201: Chapter 201 couldn't possibly be aimed at me, could it?

County Party Secretary Wei Kuan received the call from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection in the evening; the voice on the other end was both familiar and strange to him.

It was familiar because the tone was standard for discipline inspection, yet strange because he had never imagined such a tone would be directed at him personally.

"Secretary Wei Kuan, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection's special inspection team will arrive in Changyuan County tomorrow to carry out their work. Please make preparations to cooperate."

Secretary Wei Kuan gripped the receiver, stunned for a moment.

He knew about the special inspection team; Deputy Secretary Qin Lin of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection was leading it personally with a massive entourage, and they had just held a meeting at the Municipal Party Committee this morning.

He had always assumed it was aimed at the city, or at most, intended to slap down some municipal-level departments; it had nothing to do with his small Changyuan County.

The cadres in the county below were all discussing the same thing—when the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection came down, it was to investigate department-level officials and city leaders; small fry like them at the section or division level didn't even register in their eyes.

But now, this phone call told him he had been wrong.

Such a huge group of people, such a grand display—could it really be aimed at a single county?

He put down the receiver and sat in his chair, lit a cigarette, took a puff, and slowly exhaled.

Secretary Wei Kuan quickly ran through the county's cadres in his mind, wondering who had poked such a big hornet's nest that it had alarmed the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

He thought of everyone, then ruled everyone out; finally, only one name remained in his mind, but he quickly dismissed it himself.

No, that wasn't it; it wouldn't go that far; it was impossible; he was only a mere deputy section-level official.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde's dinner party tonight had been scheduled long ago; every month on the fifth, he would invite Director Liu Chang of the Education Bureau and Director He De of the Culture Bureau to gather at their usual spot in that private restaurant in the county town.

They claimed to be discussing work, but in reality, work was finished in five minutes, and the rest of the time was spent chatting about women.

This private restaurant was located in a secluded alley on the east side of the county town; it had no sign, was not open to the public, and only served regular customers.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde was a regular here and always sat in the innermost private room.

Director Liu Chang arrived first, bringing a bottle of Moutai, claiming it was a gift from someone that he hadn't been able to bear drinking.

He had been transferred to the position of Education Bureau Director from his post as mayor of Changping Town after Director Ye Mingzhu was transferred to Shangouzi Township.

From mayor to bureau director, others might see it as a lateral move, but he knew clearly that it was because he had backed the right person.

This bottle of Moutai was given to him by that backer; he couldn't bear to enjoy it alone and brought it out to honor his superior.

Director He De arrived shortly after, carrying two boxes of tea leaves, claiming they were authentic Dahongpao brought back from Wuyi Mountain by a friend.

He had been in the position of Culture Bureau Director for six or seven years and was a veteran with the closest relationship to Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde; many things didn't need much talk; a single look was enough to understand.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde arrived last; when he pushed the door open and entered, Director Liu Chang and Director He De stood up simultaneously.

He waved his hand, sat in the main seat, took off his coat and draped it over the back of the chair, leaned back into the chair, and let out a long breath.

A waitress came in to pour tea; he glanced at her, showed no interest, and waved her away.

Director Liu Chang opened the Moutai and filled all three cups.

The liquor was clear and transparent, with a mellow aroma—truly good liquor.

Director He De picked up his glass, sniffed it, and exclaimed: "This liquor is at least twenty years old."

Director Liu Chang smiled and toasted Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, saying: "Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, you've worked hard. The affairs of culture, education, and health are numerous; it all depends on you to steer the ship."

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde clinked glasses with him and drank it in one gulp.

He slammed the empty glass on the table, wiped his mouth, and only then did he feel settled.

"The wind from above has been a bit tight recently; you all know that, right?"

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde picked up a piece of food, chewed it, and spoke slowly.

Director Liu Chang and Director He De exchanged glances and both nodded.

The news of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection coming to Lvjiang City had spread throughout the city; of course, they knew.

Director Liu Chang picked up his glass and took a sip, his voice lowered, carrying a sense of probing and caution.

"I've heard. The Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection is leading the team personally; the lineup is huge. But I heard it's aimed at the city; it has nothing to do with our county, right?"

