The next morning, Su Wanshan led Su Yicen to the brigade headquarters.
The morning sun had just begun to shine on the path at the entrance of the village, and the dew had not yet completely evaporated.
Su Wanshan carried a coarse cloth bundle on his back and walked steadily ahead, with Su Yicen following closely behind, looking slightly nervous.
The two walked in silence, crossing the dirt road in the center of the village, heading towards the brigade headquarters.
It was an old house with blue bricks and gray tiles, and traces of slogans painted on the walls decades ago were still visible.
Su Wanshan knew that whether this deal could be reached would determine the future of Qingshan Village for the next few months.
He took a deep breath and pushed open the slightly ajar wooden door.
Su Qingzhi then led Zhu Xiuqin, Yin Hua, Shen Jinhe, and a few others up the mountain.
She wore a faded blue cloth shirt and old cloth shoes, carrying a bamboo basket on her back, and walked at the front of the group.
The mountain path was a bit slippery; there had been a light rain last night, and the stone steps were covered with a thin layer of moss.
As she walked, she kept an eye on the plants along the roadside, stopping every now and then to take a closer look.
Zhu Xiuqin followed behind her with her medicine box on her back, while Yin Hua and Shen Jinhe looked around with curiosity and anticipation in their eyes.
The birdsong in the woods is crisp and melodious, and the morning breeze carries the fragrance of grass and trees.
She was confident; she was at least 70% sure of success.
Although they haven't actually started taking action yet, Su Qingzhi has already rehearsed each step countless times.
From the collection and drying of medicinal materials to the subsequent sales channels, even the obstacles that may be encountered have been taken into consideration.
She is not blindly optimistic; her confidence stems from her accurate understanding of the villagers' habits, the cadres' psychology, and market conditions.
She knew that once she took the first step, the rest of the journey wouldn't be too difficult.
If it succeeds, the village will have an extra source of income.
For Qingshan Village, every penny is precious.
In recent years, families have barely made ends meet by farming, and young people have gone out to work, leaving behind mostly the elderly and children.
If the path of medicinal herbs can truly be successful, it will not only boost the collective economy but also give hope to those who remain behind.
Thinking of those aunties and grandmothers who always frowned and sighed, Su Qingzhi secretly made up her mind—no matter what, she had to give it a try.
She remembered that the brigade secretary was a hard-working person.
The man was in his early fifties, with half-gray hair, and always wore a wrinkled Zhongshan suit with frayed cuffs.
During his years in office, he never embezzled a single penny of public funds, nor did he cause any major trouble.
He took the lead in everything from road construction and drought relief to grain distribution in the village.
Such people don't care about money, but they value political achievements highly.
Who doesn't want to be praised?
Who wouldn't want to be singled out for commendation at the year-end summary meeting?
Who wouldn't want this kind of person to achieve some political success?
When inspections come from higher authorities, which village cadre doesn't prepare materials, clean up, and organize speeches for the villagers well in advance?
All this was for one sentence: "The village has done a good job."
These seven words might be the key to a promotion and a raise.
Especially at the grassroots level, opportunities are scarce and competition is fierce, so even the smallest highlight can be magnified tenfold.
Su Qingzhi understood that it was impossible for the Party Secretary not to be tempted.
Only by achieving results can you gain recognition from superiors and have opportunities for promotion.
Policies are static, but people are dynamic.
If you can make your boss look good, people will naturally be willing to speak up for you.
Although Su Qingzhi is young, she has seen too much of the power games around her.
She didn't think it was a bad thing; on the contrary, she felt it was the best starting point to move things forward.
As long as the goal is the same, the methods can be flexible and adaptable.
To put it bluntly, who doesn't want to climb the ladder?
People strive for higher positions, just as water flows downhill; it's human nature.
No matter how noble they may sound, they always harbor some lingering thoughts in their hearts.
True saints are few and far between; most people are merely trying to find a balance between rules and desires.
Su Qingzhi neither looked down on it nor harbored any illusions about it.
She only cared about the outcome—as long as the Party Secretary nodded, there was hope for Qingshan Village.
It would be strange if someone wasn't tempted at all.
If a person truly has no aspirations for the future, it's either because they've seen through the illusions of the world or because they lack the ability to even dream of it.
This secretary clearly does not belong to the former category.
He strives for projects every year, reports data every month, and even personally participates in mediating disputes.
Why work so hard if not for recognition?
Su Qingzhi believed that her suggestion had hit his weak spot.
She felt that the Party Secretary would definitely be willing to try this.
After all, the risk is almost zero.
They completed all the preliminary preparations on their own initiative, and even collected samples of medicinal herbs.
If he fails, the responsibility will not fall on him; but if he succeeds, he will be the first name on the list of credit.
Anyone would be tempted by such a sure-fire way to make money.
Anyway, he wasn't the one taking responsibility; it was all the people from Qingshan Village who were running around doing the legwork.
From collecting medicinal herbs in the mountains to compiling data and contacting buyers, every step needs to be implemented meticulously.
Su Qingzhi and Su Wanshan, the brother and sister, are prepared to endure all the hardships.
They don't need their superiors to intervene; all they ask for is a word of approval and a little support.
As long as the Party Secretary gives the nod, they will handle resource allocation and mobilization themselves.
As long as things succeed, all the credit will ultimately go to him, so why should he hesitate?
Su Qingzhi understood this point perfectly.
In officialdom, tangible results are the only true measure of success.
The Party Secretary has worked diligently for many years, but all he has been lacking is a breakthrough.
And now, she is presenting him with just such an opportunity.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
