Insufficient balance

  Dinner time, inside a private room at Qinghe Town Reception Center.

  "Chen Gong, let me tell you about the direction of this village's small reform. Village elementary school teachers who meet the age requirements will participate in a unified examination organized by the Fuhai City Education Department. Those who pass the exam will be assigned to local elementary schools by the city. Those who do not pass the exam will receive a one-time subsidy and then find another way out."

  "This method is very scientific, what about the students?" Chen Gong was indeed worried about Zhao Xiao Yan's question.

  "Students, like teachers, take an exam first. Those who meet the standards are admitted to local primary schools in corresponding grades. If they don't meet the standards, there's no way out. You also know that the academic performance of village elementary school students is quite poor. To achieve nine-year compulsory education, the education department will assign these children to each primary and secondary school to complete so-called 'nine-year compulsory education'. After graduation, students stay at home without going to school, and their files will show that they have completed nine years of compulsory education."

  "This isn't a scam, right? Those kids haven't learned anything. In the future, besides working in the fields at home or being a laborer abroad, what else can they do?" Chen Gong couldn't understand it - these things are completely just saying one thing and doing another.

  "Chen Gong, these are not things you should be considering. Let me tell you clearly, your current task is to deceive the villagers and get them to leave the school. As for what happens later, who knows? The reform direction I told you about is also not finalized yet, it's still in the discussion stage at the municipal level. This is just between you and me."

  Chen Gong felt uneasy after hearing this, because he really wanted to find a solution as soon as possible. He wanted to see the happy smiles of the children. "Mayor Wang, we can use this village school relocation to explore the direction of rural education reform. If done well, it might even become a model."

  Chen Gong actually wanted to get Wang Guoqiang involved, let him take the lead in thinking of a solution and coordinating relations between all parties, so as to secure the greatest benefits for Qinghe Village.

  Wang Guoqiang listened to Chen Gong's words and immediately reflected on it, realizing that this was actually an opportunity. If he achieved good results, they would be his own; if he made mistakes, nothing serious would happen, and the leader would also remember him as a person who dared to put things into practice.

  Wang Guoqiang raised his cup, "Come on, Chen Gong, let's have a drink. You reminded me just now, so here's the deal: if you come up with a good plan for reforming the village school before June 20th, I'll take care of coordinating with the higher-ups. Today is June 5th, we still have 15 days. You can find me anytime to discuss this matter. Your task is to relocate the villagers by the end of June. We have time, and if all else fails, we can implement 'forced demolition' at the end of the month. Don't worry, I'll make sure you complete your task smoothly and get noticed by the town leaders."

  June 11th evening, Xin Qiao Hotel in Xin Qiao District.

  Xin Qiao District Education Bureau Director He invited Fuhai City Education Bureau Policy and Law Department Director Zhang Mingzhang, Liu Yadong sat in the VIP room chairman position, Wang Guoqiang brought Chen Gong to sit on one side.

  "Director Zhang, this is Liu, Deputy Director of Xin Qiao District, one of the Standing Committee members. Director Liu, this is Director Zhang of the Policy and Law Department of the Municipal Education Bureau."

  "Hello, Mayor Liu."

  "Director Zhang, hello, this matter of my younger brother-in-law is all thanks to your help."

  Zhang Mingzhang may be from the city, but he also has to show respect for local district and county-level leaders. "Don't worry, Director Liu, our city is currently exploring village and town reforms. As long as your proposal is good, I'll make a statement, and tomorrow it will definitely be on the desk of our deputy director or even the director in charge."

  Liu Yadong nodded with a smile, "Come on, let's eat and talk at the same time. Guo Qiang and Xiao Chen, brief Director Zhang on your reform plan."

  Wang Qiang said to Chen Gong, "Chen Gong, come and tell the leaders about it. If there's anything inappropriate, Zhang Chu Chang and He Ju can speak out directly, and we can improve it immediately."