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde waved his hand, a disdainful smile on the corners of his mouth, his voice not loud but carrying a reckless flavor.

"The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection investigates department-level officials, provincial-managed cadres."

"They can't be bothered with small fries like us."

"Besides, I've worked in Changyuan County for so many years; what kind of storms haven't I seen? It's just the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, right? It's not like I haven't hosted them before."

Director He De raised his glass in agreement, his tone full of flattery: "Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde is right. The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection is an anti-aircraft gun, shooting at planes in the sky. They don't even have eyes for little mosquitoes like us."

Three cups of liquor down, Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde's face turned red, and he became more talkative.

He leaned back in his chair, squinting, his gaze sweeping across the faces of Director Liu Chang and Director He De, his mouth curved in that lewd smile typical of middle-aged men chatting about women at a dinner table.

"Director Liu Chang, you've been up from Changping Town for half a year; you should have a good grasp of the situation in the county by now, right?"

"Let me ask you, which female comrade in our county's education system do you think has the most flavor?"

Director Liu Chang's hand holding the glass paused slightly; he had been a town mayor in Changping Town for several years; he had a scale in his heart for what kind of words he could respond to and what he couldn't.

But today there were no outsiders at the dinner table, and Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde was his superior; since the words were delivered to his lips, he didn't dare not to answer, nor did he want to refuse.

"Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, since you asked, I really have to think about it."

He pretended to be thoughtful, poking at the plate with his chopsticks.

"Principal Sun of County No. 1 High School is not bad; it's not easy to maintain that figure at over forty. Principal Zhao of the continuing education school is also good; she has fair skin and a pleasant voice."

"The one with the most flavor is still Department Head Zhou Min in the bureau. She's thirty-five or thirty-six, divorced, and maintains herself like a young woman in her twenties."

"I heard there are many people pursuing her, but she hasn't taken a fancy to any of them."

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde listened, the curve of his mouth growing larger, his eyes lighting up.

"Department Head Zhou Min, I know her. At the Teacher's Day commendation meeting the year before last, she went on stage to receive an award wearing a black dress. That waistline, tsk tsk tsk."

"I shook her hand, and it was soft and smooth."

"Later, I specifically had the bureau arrange for her to come to the county for more meetings, to have more contact, but unfortunately, that woman doesn't know what's good for her and always keeps her distance from me."

"But the more that's the case, the more I want to try."

Director Liu Chang quickly joined in, his tone fawning and flattering: "Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, if you make a move, how could you not succeed? Maybe the timing isn't right yet; wait a bit longer, maybe one day she'll come around."

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde laughed loudly, picked up his glass and poured a large mouthful, the liquor flowing down the corners of his mouth and dripping onto his collar, but he didn't notice.

"Let me tell you, Director Jiang Xin from the nursing department of the County Hospital, you know her, right? That's Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's wife."

Director Liu Chang and Director He De nodded simultaneously; they were no strangers to this name.

Director Jiang Xin was quite famous in the County Hospital, not only for her strong professional ability but also for her outstanding appearance and figure; her husband, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, was the Deputy Party Secretary in Hukuang Township and had worked with Xu Weidong.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde squinted, a smug smile on his mouth, his voice carrying a sense of showing off and intoxication.

"That woman is truly a top-tier product."

"Fair skin, no flab on her body; she has it where she should, and she's slim where she should be."

"That time she came to me to help her husband seek a promotion, she was wearing a tight-fitting skirt. That curve—looking from behind, I couldn't stand it at the time."

"She invited me to dinner at the Luyuan Hotel's western restaurant; I told her to sit next to me, and she didn't dare not listen."

"Later, after drinking a few glasses of red wine, she came back to the room with me."

"That night, I played with her for a long time; she knows how to serve people very well, and she's very obedient."

Director Liu Chang and Director He De exchanged glances, both of their eyes shining.

Director Liu Chang raised his glass to toast Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, his smile full of obsequiousness and envy.

"Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde is lucky. A woman like Director Jiang Xin isn't something anyone can encounter."

"That guy, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, is a coward, knowing only how to wag his tail behind Xu Weidong all day, unable to even keep an eye on his own wife."

