131: Chapter 131 Beware of Overpraising

As she picked up her briefcase, a cold glint flashed across the silver watch on her wrist. "Deputy County Magistrate Xiao, bring the entire Poverty Alleviation Office leadership team to my office at 3:00 PM."

Not until the sound of her high heels had completely faded did Secretary Ma Wendong shake his head.

Only then did Xiao Bei suddenly understand the meaning behind Team Leader Zhang Yining's words about "killing with praise."

Poverty alleviation was a hot potato; if done well, it was just part of one's duty, but if done poorly, one became an immediate scapegoat. And with County Magistrate Lin Ruohan parachuted into Jinhe County, her first act was to set fire to the poverty alleviation sector...

"Oh, right." Secretary Ma Wendong suddenly lowered his voice. "Prepare another copy of the materials for that nutrition meal tender from your Education Bureau last year. The Provincial Inspection Team is coming back for a follow-up visit next month."

Xiao Bei's fingers trembled slightly. That case originally showed signs of implicating the former director, Director Du Jijun, in bribery, but it was hastily closed because the school uniform scandal caused such a massive uproar and had such a negative impact. However, the Director of the Education Bureau had indeed been replaced.

Now, with County Magistrate Lin Ruohan determined to tackle poverty alleviation and Secretary Ma Wendong looking to dig up the old nutrition meal accounts, the deep waters of Jinhe County were finally about to stir up waves.

Upon returning to his office, Xiao Bei immediately had the office director notify the heads of all bureaus for a meeting. No sooner had the notification been sent than his phone began to vibrate.

[Are you coming over for lunch? I made yam and pork rib soup.] Su Yun's message was attached with a photo; the milky white broth in the pot was bubbling, with goji berries and red dates floating on top.

Xiao Bei was about to reply when Team Leader Zhang Yining knocked and entered: "Leader, the people from the various bureaus have arrived, but..."

She hesitated, then continued, "Director Zheng from the Health Commission brought two boxes of cordyceps, saying it's to help you nourish your body."

Xiao Bei frowned: "Send it back."

"It's already been returned." Team Leader Zhang Yining curled her lip. "The Finance Bureau is even more outrageous; they brought an annual budget adjustment plan directly, saying that the areas under your purview could receive a 20% funding increase."

"What about the people from the Poverty Alleviation Office?" Xiao Bei asked.

"They haven't arrived yet." She glanced at her watch. "They said they went to the city to attend a lecture and training session."

"This is clearly a show of power from Liu Fuzhi." Xiao Bei grabbed his notebook: "Let's head to the conference room first."

In the hallway, several bureau directors were smoking. Seeing Xiao Bei walk over, Director Zhou Dawei of the Finance Bureau immediately stubbed out his cigarette and hurried over: "Deputy County Magistrate Xiao! I was just about to report to you regarding the rural revitalization funds..."

"Alright, let's hold the meeting first." Xiao Bei turned slightly to avoid the document bag Director Zhou Dawei was offering, his peripheral vision catching Director Zheng of the Health Commission sneaking a look toward his office, holding a very ordinary document bag—needless to say, it was definitely the cordyceps.

The conference room was thick with smoke. The bureau directors were divided into two distinct groups: those from the "clean bureaus" like the Education Bureau and the Health Commission sat in the corner, while those from powerful departments like the Finance Bureau and the Development and Reform Commission gathered around the projector, talking loudly.

"Everyone." Xiao Bei tapped the table. "Today, we will only discuss three things."

The noise gradually subsided. Xiao Bei opened his notebook, deliberately ignoring those eager gazes: "First, each bureau must resubmit their three-year work summaries within this week; second, starting tomorrow, all staff at the Poverty Alleviation Office must be on duty; third..."

Xiao Bei paused. "All project tenders must undergo collective decision-making by the Party group."

In the corner, the new Director of the Education Bureau, Zhou Wen, nodded gently. She had been parachuted in from the city, was in her early thirties, wore her hair in a neat ponytail, and stood out conspicuously among the group of middle-aged men.

