182: Chapter 182 Belief in Religion

The news reached Secretary Wei Kuan on a winter afternoon. Director of the County Party Committee Office Zhou Ping came in to deliver documents, placed a stack of materials on the desk, and did not turn to leave as he usually did.

Instead, he stood before the desk, hesitating for a moment.

Secretary Wei Kuan looked up at him, set down his pen, and leaned back in his chair.

"Something up?"

Director of the County Party Committee Office Zhou Ping took half a step forward, his voice lowered, lowered to the point that it sounded like a secret that could not be heard by a third person.

"Secretary Wei, there is a matter I feel I should report to you regarding Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang."

Secretary Wei Kuan's brows twitched slightly. Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang was the Executive Vice Magistrate, having worked in Changyuan County for nearly ten years, with more seniority than even him, the Secretary.

This man was experienced in his work, slick in his dealings, and well-liked in the county, getting along with everyone.

But Secretary Wei Kuan always had an indescribable feeling about him; it wasn't that he didn't like him, but rather that he couldn't see through him.

"What about Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang?"

Director of the County Party Committee Office Zhou Ping leaned in closer, his voice even lower: "You know about Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang's belief in Buddhism, right?"

Secretary Wei Kuan nodded; this was no secret in the county.

Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang had believed in Buddhism for many years, eating vegetarian meals on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, visiting temples during holidays, and it was said he even enshrined a small Buddha statue at home.

Many leaders in the county knew, but no one took it seriously.

"The temple he frequents has problems."

Director of the County Party Committee Office Zhou Ping paused, as if deliberating on how to phrase it.

"I just heard about it too."

"The monks at that temple use incense to drug the devotees who come to burn incense, and then have the young monks in the temple commit sexual assault, causing those devotees to become pregnant."

"Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang's son might not be his biological child."

The air in the office seemed to be sucked out. Secretary Wei Kuan stared at Director of the County Party Committee Office Zhou Ping for several seconds, his gaze carrying something indescribable.

"Who did you hear this from?"

"Old Qi from the County Public Security Bureau, who went to another city for a cross-regional case a while ago, heard it from local colleagues."

"That case has already been solved, and the monks involved have all been arrested. Su Bainian's name is on the list of victims."

"Old Qi mentioned it when we were drinking after he got back, saying he didn't dare to spread it, but felt the county should know."

Secretary Wei Kuan fell silent. He stood up and walked to the window, turning his back to Director of the County Party Committee Office Zhou Ping, looking at the gray sky outside.

His mind raced; this news had come too timely, so timely that it felt somewhat unreal.

Xu Weidong was up for a promotion, but there was no suitable position on the County Party Committee.

And Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang happened to occupy the position of Executive Vice Magistrate; he was in his prime, had deep seniority, and wide connections, but there was no possibility of him being moved in the short term.

He had mentioned cadre adjustments to the Municipal Party Committee several times, but the response was always to study it further.

But now, Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang had handed him the knife himself.

It wasn't that Secretary Wei Kuan wanted to move against Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang; it was that Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang had problems himself.

Organizational discipline, personal conduct, religious belief issues—any one of these would be enough to get him into serious trouble.

Moreover, this matter involved a temple sexual assault case; the nature was vile, the impact was severe, and once exposed, never mind the Executive Vice Magistrate position, it was questionable whether he could even keep his Party membership.

This was an opportunity given by heaven, and the best time to clear a spot for Xu Weidong.

He turned and walked back to the desk, picked up the phone, and dialed the number of Secretary Lin Juncai.

"Secretary Lin Juncai, this is Secretary Wei Kuan. I have an urgent situation I would like to report to you."

Secretary Lin Juncai's voice came through the receiver, carrying the composure unique to a Municipal Party Committee Secretary.

"Speak."

"Our county's Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang has long believed in Buddhism and frequently goes to a temple in another city to burn incense and worship Buddha."