  Chen Gong sent the draft to Zhang Mingzhang and He Ju, and also gave a copy to Liu Yadong. Chen Gong himself took out the draft and began to discuss it.

  Liu Yadong is also very clear about the reform of village schools, although he is not in charge of education.

  Chen Gong's narrative was very detailed and his eloquence was quite good. The several people sitting there nodded their heads, almost no one moved their chopsticks.

  The trend and purpose of rural small school reform, the situation and difficulties faced by the reform, and the feasibility of the reform plan were all analyzed in detail.

  "After listening to the report, Zhang Mingzhang was the first to speak up, 'Good, great, your suggestion has solved our bureau's most pressing issue. If it goes smoothly, it will be a model for the whole province and even the country.'"

  "What's more, Director He also chimed in, 'The content is very realistic, the solution is feasible, and it solves the difficult problem of insufficient financial support funds.'"

  Zhang Mingzhang continued, "I guarantee that this proposal will be on the director's desk tomorrow. As long as he approves it, we can start piloting immediately."

  Liu Yadong also thought the plan was really good, and he had some appreciation for Chen Gong. "Guo Qiang, you've found a great helper! After this is over, Xiao Chen, come be my secretary. My current secretary is stupid and not even half as capable as you."

  Which leader's secretary is not cunning, clever and quick-witted? Liu Yadong said this, actually it was also a confirmation of Chen Gong.

  "Sister-in-law, wait until I gain a foothold in Qinghe Town, then Chen Gong can go with you to experience it. Chen Gong, hurry up and offer Liu a toast."

  "Director Liu, thank you for your praise. I still hope that you and Director Wang can criticize me more, so I can improve faster. Come on, let's have a drink, Director Liu. Your health is the concern of all the people in the district."

  After Wang Guoqiang came down, he also said to Chen Gong, "Little Chen, you are my lucky star. Whether I can stand firm here depends on you."

  The plan is good, there's someone on top, and the action is natural and quick.

  Wang Qiang said to Chen Gong in the office, "Congratulations, Chen Gong, the village school reform implementation plan has been passed at the municipal education bureau's director's office meeting. They are thinking of ways to submit it to the municipal government's standing committee as soon as possible. In short, they still have to go through the motions."

  Chen Gong was delighted when he heard this. "That's great, Mayor Wang! Now the demolition and relocation issues are resolved, as well as the problems with the village school teachers and students."

  "Chen Gong, there's something else I need to tell you first, it's about you, and it's good news." Wang Guoqiang said mysteriously to Chen Gong.

  Chen Gong was puzzled, "What good thing is this, Mayor Wang, giving me a house?"

  "What's the division of houses, I haven't even solved the problem of dividing houses in the district, and you, as a low-ranking civil servant, dare to mention it. What I'm saying is good news, if this village primary school reform work starts, Qinghe Town may become a pilot town, and all four village primaries in the town will have to be reformed. Reform will definitely require people to do things, and you are very likely to become a member of the reform pilot working group."

  "Wang Zhenzhang, what kind of official is a member of this group?" Chen Gong listened with some confusion, he didn't understand the specific official duties.

  "It's not an official position, this group is also temporary, but it might be established at the district or even city level. You put your name on it, do some real work, and later it will go into your file, that's what they call achievement."

  "This is what they call an achievement, it's too easy, just wrote a draft."

  "You don't understand anything, these things are hard to come by, I won't tell you anymore, go read some policy documents, recharge and get prepared, who knows when you might need them."

  June 17th, Qinghe Town, a pilot town for rural primary school reform led by Fuhai City Education Bureau, was featured in the Fuhai Daily.

  Fuhai City Education Bureau takes the lead in action, paving the way for the pilot work of village primary school reform.

  Fuhai City Education Bureau document was issued on June 19 to all municipal departments, districts, counties and town governments.

