Time passed slowly. These days, Chen Xing had been busy with the management of the scholarship fund. As for the management of the scholarship fund, Chen Xing also fulfilled the "promise" he had made in the newspaper to invite reputable people to participate in the management. In terms of the selection of candidates, Chen Xing really put a lot of thought into it. First, he solicited public opinion on the Internet. According to the opinions of the majority, he selected a few people with relatively high popularity. Then, he put these people on the Internet for netizens to vote. In the end, only four candidates with the highest number of votes would be selected, because one of the five fund managers would be appointed by the Ministry.
The specific matters of the online selection were handled by the office in cooperation with the relevant portals. After the candidates were determined, it was up to Chen Xing, the deputy director, to invite them one by one. On their side, they selected the people that everyone thought were the most popular according to the public opinion. However, whether the selected people had the time and were willing to participate in the management of the scholarship fund was another problem. It was not a wishful thinking on the part of the Ministry of Education.
This matter had occupied most of Chen Xing's working time. It was undeniable that the public opinion on the internet represented the opinion of the majority of people. However, due to the varying quality of the netizens, there was indeed a lot of farce when it came to voting and selecting candidates. In the end, after many discussions between the office staff and the web portals they were cooperating with, they finally came up with a few feasible measures to regulate the selection of candidates. Otherwise, no matter how long the selection would take, they might not be able to confirm the candidates. This was because everyone had their own reasonable candidates in mind, and it was very difficult for them to come up with a consensus.
What was interesting was that the final four candidates selected on the Internet covered several industries. There were well-known entrepreneurs, famous economists, and the last one was a worker who had won the National May Day Labor Medal. He had picked up a huge sum of money and returned it to its rightful owner without taking a single cent. This incident had caused a huge reaction in society.
In the past few days, Chen Xing visited the most popular people on the Internet one by one. The first three people also expressed their willingness to participate in the management of the scholarship fund. However, a fact that could not be ignored was that the three of them could not always take time to participate in the management of the scholarship fund. Once the foundation started to operate, there would be a lot of trivial matters to deal with. This was a trivial and arduous project. The three of them either had their own businesses to manage or their own work to do. The three of them were flattered by the public's love and were willing to take this responsibility. They tried their best to take time to ask about the affairs of the foundation. However, they were afraid that they could not take care of everything. This was also a concern that they confessed to Chen Xing.
Chen Xing had also considered this point. Chen Xing's idea was that the four people selected by the public should take some time to sit down and discuss a more reasonable plan. However, when he visited the three people one by one, the three people unanimously suggested to Chen Xing that the foundation should be managed by professional managers without any discussion.
Although this was an official charity foundation, since they wanted to try to reform the management model, they could refer to the management model of successful foreign charity foundations. They could hire professional managers to be responsible for the operation and daily affairs of the foundation. Then, the leaders of the five foundations would review the operation and financial statements of the foundation from time to time. If there was any doubt, they could ask an accounting firm to conduct an audit. In this way, the foundation could operate in a healthy and orderly manner.
Chen Xing agreed with this suggestion, but among the four people, there was still one person he didn't visit. It was the last worker. The order of Chen Xing's visit was not according to social status, but according to the region. The last worker happened to be in the southern province, so Chen Xing was the last to visit.
The person who accompanied Chen Xing to the south was still Lin Yupei, the deputy director of the office, and a staff member of the office. The three of them took a plane to Nanhai Province. The worker was called Chen Deshi, a workshop worker in a local state-owned steel mill. Because of his hard work and low income, he didn't embezzle the huge sum of one million yuan. Instead, he returned it to the original owner. After this incident was reported by the newspaper, it was once selected as one of the top ten moving stories of that year, causing a sensation in society. Chen Xing once talked about this matter in a chat with Li Huaiyuan, the deputy minister. The public opinion on the Internet, to a certain extent, reflected the inner desire of the people and their expectations for the government.
