Chapter 66: Issuing a Challenge (Seeking Bookmarks)

  I'd like to ask the incoming friends to use your little finger to click on the collection position a few more times, only after collecting it will be more convenient. Your labor is just giving old Yan a snowflake in the charcoal, and old Yan bows here to thank you!

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  Deputy Director of Agriculture He Ming Sheng took a sip of tea before speaking calmly:

  "...I suggest convening a meeting of township, village and commune level cadres to thoroughly discuss the tobacco planting task. As long as the thinking of village cadres is unified, the matter will be half successful... Measures should still be strict, all households that have been assigned tobacco planting tasks must provide money or goods as collateral..."

  He Ming said hesitantly after finishing his speech:

  "Tobacco companies supply fertilizer to tobacco farmers also to ensure the quality of tobacco, and they have signed agreements with households. If they don't use the tobacco company's (fertilizer), I'm afraid their relationship will be bad in the future..."

  He Ming finished speaking, feeling a bit proud of himself. To complete such a task, it's not enough to just talk big, you need to have some real skills. Moreover, having offended the tobacco company, being suppressed and forced to lower prices is inevitable. Lu Zhengdong is too naive, too book-smart. The attendees are all old rural folks, and with one comparison, they can see Lu Zhengdong's true form...

  Lu Zhengdong furrowed his brow, the severe measures that He Mingsheng spoke of had been implemented when Wang Liben was in charge. If farmers were unwilling to follow the requirements of the commune and showed even a hint of resistance, they would be "invited" to attend study sessions at the commune office, where they would be beaten and punished; during the assignment of planting tasks, if farmers didn't have money, they would use cured meat as collateral, and so on.

  However, Lu Zhengdong had also sought He Mingsheng's opinion many times before. He knew that He Mingsheng was still unhappy in his heart, but after all, He Mingsheng was an old comrade with rich experience in rural work and a wide network of connections, so he still wanted to unite with him and showed great respect for him. However, this attitude did not have the desired effect. It seemed that He Mingsheng felt that at over 40 years old, with low educational qualifications and age restrictions, there was no hope for advancement anyway, so he had "no desires or demands" and it didn't matter if he offended Lu Zhengdong or not.

  Since He Ming Sheng insisted on embarrassing him, Lu Zheng Dong would never show weakness in such a situation, so he said:

  "What Old He said are all experience talks in rural actual work, still have some meaning, but..."

  Lu Zhengdong's tone suddenly changed:

  It is questionable to promote this work with severe administrative measures. The adjustment of rural economic structure should be adapted to local conditions and fully respect the autonomy of farmers. Governments at all levels should do a good job in guiding, directing and serving, and strictly prohibit compulsory orders. This is the central government's basic requirement for rural work, which has been reflected in almost all important documents related to rural work since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee. I am also very clear that rural work is difficult to do, sometimes it feels like a scholar encountering a soldier, and reason cannot be explained clearly. However, more often than not, it is our own problem, we are not meticulous and patient enough, and we are too simple and rough. This approach is contrary to the central government's spirit from a macro perspective, and will also make farmers very resentful from a micro perspective.

  Don't think I'm just talking nonsense, seemingly far away from the actual rural work. In fact, it's not. Going against the rules will generally lead to bad results. This lesson has already been learned, and I think it's better to use less...

  Lu Zhengdong did not speak sternly, but rather spoke very calmly, his eyes only scanning the meeting room lightly. He didn't mention Wang Liben's name, knowing that would stir up trouble and affect many people. For now, his focus was on He Mingcheng:

  "Everyone knows that now ordinary people plant an acre of tobacco, excluding the cost of fertilizers and pesticides, special product taxes, etc., they can't earn much more than planting other grains, but still take such a big risk, who is willing to plant?"

  We didn't help them actively reduce costs, increase the enthusiasm of tobacco farmers, and failed to complete tasks. The stick is not hitting others, but falling on us. This is a basic stance issue. As for the relationship with the tobacco company, there's no need to worry, Secretary Wu and I have already found a way...

  Breaking the tobacco company's monopoly on cigarette fertilizer, the tobacco company must be resentful, if there are no follow-up measures, it will definitely make things difficult for the purchase of tobacco leaves, and when the planting task is completed, the common people will encounter trouble during the purchase, then the common people will find the head of the township government, but since Lu Zhengdong dared to speak, he must have a backup plan, and he must have carefully discussed it with Wu Zhonghe. It's just that some things can't be brought up here.

  Wu Zhonghe saw Lu Zhengdong's gaze turn to him and nodded slightly.

  He also knew why He Ming was running to him, which was that he was not convinced of Lu Zhengdong's abilities. He had even privately advised him to pay attention to unity, but He Ming still jumped out and made a scene. This was not only embarrassing for Lu Zhengdong, but also for himself. Although he had some reservations about Lu Zhengdong's idea of completing the tobacco planting, he basically agreed with it. Everything Lu Zhengdong said was something he agreed with. Moreover, He Ming's behavior made others feel that his control over the village was limited, so he spoke in a serious tone:

  "Comrade Zhengdong's words are very reasonable. As long as we do a good job of guiding, directing and serving, and solve the worries of the common people, this will reduce the difficulty of our work..."

  He Mingsheng was surprised to see that Wu Zhonghe completely agreed with Lu Zhengdong's opinion, and he also felt surprised in his heart. With Lu Zhengdong's method, it would be strange if the task could be completed. He Mingsheng couldn't understand what kind of magic potion Lu Zhengdong had given Wu Zhonghe, but since Wu Zhonghe had spoken up, although he hadn't criticized him, he had fully supported Lu Zhengdong, which was the biggest criticism. He couldn't say anything else and sat there with a red and white face...

  Wu Zhonghe hesitated for a moment before continuing:

  "This matter is the top priority of our mountain and current work, requiring a comprehensive mobilization of the entire township. All organs and cadres must participate in this matter. I suggest setting up a tobacco work leading group, with Comrade Polong as the leader, and an office under the leading group, with Wang Xiaoping from the Agricultural Station as the director."

  Lu Zhengdong hastily declined:

  "This matter still requires Secretary Wu to take charge."

  Wu Zhonghe smiled and waved his hand:

  "Zheng Dong, don't decline anymore. Since County Magistrate Xin is in charge at the county level, it's only natural that you should be the team leader at the township level..."

  The county has set up a special tobacco work leading group, with County Magistrate Xin Mingzhong as the leader, and members including the head of the Organization Department, the head of the Armed Forces Department, the director of the Public Security Bureau, etc., responsible for managing all aspects of tobacco production from planting to harvesting.

  Lu Zhengdong saw Wu Zhonghe say this and couldn't decline anymore. He also accepted Wu Zhonghe's words and said:

  "The staff in the countryside and the cadres in the village must be mobilized to participate in this matter, implemented to each person. In order to truly increase everyone's enthusiasm, let everyone have more initiative and autonomy, I discussed with Secretary Wu, and we think that not only should we reward spiritually, but also at the end of the year, take out a portion from the income of tobacco sales to reward the village as a whole. As for the specific amount returned to each village, I thought about it repeatedly, the task given by the county is 4,000 mu, and the countryside can earn 70 yuan per mu, taking out 10% is too little for each village. How about 15%, Secretary Wu, everyone?"

  Lu Zhengdong finished speaking, Wu Zhonghe nodded, and no one else objected, so this matter was settled...