17: Chapter 17 Rural Research

Qin Ruoxi waved her hand and said, "You've worked hard. Go ahead and get back to your work."

Director Yan Jinghui felt as if he had been granted amnesty; he grabbed the plastic bag and hurried out of the office.

After walking out of the mayor's office, Director Yan Jinghui's expression instantly darkened. Gritting his teeth, he cursed under his breath, "Damn it! Tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead! This woman, Qin Ruoxi, is truly difficult to deal with!"

He glanced down at the plastic bag in his hand, feeling a sharp pang of heartache.

Two hundred thousand! Just like that, it was gone! And he still had to pay out of his own pocket to donate it to the Red Cross!

However, he dared not disobey Mayor Qin's order, so he had to bite the bullet and handle the money.

Meanwhile, inside the mayor's office, Qin Ruoxi looked at Xiao Bei, her tone softening slightly: "Little Xiao, you handled this matter very well. There are many temptations in the officialdom, but you must hold firm to your bottom line."

Xiao Bei nodded solemnly and said, "Mayor Qin, I understand. I will always remain vigilant and will never cause you any trouble."

Qin Ruoxi offered a smile of approval: "Very good. It's getting late, you should go home early too. You've worked hard today."

Xiao Bei bowed slightly: "Mayor Qin, you should also rest early. I'll be leaving now."

Just as Xiao Bei reached the door and placed his hand on the doorknob, Qin Ruoxi's voice suddenly came from behind him: "Oh, by the way, Little Xiao, there's one more thing."

Xiao Bei turned around to see Qin Ruoxi standing up from behind her desk, holding a document with a serious expression.

"Mayor Qin, do you have any other instructions?" Xiao Bei asked respectfully.

Qin Ruoxi walked up to him and handed him the document: "Prepare yourself for tomorrow morning; you will accompany me on a trip to the countryside."

Xiao Bei took the document and glanced down, discovering it was a report on a poverty alleviation project in a certain county.

His heart skipped a beat, and he vaguely guessed Qin Ruoxi's intention, but he still asked cautiously: "Mayor Qin, is this trip an official open investigation or..."

"An unannounced visit," Qin Ruoxi interrupted him, "We will not notify the local government this time. We will go directly to the village to see the actual situation."

Xiao Bei felt a jolt in his heart and immediately understood the gravity of the situation.

He nodded and said in a deep voice, "I understand, Mayor Qin. I will prepare the relevant materials and ensure the itinerary remains confidential."

Qin Ruoxi nodded slightly, her tone softening a bit: "The focus of this unannounced visit is the implementation of poverty alleviation funds. Recently, many people have reported that in some places, there are phenomena of false reporting, fraudulent claims, and misappropriation of funds. We must go see for ourselves; we cannot just listen to reports."

Xiao Bei nodded in agreement, already beginning to calculate the itinerary for tomorrow.

He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Mayor Qin, do we need to bring other personnel on this unannounced visit? For instance, comrades from the Discipline Inspection Commission?"

Qin Ruoxi shook her head and said, "No need. Too many people will only complicate things and risk alerting the targets. It will just be the two of us, traveling light and simple, heading straight into the village."

Xiao Bei felt a tightening in his chest, knowing this mission was no small matter. He nodded solemnly: "I understand, Mayor Qin. I will arrange the vehicle and route to ensure our safety."

Qin Ruoxi nodded, turned around, and walked back behind her desk, her tone returning to calm: "Good. You may go back now. Meet at the back door of the Municipal Government at seven tomorrow morning."

Xiao Bei bowed slightly: "Understood, Mayor Qin. I'll be leaving now."

Walking out of the mayor's office, Xiao Bei took a deep breath, feeling both nervous and excited.

He knew this unannounced visit was not only a test of his abilities but also a rare opportunity. After all, being taken out alone by a leader was undoubtedly a sign that she considered him a trusted confidant.

Meanwhile, Qin Ruoxi sat behind her desk, her gaze fixed on the poverty alleviation material, her brows slightly knitted.

She murmured to herself: "I hope this time we can uncover the truth. We cannot let those parasites continue to go unpunished."

She picked up the phone, dialed a number, and said in a stern tone: "I will not be in the office tomorrow. If there are any emergencies, call my mobile directly. Remember, do not tell anyone about my whereabouts."

A calm male voice came from the other end of the line: "Understood, Mayor Qin. Rest assured, I will handle it."

After hanging up, Qin Ruoxi stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the darkening sky outside, muttering to herself: "This time, I must conduct a thorough investigation."

The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Xiao Bei arrived early at the back door of the Municipal Government.

He was dressed in casual clothes, holding a simple briefcase, and stood quietly waiting beside an inconspicuous black sedan.

Not long after, Qin Ruoxi appeared. Her attire today was completely different from her usual serious and dignified style.

She was wearing a form-fitting white shirt with the collar slightly open, revealing a glimpse of her fair collarbone. Her sleeves were casually rolled up to her elbows, making her look capable yet elegant.

On her lower body, she wore high-waisted dark blue jeans that accentuated her long, straight legs and rounded hips, and on her feet were a pair of flat white sneakers.

Her long hair was not tied up as it usually was but instead cascaded loosely over her shoulders. As the breeze blew, her hair fluttered gently, carrying a hint of lazy sexiness.

Qin Ruoxi wore light makeup, her lips a natural pink. Her brows and eyes lacked the sharpness of her usual work persona, replaced by a touch of softness and charm.

Xiao Bei was stunned for a moment.

He had never seen Qin Ruoxi dressed like this. Usually, she wore serious business suits, giving off an unapproachable sense of distance.

But today, she looked like a big sister from next door—fresh and natural, yet carrying an indescribable sexiness.

Qin Ruoxi walked up to Xiao Bei and, seeing him staring blankly at her, couldn't help but smile slightly and tease, "What's wrong? Don't you recognize me?"

Xiao Bei finally regained his composure, his face flushing slightly. He quickly lowered his head, feeling somewhat awkward, and said, "I'm sorry, Mayor Qin. You… look quite different today. I almost didn't recognize you."

Qin Ruoxi chuckled, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness: "Why, am I usually that scary?"

Xiao Bei waved his hands quickly: "No, no, Mayor Qin, you are usually very serious, but today… today you look very approachable."

Qin Ruoxi raised an eyebrow, teasing him on purpose: "Oh? So you're saying I'm usually scary?"

Xiao Bei was at a loss for words, not knowing how to answer. He could only smile awkwardly: "Mayor Qin, I didn't mean that…"