137: Chapter 137 Private Meeting

Su Yun suddenly remembered something: "By the way, County Magistrate Lin messaged me today to ask about the rehearsal. How should I reply?"

Xiao Bei frowned slightly: "Just report the truth."

He paused, "Did she... ask anything else?"

"She just asked some technical questions, like how the logistics would be handled and whether the payment channels were secure."

Su Yun looked at Xiao Bei suspiciously: "You seem very guarded against her?"

Xiao Bei didn't answer directly: "The officialdom is complicated; it never hurts to be cautious."

"Actually... there are two orders. Were they placed by you?"

"Huh? Is it that easy to tell?" Xiao Bei was taken aback and glanced at his phone again.

"Not really, the addresses are all in our Jinhe County, so I guessed it was you. But... I also placed two orders..."

Xiao Bei and Su Yun shared a smile; the two of them had developed quite an understanding.

It was normal for there to be no orders at the beginning of a live stream, and there might even be no viewers as the account needed to be built up. However, the villagers didn't understand this, and they needed encouragement for the first test broadcast... Fortunately, besides the orders from Xiao Bei and Su Yun, over a dozen other orders were sold.

...

By the time the car drove into the county seat, it was already dark. Only a few scattered lights were still on in the County Government building, including the window on the east side of the fourth floor. After dropping Su Yun off at the television station, Xiao Bei returned to his office alone.

Not long after he sat down, Team Leader Zhang Yining knocked and entered: "Leader, I just received news that Deputy County Magistrate Liu is hosting a banquet for several township leaders at 'Jinhechun' tonight, including Deputy Township Head Zhao Limin of Qingshan Township."

Xiao Bei's eyes sharpened: "When did this happen?"

"It started at six and is still ongoing."

Team Leader Zhang Yining lowered her voice: "I heard Deputy County Magistrate Liu had too much to drink and said a lot of unpleasant things..."

"What exactly did he say?"

Team Leader Zhang Yining hesitated for a moment: "He said... he said your live streaming plan is just for show and won't solve any practical problems. He also hinted that the poverty alleviation funds in Qingshan Township... have some accounts that wouldn't stand up to scrutiny."

Xiao Bei sneered. Liu Fuzhi was desperate; he wanted to sabotage the live streaming plan while also threatening him with the poverty alleviation funds issue.

"Keep an eye on it, but don't alert the enemy."

Xiao Bei instructed: "By the way, what time will the people from the green packaging company arrive in Qingshan Township tomorrow?"

"Nine in the morning."

Team Leader Zhang Yining checked her memo: "Do you need me to accompany you?"

Xiao Bei shook his head: "You go and keep an eye on things here in the county; I will go to Qingshan Township myself."

He glanced at his watch: "It's very late; you should head back."

After Team Leader Zhang Yining left, Xiao Bei stood by the window, looking out at the County Government compound in the night. The light in County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's office was still on, and further away, the neon lights of the 'Jinhechun' restaurant were flickering; Liu Fuzhi's banquet was likely in full swing.

This game of chess surrounding the poverty alleviation work was, on the surface, a struggle between innovation and conservatism, but in reality, it concealed a more complex political power struggle. Xiao Bei knew well that he was walking on a dangerous tightrope; one wrong step and he would fall into an abyss.

Xiao Bei tidied up his desk, turned off the lights, and locked the door. The night was deep, and only a few lonely streetlights remained in the County Government compound. He sat in his car, rubbing his temples wearily, while scenes from today in Qingshan Township replayed in his mind—the villagers' expressions shifting from suspicion to surprise, Zhang Laosan's angry accusations...

The car slowly drove out of the compound. Xiao Bei should have turned right to go home, but he inexplicably continued straight ahead. By the time he came to his senses, he found he had driven near the 'Jinhechun' Hotel. This most high-end hotel in Jinhe County was brightly lit, and all kinds of luxury cars were parked in front of it.

"How did I end up here..."

Xiao Bei shook his head self-deprecatingly and was about to turn around and leave when he saw a group of drunken men walking out of the hotel's revolving door.

Leading them was none other than Liu Fuzhi. His signature beer belly stretched his suit tight, and his oily face wore a sycophantic smile as he had his arm around a middle-aged businessman decked out in gold and silver, acting like brothers. Several people who looked like township officials were nodding and bowing in agreement nearby, including Deputy Township Head Zhao Limin of Qingshan Township.

Xiao Bei subconsciously parked the car in the shadows and turned off the engine to observe. He cracked the window open, and fragmented conversation drifted in.

"...Old Liu, thanks to your help this time, that batch of equipment was able to be sold off smoothly..."

The man who looked like a businessman patted Liu Fuzhi on the shoulder.

"A small matter!"

Liu Fuzhi slurred his words, "Poverty alleviation projects... someone has to... *hiccup*... someone has to profit..."

"County Magistrate Liu, that sum of funds..."

Zhao Limin interjected cautiously.

"What's the rush!"

Liu Fuzhi waved his hand impatiently, "Wait until the Inspection Team leaves, and there will be plenty for everyone! That kid Xiao Bei is doing some live streaming... just for show! It won't last!"

The group staggered toward the parking lot, and Xiao Bei's hands tightened involuntarily on the steering wheel. No wonder the poverty alleviation work in Qingshan Township had shown no progress! The funds were all being pocketed by these parasites!

Just as he was considering whether to follow them, a familiar figure appeared at the hotel entrance—County Magistrate Lin Ruohan. She was wearing a simple white shirt and black trousers, which looked particularly low-key compared to her usual formal attire. What surprised Xiao Bei even more was that she walked quickly toward a black sedan. The window rolled down, revealing the face of a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

Xiao Bei narrowed his eyes; the man looked somewhat familiar... Suddenly, he remembered—it was Secretary Zheng Ming, the current general manager of Mingyuan Trading!

County Magistrate Lin Ruohan quickly got into the car, and the black sedan drove away silently. Xiao Bei's heart rate accelerated, and various speculations churned in his mind. County Magistrate Lin Ruohan meeting with someone from Mingyuan Trading in private? Wouldn't this contradict her public stance on investigating the poverty alleviation funds?

Just as Xiao Bei was pondering, his phone suddenly vibrated; it was a message from Team Leader Zhang Yining:

"Leader, just received news that Deputy County Magistrate Liu is convening a meeting with some township leaders tomorrow on the theme of 'Standardized Use of Poverty Alleviation Funds'."

Xiao Bei sneered. Liu Fuzhi was just putting on a show; while squandering public funds on wining and dining, he was also pretending to emphasize standardization.

Just as he was about to reply, another call came in; the caller ID showed "Qin Ruoxi".

"Mayor Qin."

Xiao Bei answered the phone, his voice lowering involuntarily.

"Is it convenient to talk?"

Mayor Qin's voice carried a hint of urgency.

Xiao Bei looked around: "Please go ahead."

"I just received news that Mingyuan Trading has had large capital flows recently, suspected of money laundering. Did County Magistrate Lin Ruohan meet anyone tonight?"

Xiao Bei's heart jolted. How did Mayor Qin know so quickly? Could she have sent someone to follow County Magistrate Lin Ruohan?

"I... am not sure."

Xiao Bei chose to withhold the information for now.

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds: "Xiao Bei, don't hold anything back from me. Neither Secretary Ma Wendong nor County Magistrate Lin Ruohan are as simple as they appear on the surface, although the case of County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu has nothing to do with Secretary Ma Wendong. Especially County Magistrate Lin Ruohan; when she was at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, she had the nickname 'Iron-Faced Fox'..."

...