Qi Tongwei: Can I be young again?

"Secretary Qi, what do you mean by 'assessment'?"

"educate!"

"What about the standards?"

"Whether boy or girl, all school-age children must go to school; no one should be left behind."

The entire room fell silent once again.

The village party secretaries present looked at each other in bewilderment.

You should know that this is Yanyuan County, where 70-80% of the girls do not go to school.

Those everyday sayings are all old ideas.

It's useless for girls to go to school.

It's very, very difficult to persuade those stubborn old folks.

“Secretary Qi, we also want your child to go to school, but we can’t convince those parents.”

"Even if you strip us of our official positions, we still can't do it!"

"Yes, Secretary Qi, everything must be done step by step, there is a process involved."

"This is forcing us to resign!"

“If we lower the quota, I can guarantee that half of the girls in our village will be able to go to school.”

"Yes, if the targets are lowered, everyone will have something to do."

"..."

The village party secretaries started complaining more often.

Many people still want to bargain.

"Lowering the targets? How dare you even suggest that?" Qi Tongwei sneered. "Instead of thinking about lowering the targets, why don't we just replace you all? Can't you use your brains?"

Brain?

The village secretaries looked at each other, seemingly not quite understanding.

"Secretary Qi, please enlighten me!"

“Okay, then let me make things clearer.” Qi Tongwei spoke again: “I don’t care about other places, but in Yanyuan County from now on, education will be linked to work.”

"Have you seen all the factories that have been brought in through investment promotion?"

"The children of ordinary people who want to work in these factories all need to go to school."

"This is a hard indicator."

"To enjoy the benefits I bring, you must accept my policies."

"Of course, there will definitely be some die-hards who will say, 'If you don't work, you don't work; if you don't want your children to go to school, you don't have to.'"

"That's not allowed either!"

“Take a hard line with these stubborn old fogies.”

"I don't care what methods you use, even if you complain to the city or the province, I'll take the blame!"

"In short, we must never neglect our children's education, no matter how poor we are, and we must never lack education."

"Also, the government will reward families whose children voluntarily attend school. For details on the reward scheme, you can ask County Chief Dakang!"

"With a three-pronged approach, I refuse to believe that education can't improve!"

Qi Tongwei explained the solution very clearly.

Use both soft and hard tactics.

The sensible residents were rewarded.

Those who don't know their place, we'll resort to force.

The meeting has now concluded.

The village party secretary, who had originally wanted to say something, chose to keep quiet!

Qi Tongwei's stance is firm.

Our faith remains steadfast.

If they try to bargain any further, they'll probably just leave.

"Any more questions?"

There was silence.

"Speak, is there a problem?"

Qi Tongwei asked again.

"no problem."

"no problem."

"..."

The village secretaries had no choice but to bite the bullet and make a statement.

Qi Tongwei nodded.

"Alright, if everyone's okay, let's make a pledge!"

“No matter which village it is, as long as the target is met, the corresponding village party secretary will receive a reward of 1000 yuan.”

"Real money, not empty promises."

"Those who fail to meet their targets can leave, or I'll take my job!"

All that needs to be said has been said.

Hou Liangping presented each village Party secretary with a pledge!

Make them sign!

The military order was written very clearly in black and white, with rewards and punishments clearly defined.

Is it a matter of taking the money or losing one's official position?

The village secretaries each had their own agenda.

This is also a helpless move.

Qi Tongwei knows the people here too well. If he doesn't put them through the wringer, they'll just burn newspapers during Qingming Festival to fool the ghosts.

Once the pledge is signed, anyone who dares to bluff will have to try.

End of the meeting.

Each village Party secretary left with an incredibly heavy heart.

Qi Tongwei leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath.

Extremely tired.

"Secretary Qi, are you really going to link the economy and education?" Li Dakang walked over when no one was around and asked in a low voice.

"You have a problem with that?" Qi Tongwei glanced at him lightly.

That one glance sent chills down Li Dakang's spine.

After a moment's thought, he whispered, "Secretary Qi, don't forget the purpose of our trip to Shaanxi and Gansu."

"What purpose?"

“The economy!” Li Dakang said again, “I remember when you came to the meeting in May, you said that we came to Yanyuan County to do only three things: the economy, the economy, and the economy.”

"and then."

“I think it’s a bit inappropriate to link the economy and education together now,” Li Dakang clicked his tongue. “Currently, investment in our Yanyuan County is already saturated. On the contrary, there is a shortage of labor. If some people are expelled because of schooling issues, then there will be an even greater shortage of labor.”

“I know.” Qi Tongwei lit a cigarette. “I brought in the investors. If there isn’t enough labor in this county, we’ll recruit from other counties. In short, if you want to enjoy the benefits I bring, you have to follow my policies.”

"Ok."

“County Chief Dakang, I know what you’re thinking.” Qi Tongwei exhaled a smoke ring. “Economics is a political achievement, but education isn’t. But we can’t only focus on political achievements. You know how many illiterate people there are in Yanyuan County. Why shouldn’t those girls go to school?”

"Is it just because the family members are ignorant?"

"Alright, even if their family members are ignorant, we officials are not."

"As an official, you don't have to satisfy the people in everything you do. If they can't make a decision, we will."

"It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person."

"Right and wrong will be judged in the future."

Qi Tongwei was determined to dedicate himself to education.

We are willing to sacrifice the economy.

He knew that the most important thing about a tree is not its leaves, but its roots!

Only with a solid foundation can a tree grow tall and strong.