Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 415 Two Traitors

Chen Jimin had mixed feelings. Originally, he was Liang Dongming's man because Liang Dongming was the county party secretary, the top leader, and Wu Bao was standing behind Liang Dongming.

But there was nothing they could do; Wu Zhiyuan had gotten hold of their weakness.

By offending Wu Zhiyuan, he has gone too far as the executive deputy county head.

He glanced at Liang Dongming, who had an encouraging expression on his face, and then looked at Wu Zhiyuan, whose expression was calm and unreadable.

He took a sip of water to calm himself down, and then said, "First of all, the pedestrian street is the face of Qingyan, and I completely agree with this positioning."

However, a clean face does not mean a lack of popularity.

No matter how clean a street is, if it's deserted and quiet, it's not a successful pedestrian street.

Liang Dongming frowned.

Wu Zhiyuan remained calm and composed.

"Secondly, I personally still agree with the approach of combining guidance and control, and standardized management."

The problem of street vendors is not unique to Qingyan; it exists all over the country.

I've looked into it, and many cities are exploring the practice of designating areas around pedestrian streets for limited-time business operations, with good results.

Liang Dongming's face showed anger as he glared at Chen Jimin.

Chen Jimin actually caught a glimpse of Liang Dongming's anger, but pretended not to see it and continued, "Third, the actual situation in Qingyan is that many people rely on setting up stalls for a living. A blanket ban would not only be unrealistic but also easily lead to conflict."

Instead of letting them operate like guerrillas, it's better to regulate them and bring them under supervision.

Therefore, my opinion is that, under the premise of strengthened management, street vendors should be allowed to set up stalls in specific areas of the pedestrian street at designated times.

Liang Dongming was both angry and confused.

How did Chen Jimin speak up for Wu Zhiyuan?

This guy betrayed us?

Liang Dongming asked coldly, "Comrade Jimin, were your words just now a well-considered opinion, or did you change your mind at the last minute?"

Chen Jimin forced himself to say, "Secretary Liang, I did tend to prefer strict management before."

But these past two days, I made a special trip to the pedestrian street in the evenings to conduct on-site research and met with many of the street-facing businesses.

They reported that the pedestrian street was deserted at night, with only a few larger shops and little foot traffic.

Some residents who wanted to go for an evening stroll or grab a snack also found themselves with nowhere to go. This is quite different from what I previously thought…”

Liang Dongming waved his hand, signaling him to stop talking, and then turned his gaze to Deng Haidong: "Comrade Haidong, what are your thoughts?"

Deng Haidong dared not look Liang Dongming in the eye and said, "In the years I have worked in Qingyan, the thing I feel most deeply is that what ordinary people want is a real sense of gain."

For ordinary people, a pedestrian street that doesn't allow street vendors is just a cold, impersonal road.

A pedestrian street that allows street vendors but is well-managed is the kind of place that ordinary people are willing to visit and stroll through.

Therefore, I personally believe that there is no irreconcilable conflict between strict management and meeting people's needs.

I believe the approach of combining guidance and control, along with standardized management, is the right direction.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "For example, we can limit the time and location, and in terms of access, we can give priority to local low-income families, families with disabled members, and other disadvantaged groups."

In terms of management, urban management, market supervision, and street offices conduct joint inspections. For those who fail to meet hygiene standards, operate beyond permitted hours, park illegally, or sell substandard goods, a warning will be issued for the first offense and the license will be revoked for the second offense.

We can also uniformly equip some aesthetically pleasing mobile food carts or stalls, which are both standardized and attractive.

In this way, the livelihoods of some people are solved, the city's vibrancy and energy are increased, and disorder is transformed into order, and passive management is transformed into proactive management.

This actually represents an improvement in our city's governance capabilities.

Liang Dongming's face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

He didn't expect Deng Haidong to betray him at this critical juncture.

Chen Jimin betrayed him, and Deng Haidong also betrayed him. Originally, those two votes belonged to him, but now they belong to Wu Zhiyuan. With this back and forth, he felt a strong sense of crisis.

Is today's Standing Committee meeting out of control?

Liang Dongming looked at Bao Chunyan, the organization minister.

Bao Chunyan was known for her neutrality and her willingness to avoid offending anyone.

But Liang Dongming had already regarded Bao Chunyan as his lifeline.

"Comrade Chunyan, what are your thoughts?" Liang Dongming asked with a smile that carried a hint of obsequiousness.

However, Bao Chunyan remained true to her nature: "Secretary Liang emphasized strict management and maintaining Qingyan's image. This starting point is correct and is for the long-term development of Qingyan."

County Head Wu proposed a combination of dredging and blocking, taking into account people's livelihood, employment, and urban vitality. This original intention is also very good and reflects the warmth of our government.

To be honest, I found it very inspiring after listening to it, and I think there are some merits to it all…

Bao Chunyan said a lot, but it was as if she said nothing at all.

This must have been difficult for her, as it put her language skills to the test.

Next, Liu Jian chose to abstain, citing a lack of research on the issue.

Qian Long and Liu Feng naturally and unequivocally supported Wu Zhiyuan's viewpoint.

Voting session.

Bao Chunyan and Liu Jian abstained.

The score was 5 to 4, with Wu Zhiyuan winning.

Liang Dongming's face turned ashen.

He lost his first Standing Committee meeting after arriving in Qingyan.

The key point is that he initially thought he had victory in the bag.

As a result, both Chen Jimin and Deng Haidong turned against him.

……

Deng Haidong returned to his office.

Lean back in the chair and close your eyes to rest.

His words at the Standing Committee meeting were tantamount to a public slap in the face to Liang Dongming.

As the director of the county party committee office, his opposition to the county party secretary's opinion at the standing committee meeting was a major taboo in officialdom.

