299: Chapter 299 People from the Capital

The fourth day of the Lunar New Year.

Traffic on the national highway was light.

Zhu Wenhao held the steering wheel with one hand, maintaining a speed of ninety kilometers per hour.

He had been on duty in Heishi Town for four consecutive days.

The Spring Festival supplies had been distributed to households in need, the transactions in the tripartite regulatory account were updated daily, and the street vendors had sold out of every single Spring Festival couplet.

The security patrols followed Secretary Du Changhe's plan, and there hadn't been a single issue.

In the morning, Secretary Zhu Tianhe called.

"Come back for a meal on the fourth. Your mother returned to Linjiang from Jingjiang yesterday and is preparing food at home. Tomorrow, our family will go to Jingjiang to pay our respects to the old patriarch and Minister Xiao for the New Year."

The whole family hadn't been able to gather on New Year's Eve.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe had scheduled this reunion meal for today to make up for it.

In previous years, Li Juan would spend the entire first lunar month with the Li Family in Jingjiang.

This year, she had returned to Linjiang on the third day and was cooking personally.

The passenger seat was empty.

Director Xu Jie sat in the back.

She was wearing a knee-length down jacket, her head resting against the car window, breathing evenly as she slept soundly.

The Party and Government Office had to cover everything: the public disclosure of Heishui Village affairs, the mining restructuring, and the auditing of relief funds.

Director Xu Jie had been working non-stop for several days, and she had developed dark circles under her eyes.

She hadn't wanted to return to The Capital.

Her mother had called three times a day to urge her, but she had blocked them all.

Last night, the old patriarch of the Xu family had spoken personally, saying only two words.

"Come back."

Director Xu Jie had no choice but to pack her bags and catch a ride with Zhu Wenhao to the Linjiang High-Speed Railway Station.

The car got onto the expressway.

The tires rolled over the joints, producing a monotonous road noise.

Zhu Wenhao turned on the car stereo and played an old song with a soothing rhythm.

They were still an hour away from downtown Linjiang.

A phone rang from the back seat.

Director Xu Jie woke up with a frown and took out her phone.

Seeing the caller ID, the irritation in her eyes faded, and she sat up straight.

"Uncle Fang."

The caller was the old patriarch of the Xu family's personal secretary.

Director Xu Jie listened to the voice on the other end, occasionally replying with "Understood."

Five minutes later, the call ended.

She clutched the phone in her hand and looked up at the rearview mirror.

"The Capital is sending an Inspection Team to Jiangnan Province after the holiday," Director Xu Jie said, her voice a bit dry. "They are coming for the Secretary Lei Zhen case."

Zhu Wenhao watched the road ahead without slowing down.

"Is the list finalized?"

"It is," Director Xu Jie reported. "The two departments are leading the team together. From the Political and Legal Affairs Commission in The Capital, the team leader is Deputy Secretary Zhou Rui."

"Governor Zhou Zhiwen's own brother," Zhu Wenhao added.

"You've met the team leader from the Discipline Inspection Commission in The Capital," Director Xu Jie paused. "The tall, thin old man who discussed paintings with you at Principal Zhou's house."

Zhu Wenhao's fingers, gripping the steering wheel, tapped lightly against the leather.

The Capital, Jiangnan Province, Linjiang City.

Several names and threads wove into a web in his mind.

"Compromise, concession, balance," Zhu Wenhao said, his voice devoid of inflection.

Director Xu Jie leaned back against the seat. "The Liu Family didn't get a position."

"That is the bargaining chip that Secretary Lao won," Zhu Wenhao analyzed. "Secretary Lei Zhen is deeply entrenched in Jiangnan Province, so investigating him faces immense resistance. Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao has been active, and the Liu Family wanted to reach into the Discipline Inspection Commission's team to steer the direction of the case or downplay it."

"Secretary Lao used the temporary Standing Committee meeting to suspend Secretary Lei Zhen from his duties, making the case an ironclad one. Once the evidence reached The Capital, the Liu Family couldn't protect him even if they wanted to, and they certainly couldn't infiltrate the Inspection Team."

Zhu Wenhao checked the right rearview mirror, signaled, and overtook the car.

"But Secretary Lao couldn't take everything either. The Zhou Family has made their move."

Director Xu Jie continued. "With Zhou Rui leading the Political and Legal Affairs Commission team, it means Governor Zhou Zhiwen's influence in Jiangnan Province now has the backing of The Capital."

