141: Chapter 141 Who is Right and Who is Wrong

"Deputy County Magistrate Xiao is here."

Liu Fuzhi greeted him warmly, though his eyes darted around, "This is Comrade Xiao Bei, who is in charge of our county's poverty alleviation work."

The head of the Inspection Team, sitting in the main seat, looked up. He was in his fifties with graying hair and eyes as sharp as an eagle's: "Comrade Xiao Bei, I have heard much about you. I am Fu Chuanyi, Deputy Party Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and head of the Inspection Team."

Xiao Bei's heart skipped a beat—Fu Chuanyi, the name sounded familiar. What connection did he have with County Magistrate Lin Ruohan?

"Hello, Party Secretary Fu."

Xiao Bei shook his hand respectfully, "Welcome to inspect our work."

Zhao Lichun gestured for him to sit: "We are here mainly to inspect the use of poverty alleviation funds and rural revitalization work. I heard you started a live-streaming project to help farmers?"

"Yes, the launch ceremony is the day after tomorrow."

Xiao Bei answered cautiously, "We have already trained over twenty villager streamers, and the initial trial broadcasts have shown good results."

Liu Fuzhi suddenly interjected: "Deputy County Magistrate Xiao's project is very innovative, but..."

He feigned hesitation, "The use of poverty alleviation funds still needs to be standardized."

Xiao Bei sneered inwardly but remained calm on the surface: "Deputy County Magistrate Liu is right. Every expense we have is recorded in detail and is open to inspection at any time. As for the previous ones... they are not under my jurisdiction..."

Fu Chuanyi's gaze swept back and forth between the two, finally landing on Xiao Bei: "We will also attend the launch ceremony to join in the excitement. By the way, what is County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's attitude toward this project?"

This sudden question caught Xiao Bei off guard: "County Magistrate Lin Ruohan is very supportive and has provided a lot of professional advice."

"Is that so?"

Fu Chuanyi smiled meaningfully, "That's good. Only when the top Party and government officials are in agreement can work proceed smoothly."

After the meeting, as soon as Xiao Bei walked out the door, he was stopped by Liu Fuzhi: "Deputy County Magistrate Xiao, a word, please."

The two walked to the corner of the corridor, and the smile on Liu Fuzhi's face instantly vanished: "Don't think you can be smug just because you have leadership backing! If the live-streaming project has even the slightest issue, I will make you pay dearly!"

Xiao Bei looked at him coldly: "Why is Deputy County Magistrate Liu so nervous? Could it be that there really is a problem with the previous poverty alleviation funds?"

Liu Fuzhi's expression changed, then he put on a fake smile again: "What problem could I have? It's you who should be careful, getting so close to County Magistrate Lin Ruohan—be careful not to be used as a pawn!"

Watching Liu Fuzhi's retreating figure, Xiao Bei frowned. Why did this fool suddenly mention County Magistrate Lin Ruohan? Was it just a random threat, or did he know something?

Over the next two days, Xiao Bei threw himself entirely into preparing for the launch ceremony. Although the arrival of the Inspection Team increased the pressure, it also left him no time to think about County Magistrate Lin Ruohan's proposal.

Strangely, County Magistrate Lin Ruohan herself seemed to have vanished over these few days; she neither urged him for an answer nor appeared in any public settings.

On the day of the launch ceremony, Qingshan Village was decorated with lights and colorful banners, bustling with excitement. A stage was set up in the open space in front of the village committee building, with the words "Jinhe County Live-Streaming to Help Farmers Project Launch Ceremony" standing out clearly on the backdrop. Dozens of villagers, dressed in their festive best, waited in anticipation.

Although Party Secretary Ma Wendong had previously suggested holding the launch ceremony at the county cultural center, Xiao Bei later felt that holding it in Qingshan Township would be more meaningful, better able to inspire the villagers, and attract the attention of more kind-hearted people. Therefore, he reported the change of venue.

