130: Chapter 130 Audit Storm

"Then just do what you ought to do," Su Yun said with a firm tone. "As long as your conscience is clear, that's all that matters."

Xiao Bei took a deep breath. The night wind, carrying the chill of early autumn, poured into his lungs and dispersed the stifling feeling in his chest.

He put his arm around Su Yun's shoulder. "Let's go back inside; it's cold out here."

Early the next morning, Xiao Bei arrived at the office half an hour early. The poverty alleviation work report materials were neatly arranged on his desk. Although he hadn't worked overtime last night, he hadn't left anything he needed to prepare undone.

"County Magistrate Xiao!" Team Leader Zhang Yining burst in, wind-swept and hurried, holding a document in her hand. "The assistance plan that Deputy County Magistrate Liu worked on all night has already been approved by County Magistrate Lin!"

Xiao Bei took the document and scanned it quickly. The plan was well-crafted, with detailed data and concrete measures.

"This is clearly him being anxious to show off to the leadership..." Xiao Bei narrowed his eyes and stood up abruptly. A thought flashed through his mind: Was County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's sudden arrival in Jinhe County a good thing or a bad thing? Could it be that she came specifically because of the poverty alleviation funds?

But one thing was certain: Liu Fuzhi was definitely eyeing the position of County Magistrate; after all, he was already the Executive Deputy County Magistrate.

"However, I just received a notice that you need to go attend a meeting now," Team Leader Zhang Yining muttered while looking at her phone.

The conference room was already full. When Xiao Bei walked in, he felt several meaningful gazes from the Standing Committee members.

Liu Fuzhi sat to County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's left, diligently pouring tea for her. This fifty-something Executive Deputy County Magistrate looked exceptionally spirited today; his suit was crisp, his hair combed meticulously, and his face was flushed with satisfaction—he clearly felt proud that his plan had appeared just in time.

County Magistrate Lin Ruohan was still wearing a navy blue suit, her hair tied up perfectly, looking as elegant as if she were attending a ball. When she lowered her head to flip through the files, the line of her neck was as noble as a swan's, yet it also carried an inviolable coldness.

Xiao Bei sat down in his seat and opened his notebook. The atmosphere in the conference room was subtle and tense, like the calm before a storm.

"Secretary Ma, everyone is here. Let's begin," County Magistrate Lin Ruohan said, raising her head. Her gaze swept over everyone present, lingering on Xiao Bei's face for an extra second.

"The theme of today's meeting is the advancement of poverty alleviation work and the Lishan County assistance plan." Her voice was not loud, but it pierced everyone's eardrums like an ice pick.

"But before we discuss the specific plan, I would like everyone to take a look at this first."

The projector lit up, and a set of data appeared on the screen: the usage of poverty alleviation funds in Jinhe County over the past three years. A few of the numbers were circled in red, which was shocking.

County Magistrate Lin Ruohan paused. "A total of 8.76 million yuan was allocated, yet those two townships in our Jinhe County! They remain impoverished and show no improvement, dragging down the average for the entire county."

The conference room was dead silent. Xiao Bei noticed fine beads of sweat oozing from Liu Fuzhi's forehead, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously.

County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's voice was as cold as ice. "Does anyone here have an explanation for this?"

Everyone's gaze turned to Liu Fuzhi. As the Deputy County Magistrate in charge of poverty alleviation, he could not shirk his responsibility.

Liu Fuzhi let out two dry laughs. "County Magistrate Lin, we are already rectifying these situations; it's mainly due to the townships below..."

"Deputy County Magistrate Liu," County Magistrate Lin Ruohan interrupted him, "the Lishan County assistance plan you submitted yesterday suggests that the county-owned enterprise should undertake the construction projects."

She opened a document. "The legal representative of this state-owned enterprise, could it be that they have a connection to you?"

Liu Fuzhi's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Xiao Bei sat up straight, his heart racing. Was County Magistrate Lin Ruohan planning to take action against Liu Fuzhi? Hadn't she already agreed to his plan? What on earth was she up to?

The air in the conference room seemed to have frozen. Xiao Bei saw Liu Fuzhi's Adam's apple bobbing up and down, like a fish stranded on land.