  With the release of the list, Fuhai City Education Department, Xin Qiao District Party Committee and government at all levels, as well as various towns and streets in Fuhai City where village schools still exist, are all focusing on the reform pilot project of village schools, or it can be said that they are paying attention to the people on this list.

  The name Chen Gong appears on this list, leaving a deep impression on people. Why is that? It's not because the name Chen Gong is unfamiliar in official circles, nor is it because the director of the town is unknown to everyone. In fact, it's because of the position behind Chen Gong's name. On the list, his position is a staff member of Qinghe Town, and he is the only ordinary staff member among the members of this work team. The other members are all leaders of various departments in the town. On June 20th, Qinghe Town held a mobilization meeting for the pilot reform of village and small schools, with the participation of the party committee, people's congress, government, and political consultative conference. All the leaders and middle-level cadres of the town gathered in the first conference room of the town.

  Qizixiao Nan sat in the middle of the rostrum, "Comrades, Fuhai Municipal Government and Municipal Education Bureau attach great importance to this reform work. Our town has many personnel appearing on the list of reform pilot working groups, inspection committees, etc., which is a trust from the higher party committee government to our Qinghe Town cadres. Everyone has a copy of the list in their hands, I'll let Mayor Guo read it again, Mayor Guo, you come."

  "Hello, hello, hello. Next, I will read out the document for everyone. The Fuhai City Education Bureau's 'Notice on the Arrangement of Village and Small School Reform Pilot Work in Fuhai City' (Fuhai Jiao Fa [2011] No. 89), in order to comprehensively popularize the nine-year compulsory education in Fuhai City, consolidate the outstanding achievements made by Fuhai City's education last year... To strengthen organizational management work, we have established the 'Fuhai City Xin Qiao District Qing He Town Village and Small School Reform Pilot Work Group and Inspection Team Roster' (hereinafter referred to as the Reform Group)...

  Here is the translation:

  "Now I will read out the list of members of Fuhai City Xinqiao District Qinghe Town Village Small Reform Pilot Work Group:"

  Group Leader: Feng Xiaoyi, Deputy Director of Fuhai City Education Bureau;

  Deputy Director: Zhang Mingzhang, Director of Policy and Law Department of Fuhai City Education Bureau;

  Deputy Director: He Youcai, Director of Xinqiao District Education Bureau of Fuhai City.

  Deputy Director: Guo Kesheng, Mayor of Qinghe Town, Xinqiao District, Fuhai City.

  Director of the office: Wang Guoqiang, Deputy Mayor of Qinghe Town, Xinjiang District, Fuhai City.

  Member: Luo Qingguo, Director of Party and Government Office of Qinghe Town, Xinjiang District, Fuhai City.

  Members: Zhang Zhuli, Director of Social Affairs Office of Qinghe Town, Xinjiang District, Fuhai City.

  Member: Liao Xiuying, Director of Economic Development Office of Qinghe Town, Xinqiao District, Fuhai City.

  Members: Chen Gong, staff of Qinghe Town, Xinqiao District, Fuhai City...

  List of Names of Reform Pilot Supervision and Inspection Committee:

  Director: Luo Zhixu, Deputy Director of Fuhai City Supervision Bureau;

  Deputy Director: Wei Cangnan, Deputy Director of Xinqiao District People's Congress in Fuhai City.

  Members: Guan Yongfu, Director of Qinghe Town People's Congress in Haishi New Bridge District... Okay, the document reading is complete. Secretary Xiao will give important instructions to everyone."

  Qī Xiào Nán waved his hand, "What instructions or not, are all listening to the Municipal Education Bureau and District Education Bureau's arrangements. You all fully cooperate, especially those on the list, who should take the initiative and cannot fall behind. A gold coin will shine wherever it is. Comrade Chen Gong, staff of the Party and Government Office, Secretary of Wang Zhen, the report on the reform plan to the city was drafted by Comrade Chen Gong, I think he's quite good. All middle-level cadres leave the meeting room first, and several main leaders of the People's Congress and Political Consultative Conference stay behind."