145: Chapter 145 Su Qinghan's Highlight Moment

Linjiang Municipal Government, Mayors Office.

Secretary Li Changgeng held the itinerary folder and reported the day's official arrangements in an orderly manner.

"2:00 PM, field research at the High-Tech Zone Semiconductor Industrial Park."

"4:00 PM, Municipal Party Committee Economic Scheduling Meeting..."

Just then, Mayor Su Changming's personal mobile phone rang inopportunely.

He picked up the phone and glanced at the screen.

After pressing the answer button, the voice from the other end of the receiver was extremely low and the speaking speed was incredibly fast.

As the call continued, Mayor Su Changming's usually warm face gradually lost its temperature, becoming as cold as water.

Secretary Li Changgeng was very perceptive.

Noticing the change in his boss's expression, he immediately closed the itinerary folder, stepped back lightly, and prepared to leave the office to avoid suspicion.

Mayor Su Changming did not speak, but merely raised his left hand and pressed his index finger down, signaling Secretary Li Changgeng not to move.

The call ended.

Mayor Su Changming placed the phone screen face down on the desktop, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.

"Changgeng."

"Executive Deputy Director Liu Qing has cracked under pressure inside and sold you out completely. He said that during the period when the special case team was investigating the Taiyao Gang, he had private discussions with you."

This sentence was nothing short of a thunderbolt from a clear sky.

Secretary Li Changgeng's brain buzzed and went blank instantly.

Having wandered in the center of power for many years, he knew all too well the consequences of being targeted by the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and being bitten to death without letting go.

"Boss, you must save me."

Secretary Li Changgeng hurriedly stepped forward two steps, his voice trembling, "I did everything according to your instructions when dealing with Executive Deputy Director Liu Qing, I..."

"Watch your tongue."

Mayor Su Changming interrupted him mercilessly, "The people from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection are already on their way to the Municipal Government building."

Cold sweat slid down Secretary Li Changgeng's temples.

In an instant, the four words "sacrifice the pawn to save the king" pierced into his mind.

"Changgeng, you have handled trivial matters well all these years you've been with me." Mayor Su Changming added a tone of appeasement, "Once you walk out that door, keep your mouth shut. As long as you don't implicate me when you get inside, I will definitely find a way to get you out."

"As for your woman outside, and that child, I will send someone to settle them properly, and I will never let them suffer any grievances."

Secretary Li Changgeng laughed dryly: "Boss, you are really joking. I am a loner, I don't even have a proper wife, where would I have a woman and a child."

Mayor Su Changming did not argue, but pulled a tablet computer from the drawer.

With a swipe of his fingertip, he brought up a photo and turned the screen to push it over.

In the picture, a young woman was holding a boy, standing in the courtyard of a private villa in the suburbs.

That was Cao Zhenzhen, a gift from the Taiyao Gang in his early years, and his illegitimate child.

Secretary Li Changgeng's dry laughter got stuck in his throat, and he could no longer make a sound.

"Cao Zhenzhen is a key member under the Taiyao Gang; you should know these details better than I do." Mayor Su Changming tapped his fingertip on the desktop, "Once the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection pierces this layer of window paper, your financial dealings with the gang will be enough to keep you in prison for life."

Secretary Li Changgeng stopped arguing and nodded numbly.

"When the people from the Discipline Inspection Commission come to take you away later, you must act this scene out well." Mayor Su Changming arranged the retreat methodically, "If you don't make a fuss and go with them obediently, those old hands at the Discipline Inspection Commission will immediately guess that someone tipped you off. This fire will then burn to me."

Mayor Su Changming stared at him.

"After you go downstairs, when they take you, you must beg for mercy and claim you were wronged in front of everyone. You must make the act convincing, for the people in the courtyard to see, and also for the Municipal Party Committee."

"I will clean up the rest of the mess. I will also have someone carefully look after your elderly parents. Understand?"

"I understand, Boss." Secretary Li Changgeng's voice was dry.

"Alright. Follow the original schedule, go downstairs, and go for the research." Mayor Su Changming stood up and put on his navy blue overcoat.

In the courtyard of the Municipal Government, cold wind rolled the fallen leaves.

The black Audi car was already parked under the steps.

Seeing the mayor appear, the driver stepped forward quickly to open the back door.

Mayor Su Changming and Secretary Li Changgeng sat down one after the other.

The vehicle had just started, and the tires had not yet turned half a circle.

Two white cars cut in from the side without warning, blocking the Audi's path tightly.

The car doors slammed open, and four inspection personnel in black uniforms got out of the cars with swift movements.

In the courtyard, the government officials who were originally coming and going stopped their steps one after another, watching from a distance.

The Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection directly blocking the mayor's car in the Municipal Government courtyard—this kind of behavior was unheard of since the founding of Linjiang City.

Mayor Su Changming sat calmly in the back row, looking at the battle outside through the dark car window with cold eyes.

For the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to be so unscrupulous, there must be the approval of the new Municipal Party Committee Secretary Lin Weimin behind it, and perhaps even the Supervision Team's Team Leader Qiu Rui fueling the fire.

