Chapter 1214: Chapter 1170: Visit on Bended Knee Chapter 1214: Chapter 1170: Visit on Bended Knee So many high-ranking leaders and officials surged into Tianxingqiao Village, bringing a festive hustle and bustle to the entire village as if it were New Year’s.
In the village, from 1,232 households, totaling 6,375 people, everyone who was not working or studying abroad, regardless of gender or age, was practically mobilized.
President Qiao was now accompanied by the old Party Secretary of Tianxingqiao Village, and even Nie Zhenbang found himself walking behind. This was perfectly normal. During inspection visits, it’s common for local leaders to stand beside the visiting dignitary, regardless of rank or position.
President Qiao was very attentive and serious, with a trace of a restrained smile. The entourage halted their progress near the village headquarters.
Upon learning of the General Secretary’s visit, the villagers of Tianxingqiao were thrilled. They had already lit a bonfire at the village headquarters.
The village lacked electricity, a reality tied to the local environnt. Cliffs separated it from the township and the county seat. Spanning hundreds of ters to lay power lines represented a significant investnt that Liujiabao Township was unable to afford. Likewise, Yangzhang County couldn’t support such a project either.
While Liangzhou City had the capacity to solve the village’s power issues, the cost of millions, for a village of just over 6,000 seed sowhat unjustifiable. Tianxingqiao Village had not produced any notable figures, which contributed to the lack of attention.
Stringing power lines from neighboring counties across the mountains would be even more difficult. Administrative divisions created barriers to this, and the hundreds of li of mountain routes would cost as much, if not more, than the local route.
Today, there were indeed so electrical appliances within Tianxingqiao Village; their power was generally supplied by batteries or diesel generators.
President Qiao was very approachable and spoke kindly, like a gentle spring breeze, as he carefully asked the villagers about various aspects of life: how much grain they harvested each year, their sources of inco, how they solved the issue of children’s education, and so on, sparing no detail in his inquiries.
The land in this village was infertile, and the per capita farmland was limited. However, one advantage was the widespread barren hillsides that could freely be cultivated.
Yet, the bare and yellow, infertile land ant that people paid little attention to clearing new fields since the output did not justify the input.
At this mont, the television at the village headquarters was turned on, an old-fashioned 17-inch black-and-white set with two rotary dials on one side – the source of the commonly said “channel tuning.”
Atop the headquarters building was a satellite TV receiver, colloquially known as a “satellite dish,” which could receive nurous channels.
Near the fire, Eight Immortals’ Tables were set up along with wooden benches. There were ten tables in total, laden with lavish dishes of fish and at.
The villagers offered their most precious treats, catering to what they perceived as the most honored guests.
After dinner, the atmosphere didn’t subside. President Qiao sat with Vice Premier Gu, State Councilor Huang, and Nie Zhenbang and Liu Zhentao inside the main hall of the village headquarters, while leaders from Liangzhou City and Yangzhang County had only the privilege of waiting by the hall’s entrance.
Surveying those present, President Qiao smiled at the old Party Secretary and said, “Thank you for your warm hospitality, brother. Director Fang and Comrade Xiaomin, please calculate the cost based on market prices and settle the bill for the al.”
No sooner had he spoken did the old Party Secretary stand up, “General Secretary, this really isn’t necessary, we couldn’t possibly accept money. It’s our genuine pleasure to host the leaders. Accepting paynt would be like a slap in our faces. How could I face anyone after that?”
“Brother, the paynt is certain. The Central Governnt has strict standards regarding als during officials’ travels, and we have designated funds for this purpose. We appreciate the village’s hospitality, but you can’t have , the General Secretary, leading the charge in breaking the rules,” President Qiao said with a smile, yet there was a compelling authority in his tone.
“I rember when I first took office and went for an inspection in Yanbei Province, I said that if I could see real poverty, my trip would be worthwhile. I still hold that sentint today. Coming to Longxi, my journey is indeed aningful. Because I’ve seen the actual situation, witnessed genuine poverty,” President Qiao then turned to address Nie Zhenbang and the others.
After a mont of contemplation, President Qiao continued, “The Yellow River is our mother river, and the condition of the middle and upper reaches is a true reflection of our nation’s environnt vital for our nation’s and our people’s survival. In recent years, with steady economic developnt, shortcomings in environntal protection have led to increasingly severe soil erosion and a descending groundwater level. The drought in the Western Region and the north is getting worse. It’s a significant issue we cannot ignore. While the South-to-North Water Transfer Project can alleviate the drought in the north, combating environntal issues, and desertification remains a priority for environntal protection. Longxi Province should enforce policies such as closing mountains for forestation and converting farmland back to forests with concrete actions. This will be an important national strategy, and Longxi Province, as a pioneer, must perform well and produce tangible results and benefits.”
