54: Chapter 54 The Shadow of Mining

The door was pushed open, and a burly middle-aged man strode in.

He was wearing an exquisite dark gray suit, and the Patek Philippe on his wrist shimmered with a low-key luster in the sunlight.

"Secretary Xiao, I have long admired your name!"

The man's voice was resonant as he extended a calloused hand, "I am General Manager Xiang Wenqiang from Bishi Coal Mine, here specifically to pay you a visit."

Xiao Bei rose to greet him, noticing two young men following behind him, carrying gift boxes labeled "Premium Pre-Qingming Longjing Tea" and gift bags of Moutai liquor.

"General Manager Xiang, you are too kind. Please, sit."

Xiao Bei pointed to the chair opposite him, his gaze sweeping over the gifts, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

After General Manager Xiang Wenqiang sat down, he shot a glance at his subordinates.

The young men immediately placed the gifts on the coffee table and retreated quietly.

"Just a small token of my appreciation, nothing major."

General Manager Xiang Wenqiang adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, smiling warmly, "I heard that Secretary Xiao likes tea? This is this year's freshly harvested West Lake Longjing, you can't buy this on the market."

Xiao Bei did not respond, but instead opened the document on the table:

"General Manager Xiang, I just reviewed the safety inspection report for the coal mine from last quarter, and there are six major hazards that have yet to be rectified..."

"Oh, that's all ancient history!"

General Manager Xiang Wenqiang waved his hand, pulled a bulging kraft paper envelope from his inner pocket, and gently pushed it toward Xiao Bei, "Actually, the main reason I came today is to invite Secretary Xiao to find some time to visit the mine and provide guidance. This is the site map of the mining area and the recent rectification report..."

Xiao Bei caught a glimpse of the corner of red banknotes peeking out from the envelope, and his eyes turned cold.

He picked up the envelope and, under General Manager Xiang Wenqiang's expectant gaze, slowly pushed it back.

"General Manager Xiang, I appreciate the gesture, but this tea is too expensive. I'm the type of person who only drinks plain water."

Xiao Bei's tone was calm but unquestionable, "As for these documents, let's wait and discuss them openly at the Party-Government Joint Meeting."

The air in the office froze instantly; the smile on General Manager Xiang Wenqiang's face stiffened, and his fingers tapped unconsciously on the envelope.

"Secretary Xiao, you're being too distant."

He lowered his voice, "Town Mayor Ding Degui and former Secretary Wu both..."

"Town Mayor Ding Degui is Town Mayor Ding Degui; I am me."

Xiao Bei interrupted him, stood up, and walked to the window, "Bishi Town needs to develop, and production safety is the bottom line. General Manager Xiang's mine accounts for sixty percent of the town's fiscal revenue, so he should be the one setting an example."

General Manager Xiang Wenqiang's face turned from red to green, and the veins on his forehead were faintly visible.

He stood up abruptly and stuffed the envelope and gifts into his briefcase all at once.

"Fine! Fine! Secretary Xiao really is selfless!"

He sneered, "Then we'll see each other at the meeting."

After the door was slammed shut, Xiao Bei let out a long sigh and picked up the phone:

"Director Liu, please bring over the statistics on coal mine accidents from the last three years."

At nine o'clock sharp, the Town Government conference room was packed.

Xiao Bei sat in the main seat, noting that General Manager Xiang Wenqiang had changed into a navy blue Zhongshan suit and was whispering with Town Mayor Ding Degui.

"Comrades, the first topic for today is coal mine production safety."

Town Mayor Ding Degui cleared his throat, "Next, I invite General Manager Xiang Wenqiang of Bishi Coal Mine to report on the rectification situation."

General Manager Xiang Wenqiang stood up and opened a beautifully bound report:

"Respected leaders, under the care and guidance of the Town Party Committee, our mine has invested eight million yuan to upgrade safety facilities, and all hazards have been completely rectified..."

