158: Chapter 158 County Magistrate, Can We Talk?

In the deep, dimly lit narrow alley of the old district in Qingjiang County at dusk.

The weathered storefront of "Old Tan's Home Cooking" looked unremarkable, yet it was the preferred choice for certain individuals within the system to avoid prying eyes.

Wang Ping, Deputy Director of the County Government Office, paced back and forth at the entrance with his hands tucked into his sleeves, checking his watch.

6:50 PM.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan of Qingjiang County had already arrived at the private room on the second floor.

Wang Ping knew clearly that anyone capable of making a County Mayor arrive early to wait was certainly no ordinary person.

At the mouth of the alley, two beams of high-beam headlights swept across.

A black Lavida sedan emerged from the darkness, moving at a slow pace.

Through the dim glow of the streetlights, Wang Ping caught a glimpse of the blue license plate from Linjiang City.

This was the very car he had been waiting for.

Just as Wang Ping took half a step forward to welcome them, the Lavida did not slow down, driving straight past the entrance of Old Tan's Home Cooking and turning into a side road ahead.

Did they find the wrong place?

Wang Ping reached into his coat pocket and gripped his phone, weighing whether he should make a call to remind them.

But if he called, it might seem unprofessional.

Just as he was feeling anxious.

At the corner of the alley, a tall, upright figure walked slowly against the light.

It was none other than Zhu Wenhao of Heishi Town.

Wang Ping hurried forward to greet him: "Zhu Wenhao, you've had a long journey. County Mayor Gu Mingchuan has already arrived and is waiting for you upstairs."

Zhu Wenhao reached out and gave his hand a light shake.

"I apologize for keeping County Mayor Gu Mingchuan waiting. This license plate is a bit conspicuous, so I parked on the next street and was delayed a few minutes walking over."

Wang Ping turned to lead the way, but his gaze couldn't help but drift past Zhu Wenhao's shoulder, searching the dark alley behind him.

"Zhu Wenhao, what about Secretary Gao Ming from the Municipal Party Committee?"

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's willingness to lower himself and come here tonight was likely for the sake of Secretary Zhu Tianhe's chief secretary, Secretary Gao Ming.

"Secretary Gao Ming had an urgent matter come up and couldn't get away. He won't be coming tonight," Zhu Wenhao said as he climbed the stairs.

Wang Ping paused for a moment, a flash of disappointment in his eyes, but he forced a smile and led him to the innermost private room on the second floor.

Pushing open the solid wood door.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan sat in the seat of honor, toying with a purple clay teapot in his hand.

Hearing the commotion, he looked up.

Zhu Wenhao stepped over the threshold and took the initiative to extend his hand: "County Mayor Gu Mingchuan, the traffic was heavy, sorry to keep you waiting."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan stood up and shook hands with Zhu Wenhao with one hand: "Zhu Wenhao, you're too polite. Please, sit down."

While speaking polite pleasantries, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's gaze drifted past Zhu Wenhao, sweeping toward the open door.

It was empty.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan withdrew his gaze, the warmth in his eyes cooling slightly.

Suppressing his doubts, he gestured to Wang Ping, who was standing by the door: "Everyone is here, bring the food."

Wang Ping retreated and closed the door tightly.

Several local specialty dishes of Qingjiang County were served; there were no extravagant meat dishes, focusing instead on authentic flavors.

The two casually picked at their food; County Mayor Gu Mingchuan didn't mention business, chatting only about the mineral resources and local customs of Heishi Town.

The art of Tai Chi pushing hands has always been the ultimate trick for veteran officials to test the waters.

If you don't show your cards, he will never commit to anything.

Zhu Wenhao put down his chopsticks and wiped his hands with a damp towel.

"County Mayor Gu Mingchuan, I am new here. The past two days in Heishi Town haven't been peaceful; a case involving suspected corruption has emerged."

