Chapter 14: Secretary Qi Xiaonan of Qinghe

  Zi Xiaonan, the party secretary of Qinghe Town, is only 30 years old this year. He is in his prime and has been promoted at an extremely fast pace. Behind his back, people also call him a "smiling tiger" with deep thoughts.

  Qizixiao's older brother Qiziwei, over 40 years old, is already the director of Fuhai City Development and Reform Bureau, and is said to be one of the candidates for the next vice mayor of Fuhai City.

  Qī cóng jūn, Qī xiào nán de xiǎo shūshu, jìn wǔ shí, xiàn rèn nán bù shěng wěi xuānchuán bù fù bù zhǎng.

  Translation:

  Qi Congjun, the younger uncle of Qi Xiaonan, is nearly fifty years old and currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department of the Provincial Committee in Southern Province.

  Qizixiunan's father, Qizongwen, who had just retired, was the former Secretary of Fuhai Municipal Committee, Deputy Secretary-General of Nanbu Provincial Committee, Standing Committee member of Nanbu Provincial Committee and Director of Organization Department, retired as Director of Nanbu Provincial People's Congress.

  Qizhijia had four sons who became officials, and they were all quite high-ranking.

  Wang Guoqiang thought to himself, "My brother-in-law Liu Yadong is just a deputy district head and member of the district committee, his father was only a retired deputy director of the municipal people's congress. There's no way I can compare to that. If I were to try to move Qi Xiaonan, even if I had the guts, my brother-in-law would definitely cut ties with me. What would I do then? Whether I act or not, someone will come after me."

  Just as Wang Guo was in great pain and indecision, a knock at the door came.

  Wang Guoqiang tidied up his thoughts and said, "Please come in."

  "Director Wang, it's me. You asked me to come to your office yesterday."

  "Yes, Chen Gong, please take a seat. The municipal and district authorities have all recognized your strengths in writing skills, innovative thinking, practicality, diligence, and dedication to the people. That's why they've invited you to give lectures on the village school reform plan to various districts and counties. And our Xinqiao District Education Department is also planning to hire you to assist with completing the village school reform work across the entire district. What do you say, will you go or not?"

  Chen Gong was overjoyed in his heart, "Go, of course go, and make sure to give Director Wang a good impression."

  "Don't flatter, you've done a good job and it's your achievement. You're now at the starting stage and also the accumulation stage. I'm actually basking in your glory." Wang Guoqiang handed Chen Gong a cigarette.

  "I'll also get involved in this good matter."

  The two chatted for a few sentences, and Chen Gong found that Wang Guoqiang seemed to be in a state of distraction and some tension.

  "Director Wang, are you feeling unwell today? I think your spirit doesn't seem too good." Chen Gong asked very carefully.

  "When something happens, it's like being hit by a falling object from the sky, but it's not a good thing."

  "Is there anything I can help you with?"

  "You can't help me with this, I don't even know what to do now."

  "Otherwise, let Director Wang tell me about it, and I'll help you brainstorm." Chen Gong made another attempt to probe, wanting to get promoted. Now he must rely on Wang Guoqiang because Wang Guoqiang has no "comrades-in-arms" here, so the relationship can be further deepened.

  "I'm telling you, there's something that if I do it, I'll offend the leadership and affect my career, but if I don't do it, someone below will report it and it will also implicate me. Think about what to do." Wang Guoqiang also hoped that Chen Gong would think of a solution, sometimes this kid's ideas were quite creative.

  Chen Gong thought for tens of seconds, "Town Head Wang, must you make a choice on this matter?"

  "Of course, if you don't choose then it defaults to the second outcome I mentioned."

  "In that case, Wang Zhenzhang, you don't have to go and vote"

  "Why?"

  "You can let the leader above choose."

  Wang Guoqiang Ma Sai Dun Kai.

  Right, I'll just hand the anonymous letter over to the higher-ups in the discipline inspection committee or the education department's disciplinary office. It's none of my business, and if asked, I can just say I didn't have the authority to handle it. "Well, Mayor Wang, I'm out of here."

