinner with Wang Qunsheng just the night before last, and still remembered what kind of person Wang Qunsheng was. Seeing him parting the crowd, bringing a cadre in his 40s to his front, solemnly introducing him, he stopped in his tracks.

  He glanced at Deng Zixiang indifferently, and there were countless leaders who came to the second department to run for special funds. Let alone deputy directors, even vice-ministerial level leaders, Qin Le had seen many of them, and he didn't put Deng Zixiang in his eyes at all. His face remained serious, speaking in an official tone: "Hello Director Deng! Welcome to the Transportation Department on business. I still have some work to deal with. If you need to handle something, you can consult with the staff in our department first. I won't accompany you."

  Deng Zixiang looked at Qin Le, who was dressed in official attire, and thought to himself that he was just a deputy department-level leader, yet Qin didn't even bother to shake his hand, let alone show him any respect. Deng felt annoyed and cursed Qin in his heart, but he dared not show any dissatisfaction on his face.

  "Director Qin is a busy person, I won't disturb him. I don't know if Director Qin has time in the afternoon, I want to invite Director Qin for a simple meal." Deng Zixiang saw Qin Le finish speaking and prepare to leave, and he stood in front of him with a calm expression, smiling and asking.

  "County Head Deng, let's just skip lunch! You came to the Transportation Department for business. As long as you follow the proper procedures and comply with relevant policies from both the province and our department, we will definitely handle it fairly. Trying to find personal connections or take shortcuts to get projects and funding won't work here." Qin Le saw Deng Zishuang blocking his way, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he publicly refused Deng's invitation.

  The other county and city leaders around them saw Deng Zixiang eating alone, and they couldn't help but feel a sense of relief in their hearts. Many people wanted to invite Qin Le to dinner, but Deng Zixiang really thought Qin Le had never eaten before. In front of so many people, not only did he block Qin Le's way, but also invited Qin Le to dinner. Only after Qin Le agreed did his head clear up.

  Qin Le and Wang Qunsheng were just acquaintances who had shared a meal together. In his opinion, being able to stop and chat with Deng Zixiang in front of everyone was already giving Wang Qunsheng face. He didn't expect Deng Zixiang to block his way in public and invite him to dinner. Feeling extremely dissatisfied with Deng Zixiang's behavior, he publicly rebuked him, not leaving any face for him at all.

  Those who come to him directly with application materials, without even looking at the leaders on the side who are in charge of approving and signing, must not have any background or connections with the provincial hall leaders. If they really had a strong backing, they would go straight to the department leader or even the hall leader, and he was just a formality here.

  It was precisely because Qin Le knew that the people present had no background that he dared to be so contemptuous of everyone.