Xiao Bei flipped through the accident statistics that Director Liu Yinyin had just delivered, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

The report showed that just last year, three roof-fall accidents had been covered up.

"...Therefore, I solemnly announce that Bishi Coal Mine has reached national safety standards!"

General Manager Xiang Wenqiang finished his speech, and the conference room erupted in warm applause.

Xiao Bei closed the file; his voice wasn't loud, but it caused the applause to stop abruptly:

"General Manager Xiang, why was the roof-fall accident in the Western District on December 8th of last year not mentioned in the report?"

The conference room was deathly silent. General Manager Xiang Wenqiang's smile froze, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the report.

"This... where did Secretary Xiao hear that?"

Town Mayor Ding Degui hurriedly tried to smooth things over, "That was just a small-scale rock layer loosening; there were no casualties..."

"A small accident?"

Xiao Bei held up the accident statistics table, "Three miners were seriously injured, one of whom required amputation. There are two other such 'small accidents.'"

General Manager Xiang Wenqiang's face instantly darkened:

"Secretary Xiao, accidents are inevitable in business, and we have already compensated according to the highest standards..."

"It's not a question of compensation; it's a question of responsibility!"

Xiao Bei slammed the table and stood up, "Starting today, the Safety Supervision Station will be stationed at the coal mine for a comprehensive inspection. Until all hazards are thoroughly eliminated, all mining operations are to cease!"

The conference room was in an uproar.

Town Mayor Ding Degui was so anxious he kept wiping his sweat:

"Secretary Xiao, I'm afraid this will affect the entire town's tax revenue..."

"Town Mayor Ding Degui,"

Xiao Bei scanned the room, his gaze like a torch, "Is GDP more important, or is the lives of the miners more important?"

The atmosphere in the conference room became instantly tense.

General Manager Xiang Wenqiang's face was livid, his fingers tapping a dull sound on the desktop. Town Mayor Ding Degui wiped the sweat from his forehead and suddenly stood up.

"Secretary Xiao, General Manager Xiang, please both calm down."

Town Mayor Ding Degui put on a full face of smiles, pressing his hands in the air in front of his chest, "How about this: since Secretary Xiao has doubts about the coal mine safety, why not go and inspect it in person? Seeing is believing!"

General Manager Xiang Wenqiang's eyes lit up, and he immediately chimed in:

"Yes, yes, yes! Secretary Xiao, I will personally take you down into the mine for an inspection. Every working face, ventilation system, safety equipment—you can look wherever you want!"

Xiao Bei's gaze shifted between the two of them.

He gently rubbed the name of the amputee miner on the accident statistics table—Wang Dazhu, 42 years old, with three children at home.

"Fine."

Xiao Bei closed the file, "Tomorrow at nine in the morning, I will lead a team to the coal mine."

Town Mayor Ding Degui felt relieved:

"It's settled then! I'll have the office arrange vehicles and personnel to accompany you."

"No need."

Xiao Bei stood up, "I will choose my own people."

After the meeting, the cadres left the conference room in twos and threes.

Xiao Bei noticed General Manager Xiang Wenqiang pulling Town Mayor Ding Degui toward the stairwell, the two of them whispering together like conspiring foxes.

"Secretary Xiao."

A soft female voice sounded from behind him.

Xiao Bei turned around. Director Liu Yinyin was standing half a meter behind him, holding a stack of documents.

She was wearing a beige professional suit today, and her badge shone under the corridor lights.

"Director Liu, is there something you need?"

Xiao Bei took the documents, keeping a deliberate distance from her.

Director Liu Yinyin looked left and right, then lowered her voice:

"Can we speak in private?"

Xiao Bei took her into his office and locked the door behind him.

Director Liu Yinyin immediately walked to the window and pulled the blinds shut.

"Secretary Xiao, are you really going to the coal mine tomorrow?"

She turned around, her eyes flickering with unease.

"Why, is there a problem?"