54: Chapter 54 Looking for shit in a latrine

Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan knocked on the door and entered the County Party Secretary's office with a somewhat smug expression.

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang had also just received the news that Qin Chuan had actually been taken away by the County Commission for Discipline Inspection for investigation.

Upon hearing this, his anger flared up immediately.

It was a total disregard for him, the top leader of the County Party Committee!

Taking a Township Party Committee Secretary away for investigation should at least require informing him, the top leader, but it hadn't happened; he only learned the news just now.

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang really wanted to make a call to confront the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, to ask if they still respected him as the County Party Secretary, and whether they still intended to uphold the Party's leadership.

Before he could make the call, while he was still fuming, a knock sounded at the door, and Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan entered with a smile on his face.

Noticing County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang's expression, he deliberately put on a look of concern and asked, "Secretary Cao, what's wrong? Did you encounter something troubling?"

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang said angrily, "What is Secretary Tang Xingwei up to? To actually take Qin Chuan away for investigation—I think he doesn't want to be the Deputy Secretary of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection anymore!"

It was indeed because of this matter.

Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan chuckled, "Secretary Cao, don't be angry. This matter is my fault for not communicating with you beforehand. In fact, taking Qin Chuan away for investigation was my idea."

It was your idea!

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang was slightly surprised!

Then, a sense of joy welled up in his heart. You're bold, daring to touch even Qin Chuan. Do you know about his connections and background?

It's truly like lighting a lantern in an outhouse—you're looking for death.

Just wait to be dealt with by Provincial Party Secretary Qin Zhendong; you dared to touch his son.

Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan didn't know any of this, nor did he know what County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang was thinking at that moment; he remained smug. "Secretary Cao, I came over mainly to tell you that according to the initial investigation by the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, Qin Chuan's problems are very serious."

What! Serious problems!!!

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang was slightly shocked, and the joy in his heart quickly diminished.

If Qin Chuan was really found to have major problems and faced disciplinary action, then he, as the County Party Secretary, would also be implicated.

At the very least, he had failed to protect Qin Chuan's career. Once Provincial Party Secretary Qin Zhendong was dissatisfied, a single word from him would cost him his position as County Party Secretary.

Feeling a bit nervous and worried, County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang said, "Tell me exactly what happened."

Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan, with a smug tone, briefly explained the situation.

After listening, County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang remained silent for a long time.

The problem was serious!

One hundred thousand yuan in cash was found under Qin Chuan's bed, and there were several million yuan in assets across several bank cards.

This... what should he do!

Should he call Provincial Party Secretary Qin Zhendong right now?

But how could a lowly County Party Secretary contact the Provincial Party Secretary directly? Besides, Provincial Party Secretary Qin Zhendong had issued a gag order not to reveal the relationship between him and Qin Chuan. If he made that call, wouldn't he be leaking everything?

Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan said smugly, "Secretary Cao, Qin Chuan's problems are very serious. I suggest we launch an in-depth investigation and make him a negative example to serve as a warning to all cadres in the county."

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang looked at Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan and thought, Damn it, you've got guts!

He is the son of the Provincial Party Secretary, and you actually want to make him a negative example!

Just as he was about to say something, another knock sounded at the office door. Ma Zhengnan and Director Hu Qibin from Dahe Township pushed the door open and entered.

"Secretary Cao, Deputy Secretary Wang." Ma Zhengnan greeted them first, and Director Hu Qibin, who followed behind, did the same.

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang said, "Do you have something to report?"

Ma Zhengnan went straight to the point, "Secretary Cao, Secretary Qin Chuan has been framed. Someone planted that one hundred thousand yuan in cash under the bed."

Director Hu Qibin added, "We suspect that the mastermind is Young Master Wang Long, who is Deputy Secretary Wang's son, and that he orchestrated all of this."

What! Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan glared at Director Hu Qibin and said sternly, "What is your name? You can't just go around saying things like that."

Director Hu Qibin knew about Qin Chuan's background. To him, a Deputy County Party Secretary was nothing in front of the Provincial Party Secretary, so naturally, he wasn't afraid.

"Deputy Secretary Wang, we have evidence. This is surveillance footage. At 9:11, someone opened the door to Qin Chuan's room, and left at 9:13. They stayed for about two minutes. When they went in, they were carrying a black plastic bag, and when they left, they were empty-handed..."

He had brought a USB drive, inserted it into the computer, and played the video while explaining it.

Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan was slightly shocked that there was surveillance footage, but he quickly composed himself.

"And what does this prove?"

Ma Zhengnan said, "We have identified and investigated this person. He is a subordinate of Young Master Wang Long, and also a thug with a prior record for theft."

Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan was stunned. He never expected that this was actually his son's man.

Ma Zhengnan continued, "Secretary Cao, because the middle school project was not given to Young Master Wang Long, he came to Dahe Township yesterday in a rage, caused a scene at our Township Government, and pointed at Township Head Chen while hurling terrible abuse. Because it was simply too outrageous, Secretary Qin Chuan had people throw Young Master Wang Long out..."

After briefly reporting what happened yesterday, Ma Zhengnan analyzed, "We suspect that Young Master Wang Long is framing him, and we even suspect that he instructed the people from the County Commission for Discipline Inspection to take Secretary Qin Chuan away."

Understanding these things, County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang was no longer nervous, and his worry lessened significantly.

"Deputy Secretary Wang, is this how it happened?"

"No, absolutely not!" Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan denied it loudly.

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang said, "There are too many suspicious points in this matter. I suggest we release Secretary Qin Chuan immediately and end this matter here."

Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan certainly didn't want to release him and insisted, "Then what about the several million yuan in assets across his bank cards? How do you explain that?"

The two were at odds. One wanted to release him, and the other disagreed.

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang said, "Then let's convene a Standing Committee meeting and discuss it as a group."

He guessed that County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong must know about Secretary Qin Chuan's connections and background. At the Standing Committee meeting, County Magistrate Zhang Yuansong would surely agree with him and support releasing Qin Chuan immediately, ending the matter there.

As for Deputy County Party Secretary Wang Jingan, he believed that since he had gathered so much evidence, especially the huge amount of money from unknown sources, he trusted that the other Standing Committee members would not dare to cover for him.

"Fine, then let's convene the Standing Committee."

County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang picked up the phone, called his secretary in, and ordered him to convene a Standing Committee meeting immediately.

This was rare in the history of Sanjiang County. An emergency Standing Committee meeting was specifically convened because a Township Party Committee Secretary had been taken away for investigation.

Within a few minutes, except for the Standing Committee member who had gone to the city for a meeting, Secretary Zeng Xiguang of the Discipline Inspection Commission, almost all the Standing Committee members were seated in the small conference room. Presided over by County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang, he went straight to the point and personally explained to the Standing Committee members the situation of Qin Chuan being taken away for investigation.

After briefly explaining, he emphasized, "Qin Chuan was taken away for investigation, and I, the top leader, didn't even know about it. This situation is very serious. I reserve the right to report this to the higher-level Party Committee."

After he finished speaking, the originally quiet conference room became noisy. Some Standing Committee members had heard about this matter shortly before, but more of them only learned about it just now after County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang spoke.