427: Chapter 427 He Jilin's Downfall

After Mayor Liu finished listening, a look of indignation appeared on his face.

"This is simply outrageous! That man Qin has no sense of propriety!"

Minister He Jilin said with a long face, "Mayor Liu, the people from the Discipline Inspection Commission are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Principal Li Jiandong is just a minor Section-level official; it's against the rules for the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to intervene."

Mayor Liu clearly didn't want his ally, Minister He Jilin, to get into trouble. Originally, the number of people supporting him was decreasing; if Minister He Jilin had an accident, the situation would be even worse.

"Comrade Jilin, don't be anxious. I will look into this matter."

Hearing this, Minister He Jilin felt much more relieved.

After leaving the Mayor's office, Minister He Jilin went to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection himself. It's unknown what he discussed with Secretary Li Wei, but he left with a dark face regardless.

Just a few minutes after Minister He Jilin left, Secretary Li Wei didn't expect that he would be called over by Mayor Liu.

Mayor Liu personally inquired about Principal Li Jiandong's matter and exerted pressure.

Facing the Mayor, the second-in-command, Secretary Li Wei still felt pressure. If it weren't for Qin Chuan's explicit instructions, he probably would have just let it go.

A mere principal wasn't worth offending Mayor Liu over, but with Secretary Qin's instructions, it was different.

Secretary Li Wei still withstood the pressure. "Mayor Liu, Secretary Qin has explicitly instructed to investigate Principal Li Jiandong to the end. No matter who is involved, they cannot be easily let off. Perhaps you should communicate with Secretary Qin? We in the Discipline Inspection Commission are caught in the middle, and it is indeed very difficult for us."

Hearing such words, Mayor Liu's expression became much more serious.

Originally, Secretary Li Wei was considered one of his men, but now, he had completely sided with Qin Chuan. Now that he had personally come forward, the man actually went against his wishes.

"Motherfucker, he doesn't listen to a single word I say now."

Amidst his anger, Mayor Liu could only keep a stiff face and wave his hand impatiently. "Fine, you can go."

After Secretary Li Wei left the Mayor's office, he turned around and entered Qin Chuan's office to report what had just happened.

After listening, Qin Chuan smiled.

It seemed that not only was Minister He Jilin anxious, but even Mayor Liu was getting desperate.

"Comrade Li Wei, you've done very well. Rest assured and investigate boldly; I'm supporting you from behind. If there's any pressure, feel free to tell me."

"Thank you, Secretary!"

Secretary Li Wei left the Municipal Party Secretary's office and directed the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to intervene in the investigation. Soon, Principal Li Jiandong's situation was investigated one by one.

In the officialdom of Dongjiang City, within a small circle, some people gradually began to spread rumors.

"The principal of Dafeng School has been arrested. I heard he's Minister He Jilin's cousin!"

"Principal Li has confessed many things involving Minister He Jilin. It looks like Minister He is in trouble now."

"Do you think Minister He will go in? Will the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection intervene?"

"..."

Certain words gradually reached Minister He Jilin's ears. Every time he heard them, his expression would turn quite ugly.

Right now, he was alone in his office with a gloomy face.

Just now in the corridor, he had actually heard people whispering in discussion. Preposterous! This was the Municipal Publicity Department; did these people not want their jobs anymore?!

While thinking angrily, his phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was a call from the Municipal Party Committee Office, so he quickly answered.

The voice of the Municipal Party Committee's first secretary, Deputy County Mayor Zhang Tianxiong, came from inside. "Minister He, a meeting of the Municipal Standing Committee will be held in the small conference room of the Municipal Party Committee at 2:00 PM. Please be sure to attend."

"Fine, I understand!"

Minister He Jilin was very irritable and didn't want to say another word. With a "snap," he hung up the phone.

At 2:00 PM, the Municipal Standing Committee meeting was held on time.

Qin Chuan personally presided over the meeting. Everyone thought there would be another round of personnel appointments and adjustments, but little did they know that today's topic was anti-corruption and building a clean government.

After speaking on the topic of anti-corruption for a few minutes, Qin Chuan said, "Next, Secretary Li Wei of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection will brief everyone on several corruption cases recently uncovered in our city."

Secretary Li Wei was well-prepared and began to report to everyone one by one, including the matter of Principal Li Jiandong's corruption, and he spoke quite detailedly on this matter.

Minister He Jilin had a dark face.

He was extremely displeased and was already cursing in his heart. He thought, 'Everyone knows Principal Li Jiandong is my cousin. You keep talking about this matter—what's the meaning of this?'

Mayor Liu's expression was also quite serious, and he was even more dissatisfied with Secretary Li Wei. 'I personally greeted you and said to let Principal Li Jiandong's matter go, but you've gone and investigated everything thoroughly.'

Just as Secretary Li Wei was about to finish the briefing, Qin Chuan's phone vibrated. He picked it up, looked at it, and immediately said to everyone.

"Comrades, I'm taking a call."

Secretary Li Wei immediately fell silent, and Qin Chuan answered the call.

"Mhm, mhm, okay, good."

"Yes, yes, we are currently holding a Municipal Standing Committee meeting. You can come directly to the conference room. My secretary, Little Zhang, is at the main gate; he will bring you up."

After finishing the call, Qin Chuan gestured. "Comrade Li Wei, please continue."

Secretary Li Wei finished the content he hadn't finished yet, and then Qin Chuan spoke.

"Comrades, the red line of corruption must never be touched. A certain comrade among us has already crossed this line. According to Principal Li Jiandong's confession, he bribed this comrade a total of 4.2 million yuan. He has accounted for every single transaction clearly, with the largest single bribe being two million yuan."

A buzzing sound of discussion rose.

Although no name was mentioned, everyone basically knew who was being talked about.

"This is too bold! How dare they accept so much money!"

"They received over four million from Principal Li Jiandong alone. What about from others? I think this comrade's problem is very serious!"

"..."

Seeing the members of the Standing Committee whispering and hearing some of the words drifting into his ears, Minister He Jilin's face turned beet red.

Although no name was mentioned, this was even more humiliating than being named directly.

Unable to bear it any longer, Minister He Jilin finally couldn't hold back and erupted, shouting angrily, "Secretary Qin, it's not appropriate to make such insinuations at the Municipal Standing Committee meeting, is it?"

Qin Chuan gave a playful smile. "It is indeed a bit inappropriate. Then let me correct myself: Principal Li Jiandong confessed that he bribed Comrade He Jilin multiple times, totaling 4.2 million yuan."

What!

When the name was spoken, almost everyone was stunned, and all eyes fell on Minister He Jilin.

A few members of the Standing Committee even thought to themselves that since Secretary Qin had explicitly stated such a thing at the Standing Committee, Minister He Jilin was likely finished.

Minister He Jilin himself didn't have this realization yet; he was completely blinded by rage, his face flushed red. "Secretary Qin, I want to report to the Provincial Party Committee that you are slandering a comrade, you..."

Before he could finish, Qin Chuan interrupted him. "He Jilin, don't go to so much trouble. The people from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection are coming right now. You can report to them."

What!

The people from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection are arriving right now!

Everyone was stunned again. No one had heard any rumors about this at all. Even Mayor Liu was stunned; even he didn't know that the people from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection had already arrived.

Within a minute, a burst of footsteps came from outside the conference room. Led by a deputy secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, a group of several people walked in under the guidance of Deputy County Mayor Zhang Tianxiong.