Chapter 4

At the same time, Wang Yilin also understood that the greatest difficulty in implementing Old Zhao's military reform plan lay at the central level, rather than at the local level. The entire plan was to be executed in a top-down manner; if the central authority could not be appeased, it would be nearly impossible to promote it further. Moreover, within the intricate relationships at the central level, ensuring that this plan does not harm the interests of certain individuals while passing smoothly is almost an impossible task

Zhou Guohui informed Wang Yilin about the military reform plan proposed by Lao Zhao two days ago. The message was clear and straightforward: he wanted Wang Yilin to support Lao Zhao during the Central Standing Committee meeting. In fact, even without Zhou Guohui's notification, Wang Yilin would have spoken up for Lao Zhao. On a personal level, Lao Zhao had provided him with considerable assistance, and from the perspective of national interests, Lao Zhao's reform plan was entirely in consideration of the country. For both personal and public reasons, he would do his utmost to support Lao Zhao's plan.

Once he calmed down, Wang Yilin's mind began to operate at high speed again. The reason for his outburst today cannot be entirely blamed on him; if it were not for the excessive actions of certain individuals, this universally recognized good-tempered Prime Minister would never have lost his temper. Moreover, the fact that something could provoke such a significant reaction from him is even more remarkable

After Wang Yilin calmed down, he no longer considered the reasons why Old Zhao's plan was not approved, and instead began to focus on the work at hand. As the Prime Minister, he could be said to be the busiest person in the country. It is no wonder that since Old Zhu, no one has consecutively served as Prime Minister for two terms; with a daily workload exceeding sixteen hours, even the strongest person cannot bear it. Being Prime Minister is entirely about sacrificing one's life for the country! Wang Yilin personally experienced why the founding Prime Minister Zhou Enlai was said to have been 'worked to death' in his position.

This matter could have been resolved within the Standing Committee, but now that it has been delayed, handing it over to an expanded meeting of the Standing Committee for resolution introduces even more variables

Seeing Quan Guihua quietly crying beside her, wiping away the tears on her face with her hands from time to time, their expressions were definitely not feigned. Wang Yilin realized the seriousness of the situation immediately, went to the desk to grab a notebook, and also took a bag of tissues, handing them to the two of them. He said with great concern: "What difficulties are you facing? If you don't tell me, how can I help you solve them?"

As soon as Wang Yilin entered the office, he slammed the door shut with force. The loud sound of the door startled several secretaries outside, as they rarely witnessed the Prime Minister in such a rage. The secretaries cautiously stared at the office door, none daring to enter and inquire about the reason for the Prime Minister's anger; it was better not to provoke him. After two minutes, the Prime Minister's personal secretary, Wang Mingquan, walked in. The others looked at him with questioning eyes, knowing he had attended a meeting with the Prime Minister and must be aware of the reason for the outburst. Wang Mingquan smiled and shook his head at the few junior secretaries, signaling them not to disturb the Prime Minister, and returned to his separate secretary's office to begin organizing the meeting notes. Wang Mingquan had been by Wang Yilin's side for nearly five years, and he understood the temperament of this young Prime Minister very well. His anger would not last long; he would calm down on his own without needing anyone to persuade him, as persuasion would be futile.

Wang Yilin listened attentively while quickly recording their words. He had previously worked as a secretary and understood shorthand. Although he had not used it for a long time, after familiarizing himself with it again, he was able to keep up with Quan Jinfan's speaking speed. He gradually realized why Quan Jinfan and the others endured so much suffering yet continued to persist in their appeals.

Chairman He Yongxing comes from an administrative background and is of the same lineage as Wang Yilin. Moreover, He Yongxing became the head of state at the age of only fifty-three, which is indeed relatively young in the context of Chinese politics. Many individuals with longer qualifications would naturally feel discontented. If it were not for the full support of the military led by Old Zhao, He Yongxing might not have been able to ascend to power at all. Although Wang Yilin does not know how He Yongxing gained Old Zhao's support and is not interested in knowing, the issue now stands before him: he must align himself with He Yongxing.