"Village Secretary Zhang Dahai of Heishui Village has been apprehended by the Town Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Police Station. This man embezzled compensation funds, and the web of interests behind him even reaches certain leaders in the Town Party Committee."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan picked up his teacup. "Anti-corruption and clean governance are good things. Zhu Wenhao's decisive actions are commendable."

A load of empty bureaucratic talk.

"However," Zhu Wenhao shifted the topic, "this afternoon, Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection personally called. He demanded that our Heishi Town transfer Village Secretary Zhang Dahai and the entire case file to the county."

This was the core reason for Zhu Wenhao's dinner invitation tonight.

When the Discipline Inspection Commission handles a case, once the person is out of your control, things become unpredictable.

After listening, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan set his teacup on the table.

"Zhu Wenhao," County Mayor Gu Mingchuan leaned back in his chair.

"The County Commission for Discipline Inspection has its own overall considerations, and case handling procedures have their own rules. For a Village Secretary like Village Secretary Zhang Dahai to stir up such a storm in the town, the county's demand to handle it at a higher level is also to prevent local investigations from being incomplete or inaccurate."

He looked at Zhu Wenhao, his tone revealing a condescending attitude of dismissing a subordinate.

"If you have any objections to the decision of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, you are welcome to write a report and reflect it to Secretary Lu of the County Party Committee in person. As County Mayor, it is not appropriate for me to interfere too much in matters of the Discipline Inspection Commission."

A standard pass-the-buck move, executed cleanly and efficiently.

Zhu Wenhao sat calmly in his chair, his eyes clear.

He saw through this act of playing dumb perfectly.

This afternoon, he had specifically called Secretary Gao Ming, asking him to arrange the setup and invite County Mayor Gu Mingchuan out for a casual meal.

The intention was to use Secretary Gao Ming's status to give County Mayor Gu Mingchuan some reassurance.

However, Secretary Gao Ming hadn't been explicit on the phone, only saying he was organizing a gathering on behalf of someone else.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan gave full face to the Municipal Party Committee's chief secretary and declined other engagements to attend.

But when he arrived, the main guest hadn't come; only a Town Deputy Secretary had.

In County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's eyes, Zhu Wenhao was just using someone else's influence to bolster his own position.

A green kid relying on his elders' protection to pad his resume, acting like a fox borrowing a tiger's might to bring out the Municipal Party Committee's chief secretary for a meal, when in reality, he couldn't command Secretary Gao Ming at all.

Since your cards are as thin as paper, why should a County Mayor go to the County Party Committee and fight head-on for your sake?

Investment is about equivalent exchange.

If you aren't worthy, this conversation cannot continue.

The atmosphere in the private room dropped to freezing point.

Zhu Wenhao sighed softly in his heart.

One should never relinquish the handle of power to others.

Sometimes, if you act too reserved, those below you will pretend to be ignorant.

Since County Mayor Gu Mingchuan didn't want to poke through this window paper, he would just smash it with a hammer.

Zhu Wenhao took out his phone from his pocket.

In front of County Mayor Gu Mingchuan, he unlocked it and dialed.

He pressed the speakerphone button heavily with his thumb.

"Beep—beep—"

The connection tone sounded particularly jarring in the quiet private room.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's brows furrowed tightly, deep furrows forming on his forehead.

The rules of the Communist Party were strict; for a subordinate to make a speakerphone call in front of a superior without permission was extremely offensive and rude.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's hand had even reached the teacup on the corner of the table, ready to find an excuse to call Wang Ping in to pay the bill and leave.

He, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan, would not play along with this farce.

Just as County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's patience was exhausted.

With a "click," the call connected.

"Zhu Wenhao."

Secretary Gao Ming's voice came through the speaker.

"The boss is working overtime. There was an impromptu meeting tonight, and I really couldn't get away. I even snuck out of the meeting to answer your call. What's up, is there an emergency?"

Within the system in Linjiang City, the only person Secretary Gao Ming would respectfully call "Boss" was Secretary Zhu Tianhe of the Municipal Party Committee!

