298: Chapter 298 County Party Committee Meeting

On a winter morning, there is a thin layer of frost on the car window.

A car is driving on the provincial road; the heater is on inside, and there is no music.

Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan sits in the back row, fingers crossed on his lap, his gaze occasionally glancing at Zhu Wenhao in the passenger seat.

This scheduling meeting today is clearly aimed at Heishi Town.

Regarding the contaminated soil dug up at the Cold Chain Logistics Park, someone in the county is bound to make a fuss about it.

As the Executive Deputy Town Mayor, even though his accounts are clean, at the County Party Committee meeting, numbers often lose to the power of words.

"Town Mayor Liu," Zhu Wenhao speaks up, "If the county asks about the accounts for South Street and the logistics park later, report them truthfully. How it was spent, the remaining balance, read it out according to the ledger."

"Understood." Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan agrees.

He adjusts his glasses, feeling more confident.

As long as he isn't forced to cook the books or take the fall, he can handle this task.

The car drives into the County Party Committee compound.

In the third-floor conference room, the long table is already full.

Secretary Lu Guoliang sits at the head, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan to his left, and Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan to his right.

The leaders in charge of various towns are lined up on both sides.

Zhu Wenhao finds his seat and sits down, empty-handed, not even bringing a notebook.

Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan sits beside him, taking several reports out of his briefcase.

Secretary Lu Guoliang picks up his teacup for a sip, scanning the room.

"Let's begin." Secretary Lu Guoliang sets the tone, "It's the end of the year, and the progress of key projects across the county is uneven. Calling everyone here today is to get a pulse on the situation; we cannot leave a mess for next year."

As soon as he finishes, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan leans forward and takes over.

"Secretary Lu is right."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan holds a pen and taps the table.

"For these key projects, slow progress can be remedied. But if there's a problem at the root, it will affect the business environment of our Qingjiang County."

He turns his head, eyes fixed on Zhu Wenhao.

"Zhu Wenhao, I heard that dozens of tons of contaminated soil were dug up at the Heishi Town Cold Chain Logistics Park a few days ago? This has caused panic among foreign-invested enterprises. If the plot of land cannot be used, won't the initial investment go down the drain? With such a major safety hazard, didn't the Town Government conduct a geological assessment during planning?"

Others in the room stop writing, their gazes converging on Zhu Wenhao.

Zhu Wenhao leans back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the edge of the table twice.

"An assessment was done, and the plot originally had no issues." Zhu Wenhao says in a flat tone, "The contaminated soil was transported there overnight and buried underneath by someone."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan sneers: "That's easy to say. Since the pollution has occurred, regardless of who buried it, the Town Government is now cleaning up the mess. I heard the Town Government even wants to pay for the cleanup out of its own pocket. Is it in accordance with discipline to use public funds to fill this bottomless pit?"

This is an attempt to strangle Heishi Town financially.

Zhu Wenhao turns his head.

"Town Mayor Liu, report the accounts of the Cold Chain Logistics Park to Secretary Qin."

Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan opens the report in his hand.

"The cleanup costs for the Cold Chain Logistics Park total 64,000 yuan." Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan reads from the ledger, "This money was advanced from the town's special environmental protection reserve funds. At present, the land has been cleared, and the environmental re-inspection has passed. At the same time, the first installment of 25 million in cooperation funds promised by Zhou Investment Bank was fully deposited into the tripartite supervision account yesterday afternoon. The project has not stalled."

An advance of over 60,000 in exchange for the arrival of 25 million.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's face sinks, still looking for an entry point.

Secretary Lu Guoliang puts down his teacup and interrupts: "Since the funding hasn't stopped, that's a good thing. However, Zhu Wenhao, to what stage has the project construction actually progressed? The city is keeping a close eye on investment promotion; talk is cheap. Did the town bring the scheduling reports today?"

Everyone looks at Zhu Wenhao's empty desk.

Zhu Wenhao lifts his eyes and looks at a seat across the conference table.

That is Deputy Minister Li Ming of the County Government Office.

Deputy Minister Li Ming receives Zhu Wenhao's gaze and stands up.

He is holding a stack of thick documents.

"Secretary Lu, County Head Gu."

Deputy Minister Li Ming walks forward and distributes the documents to the leaders in the front row.

"This is the 'Winter Scheduling and Verification Report on Key County Projects' compiled by the County Government Office overnight."

Secretary Lu Guoliang turns to the first page.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan scans it quickly, his expression relaxing.

"Deputy Minister Li, brief everyone." County Mayor Gu Mingchuan orders.

Deputy Minister Li Ming returns to his seat and opens his notes.

"According to the on-site verification and fund comparison by the Government Office," Deputy Minister Li Ming says clearly, "The Heishi Town Cold Chain Logistics Park project has completed 80% of land leveling, and the Old River Levee renovation project has entered the desilting stage. The fund arrival rate is 100%, and the progress meets expectations."

