172: Chapter 172 Sudden Changes in Jiangnan Province

Zhu Wenhao poured a cup of warm water for Town Mayor Luo Xingbang and pushed it across the coffee table.

"Town Mayor Luo, if you have any business, you could have just called me. Why make the trip yourself?"

Town Mayor Luo held the paper cup with both hands.

"Zhu Wenhao, it's just that a while ago at the Town Party Committee meeting, you took on the burden of the land compensation funds for Heishui Village. As the Town Mayor, I've been constantly worried about this matter."

"Also, regarding what I mentioned to you last time, isn't there still one hundred thousand yuan of supporting funds left in the account for the Heishui Village Modern Agricultural Demonstration Base?"

Zhu Wenhao didn't speak, waiting quietly for what came next.

Town Mayor Luo rubbed the wall of the cup.

"An hour ago, Secretary Qiu specifically called and gave instructions to have the Finance Office allocate that remaining one hundred thousand yuan as well."

"The town's elementary and middle schools haven't paid salaries for months, and the teachers are very resentful. Plus, with the year-end settlements, expenses in all areas are simply overwhelming; previously, only a small portion was issued. With the end of the year approaching, the remaining teachers and staff are also counting on this little bit of cash to get through the New Year."

Town Mayor Luo's words were reasonable and sounded justified.

The money was being given to teachers who educate and to grassroots staff. Using this pretext to misappropriate special funds, even if superiors investigated, it would be a muddled favor-debt.

Secretary Qiu Dehai's move to pull the firewood from under the cauldron drained the last bit of working capital Zhu Wenhao had on hand, forcing him to cook a meal without rice.

"Secretary Zhu, didn't you come down from Linjiang City?" Town Mayor Luo took the opportunity to kick the difficult problem back. "You are familiar with the channels in the city. Right now, the town really has no rice to put in the pot. Do you think you could go back to the city and pull some strings to see if we can get some fiscal subsidies or transfer payment funds down here?"

Begging for funds.

Zhu Wenhao listened; this was a probing attempt to use his own strength against him.

"Town Mayor Luo, it's not that I don't want to help. You know that now it's the last quarter, near the end of the year, the city's fiscal budget has long been set in stone, and funds in all areas are stretched thin."

Zhu Wenhao rested his hands on his knees.

"Special funds that come down with specific labels have always been the focus of competition among various districts, counties, and bureaus."

"I used to work in the Municipal Organization Department of Linjiang, but the fiscal power of the organization side and the government side has always been on two different tracks. I can't say I'm that familiar with the relevant agencies of the Municipal Government."

This was the truth. When Zhu Wenhao's father, Governor Zhou Zhiwen, served as Executive Vice Mayor, he was too kind-hearted. In terms of employing and recognizing talent, he lacked some edge.

Apart from promoting Director Li Jianguo, none of the key lifelines like finance, audit, and the Development and Reform Commission were his own direct subordinates.

In the Municipal Government compound, those positions with real power were all held by the people of the former mayor, Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou. Later, after Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou fell from power and Mayor Su Changming succeeded him, those bureaucrats who followed the wind quickly leaned toward Mayor Su Changming.

Coupled with the assistance of the current Executive Vice Mayor, Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming, the fiscal system of the Linjiang Municipal Government could be said to be impenetrable.

For Zhu Wenhao to pry a sum of money out of the city in a short time to fill the hole in Heishi Town was by no means an easy task.

After listening, Town Mayor Luo showed a bit of disappointment on his face.

"That's going to be difficult then."

Town Mayor Luo picked up the cup to take a sip of water, then changed the subject.

"Secretary Zhu, I've already laid the bottom line bare for you regarding the town's finances. Our town has a thin foundation and many difficulties."

"So, don't be too harsh on the people working below. Some personnel in the stations and offices haven't received their salaries on time, and they genuinely have difficulties in their lives. Occasionally imposing some fines on the streets or eating a few free meals is just a matter of desperation to make a living."

Half an hour ago, the commotion at that noodle shop on South Street had already spread throughout the Town Government compound.

Town Mayor Luo ran over to complain at this critical moment, just to use "town financial difficulties" as a fig leaf to plead for Director Zhang Qiu and bury this scandal within the internal digestion of the Town Government.

"No matter how hard public servants work, they cannot treat things like eating, taking, and extorting as something taken for granted."

Zhu Wenhao looked straight at Town Mayor Luo.

"The law is the law. If abusing power for personal gain and fishing-style law enforcement can be glossed over with a phrase like 'financial difficulties,' then what is the use of national law?"

He sealed off the opponent's retreat.

