113: Chapter 113 Su Changming's backup plan, Zhu Wenhao's response

Zhu Wenhao did not say much in the face of the trump card laid out by Mayor Su Changming.

He picked up the tea on the table and downed it in one gulp.

"Many thanks for Mayor Su Changming's hospitality."

Zhu Wenhao straightened his body, did not pause for a moment, and strode outward.

After exiting the Private Room A on the second floor, he followed the wooden staircase down to the first-floor lobby.

Secretary Li Changgeng was still waiting at the entrance; seeing Zhu Wenhao appear, he hurried forward to meet him.

"Zhu Wenhao, Mayor Su Changming specifically instructed me to arrange a car to take you back."

"No need, I won't trouble you." Zhu Wenhao refused decisively.

He pulled open the driver's side door of the Audi and sat inside.

The engine roared, and the vehicle merged smoothly into the night of Linjiang City.

Secretary Li Changgeng stood in the night wind, watching the red taillights disappear around the corner of the street.

He pulled his overcoat tighter, turned around, and stepped up the stairs to return to the second floor.

He pushed open the door to Private Room A.

Secretary Li Changgeng reported in a low voice: "Boss, Zhu Wenhao has left."

After finishing his report, he prepared to withdraw.

"Changgeng, don't be in such a hurry to leave." Mayor Su Changming leaned back in the main seat. "Let's sit down and chat."

Secretary Li Changgeng complied and sat in the seat below.

Mayor Su Changming did not look at him, but instead picked up the landline on the table and skillfully dialed a string of numbers.

"Come over here for a moment."

He hung up the call.

Secretary Li Changgeng stood up and refilled Mayor Su Changming's cup with hot water.

"Changgeng, you have been with me for quite some time." Mayor Su Changming's tone was calm.

Secretary Li Changgeng responded: "I will always keep the kindness of the boss's promotion in mind."

"Come to think of it, you have worked hard for me all these years. I have always been very reassured by the things I have entrusted to you." Mayor Su Changming tapped his fingers on the edge of the table. "Prepare yourself; I intend to send you down to the grassroots level for training in the near future."

For a secretary who has served leaders for many years, being sent down to the grassroots to serve as a chief official is a great opportunity.

Many chief secretaries spend their years waiting alongside their superiors, only to be sent back to the confidential office to sit on the bench, suffering cold shoulders and exclusion once their superior is transferred.

Secretary Li Changgeng replied repeatedly: "Thank you for your cultivation, Boss!"

The wooden door was pushed open.

Wang Juan walked into the private room, went straight to the table, took a card out of her bag, and pushed it in front of Secretary Li Changgeng.

"Changgeng, take this card," Mayor Su Changming said. "You can get a discount when you come here to eat in the future. Go back and prepare the materials; someone will go to you for the handover."

Secretary Li Changgeng received the card with both hands, thanked him again, and tactfully exited the private room.

Once the door was closed, Mayor Su Changming restrained his demeanor. "How is the matter regarding Secretary Li Changgeng going?"

Wang Juan sat down on the side.

"Everything has been arranged properly. Three years ago, he found a lover named Cao Zhenzhen. This woman is a member of the Taiyao Gang, and their child has also been under our strict supervision."

Mayor Su Changming nodded. "The matter regarding Wang Lili has already been exposed. We underestimated that kid, Zhu Wenhao. Tell Wang Lili to go outside to avoid the limelight; leave now, and don't take anything. When the situation becomes clear in the future, there will be a chance to come back."

Wang Juan hesitated. "If Wang Lili leaves, the Taiyao Gang will have no one in charge."

Back then, Wang Juan washed her hands of the past, transferred all the forces under her control into the shell of the Taiyao Gang, and supported her younger sister, Wang Lili, to become the leader.

"It is just an empty shell." Mayor Su Changming did not care at all. "The people are still there, and a new team can be formed at any time. It is just a tool; if it breaks, just replace it."

"However, keep a close watch on Secretary Li Changgeng in secret."

Wang Juan was quite puzzled. "Didn't you promise him a future and pacify him?"

"That kid, Zhu Wenhao, must not be underestimated." Mayor Su Changming lowered his voice. "If we really can't cover the bottom line in the end, we can only throw Secretary Li Changgeng out to overcome the difficulty and let him take the fall."

"Who told that kid, Secretary Li Changgeng, to overestimate himself and set his sights on Xiaoxiao. He didn't weigh his own worth; my son-in-law is not something that just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can be. I still have great use for the pawn that is Xiaoxiao."

"As for our son, have you arranged everything on your side?"

"He is in the Linjiang City Orphanage and is already fifteen years old this year." Wang Juan replied softly. "Every once in a while, I will hide my identity and go to see him once."

"Take it slow." Mayor Su Changming drank the tea. "The time is not yet ripe; we must not act rashly."

