81: Chapter 81 Talks with the County Discipline Inspection Commission

As soon as the call connected, a coquettish voice came from the other end.

"Darling, when are you going to buy me that car you promised?"

Township Head Chen Qunfeng was in a great mood. Normally, he might have found an excuse to put it off, but this time he agreed immediately.

"I'll buy it tomorrow. How about that? Is that okay?"

"Hubby, you're so good to me! Then let's meet at our usual spot tonight. I'll let you unlock a new position."

After hanging up, Township Head Chen Qunfeng continued humming a little tune. He combed his hair in the mirror, tidied his clothes, checked the time, and prepared to head out.

The person who had just called wasn't his wife.

It was his mistress; the two of them had been seeing each other secretly for a year or two.

...

After requesting instructions from County Party Secretary Cao Zhengwang, Secretary Zeng Xiguang personally went to Dahe Township the following morning.

He didn't make a grand scene or let the whole world know; he came in a single car, bringing only his secretary.

The car's speed slowed down significantly after entering Dahe Township because the road was crowded with vehicles—if they weren't large trucks, they were tricycles or small vans transporting yellow peaches.

Looking at all this through the window, Secretary Zeng Xiguang thought to himself: what a busy scene. With so many yellow peaches in Dahe Township, if they were all sold, Qin Chuan would deserve immense credit. Unfortunately, he might have secretly accepted kickbacks, and a huge amount at that.

What a pity, truly a pity.

Finally, the car drove into the Dahe Township Government compound. As soon as he stepped out, someone recognized Secretary Zeng Xiguang.

As luck would have it, Deputy Township Head Wang Feng was coming downstairs, planning to visit the villages he was responsible for to check on the peach harvest, when he saw Secretary Zeng Xiguang getting out of the car.

Immediately, he felt a slight pang of nervousness.

His first reaction was: Secretary Zeng from the Discipline Inspection Commission couldn't be here for me, could he? Could the County Commission for Discipline Inspection have found out about the things I've done?

Trying his best to control his nervous heart, Wang Feng braced himself and greeted him, "Secretary Zeng, you're here."

Secretary Zeng Xiguang nodded slightly and waved his hand. "Where is your Secretary Qin? Is he in his office?"

He hadn't notified anyone in Dahe Township before coming.

Years of experience had told Secretary Zeng Xiguang that only a surprise attack could throw the subject of an investigation off balance. That was his goal: to show up suddenly and question Qin Chuan, hoping to find some clues.

Seeing that the man wasn't there for him, Wang Feng felt slightly relieved and said hurriedly, "Secretary Qin is in his office. Shall I take you up?"

"No need, go about your business."

Secretary Zeng Xiguang entered the office building and knocked on the door to Qin Chuan's office.

Seeing that the visitor was Secretary Zeng Xiguang, a member of the County Party Committee Standing Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, Qin Chuan, who was reading a document, quickly stood up and said warmly, "Secretary Zeng, what brings you here?"

Secretary Zeng Xiguang said, "I had to come. Rumors are spreading all over Dahe Township that you took kickbacks from Hongtai Supermarket. Furthermore, our County Commission for Discipline Inspection has received anonymous reports."

He got straight to the point, mentioning these things directly to catch Qin Chuan off guard and try to see any panic in him.

As long as the other party panicked, as a veteran of the Discipline Inspection Commission, he would be able to break down their psychological defenses and get the information he wanted.

Secretary Zeng Xiguang was quite confident in this regard, especially since Qin Chuan was young. His psychological resilience shouldn't be like those old foxes; he might achieve his goal in no time.

But he was clearly disappointed.

Aside from being welcoming, Qin Chuan showed no signs of panic.

"Secretary Zeng, I was just about to report this matter to the County Commission for Discipline Inspection. This is completely a rumor, a total slander. I hope the County Commission for Discipline Inspection will investigate thoroughly and give me justice."

"Don't worry, we will investigate clearly. The County Commission for Discipline Inspection will never wrong a good person, nor will it let a bad person go."

Secretary Zeng Xiguang sat down on the sofa and asked Qin Chuan many questions with a serious expression, gesturing for his secretary to record each of Qin Chuan's answers.

The questioning lasted for twenty to thirty minutes. After it was over, he showed the record of the conversation to Qin Chuan and asked him to sign it.

Once the formal questioning was finished, Secretary Zeng Xiguang felt a slight sense of disappointment.

It hadn't met his expectations at all. Qin Chuan's answers were flawless, and he had remained very steady throughout the entire process without any panic; on the contrary, he exuded a sense of confidence.

Secretary Zeng Xiguang asked himself: could he really be wronged? Was someone really spreading rumors in the shadows?

Then, Secretary Zeng Xiguang proceeded to question several other township leaders in Dahe Township, including Ma Zhengnan, Vice Township Head Mu Xiuwen, and others.

Even Deputy Township Head Wang Feng was called back for questioning.

Wang Feng really wanted to say something bad about Qin Chuan, but he didn't dare, because the questioning was being recorded and required a signature.

This was a formal inquiry by the County Commission for Discipline Inspection. He knew well that if he spoke ill of Qin Chuan behind his back, Qin Chuan would definitely find out later and settle the score, which wouldn't be worth the risk.

Secretary Zeng Xiguang arrived at Dahe Township after nine o'clock and left before eleven. He was there for less than two hours, arriving and leaving very discreetly.

Aside from a few township leaders, very few people knew that the Secretary of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection had visited and conducted formal inquiries on behalf of the County Party Committee.

Today, Township Head Chen Qunfeng continued to take leave, using the excuse that the injury on his head hadn't healed yet and he needed more rest.

Even though he was far away in the county seat, he soon learned of the situation.

Wang Feng called and told him everything in detail. Immediately, his mood was wonderful again. The County Commission for Discipline Inspection had already launched an investigation; that guy Qin was in trouble now. Even if he didn't lose his official post, he would at least be transferred from his position as Township Party Committee Secretary.

At this moment, he was accompanying his lover to pick out a car.

His lover chose a red Volkswagen sedan with an on-the-road price of over three hundred thousand yuan. Township Head Chen Qunfeng didn't even blink as he gallantly swiped his card.

Compared to Township Head Chen Qunfeng, Qin Chuan's mood was a bit heavy.

Anyone's mood would be poor after being questioned by the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, even if they were clean and had no problems at all.

Knowing that Township Head Chen Qunfeng was the one playing tricks behind the scenes, Qin Chuan firmly decided that this man, Township Head Chen Qunfeng, could not be allowed to stay.

In the afternoon, Qin Chuan went to the county seat and entered Director Luo Bing's office. The two of them talked behind closed doors for a long time, right up until the end of the workday.

Seeing that it was past quitting time, Director Luo Bing said warmly, "Secretary Qin, I will definitely handle the matter you've entrusted to me beautifully. Come, it's dinner time, let's go have a couple of drinks."

Qin Chuan stood up and said, "Alright, then I'll leave the matter to you."

After the County Commission for Discipline Inspection's investigation found him to be innocent, Qin Chuan would certainly demand they find the person who spread the rumors and made the malicious report, but that didn't stop him from having Director Luo Bing secretly look into Township Head Chen Qunfeng beforehand.

The two of them left the County Public Security Bureau. They didn't drive; the county seat was only so big, so walking was fine, and the place they were going to eat wasn't far.

After walking for about ten minutes, the restaurant was just ahead. Suddenly, Qin Chuan stopped, his gaze landing on a brand-new red Volkswagen sedan parked on the roadside in the distance.