  "Wait a minute, Little Chen, you're my trusted aide. I don't dare to entrust this matter to anyone else. You secretly send this letter to the Xinqiao District Discipline Inspection Commission and the Fuhai City Discipline Inspection Commission."

  "Director Wang, is it necessary to make such a big deal out of this?" Chen Gong asked.

  "I've made it clear to you, haven't I? Someone is using me as a gun to deal with Secretary Qi. So I quietly make a big deal out of this, let the higher-ups investigate Secretary Qi, and let Secretary Qi find someone to investigate the source of this information. That way, I'll be the one who benefits."

  "But if Secretary Qi investigates and finds out it's you, and the investigation against Secretary Qi is substantiated, won't that make you an enemy of his?"

  Wang Guoqiang furrowed his brow, "Right, don't suspect me of that mess, Chen Gong, what else can we do?"

  "Otherwise, I'll print out a few copies of this material and send it to Comrade Qi as you said, and you can go find him tomorrow with the material."

  Wang Guoqiang thought for a moment, "Alright, let's do it this way. Secretary Qi is not someone to be trifled with. He actually wants to frame Secretary Zhi and drag me into it too. I'll see who's behind the scenes playing tricks."

  "Director Wang, this material seems to be true, Secretary Qi is afraid..."

  "No way, this group of people must not know the background of Secretary Qi, otherwise they wouldn't write such things. Like this, Little Chen, you take a look at these materials too, it's about the village's small expenses." After finishing speaking, Wang Guoqiang handed over the materials in his hand to Chen Gong.

  "Chen Gong, let me tell you about Qi Xiaonan's background. Take a look at this material again and don't be biased."

  ……

  Chen Gong finished reading the materials and suppressed his anger, putting them on the office desk. "Mayor Wang, I won't speak out of turn."

  Chen Gong also listened to Wang Guoqiang's introduction of Qi Xiaonan, and with a glance at Xin Qiao District, it can be said that in Fuhai City, he is also a person who can walk sideways. Now Chen Gong has no foundation in the southern province, and without asking his family for help, it is impossible to go and report Qi Xiaonan or take him down. If Qi Xiaonan wants to deal with you, one move will be enough, and Wang Guoqiang will also keep a distance from you.

  Chen Gong thought for a moment, "Town Head Wang, I might know who collected these things."

  Wang Guoqiang slammed his hand on the table, "Whoever it is, I'll make sure he's dead."

  Chen Gong whispered in Wang Guo's ear...

  Chen Gong finished speaking and left the office, knowing how to deal with the leader in his heart. At the moment of closing the door, Chen Gong heard Wang Guoqiang's voice, "You're all suspended from work and still playing tricks, let's see who plays who."

  Wang Guoqiang adjusted his thoughts and went to Qi Xiaonan's office.

  "Hello Secretary Qi."

  "Oh, Director Wang, take a seat, what brings you to my office today?"

  Wang Guoqiang sat on the sofa, "Secretary Qi, you are a busy person. If you didn't summon me, how would I dare to disturb you? Today, there is an important matter that I want to discuss with you."

  Qizixiao Nan was puzzled, this Wang Guoqiang usually didn't have much private contact with him, basically they didn't interfere with each other. What thing did he want to talk about alone with me? Wang Guoqiang stood up and leaned against Qizixiao Nan's ear, "Secretary Qi, someone wants to frame you."

  Qizhao Nan's expression turned serious. "What's with this 'whole' business? I'm sitting up straight, behaving properly, not afraid of what others say, not afraid of being reported."

  Wang Guoqiang thought to himself, "Of course you're not afraid of being reported by others, you have someone backing you up, but the impact is still very bad." "Secretary Qi, I don't dare speak recklessly. Look, an anonymous letter has even been sent to me. As soon as I understood its content, I immediately reported it to you. They are simply framing and slandering." After finishing speaking, Wang Guoqiang handed over the materials to Qi Xiaonan's hands.