The night was deep.

Zhu Wenhao drove the vehicle into the Municipal Party Committee residential compound and parked steadily in front of Villa No. 4.

He pushed open the security door.

The living room was brightly lit.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe and Li Juan sat at opposite ends of the sofa.

Seeing Zhu Wenhao enter, Secretary Zhu Tianhe asked first: "Zhu Wenhao, you called me back in such a hurry, what exactly happened? I was about to arrive at the municipal guesthouse."

Zhu Wenhao did not pick up the tea on the table, his gaze wandering back and forth on his father's face.

"Father, I am asking you something now; you must answer me truthfully, and you cannot have the slightest concealment."

Seeing his demeanor, Li Juan said, "Has some difficulty occurred? Let's consult together. You should know your father; he might hide things from outsiders, but he always protects his own family. When you were a playboy making trouble in your early years, which time was it not your father who lowered his face to clean up your mess?"

Zhu Wenhao was unmoved. "Mayor Su Changming had a meal with me today. During the meal, he pointed out an old case."

"The urban investment project in the new southern city district, was that led by you back then?" Zhu Wenhao threw out the question. "Is there such a thing?"

Secretary Zhu Tianhe shook his head and denied it: "That was a project led by Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou, but he was later investigated and fell from power."

"Regarding the approval and funding of that project, was there your signature?" Zhu Wenhao pressed step by step.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe answered calmly: "There was my signature. Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou had already signed it; as the executive, how could I hold it up and not sign? If I didn't sign, the finance department wouldn't release the funds."

Li Juan had been influenced by the compound for many years; upon hearing this, her thoughts turned extremely fast.

She exclaimed: "Zhu Wenhao! You mean... that project has exploded? The account book left behind by Former Zheng Jianguo is the corruption record for this urban investment project?"

"Yes. Mother, that is exactly what happened."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe was anxious. "What is all this nonsense you are talking about! I am clean in this project; I didn't take a single cent!"

Li Juan was speechless. She turned to look at Zhu Wenhao. "Zhu Wenhao, you come and explain it clearly to your father."

"Father, you indeed did not take money. However, this project was under your jurisdiction, and it was approved by your own hand."

"The director of the Development and Reform Commission below you had an accident, and the mayor also had an accident. Tell me, do you have a problem?"

Secretary Zhu Tianhe opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

"You cannot escape the charge of negligence. If it is pursued, you must accept suspension for investigation; this is the bargaining chip Mayor Su Changming used to talk to me. He wants our two families to work together and land safely."

Li Juan panicked. She looked at Zhu Wenhao. "Zhu Wenhao, what are your thoughts now? Could it be that we really cooperate with Mayor Su Changming for once and get through the difficulty in front of us first?"

"Definitely not." Zhu Wenhao rejected it flatly. "How is this any different from seeking skin from a tiger?"

"Between two evils, choose the lesser; long-term pain is worse than short-term pain."

"Father." Zhu Wenhao stood up. "You must go and write a detailed statement of the situation immediately. Write out the background of the signature back then, the pressure from Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou, and your own lack of knowledge clearly."

"Submit this statement, along with the photos of the account book in Su Qinghan's mobile phone, to the desk of Team Leader Qiu Rui of the Inspection Team."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe hesitated; this was equivalent to actively sticking his neck under the guillotine of the Discipline Inspection Commission.

"Do we really have to do this?"

"The trend is irresistible; there is no room for hesitation. Only by striking first can we gain the initiative." Zhu Wenhao's decision was indisputable. "If you confess voluntarily, it is called a candid explanation; it is better than being sought out later."

Zhu Wenhao turned to look at Li Juan.

"Mother, you must call your father overnight. Explain the whole story from beginning to end."

"Tomorrow morning, Father should arrange his work and go directly to the provincial capital to report to the leaders of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and explain the situation."

Li Juan looked troubled. "It is so late, your grandfather is already resting; I am afraid it is not good to disturb him."

"At this critical moment." Zhu Wenhao's tone was cold and unyielding. "Compared to losing everything in the future, what is disturbing his sleep? If you don't make a decision when you should, you will suffer from the chaos later."

He turned back and made a gesture of invitation to Secretary Zhu Tianhe.

"Father. Let's go, I will go to the study with you; I will dictate, and you will write."

"This statement must be carefully worded; not a single word can be wrong."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe sighed heavily and stood up from the sofa.

He pulled out a chair and sat down; the tip of his fountain pen hovered over the manuscript paper, but it did not fall for a long time.

Zhu Wenhao stood by the window with his hands behind his back, watching the swaying tree shadows outside. He dictated while Secretary Zhu Tianhe wrote, flowing with hundreds of words.

After a while, Secretary Zhu Tianhe put down his pen. He pressed the seal into the red ink paste and stamped it heavily.