Mayor Su Changming pressed down the car window glass, his gaze locked on the approaching person.

The leader was Han Chang, Director of the First Division of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.

And standing side by side with Han Chang was Su Qinghan.

Su Qinghan held the red-headed document and walked to the car window, her expression strictly professional.

"Sorry to disturb you, Mayor Su." Su Qinghan held up the detention notice in her hand, "Your secretary, Secretary Li Changgeng, is suspected of serious disciplinary violations, and we need to take him back for investigation."

Mayor Su Changming showed anger and turned to look at the passenger seat.

"Changgeng, what is going on?"

Secretary Li Changgeng, well-versed in the script, immediately turned around and wailed: "Mayor! I was wronged! You know my character; I absolutely did not engage in those illegal and criminal acts. You must uphold justice for me, Mayor!"

This tearful performance was vivid and lifelike.

Mayor Su Changming ignored the plea for help and spat out two words coldly: "Get out of the car."

Secretary Li Changgeng pushed open the car door.

His legs felt like they were filled with lead. As soon as he stepped out of the carriage, his arms were clamped by two inspection personnel from left and right.

Mayor Su Changming leaned back in his chair, his gaze not falling on Secretary Li Changgeng, but looking straight at Su Qinghan.

She was slim and upright, wearing that black Discipline Inspection Commission uniform, revealing a coldness that kept people at a distance.

"Qinghan." Mayor Su Changming's tone was not high, "I didn't expect that you would look so good in this uniform of the Discipline Inspection Commission."

"These features and demeanor are very much like your late mother."

Once these words were said, the expressions of Han Chang and the two staff members standing on the side changed slightly.

In the government courtyard, Mayor Su Changming openly pointed out the father-daughter relationship in front of the subordinates of the Discipline Inspection Commission—this was a blatant scheme.

According to the iron rules of the Discipline Inspection Commission, immediate family members must recuse themselves.

He intended to dismantle the legitimacy of this arrest from a procedural perspective, and even more so to plant a thorn in the hearts of others: A daughter investigating her father's secretary—what kind of rule is this?

Su Qinghan's face was like a calm lake, without a ripple.

The words of Zhu Wenhao before he left for Qingjiang County, "Use both kingly and tyrannical ways, do not leave any retreat," had already forged armor for her.

In this game of power, concession would only lead to more unscrupulous slaughter.

"Mayor Su."

"The person standing before you now is Su Qinghan, a staff member of the Third Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office of the Linjiang Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. Not your daughter."

She pushed the detention order forward.

"There is no private affection before Party discipline. Please do not obstruct our official duties."

Mayor Su Changming snorted coldly, the pressure of a superior no longer restrained.

"Secretary Li Changgeng is my full-time secretary. As mayor, I naturally have the right to understand what he did wrong. You are barging around the Municipal Government courtyard with just this piece of paper; do you have any organizational discipline in your eyes?"

Mayor Su Changming took his mobile phone out of his pocket.

"I will call Secretary Li Li of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection now. I will ask her how this inspection team is being led."

Before the words fell, the back door of the Jetta car behind was pushed open.

A pair of black leather shoes stepped firmly on the asphalt road.

Secretary Li Li of the Linjiang Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, draped in an overcoat, walked up with big strides, passed Han Chang directly, and stood behind Su Qinghan.

"Mayor Su, no need to make that call. I am right here."

Secretary Li Li met Mayor Su Changming's gaze, not giving an inch.

"If you want to know anything, you can ask me directly."

Secretary Li Li's toughness was definitely not without source. Secretary Lin Weimin of the Municipal Party Committee wanted to establish his authority, and the Provincial Party Committee's Supervision Team wanted results. Under the overall situation of fighting against organized crime, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection naturally became the sharpest knife.

"Secretary Li, personally leading the team, quite a grand display." Mayor Su Changming took back his phone, "I would like to ask, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection taking someone away without even saying hello, directly blocking my car. Does this comply with the rules?"

"Comrade Su Qinghan is quite right, please do not obstruct our handling of the case." Secretary Li Li rejected him mercilessly.

Mayor Su Changming raised the corner of his eye, "This style of blocking cars and taking people is too improper. I have the right to report your brutal behavior today to Secretary Lin Weimin, or even the Provincial Party Committee."

"Please feel free to do so."

Secretary Li Li was straightforward and didn't buy this at all.

She pointed to Secretary Li Changgeng, who was being clamped.

"Secretary Li Changgeng is a section-level cadre. The Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection issuing a detention order for him is in accordance with regulations and does not require approval from the main leaders of the Municipal Party Committee."

Secretary Li Li waved her hand and gave the final order.

"Take him away."

Two inspection personnel escorted the pale-faced Secretary Li Changgeng and shoved him into the back seat of the car rudely.

Han Chang and Su Qinghan also did not linger, turned around, and boarded the car.

The car doors closed one after another.

The two Jetta cars turned around on the spot, drove out of the Municipal Government courtyard, and disappeared at the end of the long street.

Mayor Su Changming sat in the Audi car without making any further attempt to block them.

He watched the departing car shadows quietly, his fingers tapping slowly on his knees.

In the end, it turned into a clenched fist.