As an ordinary worker, the reason why Chen Deshi was selected was not because of whether he knew how to manage, whether he understood the operation of a foundation, or whether he could read financial statements, but because of his moral character and the glorious side of human nature. From this, it could be seen that the people sincerely hoped that the government's charity foundation could be less bureaucratic, less corrupt, and more transparent. They hoped that it could uphold the true meaning of the word 'charity' instead of helping the poor under the bureaucratic system. That was not what the people were willing to see.
When they arrived in Nanhai Province, Chen Xing and his team, accompanied by the local education department officials, went to Chen Deshi's residence. Chen Deshi seemed to have been informed in advance, so he didn't go to work today. Instead, he waited at home for the arrival of Chen Xing and his team. On the way, the local education department officials wanted to call Chen Deshi's home and ask him to come out to greet them. Chen Xing stopped them. He was here to visit, not to show off his authority.
Director Chen, this was where Chen Deshi lived. He lived in this building. Fang Zhicong, the director of Nanzhou City's education department, explained to Chen Xing that Nanzhou City was the capital of Nanhai Province. Chen Deshi worked in Nanzhou City's state-owned steel factory. This area was the steel factory's staff dormitory. It was an old building built 20 or 30 years ago. The building was built with stone, and the tallest building was only five stories high. The outer wall was very old, and one could tell at a glance that it had been there for a long time.
Chen Xing nodded. The string deep in his heart had been tugged. Chen Deshi lived in such an old building, but he was still able to not pocket the money he picked up. He was not tempted at all after picking up millions of dollars. This kind of quality was very rare.
Chen Deshi lived on the fifth floor. This kind of old building obviously didn't have an elevator. Chen Xing and his team climbed all the way to the fifth floor. A staff member from Nanzhou City's education department came forward and knocked on the door.
"Why didn't Director Chen tell me that he was coming? I could have gone downstairs to welcome him, but you came up yourself. This is really too impolite, too impolite." When Chen Xing arrived at Chen Deshi's home, after a round of introductions, Chen Deshi hurriedly said in surprise. He blamed himself repeatedly. He thought that the government would call to inform him. Because Chen Xing was coming today, it was also the higher-ups who called to inform him. That was why Chen Deshi waited at home today. He didn't expect that Chen Xing would come by himself after arriving.
They all had two arms and two legs, and it wasn't like they couldn't walk. There was no need for Old Brother Chen to go down and welcome them. Old Brother Chen should quickly sit down. Chen Xing smiled and pressed Chen Deshi to sit down. The house was very narrow, with a layout of two bedrooms and one living room. However, according to Chen Xing's own estimation, the area of the two bedrooms and one living room added up to about 50 square meters. One could imagine how narrow the house was. When Chen Xing and his team walked in, there wasn't even a place to stand. The entourage from Nanzhou City's education department stood outside. Only Fang Zhicong followed Chen Xing and his team in.
There was also a deputy general manager of the steel mill present. He heard that the people from the ministry were coming down today, so he specially came over to welcome them on behalf of the steel mill. Chen Xing didn't exchange too many pleasantries, but directly stated the purpose of his visit.
Chen Xing roughly explained the matter. Chen Deshi listened silently for a long time. If his son hadn't explained to him about online voting and that many people would choose him, Chen Deshi wouldn't have known anything at all. He, who was almost 50 years old, didn't even know how to turn on and off a computer, nor had he touched one. For him, this matter came too suddenly.
After a long time, Chen Deshi solemnly said, "Director Chen, I'm not very cultured, and I don't know how to use a computer. As for what you said … voting on a computer, I still haven't figured it out. My son explained it to me, saying that there are many candidates for me to be the manager of some scholarship fund. I'm really in a mess.
There are so many people who support me and believe in me. I'm very touched, but I really don't know anything. I've worked in the steel mill all my life, and I only know some rough work like steel making and rolling. I don't know anything else. I really don't dare to take this job. It's not that I'm arrogant, but I know my own limits. I don't even know how to read, how would I dare to manage some fund. "
Chen Xing listened patiently.