Rest assured, I will find a way to help you resolve this matter! After understanding the situation, Wang Yilin also felt relieved. There are almost several such petitioners every day, and similar issues exist across the country. Wang Yilin cannot solve all the problems, but he still has the ability to assist these individual cases. Wang Yilin then walked to his desk with a notebook, placed the notebook down, and called Xiao Wang in. Wang Yilin cannot solve all the problems, but he still has the ability to assist these individual cases. Wang Yilin then walked to his desk with a notebook, placed the notebook down, and called Xiao Wang in.

"Do not rush, have a sip of water first, and take your time to speak about what is on your mind!" Wang Yilin quickly handed him the teacup. Seeing these two honest farmers so famished, Wang Yilin felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. Those who live at the bottom of society may perhaps go their entire lives without tasting the pastries they usually eat. Yet, in order to petition, they are able to endure the cold weather dressed in thin clothing, which surely indicates the grievances they have suffered are considerable.

Meng Hanqing and Li Lan's opposition to Wang Yilin had long been anticipated, but the fact that Shi Lengxing also cast a dissenting vote surprised Wang Yilin. This made him more acutely aware of the significant harm that factional struggles can inflict in political conflicts

Soon, Xiao Zhang brought in a plate of pastries and prepared tea for the two petitioners before leaving the Prime Minister's office on his own accord

Wang Yilin did not know how long it had been when he finally finished the task at hand. When he raised his head, he happened to see Xiao Wang standing beside the desk, holding a cup of hot tea. Noticing that the Premier had put down the document he was reviewing, he quickly placed the tea on the desk next to the Premier's hand and the books, saying: "Premier, have a cup of tea and take a break for a moment"

Tears were already welling up in the eyes of the two individuals. From their appearance, it was evident that they had not prepared adequate winter clothing; their hands had turned purple from the cold, and their lips had taken on a dark hue. This visit to petition had brought them considerable suffering; upon arriving in Beijing, they found themselves completely destitute. During the day, they waited outside the petition office, but after queuing for several days, they still had not been able to meet with the responsible officials. Due to their lack of funds, they had to venture out at night to beg for food, then seek refuge in parks or waiting rooms at bus stations, often being driven away by the management staff. Originally, they had prepared for the worst today; if no one attended to them, they planned to stage a real-life accident outside the government office building to put an end to their painful ordeal. As they watched the sky darken and the staff inside begin to leave for home, despair set in. Just then, they were unexpectedly called inside, only to discover that the Prime Minister himself was there to receive them. Given the Prime Minister's warm and friendly demeanor, how could they not be moved?

The elderly man with golden hair nodded earnestly, wiping away the tears on his face. He seemed to want to say something more, but upon seeing that continuing this conversation would delay the Prime Minister's work, Xiao Yang quickly pulled both of them out of the Prime Minister's office

"Prime Minister, we... we..." Quan Jinfan was already so moved that he was on the verge of tears. Before Wang Yilin could react, the two of them had already "thud" knelt down, saying, "Prime Minister, we have nothing to repay you with, so let us bow our heads to you a few times!"

The middle-aged man took a couple of sips of water, composed himself, and then said: "Prime Minister, we are from Wuzhou, Guangdong. My name is Quan Jinfah, and this is my sister Quan Guihua. We originally did not want to come to petition, knowing it would trouble the country, and we feel bad about it, but... but... sigh!" Although the Prime Minister's warm gesture had alleviated his awkwardness and tension, as soon as the topic of petitioning came up, his emotions immediately spiraled out of control. He rested his elbows on his thighs, covered his face with his hands, sobbing, and could no longer speak.

"Please have something to eat and drink some hot water to warm yourselves up!" Wang Yilin did not rush to inquire about their reason for petitioning, but instead warmly handed them the teacups. This simple gesture warmed their hearts, making them feel a bit uneasy and more tense. Wang Yilin clearly sensed this and quickly changed the subject, saying: "You all came from the south, right? The weather in Beijing is already quite cold. Did you bring enough clothes? Is your accommodation satisfactory?"