Xiao Bei stood backstage, watching the leaders and media from the province, city, and county arrive one after another. Fu Chuanyi also arrived with the members of the Inspection Team, accompanied by a smiling Liu Fuzhi, but County Magistrate Lin Ruohan was nowhere to be seen.

"Is County Magistrate Lin Ruohan not coming?" Xiao Bei asked Team Leader Zhang Yining.

"I just received notice that she has something urgent to attend to and will arrive later." Team Leader Zhang Yining handed him a revised speech draft, "This is the latest schedule; Party Secretary Fu will be speaking."

Just as Xiao Bei was about to look at the draft, Secretary Wang Dehai ran over in a panic: "County Magistrate Xiao, it's bad! Zhang Laosan is causing a scene at the village entrance with a group of people, saying he wants to expose the corruption of poverty alleviation funds!"

Xiao Bei's heart tightened: "I'll go take a look."

A crowd had already gathered at the village entrance. Zhang Laosan held up a tattered account book, shouting hoarsely: "Don't be deceived, everyone! None of them are good people! Not only is the money we deserve gone, but we were also swindled out of five thousand yuan!"

The surrounding villagers were discussing among themselves, and some began to chime in: "Yeah, when people from the county came last time, they said it nicely too... Could this be a scam again?"

Xiao Bei strode forward: "Zhang Laosan, if there are any issues, we can sit down and talk. Today is a big day for the fellow villagers, don't hold up important business."

"Important business?" Zhang Laosan waved the account book drunkenly, "This is the important business! I have evidence of Liu Fuzhi's corruption here! He took money and promised to give my family a subsidy, but I haven't seen a single cent!"

Xiao Bei's heart skipped a beat—this coincided with the information he had gathered. But causing a scene at this moment would only embarrass the launch ceremony.

"Brother Zhang, listen to me, I guarantee you'll get an explanation." Xiao Bei lowered his voice, "The Inspection Team is here right now; no one can cover up illegal acts. You can report it."

Zhang Laosan hesitated for a moment, his drunkenness seemingly fading slightly: "Report it? Will it work?"

"It will work!" Xiao Bei said firmly, "But not in this way, right now."

Eventually, Zhang Laosan reluctantly put away his frantic demeanor. Xiao Bei quickly flipped through a few pages of the account book he was holding, his expression becoming increasingly grave—this was indeed an account book of Liu Fuzhi collecting fees from villagers, with every transaction recorded clearly.

"This evidence will definitely be useful." Xiao Bei promised solemnly, "Now, shall we attend the launch ceremony together? This is a chance for Qingshan Township to turn things around! It is also a chance for the villagers to turn things around!"

The disturbance was temporarily quelled, and the launch ceremony began as scheduled. The speeches by Party Secretary Fu Chuanyi and Mayor Qin Ruoxi were powerful and resonant, giving high praise to the live-streaming model to help farmers.

When Xiao Bei went on stage to introduce the details of the project, he noticed that County Magistrate Lin Ruohan had arrived at some point and was talking in low tones with Fu Chuanyi, both of them looking serious.

"...Through this platform, Qingshan Village's high-quality agricultural products will be directly connected to the national market, and it is expected to increase the villagers' income by over 300,000 yuan annually..."

Xiao Bei's speech was interrupted by a round of enthusiastic applause.

After the ceremony concluded, just as Xiao Bei was preparing to find County Magistrate Lin Ruohan to talk, he was stopped by Fu Chuanyi: "Comrade Xiao Bei, do you have time for a private chat?"

In the temporary office of the village committee, Fu Chuanyi got straight to the point: "I have seen Zhang Laosan's account book. That guy didn't know how to report it and stopped me directly in the restroom just now, saying that Deputy County Magistrate Xiao told him that looking for me would be the right thing to do... Liu Fuzhi's problems seem very serious."

Xiao Bei's heart rate accelerated: "Are you referring to..."

"County Magistrate Lin Ruohan reported some information to me." Fu Chuanyi said meaningfully, "She mentioned that you possess quite a bit of evidence?"