He understood what Chen Deshi meant. Chen Deshi was going to refuse, but Chen Deshi was also very honest. Chen Deshi might really be illiterate, so it was normal that he didn't dare to agree. Chen Xing smiled. This result was a little unexpected, but Chen Xing was also prepared to persuade him. He smiled and said, "Brother Chen, it's okay if you don't know how to manage, and it's okay if you can't read. The daily operation and management of the fund will be managed by professionals. You and the other managers will be responsible for the supervision of the fund. You have the right to ask and understand the whereabouts of every fund. If you have any doubts, you can also ask someone from the accounting firm to audit it. So you don't need to know much. As long as you have any doubts, you can ask someone from the accounting firm to audit it …"
Chen Xing didn't know how much he had explained. In the end, he was a little thirsty. Chen Deshi was different from the other three publicly elected managers, who didn't need him to explain anything. Instead, they even needed him to ask them for advice on the daily operation of the fund. Chen Deshi, on the other hand, needed him to explain.
"Brother Chen, how much do you understand?" Chen Xing smiled bitterly. He did not know how much of what he had said could be understood by the other party.
"I'm a little confused. Director Chen, it doesn't matter if I don't understand. As long as I have any questions about the whereabouts of the money, I can raise them. But the problem is that I don't know anything about finance. I can't tell whether the money of the fund is used in the right place." Chen Deshi told the truth. He was an honest person. Initially, he wanted to reject the offer, but after seeing Chen Xing, a high-ranking official, explaining so much to him, Chen Deshi was too embarrassed to reject him directly. Thus, he could only say so.
"Brother Chen, it doesn't matter if you can't tell. You can ask the fund to provide the financial statements, and then you can ask someone to check it. Of course, you can also ask someone from an accounting firm to audit it. The audit fee will be paid from the fund. You don't need to pay for it. So it doesn't matter if you don't understand. As long as the audit result shows that there is something wrong with the financial statements, you can ask the manager of the fund to give you an explanation." Chen Xing smiled. "Besides, you also have financial staff in the steel mill. Brother Chen, you can ask them for advice."
Chen Xing's last sentence made everyone laugh along with him, and the atmosphere became livelier. Chen Deshi couldn't help but waver after listening to Chen Xing's detailed explanation. He originally didn't intend to take up this task, not because he had no time, nor did he want to put on airs. He was afraid that he wouldn't do well and let down so many people who trusted him. From Chen Deshi's point of view, since so many netizens chose him, he had to take responsibility. However, the problem was that he didn't know anything. If he took up this task, would he be able to shoulder the responsibility? Chen Deshi didn't have confidence, so he didn't dare to accept it. If he didn't know anything, he shouldn't accept it.
"Brother Chen, among the other four managers of the fund, one of them is appointed by our department, and the other three are also chosen by netizens. The three of them have agreed. Brother Chen, you are the only one left." Chen Xing smiled.
"This …" Chen Deshi was in a difficult position. Director Chen,
"I heard from my son that the other three are all great people, but I really don't know anything. How can I compare to them? I'm really afraid that I can't do it.
"The three of them are more educated than you, but in the eyes of the people, they are not as popular as you." Chen Xing didn't think much of it. "Brother Chen, so many people chose you because you made them believe in you. In fact, they also know that you might not understand, and managing a fund is even more unreliable. But they still chose you. What does that mean? It means that they trust you. This has nothing to do with knowledge or culture.
"Lao Chen, Director Chen is right. In fact, it doesn't matter if you don't understand. Director Chen has explained it very clearly just now. If you don't understand the financial statements, you can ask someone to look at them. If there is a problem, you can ask the direct manager of the fund to explain. This is your real responsibility. So many people chose you because they want you to be a fair supervisor."
At this time, the deputy general manager of the steel mill spoke up. He had heard Chen Xing's words very clearly. He also understood that Chen Deshi should be a nominal manager. Anyway, it was just a title. The fund needed to be managed by professionals, but Chen Deshi, who had the title of fund manager, had the right to supervise the flow of every fund in the fund. There was really no need for Chen Deshi to know anything about it. He could directly ask a third-party auditor to audit the financial statements of the fund. Anyway, Chen Xing had said that Chen Deshi didn't need to pay for it. After the deputy general manager of the steel mill roughly understood, he also agreed that Chen Deshi accepted the title of nominal manager. For the steel mill, it was also something to be proud of.