If the news gets out, what will others think of him?

People say Deng Haidong is a fence-sitter; he followed Yuan Jin when Yuan Jin was around, but sided with Wu Zhiyuan after Yuan Jin left, and now he even dares to oppose the county party secretary.

But he had no choice.

The video in Wu Zhiyuan's possession was enough to destroy everything he had.

What puzzled Deng Haidong was how Chen Jimin could also betray Liang Dongming.

When Liang Dongming first arrived, Chen Jimin fawned over him and flattered him, completely disregarding Wu Zhiyuan.

Why did things suddenly change?

Deng Haidong suddenly had a jolt of fear. Could it be that Wu Zhiyuan had also caught Chen Jimin red-handed?

The more Deng Haidong thought about it, the more he realized it made sense.

He and Chen Jimin were both frequent visitors to the resort.

Since these indecent videos include his, it's entirely possible that they also include Chen Jimin's.

He stood up and decided to go find Chen Jimin.

When Deng Haidong knocked on the door, Chen Jimin was sitting on the sofa smoking.

The office was filled with smoke, and the ashtray was already piled with five or six cigarette butts.

Chen Jimin is not a heavy smoker and doesn't smoke much, especially not in the office, where he would smoke one cigarette after another.

But today, he was in a bad mood.

Deng Haidong walked to the sofa and sat down, asking bluntly, "Old Chen, were you forced to do this at today's meeting?"

Chen Jimin, being a seasoned veteran, understood immediately and said with a wry smile, "Old Deng, don't tell me you genuinely think County Chief Wu's ideas are good and have suddenly changed your stance."

"Old Chen, we're old friends, so I won't hide anything from you. When Zhiyuan came to see me, he showed me something."

I guess he showed you something similar too.

"Yes, we're in the same boat," Chen Jimin said without hiding anything. "Wu Zhiyuan has got my weakness figured out. I had no choice but to say things against my conscience at the Standing Committee meeting."

Deng Haidong was no longer surprised that Chen Jimin was also being manipulated by Wu Zhiyuan.

"Old Chen, but I don't understand how Wu Zhiyuan got it?"

Logically speaking, Liao Chenggong is in the same boat as us, so what benefit would it bring him to leak this information?

Besides, weren't Wu Zhiyuan and Liao Chenggong always at odds?

Chen Jimin stubbed out his cigarette, his brow furrowed: "I can't figure it out either. Liao Chenggong only cares about money and power. If something happens to us, he definitely won't be able to escape."

He had no reason to destroy his own foundation and voluntarily hand over the items to Wu Zhiyuan.

Did Wu Zhiyuan use some method we don't know to obtain it from inside the resort?

"Technical means? Bribing insiders?" Deng Haidong guessed, then shook his head. "In a place like a resort, security and secrecy are Liao Chenggong's lifeblood. It's not that easy."

Moreover, Wu Zhiyuan is an outsider county head with little political influence; how could he possibly possess such great abilities?

The two fell into deep thought, and the more they thought about it, the colder they felt.

If Wu Zhiyuan can use this to force them to comply today, he can use it to force them to do even more outrageous things tomorrow.

They were like puppets on strings, with the strings held in Wu Zhiyuan's hands.

Chen Jimin sighed softly: "Our actions today have completely offended Secretary Liang."

Deng Haidong chimed in, "Old Chen, we're in this together now."

Wu Zhiyuan used videos to control us and make us oppose Secretary Liang.

But Secretary Liang was no pushover either; he had Wu Bao backing him.

We're caught in the middle, pleasing neither side and disliked by everyone.

Wu Zhiyuan won this round. What will he ask us to do next?

"Secretary Liang has lost face, how will he deal with us then?"

Chen Jimin said with a mournful face, "Continuing to follow Wu Zhiyuan means being completely tied to his war machine."

He told us to go east, but we dared not go west, and he could release a video at any time to ruin our reputation.

But if we don't listen to him, he can destroy us in no time.

Deng Haidong tentatively asked, "What if we take the initiative to go and confess to Secretary Liang?"

"Confess?" Chen Jimin was shocked. "Confess that Wu Zhiyuan threatened us with indecent videos?"

Wouldn't that be like exposing our own shameful secrets to Secretary Liang?

What will he think of us? Will he use this as leverage to control us?

Deng Haidong must have considered these risks as well.

"But this is currently the only possible way to break the deadlock."

Secretary Liang and Wu Zhiyuan are at odds; we are victims controlled by Wu Zhiyuan through despicable means.

If we take the initiative to explain the situation to Secretary Liang and express our position that we have no choice in the matter, we can at least gain some understanding and room for maneuver.

If Secretary Liang wants to deal with Wu Zhiyuan, we can still play a role.

It's better than being controlled by Wu Zhiyuan while being relentlessly persecuted by Secretary Liang.

Chen Jimin pondered for a long time, and realized that Deng Haidong's words made sense.

If they continue to conceal the truth, they will only be more and more entangled by Wu Zhiyuan, and there will be no turning back for them with Liang Dongming.

Confessing, though it would be exposing one's own dirty laundry, might win back Liang Dongming's trust, or even offer a chance to atone for one's sins.

When faced with two evils, it seems that the latter still has a glimmer of hope.

Finally, Chen Jimin spoke up: "Old Deng, you're right. What Secretary Liang needs most right now is votes. The two of us on the Standing Committee carry considerable weight."

He was new to the position and lost face at his first Standing Committee meeting. He must be furious and desperately needs help to stabilize the situation.

If we take the initiative to approach him and confess that we were coerced, even if he is unhappy, he may accept us again for the sake of the bigger picture.

After all, we're dealing with the same person—Wu Zhiyuan.