Me! A high-ranking official!

Zhao Jianguo pushed open the door and entered. Guo Huaixing was wearing glasses and looking at documents. When he looked up and saw it was Zhao Jianguo, a smile immediately spread across his face. He casually took off his glasses, pushed his work aside, and pointed to the guest sofa, saying, "Jianguo's here? Please make yourself at home. Help yourself to some water, would you like some?"

"Director, I'm here to report to you, so I won't drink any water!" He walked over with a smile, sat down with half his buttocks on the sofa, and adopted a very upright posture.

Guo Huaixing pointed at him and laughed, "You little brat, don't give me that! You're already the first secretary stationed in the village, you're not even here with me anymore, what kind of work are you reporting to me about? You've only been down there a few days, you haven't learned anything else, but you've certainly picked up this fake official talk pretty well!"

He chuckled and said sincerely, "Director, no matter where I go, you will always be my old leader. Back in the government office, you mentored and took care of me a lot. Without your hands-on guidance, where would I, Zhao Jianguo, be today?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Huaixing's smile deepened. Although he had been working in the system for so many years and knew that such polite words were mostly empty words, flattery never fails. Who doesn't like to hear their former trusted subordinates speak well of them?

"It's good that you have the intention." Guo Huaixing picked up his thermos and took a sip of water, his tone becoming somewhat appreciative. "However, you've done a really good job during your time at the Culture and Tourism Bureau. I heard that those two projects the Bureau submitted before—the development of cultural tourism in Xiaozhai Village and the renovation of a zoo—were both your ideas? The ideas were very forward-thinking, and the approach was very clear. After reading the feasibility reports, several county leaders nodded in approval, saying they were well-written and feasible!"

Upon hearing this, he gave a perfectly timed wry smile: "Director, wasn't it all thanks to you who used to hone my skills on the materials every day, practically training me up? Otherwise, how could a country bumpkin like me have such a macro-level perspective and vision?"

Guo Huaixing waved his hand with a smile: "The master can only lead you to the door, but the cultivation is up to you. It's because you are willing to work hard and learn, and you are quick-witted. If it were a blockhead, I wouldn't be able to teach him even if I talked myself hoarse."

At this point, Guo Huaixing changed the subject, frowned slightly, shook his head and sighed: "However, your Director Baocheng is a bit... sigh, he could be a good general, but he's stuck in a cushy position! It's a pity about your talent. I heard that you've been demoted to Luojia Village as the village secretary? I know that village a little bit about it. It's in a remote location, has many historical problems, and the situation there is quite complicated and difficult."

Guo Huaixing leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming earnest and earnest, truly giving him advice: "Jianguo, the grassroots level is a deep and complex place. When you go there to carry out your work, you must be careful and cautious, proceed steadily and surely. Don't be greedy and reckless for the sake of showing off. It's better to maintain the status quo than to give others any leverage against you, understand?"

Zhao Jianguo felt a warmth in his heart, knowing that Guo Huaixing was speaking so sincerely to him as if he were one of his own. He immediately nodded gratefully, "I understand, Director, I will definitely keep your teachings in mind."

"Yes, I trust you. You're capable, thoughtful, and have principles." Guo Huaixing nodded. "Work hard. Being stationed in the village is tough, far from the county's power center, but it's also a good opportunity to enhance your resume. As long as you can achieve solid results, this will be your foundation for settling down and moving up in the county in the future!"

Having laid the groundwork, Zhao Jianguo straightened his expression and said in a deep voice, "Director, actually, I came here today specifically to seek your advice and assistance regarding some difficult problems at the grassroots level!"

Guo Huaixing chuckled and pointed at him with his finger: "I knew it! You wouldn't come here without a reason. So, what troubles you've run into?"

Zhao Jianguo chuckled, rubbed his hands together, and asked, "Director, it's like this: last year, our Luojia Village received a special fund of 500,000 yuan specifically for repairing the muddy road in the village. But I heard that the county intercepted and misappropriated it. I wanted to ask you where this money went now, and if there's any chance of getting it back?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Huaixing's brows furrowed immediately, and he shook his head and waved his hands without hesitation: "I don't know the specific whereabouts of this money, but 500,000 yuan isn't much in the county's coffers. Let alone your 500,000 yuan, there are quite a few large projects in the county where millions or even tens of millions of yuan in special funds have been misappropriated and misused. You can forget about this money completely!"

Seeing Zhao Jianguo's slightly stunned expression, Guo Huaixing lowered his voice and explained, "A few years ago, the county carried out a large-scale new town construction project, which was too large. In addition, the economic environment has been bad in the past two years. The real estate market is sluggish, and land cannot be sold. The county is facing extreme difficulties in cash flow. Various debts, both overt and covert, are suffocating people. Our county is an agricultural county with no large pillar enterprises. The annual tax revenue is not even enough to cover the previous deficits."

"The new Party Secretary has just taken office." Guo Huaixing paused, his eyes flickering slightly. "With the new leadership, following the national directives, the focus has been on 'three stabilities and three promotions': stabilizing the economy, stabilizing debt, and stabilizing security; and promoting investment, promoting consumption, and promoting transformation. Most of the county's unprofitable large-scale infrastructure projects have been halted, and all limited financial resources are being channeled towards projects that directly impact people's lives, including the Xiaozhai Village project you mentioned earlier. The county finances are almost running out of funds. Getting back the 500,000 yuan that was taken is harder than climbing to heaven!"

He was actually mentally prepared, and upon hearing this, he could only give a wry smile: "Director, I know that once this money goes into the county's pocket, it'll be hard to get it back, but it's a special fund, meant for its designated purpose. The end of the year is approaching, and the provincial and municipal governments are coming down to audit the special funds. If this hole can't be filled, how will we explain it when the higher-ups investigate?"

Guo Huaixing sighed and helplessly spread his hands: "This is what your village committee and town government will have to worry about. The county is in dire straits itself and definitely doesn't have the money to bail you out. You'll have to figure out how to deal with it yourselves."

Having said all that, the 500,000 yuan is now effectively a death sentence.

But seeing the somewhat disappointed look in Zhao Jianguo's eyes, Guo Huaixing tapped his fingers on the table, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly changed the subject: "Don't count on 500,000, but... recently the higher-ups just approved a 3 million yuan financial subsidy for rural public welfare projects."

Zhao Jianguo's ears perked up instantly.

Guo Huaixing looked at him meaningfully and said, "Regarding this funding, I remember that when the document was first issued last year, some villages had submitted project applications in advance. You can check and see if your Luojia Village applied back then. The county has decided to allocate a portion of this money to the villages. You can try to get it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jianguo's eyes lit up!