248: Chapter 248 Being Controlled

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo was drinking tea in his office when he received a call from Liu Shufen.

He leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen in his hand. The folder in front of him was open, but he hadn't absorbed a single word.

His phone vibrated. He glanced at the caller ID, a faint, barely perceptible smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

This woman had finally come looking for him again.

"County Magistrate Mi, I... can I meet with you? My son got into some trouble at school, and they're going to expel him. I'm truly at my wit's end. Please, I beg you to help me."

Liu Shufen's voice was choked with tears, filled with both urgency and fear.

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo remained silent for a moment. His tone sounded strictly professional, but the fire burning in the depths of his eyes was blazing.

"General Manager Liu, don't be anxious. Tell me slowly whatever the matter is. It's not convenient to discuss this over the phone. How about this: come to my office tonight. I'm working overtime, so I'll have some time."

Liu Shufen certainly knew what coming to his office at night implied.

She gripped her phone, and it took a long while before she squeezed a single word out through her gritted teeth.

"Okay."

At 6:30, there weren't many people left in the County Party Committee building.

Liu Shufen walked down the empty corridor, the crisp tapping of her high heels echoing against the floor.

She was wearing a black knit sweater today, paired with dark trousers, wrapping herself up tightly.

But the knit sweater was too thin; clinging to her body, it still outlined her curves.

She had hoped to dress modestly and inconspicuously, so that man wouldn't notice her body.

But she knew that was impossible; what that man noticed was never her clothes, but what lay beneath them.

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo's office was on the fourth floor; the door was open and the lights were on.

He sat behind his desk, a steaming teacup in front of him.

Seeing Liu Shufen enter, he stood up and gestured to the chair opposite him, his smile as kindly as an elder concerned for a subordinate.

"General Manager Liu, you're here? Sit. Would you like tea or water?"

Liu Shufen sat down opposite him, placing her bag on her lap and gripping its straps with both hands.

"County Magistrate Mi, I'm not thirsty. Regarding my son's matter, I beg you to put in a word with the school for me."

"He just cracked a few jokes with the teacher during class, and the school wants to expel him."

"He's still young and doesn't know any better. Please, give him a chance."

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo picked up his teacup and took a sip, leaning back in his chair. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before sliding down to her chest, slowly tracing the curves outlined by the thin black knit sweater.

He set down his teacup, walked around to sit beside her, and reached out to pat her shoulder.

The movement was very light, as if he were soothing a frightened little animal.

"General Manager Liu, don't be anxious. I'll look into your son's matter. I will speak to the school, so rest assured."

"But..."

His hand didn't move from her shoulder; instead, it slid down a little, resting on her upper arm, his thumb gently rubbing against it through the thin knit fabric.

"General Manager Liu, you only come to me when you have a problem, and you don't even call when things are fine. You make me very sad by doing this."

Liu Shufen's body stiffened. She dared not dodge or move, remaining rigid as she let his hand roam over her arm.

"County Magistrate Mi, I... I'm usually busy and don't have time to visit you. It's not that I don't want to, I just really can't get away."

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo smiled, his hand sliding from her upper arm to her back, and then from her back to her waist.

Her waist was very slender, and the knit fabric was thin; he could feel the warmth of her waist.

"General Manager Liu, is your husband still doing business away from home? How often does he come back?"

Liu Shufen bit her lip and lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.

"He's busy and doesn't come back often."

"Doesn't come back often? Then how do you manage?"

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo pinched her waist lightly, his voice so low it seemed to be squeezed from his throat, carrying a sickening sense of ambiguity.

Liu Shufen's face flushed red, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"County Magistrate Mi, please don't be like this. I beg you, help my son. He's only in high school; he can't be expelled. I will give you whatever you want."

"I..."

"You don't know what I want?"

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo interrupted her, his hand moving up from her waist, touching the hem of her knit sweater.

Liu Shufen could no longer hold it in; tears fell, landing drop by drop on her knees.

Watching her tears, Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo did not let go; instead, he pulled her closer to himself.

Liu Shufen's body leaned against his shoulder, and his arm wrapped around her waist.

He reached out his other hand and pressed it against the wall, trapping her between himself and the wall.

"General Manager Liu, why are you crying? I'm not going to eat you. Your son's matter is on me."

"For County No. 1 High School to expel a student, isn't it just a matter of a word from me? As long as you are obedient, I guarantee your son will finish high school safely and get into college."

"In the future, when he graduates, I'll help him arrange a job, too. Think about it, how hard it is for you to raise a child on your own."

"Wouldn't it be nice to have someone help you?"

Liu Shufen closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Half an hour later, Liu Shufen didn't know how she had managed to leave the County Party Committee building.

She got into her car, leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes, her whole body still trembling.

County Mayor Bai Weijun's secretary, Xiao Chen, went to County No. 1 High School on business today and overheard a few teachers discussing something while passing by the guardroom.

He stopped and pricked up his ears to listen for a few moments.

"Student Zhao Ming has been disciplined again. This time he molested a female teacher, and I heard the school is going to expel him."

"He has connections at home. Last time, he found some county leader, and the disciplinary action just vanished."

