On this basis, I began to conceive and write this research report. The title of the report is "The Current Status and Future Prospects of Township Enterprises in a Certain County". I started with the layout of the report and divided it into six parts: introduction, research scope and methods, current status of township enterprise development, future prospects, development suggestions, and conclusion.
In the chapter on the current status of development, I wrote about the problems I found during the research process, such as the irrational corporate property structure, unclear ownership of property rights, and serious loss of collective assets. At the same time, I analyzed the common problems in township enterprises, such as duplicate construction, backward technology, waste of resources, and serious pollution.
Our section chief, named Yu, is an old bureaucrat who is about to take over. In his eyes, stability trumps everything. So he made it clear that my unreserved approach is not conducive to the stable development of township enterprises. He reminded me that the development of township enterprises is not only an economic issue, but also a political issue.
I couldn't reach an agreement with him, so I ended up taking the "lawsuit" to Director Wang's office.
Section Chief Yu insisted on his point of view. He threw out a very serious statement: "I have been dealing with township enterprises since I was in the Third Bureau. Comrade Xiaoguan's report is a bit exaggerated and looks at the problem too negatively. In fact, it denies township enterprises, which is not conducive to the development and growth of township enterprises."
I argued: "In the introduction, I have highly praised the important role played by township enterprises in strengthening the collective economy, invigorating the market, developing production, and expanding employment. If Section Chief Yu insists that I am denying township enterprises, I will not refute it. Because township enterprises themselves are the product of a specific historical stage of reform and opening up. With the establishment of the socialist market economic system, township enterprises as a market subject will inevitably disappear in the long river of history."
Section Chief Yu seemed a little excited and said to Wang Yanshu: "Director Wang, look, look, this comrade is not only denying township enterprises, but also denying the collective economy. Originally, I should have been the one to lead the city's township enterprise survey, but Director Wang insisted on having him do it. How can a report with a problematic stance and direction be submitted to the higher authorities?"
Wang Yanshu had been reading the report I wrote. When he heard what Section Chief Yu said, he smiled and said without waiting for my explanation, "Section Chief Yu, don't be so excited. Comrade Xiaoguan only produced a draft, and the final draft still needs to be checked by you old comrades. I just flipped through it and it's very well written. It has the youthful vigor and is very insightful. I think it shouldn't be easily labeled as "two negations". I believe this was not Comrade Xiaoguan's original intention. This is just a research report, not a decisive conclusion. We should allow people to speak freely and don't discourage the enthusiasm of young people."
Seeing that Director Wang did not stand by him, Section Chief Yu stood up from the sofa, looking even more excited, and asked in a questioning tone: "I do not deny that township enterprises have problems in operation, but he proposed to clarify property rights and realize the diversification of township enterprise property rights, and to reform them through unrealistic methods such as closing, stopping, merging, and transferring. Do we still want collective economy?"
Seeing how angry he was, Wang Yanshu poured a glass of water for each of us, and then placed it in front of us. He then pressed Section Chief Yu's shoulders and asked him to sit back on the sofa.
Then he said to me, "Comrade Xiaoguan, what do you want to say?"
I understood what she meant. She didn't want to use her authority as a leader to suppress the section chief, but wanted to make him sincerely convinced.
I took a sip of the water and said calmly, "I accept Section Chief Yu's criticism, but I want to make one thing clear. I neither deny township enterprises nor the collective economy. On the contrary, I am a farmer's child, and I am more eager to see the collective economy grow and benefit the vast majority of farmers. But we must clearly realize that township enterprises are now a lady's body with a maid's fate, a poor person's body with a rich person's disease. They do not have the strength and scale of state-owned enterprises, but have the same problems as state-owned enterprises. State-owned enterprises are all scraping their bones. Why can't township enterprises do the same as curing poison and strengthening the body? Moreover, after a tour, I found that many township enterprises are simply selling dog meat under the guise of sheep, operating through leasing and contracting under the banner of collective economy, which objectively has caused the loss of collective assets. Of course, there are also some who were originally individual businesses, but had to rely on collectives because of policies. Therefore, the property rights are unclear, which is of no benefit to the development and growth of the collective economy. So I still say that reform is imperative. "
Director Wang nodded and said to me and Xiaoguan: "Xiaoguan, go back and revise this report carefully. You should listen more to the opinions of veteran comrades. For some overly radical proposals, you can replace them with some more easily accepted ones. This is not a matter of principle, but a matter of method. Our party has always attached great importance to the work of the united front outside the party, and also attaches great importance to the ideological unity within the party. Unity of the majority is also a prerequisite for doing a good job."
She looked at me meaningfully again, and I of course understood what she meant. She taught me a lesson in a subtle way through this incident.
"You go back first. Section Chief Yu and I have something else to discuss."
I said goodbye and left the director's office. I knew she wanted to persuade and convince the section chief alone, and it would be inconvenient for me to start a conversation with her.
I began to admire her working methods and style from the bottom of my heart.
When the section chief came back from the director's office, he no longer had the same attitude of arguing. Instead, he smiled and patted my shoulder and said to me, "You are young and promising. Director Wang thinks highly of you, and I think highly of you too. Don't be arrogant."
To be honest, for an old comrade who has moved from a career focused on class struggle to one focused on economic construction, and a cadre who has experienced different stages of the planned economy, commodity economy, and market economy, their ideological transformation requires both time and courage, which in itself is worthy of respect.
Therefore, I will try my best to take their feelings into consideration in my future work, use the method taught by Director Wang to unite my comrades, and try to reduce resistance in my work.
In fact, this research report only made some modifications to the wording, while the overall structure and the views expressed were basically not modified, and it was submitted as is.
I thought this matter would come to an end and I started taking on other work.
Unexpectedly, a month later, Wang Yanshu called me to her office again and handed me a copy of the Township Enterprise News.
She smiled and said to me, "Hongjun, congratulations! The research report you wrote was published in this newspaper, which shows that many of your opinions have been noticed by the higher-ups."
Of course I am very excited, this is full recognition of the results of my work.
She suddenly asked me, "Are you still single? Don't you have a girlfriend?"
I answered: "I'm divorced and currently single, and I don't have a girlfriend."
She smiled heartily and said to me: "Young people should still attach importance to building a 'base'. Don't put all your energy on work. If you have a home, you have a base, and your career will grow stronger."
I said that I would humbly accept the leadership's teachings and put starting a family on the agenda as soon as possible.
Finally, she invited me to visit her home on Sunday. The reason was very simple: her husband was the vice president of the county party school, and she wanted to discuss some theoretical issues with me.
I was really ashamed. I am not a theoretical graduate, so how could I dare to discuss and exchange ideas with the vice-president of the Party School?
I don't refuse, I'm not someone who doesn't know how to be praised.
So, early on Sunday morning, after I washed and dressed, I bought a few gifts that were neither too expensive nor too light, and went to the appointment at the address Wang Yanshu left for me.