75: Chapter 75 Taking Control

A voice suddenly broke the silence; it was Deputy Secretary Xing Guoqiang!

He straightened his back, his voice firm, "The Development Zone project is a key project for the county and is of great significance to the industrial transformation of Bishi Town. As for the mass work, we can increase our publicity efforts and operate openly and transparently."

Town Mayor Sun Jiaming's expression changed abruptly, a flash of disbelief in his eyes:

"Deputy Secretary Xing, what do you mean by this?"

"My meaning is very clear."

Deputy Secretary Xing Guoqiang did not back down, "As Party cadres, we should prioritize the overall situation of development rather than sticking to outdated ways."

Town Mayor Sun Jiaming slammed the table and stood up:

"Deputy Secretary Xing Guoqiang! You—"

Screech~

At this moment, the door to the conference room was suddenly pushed open. Three men in dark suits walked in, and the leader flashed his credentials:

"We are from the County Commission for Discipline Inspection. Comrade Town Mayor Sun Jiaming, please come with us to assist with the investigation."

The conference room fell into a deathly silence, where even the sound of breathing became audible.

Town Mayor Sun Jiaming's face turned from pale to green, then from green to red. He jerked away from the Discipline Inspection Commission staff's grip:

"What right do you have to arrest me? I want to make a call! I want to see County Magistrate Zhao!"

The lead Discipline Inspection Commission cadre remained expressionless:

"Comrade Town Mayor Sun Jiaming, please cooperate with the organization's investigation."

He turned to the Party committee members present, "Sorry to interrupt your meeting. We are just following routine procedure; please continue."

Town Mayor Sun Jiaming was dragged out by two staff members. Reaching the doorway, he suddenly turned back, a look of venomous spite in his eyes:

"Xiao Bei! You just wait! This isn't over!"

His gaze swept over Deputy Secretary Xing Guoqiang, "And you, traitor!"

The door slammed shut with a "bang." It was as if a bomb had been dropped in the conference room; everyone remained frozen in place.

Xiao Bei noticed that the foreheads of several people who were usually close to Town Mayor Sun Jiaming were already beaded with cold sweat.

"Comrades."

Xiao Bei cleared his throat, his voice steady, "Let us continue the meeting."

Organization Committee Member Li Jun was the first to snap out of it. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his voice trembling slightly:

"Secretary, Xiao Bei, I fully support the Development Zone project! This project benefits the town and the people; it should have been pushed forward long ago!"

The other committee members woke up as if from a dream and expressed their stance one after another:

"Yes, yes, Town Mayor Sun... oh no, Comrade Town Mayor Sun Jiaming was too conservative!"

"We can divide the mass work among ourselves; we guarantee there won't be any problems!"

"I suggest we establish a special working group, with Xiao Bei personally taking the lead!"

Xiao Bei looked at these faces that had been so obsequious to Town Mayor Sun Jiaming just a short while ago and sneered inwardly. The officialdom is like a play, relying entirely on acting. He tapped the table:

"Very well. Since everyone is in agreement, the Development Zone project is officially approved. Meeting adjourned."

Everyone filed out in a hurry, as if the conference room had suddenly become a plague zone.

Only Deputy Secretary Xing Guoqiang remained. After the last person left, he closed the door, let out a long sigh, and his legs went weak, almost causing him to collapse to the floor.

"Xiao Bei, we took the right step this time."

Deputy Secretary Xing Guoqiang's voice was trembling slightly, but his eyes shone with excitement, "Town Mayor Sun Jiaming is finished now!"

Xiao Bei walked to the window and watched the Discipline Inspection Commission's car zoom away below, kicking up a cloud of dust:

"This is only the beginning. That person in the County Government won't just let it go."

Meanwhile, in the County Party Committee building, Secretary Qi Zhengming stood by the window, holding a phone he had just hung up.

Secretary Yang Zhigang, the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary, pushed the door open and entered:

"Secretary Qi Zhengming, Town Mayor Sun Jiaming has been taken into custody."

"What has he confessed?"

Secretary Qi Zhengming asked without turning his head.

"He was stubborn at first, but wilted once he saw the evidence."

