275: Chapter 275 The County Magistrate's Miscalculation

The taillights of Team Leader Wei's car vanished into the night on the provincial road.

Zhu Wenhao stood in the drafty Town Government courtyard, adjusting the collar of his overcoat.

He turned and walked into the office building.

The corridor was silent; all offices had already closed for the day.

Pushing open the door to the Deputy Secretary's office, he had barely sat down when the phone in his pocket rang.

He picked up the receiver.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's voice came through.

"Zhu Wenhao, have the people from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection left?"

"They just left." Zhu Wenhao sat down in his chair.

"What was the result?"

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan pressed.

"This anonymous letter was sent directly to the provincial level; Mayor Su Changming is aiming to root you out completely."

"If there were problems with the accounts in Heishi Town, and the city held us accountable, our Qingjiang County government would also suffer the consequences."

"It's just a bitter-meat scheme."

Zhu Wenhao picked up the cold tea beside him to moisten his throat.

"Mayor Su Changming wanted to use the influence of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection to force us to stop work."

"The accounts are clean; his scheme failed."

"Before Team Leader Wei left, he left word that this tripartite supervision mechanism will be written into the provincial report."

A sound of relief came from the other end of the phone.

"Good, if we survive this round, we'll have a voice at the top."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan paused, lowering his voice.

"However, Secretary Lu Guoliang has been running to the city frequently lately."

Zhu Wenhao tapped his knuckles on the desk twice.

"He has been the Secretary in Qingjiang County for several years; it's time for him to move up."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan analyzed.

"During these trips to the city, he avoided me, and his attitude was ambiguous."

"I've received news that Mayor Su Changming pulled some strings in this."

It all made sense now.

"Secretary Lu Guoliang wants a position, and Mayor Su Changming wants to suppress me."

Zhu Wenhao said in a flat tone.

"They are each getting what they need."

"Secretary Lu Guoliang is holding the fort in the county, turning a blind eye to Heishi Town, and allowing Mayor Su Changming's spies to come in and stir up trouble."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan agreed with this deduction.

"That newly appointed Executive Deputy Town Mayor, Liu Wenxuan, is arriving tomorrow."

"I've kept an eye on him since he was at the County Finance Bureau."

"He has strong professional skills, but I later found out he has ties to Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan."

"You should be on your guard."

"I set the rules for the purse strings. He won't be able to stir up any trouble."

Hanging up the phone, Zhu Wenhao leaned back in his chair.

Secretary Lu Guoliang wanted a promotion, so Mayor Su Changming offered an olive branch.

The situation in Qingjiang County was just a game of checks and balances.

The next morning.

Director Xu Jie walked in with a stack of documents.

"Secretary Zhu, the notice from the county has come down."

"Liu Wenxuan is handling the transfer of his organizational relations today and will officially report for duty tomorrow."

"He has worked in the Finance Bureau, so he understands accounting."

Zhu Wenhao picked up a pencil.

"Let's change the previous financial approval process."

"For every transaction in the Finance Office, after Liu Wenxuan signs, add a dual-review process."

"As the Director of the Party and Government Office, you will be responsible for the final check."

"The money can only move once both have signed."

Director Xu Jie took note.

"In this way, the actual control of the Finance Office won't be in his hands alone."

"If he can identify errors and make corrections, then let him do that."

Zhu Wenhao closed the file.

"It's safer to put a few more locks on the people's survival money."

The door was knocked twice, and Secretary Du Changhe pushed it open and walked in.

This newly appointed Political and Legal Affairs Commission member had changed into casual clothes, his steps steady.

He walked to the desk without sitting in the guest seat.

"Secretary Zhu."

"The security patrol team for Heishui Village has been set up, and Police Chief Zhao Gang is leading the team to screen for hidden dangers."

Secretary Du Changhe reported.

"That was quick."

Secretary Du Changhe didn't rush to leave; he stepped forward half a step.

"Secretary Zhu, I went to the county to report on work the day before yesterday, and I stopped by Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's office."

Zhu Wenhao looked up at him.

One of Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's men, voluntarily coming to report on his master's movements.

"Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's days in the county are not very comfortable."

Secretary Du Changhe said.

"At the Standing Committee meeting, Secretary Lu Guoliang called him out several times and dumped the entire mess of petitions on him."