  Zi Xiangnan was in no hurry, smoking and sipping tea as if he were appreciating a literary work while reading through the entire document.

  "Director Wang, although this matter is someone trying to frame me, I have taken note of your intention. If the misappropriation of village school funds mentioned in this document is true, I will do my best to give the teachers and students a satisfactory result as soon as possible, and let the town government provide certain compensation and interest."

  It's indeed a personal guess. Although it says inside that he is laughing at Nanshan, but there is no solid evidence at all, and at most, it can only be said that the town was pressed down.

  "I think so too, it's possible that there was an error in the financial department's account transfer or they forgot something, and we must make up for the village school."

  "Town Head Wang, call that little Chen under you, the one from the Village Reform Group, to come to my office. I'll have him coordinate." Qī Xiǎo Nán thought for a moment.

  "Alright, I'll leave first and let Chen Gong come over to hear your arrangements. Oh, Secretary Qi, I think those people who sent the materials here will also send them to other departments, so you'd better be prepared. Especially the one downstairs." Wang Guoqiang nodded and left Qi Xiaonan's office.

  Who can't tell it's Li Aimin, Qi Xiaonan's office is just below Li Aimin's office.

  Wang Guoqiang came out of Qi Xiaonan's office, "Hey, little uncle, I'm Xiaonan, there's a small matter that troubles you... thank you, little uncle, it's all messy writing. Hmm, okay, goodbye."

  He hung up the phone, and Qi Xiaonan put down his heart. His younger brother, Qi Zhongjun, promised to make a call to each level of the Discipline Inspection Commission, and for any cases involving Qinghe Town, they would first suppress them. If it was about Qi Xiaonan embezzling village funds, they would directly burn the documents, as if they had never received them.

  Qí Xiào Nán was relieved, but still somewhat indignant, so he called the head of the Xīn Qiáo District Public Security Sub-Bureau's Criminal Police Brigade, Fàn, to confirm whether it was Lǐ ài Mín. "Hello, is that Captain Fàn? I'm Qí Xiào Nán. Can you do me a favor and discreetly investigate something for me? Don't alarm anyone just yet. Alright, thanks so much."

  In the evening, Chen Gong brought a bottle of Fenggu wine to Li Wenyuan's home.

  "Teacher Li, look at this town's affairs, it's really messed up, and so many problems have arisen. This time I'm here to mediate again, you and your colleagues explain the situation, and we'll pay the money with interest." Chen Gong took a sip of his drink.

  "Xiao Chen, if it were someone else, I would definitely chase them away. So the leader is really good at this, actually letting you come, they know you're our benefactor."

  Chen Gong was also uncomfortable in his heart, because he had already determined that the village's small expenses were not mistaken, but 80% of them were eaten away by Qi Xiaonan, this leader. Unfortunately, it is impossible to confront Qi Xiaonan at present.

  "Teacher Li, thank you for supporting my work. If there really are people who harm others' interests for personal gain, once I have the power, I will definitely eliminate the injustices that I see."

  Li Wenyuan actually knew that the village's small funds were definitely embezzled, but even if you reported it to the higher-ups, what could be done about it? The village might have already ceased to exist, either being demolished or its people driven away.

  "Come on, Little Chen, let's just drink and not talk about anything else."

  "Never mind, I'd better drink less. To be honest with you, last time I drank here at your place, something almost happened."

  "What's going on? Isn't it that those who have a relationship will eventually become a family? Today, why didn't your little Wei come?" Li Wenyuan said mysteriously.

  Chen Gong was taken aback, how did Teacher Li know? "Wei Xiaowei is on leave and has gone back to the city today."

  "These over two thousand yuan won't be returned, I declare in advance. As the director, I didn't take a single cent; it was all given to the crowd actors. For your sake, they worked hard and should get paid. You won't blame me, will you?"

  "Ah, Teacher Li, are those extras? I think they're professionals, even if it's 200,000 yuan, I'd still have to pay. Come on, fill it up, all gone!" Chen Gong suddenly reacted and was overjoyed in his heart.