53: Chapter 53 A Premeditated Crime

Sun Ning couldn't help but exclaim, "Good grief!" This was an attempt to cut short his political career.

They had even brought up a political issue like running a "one-man show."

There was no need to wonder; this charge was nine times out of ten planted on him by Li Jincai.

"Director Tang, that kind of talk is inappropriate. You can investigate such simple matters at your leisure."

"Please answer my question directly. We will conduct our own investigation in Mishui Township."

Sun Ning didn't believe these people hadn't already gone to investigate in Mishui Township.

Whatever people reported, they had to investigate; that was their duty.

However, since Director Tang Youde asked him to answer directly, he would do just that.

So, he explained solemnly: "I have only been in Mishui Township for a few months. I spent a month and a half conducting field research, a week running errands at higher departments, and the rest of the time working."

"I haven't made any personnel changes since I arrived in Mishui Township."

"Work in government departments is decided by a show of hands at government meetings, and there are meeting minutes for all of that."

"As for the division of labor among the township deputies, it is even more clearly defined."

"All signs indicate that the democratic life in Mishui Township is united, and there are no such baseless reports!"

Director Tang Youde was just following protocol by asking this question.

Most such reports were groundless, perhaps just someone venting their inner dissatisfaction.

After this question, Director Tang Youde took several photos out of his handbag.

The warm-up was over; the main event had finally arrived.

The photos Director Tang Youde took out were exactly those of Shang Rou and Zhao Xue going to the rental apartment together.

These photos looked like they had been taken secretly.

The three of them appeared to be acting very intimately.

Sun Ning pinched the corner of a photo and said indifferently: "The photos are quite good. Can't you find out that I'm unmarried?"

"Then how do you explain going home with two women?"

When Director Tang Youde asked this, he was obviously feeling a bit guilty.

This anonymous whistleblower really had no other tricks; to think they could come up with such a pathetic move.

He even felt a bit ashamed.

Originally, when their Eighth Division received the anonymous letter, they hadn't intended to pay any attention to it.

That was how the Discipline Inspection Commission always handled cases: prioritizing real-name reports, followed by anonymous reports with concrete evidence.

For anonymous reports without evidence, comrades from the Discipline Inspection Commission would just shelve them.

If they investigated every anonymous report, they wouldn't be able to keep up even if they worked twenty-four hours a day.

And the reason this anonymous report letter reached Director Tang Youde was surely because it had been carefully arranged.

With instructions from leadership, Director Tang Youde would naturally handle the matter with care.

Facing this groundless accusation, Sun Ning answered directly: "One is my girlfriend, and the other is her best friend. You can call to verify."

He thought for a moment and added: "Director Tang, if these are all the accusations, there's no need to ask; it's a waste of everyone's time."

Director Tang Youde thought about it and decisively abandoned those boring accusations.

He directly brought out the trump card they had carefully prepared.

He took several photocopies out of his handbag and handed them to Sun Ning.

"Comrade Sun Ning, you have only been working for a little over a year, and your family is not wealthy. Then explain this house and car!"

"I bought those with money I earned myself when I was in college."

"You? Earn money? Who do you think you are, a deity? You came from the countryside; how could you earn so much money in college? I think you're taking bribes. Confess honestly!"

Ma Gaoxiang was always like this, jumping around!

Thinking he had found a loophole, he wanted to put Sun Ning to death.

But his brainless behavior, besides adding to the joke, had no lethality at all.

Sun Ning still ignored Ma Gaoxiang and said to Director Tang Youde: "Director Tang, I told you your staff needs training. The slanderous remarks made just now were recorded, right? When I get out, make a copy for me. It might serve as evidence in court."

"You're talking nonsense! I didn't slander you."

"Director Tang, please have this comrade from the Discipline Inspection Commission produce evidence of my bribery. Otherwise, it is slander."

Sun Ning ignored Ma Gaoxiang once again. This time, Ma Gaoxiang didn't shout or scream; instead, he was very calm.

But no one noticed that his hands were clenched tightly.

"Comrade Sun Ning, our staff member was speaking without thinking; we are very sorry. It's just that earning so much money during college is indeed a bit outrageous, isn't it?"

"Go ahead, what other accusations are there? I'll explain them all at once."

Sun Ning really didn't want to waste any more breath on these people.

Director Tang Youde and his team hadn't investigated at all; they likely rushed straight to Mishui Township as soon as they received this anonymous letter.

If they had just checked his bank statements first, they would have known about his savings during college.

"Comrade Sun Ning, you just need to explain the source of the assets under your name."

"Director Tang Youde, you only need to check my bank statements now, and go to the internal website of the Discipline Inspection Commission to check; I have made a personal asset declaration. If nothing goes wrong, the declared amount is 95,279,527 yuan."

"Director Tang Youde, do you guess this ninety-plus million could buy the entire Wenxin Residential Compound?"

With that said, all four were shocked!

The first reaction of these four from the Discipline Inspection Commission was disbelief.

Even if they let Sun Ning embezzle in Mishui Township, he wouldn't be able to get that much money in ten years.

This person's assets were higher than the liquid capital of the richest person in Gongfan County, right?

No matter how much doubt he felt inside, Director Tang Youde had to maintain his professionalism as a Discipline Inspection Commission staff member.

He signaled to his three colleagues and then said to Sun Ning: "Comrade Sun Ning, please rest for a while; we need to verify this!"

"Fine. Once you have verified it, just give me a call, and I can come over myself."

Just as Sun Ning was about to get up and leave, Director Tang Youde hurriedly stopped him.

There was a hint of pleading in his tone: "Township Head Sun, please rest at the hotel. As soon as I finish verifying, I will send you back to Mishui Township immediately."

Sun Ning had a weakness: he was susceptible to soft tactics but not hard ones.

Director Tang Youde's tone had softened, so Sun Ning didn't insist anymore and gestured for them to leave the room.

At noon, staff from the Discipline Inspection Commission brought him a meal.

Just as Sun Ning had expected, they were treating him completely according to detention measures.

Sun Ning just considered it a vacation given to him by the Discipline Inspection Commission.

In the afternoon, while Sun Ning was still asleep, the door to the room was roughly pushed open and then slammed shut.

Sun Ning woke up with a start and stood up immediately.

He saw Pi Xiangyang, Ma Gaoxiang, and two Discipline Inspection Commission staff standing in the room.

"Township Head Sun, surprised? Shocked? Keep being arrogant!"

"Idiots."

Seeing that Sun Ning was still holding his head high even after arriving here, Pi Xiangyang felt hatred welling up inside him.

But before Pi Xiangyang could say anything, Ma Gaoxiang stepped forward.

"Sun Ning, I've tolerated you for a long time. What are you acting so tough for? Do you really think my Discipline Inspection Commission is a place where you can come and go as you please?"

"That trash Director Tang Youde spent half a day and couldn't find anything, but do you think I'm as useless as him?"

After saying this, Ma Gaoxiang took a report from the person behind him.

He said sinisterly: "Sun Ning, I advise you to sign the report, lest you suffer some physical pain."