Having achieved financial freedom, I reorganized my workplace.

When the workers from the institute went to the countryside to collect water fees, their pockets were always stuffed full when they came back.

It's either eggs from the Zhang family or fruits from the Li family, but Lin Chen's pockets are always as clean as his face, yet his heart is filled with heavy questions.

Lin Chen had also wondered why he had to be so serious and why he had to make things so complicated.

How easy it would be to be like everyone else, pretending to be friendly with the villagers, turning a blind eye to problems, deceiving superiors and subordinates to get by?

But he had an incurable "bad habit": whenever he thought of the villagers' disappointed and helpless eyes, he would toss and turn all night, unable to sleep. Perhaps he grew up in such an environment.

The water quality problem in Meihua Village has been a long-standing issue and is not easy to solve. When Director Lin Kaidong returned in the morning, Lin Chen had a talk with him.

Lin Kaidong said with a hint of criticism, "Lin Chen, do you have nothing better to do? We already talked about this little matter last time. There's nothing we can do for now; the company above doesn't have the money to pay us."

Lin Chen said emotionlessly, "Dirty water is not a trivial matter; it's a big deal."

Lin Kaidong retorted angrily, "A bunch of flies, complaining that the water isn't clean enough?"

Lin Chen scoffed, "Then we're all flies."

Lin Kaidong said impatiently, "It's not that I don't want to, but honestly, there's no other way. Otherwise, you can go up and tell the leaders."

It's that same old excuse to shirk responsibility again. It's giving me a headache. It's a pity I'm not familiar with the higher-ups. I'll just put it aside for now.

As for the quota for Liu Agou from Xinghua Village to receive a water fee reduction, it shouldn't be difficult to resolve.

In the morning, Liu Agou had already brought over the materials. Lin Chen looked them over carefully and found them to be quite solid, with little falsification. However, many details were incomplete, such as information about family members and income.

I still need to keep an eye on it myself.

Lin Chen checked the five exemption slots reported by the village belle and immediately became a little angry.

Liu Laogen, Liu Laoshu, Liu Laolin, Liu Heixiong, Liu Jiancai.

That damn village chief Liu Laogen, it seems he not only secured his own position, but also that of his brothers.

They really have a bit of power, so they use it all.

You say you eat meat and fish all the time, and you even gnaw on the bones yourself.

That's outrageous and excessive.

But you know what, although Liu Laogen's family is the richest, his materials are the most solid and complete. After seeing his materials, you'd almost want to cry and send him money immediately.

Lin Chen assigned Liang Wenchao, the safety officer at the institute, to be in charge of the materials for Xinghua Village. Liang Wenchao (also known as Fei Chao) was not old, only a year or two older than Lin Chen, and was fond of taking advantage of small things.

The toilet paper in the water supply center's restrooms, the oil and salt in the kitchen, and the laundry detergent in the shower room were his favorites.

Anyway, these things would disappear as soon as it was his turn to be on duty.

He's actually quite safe as a safety officer.

This guy always seems to be half-asleep at work during the day, like he hasn't brought his soul back with him, but he's full of energy at night, either going fishing or flirting with girls.

In the villages under his jurisdiction, anyone who wants to get running water must go through him. If you give him a gift, he'll happily and quickly get it done for you. But if you refuse to give him a penny, he'll find all sorts of reasons to make things difficult for you.

It's not that the materials are insufficient or the evidence is incomplete; it's just that the seal is blurry.

Lin Chen had talked to him several times, but he wouldn't listen, so she gave up.

"Brother Chao, you were the one who reviewed the application materials for water fee reduction for impoverished families in Xinghua Village."

Liang Wenchao's eyes widened slightly, revealing a hint of wariness: "Yes, what's the problem?"

Lin Chen said coldly, "Have you even read the materials? All three brothers in Liu Laogen's family are impoverished? Only Liu Laogen is poor? He's richer than the director, did Liu Laogen give you some benefits?"

There's no doubt I'm hungry.

Liang Wenchao was a little guilty: "Squad leader, don't wrong me. Liu Laogen cooperated with our work very well. He submitted the materials as soon as we asked. I saw that they met the requirements, so I approved them."

"Where are Liu Agou's materials?"

Liang Wenchao feigned ignorance: "His materials are so incomplete, the words are all wrong, how can I pass them?"

Lin Chen sneered: "Then why don't you help him organize and prepare the materials? The purpose of our Xinhai Water Affairs Group is to serve the people, not to make things difficult for them."

Liu Agou can't even read a single character, how could he possibly write a good report? Liu Laogen is the village chief, a scholar, so naturally he knows how to prepare reports. Who are you going to reason with?