"I propose," County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's voice broke the silence, "that from today on, the poverty alleviation projects be handed over to Deputy County Magistrate Xiao."

Xiao Bei looked up abruptly, meeting County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's unfathomable gaze. Her eyes were as black as ink, hiding emotions that Xiao Bei could not read.

The air was still for a few seconds...

Liu Fuzhi's teacup suddenly slammed heavily onto the desktop. The brown tea splashed out, spreading a stain across the snow-white meeting minutes.

"Secretary Ma!" Liu Fuzhi's voice sounded like sandpaper rubbing together. "I have been in charge of poverty alleviation work for three years; if I haven't earned any merit, surely I've at least put in the hard work, right?"

County Party Committee Secretary Ma Wendong slowly closed his fountain pen, a kindly smile plastered on his round face. "Old Liu, the organization is just trying to lighten your load. Look at the departments you are in charge of—Housing and Construction, Land and Resources, Water Conservancy—they are all major heavyweights..."

"Then why is it Xiao Bei?" Liu Fuzhi suddenly turned his gaze toward Xiao Bei; his eyes behind his glasses were like poisoned needles. "He isn't even the Executive Deputy!"

The conference room fell into sudden silence once again.

The buzzing sound of the air conditioning vent became exceptionally piercing. Xiao Bei's fingers, gripping his fountain pen, went slightly stiff, and the ink bled into a black dot on the paper. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw County Magistrate Lin Ruohan organizing her files, her slender fingers brushing over the pages, not even blinking an eyelash.

"Deputy County Magistrate Xiao's rectification of the Education Bureau is plain for all to see," Secretary Ma Wendong said, smoothing things over. "Besides, poverty alleviation and rural revitalization are meant to be linked... It just so happens that they can both be handed over to Xiao Bei."

"I submit to the organization's arrangement," Xiao Bei said abruptly, his voice drier than he had imagined.

Across the table, County Magistrate Lin Ruohan finally raised her eyes. When those autumn-water-like eyes looked over, the hair on the back of Xiao Bei's neck suddenly stood up—she was observing his reaction.

Liu Fuzhi sneered and stormed out, slamming the door. The heavy solid wood door hit the doorstop with a heart-stopping thud.

"Everyone else go back and prepare for the handover," Secretary Ma Wendong waved his hand. "Xiao Bei, stay behind."

The crowd dispersed like a receding tide.

When Team Leader Zhang Yining passed by Xiao Bei, her lips moved imperceptibly: "Beware of being killed with kindness." She was wearing maple-leaf-colored lipstick today, which looked like a streak of blood on her pale face.

Once the footsteps of the last person disappeared at the end of the corridor, Secretary Ma Wendong suddenly sighed. "Comrade Lin Ruohan, wasn't that too hasty?"

County Magistrate Lin Ruohan was writing something on her tablet; upon hearing this, her fingertips paused. "Secretary Ma, are you referring to the poverty alleviation fund audit? Or the adjustment of work assignments?"

"Both." Secretary Ma Wendong pulled a pack of Soft Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket and tapped the pack against his palm. "Old Liu has been operating in Jinhe County for twenty years, and his brother-in-law is currently at the provincial Department of Finance..."

"Is that why the poverty alleviation funds can never be audited clearly?" County Magistrate Lin Ruohan closed her tablet. "Secretary Ma, I focus on the matter, not the person. Whoever has the ability gets the responsibility."

Sunlight cut diagonally through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making the pearl earrings on her earlobes shine brightly. Xiao Bei noticed at this moment that County Magistrate Lin Ruohan had changed her perfume; it wasn't the cold, crisp cedar he had smelled at the last meeting, but one with a slightly bitter scent of tea.

Secretary Ma Wendong was choked and coughed twice. When he turned to Xiao Bei, he had already put on an elder-like smile. "Xiao Bei, Comrade Lin Ruohan insists on using you because she values your drive. However..." He glanced toward the door meaningfully. "Some things require attention to methods and approaches."

Just as I was about to state my position, County Magistrate Lin Ruohan suddenly stood up. "We have to meet with the comrades from the municipal audit team at ten-thirty."