The Official Ladder: I ascend to the pinnacle of power, wielding the power of life and death.

"All members of the Standing Committee, please stay. We will resume the meeting in ten minutes."

That was just the first meeting, and several department heads were in attendance.

The following meetings were attended only by members of the Standing Committee; the department heads who were present left one after another.

Ten minutes later, the meeting resumed.

"Everyone's here, let's continue the meeting."

Jiang Xuangui said, "The main reason why thousands of teachers and staff members petitioned this time is that the education department failed to play a good guiding role. Chen Wei, as the person in charge, bears an unshirkable responsibility. He has just been dismissed from his post, so I won't say anything more about it."

"As the project leader, Wang Xianming failed to do his job properly and lacked vigilance. After learning that the faculty and staff had gathered, he failed to take effective measures to prevent them from petitioning. He bears primary leadership responsibility. I propose that he be removed from his position as the leader of the Cultural Square project leadership group and that Comrade Wang Hao be appointed as the group leader."

"What are your opinions, everyone? County Chief Yuntao, you go first."

"I have no opinion."

Zhang Yuntao spoke up.

He couldn't speak up for Wang Xianming at this time, otherwise it would arouse Jiang Xuangui's suspicion.

Besides, their goal is to drive Jiang Xuangui out of Xinping County. Once Jiang Xuangui leaves Xinping County and Zhang Yuntao is in charge, they can readjust the division of labor, which is the same thing.

"I have no objection either."

Other members of the Standing Committee also expressed their opinions.

This matter had nothing to do with them; they wouldn't say anything more about Jiang Xuangui dealing with his own loyal followers.

"Next, let's talk about resolving the issue of unpaid wages for faculty, staff, and medical personnel."

Jiang Xuangui spoke up: "Everyone, please feel free to share any good suggestions you may have and express your opinions."

After a long silence, Chen Zixin spoke up: "I suggest we pay everyone's wages first. As for the project funding, we can figure out a solution as we build."

“That won’t do. The project’s progress depends on sufficient funding; otherwise, it will affect the construction schedule.”

Wang Hao, director of the county party committee office, voiced his opposition.

He is about to take over the Cultural Plaza project, so naturally he has to consider the project's progress.

"The petitioning incident has a huge impact. We promised to pay the wages within three days. If we don't pay them, it will further escalate the conflict, and then we won't be able to stop it."

Hua Wentao, the Minister of the Organization Department, said, "However, the Cultural Square project is a key task for our county this year, and we must ensure the construction progress; otherwise, we will not be able to explain ourselves to all parties."

"My personal suggestion is to cut costs and increase revenue, try to raise funds as much as possible, or apply for a loan from a bank."

Except for the head of the People's Armed Forces Department, who did not express his opinion, the other members of the Standing Committee basically all expressed their views.

But there was basically no good advice; everyone said that these two things were very important and that neither could be let go.

"Okay, everyone has shared their opinions, now I'd like to share my thoughts."

Jiang Xuangui said, "I strongly agree with Minister Wentao's suggestion. The salaries of the faculty and staff must be paid tomorrow, but we also need to find a way to raise funds for the project."

"The project funding will be raised from two aspects. The first is the plan I initially proposed, which involves various enterprises investing in the construction. Small enterprises must contribute more than 200,000 yuan, medium-sized enterprises more than 500,000 yuan, and large enterprises more than 1 million yuan. Of course, the government will not take their money for nothing. After the cultural square is completed, a special area will be set aside for commercial use, such as a food street and supermarket stores. The resulting profits will be distributed to the enterprises. This is permanent, so they are guaranteed to make a profit."

"Secondly, we need to sell those plots of land in the south of the city as soon as possible, even if it's cheap, we need to sell them within a month."

"If we take a two-pronged approach, won't we have the funds?"

“Secretary Xuan Gui, isn’t the funding set too high? I’m afraid the companies can’t afford such high costs. As for using dividends to boost their enthusiasm, I think it’s very limited. Whether the project will generate any benefits after it’s completed is another matter. These businessmen see things very clearly, and I’m afraid it will be difficult to collect that money.”

Zhang Yuntao spoke up.

"If you're not going to do it this way, then come up with a better idea!"

Jiang Xuangui said, "County Chief Yuntao, as the head of a county, you must have the courage and the means to do anything. If things weren't complicated, wouldn't they have been resolved long ago? It is precisely because the work is difficult that it can better train the cadres' working abilities. This matter will be jointly led by your Finance Bureau and Economic and Trade Commission. You must collect the money within a month. As for what means to use, as long as it doesn't cause too much of a commotion, I will fully support you."

"Does anyone else have anything to say?"

“Secretary Xuan Gui, in the long run, the development potential of the northern district is limited. In the future, the county party committee, county government, schools, hospitals and other units will definitely have to relocate to the southern district. The reason these lands are kept is to build hospitals and schools. If they are sold now, and the northern district becomes congested in the future, where will we find land when we need to develop to the south?”

Chen Zixin advised, "Besides, the land is very cheap now. If it is sold, the government will suffer a major loss."

"The relocation to the south hasn't even been planned yet. You're not going to make me delay everything else because of something that doesn't even exist, are you?"

Jiang Xuangui retorted, "Besides, how do you know that land prices will definitely rise in the future? What if they fall?"

"Alright, that's settled then. The Land Bureau, get moving and sell those plots of land within two months. Meeting adjourned."

After saying that, he left the meeting room, leaving everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.

No one expected it to turn out this way.

But Jiang Xuangui had already made the decision, and they couldn't say anything.

Jiang Xuangui is quite confident in his organizational skills.

He believed that the two meetings had basically resolved the point of contention. He planned to go to the city government in a couple of days to apologize to Mayor Luo Zhangwen and Secretary Wei Shanghua, and presumably they wouldn't say anything more then.

"Secretary Xuan Gui, you wanted to see me."

At this moment, Hua Wentao, the Minister of the Organization Department, walked in.

"Wentao, your idea is excellent."

“Secretary, you flatter me. You mentioned this idea before, but it didn’t go through because of some people’s opposition. Now we’re going back to the old approach.”

Hua Wentao would naturally not take credit for such a thing.

This will bring you a bad reputation.

After all, selling off several plots of land in the south of the city would cause a lot of trouble for those who came after.

“You’re right. If Jiang Yiming hadn’t objected before, the land in Nancheng would have been sold long ago, and the company would have received the money long ago. How could there be any delays in paying the teachers’ and staff’s salaries?”

Jiang Xuangui laughed and said, "To be frank, it's good that Jiang Yiming got beaten up. If he hadn't been beaten, he would definitely have come back today. If he had attended the meeting, who knows what kind of trouble he would have caused."

"Look how great it is now! Everyone agrees with my suggestions."

Hua Wentao gave an awkward smile, but didn't know how to respond.

He didn't agree with Jiang Xuangui's words, but since the other party was the Party Secretary, he couldn't say much.