304: Chapter 304 Meeting Secretary Lao

Zhu Wenhao took out his phone and pressed the answer button.

"Wenhao, I've already made all the arrangements through the Old Master's confidential secretary," Director Xu Jie's voice came through the receiver, crisp and efficient. "I will take you to meet Secretary Lao at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. You two can talk then."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Zhu Wenhao said only these two words before ending the call.

He placed his phone back where it was and picked up the teacup in front of him.

Li Zhengxing's hand, holding the cup lid, froze in mid-air.

He had just been preparing to continue lecturing on his theory of macroeconomic regulation, but the words stuck firmly in his throat.

He had heard that title on the phone clearly.

Secretary Lao.

In the Jiangnan Province Provincial Party Committee, there was only one person with the surname Lao: the Provincial Party Secretary, Secretary Lao Liguo.

Tea dripped onto Li Zhengxing's pant leg, but he seemed not to notice, his eye twitching twice in succession.

He had returned to Jingjiang early, exhausting all his efforts to arrange a meeting with Qi Tian from the Provincial Organization Department, only for the man to put on airs and refuse to give a definitive answer.

Yet his nephew, a man in his twenties before him, had made a single phone call, bypassing all levels of bureaucracy to knock open the door of a powerful provincial governor.

Director Qi Shan, who had been sitting on the side sofa drinking tea, put down his cup upon hearing this, casting a calm gaze toward Zhu Wenhao.

With Secretary Lei Zhen having just been suspended, he was now in charge of the overall work of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, standing at the very center of the transition. He knew better than anyone what it meant for a junior like Zhu Wenhao to meet with Secretary Lao Liguo on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

Li Zhenguo walked over from the hallway, leaning on his cane.

He hadn't slept soundly in the backyard; the trap Liu Bin had set when he visited was making his chest feel tight.

"Grandfather," Zhu Wenhao said, standing up. "Tomorrow morning at ten, we go to the Provincial Party Committee Compound No. 1 Courtyard."

Li Zhenguo's cane stopped on the bluestone floor, and a glimmer of light returned to his weathered eyes.

He understood.

"Liu Bin thinks he has made a brilliant move," Zhu Wenhao said, sitting back down. "He walked into the Li Family's home with an air of arrogance, wanting to tie us to the same boat as Secretary Lei Zhen and force Secretary Lao to take action against the Li Family."

"He who does not plan for the whole situation is incapable of planning for a single part. He schemed against the Li Family, but he underestimated your grandson's power."

Zhu Wenhao looked at Li Zhenguo. "An open strategy against an open strategy. We will go directly to knock on Secretary Lao's door. We will lay everything out clearly in the sunlight. The dirty water from the Liu Family cannot be splashed onto us."

Li Zhenguo let out a long breath and sat down in the main seat, his back straight.

"Good. Walking the right path and employing open strategies—that is the duty of an official."

Qi Wei, standing behind Director Qi Shan, subconsciously straightened his posture.

He had just been transferred back to the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau, filled with passion. Seeing Zhu Wenhao defuse a crisis with just a few words, his gaze followed him closely.

"Brother Hao," Qi Wei said, stepping forward two paces. "The Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau is currently undergoing reorganization, and the criminal underworld is deeply entrenched. I was transferred back to be in charge of contraband investigations, and I am currently lacking an entry point to take action."

Zhu Wenhao lifted his eyes to look at him.

Qi Wei had drive, but he lacked the method to break the deadlock.

"Handling cases cannot be separated from the common people," Zhu Wenhao said, picking up his teacup. "The criminal underworld in Jingjiang City creates chaos by relying on the exorbitant profits of monopolized industries and their protective umbrellas. When you investigate contraband, keep an eye on the cash flow of those entertainment venues. No matter how tough a venue is, the goods that go in and out every day, the water and electricity consumed—there are always records to check."

He looked at Qi Wei. "Destroy their money bags, and the venues will fall apart. The roots of your team must be planted in the livelihood of the common people. Once you clear out those malignant tumors that ruin families, the people will naturally bring clues to your desk."

Director Qi Shan listened from the side, a flash of admiration in his eyes.

He had brought his son for the New Year visit precisely with the intention of letting Qi Wei receive some guidance from Zhu Wenhao.

"I have learned much," Qi Wei said, standing straight, his tone solemn.

On the morning of the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

Snowflakes drifted through the sky over Jingjiang City, and a cold wind swept through the empty streets.

A black Audi came to a steady stop in front of the sentry box of the Provincial Party Committee Compound.

Director Xu Jie sat in the driver's seat, rolled down the window, and handed out the pass.

The armed police verified the documents, saluted, and let them pass.

The car drove into the compound, moving slowly along the asphalt road lined with evergreen pines and cypresses.

There were no excessive holiday decorations in the compound, which exuded a solemn majesty. The small red-brick buildings were hidden among the lingering winter snow.

