Soon, Zhang Yaozong led his men back to the village committee meeting room. Under Li Xiuyuan's watchful eye, Zhou Jianzhong signed the demolition contract, making him the first in Meilin Village to do so.
"Li Zhen, I'll get back to work now?" Zhang Yaozong said, putting away the contract. He had completed one of the forty households he was responsible for. Actually, completing this one household wasn't the key point. The key point was that with the contract signed by Zhou Jianzhong, he had opened a breakthrough and now had a reason to mobilize other villagers with the surname Zhou.
Li Xiuyuan nodded and instructed, "Okay, go ahead and get busy, but remember to inform the other two groups that Director Zhou has already signed the contract."
"Okay, Mayor Li." Zhang Yaozong nodded, got up and left.
A bitter look appeared on Zhou Jianzhong's face. He understood what Li Xiuyuan meant: to use the contract he had signed to persuade other villagers with the surname Zhou.
Many people probably think that they signed a contract for the position of village chief, which will make it difficult for them to work in the village in the future.
"Old Zhou, the people of Meilin Village will thank you. You've done a very good job as village head, and you haven't led Meilin Village down the wrong path," Li Xiuyuan reassured Zhou Jianzhong. Since the contract was signed, he was still a good comrade.
Li Xiuyuan poured Zhou Jianzhong a glass of water and tossed him a cigarette.
Zhou Jianzhong sat down, smoking a cigarette, and said with a bitter expression, "Mayor Li, I understand what you mean. I really don't have any selfish motives. It's all for Meilin Village. But if I sign this contract, I guess many people will talk about me behind my back, thinking that I betrayed everyone's interests. It will be difficult to carry out the work in the village in the future."
"Behind your backs, it's all people with the surname Zhou talking about you, right? Old Zhou, you're the village head and village party secretary of Meilin Village, not just some people with the surname Zhou. You should be thinking about the development of Meilin Village, not whether people with the surname Zhou are criticizing you. You can't be afraid of being criticized when you do things. You're bound to offend people in your work. If you don't have this awareness, you won't be able to continue as the village party secretary."
The key isn't whether you get scolded or not, but whether what you're doing is good for Meilin Village. If it is, then sooner or later everyone will understand you…
Li Xiuyuan's words were very honest, and Zhou Jianzhong felt a little better after hearing them.
“Mayor Li, that makes sense, but if I get scolded now, it will be difficult to carry out my work in the future. The demolition work will be even more difficult in the future. If the matter with my second uncle cannot be resolved, many people will still insist on not relocating.”
Zhou Jianzhong said that at this point, it was a matter of work. Li Xiuyuan nodded and said, "How about this, you take me to this second uncle's house."
Zhou Jianzhong nodded, got up and led Li Xiuyuan toward his second uncle Zhou Yongxiang's house. Zhou Yongxiang's house was located at the westernmost edge of the village, with few neighbors on either side, essentially standing out from the crowd. Moreover, it was a dilapidated house, which was why the planning bureau wanted to demolish Zhou Yongxiang's house.
Looking at Zhou Yongxiang's place, Li Xiuyuan immediately understood. If this area was unsuitable, then it would be better not to demolish it. He was already so old; it wouldn't be appropriate to force him to move there. At worst, they could just leave it there for him.
“Lizhen, this is it. Second Uncle’s family has really had a tough time, and Second Uncle’s life has been really tough. He also has a granddaughter who is about to go to university…” Zhou Jianzhong said, pushing open the dilapidated wooden door of Zhou Yongxiang’s house and calling out.
"Is your second great-uncle at home? Mayor Li has come to see you."
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