"It's more than just backing. Having Principal Zhou's close friend lead the Discipline Inspection Commission is also a check and balance," Zhu Wenhao continued. "Secretary Lao wanted to use the case against Secretary Lei Zhen to carry out a major purge in Jiangnan Province and replace officials with his own people. The Capital sending these two down is telling Secretary Lao that the case can be investigated, but there must be limits to the scope of the purge."

"Titans clashing," Director Xu Jie said, looking out the window.

The car drove out of the expressway toll station and entered downtown Linjiang.

Red lanterns hung from the trees along the road, creating a strong festive atmosphere.

Zhu Wenhao drove the car to the drop-off platform at the high-speed railway station and stepped on the brake.

Director Xu Jie pushed open the door and stepped out with her suitcase.

"Give my regards to the old patriarch when you get back," Zhu Wenhao said, rolling down the window.

"Take care of yourself," Director Xu Jie said, standing outside the car. "With Su Qinghan withdrawing from the Inspection Team and the Finance Bureau case moving to a covert investigation, Mayor Su Changming will definitely use this New Year period to clean up his loose ends. The tough battle after the holiday won't be easy to fight."

Zhu Wenhao rolled up the window, leaving only this sentence: "Then let him go crazy. The more he moves, the bigger the flaws he'll expose."

Watching Director Xu Jie walk into the station entrance, Zhu Wenhao shifted gears, and the car slid out of the station square.

The car stopped downstairs at the apartment building.

Su Qinghan was wearing that long down jacket, standing on the steps of the building entrance. She was holding two gift boxes.

Zhu Wenhao pushed the door open to get out, took the items from her hands, and put them in the trunk.

"Have you been waiting long?" Zhu Wenhao pulled open the passenger door.

"I just came down," Su Qinghan said, getting into the car.

The car drove toward the Municipal Party Committee residential compound.

"Is there any result from the covert investigation into the Finance Bureau?" Zhu Wenhao asked.

Su Qinghan turned her head.

"The trail of the missing accountant has gone cold," she said. "The plainclothes officers sent by Police Chief Li Jianguo to the neighboring city reported that the day after receiving the one hundred thousand yuan, the family took their child and transferred to a hospital in another province. They didn't use any transportation registered under their real names, so all leads have been wiped clean."

"Mayor Su Changming is cutting off the tail," Zhu Wenhao said, watching the traffic light and stepping on the brake. "He's scrapped the shell of Xingyu Studio and hidden the key people, trying to sever the direct evidence of the flow of funds to himself."

"What is Secretary Li Li's stance?"

"Secretary Li Li wants to start with the peripheral urban construction companies. But these companies are all layered in shell structures; it will take time to penetrate the equity and find the actual controller."

The light turned green, and the car started moving.

"Investigating a case is also about investigating human nature," Zhu Wenhao said. "Since The Capital chain can't be traced, let's change our approach. Investigate the people."

Su Qinghan looked at him.

"Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping is loyal to Mayor Su Changming; he won't talk," Zhu Wenhao analyzed. "But Su Xiaoxiao is different. She is a pawn dragged into this scheme, and also a shield for Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao."

"Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao has lost his influence in The Capital, and his trump cards in Jiangnan Province are gone. If he wants to get out unscathed, he needs to find a scapegoat."

Su Qinghan's breathing grew heavier.

"He will push all the responsibility for money laundering onto Su Xiaoxiao," Zhu Wenhao concluded. "Mayor Su Changming is protective of his own. If Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao pins the blame on Su Xiaoxiao, the alliance between Mayor Su Changming and Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao will become mortal enemies."

The car drove into the No. 4 Compound of the Municipal Party Committee.

It stopped in front of a small two-story building.

Pushing the door open and entering the house, the aroma of food wafted out from the kitchen.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe sat on the sofa in the living room, watching the news on TV.

Hearing the commotion, he stood up.

"You're back," Secretary Zhu Tianhe said.

Li Juan walked out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of steaming braised fish.

She was wearing an apron, with beads of sweat on her forehead.

"Qinghan is here. Go wash your hands and get ready to eat," Li Juan greeted.

Su Qinghan placed the gift boxes on the coffee table, said "Happy New Year, Auntie," and went to the kitchen to help carry the dishes.

At the dinner table, there were no official formalities, only ordinary family talk.

Li Juan kept piling food onto Zhu Wenhao and Su Qinghan's plates, while Secretary Zhu Tianhe occasionally asked how the villagers in Heishi Town were doing with their New Year shopping.

After dinner, Li Juan and Su Qinghan cleaned up in the kitchen.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe pointed upstairs.

"Go to the study."