208: Chapter 208 Attitude

Deputy Secretary You Chuan sat in his study for a long time, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk.

Zheng Ze's call made him uncomfortable, not because of anything excessive Zheng Ze had said, but because Zheng Ze himself was a walking trouble.

He knew Zheng Ze too well; that playboy had been good-for-nothing since childhood, relying on Zheng Dongguo's influence to run amok outside.

Now that the old man was critically ill, he had returned from abroad but instead of dutifully attending to him at his bedside, he had started meddling in business affairs again.

"Cuican Fireworks?"

What could a county-level fireworks factory possibly have to do with Zheng Ze?

It was nothing more than him using the old man's name to hold a stake in it.

With this kind of person, if you let him taste success once, he would only become more unscrupulous.

Today he asks for favors from the County Work Safety Administration, and tomorrow he would dare to do the same with the Municipal Land Resources Bureau, the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, and the Environmental Protection Bureau.

By the day after tomorrow, Deputy Secretary You Chuan's reputation would be hawked all over the streets and alleys of Lvjiang City by this scoundrel, and by then, it would be too late for him to cut ties.

He picked up his phone and scrolled to Secretary Lin Juncai's number.

Secretary Lin Juncai was the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, and he was the Mayor; the two often disagreed on many issues, and he also despised Secretary Lin Juncai's almost sycophantic attitude toward Xu Weidong (mainly because Deputy Secretary You Chuan had entered the game too late and couldn't get in on the bootlicking).

However, on this matter, their interests were aligned.

Zheng Ze was not just Deputy Secretary You Chuan's trouble; he was a political headache for the entire Lvjiang City.

Whoever got involved with him would be unlucky...

"Comrade You Chuan, it's so late. Is something the matter?"

Deputy Secretary You Chuan did not beat around the bush and spoke directly.

His tone was calm, but every word conveyed a sense of candor, as if to say, "I'm just giving you a heads-up so you won't be kept in the dark later."

"Comrade Lin Juncai, Zheng Dongguo's youngest son, Zheng Ze, just called me."

"There is a fireworks factory in Changyuan County called Cuican Fireworks that has some connection to Zheng Ze. Recently, the County Work Safety Administration has been conducting safety production inspections, and Zheng Ze hoped I would step in and put in a word with Changyuan County."

"I refused him."

"Comrade Lin Juncai, I am telling you this not to ask you to do anything, but to remind you."

"You know what kind of person Zheng Ze is; there's nothing he wouldn't do."

"Since he hit a wall with me, he might just go to you tomorrow, or perhaps even to other municipal leaders."

"When that happens, no matter who speaks up for him, outsiders might think it was my intention, Deputy Secretary You Chuan's."

"So I am telling you clearly in advance that his business with Changyuan County has absolutely nothing to do with me."

"I also hope to reach a consensus with you, Comrade Lin Juncai, on this matter: let us not speak for him, not endorse him, and not give him any opportunity to use the name of any municipal leader to interfere with the normal work at the grassroots level."

Secretary Lin Juncai remained silent on the other end of the line for a moment. Deputy Secretary You Chuan's words sounded high-minded, but the meaning was very clear.

He wanted to cut ties with Zheng Ze, with Zheng Dongguo, and with the Zheng family.

It seemed Zheng Dongguo really didn't have much time left; when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

If he didn't cut ties now, once the old man breathed his last and the Zheng family became a broken drum beaten by everyone, he would inevitably be implicated.

Secretary Lin Juncai's view of Deputy Secretary You Chuan became even more complex. Zheng Dongguo was his mentor and the one who guided him in his official career, yet before his mentor had even died, he had already begun to cut ties.

The saying that the officialdom is heartless was truly playing out in every corner of reality at any given moment.

But then again, Deputy Secretary You Chuan's choice was not wrong.

Once Zheng Dongguo died, the Zheng family's political legacy in Lvjiang City would inevitably be carved up or even liquidated by various factions.

If Deputy Secretary You Chuan didn't take the initiative to cut ties, and waited for others to do it for him, it wouldn't just be a matter of a little pain.

"Comrade You Chuan, I understand. Zheng Ze has not approached me, but if he does, I will know what to do."

"Safety production is a major issue and cannot be compromised for anyone's sake. On this point, we are in agreement."

