Chapter 289 Is it genuine stupidity, feigned stupidity, or just pretending to be stupid?

Seeing Li Shangli get his comeuppance, Tian Jingye felt exceptionally pleased. He leaned closer to the microphone, cleared his throat, and then spoke.

"Comrades, besides the old city renovation project, are there any other urgent tasks?"

At this moment, the director of the urban management bureau raised his hand.

"Director Liao, please speak!"

"District Chief Tian, ​​the city recently issued a document requiring each district to further optimize the centralized management of street vendors. Special attention should be paid to vendors with serious oil pollution. We cannot pollute the city, but we also cannot ban them outright. Our Urban Management Bureau needs to apply for funding from the district finance department to work with the Environmental Protection Bureau to treat the oil pollution."

When street vendors were mentioned, Tian Jingye knew exactly what was going on. When policies from above were implemented at the grassroots level, they needed to be put into practice. However, Tian Jingye wasn't stupid; he found the loopholes in these statements.

"Director Liao, as far as I know, the provincial party committee allocated several hundred million yuan to support the management of street vendors, which also includes pollution treatment. Has your urban management bureau not received this funding?"

"And the province just approved over a billion yuan in funding for urban management recently, your urban management bureau isn't short of funds, is it?"

Director Liao rolled his eyes at these words.

"District Chief Tian, ​​what you said may be true, but you may not know that the hundreds of millions of yuan in governance funds may not have reached the Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development yet, let alone the Municipal Urban Management Bureau and us."

The entire process would take at least ten days, and even if it did, several hundred million yuan wouldn't be enough even if distributed across the entire province. As for the billions of yuan you mentioned, that would take forever to reach our district level.

"Using resources from higher levels to lower levels, surely District Chief Tian doesn't really not understand this?"

To put it bluntly, most of the funding is held back by higher-ups who make up for their own shortfalls before allocating it to lower levels. In fact, less than half of the funds actually reach the lower levels. This is a common practice, and everyone knows it.

Tian Jingye was completely dumbfounded. At this moment, Li Shangli added with a disdainful smile, "Director Liao, you should explain more clearly. Comrade Jingye has always been working as Governor Jianjun's chief secretary. He has no experience in grassroots work, so it's normal that he doesn't know about this kind of thing."

As long as it's not an outsider giving advice to an expert, everyone should be understanding!

Tian Jingye's face was tense, and he was extremely displeased, but he was indeed being a bit too idealistic.

"So what's your budget?"

"That district chief, the budget is about five million, after all, management and pollution control both require money."

"Five million? There are only nine food streets in our district. If I remember correctly, the vendors all have to pay rent and sanitation fees. You still need this much money?"

"District Chief Tian, ​​the rent and sanitation fees are settled annually. Last year's money has already been misappropriated by Ding Yizhen. Our Urban Management Bureau truly has not a single penny left to use."

Tian Jingye's lips twitched, clearly not believing it, but he couldn't find any evidence, and he couldn't say they would talk about it next time, since this was the first meeting, and he couldn't refuse to give them face on the first meeting.

"I understand. Then you need to write up a report, clearly stating the budget and where the money will be used. If there are no problems, I will sign it and have the Finance Bureau approve the allocation."

Upon hearing this, Director Liao immediately stood up to express his gratitude.

He had already decided where to use the money: of course, to give welfare to the urban management officers!

Who wouldn't be happy to get five million for free?

After sitting down with a smile, Director Liao pretended to be dead.

The heads of the other departments rolled their eyes. This new district head had some skills, but not many. Could they take this opportunity to make a quick buck?

However, Li Shangli coughed, interrupting everyone, "Comrades, let's adjourn the meeting!"

He wasn't stupid; he knew perfectly well that these people were treating Tian Jingye like a fat sheep. But the finances of Guangming District were also his finances, and he couldn't let Tian Jingye give them away so carelessly.

As Tian Jingye walked out of the conference room, he was still in a daze. At that moment, Li Shangli came to his side.

"District Chief Tian, ​​did you realize you were just fooled? Five million yuan in funding approved on your whim? Do you think the urban management department lacks such a small amount of management fees? You believe everything they say?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Jingye felt a surge of anger.

"Didn't you say I lacked grassroots work experience? I thought you agreed with what they said..."

This question stumped Li Shangli.

"Alright, the five million is given, let's put this matter behind us for now. You must be careful with the financial matters. I know you and I don't get along very well, but one thing is certain: if anything goes wrong with the work in Guangming District, neither you nor I will escape responsibility."

On this basic principle, I hope Tian Jingye can have some bottom line and stop just going against me, understand?

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Are you not stupid? If you weren't stupid, why did you sabotage me this morning? Do you know that Governor Jianjun has no influence in Handong? Mentioning Governor Jianjun's name doesn't work very well; only Secretary Chen's name matters! If you hadn't sabotaged me, would these guys have ignored me just now? Would they dare offend Secretary Chen?"

"But I wasn't wrong! Your relationship with Secretary Chen is indeed just so-so, and you are often criticized by Secretary Chen."

"I……"

Li Shangli was speechless. Did this matter?

Speechless, he decided not to continue talking to Tian Jingye. After a deep sigh, he walked past Tian Jingye.

Seeing this, Tian Jingye frowned and smiled disdainfully to himself.

"Do you really think I'm stupid? How many secretaries are idiots? You think you can use Secretary Chen's influence? You're dreaming!"

It's just a few million in funding; once it's given, it's given. The people below think I'm stupid, so they won't target me.

Do you know that the result of these continuous airdrops is that these guys in the Bright District are treacherous to the core?

The more you try to achieve results and solidify your position, the less likely these people are to let you have your way. Just wait and see!

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Tian Jingye walked towards his office.

The situation in Guangming District is indeed very special, and his choice and judgment were indeed correct!

On Tuesday morning, Li Shangli arrived at the Municipal Party Committee.

He planned to meet Li Dakang as a way of paying his respects, something that was quite necessary!

"Secretary Jin, when is Secretary Dakang available?"

In the waiting room, Li Shangli asked Secretary Dakang's secretary, but Secretary Jin just shook her head slightly.

"Secretary Shangli, Secretary Dakang is very busy, and it's hard for me to say when he'll have time."

After waiting for almost two hours, Lee Sang-ri was finally led by Secretary Kim to Lee Da-kang's office.

As soon as Li Shangli entered the room, he saw Li Dakang staring directly at him with sharp eyes.

"Hello, Secretary Dakang!"

Li Shangli greeted them first, and Li Dakang nodded, then pointed to the seat in front of him.

"Comrade Shangli, sit down and let's talk."

Upon hearing this, Li Shangli smiled and sat down, then said, "Secretary Dakang, I've come to see you mainly for one thing."

"Don't rush, let's talk about something else."

Li Dakang squinted, not in a hurry at all!