"This time is different. It's molesting a teacher; the nature of the offense is severe, and the school can't suppress it even if they want to."

"What kind of leader is so powerful? They can even suppress the school?"

"I heard it's a Vice County Magistrate, surnamed Mi."

Xiao Chen didn't disturb the teachers. He walked quickly out of the school gate, got into his car, took out his phone, and dialed County Mayor Bai Weijun's number.

"County Mayor Bai, I have a situation to report to you. Something happened at County No. 1 High School: a student named Student Zhao Ming molested a female teacher during class, and the school intends to expel him."

"This student's mother has an unusual relationship with Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo. Last time this student got into trouble, it was his mother who sought out Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo to smooth things over."

"Something happened again this time, and I heard his mother has gone to find Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo again."

County Mayor Bai Weijun listened, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly smiled.

Heaven is helping me!

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo's ambiguous attitude at the Standing Committee meeting was like a thorn stuck in his heart, one he couldn't pull out or swallow.

Now, this thorn could finally be pulled out!

He picked up the phone on his desk and dialed the number of County No. 1 High School principal, Zheng Mingyuan.

"Principal Zheng, this is County Mayor Bai Weijun. There is a student in your school named Student Zhao Ming who molested a female teacher in class. The nature of the offense is severe, and the impact is extremely bad. How do you intend to handle this?"

Zheng Mingyuan was stunned on the other end of the line, and quickly reported the school's proposed handling of the matter.

"County Mayor Bai, we have decided to give Student Zhao Ming a major disciplinary warning and have notified his parents to come to the school to assist with his education."

County Mayor Bai Weijun's voice was neither warm nor cold as he said, "A major disciplinary warning? Molesting a teacher, insulting a teacher's dignity, disrupting classroom discipline—with such a severe impact, and all you're doing is a major disciplinary warning? How exactly are you doing your job as principal?"

A layer of fine sweat broke out on Zheng Mingyuan's forehead.

"County Mayor Bai, a county-level leader put in a word, so we..."

"Which leader? What is their name?"

There was silence on the other end. Zheng Mingyuan dared not say, and County Mayor Bai Weijun didn't press him.

"Principal Zheng, handle this matter according to school rules. Punish him as you should, and don't worry about who put in a word."

"I will coordinate things here at the county level."

"You just need to manage the students well and run the school well."

"You don't need to worry about other matters."

Zheng Mingyuan quickly agreed.

"County Mayor Bai, I understand."

County Mayor Bai Weijun hung up the phone and dialed the number of the Education Bureau director, Liu Changhe.

"Director Liu, come to my office."

"Come now!"

When Liu Changhe arrived, his forehead was covered in sweat.

He didn't know why County Mayor Bai Weijun had suddenly summoned him, but he knew it wouldn't be anything good.

When he entered, County Mayor Bai Weijun was sitting behind his desk, reading documents.

Seeing him enter, County Mayor Bai Weijun looked up and gestured to the chair opposite him.

"Director Liu, are you aware of the matter concerning Student Zhao Ming?"

Liu Changhe's heart skipped a beat; of course he was aware.

Student Zhao Ming's mother, Liu Shufen, had sought out Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo, and Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo had put in a word with him, telling him to tell the school to "handle it with discretion."

He knew what Student Zhao Ming had done—molesting a female teacher—the nature of the offense was severe, and according to school rules, he should be expelled.

But Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo was the Vice County Magistrate and the leader in charge; he dared not disobey.

"County Mayor Bai, I am aware. The school has already handled the matter and given Student Zhao Ming a major disciplinary warning."

County Mayor Bai Weijun's expression darkened.

"A major disciplinary warning? Director Liu, you've worked at the Education Bureau for so many years; you should know what kind of issue molesting a female teacher in class is."

"If such a student isn't expelled, should we keep him for the New Year? Did someone put in a word for you, asking you to go easy on him?"

Liu Changhe's face turned pale. County Mayor Bai Weijun tossed a document onto the table; it was Student Zhao Ming's disciplinary record that he had asked Xiao Chen to compile.

From fighting with classmates before, to sleeping in class and talking back to teachers this year, and now molesting a female teacher—every single incident was clearly documented.

Liu Changhe picked up the document, flipped through two pages, and his hands began to tremble.

"Director Liu, I'll give you ten minutes. Write down the ins and outs of this matter clearly—who put in a word for you, how they did it, and what they said. Not a single word is to be omitted."

"When you're done, I'll take a look. If you don't write it clearly, or if you omit anything, you can stop being the Education Bureau director."

Liu Changhe held his pen, his hand trembling.

He knew he couldn't lie; he couldn't hide anything that County Mayor Bai Weijun wanted to investigate.

He lowered his head and wrote it all out, piece by piece.

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo had called him, saying that Student Zhao Ming's mother was his distant relative and asking him to look after the matter and not to expel him.

He had thought it was a small matter at the time and hadn't expected it to escalate to this point.

After reading the document, County Mayor Bai Weijun's lips curled into a smile.

"Director Liu, you may go back first. Do not make a scene about this matter, and do not mention it to anyone, including Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo."

