140: Chapter 140 The Township Chief is Tired

Luan Ping sat next to Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, his expression also grim.

He had vaguely heard rumors that Xu Weidong was planning to remove a few people, but he didn't know exactly who.

He glanced at Committee Member Chen Ruo, then at Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, a vague sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming and Committee Member Gao Jin entered one after the other, their expressions normal, showing no signs of anything unusual.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming sat in the seat next to Xu Weidong, with Committee Member Gao Jin beside him. The two exchanged a few words in low voices, quiet enough that only they could hear.

Secretary Zhou Song was the last to enter, holding a folder, his expression serious, looking straight ahead.

He sat in his seat, placed the folder on the table, and rested his hands crossed on top of it, as if protecting something important.

At two o'clock sharp, Xu Weidong pushed the door open and entered.

Wang Jianguo followed behind, holding a folder.

Xu Weidong sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, commanding respect without needing to be angry.

"Comrades, there is an important agenda item for today's meeting."

His voice was not loud, but everyone in the meeting room pricked up their ears.

"Recently, the Discipline Inspection Commission has received some reports involving issues with several comrades in the township. Secretary Zhou Song, please brief everyone on the situation."

Secretary Zhou Song nodded, opened the folder, and spoke in a moderate tone, as if reading a perfectly ordinary document.

"According to organizational arrangements, the Discipline Inspection Commission has conducted a preliminary verification of some letters and reports received recently."

"The relevant situation is hereby reported as follows: Station Head Zhu Yan of the Water Conservancy Station, in the process of managing and using Water Conservancy Station project funds, engaged in non-compliant behavior involving a significant amount of money. The specific details are currently under further investigation."

"Station Head Jin Ming of the Family Planning Station, in the process of distributing Family Planning Station incentive and assistance funds, caused delays in distribution, leading to public complaints and causing a negative impact."

"Station Head Liu Hao of the Statistics Station, in the process of being responsible for statistical work, repeatedly made data errors, and the rectification was ineffective, affecting the quality of the statistics work for the entire township."

Secretary Zhou Song paused, turned a page, and continued: "The above situations have been preliminarily verified by the Discipline Inspection Commission according to procedure, and the evidence is conclusive."

"According to the instructions of Secretary Xu, the Discipline Inspection Commission will file a case and investigate the issues of the above three comrades."

After finishing, Secretary Zhou Song closed the folder, leaned back in his chair, and remained expressionless.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's face turned from red to white, then from white to green, his lips trembling twice.

His hands gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, his chest heaving violently, like a drowning person struggling desperately.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng looked at Luan Ping, whose face had also turned pale.

He looked at Committee Member Chen Ruo, but Committee Member Chen Ruo was looking down, writing something in a notebook, not even glancing at him.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming was expressionless, holding his teacup as if savoring some fine tea.

Meanwhile, Xu Weidong was leaning back in his chair, watching him with a calm gaze, as if observing something unrelated to himself.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng suddenly felt his vision go dark, the chair slid backward, and his body uncontrollably tilted to the side.

"Township Head Jiang!"

Luan Ping exclaimed, reaching out to support him, but failing to catch him.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's head tilted against the back of the chair, his eyes closed, his face pale as paper, and his whole body collapsed like a tree uprooted from the ground.

A commotion broke out in the meeting room.

Luan Ping stood up, his chair tipping over backward with a harsh sound.

Committee Member Gao Jin also stood up, looking at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng in a panic. Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming put down his teacup and leaned forward slightly, but did not stand up.

Xu Weidong unhurriedly picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and spoke in a tone as calm as if he were commenting on the weather.

"Township Head Jiang has been working day and night for the township's development, overworking himself, and his body can no longer take it."

"It's fine, just let him rest for a while."

The meeting room was silent for a moment; everyone looked at Xu Weidong, then at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng slumped in the chair.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's eyes were closed, his face pale as paper, his breathing rapid and ragged; he didn't look like he was "sleeping" at all.

But since Xu Weidong said he was asleep, then he was asleep.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming was the first to react; he picked up his teacup and added in a flat tone: "Township Head Jiang has indeed been working too hard lately."