"Deputy County Magistrate Xiao!" The Director of the Finance Bureau suddenly raised his hand. "Regarding this year's Beautiful Countryside construction funds, which villages do you think should be the focus?"

This question was full of hidden traps. Choosing Town A would mean currying favor with the Town Party Secretary, while choosing Township B would allow him to win over the Township Head—both were Liu Fuzhi's loyalists.

Xiao Bei opened the ledger that Team Leader Zhang Yining had just obtained from the Poverty Alleviation Office: "Allocate them according to the poverty incidence rate, from highest to lowest."

The conference room suddenly became so quiet that one could hear the sound of writing. Several bureau directors exchanged glances, and the smile on the Finance Bureau Director's face froze.

Xiao Bei knew what they were thinking: A new official brings new changes, but this fire was burning in completely unconventional ways.

"Any other questions?" Xiao Bei closed the file.

"Leader." Zhou Wen suddenly spoke up. "The blacklist system for nutrition meal suppliers has already been drafted. When will you have time..."

"Let's look at it now." Xiao Bei stood up, interrupting her. "Everyone else is dismissed."

After the bureau directors left, looking at each other in confusion, Zhou Wen took a folder out of her briefcase: "Actually, there is one more thing..."

She lowered her voice. "Some parents have reported that school supermarkets are always selling cheap, harmful junk food, and... and I discovered that it's Mingyuan Trading..."

Xiao Bei's heart skipped a beat. Mingyuan Trading was a remnant of Zhang Mingyuan's corruption network, and the Zhang Mingyuan case was exactly what County Magistrate Lin Ruohan had handled while working at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Zhou Wen continued, "I heard that the new controlling shareholder of Mingyuan Trading seems to know County Magistrate Lin..."

Outside the window, it had started to rain at some point. Raindrops pattered against the glass like countless tiny inquiries. Xiao Bei looked toward the main County Government building; the light in County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's office was still on, casting a hazy halo in the curtain of rain.

What kind of game was this parachuted female County Magistrate really playing?

After Zhou Wen left, Xiao Bei returned to his office. The rain outside was getting heavier, the sound of raindrops beating against the glass like some sort of urgent code.

Xiao Bei picked up his phone. He hesitated for a few seconds before dialing that familiar number.

"Mayor Qin, this is Xiao Bei." After the call connected, Xiao Bei's voice subconsciously lowered a few notches.

"I was just thinking you should be calling." Mayor Qin Ruoxi's voice came through the phone, carrying a hint of laziness and the tone of someone who had expected this. "It's about your new County Magistrate, isn't it?"

Xiao Bei's heart skipped a beat. Mayor Qin Ruoxi was his mentor in the political arena.

"You already know?" Xiao Bei asked cautiously.

A soft chuckle came from the other end of the line: "With County Magistrate Lin Ruohan causing such a stir in your county, it would be hard for me not to know. She certainly acts with lightning speed; on her first day, she dared to touch Liu Fuzhi's cheese, and she even managed to sow discord between the two of you in the process."

Xiao Bei walked to the window. The rain blurred the scenery outside, leaving only the silhouette of the County Government building visible.

"Mayor Qin, I would like to ask you, what is the background of this parachuted County Magistrate Lin Ruohan?"

The other end of the line fell silent for a few seconds before Mayor Qin Ruoxi's voice suddenly turned cold: "The leader in charge of her when she worked at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection is the very same person who has always opposed me. Her parachuting into Jinhe County may look like a lateral transfer on the surface, but in reality, I see it as being aimed directly at us."

Xiao Bei gripped his phone tightly. Mayor Qin Ruoxi's words confirmed his suspicions—County Magistrate Lin Ruohan had arrived with ill intent.

"Xiao Bei, listen to me carefully." Mayor Qin Ruoxi's voice became even more serious. "This Lin Ruohan, she may appear upright on the surface, but her methods are actually ruthless. When she worked at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, she specifically fixated on cases from our city. Now that she has entered the arena herself, she definitely has no good intentions."