204: Chapter 204 Inspection of the Fireworks Factory

The notification from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection arrived faster than expected. On the third day after Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde was taken away, the website of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission posted the announcement of his expulsion from both the Party and public office.

The wording was severe, catching everyone off guard.

The notification was long, listing everything from Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde violating political, organizational, clean governance, mass, work, and lifestyle disciplines, all the way to suspected crimes of bribery and abuse of power. All six disciplines were violated, and the list of suspected charges was long.

Most eye-catching was the specific sentence pointed out in the notification.

"Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde used his official position to sexually harass multiple women and maintained improper sexual relationships with others for a long time, severely damaging the image of Party members and cadres."

When this sentence was reposted by major websites, it was bolded, and overnight it spread throughout Lvjiang City.

On the same day as Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde's dual expulsion, Education Bureau Director Liu Chang and Culture Bureau Director He De were also taken away by the County Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The two were brought into that gray building almost one after the other, at the time being shoved into cars by two case officers holding their arms.

When the news reached the Education Bureau and the Culture Bureau, both units exploded.

When walls fall, everyone pushes; when trees fall, monkeys scatter. Those who had received favors from Director Liu Chang and Director He De while they were in office were now desperately recalling every account they had handled, every document they had signed, and every word they had spoken.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde also implicated several other people, including township Party Committee secretaries, heads of county-level departments, and several bosses who had economic dealings with him.

These people were successively summoned by the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission and the County Commission for Discipline Inspection. Some went in and never came out, some were ordered to return illicit gains and await processing after confessing their problems, and some stubbornly refused to admit anything, but they had no choice when faced with evidence.

Secretary Wei Kuan only said two sentences at the County Party Committee Standing Committee meeting.

"I firmly support the decision of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, and I firmly support the investigation and handling of Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde, Director Liu Chang, Director He De, and others."

"Cadres at all levels must take this as a warning, manage themselves well, manage their families well, and manage those around them well."

After saying these two sentences, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and his gaze swept over those present.

"Does anyone have anything to say?"

No one spoke at the scene; after all, the Discipline Inspection Commission had already made its determination.

As for Xu Weidong, he did not even give Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde a glance.

The person was already inside, the case was already determined, and the rest was a matter for judicial procedures; it had nothing to do with him.

His current position is Executive Deputy County Magistrate, in charge of a pile of departments including finance, development and reform, urban construction, and the Safety Supervision Bureau. The documents piled up like a small mountain every day.

Every day from morning to night, he was in meetings, signing documents, and listening to reports, so busy he barely had time to touch the ground.

Of course, having worked at the grassroots level for so many years, Xu Weidong was long accustomed to this rhythm.

County Mayor Bai Weijun convened the county-wide special safety production meeting the day after Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde was dual-expelled. This timing was very subtle. The matter of Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde had not completely cooled down, and the eyes of all the county cadres were still fixed on that notification.

County Mayor Bai Weijun holding a safety meeting at this time was equivalent to shifting everyone's attention from "who went in" to "what to do next."

This was political wisdom and also leadership art.

Xu Weidong sat next to County Mayor Bai Weijun, his notebook filled with key points.

At the meeting, County Mayor Bai Weijun emphasized the importance of safety production and demanded that all townships and departments immediately carry out major investigations and rectifications of safety hazards, resolutely preventing the occurrence of major and extra-major accidents.

His voice was not loud, but every word was clear, and his tone carried an unquestionable sense of urgency.

Xu Weidong wrote down a few keywords in his notebook. After the meeting, he called Safety Supervision Bureau Chief Yang Desheng aside and only gave one instruction.

"Tomorrow morning, go to Cuican Fireworks."

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng nodded quickly; he knew why Xu Weidong was going to Cuican Fireworks first.

It was the largest fireworks manufacturing factory in the county and also the biggest safety hazard.

From the day it was built, this factory was a ticking time bomb. The warehouse was next to a residential area, workers in the workshop did not wear protective masks, and transport vehicles were overloaded and speeding.

He had worked in the Safety Supervision Bureau for so many years; it was not that he did not know these problems, but previously... because of various special reasons...

The next morning, Xu Weidong brought Bureau Chief Yang Desheng and a few comrades from the Safety Supervision Bureau, and without prior notice, went directly to the Cuican Fireworks company.

General Manager Hu Dakuan was drinking tea in his office when he received a call from the guard booth. He threw down his teacup and ran downstairs with his big belly to welcome them.

By the time he reached the factory gate, Xu Weidong's car was already parked there, and the car doors were open.

He hurriedly went up to meet them and extended both hands, wrapping Xu Weidong's hand in his thick palms, shaking it again and again, his smile as obsequious as if he were seeing his own father.

"County Magistrate Xu, why did you not tell us in advance when you were coming? I could have prepared and made arrangements."

Xu Weidong shook hands with him, releasing it immediately, his gaze falling on the factory area.

In the distance were several rows of low factory buildings with red brick walls and asbestos tile roofs, looking like they had seen better days.

Further away were several residential buildings with colorful quilts hanging on the balconies, separated from the factory area by only an iron fence less than two meters high.

Xu Weidong did not speak and walked towards the workshop first.

General Manager Hu Dakuan hurried to keep up, walking sideways, introducing as he went.