"Town Mayor Luo, regarding the matter of Director Zhang Qiu at the health center, I have already asked Director Li Qiang of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection to intervene directly in the investigation."

"Director Xu is currently organizing and handing over the relevant physical evidence and video materials. As for the subsequent characterization, everything will be based on the official notification from the County Commission for Discipline Inspection. The town doesn't need to bother itself with it separately."

By bringing out the big Buddha of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, Town Mayor Luo's pleas were stuck firmly in his throat.

His trip this time was like hitting a hard, soft nail.

The people from the County Commission for Discipline Inspection were originally invited by Secretary Qiu Dehai to suppress the Town Commission for Discipline Inspection. Unexpectedly, they were turned around and used by Zhu Wenhao to clean up the town's house.

"Well... alright then. Secretary Zhu has noble character and cannot tolerate sand in his eyes; this is the blessing of the people of Heishi Town."

Town Mayor Luo stood up and laughed self-deprecatingly twice.

"I have a seminar on agricultural subsidies this afternoon, so I won't disturb you any further."

He threw the paper cup into the wastebasket, turned, and stepped out of the office.

Zhu Wenhao watched Town Mayor Luo's retreating figure without getting up to see him off.

After resting a moment, he tidied up the files on his desk.

Village Secretary Zhang Dahai had already been held in the detention room of the Town Commission for Discipline Inspection for several days.

It was time for Secretary Chen Jianjun to close the net; that favor-debt ledger, which related to the entire interest distribution of Heishi Town, had to be dug out as soon as possible.

He was just about to get up and go to the Discipline Inspection Commission to check on Secretary Chen Jianjun's interrogation progress.

The phone in his pocket rang abruptly.

The caller ID showed Li Juan.

Zhu Wenhao stopped and answered the phone.

This stepmother was shrewd and capable. She had returned to the provincial capital, Jingjiang City, these past two days; calling now meant there must have been quite a stir in the provincial compound.

"Mother, it's me."

On the other end of the line, Li Juan's breathing was a bit rapid; her first sentence struck at the crux of the matter.

"Zhu Wenhao, there's news about Director Liu Qiang."

"This morning, Governor Zhou negotiated with Secretary Lao and personally nominated Liu Qiang to serve as the Director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission. The former Director of the Development and Reform Commission will serve as the Secretary-General of the Provincial Government, and they have requested the Organization Department to go through the procedures."

Zhu Wenhao gripped his phone, his gaze cold and deep.

Liu Qiang had officially broken free from the control of Elder Li.

This wasn't just an ordinary personnel appointment, but a blatant seizure of a city on the map of Jiangnan Province.

After initial digestion, Governor Zhou Zhiwen had finally begun to speak with force.

Some time ago, the head of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary Lao Liguo, had taken advantage of the momentum from the Red Star Machinery Factory and the anti-crime sweep in Linjiang to flex his muscles at the Five-Person Group meeting, suppressing Governor Zhou Zhiwen and Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua until they had no power to fight back.

Now, Governor Zhou Zhiwen had found a breakthrough, using a real-power position at the department-level to forcibly poach this old general from the Li Faction, firing the first shot of the counterattack.

When two armies fight, the pawns go first.

Liu Qiang's promotion was the opening battle of the arm-wrestling match between Governor Zhou and Secretary Lao.

"Mother." Zhu Wenhao analyzed the threads behind this. "Although Director Liu has old seniority, there are countless people eyeing the position of Director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission. Even if Governor Zhou wants to win him over, he wouldn't easily promise such a key position to someone who has just surrendered."

"A single treat for a meal can't buy a real-power department-level position."

Zhu Wenhao pointed straight to the core.

"There must be other interest exchanges behind this. What chips did Liu Qiang offer?"

On the phone, Li Juan sighed heavily.

"You see too clearly."

Li Juan lowered her voice extremely low.

"He Mei sent me an invitation. Liu Ruobing and Wang Lei are getting engaged on the eighteenth of next month. The banquet will be held at the Jingjiang Hotel."

Wang Lei. The wayward son of Mrs. Zhou's sister.

The answer was clear.

This was a naked political marriage, clearly priced, with goods delivered and money paid.

Zhu Wenhao had no emotional fluctuations regarding this; he had seen too many transactions dirtier and more bottomless than this.

"Okay, I understand."

Zhu Wenhao only replied with those five words.

"Mother, you stay safe in the provincial capital. Grandfather will decide how this matter affects our Li Faction. When I'm free tonight, I'll call Father and see what corresponding changes there are in Linjiang City."

"Zhu Wenhao, be careful down there too. The wind is strong at the top, and it's easy for those below to get implicated."

Li Juan gave a word of caution and hung up the phone.