"Zheng Dachuan from the County Bureau saw that the wind was blowing the wrong way, and now he bypasses Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan for everything and reports directly to Secretary Lu Guoliang."

"Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's words no longer carry weight in the county."

Secretary Du Changhe's words were a show of loyalty.

He saw that Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's influence was gone, Secretary Lu Guoliang was consolidating power, and Zhu Wenhao had already established himself in Heishi Town.

If he, as a member of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, continued to cling to Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, the outcome would be obvious.

Zhu Wenhao picked up the teacup on the table.

"How Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan lives in the county is a matter for the County Party Committee."

"The law in Heishi Town relies on getting things done."

"Getting the security in Heishui Village in order is better than any report."

Secretary Du Changhe agreed repeatedly and backed out.

At noon, a Coaster bus drove into the Town Government courtyard.

General Manager Zhou Shutong, wearing a camel-colored trench coat, stepped off the bus.

Behind her followed several auditors in suits, as well as reporters from two media outlets.

Zhu Wenhao and Town Mayor Luo Xingbang stood on the steps.

"Secretary Zhu, the third-party audit report is out."

General Manager Zhou Shutong handed over a thick bound volume.

"The ins and outs of the Heishi Mining restructuring funds are clearly laid out."

"I specifically brought the media today to hold a press conference right here in the Town Government courtyard and make the accounts public to the whole society."

Town Mayor Luo Xingbang took the report with both hands, sweat visible on his forehead.

General Manager Zhou Shutong was helping Zhu Wenhao clear his name from the filth of the anonymous letter.

The media's camera flashes went off.

General Manager Zhou Shutong faced the cameras.

"Capital enters Heishi Town because it values the transparent and compliant business environment here."

"The tripartite supervision account is the guarantee; there are no power-for-money deals, only win-win outcomes."

The press release was published on provincial and municipal media platforms that afternoon.

The reputation of Heishi Town's "sunshine accounts" used this crisis for reverse marketing, and its popularity climbed another level.

The whistleblower letter, instead, became a stepping stone for Zhu Wenhao to establish his authority.

The night was deep.

A cold wind howled through the streets of Heishi Town.

In the Town Government courtyard, most offices had turned off their lights.

The Finance Office was located at the end of the first floor of the office building.

Liu Zhiqiang Liu Zhijian was working overtime to organize the settlement receipts for the South Street emergency repair project.

He carried his water cup toward the water dispenser to get hot water.

Footsteps came from the corridor.

Leather shoes stepped on the floor tiles with a very steady rhythm.

Liu Zhiqiang Liu Zhijian turned to look.

A middle-aged man carrying a briefcase stopped at the entrance of the Finance Office.

He wore semi-rimless glasses and had a gaunt face.

The man didn't knock; he walked straight in.

"Are you Liu Zhiqiang Liu Zhijian?"

The man spoke, his voice carrying the deep tone of someone who had long worked in government agencies.

"I am. May I ask who you are?"

The man placed the briefcase in his hand on a nearby desk.

He took a folded photocopy of a red-headed document out of his pocket and pushed it over.

"County Finance Bureau, Liu Wenxuan."

Liu Zhiqiang Liu Zhijian saw the header clearly.

The newly appointed Executive Deputy Town Mayor.

According to the county notice, he wasn't supposed to officially report for duty until tomorrow.

"Town Mayor Liu, aren't you supposed to come tomorrow?"

Liu Wenxuan didn't answer, his gaze sweeping over the stacks of account books on the desk.

"A day early or a day late, I have to take over eventually."

"Since I'm in charge of finance, I need to get the lay of the land first."

He stepped forward, unceremoniously pulled out an account book for the Heishui Village compensation funds, and opened it.

"Liu Zhiqiang Liu Zhijian, the transaction process for this tripartite supervision account is not compliant."

Liu Wenxuan pointed to an attachment page for a fund transaction.

"The signature of a mass representative cannot serve as a legal voucher for financial allocation."

"This violates the basic provisions of the Budget Law."

Liu Zhiqiang Liu Zhijian stood by the door.

"This is the rule set by Secretary Zhu. The accounts are posted on the whiteboard outside."

Liu Wenxuan adjusted his glasses and closed the account book.

"Rules are set by people; laws are set by the state."

He looked at Liu Zhiqiang Liu Zhijian.

"In Heishi Town, the account books are under my control."

"Tomorrow morning, send all the original vouchers for the supervision accounts to my office."