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

"Make sure the two bureau chiefs wear simple clothes; if they don't have any, borrow some from the workers."

Tang Zhichao said with a wry smile, "I don't know how to talk to Directors Zheng Tao and Wu Jie later."

"What does he want to do?"

Meng Chunsheng looked completely bewildered.

“I don’t know the specifics either; he didn’t say.”

"Let Lao Zheng and Lao Wu meet him first, and see if our new county magistrate is really as bad as the rumors say."

Meng Chunsheng said, "If he has time tonight, let me know and I'll invite him to dinner."

"Yes, County Chief Meng, I will report to you as soon as I have any news."

After hanging up the phone, Tang Zhichao called the two bureau chiefs separately and told them what Jiang Yiming had asked him to do.

The two bureau chiefs were completely bewildered, but they still did as Jiang Yiming asked.

At 2:30 p.m., Jiang Yiming and Ding Li arrived at the county government building.

Tang Zhichao, director of the county government office, was waiting downstairs. When he saw Jiang Yiming, he quickly went to greet him.

"County Magistrate, your office is ready. Let me show you around."

"Okay, let's go up and take a look first."

Jiang Yiming followed Tang Zhichao to office 301 on the third floor.

After Tang Zhichao opened the door, a spacious office came into view.

Both the decor and the space are much larger than his in Xinping County.

Jiang Yiming thought to himself that although Xichuan County was economically backward, the supporting facilities for its leading cadres were more advanced and high-end than those in other counties and districts.

The officials in Xichuan County really know how to enjoy life!

The office is over fifty square meters in size, with bookshelves and an inner room containing a lounge and a bathroom.

At that time, the state had not yet made clear regulations on office conditions, and even after regulations were made later, those who violated them still did so.

After all, there are always ways to circumvent policies.

In order to avoid exceeding the permitted office space, many leaders partition their large offices or add two extra desks, ostensibly to share office space with other cadres, but in reality, they still use the space solely for their own purposes.

Although Jiang Yiming was somewhat disgusted by this, he couldn't say anything since he was in a local situation.

"County Chief, please note down any areas that need improvement and I will arrange for someone to carry them out immediately."

Tang Zhichao said.

"The office conditions are quite good, this is fine."

Jiang Yiming asked, "How did the two bureau chiefs' notification go?"

"They're already downstairs."

"Okay, let's go down."

After Jiang Yiming received the key to the new office, he went downstairs with Tang Zhichao.

The two bureau chiefs actually followed Jiang Yiming's request and borrowed two sets of blue work uniforms to wear.

However, the two of them were a bit overweight, and their clothes were tight and didn't fit them quite well.

"The county magistrate."

The two quickly stepped forward to greet each other.

"County Head, these two are Zheng Tao, Director of the Transportation Bureau, and Wu Jie, Director of the Industry and Commerce Bureau."

"Director Zheng, Director Wu, thank you for making this trip."

Jiang Yiming greeted him with a smile.

"We are honored to be the first heads of county-level departments to accompany the county head on his research trip."

Zheng Tao quickly replied.

"I had long heard of the county magistrate's reputation, but I never expected to meet him in person. Even more fortunate is that I can work under your leadership."

Wu Jie smiled and said, "Previously, Xinping County and Xichuan County ranked among the bottom three in the city. Under your leadership, Xinping County has jumped to second place. I believe that after you come, Xichuan County's development will also be as rapid as Xinping County's."

"The development of Xinping County is not my achievement alone, but the result of the joint efforts of all Party members and cadres."

Jiang Yiming smiled and said, "I believe that with our joint efforts, Xichuan County can also achieve leapfrog development."

After exchanging a few polite words, Jiang Yiming smiled and said, "You just said that you are honored to work with me, and I hope you mean it from the bottom of your hearts."

"Alright, let's go to the bus station together and experience what it's like for ordinary people to ride the bus. You are not allowed to reveal your identities."

"County Magistrate, we have official cars, why do we need to squeeze onto public buses?"

Zheng Tao spoke up.

"If you can ride the bus, can ordinary people also ride the bus?"

Jiang Yiming said, "Everyone usually sits in the office and takes public transportation when they go out, so they can't understand the bad experience that ordinary people have when taking public transportation. Only by experiencing it firsthand can you put yourself in their shoes and think about their problems."

Then, he took the masks from Wang Lifeng and handed them to Zheng Tao and Wu Jie respectively.

"Director Zhichao, you don't need to go with us. I'll take the two bureau chiefs for a walk. Too many people will make us look suspicious."

After making the arrangements, Jiang Yiming led everyone towards the bus station.

We each bought our own tickets and will take the long-distance bus to the city center together at 3 PM.

Upon arriving at the station, Jiang Yiming, Ding Li, Zheng Tao, and Wu Jie began queuing to buy tickets.

There were a lot of people traveling, but only two of the three ticket windows were open. The queue at one of the windows hadn't moved for a long time.

Zheng Tao and Wu Jie happened to be standing in that line.

"What's going on? It's been so long, and there's still no sound?"

Wu Jie said, somewhat annoyed.

"I gonna go see."

Zheng Tao approached the window, about to ask a question, when he saw the ticket seller eating sunflower seeds and chatting with another staff member next to him.

"There's such a long line behind you, and you still have time to eat sunflower seeds? Don't you have any sense of responsibility?"

Zheng Tao's blood pressure rose, and he said angrily.

"None of your business! If you don't like the long queue, you can choose to walk!"

The staff member retorted.

"Hey, you don't work properly, and your attitude is so awful."

"This is my attitude. Who do you think you are? A poor farmer, what right do you have to lecture me?"

The middle-aged woman scoffed, "I could sit here doing nothing and still earn many times more in a month!"

"Where's your boss? Call your boss here, I'll make sure he fires you!"

As the director of the Transportation Bureau, Zheng Tao had never been treated like this before, and he took out his phone to call for help.

"Old Zheng, line up properly."

Jiang Yiming and Ding Li came over after buying the tickets and patted him on the shoulder.

Helpless, Zheng Tao had no choice but to return to his previous position.

"Pah, what kind of trash is this, daring to lecture me?"

The ticket seller rolled her eyes, said something, and then stopped chatting and started selling tickets.

However, she was moving too slowly, so someone kicked her in the butt to make her move faster.

After waiting for more than half an hour, it was finally Zheng Tao and Wu Jie's turn.

At that moment, several people cut in line to buy tickets.

The two bureau chiefs had been queuing for a long time, so naturally they wouldn't allow anyone to cut in line and immediately spoke up to stop them.

"Why are you cutting in line? Go to the back of the line."

"So what if I cut in line?"

The man said dismissively, "This is my cousin, mind your own business."

"Ah Hu, don't pay any attention to him, he's crazy."

The middle-aged woman then printed out the tickets and handed them to her cousins.

Those people swaggered away.

"Two tickets to Yiyang City."

Zheng Tao suppressed his anger and said.

"That's all, there's only one ticket left."

The middle-aged woman said coldly.

"Don't you still have three left?"

Zheng Tao asked, puzzled.