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

After having breakfast at home, Jiang Yiming took his wife and mother to Xichuan County.

Jiang's mother looked at the steep mountain peaks and bumpy mountain roads along the way and remained somewhat nervous.

“Yiming, I heard that rocks can slide down when it rains. It’s too unsafe for you to work here. Besides, this place is too poor. You’re just suffering here.”

Jiang's mother said with heartache, "I'll talk to your father later and ask him to find someone to transfer you to the city or to another plain area."

Jiang's mother didn't know what her son's relationship with the city was like, but she knew that her husband dealt with some city officials, and that if she asked them for help, she could get her son transferred away from here.

From a mother's perspective, she naturally didn't want her son to suffer.

"Mom, it's not as scary as you say. I'll be careful."

Jiang Yiming said, "As for what you said about Xichuan County being poor, that's true. It's precisely because it's poor that it needs your son to settle down here, work hard, and lead the villagers out of poverty."

"I understand, but I don't want you to work so hard."

Jiang's mother said, "If you leave, other cadres will come. Isn't that right, Shi Ning?"

"Mom is right, I don't want Yiming to work so hard either."

Xia Shining nodded and said, "However, Mom, if this is Yiming's own choice, we should respect him, understand him, and support him. Don't you think so?"

"Mom, this is my personal choice. If it can help so many people get out of poverty and become rich, I will wake up smiling in my sleep."

Jiang Yiming smiled and said, "When we were poor, we always hoped for good policies and good cadres to lead us out of poverty and into prosperity. I think the people of Xichuan County are just like we were back then, hoping for good cadres to lead them out of their predicament and into the light."

"I want to be the one who brings them light."

"Sigh, Mom understands everything you're saying. What else can Mom say? Just like Shi Ning said, all I can do is respect, understand, and support you."

Jiang's mother sighed and said, "Promise me you'll take good care of yourself."

"Mom, don't worry, I'll take good care of myself."

After returning to Xichuan County, Jiang Yiming took a day to visit some of the more scenic spots in the county with his mother and wife.

"I didn't expect the scenery here to be so beautiful."

Jiang's mother said happily, "If the transportation here were more convenient, I would come more often each year so that I could see my son and enjoy the beautiful scenery."

"Mom, your idea will come true soon. Roads are being planned in our county."

Jiang Yiming took his mother and wife to sample the local specialties.

The following day, Jiang Yiming told his mother and wife to find somewhere to wander around on their own, while he returned to his office to handle some matters.

Tang Zhichao knocked on the door and came in.

“County Magistrate, I heard that your wife and mother have come to Xichuan County. I’ve asked the chef at the reception center to go and cook some Xichuan specialties for them so they can experience the local flavors of Xichuan County.”

"No need, I've already taken them to eat."

Jiang Yiming knew the other party meant well, and smiled, "I'm glad you're so thoughtful. My mother and the others aren't picky about food; they're usually very casual. It's almost the end of the year, so I won't trouble them to come over and cook."

Tang Zhichao nodded and said, "Director Zheng of the Transportation Bureau, Director Yu of the Civil Affairs Bureau, and other leaders, as well as the township leaders, would like to wish you an early Happy New Year. I wonder if it would be convenient for you?"

"Letting them do their jobs well is the best greeting to me and the best New Year's gift."

Jiang Yiming didn't have time to see them.

"Okay, I will pass on your instructions to them."

Just as Tang Zhichao was about to leave, Jiang Yiming called him back.

"Director Zhichao, what's the custom here in Xichuan County? Is it common to give red envelopes at the end of the year?"

Tang Zhichao hesitated for a second, then nodded and said, "It's very popular, and people are giving quite a lot of it. When leaders from the county bureau and townships visit you, each of them gives you about two thousand yuan."

"If someone is also asking for your help, then the amount varies. Some want to move to the city, some want to change jobs, and some want to find a position for their family members. These will all increase the thickness of the red envelope."

"I remember our county also established a leading group for optimizing the business environment, right?"

Jiang Yiming frowned and said, "Didn't they do anything at all?"

"This is the prevailing attitude throughout Xichuan County. Who should we investigate? It's not practical to arrest everyone."

"So, the county party committee and county government allow such a thing to happen right under our noses?"

Jiang Yiming said, "I'll call Secretary Li of the Discipline Inspection Commission and invite him over to discuss how to correct these unhealthy practices. You'll join us later."

“County Magistrate, this kind of practice has a long history and is difficult to deal with. Moreover, it is a major holiday. If you do this, you will cut off everyone’s source of income and offend many people.”

Tang Zhichao advised, "Besides, everyone is just exchanging gifts, like normal visits, and it hasn't caused any harm. I suggest we don't investigate."

"What kind of harm would constitute harm? This has already created a strong negative atmosphere. If we don't start from here, how can we correct this unhealthy trend? Everyone is exchanging gifts and getting along very well. If an official has a problem, everyone knows each other well and just says hello. How can we maintain social fairness and justice?"

Jiang Yiming criticized, "Zhichao, you need to improve your understanding. Just because many people are doing it doesn't mean it's right."

“I understand you’re thinking of me, worried that I might offend these officials and make it difficult to carry out my work. To be honest, I’ve never been afraid. Back then, Xinping County had the same atmosphere. I was able to correct the atmosphere in Xinping County, and I can correct the atmosphere in Xichuan County too!”

“County Chief, Xichuan County is different from Xinping County. You have support in Xinping County, but you have just arrived in Xichuan County, so it may be difficult. Even if you have discussed it with the head of a department and assigned the task, and the other party agrees, they may still compromise or even fail to implement it when it comes to the actual execution. This will not only fail to achieve the desired effect, but will also damage your prestige.”

Tang Zhichao patiently persuaded him.

"You mean inviting Secretary Li over is pointless?"

Jiang Yiming understood the unspoken meaning in Tang Zhichao's words.

Tang Zhichao nodded and said, "Secretary Li is a kind-hearted man, and he doesn't object to this situation."

"I understand."

Jiang Yiming nodded and said, "Then our government office will handle it ourselves. We will issue a notice in the name of the government office, prohibiting the county government departments from giving and receiving red envelopes. If any such case is discovered, the corresponding unit's funding will be reduced by one percent."

"By the way, among the people in the county government office, who do you think lacks political integrity? Give me a list, and I'll send them down to various towns and townships for training. I'll also transfer some capable and politically sound staff to the government office for proper training."

"Yes, County Head. I will definitely build the County Government Office into a department with high political awareness, strong work ability, and loyalty to you."

Tang Zhichao immediately said.

He understood Jiang Yiming's meaning: to kick out some disobedient or even corrupt individuals from the government office, and the final solution was to send them down to the townships and then recruit a new batch of clean and capable people.