288: Chapter 288 Su Xiaoxiao's Problem

"Dad, something happened." Su Xiaoxiao's voice trembled, and her breathing was uneven.

"The account for Xingyu Studio has been frozen by the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Mayor Su Changming's hand, holding a pen, paused in mid-air.

"What is Xingyu Studio?"

"It's a consulting company I registered the year before last to sell some information and earn some pocket money." Su Xiaoxiao lowered her eyes, not daring to meet her father's gaze. "Later, Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao heard about it and said he had a few friends in engineering who needed to process some project consulting fees. The procedures were too cumbersome, and he wanted to use my shell company to pass the funds through."

Mayor Su Changming placed his pen on the pen rest, making a soft clinking sound.

"How much has gone through it?"

"I didn't check the exact amount; the finances are managed by Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao's people. It's roughly... tens of millions." Su Xiaoxiao looked up, her eyes welling with tears. "The bank leaked the news this afternoon. The people from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection brought the paperwork and pulled all the transaction records. The person leading the team is my sister."

Mayor Su Changming didn't reply. He made a call to Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping, then walked to the window, standing with his hands behind his back, watching the bustling traffic outside.

"Dad." Su Xiaoxiao followed him two steps. "My sister is investigating our own family. Call her and suppress this matter."

Mayor Su Changming turned around and looked at his daughter, his gaze devoid of warmth.

"Suppress it?" His voice was low. "She has an official letter from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and has pulled the bank's transaction records. You want me, a mayor, to call the Inspection Team and cover up for my daughter?"

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment.

"She is investigating a case and represents the law." Mayor Su Changming walked back to the desk and sat down. "From now on, forget everything about this studio. Hand over the official seal and license to Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping immediately. Whoever asks you, you only have three words: 'I don't know.'"

"But what about Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao..."

"His affairs are not for you to worry about." Mayor Su Changming emphasized his tone.

Su Xiaoxiao dared not say more; she turned, opened the door, and walked out quickly.

Outside the door, Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping waited until she was far away before pushing the door open and entering.

"Mayor." Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping walked to the desk.

"Is it clear?"

"It is clear." Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping reported in a low voice. "Fifty million from the city's overall funds were transferred to Xingyu Studio in batches, under the guise of engineering consulting fees. The funds didn't stay overnight; they were broken down into smaller amounts and transferred into several offshore accounts."

Mayor Su Changming leaned back into his large leather chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

"Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao relies on his status from the province to make connections everywhere in Jiangnan Province, but behind the scenes, he's engaging in this kind of parasitic business. He laundered money and brought trouble to my family." Mayor Su Changming picked up his teacup and blew away the steam. "Su Qinghan has actually helped me dig out the rats in my own house this time."

"Mayor, Su Qinghan is fixated on this lead. If she truly uncovers that it's under Su Xiaoxiao's name, the impact on you will be immeasurable." Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping suggested a path. "How about we find an opening in the case procedures?"

Mayor Su Changming glanced at him.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping continued: "Su Qinghan is in a relationship with Zhu Wenhao from Heishi Town. Zhu Wenhao has muddied the waters down there and is involved in quite a few conflicts of interest. Su Qinghan is investigating a core department like the Finance Bureau without executing the required kinship recusal. We can compile this into a report and submit it, questioning her conflict of interest and non-compliant handling of the case. Under procedural pressure, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection will have to replace her."

Mayor Su Changming put down his teacup; the surface of the water was calm and still.

"Su Qinghan is part of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection's staff, and the Inspection Team was personally set up by Secretary Li Li to investigate the Finance Bureau that I oversee." Mayor Su Changming laid out the pros and cons. "If I have someone report her for not recusing herself, how will people on the outside see it? They will only say that I, Mayor Su Changming, have a guilty conscience, am afraid of my daughter upholding justice, and am in a hurry to trip her up from behind."

He waved his hand.

"The phrase 'upholding justice over family' carries its own halo. Attacking her directly is a poor strategy."

"Then what about Su Xiaoxiao?" Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping asked.

"Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao's money trail has been cut off; he is more anxious than we are." Mayor Su Changming issued the order. "Leak the news about the freezing of the Xingyu Studio account to him. Let him figure out a way. He holds the banner of the Provincial Anti-Gang Office; let him be the one to stick his neck out."

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Linjiang City, Hilton Hotel presidential suite.

Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao sat on the sofa, looking at the text message he had just received on his phone screen.

[The account for Xingyu Studio has been frozen; the Discipline Inspection Commission has pulled all transaction records.]

He threw his phone heavily onto the coffee table; the screen hit the glass with a dull thud.

The marriage arrangement with the Xu Family had fallen through, and he had already been reprimanded within his family. Now that the money-laundering channel had been cut off, his plans in Jiangnan Province were on the verge of collapse.

He had to kick Su Qinghan out of this case.

Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao walked to the desk and opened his laptop.

He opened a blank document and typed on the keyboard with both hands.

[Report Material Regarding the Non-Compliant Case Handling by Comrade Su Qinghan of the Third Inspection Office of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection]

The letter didn't mention a single word about the Finance Bureau; it focused entirely on the relationship between Su Qinghan and Zhu Wenhao.

