"It's true, you, me, Mu Chiwangmu, we're not children playing house. When we speak, we mean it." Chen Feng replied calmly.
"But if you hand over the rights to both projects, won't you regret it?" the tribal leader asked.
"There's nothing to regret. Tribal leader, our relationship is quite familiar now, so let's not mince words. Qin County Magistrate and I came to Jiudong County with two objectives: first, to help Jiudong County develop. Second, to gain some political capital along the way. Therefore, to be honest, we're not attached to the power here." Chen Feng spoke truthfully.
"Deputy County Magistrate Chen, I underestimated you. Your vision is truly extraordinary. Rest assured, with a deputy county magistrate of your caliber, I will absolutely handle the relationship between the Han and Miao people well. As for the daily monetary rewards, I don't need them." The tribal leader said excitedly.
"Tribal leader, we still need the money." Chen Feng said with a smile.
"Deputy County Magistrate Chen, you can selflessly help Jiudong County develop its economy, and as tribal leader, I can too. Therefore, I cannot accept this money." The tribal leader explained earnestly.
"Tribal leader, you're only seeing the surface. In reality, I don't take money in Jiudong County. But it's not because I dislike money. It's just that I feel it's not appropriate for Han people to take money in Jiudong County. You are the tribal leader, a Miao person. It's reasonable for you to take the money. Moreover, you must take this money. In the future, as Jiudong County develops, you will have many matters to handle that cannot be resolved with just words; you will need money to smooth things over. Therefore, starting now, you need to start accumulating some funds gradually." Chen Feng's explanation convinced the tribal leader.
"Deputy County Magistrate Chen, I'll listen to you." The tribal leader replied wholeheartedly.
The intricacies of power dynamics had been thoroughly mastered by this young man, Chen Feng!
"Tribal leader, since you have clearly stated your position, I will entrust the relationship between the Han and Miao people of Jiudong County to you." With that, Chen Feng, accompanied by Mu Chiwangmu, left the tribal leader's home.
"By the way, Miss Mu Chiwangmu, is Jiudong County bordering Jiudong County?" Chen Feng asked Mu Chiwangmu on the way back to the office.
"Yes, Nanniao City in Huaxia is a multi-ethnic city. Besides the Miao people, there are also Dong people and other ethnic minorities. By the way, Deputy County Magistrate Chen, why are you suddenly asking about this?" Mu Chiwangmu asked, looking puzzled.
"I'm thinking about a problem: how to regulate the contradictions between the Miao and Dong ethnic groups." Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"Deputy County Magistrate Chen, aren't you overthinking it? For thousands of years, the relationship between the Miao and Dong people has been quite good. If there are contradictions, they are between the Miao and Han people, and between the Dong and Han people. There are truly no contradictions between ethnic minorities themselves." Mu Chiwangmu explained.
"That was indeed the case before! However, the situation will change dramatically from now on, and contradictions between the Miao and Dong people will definitely erupt. There's no need to doubt it." Chen Feng said earnestly.
"Deputy County Magistrate Chen, could you please explain why?" Mu Chiwangmu asked tentatively.
"Miss Mu Chiwangmu, think about it carefully. Why were there no contradictions between the Miao and Dong people before? And why do these two ethnic minorities, but not the Han people, have contradictions? It's all because of economics. In the past, both the Miao and Dong people were ethnic minorities in remote mountainous areas, all equally poor. Between poor people, there is generally no jealousy. When there is no jealousy, there are no contradictions. However, Han people have always been richer than ethnic minorities, so it's normal for ethnic minorities to have conflicts with Han people. In the future, due to the progress of many projects in Jiudong County, the Miao people will inevitably become richer. Think about it: if the Miao people become rich while the neighboring Dong people remain poor, will there be contradictions between these two ethnic minorities?" Chen Feng explained word by word.
"Deputy County Magistrate Chen, your mind is truly agile. I am impressed. To be honest, I never thought that far ahead. Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to solve this problem. Since you've astutely identified this issue, you must have a solution, right?" Mu Chiwangmu continued to probe.
"There are solutions, but they are somewhat difficult." Chen Feng replied with a furrowed brow.
"Somewhat difficult? Deputy County Magistrate Chen, as you know, I have very little experience in economics and ethnic relations. Could you please explain it to me in detail?" Mu Chiwangmu asked with great curiosity.
"It's like this, Mu Chiwangmu. In the future, the Miao people of Jiudong County and the Dong people of Jiudong County will inevitably have conflicts as Jiudong County's economy develops rapidly. However, to develop the economies of two counties simultaneously, to be honest, I don't have that capability. Therefore, we can only settle for the next best thing: ensure that the Dong people of Jiudong County do not feel that the Miao people of Jiudong County have become arrogant because they are wealthy. This way, even if the Dong people are not as wealthy as the Miao people, the Dong people will not have a reason to create friction with you." Chen Feng explained patiently.
"This idea is very good, but the problem is, how do we achieve this effect? To be honest, it's really hard for me not to be jealous of rich people." Mu Chiwangmu pressed.
"Grasping the mentality of the poor is not difficult. The poor resent the rich not for being rich, but for being stingy. If the rich donate a little of their money, the poor will not resent them. For example, Cao Dewang, the 'Glass King' of China, is very wealthy. However, he has a good reputation in China, and the reason is simple: he donates money from time to time." Chen Feng explained calmly.
"Deputy County Magistrate Chen, do you mean that once Jiudong County's economy picks up, we should donate money to Jiudong County from time to time?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I mean."
"That's a good idea, but the question is, do we just give the money away directly?" Mu Chiwangmu asked, perplexed.
"Directly donating money is a rather clumsy method. It can only appease Jiudong County for a while, but not for a lifetime. The best way to donate is to provide interest-free startup loans to Jiudong County. This way, the money is donated, and Jiudong County also develops." Chen Feng explained.
"Deputy County Magistrate Chen, your idea is simply brilliant!" Mu Chiwangmu was convinced.
"So, Miss Mu Chiwangmu, do you approve of my idea?" Chen Feng asked in return.
"I approve wholeheartedly! Rest assured, I guarantee I will complete this matter without fail. By the way, Deputy County Magistrate Chen, the two projects in Jiudong County are progressing vigorously, and the two major projects in the primeval forest are also in full swing. Does this mean you will be promoted and leave Jiudong County soon?" Mu Chiwangmu asked, sounding reluctant.
"Don't worry, it won't be that soon." Chen Feng explained with a smile.
"Why not that soon? You came to Jiudong County and carried out drastic economic reforms, achieving economic miracles in a short period. By rights, shouldn't you be promoted?" Mu Chiwangmu asked, clearly confused.
"Mu Chiwangmu, although you have been in the Jiudong County political arena for quite some time, you still haven't grasped the essence of the Han political arena. Our relationship is so close, so I won't hide anything from you. This time, Qin County Magistrate and I came to Jiudong County mainly for grassroots training and to gain political capital. No matter how impressive our achievements are, we still have to put in the time. Without a year or two, we won't be promoted." Chen Feng explained everything in detail.
"That's great. By the way, Deputy County Magistrate Chen, since you plan to stay in Jiudong County for a few years, there's a very thorny issue I'd like to discuss with you..." Mu Chiwangmu said cautiously.