"Recently, that temple has had an incident where monks used incense to drug devotees, committed sexual assault, and caused multiple devotees to become pregnant."

"Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang's wife, Su Bainian, is also on the list of victims."

There was silence on the other end for three seconds. Secretary Lin Juncai's voice remained steady: "Is the information reliable?"

"Reliable. Our County Public Security Bureau chief heard it directly from local colleagues, and Su Bainian's name is on the victim list."

"I understand. You first compile the situation into a report, keep it strictly confidential, and do not spread it."

"I will communicate with the relevant departments on my end to see how to handle it."

Secretary Lin Juncai paused, his voice lowering slightly.

"Secretary Wei Kuan, this report of yours is very timely. Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang's problem is not a small one."

"For a Party-leading cadre to frequent a temple for so long, the impact is extremely negative."

"Coupled with such a major incident at this temple, and his wife being involved, the public opinion will be very passive."

"Before the situation ferments, we must take the initiative."

Secretary Wei Kuan gripped the receiver, his heart beating a few beats faster, but his voice remained steady: "Secretary Lin Juncai, I understand. I will compile the materials tonight and deliver them to the Municipal Party Committee early tomorrow morning."

After hanging up, Secretary Wei Kuan sat in his chair for a while.

Director of the County Party Committee Office Zhou Ping was still standing by, waiting for his instructions.

"This matter, you know, I know; do not let a third person know."

Secretary Wei Kuan set down his teacup, looking at Director of the County Party Committee Office Zhou Ping, his gaze carrying an unquestionable seriousness.

"You compile the materials; be objective, be accurate, and do not add any embellishments."

"The time and frequency of Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang's visits to the temple, the time of Su Bainian's pregnancy, the child's date of birth—all of these must be verifiable."

"Once compiled, give it directly to me; do not let it pass through anyone else's hands."

Director of the County Party Committee Office Zhou Ping nodded and turned to walk out.

The sound of the door closing was very soft, so soft that it was as if nothing had ever happened.

Secretary Wei Kuan leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

He thought of Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang, who had worked in Changyuan County for ten years, was low-key, cautious in his work, and kept a low profile within the County Party Committee, yet no one could touch him.

He thought Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang would stay in this position until retirement; he didn't expect him to fall because of a temple.

It wasn't that Secretary Wei Kuan wanted to move against Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang; it was that Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang had walked his own path to a dead end.

To say nothing else, as an Executive Vice Magistrate, his wife goes to a temple to burn incense, gets sexually assaulted by a monk, and the child born is not his own—if this gets out, would Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang still have the face to stay in the county?

Even if he is a victim, public opinion will not sympathize with him.

Originally, he was worried that there was no position on the County Party Committee for Xu Weidong, fearing that the provincial authorities would transfer him away.

After all, the position of Executive Vice Magistrate was occupied by Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang, and Deputy Secretary Qian Taifeng was a parachute appointment; both were cadres who hadn't been there long, making them difficult to move.

Now it was fine; Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang had problems himself, and the position was vacated.

As long as Executive Vice Magistrate Liu Qiang is adjusted, Xu Weidong can move up.

It would be justified and logical; no one could say anything.

He picked up the phone and dialed Xu Weidong's number. It rang a few times, and the other side answered.

"Weidong, it's me."

"Secretary Wei Kuan, do you have any instructions?"

Secretary Wei Kuan was silent for two seconds, his tone carrying the affection of an elder toward a junior: "No instructions, just asking how your work has been lately. Is everything going smoothly in Hukuang Township?"

Xu Weidong laughed on the other end of the phone, his laughter carrying the sunshine and confidence unique to a young person.

"Smoothly, Secretary Wei Kuan. The apple harvest is in, the second phase of the industrial park has started, and the common people are quite happy."

"That's good. Keep working hard; the county will not treat you unfairly."

After hanging up, Secretary Wei Kuan leaned back in his chair, looked at the ceiling, and let out a long breath.