"I went to his office to report on work the night before last; it was past ten, and he was still looking at documents. Township work is just like that—a thousand threads to manage, too many things to worry about."

"Township Head Jiang is over fifty, not like us young people, so it's normal for his body to not be able to handle it."

Committee Member Gao Jin nodded along, his voice not loud, but enough for everyone present to hear.

"Yes, Township Head Jiang has given too much for the development of Hukuang Township. Secretary Xu is right; Township Head Jiang should take a good rest."

Secretary Zhou Song did not speak, just leaned back in his chair, watching all of this expressionlessly.

Zhou Lan picked up her teacup, took a sip, and set it down. Her gaze lingered on Township Head Jiang Tiansheng for a moment before shifting away. There was no change in her expression, as if all of this was within her expectations.

Deputy Township Head Gong Zizhen rested his hands crossed on the table, his posture neutral, but the corners of his mouth pursed slightly, his gaze shifting back and forth between Xu Weidong and Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, as if weighing something.

Committee Member Chen Ruo looked up, glanced at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng slumped in the chair, and then at Luan Ping, whose face was livid.

Committee Member Chen Ruo knew that at this moment, he had to speak.

He was the Organization Committee Member, a cadre from the Party side; remaining silent at this time would be equivalent to having an unclear stance.

He cleared his throat; his voice was not loud, but every word was very clear.

"Secretary Xu is right, Township Head Jiang is too tired. During this period, the township has had heavy work tasks and high pressure. As the head of the government side, Township Head Jiang has had to worry about much more than the rest of us."

"Health is the capital of revolution; Township Head Jiang should pay attention to rest in the future. As for the issues reported by the Discipline Inspection Commission, as the Organization Committee Member, I fully support the Discipline Inspection Commission in handling them according to regulations and discipline."

"Organizational work must serve the overall situation of the entire township; we cannot let the problems of a few individuals affect the development of the entire township."

Luan Ping's face turned completely black; he looked at Committee Member Chen Ruo, his eyes looking as if they were going to spit fire.

He had worked with Committee Member Chen Ruo for many years, and although they weren't particularly close, he had always considered him one of Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's people.

He never dreamed that Committee Member Chen Ruo would say such things at this time.

This wasn't just echoing Xu Weidong; this was stabbing Township Head Jiang Tiansheng in the back.

He opened his mouth to say something, but met Xu Weidong's calm eyes and swallowed his words back.

Zhou Lan put down her teacup and said: "I heard the issues reported by the Discipline Inspection Commission, and I think it is very necessary."

"The Water Conservancy Station, Family Planning Station, and Statistics Station—these departments are all window units that deal directly with the common people."

"When problems arise, it affects the trust the common people have in the Party and the government. The Discipline Inspection Commission handling this according to regulations and discipline is being responsible to the Party and also responsible to the common people."

"As the Chairman of the Renmin University of China, I support the work of the Discipline Inspection Commission."

Once these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the meeting room changed again.

Zhou Lan had worked in Hukuang Township for so many years and had never taken a stance on such occasions. Today, she spoke, and she stood clearly on the side of Xu Weidong.

This meant that the balance of the neutral faction had already begun to tilt.

Deputy Township Head Gong Zizhen glanced at Zhou Lan, then at Xu Weidong, and cleared his throat.

His voice was unhurried, as if he were making a perfectly normal work statement.

"I am in charge of economic work and have work dealings with both the Water Conservancy Station and the Statistics Station."

"Station Head Zhu Yan and Station Head Liu Hao do indeed have some problems in their work. I have mentioned it a few times before, but the rectification results were not obvious."

"I think the Discipline Inspection Commission's intervention this time is a good thing. Problems have been exposed and solved, so it will be easier to carry out work in the future."

"I support the Discipline Inspection Commission's handling proposal."

Luan Ping sat in his chair, his body as stiff as a stone.

He looked at Committee Member Chen Ruo, then at Zhou Lan, and then at Deputy Township Head Gong Zizhen; the last bit of luck in his heart was completely shattered.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had fallen, Committee Member Chen Ruo had betrayed him, and Zhou Lan and Deputy Township Head Gong Zizhen had also stood on the side of Xu Weidong.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng was slumped in his chair, unconscious; even if he woke up, he wouldn't even have room to resist.