The spring chill lingered, and the first rays of dawn bathed the glazed tiles of the Municipal People's Hall in a warm, golden glow. In the square before the hall, red flags fluttered, and clusters of flowers adorned the grounds. Delegates in formal attire entered steadily, their red badges gleaming in the morning light. Lin Wanqiu stood at the entrance, her fingertips gently tracing the cover of her badge; the tactile sensation filled her with an indescribable sense of solemnity and trepidation.
Today, she wore a navy blue suit skirt, her long hair neatly tied up in a bun, revealing her smooth forehead and graceful neck. Her eyes, usually filled with a smile, were now brimming with seriousness, and her lips were pressed into a firm line. Shen Tingzhou stood beside her, his dark gray suit making him appear even more upright. He gently patted Lin Wanqiu's hand, his voice deep and strong: "Don't be nervous. You have the villagers' expectations in your heart, and you're only saying the truth. That's enough."
Lin Wanqiu turned to look at him, her apprehension gradually replaced by warmth. Since learning at the birthday banquet that she had been recommended as a municipal people's congress representative, she had barely slept a wink for over a month. During the day, she was busy with the food workshop's production management, and at night she would be hunched over her research notes, often staying up late. Shen Tingzhou felt sorry for her hard work, but he also understood the significance of this responsibility to her, always quietly staying by her side, brewing her a warm cup of strong tea, or helping her check data and organize her thoughts.
To offer practical suggestions, Lin Wanqiu returned to the Hongqi Production Brigade five times, engaging in heart-to-heart talks with the villagers. She trudged along muddy country roads, inspecting the village's uneven main thoroughfare; sat in the rudimentary village clinic, recording the lack of medical equipment and insufficient medicine reserves; and walked into the dimly lit village primary school classroom, watching the children hunched over their worn-out desks writing, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Each investigation deepened her understanding of the concept of "people's livelihood" and strengthened her resolve to speak up for her fellow villagers and work for the development of her hometown.
"Tingzhou, do you think my suggestions will be adopted?" Lin Wanqiu took a deep breath, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension. Her research notes were filled with suggestions: improve rural infrastructure and build asphalt roads; strengthen rural medical care and equip it with professional medical personnel and commonly used medicines; increase investment in rural education, renovate school buildings, and add teaching equipment; establish a platform for connecting agricultural product production and sales to solve the problem of villagers' difficulty in selling their goods... Every suggestion stemmed from her personal experience and the urgent needs of the villagers.
Shen Tingzhou gripped her hand tightly, his gaze unwavering: "Your suggestions are all to the point, full of genuine emotion, and supported by actual research. They will definitely attract attention. Remember, you are not fighting alone. I, the villagers, and everyone who supports you are your strong backing."
Just then, a familiar laugh rang out, and Director Wang from the Municipal Development and Reform Commission strode over with a friendly smile on his face: "Representative Lin, good morning! We've long heard that you're a leader in guiding our fellow villagers to prosperity, and we all admire your deeds. You must have many good suggestions to make at this People's Congress, right?"
Lin Wanqiu quickly snapped out of her thoughts and politely replied, "Director Wang, good morning! I've only done what I'm supposed to do. The main reason I'm here is to bring the voices and expectations of the villagers to the meeting and do my part for rural development."
“Great,” Director Wang nodded approvingly. “We need representatives like you who are down-to-earth and dare to speak the truth. Rural development is a key focus of our city’s work, and your suggestions are very valuable for our policy-making. Be sure to speak freely during the meeting later!”
Lin Wanqiu nodded emphatically, her confidence growing stronger. She followed Director Wang and Shen Tingzhou into the conference hall. The spacious hall was solemn and dignified. The delegates took their seats in turn, reviewing the meeting materials and exchanging views in hushed tones. Sunlight streamed through the tall floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating every corner of the hall and the hope in Lin Wanqiu's eyes.
At 9:00 AM sharp, the meeting officially began. The majestic national anthem played, and all the delegates stood, their expressions solemn as they gazed at the national flag above the platform. Lin Wanqiu joined everyone in singing the national anthem; the stirring melody echoed throughout the hall, filling her with a strong sense of pride and responsibility. She secretly resolved to fulfill her duties as a delegate, to live up to the trust of the organization, and to meet the expectations of her fellow villagers.
The first item on the agenda was to hear the government work report. The mayor stood on the podium, his voice booming as he summarized the achievements of the past year and outlined the blueprint for future development. The report's mentions of "vigorously promoting rural revitalization," "strengthening people's livelihood guarantees," and "optimizing the business environment" all resonated with Lin Wanqiu's concerns. She listened attentively, quickly jotting down key points in her notebook, nodding occasionally, and showing approval on her face.
When the mayor mentioned "focusing on solving problems such as weak rural infrastructure and insufficient public services, so that the vast majority of farmers can share the fruits of development," Lin Wanqiu felt a surge of emotion. She recalled the bumpy, uneven main road of the Hongqi Production Brigade, which became muddy and impassable on rainy days, making it extremely inconvenient for the villagers to travel; she remembered the village clinic with only one old traditional Chinese medicine doctor, lacking professional diagnostic and treatment equipment, forcing villagers to either endure illness or travel dozens of miles to the town for medical care; she remembered the dilapidated desks and chairs and the scarce teaching resources in the village primary school, and the children's yearning for knowledge pained her deeply. These scenes flashed through her mind like a movie, further strengthening her resolve to actively participate in the group discussion.
After the work report, group discussions began. Lin Wanqiu was assigned to the rural development group, along with rural representatives from various counties and districts, agricultural experts, and relevant department heads. At the start of the discussion, the representatives actively participated, engaging in lively discussions on topics such as rural industrial development, ecological protection, and people's livelihood.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com