520: Chapter 520 The Great Earthquake in the Officialdom of Hexi District

After Guo Mingze returned to Hexi District, the more he thought about it, the more panicked he became.

If Secretary Qin Chuan stood on their side and shielded them, everything would be fine. If Secretary Qin maintained an attitude of fairness and impartiality, however, then they were in danger.

Since ancient times, officials have protected one another, but it seemed things had changed with Secretary Qin...

The more he thought about it, the less confident Guo Mingze felt. He knew best exactly what he had done, and none of it could withstand a strict investigation.

He might be able to fool ordinary people, but he always felt that he wouldn't be able to fool Secretary Qin.

Therefore, he called over several relevant people, shut the office door, and they conspired in his district mayor's office to discuss countermeasures and align their stories.

They were grasshoppers on the same rope; interests had bound them together, so Guo Mingze was not worried about anyone turning against him.

Everyone was in it to make money.

Especially Guo Mingze, whose life motto was to climb the ranks and get rich. He had skimmed quite a lot himself; he couldn't remember exactly how much, but it was likely over 100 million.

After finishing this secret meeting, he still felt a bit uneasy. He thought to himself, "I must take care of Secretary Qin."

Only by taking care of Secretary Qin would he be truly safe.

How could he take care of Secretary Qin? He believed that there was no one in the world who didn't like money. As long as he gave enough, there was no one he couldn't handle.

...

Secretary Lu Wangshu was highly efficient. In just two days, she had investigated almost everything.

"Leader, everything has been investigated clearly. Led by Guo Mingze, they formed a group of vested interests and forged a lot of evidence. A total of 317 million in overdue project payments has not yet been paid to Zhao Liangcheng..."

After listening to the report, only four words came to Qin Chuan's mind: "Audacious to the extreme!"

With such a business environment, who would dare to come and invest?

They owed project payments, and you couldn't even ask for them, or else they would arrest you.

Even though they hadn't paid, they claimed the money had been paid in full and could even produce a pile of evidence.

Qin Chuan's expression was very serious. He said slowly, "The business environment is very important. It seems we still have a long way to go."

Secretary Lu Wangshu nodded and said, "Leader is right. Without a good business environment, entrepreneurs won't dare to invest. How can the city develop then?"

Qin Chuan said, "People like Guo Mingze are the rotten apples destroying the business environment; they must not be allowed to exist. It will be the same in the future. Anyone found destroying the business environment, no matter how high their position or how great their contributions, must not be let off and must be dealt with severely."

Secretary Lu Wangshu said clearly, "Leader, we will keep this in mind. Please give your orders; what should we do next?"

Qin Chuan did not hesitate, "Immediately have Guo Mingze and the others taken away for investigation and conduct an in-depth probe into their issues."

"Understood. I will go there personally with people to have him taken away for investigation immediately."

Hexi District Government.

Guo Mingze was restless, sitting in his office in a daze. Just as he had guessed, Secretary Qin Chuan had not shielded them but had dispatched a Joint Investigation Team to conduct an in-depth investigation.

He himself had just returned from the Investigation Team. He was thinking, "How much information has the Investigation Team actually grasped? Did I clean up my mess properly..."

His mind was focused on the matter of taking care of Secretary Qin Chuan.

"Hmm, tonight I will drive personally to Secretary Qin's Villa No. 1. Nominally, it will be a visit, but in reality, it will be to deliver money."

"I'll use a few large cardboard boxes, fill them with cash... I, I, I will give him 20 million in cash. A whole car full—I don't believe he won't be tempted..."

Just as he was thinking this, the office door was pushed open.

Secretary Lu Wangshu walked in, personally leading several people.

Seeing Secretary Lu Wangshu, Guo Mingze felt an inexplicable tightening in his heart. "Secretary Lu, why... why are you here?"

He was truly nervous.

In all of Xilin City, most officials feared Secretary Lu Wangshu, especially when she personally led people to their door. This time, not only did Secretary Lu Wangshu come personally, but she also brought seven or eight people with her.

Anyone could tell at a glance that these people were from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Secretary Lu Wangshu had a stern look on her face, her voice extremely serious. "Guo Mingze, you are suspected of serious disciplinary violations. I am now announcing that you are taken away for investigation. Take him away!"

As she waved her hand, two male comrades immediately flanked Guo Mingze and hauled him out.

Guo Mingze was shocked and shouted, "I want to see Mayor Lin Changkong! I want to call Secretary Qin Chuan! I am being framed..."

Such a commotion quickly caused many people in the Hexi District Government to poke their heads out.

"It's terrifying! Secretary Lu of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection led the team herself and took District Mayor Guo away!"

"The Secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection led the team personally and announced the order to be taken away for investigation on the spot. It looks like the issue is very serious!"

"I wonder who else will be invited to 'drink tea'."

"..."

Guo Mingze was just the beginning. Soon, one official after another from Hexi District was taken away, and the entire Hexi District officialdom was in a state of panic.

Just as one person after another was being invited to "drink tea," an unexpected incident occurred: the Director of the Hexi District Finance Bureau unexpectedly jumped from a building and died on the spot.

In the office.

Secretary Lu Wangshu lowered her head slightly and said with a look of self-reproach, "Leader, there was still a lapse in our work. The operation wasn't swift enough; I didn't expect that the Director of the Hexi District Finance Bureau would actually jump from a building."

Qin Chuan said, "You can't be blamed for this. Who could have foreseen such a thing? Even though he has jumped, the issues within the Hexi District Finance Bureau must still be investigated in depth."

Soon, several leaders of the Hexi District Finance Bureau were taken away.

For the past few days, Zhao Liangcheng had been watching the Xilin City news and reading the Xilin Daily without fail. He learned that Guo Mingze had been taken away for investigation, that the Director of the Hexi District Finance Bureau had jumped from a building, and that many officials had been taken away for investigation.

He often thought to himself, "Secretary Qin Chuan is truly different; he really has courage."

"The project payments owed to me by the Hexi District Government have also arrived in full. It would be great if I had the chance to thank him in person."

After the matters in Hexi District came to an end, Secretary Qin Chuan mentioned to Mayor Lin Changkong that Cai Feng from the Municipal City Management Bureau should serve as the District Mayor of Hexi District. Mayor Lin Changkong raised both hands in approval.

Whether it was personnel appointments or other important matters, as long as Qin Chuan proposed them, he supported them fully and had never opposed them.

After appointing the District Mayor of Hexi District, Qin Chuan began preparing to rectify the business environment of the entire city to attract investment.

For a city to develop, investment is crucial.

Regarding the rectification of the business environment, Mayor Lin Changkong also raised both hands in approval. Furthermore, in his capacity as mayor, he convened special meetings several times to make a series of arrangements and deployments.

Time had passed New Year's Day, and it was now 2020. There was only about a month left until the Lunar New Year. Many migrant workers had worked hard for a year, counting on their bosses to pay them so they could go home and have a lively Spring Festival.

Yang Xingcheng was one such migrant worker who had come to Xilin City for work. He had slaved away at a construction site for almost a year, receiving only 1,000 yuan a month for living expenses. The boss had promised that the remaining money would be paid in full at the end of the year.

But as the end of the year approached, the boss broke his word. He had already put out the word that due to tight funds, they would only be paid half of their wages, and the other half would be discussed next year.