His words were gentle, each one meant to help Zhou Yongxiang, but they were also words that were meant to pierce his heart, to make Zhou Yongxiang realize his mistakes.
Zhou Yongxiang's old face turned bright red, but he still managed to say, "Mayor Li, I am willing to sign the demolition contract."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jianzhong was overjoyed. If his second uncle agreed, most of the people with the surname Zhou would be taken care of. He and his second uncle had taken the lead in signing the contract, which would mobilize most of the people.
But just when Zhou Jianzhong thought Li Xiuyuan would agree, Li Xiuyuan shook his head and said, "Second Uncle, I'll say it again, one thing at a time. If your family has difficulties, we leaders in the town will help you and take care of you. There will also be corresponding policies from above that will be introduced to help villagers in difficult circumstances. We are all dedicated to making everyone's life better and better."
Li Xiuyuan's words were forceful and resounding: "From the economic aspects of low-income households, the five-guarantee households, and the extremely poor households; from the aspects of life such as new rural construction and rural revitalization; from the aspects of medical treatment such as the new rural cooperative medical system; from the aspects of education such as school subsidies for poor students and university student loans... but all of this has never been a condition for our exchange with you."
"Similarly, some of the assistance I'm offering today is within my personal capacity, but it's also based on policy, so it's possible. It's never been a condition for you to agree to the demolition, understand?"
This was the second time Li Xiuyuan had said "Do you understand?" after entering the room.
This time, not only did Zhou Yongxiang look even more ashamed, but even Zhou Jianzhong, who was standing next to him, felt ashamed. The things Li Xiuyuan said were so convincing that they couldn't refute them.
The low-income households, the five-guarantee households, and the extremely poor households in the village receive money every month. The amount may not be much, but it can guarantee their livelihood. Now, the construction of new rural areas is improving everyone's living environment. The new rural cooperative medical scheme guarantees medical treatment and protects against the risk of disease. In terms of education, there are subsidies for poor students and student loans for university. Who dares to say that these are not good policies?
Who dares to say, with a clear conscience, that this wasn't for their own good?
Even under these circumstances, they still obstruct the implementation of these policies for various reasons. Zhou Yongxiang wanted to get more tuition fees for his granddaughter, while Zhou Jianzhong wanted to improve his reputation among the villagers with the surname Zhou.
But ultimately, it's all for their own selfish interests.
While enjoying these benefits, they also take advantage of these favorable policies to demand even more; they are kind to you, but they still want to give you even more.
When this was exposed, both of them felt utterly ashamed.
"Mayor Li, I was wrong." Zhou Yongxiang lowered his head and bent over. He was over seventy years old. In front of Li Xiuyuan, he was not exactly groveling, but he had lowered his posture to the dust. But this was not because Li Xiuyuan used his authority to suppress him. Rather, it was because the contrast between what Li Xiuyuan did and what he did made him unable to stand up straight.
Although Zhou Jianzhong didn't say anything, he was completely deflated and couldn't muster any courage in front of Li Xiuyuan.
“Mayor Li, I am willing to sign the contract. It has nothing to do with student loans. I was blinded by greed before. The construction of the new countryside is for our good, but I acted like an old man. I was wrong. I am willing to sign the demolition contract now.”
“Yes, but we don’t need to sign now.” Li Xiuyuan shook his head.
"No, Mayor Li, let me sign it, sign it now," Zhou Yongxiang said urgently.
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