"Director Zhao, do you think this is feasible?" Chen Deshi's eyes brightened slightly. The words of the deputy general manager of the steel mill had a great impact on him.
"Of course it is feasible. Director Chen has said it so clearly. Lao Chen, if you can agree, then agree. After all, this is a good thing. This fund is to help poor children to go to school. You also want to do something for those suffering children." The deputy general manager said with a smile. He was more straightforward. He knew how to deal with honest people like Chen Deshi better than Chen Xing.
Chen Xing and the others sat for about half an hour. With the help of the deputy general manager of the steel mill, Chen Deshi finally agreed. Chen Xing let out a sigh of relief. Compared with the other three, Chen Xing cared more about whether Chen Deshi would agree. Chen Deshi was the one who could really get close to ordinary people. They all came from the bottom of society. Chen Deshi's title as a manager was more like a show than a person who knew nothing about anything. However, its real significance was more than symbolic. What ordinary people needed more was a person who could represent them. Only such a fund would be more convincing and could really make ordinary people feel at ease to donate money.
At the charity gala that night, there was no statistics on the donations made to the hotline. The specific amount was not calculated until the next day. The donations had reached more than ten million yuan. These days, there were still many people continuously donating money through the two bank accounts of the fund. The power of one person might be small, but with the power of tens of thousands of people, it would no longer be small. A trickle would become a rolling river. This was what Chen Xing hoped to see most. Chen Deshi would be one of the five managers. When the time came, more detailed management models would be announced to the public. He believed that this fund would be recognized by more people.
When they left Chen Deshi's house, it was already past three o 'clock in the afternoon. Chen Xing and the others arrived at Nanzhou City by plane at about one o' clock in the afternoon. Including the delay on the road, they stayed at Chen Deshi's house for more than an hour. The officials of the Nanzhou City Education Bureau warmly invited Chen Xing and the others to stay for the night. In the evening, they would hold a banquet in the hotel. The director of the Education Bureau, Fang Zhicong, urged them to stay many times. In the end, Chen Xing agreed.
After coming out of the building, Chen Xing and the others were about to get into the car. However, there was a commotion next to them. Several people in police uniforms were carrying a woman, who looked to be in her thirties, into the police car. The woman struggled fiercely, and the police were also scolding and cursing her.
"Let go of me, let go of me. Don't think I don't know that it was that bastard Zhang Xinjun who ordered you to arrest me. You are a bunch of wolves in sheep's clothing. You are the tools of the officials. You are the accomplices of the evildoers. You will suffer retribution sooner or later." The woman screamed hysterically. She even struggled to sit on the ground. She refused to get into the car with the police. In the end, she was lifted from the ground by two male police officers and was about to be dragged into the police car.
"You stinking bitch, did you eat sh * t with your mouth? Behave yourself. If you scream again, I will block your mouth." A police officer standing behind them scolded with a dark face.
This little episode happened in front of everyone's eyes. Chen Xing only glanced at it curiously, but Fang Zhicong's expression changed slightly after hearing it. Chen Xing didn't ask anything, but Fang Zhicong smiled and explained to Chen Xing, "What a coincidence, we came across a police case as soon as we came down.
Hehe, even if the police are arresting criminals, this attitude is not right. The image of an individual police officer will affect the image of the entire public security agency. " Chen Xing smiled and commented casually.
The deputy general manager of the steel mill frowned slightly. He remained silent and didn't say anything. However, after listening to Chen Xing's words, Fang Zhicong smiled and said, "Some criminal suspects have a bad attitude. No wonder some police officers are a little rough in enforcing the law. However, it is indeed wrong to scold people."
When Fang Zhicong said this, the deputy general manager of the steel mill obviously rolled his eyes, but he still didn't say anything. He glanced to the side. The deputy general manager looked down. It was none of his business, and he didn't want to meddle in other people's business. However, Chen Deshi, who accompanied them downstairs, couldn't stand it. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but the deputy general manager immediately stopped him with a look.
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