501: Chapter 501 Xie Lizhi Became a Sacrificial Pawn

"They're here, they're here!"

Around ten-thirty in the morning, Vice Governor Huang Lize's motorcade finally exited the highway; although Secretary Xie Lizhi was sweating profusely from the heat, he was incredibly excited.

"The leader is personally coming to Wanshun to stand with me and back me up."

"This is great; those who are neutral will likely all lean toward me, and Director Hu Bing and his group will be completely isolated."

Vice Governor Huang Lize arrived in Wanshun County.

The motorcade was massive, passing through the streets with police cars leading the way; the display was grand, and the commotion was significant.

Many commoners were buzzing with discussion.

"Which big leader has arrived in our Wanshun County?"

"Looking at this display and posture, it must be at the provincial leader level!"

"Secretary Qin Chuan is now at the vice-ministerial level, and he is very low-key; making such a display is inappropriate!"

"Keep your voice down, don't let them hear you, or you'll be in trouble!"

"Tsk tsk, the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 cars of the County Party Committee are all following behind; it must be some big leader!"

The motorcade drove into the courtyard of the Wanshun County Party Committee and County Government and stopped in front of the office building. Even though Secretary Xie Lizhi was the first to get out, he trotted a few steps to personally open the car door for Vice Governor Huang Lize.

"Leader, please take it slow, be careful not to bump yourself."

Vice Governor Huang Lize nodded slightly. After getting out of the car, he walked into the office building surrounded and accompanied by everyone, and sat down in the reception room that had been prepared in advance.

The first thing he did after sitting on the sofa was ask, "Little Xie, where is Secretary Qin Chuan?"

Upon hearing this, Secretary Xie Lizhi was taken aback.

He never expected that the leader's first sentence would actually be to ask about Qin Chuan.

After a moment of shock, once he regained his composure, Secretary Xie Lizhi replied, "Leader, Secretary Qin Chuan is staying at Wanshun Hotel. At this time of day, he should have already gone out. Should I give him a call?"

Vice Governor Huang Lize said, "I'll do it myself."

Right in front of everyone, he dialed Qin Chuan's number, his tone extremely polite, "Comrade Qin Chuan, I have already arrived in Wanshun County. Where are you? Do you have time to sit down and have some tea?"

Qin Chuan said, "Vice Governor Huang has arrived so quickly? I was just preparing to head out. Since that's the case, let's sit down and have tea first."

"Good, then we shall have tea at Wanshun Hotel."

After finishing the call, Vice Governor Huang Lize said, "Let's go, we are going to Wanshun Hotel to have tea with Qin Chuan."

Many people were astonished.

Qin Chuan actually had such great face that Vice Governor Huang Lize was personally going over to have tea with him, rather than Secretary Qin Chuan coming over.

Some sensitive people seemed to sense a trace of something unusual, and Secretary Xie Lizhi also felt that something was a bit off.

"Isn't the leader personally coming to Wanshun County to stand with me and back me up? Why is the first thing he does to have tea with Qin Chuan?"

Wanshun Hotel was right next door, and the group, in a grand procession, arrived there in a few minutes.

A while later, everyone was seated together.

At the very center, in the main seats, were Qin Chuan and Vice Governor Huang Lize.

Vice Governor Huang Lize took out the fine tea leaves he had specially brought with him and personally brewed the tea, without any airs of a Vice Governor, as if Qin Chuan were the leader and he were the subordinate.

Some people noticed that Vice Governor Huang Lize seemed to be deliberately trying to curry favor and suck up to Qin Chuan.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn't have believed it even if they were beaten to death; how could this be possible!

Secretary Xie Lizhi's eyes were wide open, and he was shouting in his heart that this was impossible.

The facts were indeed so; Vice Governor Huang Lize was clearly currying favor and sucking up to Qin Chuan, even personally pouring tea for him, "Secretary Qin Chuan, it is rare that we have the opportunity to sit down and have tea. This is some tea I managed to get from my old leader."

Why was he deliberately currying favor and sucking up to Qin Chuan?

The reason was simple: this was a critical period, concerning whether he could sit on the throne of Governor of Jiangnan Province.

Qin Chuan was, after all, the third generation of the Qin Family. If the Qin Family could say a word for him in this matter, then the Governor's position would be secure.

Even if the Qin Family didn't speak for him, he absolutely must not offend the Qin Family. Similarly, the Qin Family only needed to say one word to negate all his efforts and make his dream of becoming Governor completely fall through.

Therefore, he deliberately drew closer to Qin Chuan, even with a hint of obvious fawning and flattery.

While drinking tea, he exchanged polite pleasantries with Qin Chuan, even personally brewing the tea.

After chatting for a while, Vice Governor Huang Lize flattered him, "Wanshun County has developed really well. Comrade Qin Chuan, you deserve the credit. If it weren't for the foundation you laid, there would be no Wanshun County of today."

Heh. Qin Chuan smiled, "Vice Governor Huang, Wanshun County did indeed develop well before, but after walking around and taking a look yesterday, I found it to be a scene of foul atmosphere and chaos; it made me feel stifled just looking at it."

What! Vice Governor Huang Lize's expression changed slightly.

He rarely came to Wanshun County, and even when he came for research, he only took a superficial look and listened to reports; he had always thought that Wanshun County was developing better and better.

How could he have known that Qin Chuan would openly call it a foul atmosphere and chaotic?

His gaze became a bit unkind as he looked at Secretary Xie Lizhi.

Secretary Xie Lizhi immediately argued, "Secretary Qin Chuan, I think you might have some misunderstandings; the development of our Wanshun County is actually very good..."

He spent some effort arguing his case.

To this, Qin Chuan did not believe a single word.

Coldly glancing at Secretary Xie Lizhi, Qin Chuan said, "Secretary Xie Lizhi, after you took office, you went all out on vanity projects and performance projects in Wanshun County, spending 2.65 billion to build a so-called International Convention Center. For such a small county, is that necessary?"

"And, you made the final decision to build a light rail and an International Financial Building in Wanshun County. These are all things that waste money and harm the people. If this continues, the family fortune of Wanshun County will be squandered by you."

In front of so many people, Qin Chuan's tone was so severe, giving no face at all, which made Secretary Xie Lizhi's face turn bright red.

Biting the bullet, Secretary Xie Lizhi was still arguing, "Secretary Qin Chuan, this was a collective decision by our team, not just my opinion alone. Besides, building these things is of great help in improving the reputation and standing of Wanshun County..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Vice Governor Huang Lize, "Enough, you don't need to say anything more."

Between choosing one of the two, Qin Chuan or Secretary Xie Lizhi, Vice Governor Huang Lize would definitely choose Qin Chuan.

Secretary Xie Lizhi was just a pawn, the kind that could be discarded at any time; now, he had become a discarded pawn.

Seeing that the leader not only didn't help him speak but instead scolded him, Secretary Xie Lizhi felt a wave of sorrow in his heart.

What was even harder for him to accept was that Qin Chuan dealt him a fatal blow.

Taking a thick document directly from his briefcase, Qin Chuan said, "Vice Governor Huang, this is a report document that someone quietly slipped into the crack of my door this morning. I flipped through it, and it is shocking. You should take a look too."

Vice Governor Huang Lize took the document, and after just flipping through it, his face sank completely.

Although Secretary Xie Lizhi didn't know what kind of report document this was, or if it had anything to do with him, his sixth sense told him that for him, it was definitely not a good thing.