Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 305 Unusual Movements Before the County People's Congress

Huang Xiaoyong seemed to understand: "Really? Sun Fangrun has taken a liking to the nanny?"

Bi Yuan laughed heartily: "Sun Fangrun is a man, not a god. Even if it were you, you would find it difficult to remain calm."

Sun Fangrun's wife and children are all in Beijing, so he is actually the only one in Jiangzhou.

People who are used to eating rich and heavy meals find it refreshing and delicious to occasionally try a simple bowl of porridge and side dishes.

No matter how high one's position, one is still made of flesh and blood, and has emotions and desires.

Huang Xiaoyong chimed in, "It seems the nanny's pillow talk had an effect."

Sun Fangrun made a special trip to Qingshan to put pressure on Lin Xue under the guise of a work survey.

Otherwise, Lin Xue wouldn't have let it go so easily. She might have even dismissed me, the deputy county head!

"Old Huang," Bi Yuan changed his address, "it doesn't seem to be entirely like that."

Sun Fangrun's personal involvement stemmed from two factors: the nanny's influence and a conflict of interest.

Wen Changcheng's patron is Sun Fangrun. If it weren't for his lifestyle issues, Lin Xue wouldn't have become the municipal party secretary.

Lin Xue is very assertive. Sun Fangrun's visit to Longcheng was ostensibly for research, but in reality, it was to support Wen Changcheng and set a red line for Lin Xue—she couldn't make the decisions about Longcheng alone, and she couldn't arbitrarily dig into the root of the problem.

"Old Bi," Geng Dongqing also changed his form of address, "your analysis makes a lot of sense, that's the truth."

This time, if Secretary Sun hadn't used the work inspection as an excuse to reprimand Lin Xue, Lin Xue would definitely have made a big fuss about the bridge collapse. Who knows how many people would have been arrested then.

If that happens, the officials in Qingshan and even Longcheng will be in a state of panic, and the deep-rooted problems in the entire engineering field will be exposed.

"Not to mention the few of us, even many people in the city are on tenterhooks. If things get out of control, the situation will truly spiral out of control. How could Secretary Sun allow Lin Xue to act recklessly?"

Huang Xiaoyong felt a little scared and toasted Bi Yuan: "Old Bi, I'll toast you with this drink. By taking the nanny route, you not only protected yourself, but also me."

I originally thought that at the very least, I would be dismissed and investigated; if I could at least get a major demerit, I'd be lucky.

Although Bi Yuan is a business elite, he has an extraordinary keenness and judgment in the officialdom, perhaps because he is too familiar with the officialdom and knows too many officials.

He smiled faintly: "Things in officialdom are not black and white; they are about balance and discretion."

Lin Xue wanted to use the bridge case to establish her authority and clear the area, which was shaking the very foundation of the Jiangzhou officialdom. How could Secretary Sun allow her to act recklessly?

Wen Changcheng is Sun Fangrun's man. Sun Fangrun naturally wants to control the power structure of Longcheng. No matter how powerful Lin Xue is, she's just an outsider appointed municipal party secretary, Sun Fangrun's subordinate; she can't fight city hall.

Bi Yuan looked at Geng Dongqing: "Secretary Geng, the small fry investigated in the county this time because of the bridge collapse are all expendable pawns. Throwing them out can both shut up the people and give Lin Xue a way out. The real core interests have not been touched."

As the three of them chatted, the conversation turned to Ding Yiyi.

Huang Xiaoyong said angrily, "This Ding Yiyi used to be Lin Xue's deputy, and now she's her lackey."

Wherever Lin Xue pointed, Ding Yiyi fired.

The county's report requesting a reinvestigation was strongly demanded by Ding Yiyi.

Oh, and Wu Zhiyuan too. Wu Zhiyuan was also Lin Xue's subordinate when she was in the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Bi Yuan said meaningfully, "Is Ding Yiyi still the acting county head? I've noticed that Cheng Tanzhi has been very active lately, frequently going to the grassroots level, either to conduct research or to offer condolences."

In my opinion, he's using this opportunity to contact the county people's congress representatives, hoping to make some moves at the county people's congress meeting next week, right?

Geng Dongqing laughed heartily: "Old Bi, a soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier, and a cadre who doesn't want to be promoted isn't a good cadre either. Cheng Tanzhi's pursuit of advancement is only human nature."

Huang Xiaoyong interjected, "This Ding Yiyi is always going against Secretary Geng. If she becomes the county magistrate, things will get very complicated."

For example, if President Bi wants to secure a big project in the future, Ding Yiyi will definitely get involved, strictly controlling the procedures and quality. It will be very difficult to follow the old rules then.

Bi Yuan picked up the thread: "I've already thought of this problem. Next week's People's Congress will be a great opportunity to promote Cheng Tan and demote Ding Yi."

Geng Dongqing took a sip of aged Moutai: "Of course I hope that Cheng Tanzhi will be promoted to the position of acting county magistrate, but the organization has decided that Ding Yiyi will be the acting county magistrate, not Cheng Tanzhi."

It wouldn't have been difficult for the county people's congress to elect Ding Yiyi to step down and replace him with someone else, such as Cheng Tan.

The challenge is whether Lin Xue will overreact again, accusing the People's Congress election of failing to implement the organization's intentions, or even sending people to investigate whether there was bribery.