Director He De also leaned in, his tone carrying the familiarity and gossip that only a veteran would have.

"After his wife got together with you, Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, she must have whispered sweet nothings in your ear quite a bit, right?"

"Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, didn't you put in a good word for Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming in front of Xu Weidong?"

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde waved his hand, the smile on his face fading a little, carrying a kind of indescribable disdain and mockery.

"That guy, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, in his wife's words, is like a dead fish in bed, knowing nothing."

"After being developed for so many years, there hasn't been any improvement."

"This kind of person, even if you lift him to the position of township mayor, he won't be able to sit firmly."

"Why doesn't Xu Weidong use him? Isn't it because he only knows how to wag his tail and can't do things?"

"No matter how hard Director Jiang Xin tries to run for a promotion for him, if he himself is not up to the task, what's the use?"

Director Liu Chang nodded quickly, echoing even more diligently: "Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde is right."

"That guy, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, is just an irredeemable fool. For Director Jiang Xin to be with you, Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, that's jumping out of a fire pit."

"Compared to you, Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, what is Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming?"

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde was very pleased by these words, lifted his glass and took another gulp, the smile on his face becoming brilliant again.

He looked at Director He De, changed the subject, and smiled even more lewdly.

"Old He, what good goods do you have in your cultural system? Let's hear it."

"Those singers, dancers, and hosts under your command are all treasures of our county."

Director He De laughed, the lecherous expression on his face no less than Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde's.

He had been the Culture Bureau Director for many years, and batch after batch of literary young women had come and gone under his command; he had seen all kinds of people.

He raised his glass to clink with Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, lowered his voice, his tone carrying the smugness of providing "intelligence."

"Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, don't say that; there really is one."

"The new docent at the Cultural Center, surnamed Su, twenty-three years old, tall, graduated and assigned here last year, still single."

"That girl's figure is truly impeccable—long legs, curvy in all the right places."

"Last time the county held an event, she wore a cheongsam to host on stage, and all the men in the audience were staring straight."

"Several young cadres in the county are pursuing her, but she hasn't taken a fancy to any of them."

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde's eyes lit up; he put down his chopsticks, leaned forward, and lowered his voice, carrying an impatient desire.

"Really? How come I haven't seen her? I go to the Cultural Center often; why haven't I noticed such a person?"

Director He De smiled and said: "She just arrived not long ago; maybe she wasn't there when you went."

"Next week, the Cultural Center has an exhibition opening ceremony, and she's hosting it. If you want to go see, I'll arrange it."

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde waved his hand, smiling meaningfully: "Just looking is enough."

"What's the point of just looking?"

"If you can arrange for us to have a meal, that's the real business. Call her over then; I'll talk to her alone."

Director He De understood, raised his glass and drank it in one gulp, put it down with a smack, his voice as determined as if he were guaranteeing it.

"Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, rest assured, this matter is on me."

"Miss Su just arrived in the county, unfamiliar with the place; being able to receive your care, Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, is her blessing."

"I'll find an opportunity to chat with her and do some work. Young girls nowadays are sensible; you don't need to worry too much."

Director Liu Chang felt itchy in his heart and couldn't help but interject: "Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, you can't just eat meat; leave some soup for us to drink too."

"On Department Head Zhou Min's side, if you take her down, don't forget to pull a brother up. I work with her day and night in the Education Bureau; there are plenty of opportunities."

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde laughed loudly, pointed at Director Liu Chang's nose and scolded him for being shameless, then raised his glass to clink with him.

His tone carried a kind of generosity and big-brother style, as if he were distributing spoils.

"Fine, Department Head Zhou Min is yours. But there's one condition: you must make her willing; you can't use force, and you can't let her cause any trouble."

"We are leading cadres; we must pay attention to methods. Everyone is willing, and no one owes anyone anything, right?"

Director Liu Chang nodded repeatedly, saying he would definitely pay attention, definitely pay attention, and wouldn't cause trouble for Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde.

Director He De laughed so hard he bent over, and one of his chopsticks even fell.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde leaned back in his chair and smiled contentedly; he picked up his glass and finished the last of the liquor.