And Secretary Gao Ming addressed Zhu Wenhao as "Zhu Wenhao," with extreme familiarity, completely devoid of any distance between superior and subordinate.

Zhu Wenhao looked steadily at County Mayor Gu Mingchuan, whose expression had suddenly changed.

"Brother Ming, this is where you're wrong," Zhu Wenhao said in a casual tone. "Since you were held up and couldn't come to Qingjiang, why didn't you give County Mayor Gu Mingchuan a heads-up? The County Mayor has been sitting here, and he's not too happy about it right now."

On the other end of the line, Secretary Gao Ming slapped his forehead.

"Oh, Zhu Wenhao, look at my brain!" Secretary Gao Ming was also a sharp person and instantly grasped the underlying edge in his words.

"Everything piled up today; it really was my oversight. I forgot to greet County Mayor Gu Mingchuan."

Secretary Gao Ming changed his tone.

"What, did County Mayor Gu Mingchuan of Qingjiang give you a cold shoulder?"

In the private room, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's hand holding the teacup trembled violently, and a few drops of hot tea splashed onto the back of his hand.

"How about this," Secretary Gao Ming continued to escalate on the phone. "I see the boss's meeting will be over in half an hour. I'll report it to the boss in a moment. Let him call County Mayor Gu Mingchuan personally to ask about the situation."

"Such great official authority; I personally made the call, and he still dares to leave you hanging."

The last sentence revealed murderous intent.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan felt his throat tighten, his breathing pausing for a beat.

Having the Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee call personally to inquire? If that burden fell on him, his political career as a County Mayor with no background would effectively be over.

"No need to trouble Secretary Zhu Tianhe," Zhu Wenhao said, placing his phone on the table. "I am just reasoning with County Mayor Gu Mingchuan right now."

"It's fine, I'll call him right now!" Secretary Gao Ming said decisively and hung up directly.

The dial tone echoed in the air.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan just wanted to open his mouth to make amends.

"Buzz—buzz—"

The phone he had placed on the table began to vibrate frantically.

The number flashing on the screen was none other than Secretary Gao Ming's from the Municipal Party Committee Office.

This string of digits, which County Mayor Gu Mingchuan usually couldn't find a way to curry favor with, now felt like a death warrant.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan sprang up from his chair.

"Zhu Wenhao... No, Secretary Zhu Wenhao, please sit for a moment. I need to take an urgent call."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan couldn't even speak clearly, grabbed his phone, opened the private room door in a somewhat disheveled manner, and scrambled into the corridor outside as if fleeing.

The private room returned to dead silence.

Zhu Wenhao sat calmly in his original seat, his expression as still as an ancient well.

Everyone has the instinct to seek advantages and avoid harm. If you don't demonstrate overwhelming force, they will constantly test your bottom line at the edge of the rules.

A ruler's management of subordinates is never based on gentle breezes and light rain, but on thunderous power.

About five or six minutes passed.

The solid wood door was gently pushed open.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan re-entered the private room.

At this moment, the arrogance and perfunctoriness on his face had completely vanished.

He sat back in his seat and even took the initiative to pick up the teapot and refill Zhu Wenhao's empty cup with hot water.

"Zhu Wenhao," County Mayor Gu Mingchuan had even changed how he addressed him, no longer wearing a bureaucratic face. "Secretary Gao Ming gave me a good scolding on the phone just now. This matter was indeed my oversight, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan. You are on the front lines in the town; naturally, you see things more clearly than we do at the county level."

Zhu Wenhao did not touch the freshly refilled tea.

He extended his index finger and tapped slowly, one beat at a time, on the coarse porcelain tabletop.

Tap.

Tap.

This rhythm, which felt like it was tapping on his heart, made the cold sweat on County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's forehead even denser.

Zhu Wenhao raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the curling tea mist and landing on County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's face.

"County Mayor Gu Mingchuan."

"Can we talk now?"