211: Chapter 211 Cutting

At two-thirty in the afternoon, the corridors of the Municipal Government building were bustling with people.

Just as Xu Weidong and Bureau Chief Yang Desheng stepped out of the elevator, they ran into two familiar figures.

Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu were clearly there to attend the meeting as well, as they were chatting with acquaintances in the corridor.

Upon seeing Xu Weidong emerge from the elevator, the two men ended their previous conversations almost simultaneously.

Then, in perfect unison, they turned around, put on smiles, and headed toward them.

That tacit understanding was like that of actors who had rehearsed their lines backstage before stepping onto the stage; every expression, every gesture, and every word seemed meticulously polished.

"Oh my, County Magistrate Xu! Long time no see, long time no see!"

Back when Xu Weidong was a staff member, Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu were already section chiefs at the City Public Security Bureau and had dealt with Xu Weidong a few times.

After all, back then, that Section Chief Pei often called on Xu Weidong to run errands at various departments of the City Public Security Bureau...

Although several years had passed, those two former section chiefs still remembered the fate of that Section Chief Pei...

If memory served, this year should be the... year that Section Chief Pei had been stationed in the village.

Deputy Director Gao Qiang reached out first, clasping Xu Weidong's hand between both of his own and shaking it repeatedly. The enthusiasm on his face was as if he had just met a long-lost relative, a display of warmth that made passersby couldn't help but take a few extra glances.

Deputy Director Li Wenfu followed closely behind. Although not as exaggerated as Deputy Director Gao Qiang, the arc of his smile, the firmness of his handshake, and the tone of his voice were all perfectly gauged.

It expressed closeness without appearing sycophantic; his sense of propriety was textbook quality.

As a veteran bureaucrat who had spent half a lifetime in government offices, he was not just an old ginger, but one with a layered, pungent spice.

Xu Weidong shook their hands, his lips curling slightly, but he did not respond.

He knew these two were not here to reminisce. Their "coincidental" appearance here and their "coincidental" approach just as he stepped out of the elevator all had a reason.

And that reason had to do with General Manager Hu Dakuan...

Deputy Director Gao Qiang released his hand and walked side-by-side with Xu Weidong toward the conference room. As they walked, he sighed, his tone filled with a clear insight into worldly affairs and a deep abhorrence for unscrupulous businessmen.

"County Magistrate Xu, I was just looking for an opportunity to chat with you."

"Nowadays, some business owners are incredibly devious. They don't have much ability, but their audacity is huge. When they run into trouble, they think about using the influence of city leaders to bluff and swindle everywhere."

"It's as if just because they know a few leaders, the government must give them the green light and provide them with convenience, while laws and rules must all be cast aside."

"You tell me, isn't this smearing the reputation of our City Public Security Bureau? When did we ever become their backers?"

"Such people are black sheep, the primary culprits destroying the business environment, and parasites tarnishing the face of the Party Committee and the government."

"On my way here today, I was just telling Deputy Director Li Wenfu in the car that such people must be severely punished; not a single one should be spared."

Deputy Director Li Wenfu nodded repeatedly from the side, taking over the conversation at the right moment. His tone was calmer than Deputy Director Gao Qiang's, but the intent to sever ties was even more pronounced.

"Deputy Director Gao is right."

"County Magistrate Xu, you don't know, but over the years in the city, we have been bothered by such people quite a bit."

"They constantly claim to be familiar with this leader or brothers with that leader, asking us for favors."

"We were also blinded at times; sometimes, we couldn't refuse out of courtesy and inevitably spoke a few words for them."

"Thinking about it now, I truly regret it. This wasn't helping them; it was harming them, and it was harming ourselves as well."

"So, I've realized now that no matter who comes to plead for them, no matter whose banner they wave, as long as the enterprise has problems, it must be handled according to the rules and processed in accordance with the law."

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng followed behind Xu Weidong, listening to Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu singing in harmony. The feeling in his heart was as complex as if a bottle of five flavors had been overturned.

Yesterday, these two were still hinting to him on the phone to "stop while you're ahead" and "not to chill the hearts of outstanding private entrepreneurs," with every word implying he should show leniency.