Secretary Yang Zhigang lowered his voice, "He admitted to accepting dividends from the mining site but insisted it was an 'investment promotion reward.' More importantly, he implied that this money... was not taken by him alone."

Secretary Qi Zhengming turned around, a sharp glint in his eyes:

"The County Magistrate?"

Secretary Yang Zhigang nodded:

"Although there is no direct evidence, Town Mayor Sun Jiaming said a sum of money is sent to the county through special channels every year."

"Investigate! Investigate to the end!"

Secretary Qi Zhengming slammed the table, "The problems in Bishi Town are not isolated cases; they are part of a web. Mining sites, land, projects... how many state-owned assets have they devoured over the years?

Recently, so many officials have been investigated and dealt with in Bishi Town, yet I didn't expect that the pests hadn't been completely cleared out. One can imagine that this tree has rotted to the roots; it must be uprooted!"

Secretary Yang Zhigang hesitated:

"Secretary Qi Zhengming, County Head Xiahou Yang has connections in the city. If we act rashly..."

"That is why we must be fast, accurate, and ruthless!"

Secretary Qi Zhengming interrupted him, "You lead the team yourself, select reliable personnel, and conduct a secret investigation. Start with the mining site owner, General Manager Xiang Wenqiang; he is the key figure."

"Understood."

Secretary Yang Zhigang was about to leave when he was called back.

"Wait."

Secretary Qi Zhengming pondered, "What do you think... of Comrade Xiao Bei?"

"Young and promising, with strong principles."

Secretary Yang Zhigang evaluated, "It's just... he's too straightforward and easily offends people."

Secretary Qi Zhengming revealed a hint of a smile:

"Good. Let him continue working in Bishi Town. Notify the Organization Department that Xiao Bei will temporarily take full charge of the Bishi Town Party Committee and the Town Government's work."

Secretary Yang Zhigang received his orders and left. Secretary Qi Zhengming sat back in his chair and dialed a number in the city:

"Old leader, there is something I need to report to you..."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the County Government building, the atmosphere in County Head Xiahou Yang's office was heavy.

As soon as his secretary finished reporting the news that Town Mayor Sun Jiaming had been taken away, County Head Xiahou Yang smashed his teacup.

"Trash! I told him to restrain himself long ago!"

County Head Xiahou Yang's face was livid as he paced back and forth in his office, "Secretary Qi Zhengming is coming for me this time!"

The secretary asked cautiously:

"County Head, should we contact the city..."

"No rush."

County Head Xiahou Yang raised his hand to stop him, "First, find out how much evidence they have."

...

Spring came exceptionally early to Bishi Town.

Only in early March, the magnolias in the Town Government courtyard were already blooming enthusiastically, their pure white flowers shining brightly in the sun, as if celebrating the downfall of Town Mayor Sun Jiaming.

Xiao Bei stood in front of his office window, holding a cup of hot tea, watching the busy staff outside.

Since Town Mayor Sun Jiaming was taken away by the County Commission for Discipline Inspection three days ago, the atmosphere in all of Bishi Town had changed.

Those cadres who were once obsequious to Town Mayor Sun Jiaming now stood straight when they saw him and spoke in loud, clear voices when reporting work, fearing they would be categorized as "remnants of Town Mayor Sun Jiaming's faction."

"Xiao Bei, this is the latest revised draft of the Development Zone plan."

Secretary He Mingxuan, who had just been promoted to Director of the Party Committee Office, knocked gently and entered, placing a stack of documents on the table, "According to your requirements, we have added an employment training plan for the farmers who lost their land."

Xiao Bei nodded and opened the document. The paper still held the residual warmth from the printer. The piece of land outlined in red on the planning map carried all his political ambitions.

When former Party Secretary Wu Jingheng and the likes of Town Mayor Ding Degui were in office, this project had been shelved for two whole years. But now, it would become the starting point for Bishi Town's economic take-off and would also become the most brilliant political achievement in his, Xiao Bei's, career.

"Very good. Notify everyone that there will be an enlarged Party committee meeting at two o'clock this afternoon. All department heads must attend."

...