96: Chapter 96: All Actors

The video showed a Jinhe County leadership meeting from a month ago.

Secretary Ma Wendong was harshly criticizing the delayed progress of a certain project, while County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu retorted point-for-point that it was caused by overly cumbersome approval procedures.

Their argument grew increasingly heated, until finally, Secretary Ma Wendong slammed his hand on the table and stood up, and County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

"Impressive."

Xiao Bei raised an eyebrow. "But don't you think their argument was a bit… formulaic? It was like they rehearsed it."

Team Leader Zhang Yining nodded. "Every time before an inspection by superiors or an important meeting, they 'perform' a conflict."

"According to my information, the very next day, they met secretly at a teahouse in the suburbs."

Xiao Bei walked to the window and looked toward the building across the street through the gaps in the blinds.

The curtains in Secretary Ma Wendong's office were drawn tight, but one could faintly see shadows moving.

"Any discoveries regarding that Development Zone project?"

"The surface-level paperwork is indeed perfect."

Team Leader Zhang Yining pulled up a set of data. "But the land acquisition compensation is 30% higher than the market price, and the three companies that won the bids have all been established for less than two years, and their registered addresses are all in the same office building."

Xiao Bei tapped on the desk, thoughtful. "Don't alert the enemy just yet."

"We will proceed with the work handover through normal procedures, while you continue to gather information, especially about that teahouse…"

A knock on the door interrupted him.

Team Leader Zhang Yining quickly put away her equipment and resumed the posture of an ordinary secretary to open the door.

Office Director Zhao Dehai stood outside the door, holding a stack of documents in his hands.

"County Magistrate Xiao, these are the recent work briefings you need to review."

"Secretary Ma says there is a Development Zone project advancement meeting tomorrow at ten in the morning, and he requests your attendance."

"Thank you, I will be there on time."

Xiao Bei took the documents, noticing that the label on the top one had been deliberately covered by Office Director Zhao Dehai's finger.

After Office Director Zhao Dehai left, Xiao Bei opened that document and discovered it was a joint protest letter from villagers regarding land acquisition in the Development Zone, dated three days ago, but it had already been stamped with 'Processed.'

"It seems our Secretary Ma isn't willing to share everything."

Xiao Bei sneered and handed the protest letter to Team Leader Zhang Yining.

After scanning it quickly, Team Leader Zhang Yining's eyes lit up. "This has the contact information for the villager representatives."

"Do you want me to go and visit them?"

"No rush."

Xiao Bei shook his head. "Let's see what act they plan to perform at tomorrow's project advancement meeting first."

The next morning, Xiao Bei arrived at the conference room half an hour early, only to find Secretary Ma Wendong and County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu already inside, whispering to each other.

Seeing him enter, the two immediately separated; County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu picked up her teacup for a sip, while Secretary Ma Wendong enthusiastically greeted Xiao Bei and beckoned him over.

"Comrade Xiao, you've come at just the right time! We are discussing the supporting school for the Development Zone."

Secretary Ma Wendong pointed to an area on the planning map marked as 'Educational Land.' "The province requires the integration of industry and city, so this school is crucial."

Xiao Bei noticed a small slip of paper pressed under County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's teacup, but when she stood up to pour water, the slip of paper was gone.

"The school planning is quite reasonable, but isn't the site location too close to the Chemical Industrial Park?"

Secretary Ma Wendong's smile stiffened for a moment, and County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu immediately chimed in, "Secretary Xiao hit the nail on the head."

"I also raised this issue, but the Planning Bureau said that this area's geological conditions are the most suitable for construction."

Other leadership team members arrived one after another, and the meeting officially began.

Secretary Ma Wendong first introduced the 'significant importance' of the Development Zone project, and then the heads of various departments reported in turn; the entire process was as smooth as a rehearsed performance.

Xiao Bei noticed that whenever a sensitive topic arose, County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu would interject at the right moment to guide the direction; and when a discussion threatened to reach a deadlock, Secretary Ma Wendong would use the name of 'democratic centralism' to make a final decision directly.

"Finally, could Deputy County Magistrate Xiao say a few words?"

Secretary Ma Wendong suddenly proposed at the end of the meeting.

Everyone's gaze turned to Xiao Bei.

He smiled slightly and closed his notebook. "I have just arrived in Jinhe and am still familiarizing myself with the situation."

"Today's meeting has been very beneficial for me, especially the overall control that Secretary Ma and County Magistrate Xuan have over the project; it is something I should learn well."

A flash of surprise crossed Secretary Ma Wendong's face, followed immediately by a satisfied nod.

County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu looked at Xiao Bei thoughtfully, her fingers tapping lightly on the table.

After the meeting, just as Xiao Bei returned to his office, Team Leader Zhang Yining hurried in after him.

"I found it. That teahouse is called 'Qingxin Ju,' and it is registered under the name of one of County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu's distant relatives."

"Every month, on some unpredictable Wednesday, Secretary Ma Wendong and several developers go there."

"Today is Wednesday."

Xiao Bei glanced at the calendar. "Find a way to get the teahouse's surveillance footage or the guest list."

Team Leader Zhang Yining pushed up her glasses. "It's already been arranged."

"I have a high school classmate in the county traffic police detachment; he can provide the traffic surveillance footage around the teahouse."

"However…"

She hesitated for a moment. "Leader Xiao, shouldn't we report this to Mayor Qin first?"

Xiao Bei walked to the window, watching County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu get into a black Audi and drive away downstairs.

"It's still too early."

"We don't have any evidence yet, so we should still prioritize routine work."

He turned to face Team Leader Zhang Yining. "Does your father know you are doing these things?"

Team Leader Zhang Yining's eyes flickered. "He doesn't know the specific details."

"But I have my own… channels and methods."

Xiao Bei nodded without pressing further.

He vaguely sensed that behind this seemingly quiet young girl, there might be a network of relationships more complex than he had imagined.

In the afternoon, Xiao Bei began visiting various departments as scheduled.

Every time he arrived at an office, he could feel the vigilance and wait-and-see attitude beneath the surface-level enthusiasm.

At the Finance Bureau, Director Zhou Dawei specifically showcased the newly developed financial management system, proudly introducing how it achieved 'full-process transparency.'

"This system is an innovation of our Jinhe County; even the Department of Finance has come to investigate it."

Director Zhou Dawei's chubby face was full of smiles, yet he kept using his body to block a certain area of the computer screen.

Xiao Bei pretended not to notice this small action and instead offered a few compliments.

When leaving, he deliberately 'forgot' his notebook, and when he returned five minutes later to retrieve it, he happened to see Director Zhou Dawei hurriedly closing a hidden spreadsheet.

"Sorry, Director Zhou, my memory is failing me despite being young."

Xiao Bei picked up the notebook with a smile, while the corner of his eye caught the words 'Special Funds' remaining on the screen.

In the evening, Team Leader Zhang Yining brought back unexpected news: "Secretary Ma Wendong isn't going to the teahouse tonight; instead, he is hosting a dinner at the County Government guesthouse for a division chief from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission."

"But County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu is still going to the teahouse as planned, and she is going alone."

"Interesting."

Xiao Bei pondered for a moment. "We'll make an appearance at the guesthouse, and then you find an opportunity to check out that teahouse."

The banquet hall of the County Government guesthouse was brightly lit.

When Secretary Ma Wendong saw Xiao Bei appear, he was visibly stunned for a moment, but he quickly recovered his smile and pulled him over to introduce him to the guest of honor:

"Division Chief Li, this is our newly arrived Deputy County Magistrate Xiao; he is young and promising!"

...