Today, in front of Xu Weidong, the tone had shifted to "such people should be severely punished."

This speed of changing faces was faster than Sichuan opera.

He had worked in the Safety Supervision Bureau for so many years and had certainly seen people who trimmed their sails to the wind, but he had never seen anyone like Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu, who could treat what they said yesterday like flatulence.

After listening to them, Xu Weidong did not stop walking, his face maintaining that unreadable smile.

He had been tempered in official circles for so many years; what kind of people hadn't he seen?

Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu's stance today could be summed up in two words.

"Severing ties!"

Severing ties with General Manager Hu Dakuan, and severing ties with all the potential consequences this matter might trigger.

They had sensed that the wind direction had changed and knew that continuing to stand on General Manager Hu Dakuan's side might bring fire upon themselves, so they jumped off the ship voluntarily and ran to the shore to declare their position before the matter escalated.

Did they think they could clear themselves this way?

Did they think that by saying a few nice words, Xu Weidong would forget the phone calls they made to Bureau Chief Yang Desheng yesterday?

However, Xu Weidong did not expose them. Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu were just weathercocks, not worth his anger, let alone wasting his breath.

If they wanted to sever ties, let them do it.

He never expected such people to become friends, nor did he fear them becoming enemies.

Xu Weidong stopped, looked at Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu, the smile on his lips not fading.

"Deputy Director Gao, Deputy Director Li, you two are exaggerating."

"The sealing of Cuican Fireworks was a decision made by our County Work Safety Administration in accordance with the law and regulations; it has nothing to do with anyone else."

"I also believe that no city leader would go out of their way to make a call for an enterprise with major safety hazards."

"If someone is using the banner of city leaders to bluff and swindle, that is their problem, not the city leaders' problem."

"The two directors reminding Bureau Chief Yang Desheng on the phone to pay attention to work methods and protect the enthusiasm of entrepreneurs is not wrong in itself."

"What is wrong is the enterprise that used your reminder to hype things up and attempt to evade supervision."

"Therefore, we don't need to struggle over this matter, nor do we need to worry about what anyone said."

"Handling it according to the law and regulations—dealing with it as it should be dealt with—is the proper path."

These words were watertight; they neither exposed the phone calls Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu made yesterday, nor did they embarrass them, yet they clearly stated his stance.

The sealing of Cuican Fireworks was in accordance with the law and regulations.

If anyone wanted to make an issue out of this, that was their own business.

As for the words of the two directors yesterday, Xu Weidong knew about them, but he did not want to pursue the matter.

Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu exchanged a glance. A flicker of embarrassment flashed in their eyes, but it was quickly covered by even brighter smiles.

Deputy Director Gao Qiang nodded repeatedly in agreement, and Deputy Director Li Wenfu echoed him from the side; the two were perfectly in sync, as if they had rehearsed.

"Well said, County Magistrate Xu! According to the law and regulations, the proper path! That is exactly how it should be!"

"Yes, yes, yes, according to the law and regulations; no one can be above the law."

Xu Weidong didn't say anything more, nodded, and led Bureau Chief Yang Desheng toward the conference room.

Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu stood in place, watching him walk away, and then slowly followed behind, keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng, following behind Xu Weidong, couldn't help but whisper: "County Magistrate Xu, they..."

Xu Weidong waved his hand, stopping him from continuing, his voice very soft, so soft that only Bureau Chief Yang Desheng could hear.

"Those who understand the times are outstanding."

"Such people are not worth your anger, nor are they worth your resentment. They are just weathercocks; they fall in whichever direction the wind blows strongest."

"As long as they don't cause trouble for us, that's enough."

Bureau Chief Yang Desheng nodded, as if having gained some insight, and said nothing more.

He followed behind Xu Weidong and walked into the conference room.

The conference room was already filled with many people: deputy county/district heads in charge of work safety, directors of the Safety Supervision Bureau, and heads of relevant municipal departments were all gathered together, the room packed.

Xu Weidong found his seat and sat down, and Bureau Chief Yang Desheng sat down next to him.

People came over to greet them, and Xu Weidong responded to each one, his attitude polite yet distant, maintaining a perfectly appropriate distance.