"It's just empty slogans, why did you take it seriously?" Liang Wenchao muttered, then added, "Back then, time was tight and the task was heavy, how could we do so many things? Squad leader, you're a bodhisattva, you go and write it for him. Anyway, whoever it is, it has nothing to do with me."

That's utter garbage.

Lin Chen immediately called Chen Ya, the office specialist at the county water supply bureau. Chen Ya was two years younger than Lin Chen and joined the company in the same year as him. She was very beautiful, and her relationship with Lin Chen was delicate, neither good nor bad.

She used to be very upright and honest. For the first five or six years, she worked at the Wuji Water Supply Station, doing nothing special. Later, she had a change of heart and was promoted by her superiors to become a specialist. Now she's very popular, and I heard that Director Tang likes her very much.

Director Tang is a woman, don't misunderstand.

"Lin Chen, what's up?" Chen Ya is usually quite aloof, but she was still warm towards Lin Chen.

"Chen Ya, I'd like to ask if the number of slots for water fee reduction for impoverished families in rural towns can be increased? There's a family in Xinghua Village who are indeed in financial difficulty, and I've reviewed their application materials and they meet the requirements."

Lin Chen stopped worrying about the three Liu brothers and just wanted to help Liu Agou.

Chen Ya: "Lin Chen is definitely out of the question. The quota is fixed, and it's the same for every township."

Lin Chen: "I do meet the requirements."

Chen Ya: "Then we'll have to submit it again next year."

Lin Chen: "But I agreed to it."

Chen Ya: "Lin Chen, you're still so stubborn in your approach. You need to change your thinking. Don't think of yourself as a savior. There are plenty of people who meet the requirements, but that's just how the policy is. Not everyone can enjoy the benefits."

Lin Chen: "Is there really no other way?"

Chen Ya: "It's not that there aren't any left. If you really want to give him this spot, you have to kick out one of the original five people."

Lin Chen: "Okay, let's do it that way."

Chen Ya: "So who do you want to kick out? They have to sign their consent first."

Lin Chen: "Then kick one."

In the afternoon, Lin Chen and Tang Yuwei stood in front of Liu Laogen's impressive two-story house, where a nearly new pickup truck was parked in the yard.

Tang Yuwei: "Is being a village chief really that good a job these days?"

Lin Chen didn't answer, but knocked on the door.

When Liu Laogen opened the door and saw Lin Chen, his face immediately lit up with a warm smile: "Oh, Class Monitor Lin, you're here."

Lin Chen didn't move, but calmly looked at him and got straight to the point: "Village Chief Liu, I won't go in. I'm here about the water fee reduction quota."

Liu Laogen's eyes flickered for a moment, but his smile remained unchanged: "Oh, that matter? Thank you for taking care of us ordinary people!"

Lin Chen: "It really is a favor; they've covered your entire house."

Liu Laogen's smile froze for a moment, then he lowered his voice, with a hint of trying to get closer to him: "Cadre Lin, look... our materials are all complete and in accordance with the procedures."

Lin Chen didn't respond to his question: "I'm here this time to ask you three brothers to take one of them and give it to Liu Agou."

Liu Laogen's expression changed slightly, revealing anger: "This...how can this be! Did that bastard Liu Agou cause trouble? I'll fucking teach him a lesson."

"Village chief, this has nothing to do with Liu Agou," Lin Chen scolded. This guy is pretty formidable.

His gaze swept over the pickup truck and the building: "Given your family's situation, is it reasonable for you to offer a water bill reduction? Logically speaking, none of your three brothers qualify, so giving up one spot isn't unreasonable. Or do you want me to handle this strictly by the book? Otherwise, none of your spots will be guaranteed."

Lin Chen's words were both soft and firm, pointing out the stakes and hinting at the possible consequences. Liu Laogen's expression changed several times. He could tell that Lin Chen wasn't there to discuss things with him, but rather to inform him.

"Xiao Lin, look, we just harvested some rice at home. I'll bring you some to try." Liu Laogen's momentum weakened.

"No need." Lin Chen pressed on, but his tone remained calm. "I think... let's remove Liu Laoshu. You can say his materials aren't up to par, but he's your brother anyway. Just get him to sign."

Upon hearing that it was his brother who was to be removed, not himself, Liu Laogen softened somewhat. After weighing the options, he said reluctantly, "...Alright, Officer Lin, it's up to you. You wait a moment, I'll go get him to sign."

Brothers are like limbs, but when faced with self-interest, they would cut off their own limbs. Half an hour later, Lin Chen packed up the materials, turned around, and strode away.

Tang Yuwei jogged after him, feeling that the class monitor walked so steadily and handsomely, and the setting sun shone on him, making him look very tall.

Tang Yuwei didn't know.

Lin Chen has walked this path for ten years, more seriously than anyone else, and with more difficulty than anyone else.