209: Chapter 209 Xu Weidong's Toughness

The workshops of Cuican Fireworks were still operating as usual, gunpowder dust was still floating in the air, and the workers were still not wearing masks.

General Manager Hu Dakuan felt that the minor matter had already been put to rest; Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu had taken the money and given their assurances, and Zheng Ze had also nodded in agreement.

Although Deputy Secretary You Chuan was the mayor, he could not afford to completely ignore the face of the Zheng family.

He sat in his office drinking tea, calculating the approval progress of the land in the south of the city, calculating this year's profits, and calculating how much of a dividend he could pay the shareholders at the end of the year.

He had long since prepared the ten percent stake for Zheng Ze, wrapped in an envelope, waiting for the right time to deliver it.

What he did not expect was that the phone call from Bureau Chief Yang Desheng of the County Work Safety Administration would ring before his own calculations.

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng received two phone calls as soon as he started work today.

The first was from Deputy Director Gao Qiang of the municipal Safety Supervision Bureau; his tone was neither light nor heavy, but his words were filled with pressure.

"Comrade Desheng, I heard that your Changyuan County is conducting a major safety production inspection?"

"This work has been arranged very solidly and is worth affirming."

"However, you must pay attention to the methods used; do not expand the scope excessively, and do not affect the normal production and operation of enterprises."

"Cuican Fireworks is a major taxpayer in your county and has made great contributions to the local economic development over the years."

"When you are inspecting, you must grasp the proper measure. You must discover problems and rectify hidden dangers, but you must also protect the enthusiasm of entrepreneurs. Do not let outstanding private entrepreneurs feel discouraged."

The second phone call was from Deputy Director Li Wenfu of the municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce. Although he did not directly mention Cuican Fireworks, the meaning was about the same.

"Comrade Desheng, the development of enterprises cannot be separated from a good business environment. When you are enforcing the law, you should provide more service and cause less trouble."

"For some problems, if they can be rectified, do not stop production; if they can be handled with criticism and education, do not impose fines. You must grasp the temperature and strength of law enforcement."

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng gripped his mobile phone, his palms covered in sweat.

What made him even more uneasy was that both Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu were implying in their words that this was the intention of a certain municipal leader.

He knew he could not withstand this pressure, but he knew even better who stood behind him.

He took a deep breath, dialed the number of Xu Weidong, and reported the content of the phone calls from Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu exactly as they were.

Finally, he added that there was a special meeting on safety production to be held in the city at three o'clock this afternoon; the notice had just arrived.

Xu Weidong remained silent for a few seconds after listening. He had been waiting for the past two days for the backer of Cuican Fireworks to make a call.

Now that they had finally made a move, Xu Weidong was not angry; he even found it somewhat amusing.

A dignified Deputy Director of the municipal Safety Supervision Bureau and a Deputy Director of the municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce were taking turns calling the County Work Safety Administration Bureau Chief to apply pressure for the sake of a single fireworks factory, as if the safety of this factory were tied to the economic lifeline of the entire city.

And implying it was the intention of some municipal leader—which municipal leader?

Deputy Secretary You Chuan?

Secretary Lin Juncai?

Or some vice mayor whose name he didn't even know?

He didn't care whose intention it was; on the patch of land that was Changyuan County, when it came to matters of safety production, he had the final say!

People joked every day, calling him "Young Master Xu," but did they really think that name was just for show?

"Bureau Chief Yang, have you arranged the inspection for Cuican Fireworks?"

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng replied hurriedly, "County Magistrate Xu, it has been arranged. We are prepared to go this afternoon."

Xu Weidong's voice turned cold as he said, "Going this afternoon?"

"Is there still enough time?"

"Go now. Arrange for people immediately and seal up Cuican Fireworks for me."

"Those that should stop production must stop; those that should be rectified must be rectified."

"Do not wait, do not delay, and do not give anyone a chance to intervene."

"Within two hours, I want to see results."

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng opened his mouth, wanting to ask what to do about the city meeting.

After all, he had to rush to the city for the meeting at three o'clock. How would he explain things to Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu?

However, because Xu Weidong's attitude was firm, he could only agree.

"County Magistrate Xu, I understand. I will arrange for people to go immediately. Within two hours, Cuican Fireworks must be shut down."

Xu Weidong added, "Bureau Chief Yang, I know you are under pressure. People from the city call you, people from the county pass messages to you, and even municipal leaders might be brought into this."

"I will not ask who it is, and I do not care who it is."

"I will only tell you one thing: You are the Bureau Chief of the Safety Supervision Bureau. Your duty is to protect the safety of the lives and property of the people, not to act as a shield for anyone."

"The problems at Cuican Fireworks have not existed for just a day or two. Both you and I know clearly that that factory is a ticking time bomb, and no one knows when it will explode."

"If one day it really explodes, and people die or get hurt, can our consciences be at ease?"

"Can your position be protected?"

"When that time comes, what will you and I use to answer to the families of the victims?"

"Will you use the phone records of the so-called 'Deputy Director Gao' and 'Deputy Director Li'?"

"Will you use the hints from that unknown municipal leader?"

"I am telling you, when that time comes, no one will speak up for you, no one will take responsibility for you, and no one will remember the phone calls you received today or the pressure you withstood."

"They will only ask you: 'You are the Bureau Chief of the Safety Supervision Bureau; why did you not fulfill your duty?'"

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng knew that every word Xu Weidong said was correct. He knew the problems at Cuican Fireworks better than anyone; he had written about those hidden dangers in reports, mentioned them in meetings, and reported them to leaders.

But every time it ended up with nothing done, because General Manager Hu Dakuan had connections, had backers, had people speaking for him, and had people smoothing things over for him.

He thought this time would be the same, but now Xu Weidong stood before him and told him in that unquestionable tone that it was different.

This time, it was different!

"County Magistrate Xu, I understand. I will lead the team personally; Cuican Fireworks must be shut down."

"Please rest assured, no matter what pressure comes from the city, I will take it."

Xu Weidong said indifferently, "If you can't withstand it, push it onto me."

"Just say it was I, Xu Weidong, who ordered the seal."

"Whoever has an opinion, let them come find me."

"I want to see who can cover the sky of Lvjiang City."

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng hung up the phone and was stunned for a moment.

Then he stood up, picked up the car keys on the desk, called a few people from the inspection team, and drove straight to Cuican Fireworks.