Huang Xiaoyong chimed in: "Lin Xue is indeed a problem."

However, the election of people's representatives is a sacred right granted to them by law.

The organization's intentions should certainly be respected, but the final choice rests with the representatives.

If the delegates believe that Cheng Tanzhi better meets the development needs of Qingshan County and better represents the interests of the people of Qingshan, then the election results reflect public opinion and express the collective will of the delegates.

Bi Yuan nodded and said, "I agree with Lao Huang's point of view."

As long as the procedures are followed and the work is done in advance, if the people's representatives make their choices voluntarily, then the result represents the will of the people, and no one can say anything against it.

Even if Secretary Lin was unhappy, she had no choice but to accept the fait accompli of the election results and the impeccable procedures.

Geng Dongqing thought for a few seconds: "That's true, but if Cheng Tanzhi wants to turn the tide, it's not enough for the representatives to spontaneously support him. He needs a reason, and someone needs to speak up for him at crucial moments."

Huang Xiaoyong's eyes gleamed with lewdness: "Although Ding Yiyi is annoying, she's quite pretty."

Bi Yuan laughed and said, "Old Huang, you wouldn't be eyeing Ding Yiyi, would you? Indeed, this woman is very charming, but the man who can sleep with her is probably no ordinary person."

Huang Xiaoyong laughed heartily: "Old Bi, you're no ordinary person."

Bi Yuan waved his hand: "Old Huang, Ding Yiyi is not like those girls in Biyuan Villa, who can be settled with a little money and a few wishes."

Sleep with her? That's like putting a noose around your own neck.

"Old Bi, that's not what I meant," Huang Xiaoyong argued. "I just wanted to create some scandal, like when I had A Yu seduce Yin Xueyao last time."

Even without any seduction, just creating some scandal and hyping it up online will make a difference at next week's People's Congress...

Geng Dongqing interrupted Huang Xiaoyong: "Xiaoyong, this is not something you need to worry about. Cheng Tanzhi is not in a hurry, so why are you?"

Of course I hope Cheng Tanzhi will team up with me, but Ding Yiyi is the one who made the decision. If Cheng Tanzhi makes a comeback, at the very least Wen Changcheng should speak up for him.

This matter could be a big deal or a small deal. If it's a big deal, it goes against the organization's intentions; if it's a small deal, it's the representatives casting their sacred vote.

Huang Xiaoyong grinned, "I'm not worried about Cheng Tanzhi anymore. Lao Bi, call a few girls over, let's relax tonight. Lately, I'm down on my luck in officialdom, but on my love life."

Bi Yuan smiled and said, "I'll call all the girls over later, and you can choose one."

Huang Xiaoyong laughed loudly: "Old Bi, do you think I'm too old? You only let me choose one? Actually, I'm still quite useful, I'm planning to choose two."

Bi Yuan toasted Huang Xiaoyong with a glass of wine: "Old Huang, health is the foundation of everything. Take it easy. Eat one bite at a time. Eating too much can make you choke."

Huang Xiaoyong chuckled: "Old Bi, when life is good, enjoy it to the fullest; don't let the golden goblet face the moon empty."

I call this "seizing the day"—making up for the losses caused by recent anxiety!

Bi Yuan made a phone call, and soon six young and beautiful girls walked in. Some were plump, some were slender, some were graceful, some were petite, some were innocent, and some were alluring. It was truly a dazzling array of beauties.

Huang Xiaoyong's eyes lit up as he scanned the girls like he was selecting merchandise. Finally, he pointed to a tall girl in a cheongsam and a petite girl with a student-like appearance: "You, and you, come here."

The two girls immediately and obediently sat down next to Huang Xiaoyong.

Huang Xiaoyong, with women on his left and right, grinned from ear to ear, and his hands began to wander.

The taller girl was clearly more experienced, and she responded with a mix of resistance and sweet talk.

The student-like girl seemed a little shy, her face always flushed, exuding endless bashfulness.

Geng Dongqing also picked two and went into the private room.

……

Wu Zhiyuan's office.

Wang Meili, director of the county's Culture and Tourism Bureau, has arrived.

Wang Meili was wearing a bright red down jacket, looking charming and beautiful.

"County Chief Wu, I haven't reported to you about your promotion to Executive Deputy County Chief. That was my fault. I've come to apologize to you today."

Wang Meili is Gan Simiao's lover; this is an open secret.

During Gan Simiao's tenure as the secretary of the Qingshan County Party Committee, he transferred Wang Meili from the Municipal Forestry Bureau to Qingshan and promoted her to the rank of section chief, appointing her as the director of the County Culture and Tourism Bureau.

Wu Zhiyuan stood up: "What do you mean by 'bearing thorns to apologize'? That's too formal."

The cultural and tourism sector is incredibly busy with year-end assessments and project wrap-ups, which I understand. It's not really a matter of reporting in or not reporting in.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wang Meili intentionally or unintentionally revealed a piece of information: "County Chief Wu, I am a representative of the County People's Congress. In the past few days, some people in the county have been contacting me privately, and several other representatives I know have also been contacted. Ostensibly, they are offering condolences and giving New Year's gifts, but secretly it's all a conspiracy."

Wu Zhiyuan was startled and quickly asked, "Oh? Is that so? The People's Congress is about to convene. It's quite intriguing to pull such a stunt at this critical juncture."