The following morning, once everyone was at their posts, Hao Wenjing instructed the County Committee office to inform all County Committee Standing mbers to convene for a eting and invited Chen Bin to attend.
Since this was not one of the monthly routine etings, many people found it sowhat unexpected.
As individuals gradually arrived at the conference room, Chen Bin also seated himself at the very end of the conference table.
Hao Wenjing scanned the room, her expression solemn as she spoke.
"I convened this eting today primarily to discuss developnt for Beihuang County. After conducting investigations, I discovered that there are few major cattle feed factories in our province, and I believe our county could try growing certain feed crops."
As soon as she finished her sentence, Tang Heqing raised a dissenting opinion.
"Since other places haven’t succeeded, doesn’t that imply the feed industry isn’t profitable? Why would we pursue this?"
"That’s an excellent question."
Hao Wenjing explained, "Beihuang County is near the grasslands, giving us natural advantages for producing cattle feed. Furthermore, growing feed crops could increase farrs’ incos, so I believe it’s worth a try."
Cao Bencong shook his head at this point.
"I don’t think highly of this industry! Beihuang County already has very limited arable land—where would we find the bandwidth to toy around with such peculiar ideas? If we fail, how will we answer to the people?"
Once he made that statent, others chid in, expressing their disapproval as well.
At that mont, Qiao Baichuan’s uncle, He Kun, spoke up.
"Since it’s an economic developnt strategy, I think it’s worth a shot."
His words instantly sparked objections from the local faction, and criticism erupted among the attendees.
Seeing the situation becoming increasingly chaotic, Qian Shujuan turned to Chen Bin.
"Chairman Chen, perhaps you could share your thoughts?"
Her words imdiately shifted everyone’s focus to Chen Bin.
For individuals like Cao Bencong, Chen Bin was both familiar and unfamiliar.
They only knew Chen Bin as a young and promising cadre with innovative ideas.
Yet since arriving in Beihuang County, he had almost no interactions with them.
The sole tidbit of information they could glean—courtesy of Hou Haoyu—was that Chen Bin was generous and often socialized with him.
To many, he seed relatively enigmatic.
With a faint smile, Chen Bin stood up and said.
"Regarding the matter of growing cattle feed crops, I believe both support and opposition are valid viewpoints. After all, we are servants of the people; it’s perfectly normal to have concerns when making decisions for their benefit."
His remarks left both the local faction and outsider faction montarily baffled.
They had never anticipated that this young man would try to defuse tensions.
Chen Bin continued.
"In my view, whether we face risks head-on or avoid taking risks, both carry consequences. If we want developnt, we can’t be afraid of mistakes. Our ultimate goal is to serve the people—if we constantly worry about missteps, how can we achieve anything at all?"
Noticing how Chen Bin repeatedly emphasized the people’s interests, the local faction found themselves unable to refute his comnts.
Ultimately, the eting concluded inconclusively.
Later that afternoon, after hearing about Chen Bin’s remarks, Gu Kong addressed the local faction mbers.
"That young man does indeed have a way with words, but let him talk all he wants. He’s just a small Political Consultative Conference Chairman—he simply doesn’t have the power to sway the bigger picture. Just make sure you’re united in opposition; whatever he says, just disagree."
Three days later, Hao Wenjing convened another Standing Committee eting regarding the proposal to grow cattle feed crops.
However, the local faction banded together once again and maintained their opposition.
With no other options, Hao Wenjing finally suggested.
"Remaining stuck in this stalemate won’t get us anywhere. Why don’t we consult the villagers for their opinions first? What do you all think?"
The local faction had no grounds to reject this suggestion.
After all, consulting public opinion was not the sa as making a final decision—they couldn’t interfere.
With the plan finalized, Chen Bin, Hao Wenjing, Qian Shujuan, and Chang Bucheng each took responsibility for different towns.
After lunch, they set out with a few staff mbers to begin work.
Before heading out, Chen Bin was full of confidence.
He believed that his eloquence would surely win over the villagers.
Yet upon arriving at the towns, he was t with outright hostility, with villagers pointing fingers at him and venting their anger.
So even raised shovels, attempting to strike him.
After being rejected outright by everyone, Chen Bin ca to the realization that Beihuang’s governnt had neglected the people for far too long.
This neglect had profoundly eroded governntal trustworthiness, leaving nearly no one willing to believe him now.
That evening, upon returning to the county and reconvening with Hao Wenjing and the others.
Without exception, they all faced similar outcos.
At this point, Chang Bucheng voiced his confusion.
"To be honest, I don’t get it. Developing the economy wouldn’t harm the local faction’s interests, so why are they obstructing us at every turn?"
Chen Bin explained, "First, they don’t want us outsider officials to achieve political accomplishnts. Second, they’re afraid that once we establish ourselves by achieving sothing, we might target their family representatives afterward."
Qian Shujuan nodded, expressing agreent with this perspective.
"Previously, when I opposed you, it was primarily due to these two reasons."
Given the group’s somber mood, they parted after sharing a al.
Chen Bin returned to Beihuang Hotel and spent the night in passionate entanglent with He Beibei.
The next day, borrowing Hao Wenjing’s car, he drove her to the Imperial Capital.
At Jiang Chu Real Estate, Liao Jiangchu wasn’t in the office, and the two were greeted by a deputy general manager.
After receiving instructions from Liao Jiangchu, the deputy manager indicated that He Beibei could spend a week in each departnt.
If she found a suitable departnt, she could remain there.
Upon hearing this, He Beibei felt even more admiration for Chen Bin.
She clearly understood that the preferential treatnt she received was entirely thanks to Chen Bin.
After arranging matters for He Beibei, Chen Bin drove back to Beihuang County alone.
However, regarding the cattle feed crop initiative, he was still at a complete loss.
Finally, after careful consideration, he decided to investigate corruption among local faction officials.
He believed that only by exposing their misconduct could he curb their arrogance.
Qian Shujuan, having once belonged to the local faction, was sowhat knowledgeable about their corrupt practices.
She imdiately enlisted a few trusted individuals to help gather evidence.
Around half a month later, Qian Shujuan brought a ledger to Chen Bin’s office.
"Here’s a ledger docunting bribery and corruption among township party secretaries. See if it’s useful."
After reviewing it, Chen Bin found it densely packed with detailed records.
It even implicated figures like Cao Bencong.
With a slight nod, he declared, "It’s definitely useful. This ti, I’m going to make sure these people bleed!"
Upon finishing his statent, Chen Bin took the ledger directly to Duan Baijian.
Duan Baijian treated the matter with great urgency.
Summoning City Disciplinary Committee Secretary Yi Biqi to his office, he pointed at the ledger on the desk and sternly commanded.
"Imdiately form a special task force. Don’t spare a single individual listed here!"
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