If this situation is not properly addressed, it will inevitably affect the credibility of government departments among the people and undermine unity among the people.
So, after much deliberation, I brazenly approached the two senior leaders. Leader Qin was furious upon hearing this, stating that such a person was utterly depraved, even more hateful than murderers and arsonists, and that he would look into the matter and continue to monitor it.
Qin Qingjiang believed this. Putting aside everything else, his parents' beliefs were clear-cut, with black and white in their hearts.
This kind of thing, especially when it involves children, has crossed the line. You can almost picture the father bristling with anger, slamming his fist on the table, and a slight smirk playing on his lips.
"Was the old man so angry that he slammed his fist on the table, wishing he could just grab a gun and shoot all those people?"
Xi Pingan chuckled softly.
"Yes, the old man was very angry and even blamed me for not telling him about such a serious incident sooner and for dragging it out until now."
I reckon if Qinghuai calls back again, he'll likely get a scolding.
Knowing that the old man had intervened, Qin Qingjiang breathed a sigh of relief.
"With the old man around, if the public opinion doesn't achieve the desired effect, he will find a way to exert pressure. If he gets really angry, he might even go straight back to Beijing."
Xi Ping'an's lips twitched, but he didn't refute. He had obviously heard about this man's temper before. Military and political affairs were separate matters, and they hadn't crossed paths before. This time, he was grasping at straws in desperation. This place was too remote, and there weren't many influential figures he could talk to. The only people he could think of who he could trust and who were steadfast in their stance were these two. Although it was somewhat reckless, he had chosen the right people.
"However, they could have stayed out of it, but now they can't stay out of it."
Qin Qingjiang sighed and sat down.
"You've probably heard about the old man's temper. His generation was truly dedicated to the people. He's stubborn and doesn't have any ulterior motives. He won't easily agree to anything you say if he's unwilling to do it, but if he does agree, it means he agrees with it."
The old lady, putting aside everything else, once it involves the child, she can't possibly sit idly by.
Just you wait, next time I call, I'll get yelled at too.
The people surrounding the government building did not leave, and those maintaining order were simply doing so to prevent stampedes or any other accidents. Xi Ping'an even thoughtfully had two steamed buns and some warm water delivered to each person. Although it wasn't much, just one bun per person, the people appreciated this quiet gesture. It was clear that the government didn't oppose their actions, which made them feel more at ease.
After all, there were more reasonable people than not. With someone taking the lead, the tense atmosphere gradually eased. By the time the official document was rushed over from the provincial capital, the crowd in front of the government building had changed from a demonstration to a sit-in.
Although the atmosphere was a bit strange, people who didn't know the situation would only think that a sit-in was a form of protest, so the people who came didn't think much of it.
Upon seeing the document, Xi Ping'an immediately spoke up.
"Have everyone put down what they are doing, and each person make a copy. The handwriting should be clean, neat, and the characters should be as large as possible. Then post them outside the government building, in schools, post offices, supply and marketing cooperatives, restaurants, and other places so that everyone can see the government's attitude."
Some people hesitated.
"Secretary, aren't you afraid of alerting the enemy by acting so blatantly?"
Xi Pingan smiled.
"At this time, if the grass is knocked down, the snake will be startled long ago. Now we are in the open while the enemy is in the dark. Moreover, we must make the people vigilant. We don't mean that the whole nation should be mobilized, but we should not underestimate the wisdom of the people. The saying 'the army loves the people, and the people support the army' is not without reason, is it?"
Tell me, are our few soldiers' eyes sharper, or are the countless civilians' sharp eyes sharper?
"...Secretary, are you asking the villagers to help catch human traffickers?"
Xi Pingan smiled.
Do you think the power of ordinary people is great?
The people in the office looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. The common people are naturally powerful. Moreover, this matter is closely related to almost every family. So, even for the safety of their own children, everyone will do their best."
Moreover, this isn't just for ordinary people to see; it's also for those in power and outsiders to see.
In this emergency, we can only take these emergency measures to appease the people's anger and let them see that even a remote county government like ours has done its best. If they continue to be perfunctory, how can they live up to their responsibilities and the trust of the people?
This is a matter of life and death, a matter of utmost importance. The eyes of the people are sharp; they're all watching. They're sure to discover many clues we haven't yet found.
“Secretary, now I understand why you had someone bring them food and drinks. This way, the people will think that although our county government hasn’t taken any obvious action, our intention is to stand up for them. They will treat the government as one of their own and as someone they can rely on.”
"Whether we can reach that point of reliance, we don't know. However, letting everyone see our attitude and increasing their trust in the government is generally a good thing."
"Yes, in this way, even for the sake of appearances, the higher-ups have to take this seriously and give a clear stance."
Once it was explained, everyone understood, and soon the staff from each department left with their copied documents.
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