Both of them are ordinary farmers from Wuzhou. Although they cannot be considered wealthy, they are not impoverished either, and their family lives relatively happily. However, two years ago, after a foreign enterprise came to invest in their county, the county chief designated a piece of farmland in their township to serve as a cooperative partner, intending to contribute land to the newly established factory. The factory was quickly set up, and at that time, none of them knew what the factory was producing, as the farmers had limited exposure. In the first year, the local villagers benefited significantly from being able to take on odd jobs at the factory, and the young people could work there as well. However, a year later, many people in the village inexplicably fell ill with various strange diseases and died. When the situation escalated, a special investigator from the province came to investigate the factory and discovered that the pharmaceutical factory was producing certain drugs that were prohibited from being manufactured domestically. Many villagers inexplicably fell ill and died. When the situation escalated, a special investigator from the province came to investigate the factory and discovered that the pharmaceutical factory was producing certain drugs that were prohibited from being manufactured domestically. The byproducts generated during the production of these drugs were highly toxic, and the people in Quan Jinfah's village contracted diseases and died as a result. Quan Jinfah's son and two nieces died because of this. Later, Quan Jinfah moved to a neighboring village with his only relative, his sister Quan Guihua, to await the outcome of the higher authorities. The byproducts generated during the production of these drugs were highly toxic, and the people in Quan Jinfah's village contracted diseases and died as a result. Quan Jinfah's son and two nieces died because of this. Later, Quan Jinfah moved to a neighboring village with his only relative, his sister Quan Guihua, to await the outcome of the higher authorities. However, the matter was left unresolved. After the province sent people to investigate, there was no further news; the factory continued to operate, and Quan Jinfah and his family received no compensation. After a year of waiting, all the savings of Quan Jinfah and his sister were exhausted, and when they were forced into a desperate situation, they had no choice but to petition for help from the central government.

Xiao Zhang nodded and left the room with a smile. The Prime Minister, in that manner, hardly resembled a national leader; he appeared completely like an enthusiastic shop assistant. It seems that being easygoing can lead to misunderstandings.

This is... this is the Prime Minister! That middle-aged man became somewhat awkward after seeing Wang Yilin, and said to the secretary who brought them in, "Notify, did you take the wrong route? We did not come to see the Prime Minister!"

"Well, everyone must have finished work by now?" Wang Yilin said with concern as he looked at the sky, which was already darkening outside. "If there’s nothing else, you can go back first, and come to pick me up in the evening!"

The Prime Minister ... ... '' Upon hearing that the Prime Minister was willing to advocate for them, Quan Jinfah felt much better. He patted his sister and, after Quan Guihua stopped crying, he said, `` Prime Minister, we originally were ... ... ''

Wang Yilin took off his outer coat and turned down the heating a bit; he was also somewhat unable to tolerate the heat caused by his anger

Hehe, Prime Minister, you are always so polite. I will go and have the chef prepare two dishes, and I will call you when they are ready! Wang Mingquan knew that the Prime Minister would say this; it seems he has already become accustomed to it. The two of them do not seem to have a superior-subordinate relationship at all, but rather that of friends, as their age difference is not significant, just about ten years. Just as Wang Mingquan turned to leave the office, he stopped again and added: "By the way, there are two petitioners outside. Should I have someone send them back for now and let them come again tomorrow?" It seems he has already become accustomed to it. The two of them do not seem to have a superior-subordinate relationship at all, but rather that of friends, as their age difference is not significant, just about ten years. Just as Wang Mingquan turned to leave the office, he stopped again and added: "By the way, there are two petitioners outside. Should I have someone send them back for now and let them come again tomorrow?"

Before attending the meeting, Wang Yilin had already considered that making Lao Zhao's plan a success was not a simple task. In terms of political awareness, Wang Yilin was much stronger than Zhou Guohui. His first impression upon seeing the plan was that the difficulty was too great, but the benefits after success were also substantial, making it very worthwhile to strive for.

"Get up, get up!" Wang Yilin was a bit flustered by the two of them. In his years as Prime Minister, he had never encountered such a situation. He quickly helped Quan Jinfang to his feet, and Xiao Wang also came over to assist Quan Guihua. After helping Quan Jinfang adjust his clothes, he said, "Your matters are also my matters. If I, as Prime Minister, do not take care of them, who else will? This is something I should do. By doing this, you are putting me in a difficult position!"

Hehe, you are here to petition, right? Let me handle your petition request. Come, don't be afraid, I am also a person, and a very ordinary one at that. Hehe, I don't have any extraordinary abilities, so please have a seat!" Wang Yilin warmly welcomed them, pulling the two slightly nervous men and women to the sofa. After they were seated, he turned to the secretary who had brought them in and said, "Xiao Zhang, go get some snacks and brew two cups of hot tea."