It pointed out that Zhu Wenhao was using a tripartite supervision account in Heishi Town to evade fiscal supervision from superiors, and that Su Qinghan's inspection of the Finance Bureau was highly likely an attempt to cover up grassroots financial loopholes for Zhu Wenhao, suspecting an abuse of public power for private gain.

After finishing, he printed the document and placed it into a kraft paper file folder.

He wanted to deliver this letter directly to the desk of the Provincial Anti-Gang Office.

Heishi Town, Deputy Party Secretary's office.

Zhu Wenhao sat behind a large desk, with the security scheduling table for the resumption of work at Heishi Mining spread out on it.

The door was knocked, and Director Xu Jie walked in holding a folder.

"Zhu Wenhao, there is news from Linjiang." Director Xu Jie pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down. "Su Qinghan led a team to audit the accounts in the Finance Bureau's archives and encountered a deliberate power outage. She was quick and had already locked the cabinets with Discipline Inspection Commission seals, so Deputy Director Gexing couldn't transfer the documents."

Zhu Wenhao's hand, holding the pen, did not pause.

"A physical power outage cannot resolve electronic traces. This is a poor strategy." He signed his name on the form.

"Not only that." Director Xu Jie opened the folder. "Police Chief Li Jianguo provided a tip-off. That 300 million in urban construction funds from the Finance Bureau, which bypassed procedures, flowed into several shell companies, one of which is called Xingyu Studio, and the legal representative is Su Xiaoxiao."

Zhu Wenhao put down his pen.

"Su Xiaoxiao?"

"Mayor Su Changming's younger daughter. The money entered her account and was laundered directly overseas."

Zhu Wenhao leaned back against the chair and concluded: "This is Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao's doing. Su Xiaoxiao doesn't have the brains or the channels for this. Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao is using The Su Family's shell to amass wealth in Jiangnan Province. Su Qinghan's investigation has not only touched Mayor Su Changming's purse but has also exposed Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao's foundation."

Director Xu Jie nodded: "If Mayor Su Changming knows about this, Su Qinghan's situation in the city will be very difficult."

"Mayor Su Changming won't get involved directly." Zhu Wenhao picked up his white porcelain teacup and took a sip of water. "Even a tiger won't eat its cubs; the moral high ground is on Su Qinghan's side. If he suppresses her directly, he'll be setting himself on fire. He will use Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao as his blade."

Zhu Wenhao put the teacup back in its place.

"To protect himself, Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao will definitely make an issue of Su Qinghan's identity. Kinship recusal and conflict of interest—these procedural excuses are the only cards he can play."

Director Xu Jie frowned: "If he submits materials in the name of the Provincial Anti-Gang Office, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection might be pressured into transferring Su Qinghan away."

Zhu Wenhao looked at the town map on the wall and stood up.

"Using procedure to fight procedure—that is the correct logic." He walked to the map. "However, to forge iron, one must be strong oneself. If Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao wants to make an issue of my relationship with Su Qinghan, the premise must be that there are actual problems with the accounts in Heishi Town; only then can he pin the label of benefit transfer on us."

"Our tripartite supervision accounts have not a single error or omission. His card will be like hitting cotton."

Director Xu Jie replied: "Then what should we do now?"

"Wait." Zhu Wenhao said. "Once Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao's letter is submitted, the province will definitely react. We cannot be in chaos here. The distribution of various livelihood funds before the Spring Festival must strictly follow procedures, be posted publicly, and every single payment must have the signature of a representative of the masses."

"As long as the situation in Heishi Town is as stable as a rock, Su Qinghan will have the solidest backing while auditing accounts up there."

Just as they were speaking, the internal phone on the desk rang.

Zhu Wenhao picked up the receiver.

"Secretary Zhu." The voice of Liu Zhiqiang came from the other end, sounding dry. "Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan just came to see me and asked me to hold off on the list of payments for the Spring Festival consolation supplies tomorrow. He said he wants to re-calculate the budget scope."

Zhu Wenhao held the receiver and glanced at Director Xu Jie.

The executive deputy town mayor sent down from the county had started to exercise his administrative approval power at this critical moment.

Secretary Lu Guoliang's nail, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's hidden stake.

Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan's abacus was being calculated at just the right time.

"Tell Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan." Zhu Wenhao said into the phone. "The consolation list was decided by the Party Committee. Follow the procedure and send the list and original vouchers to his office. If he doesn't sign, the money won't be issued. However, on the public notice board, clearly write down the progress. Let the common people see clearly which link the funds are stuck at."

He hung up the phone.

"This Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan has started to exercise his executive power." Director Xu Jie said.

"He understands accounts, and he understands the rules even better. He is holding up the appropriations to establish his authority and also to give the county an explanation." Zhu Wenhao walked back to the desk.

"If he wants to settle accounts, let him do it clearly in front of all the townspeople. If he can't settle this New Year's goods account, he won't be able to sit securely in this position of executive deputy town mayor."

Zhu Wenhao handed the approved scheduling table to Director Xu Jie.

The north wind outside the window blew even harder.