Secretary Lin Juncai hung up the phone, leaned back in his chair, and took a slow sip from his teacup.

Deputy Secretary You Chuan's call was interesting; Zheng Ze had gone to him, wanting to smooth over the Changyuan County matter, but Deputy Secretary You Chuan had refused and even specifically called to give him a heads-up.

On the surface, it was to avoid the risk of Zheng Ze using his name to intimidate others, but in reality, it was to cut ties with him and also to test his attitude.

He set down his teacup, his mind turning to another matter.

Cuican Fireworks, safety production inspections, General Manager Hu Dakuan approaching Zheng Ze, Zheng Ze approaching Deputy Secretary You Chuan, Deputy Secretary You Chuan refusing... none of this was important.

What was important was, who was in charge of safety production in Changyuan County?

He went through the division of labor among the Changyuan County leaders in his mind; it seemed that safety production in Changyuan County was overseen by Xu Weidong.

In other words, this safety production inspection of Cuican Fireworks was personally deployed and led by Xu Weidong.

It was no secret that Secretary Lin Juncai had always paid extra attention to Xu Weidong.

That was why he put a bit more thought into Changyuan County; otherwise, why would a dignified Municipal Party Committee Secretary like him bother to remember what a deputy county magistrate below him was in charge of?

Secretary Lin Juncai picked up the phone and dialed a short number.

"Secretary Lin, do you have any instructions?"

"Comrade Executive Vice Mayor Zhou Guoliang, hold a city-wide safety production work meeting tomorrow morning, and you lead it."

"Notify the main persons in charge of each county, district, and relevant municipal departments to attend. The theme of the meeting is to implement the important deployments of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government regarding safety production, analyze the current situation, and arrange the work for the next stage."

"As for Changyuan County, have the comrade in charge of safety production attend the meeting and prepare a special report on safety supervision in the fireworks industry."

"Arrange it quickly, and submit the meeting plan to me first thing tomorrow morning."

Executive Vice Mayor Zhou Guoliang paused on the other end of the line. He had been in charge of safety production at the Municipal Government for many years and had held countless such meetings, but this was the first time he had encountered Secretary Lin Juncai personally calling to arrange one, especially at this particular time.

He keenly sensed that this meeting was not a routine action, but was preparing for a specific event and providing a platform for a specific person.

Executive Vice Mayor Zhou Guoliang did not ask any more questions; he concisely and clearly recorded the specific requirements and agreed with a firm tone.

"Secretary Lin, I understand. I will implement it tonight, and the meeting plan will be delivered to your office tomorrow morning."

Secretary Lin Juncai gave a grunt of acknowledgment and was about to hang up when he added another sentence.

"The meeting must be effective and not just a formality. Especially in the fireworks industry; right now is a high-incidence period for accidents, so responsibilities must be pressed down to the individual, and measures must be implemented in place."

"Changyuan County's report must have substance; do not read from a script. They must talk about problems, rectifications, and specific measures."

Executive Vice Mayor Zhou Guoliang was a smart man and tasted more meaning from these few supplementary words.

Fireworks industry, Changyuan County, the comrade in charge of safety production. When these keywords were strung together, the direction was already very obvious.

Cuican Fireworks was the largest fireworks enterprise in Changyuan County, and it was currently being strictly investigated by the County Work Safety Administration, and the person in charge of this work was none other than Xu Weidong.

A specific industry, a specific enterprise, and a specific person in charge being personally inquired about by the Municipal Party Committee Secretary—this was no coincidence.

It was very likely paving the way for some people, and at the same time, drawing a red line for others.

As for whose road was being paved and whose red line was being drawn, he didn't need to know, nor did he need to ask.

He only needed to organize the meeting well, invite the right people, listen to the necessary reports, and convey the required spirit.

He agreed again, his tone even more resolute.

"Secretary Lin, rest assured, I will definitely organize the meeting well and ensure it is effective."

At the level of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee, the name of Xu Weidong was like thunder to the ears.

When the previous Municipal Party Committee Secretary was still in office, although Executive Vice Mayor Zhou Guoliang was not a member of the Standing Committee, he was still a trusted aide of Secretary Lin Juncai, so he was no stranger to this young master.

Although tomorrow's meeting hadn't started yet, he had already prepared a draft for praising Xu Weidong.