Liu Changhe nodded hurriedly, stood up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and turned to walk out.

County Mayor Bai Weijun picked up the document and read it again.

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo was in his office, pondering how to have a "heart-to-heart" with Liu Shufen that evening, when he received a call from County Mayor Bai Weijun.

The phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and his heart skipped a beat.

"County Mayor Bai, were you looking for me?"

"Vice County Magistrate Mi, come to my office."

"I'm coming right away!"

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo hung up the phone, his heart filled with trepidation.

He didn't know what County Mayor Bai Weijun wanted with him, but his intuition told him it wasn't anything good.

He straightened his collar, picked up the notebook on his desk, and walked quickly out of his office.

County Mayor Bai Weijun's office was at the other end of the corridor, and the door was open.

When Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo knocked and entered, County Mayor Bai Weijun was leaning back in his chair, reading a document. There was a file in front of him—just a few thin pages—but when Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo saw those pages, his heart inexplicably began to race.

County Mayor Bai Weijun didn't offer him a seat or pour him tea; he just looked up, glanced at him, and gestured to the position in front of the desk.

"Vice County Magistrate Mi, take a look at this."

County Mayor Bai Weijun pushed the document toward Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo. Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo took it and flipped to the first page, his fingers tightening abruptly.

On it was written Student Zhao Ming's disciplinary record at County No. 1 High School: fighting with classmates, molesting a female teacher—every incident was clearly documented.

He flipped to the second page and saw the time and content of his call to Liu Changhe.

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo's face turned pale, and his lips trembled twice.

"County Mayor Bai, this... what is this about? I don't know this student, and I never called Director Liu."

"Someone is framing me!"

County Mayor Bai Weijun leaned back in his chair, watching him, a smile playing on the corners of his lips.

"Vice County Magistrate Mi, this was written by Liu Changhe's own hand, in black and white. And you say it's a frame-up?"

A layer of fine sweat broke out on Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo's forehead.

"County Mayor Bai, please listen to my explanation. I did call Director Liu, but I only asked him to look into the situation; I didn't ask him to cover anything up."

"This student's mother is a distant relative of mine. She begged me, and it was hard to refuse, so I helped by asking about it."

"I really didn't know this student had committed such a serious offense. If I had known, I would never have made that call."

County Mayor Bai Weijun didn't respond. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and drank slowly and unhurriedly.

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo stood there, the document in his hands trembling.

He knew that if he didn't say something today, he wouldn't be able to get past this.

What County Mayor Bai Weijun held in his hands could turn him from a Vice County Magistrate into a prisoner.

After all, that man had connections; he could turn even a small matter into a big one...

"County Mayor Bai, I assure you, I have truly not done anything to betray the organization or the people."

"Regarding that student's matter, I only asked about it out of a sense of obligation; I had no other intentions."

"If you don't believe me, you can investigate, you can ask around."

"I have a clear conscience!"

County Mayor Bai Weijun set down his teacup and leaned back in his chair, watching him.

"Vice County Magistrate Mi, you are a veteran comrade. You've worked in Changyuan County for so many years; you should know what should be done and what shouldn't."

"Student Zhao Ming's matter can be big or small."

"You tell me yourself: should this matter be treated as a big deal or a small one?"

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo's face turned completely white. This was forcing him to take a side!

"County Mayor Bai, I was wrong."

"I shouldn't have called Director Liu; I shouldn't have interfered in school matters."

"I assure you, such things will never happen again."

"As for that student, let the school handle it however they see fit; I will absolutely not interfere."

County Mayor Bai Weijun watched him, remained silent for a moment, then took a document from his drawer and pushed it toward Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo.

"Vice County Magistrate Mi, here is a document. Take a look at it, and sign it when you're done."

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo took it and flipped to the first page, his hands beginning to tremble.

It was about Liu Shufen, about her son Student Zhao Ming, and a record of how many times he had called her and how many times they had met.

He didn't know how County Mayor Bai Weijun had dug this up; he only knew that if these things fell into the hands of the Discipline Inspection Commission, his life would be over.

"County Mayor Bai, I... I..."

County Mayor Bai Weijun didn't give him a chance to explain, leaning back in his chair, watching him.

"Vice County Magistrate Mi, you are a smart man; you should know what to do."

"From today on, at the Standing Committee meetings, at the County Government executive meetings, and on any occasion, you must maintain a high degree of alignment with the County Government."

"The County Government is a County Government where I, County Mayor Bai Weijun, have the final say—not one where Secretary Wei Kuan has the final say. Do you understand?"

Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo's hand trembled as he held the pen. He knew that once he signed this, it would be equivalent to handing his political life over to County Mayor Bai Weijun.

From now on, he would never be able to remain ambiguous at the Standing Committee meetings, nor would he be able to straddle the fence between Secretary Wei Kuan and County Mayor Bai Weijun.

He had to choose a side, and County Mayor Bai Weijun wasn't giving him the chance to choose.

He lowered his head and wrote his name stroke by stroke in the signature line.

When the last stroke fell, he felt as if he had signed his own death warrant.

County Mayor Bai Weijun picked up the document, read it once, and nodded with satisfaction.