Deputy Minister Li Ming changes the subject.

"However, during this verification, the Government Office found that the Old Town Renovation Project in Chengguan Town and the Agricultural Demonstration Park project in Liuhe Town have falsely reported their progress."

"The reports state that the main structures are topped out, but on-site verification shows only the foundations."

"Moreover, nearly 30% of the allocated special funds have unknown whereabouts."

The conference room is so quiet that only the sound of turning pages can be heard.

Chengguan Town and Liuhe Town—one is the base controlled by Secretary Lu Guoliang's old subordinates, the other is the old nest where Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan rose to power.

This verification report from Deputy Minister Li Ming directly burns the fire into the backyards of these two men.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's knuckles bulge as he grips his pen tightly.

"Why wasn't this verification from the Government Office communicated with the County Party Committee beforehand?" Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan questions.

"Secretary Qin." County Mayor Gu Mingchuan blocks him, "The Government Office is responsible for the scheduling and supervision of administrative projects across the county; this is their duty. If these false reports were taken to the city, where would our Qingjiang County's face be? Deputy Minister Li discovered the problem in time and prevented it from happening; he has rendered a service."

Secretary Lu Guoliang looks at the report in his hand, knowing he can't use Heishi Town as an excuse today.

"Towns with lagging progress must write self-criticisms after the meeting. The County Commission for Discipline Inspection will intervene to investigate the funds with unknown whereabouts."

Secretary Lu Guoliang sets the tone and closes the file in his hand.

"Heishi Town's progress is good; keep it up."

The meeting ends hastily.

The leaders of various towns file out.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan leaves the fastest, the hem of his overcoat whipping up a wind in the corridor.

Zhu Wenhao walks out of the conference room, and Deputy Minister Li Ming happens to pass by.

The two do not speak, just a brief exchange of glances.

"Deputy Minister Li, the materials were well-prepared." Zhu Wenhao speaks in a casual tone.

"It's my duty." Deputy Minister Li Ming replies, hugging the documents and heading toward the stairs.

At noon, Zhu Wenhao and Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan return to Heishi Town.

In the car, Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan looks out the window, remaining silent the whole way.

Today's meeting made him see clearly Zhu Wenhao's trump card in Qingjiang County.

Following Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan to pick on Zhu Wenhao is like hitting a steel plate.

"Town Mayor Liu." Zhu Wenhao breaks the silence, "Allocate the engineering prepayments for the logistics park this afternoon. If the funds stay in the account too long, it will affect the construction team's enthusiasm."

"Understood, Secretary Zhu. I'll handle it as soon as I get back." Town Mayor Liu Wenxuan answers without hesitation.

Back at the Town Government office.

Just as Zhu Wenhao sits down in his chair, his private phone rings.

The name Su Qinghan is displayed on the screen.

He answers the phone.

"Zhu Wenhao." Su Qinghan's voice comes through, carrying a hint of coldness.

"Did you find clues about the missing accountant?" Zhu Wenhao asks.

"The plainclothes officers from the Municipal Public Security Bureau checked the records of leaving the city but couldn't find anyone." Su Qinghan says on the other end, "But we checked the recent bank account statements of the accountant's family. The day before he went missing, a cash deposit of 100,000 appeared under his wife's name, deposited through an ATM in a neighboring city."

Zhu Wenhao picks up a pen and draws a circle on a blank sheet of paper.

"Didn't go through the counter, used an ATM, deposited cash." Zhu Wenhao says, "This is to avoid real-name registration."

"The family members registered at the hospital in the last two days to take the child to see a doctor. The plainclothes officers sent by Police Chief Li Jianguo reported that the family members did not show excessive panic, they just didn't want to mention the accountant's whereabouts."

"They weren't kidnapped." Zhu Wenhao deduces, "They were relocated by someone. They took the settlement money and are hiding somewhere to avoid the spotlight."

"Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao is using the name of the Anti-Gang Office to pressure the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, demanding that the 300 million urban construction fund case be classified as a common economic dispute and that the files be transferred over." Su Qinghan speaks of the current obstacles, "Secretary Li Li used procedural authority to push it back for now. But this won't last long; without the core accountant's confession and original files, we can't directly finalize the money laundering chain of Xingyu Studio."

"As long as a person is still living, they will leave traces." Zhu Wenhao puts down the pen, "Go check the surveillance around that ATM in the neighboring city. Keep an eye on the accountant's family's communication records; it's impossible for them to completely cut off contact."

"I've already arranged it. Once we find them, we must get the recording or documents immediately." Su Qinghan replies.

"Take care of yourself." Zhu Wenhao warns, "Mayor Su Changming and Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao are trapped beasts now."

"I know."

He hangs up the phone.

Zhu Wenhao looks at the circle on the white paper.