"Secretary Lao's recent style has changed," Director Xu Jie said, gripping the steering wheel with both hands and looking straight at the road ahead. "Before Secretary Lei Zhen fell, he needed support from all sides, so his attitude was firm. After Secretary Lei Zhen was suspended, he had more cards in his hand, but instead, he no longer expresses his position easily."

"When one holds absolute power, one naturally has to balance all sides," Zhu Wenhao said, sitting in the passenger seat. "He established his authority using Secretary Lei Zhen's case. Now, what he wants to see is who can help him support the economy and people's livelihood in Jiangnan Province. He doesn't need people who only know how to take sides; he needs people who can get things done."

The car stopped in front of a two-story building.

Zhu Wenhao pushed open the car door and stepped down.

A cold wind brushed against the hem of his overcoat.

He carried an inconspicuous briefcase, and a secretary in a dark suit was already waiting at the porch.

"Deputy Secretary Zhu," the secretary said politely. "Secretary Lao is in the study on the second floor. Director Xu, Secretary Lao has given instructions for you to have tea in the living room downstairs."

Director Xu Jie nodded and let the reception staff lead her to the reception area.

Zhu Wenhao followed the secretary up the wooden stairs, his footsteps light.

The secretary walked to the door of the study and lightly knocked on the door panel twice.

"Enter," a deep, resonant voice came from inside.

The door was pushed open.

The study was well-heated, and a faint scent of tea drifted in the air.

Secretary Lao Liguo sat behind a large rosewood desk, holding a document, not looking up.

Zhu Wenhao stepped forward and stopped three paces from the desk.

"Secretary Lao, Happy New Year."

Secretary Lao Liguo put down the document in his hand, took off his reading glasses, and his gaze landed on Zhu Wenhao.

It was a gaze that examined the whole situation, carrying an oppressive feeling of natural authority.

"Wenhao, you're here," Secretary Lao Liguo said, pointing to the chair opposite him. "Sit. Heishi Town has made quite a stir this year. Secretary Qiu Dehai, Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong—they all fell because of the ledgers. Your method of three-party supervision is quite tough."

"The common people's life-saving money cannot be handled carelessly," Zhu Wenhao said, pulling out the chair and sitting down. "By putting the ledgers in the sunlight, the masses decide how the money is spent and where it goes. Once the rules are established, the demons and monsters underneath will naturally have nowhere to hide."

Secretary Lao Liguo picked up his teacup and blew away the floating leaves on the surface.

"The rules are established well, but you have offended many people. Yesterday, Comrade Liu Bin from The Capital Organization Department visited your grandfather at the veteran cadre sanatorium. What do you think about this?"

Straight to the point, without any preamble.

This was a probe from a superior.

"Minister Liu is concerned about the old comrades; it is only human nature," Zhu Wenhao said, his tone calm. "However, the Li Family's rules have always only followed those of the Provincial Party Committee. The Heishi Town ledgers are clean; they are not afraid of anyone looking at them, and they do not need anyone to protect them."

With one sentence, he cleared up any association with the Liu Family while simultaneously revealing his bottom line.

Secretary Lao Liguo's hand holding the teacup paused in mid-air, a flash of admiration passing through his eyes.

This was the sentence he wanted.

As long as the Li Family did not collude with the Liu Family, he would find it easier to play the game in Jiangnan Province.

"Jiangnan Province is currently in a state of rebuilding," Secretary Lao Liguo said, putting down his teacup with a crisp sound. "Breaking the old to establish the new takes time. It also takes people who can look at problems from outside the circle."

He looked at Zhu Wenhao and threw out his true intention for today.

"Go back and prepare a research report on the integration of grassroots fiscal transparency and investment attraction. Submit it to me in half a month," Secretary Lao Liguo said, setting the task. "Do not limit it to Heishi Town; I want to see the perspective of the whole province."

This was a major cross-level examination, and also an entry ticket to higher power.

Zhu Wenhao stood up and accepted the task.

"Understood."

Secretary Lao Liguo nodded, signaling the end of the meeting.

Zhu Wenhao turned and walked toward the door.

His hand rested on the doorknob, just about to pull it open.

A carved wooden door on the inner side of the study, which connected to the lounge, made a soft sound.

The door was pushed open, and a thin man wearing a dark gray jacket walked out.

The man held a black-covered notebook in his hand, his face serious and his eyes sharp.

Zhu Wenhao's hand stopped on the doorknob.

Secretary Lao Liguo sat behind the desk, watching Zhu Wenhao, his voice flat.

"Wenhao, let me introduce you. This is Comrade Deputy Secretary Zhou Rui, who has come down from The Capital," Secretary Lao Liguo said, pointing to the man who had walked out. "Regarding the construction of the grassroots political and legal teams, Deputy Secretary Zhou Rui just heard our conversation and has some questions he would like to ask you personally."

Zhu Wenhao turned around, meeting Deputy Secretary Zhou Rui's examining gaze.

In this study, the real game had only just begun.