425: Chapter 425 Someone ran right into the line of fire.

The police arrived very quickly, appearing within just a few minutes.

The lead officer shouted as soon as he arrived, "What's going on? Who's causing trouble!"

Principal Li Jiandong said, "Chief Zhang, you've come personally. These people are causing trouble and seriously affecting our school's teaching order. Especially these few, they are the ringleaders."

Chief Zhang looked majestic. "All of you disperse. You few, follow me back to the station for investigation."

Someone said, "Officer, we are all parents of students. The school is giving the children smelly, moldy food. We..."

Before the person could finish, Chief Zhang waved his hand to interrupt. "Those matters aren't under our jurisdiction, but you can't cause trouble here. Come on, follow us back to the station."

Qin Chuan couldn't stand it anymore. He pushed through the crowd and stepped forward. "Officer, what you're doing isn't appropriate, is it? These parents have legitimate grievances. How is this causing trouble?"

Principal Li Jiandong glanced at Qin Chuan with a heavy tone of warning and threat. "You're a parent too, right? Which class is your child in?"

Chief Zhang was even more displeased. "This is clearly causing trouble at the school. I'm warning you, don't obstruct official business, or else I'll take you back to the station as well."

Qin Chuan was so angry he laughed coldly. "What grand authority you display! Is this how you usually handle business? I'm going to call Comrade Secretary Zhang Dong and ask him how he manages the city's police system."

Who was Secretary Zhang Dong? He was a member of the Dongjiang Municipal Standing Committee, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and concurrently the Director of the Public Security Bureau.

Hearing Qin Chuan's bold tone, Chief Zhang couldn't help but size him up. Realizing he didn't recognize him, he smiled disdainfully. "Young man, you certainly talk big. Step aside, or I'll handcuff you and take you away."

Just because he didn't recognize Qin Chuan didn't mean others didn't.

Finally, after observing for a while, one parent shouted with a bit of pleasant surprise, "You... you're Secretary Qin!"

"It really is Secretary Qin! I've seen him on Dongjiang News!"

"Are you talking about the Municipal Party Secretary?"

"Yes, this is the Municipal Party Secretary! Oh my god, it's like a dream!"

The parents were in an uproar, each one incredibly surprised and happy. Their luck was too good; to actually encounter Secretary Qin Chuan, and it was obvious Secretary Qin supported the parents.

"Secretary Qin, I want to report to you. The principal of this school is truly a piece of work. His conscience has been eaten by dogs! The food he gives the children is either expired or moldy and stinking!"

"Secretary Qin, you must go and look at the school cafeteria. It's simply unbearable to see!"

"And the school's small supermarket! The things inside are deathly expensive, and the school doesn't allow students to buy things outside!"

"..."

Seeing Qin Chuan almost surrounded by parents, Director Zhang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He knew he was likely in trouble.

As for Principal Li Jiandong, he had been in a state of shock the whole time.

He never imagined that Qin Chuan would come to Dafeng School, and that he had walked right into the line of fire.

Led by a group of parents, Secretary Qin Chuan reached the school cafeteria and entered the back kitchen. He saw many pre-prepared meals and a large amount of moldy, stinking ingredients.

He picked up one of the large bags of pre-prepared food. Damn it, it was bad enough giving the students pre-prepared meals, but the dates were even expired.

"Secretary Qin, look at these. They're all 'zombie meat,' and they're even stinking!"

"Look at this cabbage, the leaves are all rotten. They give the children stuff like this to eat, sob..."

Several mothers couldn't help but cry upon seeing these ingredients.

Qin Chuan's heart was heavy. He instructed, "Call the responsible comrades from the Education Bureau and have them come take a look. Call the Deputy Mayor in charge of education and have them come over as well."

The first to rush over was the District Education Bureau Director, dripping with sweat, followed by the Municipal Education Bureau, the Deputy Mayor, and many comrades from relevant departments.

Many more parents also rushed over after hearing the news.

In front of everyone, Qin Chuan said loudly, "Establish an investigation team for an in-depth inquiry. No matter who it is, they shall be punished severely without leniency, and the criminal responsibility of the relevant personnel will be pursued!"

Immediately, thunderous applause rang out.

All the parents clapped vigorously.

"Good, good! Punish them severely!"

"Secretary Qin is mighty!"

"Long live Secretary Qin!"

Amidst the applause, Qin Chuan left Dafeng School and returned to his office. His heart was heavy; he knew this was just the tip of the iceberg, and there were many similar situations throughout the city.

In the afternoon, Deputy Mayor Li Xiaofei, who was in charge of education, came to report. The preliminary investigation showed significant kickbacks between the catering company and Principal Li Jiandong. Furthermore, Principal Li Jiandong himself had seriously violated laws and discipline, being not only corrupt but also having improper sexual relationships with multiple female teachers.

Qin Chuan immediately instructed, "Have the Discipline Inspection Commission intervene for a thorough investigation. Additionally, hold the District Education Bureau Director accountable. Launch a comprehensive city-wide investigation. If a similar situation occurs again, Deputy Mayor Li, you shall resign voluntarily."

Deputy Mayor Li Xiaofei was in her forties and a very capable person, but at this moment, cold sweat almost poured down. She immediately guaranteed that such a thing would never happen again in the city.

Qin Chuan also instructed that while he couldn't control other cities, within the scope of Dongjiang City, pre-prepared meals were strictly forbidden in schools, and school cafeterias and snack shops were strictly forbidden from being outsourced.

Deputy Mayor Li Xiaofei noted everything down. Next, the schools in Dongjiang City would undergo a comprehensive overhaul.

Not long after Deputy Mayor Li Xiaofei left, Minister He Jilin unexpectedly knocked and entered.

"Hello, Secretary Qin."

He kept his posture very low. Those who didn't know better would think he belonged to Qin Chuan's faction and respected him greatly.

As soon as Qin Chuan saw him enter, his mind was as clear as a mirror. He said faintly, "Minister He, how do you have time to visit me today?"

It had been nearly a month since he took office as Municipal Party Secretary, but the number of times Minister He Jilin had visited this office could be counted on one hand. He was, however, very diligent about running to Mayor Liu's place, going there almost every day.

Minister He Jilin wasn't angry and still maintained a low posture. "Secretary Qin, I've specifically come to apologize on behalf of my cousin."

Qin Chuan said intentionally, "Oh, and who is your cousin?"

Minister He Jilin said, "Secretary Qin, look at me, I'm so muddled I forgot to introduce him. My cousin is the principal of Dafeng School, Principal Li Jiandong."

"I heard he made some mistakes. Actually, I know this cousin of mine quite well. Overall, he's a decent person, but I didn't expect him to make these mistakes. I apologize to you on his behalf..."

Qin Chuan listened with a playful look on his face.

Minister He Jilin's purpose for coming was simple: to plead for his cousin, apologize, and hope for a light punishment, with the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation stopping there.

He believed that as a dignified member of the Municipal Standing Committee, Secretary Qin wouldn't excessively offend him for the sake of a minor Principal Li Jiandong.

Why was he pleading for Principal Li Jiandong? It wasn't because their relationship was particularly good, but because he had received a lot of kickbacks from Principal Li Jiandong—totaling several million. He was worried that if Principal Li Jiandong couldn't hold out, he would expose him.