These words relieved Nie Zhenbang and Liu Zhentao considerably. Coming from President Qiao, they signaled a consensus on environntal protection projects and recognition at the highest levels. Support from the Central Governnt ant policy support from the central finance, which was naturally excellent news for Longxi Province.
Cooperation with enterprises to build environntally friendly fast-growing forests can only be a part of the solution, not the whole. Corporate collaborations are selective. Easily accessible places with convenient water sources are naturally the first choice for enterprises because such locations not only ensure a higher survival rate of the fast-growing forests but also facilitate the transport and cutting of timber once the forests mature.
For instance, a place like Tianxingqiao Village is unlikely to attract any investnt. Because transporting the timber is problematic.
Therefore, definite public welfare support is essential for environntal protection projects. This part has to rely on financial appropriations.
Before Nie Zhenbang and others could express their opinions, President Qiao continued, “The issue of Tianxingqiao Village must be taken seriously by the local governnt and Longxi Province. Now, the country has launched the Village Access Initiative. Cent roads have been built right to people’s doorsteps. In Longxi Province, there are still villages struggling for electricity, which is a great irony. Comrade Zhenbang, Comrade Zhen Tao, you must quickly address the concerns of Tianxingqiao Village.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Nie Zhenbang nodded and said, “We will certainly study the General Secretary’s instructions carefully. In fact, Liangzhou City has reported this issue in detail to the provincial authorities. The province has also conducted so research and an investigation. Considering the cost and difficulty of providing access and electricity, the province prefers a collective relocation. To move the entire Tianxingqiao Village and resettle them on the spot in Liujiabao Township. Currently, the main issue is that the province is still investigating future living possibilities.”
Hearing this, President Qiao, Vice Premier Gu, and Huang Guowu all nodded in agreent. Nie Zhenbang’s approach was naturally correct. A complete migration was an enormous and long-term project.
Tianxingqiao Village has one thousand two hundred and thirty-two households. If each family gets a house and we calculate the cost conservatively at one hundred thousand per house, that still amounts to one hundred thirty million in funds.
Of course, that’s not to ntion constructing roads through mountains and providing access to electricity. Just the construction of bridges alone would probably cost more than that figure.
Nie Zhenbang’s concern was not these expenses, but rather the villagers’ future livelihoods once they were relocated. Liujiabao Township already had limited per capita cultivable land. With so many more people, available land would beco even scarcer. The key question was how to properly solve the villagers’ future sources of livelihood and subsistence.
President Qiao nodded and said, “It’s good to have plans and arrangents, but you must also consider the practical situation and not delay due to excessive caution. To do so would be irresponsible.”
“The chief’s criticism is justified. Here, in front of the chief, I make a commitnt. Whether it be providing access, electricity, or overall relocation, we will present a complete plan by the end of the year at the latest,” Nie Zhenbang said.
That sa evening, after the symposium and under the dim night sky illuminated by torches lit by the villagers, President Qiao visited the lonely elderly, the households under the Five Guarantees System, and the especially destitute households in the village. He also made ti to visit a few of the sowhat wealthier farrs’ hos.
Not until eleven o’clock that night did President Qiao return to the team headquarters to rest.
A night without incident.
Early the next day, under the reluctant gazes of the villagers, President Qiao left Tianxingqiao Village.
Setting out just after seven in the morning, by eleven a.m. they had reached Liujiabao Township. Even with a car ride, one can imagine that walking might well take an entire day.
Returning to the convoy, the vehicles headed towards Yangzhang County. It was past one in the afternoon by the ti they reached the county. After a brief half-hour for a working al, the convoy set off again.
This ti, they headed straight for Shuishan County in Yizhou City. Taking the Yilin Expressway, the convoy aid for Linzhou City.
Shortly after entering Shuishan County, the convoy suddenly ca to a halt. At that mont, Nie Zhenbang’s phone also vibrated.
Opening his phone, Nie Zhenbang saw a ssage sent by Liu Xiaomin. The content of the ssage was very simple: “There is a kneeling petition.”
Just five words, simple yet resounding. Though Nie Zhenbang could not see what was happening at the front because two vehicles were blocking the view, he could still vaguely discern sothing from the side.
Now, Nie Zhenbang felt a headache brewing. What was going on in Shuishan County? What was Zhou Chaoguo of Yizhou City doing? How could such an incident occur? (
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