After lunch, Jiang Yiren came over to deliver a document: "Please hand it over to Secretary Wu. A temporary committee meeting will be held at the City Committee's main conference room tomorrow morning at 9:30."

Song Guanchao took the document and casually asked, "Is everything smooth with the cultural project?"

Jiang Yiren halted her turning motion and said, "Pretty smooth."

Song Guanchao said, "If you encounter any trouble, report it to me promptly."

"I understand. Secretary Song, is there anything else?"

"No, that's all."

Jiang Yiren turned to leave, feeling disgruntled internally.

Since she took over the cultural project, it's been half a month.

But Song Guanchao had never inquired even once.

Now suddenly asking, huh, so fake!

Song Guanchao didn't know her internal drama; that sentence wasn't just a formality, but a genuine assurance.

After all, the task of the cultural project was designated by Secretary Lu for Wu Qiangwei to handle.

Wu Qiangwei then handed it over to him.

He then gave it to Jiang Yiren.

If there were truly any difficulties with the project, he certainly couldn't stand by idly.

Actually, when he initially handed it to Jiang Yiren, he didn't have any good intentions.

It was primarily because of Jiang Yiren's connection to Qu Xiangru.

For a project like cultural development, all units would shirk it if they could. If it were an average person doing it, not only would the units refuse to cooperate, but they likely wouldn't even get to meet the department heads.

With such a background, Jiang Yiren was believed to have the support of everyone in the city.

He picked up the document and delivered it to Wu Qiangwei.

"Temporary committee meeting?"

Wu Qiangwei pondered, "It should be a meeting regarding the old city's redevelopment."

She was quite curious about how much money Secretary Lu had managed to accumulate from the meeting.

"Contact Director Gao and ask him."

"Alright."

Song Guanchao called Gao Liangwei, directly inquiring. A few minutes later, he hung up the phone, saying, "Not a penny."

"Not a single penny?" Wu Qiangwei didn't smile; instead, her expression turned stern.

This wasn't anything to be happy about.

She had long known Secretary Lu had been marginalized.

This was also the main reason she was transferred to Lingjiang.

Yet, she hadn't expected that Secretary Lu had no authority at all.

None of the city departments respected him.

What does this indicate?

It indicates that the city's various departments either pledge allegiance to others or lack the concept of "City Committee leadership."

If it's the former, it's still manageable.

At least, they still listened to some people in the city.

If it's the latter, then the problem is significant.

This means they neither recognize the City Committee as an organization nor hold the notion that the Party leads everything in their hearts.

If seriously considered, they have already lost their ideals and beliefs, forsaken their original missions, and entirely treated the departments as their personal realms.

In a normal city, the Party Committee leads the direction, the city government cooperates, and each department does what they ought to do within the prescribed framework.

The entire city operates as a functioning whole, with the guidelines set by the Party Committee as the direction forward, and the departments, like wheels, only responsible for spinning.

But the Lingjiang Municipal Committee appears more like a puppet, while the various bureaus and departments below are like fiefdoms, responding to orders but not announcements.

Initially, Wu Qiangwei focused on several members of the committee.

Later, as Zheng Bihui and Secretary Lu became more uncooperative with her work, she shifted some of her focus onto them.

All along, she never took the departments below seriously.

But now, she belatedly realized that the city's problems might be more severe than she had imagined.

The department heads wouldn't even bother with superficial efforts anymore.

Today, they ignored Secretary Lu's words.

Next time, they probably won't listen to Wu Qiangwei either.

...

Wednesday, at 9:30 in the morning.

The City Committee's main conference room, the temporary committee meeting started on time.

Apart from the committee members, leaders of the People's Congress and the People's Political Consultative Conference, several vice mayors, district committee secretaries, and department heads were also attending.

The scale of this meeting was even larger than the last special meeting.

Entering the meeting room, seeing it filled to capacity, all the participants had guessed the theme of today's meeting.

Everyone took their seats, and the meeting commenced.

Secretary Lu still wore that somber expression, emotions nearly beyond suppression.

Once, Secretary Lu never showed his emotions, always smiling, presenting a friendly demeanor to all.

Now, he seemed less and less able to suppress his inner emotions.

"Director Gao."

Secretary Lu directly called out, "Give an update on the funding situation of each department."

The crowd didn't expect him to bring this up directly without any preface.

Was he about to tear down the facade, leaving everyone no room to retreat?

Gao Liangwei braced himself and said, "Secretary Lu, I haven't received any funds here."

Secretary Lu asked, "Not a single penny received?"

"Yes."

"Good, very good."

Secretary Lu nodded, his face growing increasingly grim.

The atmosphere in the venue plummeted to a freezing point, with everyone sitting upright, not moving an inch, like wooden sculptures.

Click.

Secretary Lu lit a cigarette, taking a deep puff, the exhaled smoke seeming to carry his pent-up pressure and anger.

The cigarette burned little by little until it was finished.

Secretary Lu lit a second cigarette.

This time, after taking just one puff, he said, "This is my third year as the Lingjiang City Secretary."

"I have worked with all of you for three years now."

"I'm aware of the difficulties each department faces."

"Therefore, I've not made too many demands nor wished to make things difficult for you."

"This time, the project has hit a snag, funding is tight, and I hope all of you can help the City Committee overcome this difficulty."

"If the project successfully lands, the city gains prestige, and next year, we can secure more budget."

"But none of you are willing to lend a hand..."

"Haha."

Lu Zhizhong laughed at himself, saying, "Achieving this as a City Secretary is laughable when spoken outside."

"Forget it."

"If you're unwilling to help, I won't insist."

"Director Tu!"

He suddenly called out.

"Secretary Lu." Director Tu forced a smile.

Secretary Lu said, "After the meeting, contact the third-party evaluation agency to reassess the demolition price for the remaining Fengmen Building blocks."

Director Tu was puzzled, "Secretary Lu, the prices have already been assessed..."

Secretary Lu said, "The previous price was too high."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Secretary Lu continued, "Previously, there were rumors that the demolition price was pressed down to seven thousand, five thousand, and even two thousand, right?"

"Two thousand caused someone to jump. Seven thousand, five thousand, didn't cause much talk, so let's re-evaluate according to a five thousand standard."

"Produce the evaluation report within three days."

"Execute according to a standard of five thousand per square meter."

"Get all the demolition funds executed within a month."

Director Huang from the National Development and Reform Commission was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out: "Secretary Lu, this will cause trouble..."

"Cause trouble?" Secretary Lu said, "What trouble?"

"Suicide? Petitions? Or gathering to cause disturbances at the City Committee and Municipal Government?"

"Hmph!"

Secretary Lu continued pointing, "Director Qin, starting today, station police at Fengmen Building. Cut the water and electricity for anyone who disagrees with the demolition!"

"Keep those who petition under control, adding them to the prevention and control list."

"Anyone daring to cause trouble, arrest them!"

Secretary Lu's words were like a bomb, strongly impacting everyone's spirit, reaching the peak of anxiety.

Five thousand... half the demolition compensation of ten thousand!

Moreover, he wants it executed within a month.

Doing so, there will surely be disturbances, certainly be petitions.

He's pushing these demolition households to the brink!

If such a major incident occurs, all the key figures attending today's meeting will be affected.

After all, Secretary Lu initially sought funds from them and, due to their refusal, this decision emerged.

They were both alarmed and infuriated, gritting their teeth, wishing they could tear Secretary Lu to pieces with their gaze.

This bastard plans to go down with them all!

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