When Wang Yilin sat down on the leather sofa behind his desk and picked up the teacup that never seemed to cool, his mood calmed slightly. At this moment, he even found it amusing that he had lost his temper. Over the past twenty years, he had risen from an ordinary low-level government employee to his current position, enduring many hardships and injustices along the way, and he had tolerated it all. Moreover, tolerance was the only option; to navigate the political arena, one must learn to endure. It had been a long time since he had lost his temper, and he had even forgotten what it felt like. Unexpectedly, now that he had become the Prime Minister, the highest official in the government, he still found himself getting angry, and it was quite a significant anger. It seemed that he had become somewhat complacent; indeed, the higher the position, the greater the temper.

It is precisely for this reason that at this meeting, apart from the support expressed by the Executive Vice Premier Wen Haitao, who was promoted by He Yongxing for Zhao's reform plan, the attitude of the "good guy" Chairman of the National People's Congress, Geng Mintai, was ambiguous. He did not want to offend any party, thus, as in the past, he maintained a neutral position. The other three Standing Committee members, Vice President Meng Hanqing, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Li Lan, and Minister of National Defense Shi Lengxing, all expressed opposing views. This caused Zhao's reform plan to be shelved, and ultimately, as both sides could not reach an agreement, it was decided to postpone the discussion to the next expanded Central Committee meeting.

"Prime Minister, I... we..." The middle-aged man first elegantly nibbled on a few pieces of snacks, but then disregarded everything else and began to eat voraciously, seemingly famished. After he finished the last piece, he attempted to speak but was choked up.

Li and Tu Shilan, along with Meng Hanqing, were personally arranged by the previous head of state to be representatives in the central government. Originally, Li Shilan was supposed to succeed the head of state, but unexpectedly, He Yongxing emerged and received full support from the military, which shattered Li Shilan's dream of becoming the head of state. The entry of Shi Lengxing into the seven-member standing committee was entirely a political compromise. The outgoing head of state, realizing that he could not prevent He Yongxing from taking office, took a step back and arranged for Shi Lengxing to join the central standing committee as a counterbalance to He Yongxing, which has indeed played a significant role. After two years in office, He Yongxing has still not achieved significant political accomplishments, which has posed a considerable obstacle.

Wang Mingquan nodded and immediately went out. From the first day he became the secretary of Wang Yilin, who was then the Minister of Economic Development Planning, he knew that Wang was a warm-hearted person, the kind who would draw his sword to help when he saw injustice. If he lived in ancient times, such a person as the Prime Minister would surely be a chivalrous hero

Oh? Is there still someone petitioning this late? Wang Yilin was also a bit puzzled, as the petition office had been arranged in the same building as his own office. Therefore, he often saw petitioners and had personally met with several of them. However, it was indeed quite rare to see petitioners who stayed even after government offices had closed. This piqued Wang Yilin's curiosity, and he said: "Since I need to rest for a while anyway, go bring those two over, and by the way, ask the chef to prepare meals for two more people, and also help them arrange accommodation for the night"

"No, it's just that the Prime Minister wants to see you, so hurry over!" The little secretary also warmly "invited" them in.

Wang Yilin sighed, sat down in a chair, and began to swiftly handle the seemingly endless official duties at hand. Although the matter concerning Quan Jinfan left him somewhat indignant, after encountering such situations frequently, he had become desensitized. He was also able to quickly adjust his mindset and immerse himself in new work.

"Xiao Wang, please take the two of them to have a meal first, and then arrange for them to stay at the guesthouse. Also, help me investigate this matter thoroughly!" After handing the notebook to Xiao Wang, Wang Yilin walked up to the Quan siblings, took Quan Jinfa's hand, and said: "I have arranged accommodation for you. Until this matter is resolved, you can stay here with peace of mind. I will make sure to resolve this issue!"

When Wang Yilin entered the corner of the office with the cup of hot tea that Xiao Wang had prepared for him, the duty secretary had already brought in the two petitioners. One man and one woman; the man appeared to be around fifty years old, while the woman was quite elderly, her hair completely white. Judging by their simple and plain attire, the deep wrinkles on their faces, their dark skin, and their hands, which were calloused and reddened from the cold, it was evident that they were farmers, and from the south at that.