General Manager Hu Dakuan was a Master of Business Administration graduate, a Municipal Renmin University of China representative, Vice Chairman of the County Federation of Industry and Commerce, an outstanding entrepreneur for many consecutive years, and a major taxpayer for many consecutive years.

He repeated these titles over and over, wanting to prove his weight and status in this county in front of this young Executive Deputy County Magistrate.

"County Magistrate Xu, our Cuican Fireworks company is the largest fireworks manufacturing enterprise in the county, with the highest sales for many consecutive years. Our products are sold to more than a dozen provinces and cities across the country, and last year we even exported to Southeast Asia."

"Our factory has driven the employment of more than three hundred surrounding villagers, distributing nearly ten million in wages every year. To be frank, without our Cuican Fireworks, the fireworks industry in Changyuan County would collapse."

Xu Weidong did not reply and walked into a production workshop. Workers were busy on the assembly line loading gunpowder, inserting fuses, and pasting paper tubes. In front of each person was a mountain of semi-finished products.

He saw several workers not wearing protective masks. Gunpowder dust floated in the air, and fine particles could be seen dancing under the lights.

Xu Weidong stopped and glanced at Bureau Chief Yang Desheng, who hurriedly wrote it down in his notebook.

"General Manager Hu, how do you implement safety protection measures?"

The smile on General Manager Hu Dakuan's face stiffened for a moment, but he quickly returned to that obsequious expression, his tone as light as if he were talking about an insignificant trifle.

"County Magistrate Xu, we have requirements for this normally. Maybe the workers came in a hurry this morning and forgot to wear them."

"I will have someone get them immediately, one for each person, and I guarantee it will not happen next time."

Xu Weidong said nothing more and turned to walk out of the workshop.

He stood on the concrete road of the factory area and turned to look at the residential buildings. The closest one was about fifty meters away, separated by only a thin iron fence.

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng stood behind him, not daring to breathe loudly.

He knew what Xu Weidong was looking at, and he also knew what that distance meant.

According to national standards, the safety distance between fireworks and firecracker production workshops and residential areas should not be less than one hundred meters.

This data for Cuican Fireworks was based on a safety assessment done a few years ago, and the conclusion at the time was "basically meets requirements."

But the word "basically" has many ways of being interpreted in the safety supervision system, just like the word "almost" has different meanings in different scenarios, and just like what General Manager Hu Dakuan just said, "it will not happen next time"—the person saying it does not believe it, and the person listening believes it even less.

Xu Weidong turned around and looked at General Manager Hu Dakuan.

"General Manager Hu, safety production is not a slogan hung on the wall, nor is it empty talk written in documents."

"Fireworks manufacturing is a high-risk industry. Your factory is surrounded by residential areas. Once an accident happens, it is a big deal. It is not just a matter of a few people dying or paying some money; it is a matter of the entire factory being razed to the ground, the surrounding residents suffering along with it, and even you, the boss, going to jail."

"I did not come here today to go through the motions, nor did I come to listen to you brag."

"The Safety Supervision Bureau will comprehensively investigate the safety hazards of your factory, from production workshops to storage warehouses, from transport vehicles to employee training, checking item by item."

"Once problems are found, rectify them within a time limit."

"If the rectification is not up to standard, stop production."

"If you still do not rectify after stopping production, close down."

"There is no room for negotiation."

A layer of fine sweat seeped out on General Manager Hu Dakuan's forehead. He took out a handkerchief to wipe it, nodding repeatedly, his tone full of cooperation and obedience.

"Yes, yes, yes, County Magistrate Xu is right. Safety production is as important as the sky. We will definitely fully cooperate with the Safety Supervision Bureau's inspection, definitely rectify the problems to the standard, and definitely not let the leaders worry."

"Please rest assured, Cuican Fireworks is my life's work, and I value safety more than anyone."

"Safety first, safety first."

Xu Weidong looked at him, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the car parked on the roadside.

General Manager Hu Dakuan followed behind, wanting to see them off, but was stopped by Bureau Chief Yang Desheng, who said, "General Manager Hu, please stay; County Magistrate Xu has other itineraries."

The car drove out of the Cuican Fireworks gate, and Xu Weidong leaned back in his seat.

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng sat in the passenger seat, glanced at him through the rearview mirror, wanting to say something but not daring to.

After a long while, he heard Xu Weidong's voice coming from behind.

"Comrade Desheng, the problem with Cuican Fireworks is not a matter of one or two days."

"As for why the previous inspections were just going through the motions... I will not pursue this issue, but starting today, I require your Safety Supervision Bureau to come up with a thorough rectification plan."

"Stop production if it should be stopped, close down if it should be closed down. Do not be afraid of offending people."

"If a problem arises, I will take responsibility."

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng straightened his body, his voice as firm as if he were taking an oath.

"County Magistrate Xu, rest assured, the Safety Supervision Bureau will definitely follow your instructions, investigate the problems of Cuican Fireworks clearly, rectify them thoroughly, leaving no blind spots and not going through the motions."

Xu Weidong nodded and said nothing more.

At the gate of Cuican Fireworks company, General Manager Hu Dakuan was still standing there.

The car had already driven far away, but he was still standing in the same place, motionless.

He took out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead again. It was covered in sweat, and no matter how he wiped it, he could not wipe it dry.