87: Chapter 87 Fang Zhenggang's Fury

Provincial Government building, Governor's office.

Outside the window was Youth Street, the busiest part of Shengjing City, bustling with traffic and pedestrians. But at this moment, the people in the office had no heart for the scenery.

Zou Nanping sat on the sofa, the tea in front of him untouched. His palms were sweating, but he was forcing himself to remain calm on the surface.

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang sat behind the desk, holding a document, reading it slowly and leisurely, as if there was no one else in the room.

The silence lasted for a full three minutes before Zou Nanping finally couldn't take it anymore and broke the silence.

"Vice Governor Fang, I came here today to report on the recent situation in the medical and health sector."

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang looked up at him, his gaze as calm as deep water.

"Speak."

Zou Nanping swallowed and began his report.

"Vice Governor Fang, recently, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection Li Gang have been keeping a very close eye on the medical and health sector."

"The Executive Vice Governor is also cooperating, and the health bureaus of several cities have been thoroughly investigated."

"The Shengjing City Health Bureau, the Provincial Health Department, and several provincial-level hospitals have all been turned upside down."

Zou Nanping paused, his tone becoming urgent.

"Vice Governor Fang, we can't go on like this!"

"You know the situation in the medical and health sector; some problems are historical legacies, not caused by our current administration."

"But now that they are investigating like this, if they really find something, wouldn't that be a negation of the previous work of the Provincial Government under your comprehensive leadership?"

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang put down the document and looked at him, his gaze still calm.

"Negation? Negate what?"

Zou Nanping leaned forward and lowered his voice: "Vice Governor Fang, Governor Zhou Wenbin, you know his background better than I do."

"He is Commander-in-Chief Xu's man."

"He came to Fengtian, isn't that for your position? And Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection Li Gang is also Xu Tianhua's man."

"They are targeting the medical and health sector now; on the surface, they are investigating problems, but in reality, they are digging up your foundation!"

Zou Nanping's voice grew more excited: "Vice Governor Fang, you cannot afford not to be on guard!"

"If you don't fight back, and let them continue to investigate like this, I'm afraid the heavens in Fengtian Province are going to change!"

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang listened, silent for a few seconds.

Then he smiled. The smile was very faint, as light as a breeze, but it made Zou Nanping's heart crawl.

"Comrade Nanping, are you finished?"

Zou Nanping nodded.

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to him.

"Then I have a question for you."

Zou Nanping quickly stood up: "Please go ahead."

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang turned around, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp.

"What is the deal with you getting people to spread rumors about Xu Weidong in Lvjiang City?"

Zou Nanping's face turned pale instantly. He opened his mouth to explain, but found he couldn't say anything.

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang looked at him, his gaze filled with disappointment, anger, and complex emotions.

"Comrade Nanping, how many years have you been with me?"

Zou Nanping lowered his head and said: "Fifteen years."

"Fifteen years."

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang repeated it, his tone filled with emotion.

"Fifteen years. I groomed you from a division chief step by step to a vice-provincial level official."

"I originally thought you were a sensible person."

"But I didn't expect..."

"That you would do such a stupid thing!"

Zou Nanping's forehead broke out in sweat. He spoke with difficulty: "Vice Governor Fang, I... I just wanted to give them a warning."

"Let them know that in Fengtian Province, they can't just do whatever they want."

"That Xu Weidong is the son of Commander-in-Chief Xu and the focal point of their attention. If we move him, they will restrain themselves..."

"Restrain?"

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang interrupted him: "You had people spread rumors about him, and that is your idea of restraint?"

Zou Nanping lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang walked back to the desk but did not sit down.

He pressed his hands on the desktop, looked at Zou Nanping, and said word by word: "Comrade Zou Nanping, I ask you, who is Xu Weidong?"

Zou Nanping whispered: "Commander-in-Chief Xu's son."

"And what else?"

"Deputy Director of the Changyuan County Public Security Bureau."

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang nodded: "Correct. He is the Deputy Director of the Changyuan County Public Security Bureau, a grassroots cadre fighting on the front lines of the Crackdown on Organized Crime."

"What did he do in Changyuan County?"

"He wiped out the human trafficking den in Qili Village and saved dozens of trafficked women and children. He destroyed the criminal network of the Sihai Group and arrested dozens of gangsters."

"The merit he earned is a First-Class Merit!"

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang paused, his tone becoming more severe.

"You had people spread rumors about him, saying what?"

"Saying he's young and arrogant? Saying his style is overbearing? Saying he forms cliques? Is there any evidence for these words?"

Zou Nanping lowered his head, silent.

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang sneered: "There is no evidence."

"You just wanted to make others think he has problems, to make others have opinions about him."

"But have you thought about what the consequences would be if this was investigated?"

He walked back to the window, back to Zou Nanping.

"Whose son is Xu Weidong? He is Commander-in-Chief Xu's son."

"Who is Commander-in-Chief Xu? It is set in stone that he will enter the cabinet!"

"Moving his son is slapping him in the face!"

"Who do you think you are? Do you think you can withstand his fury?"

Zou Nanping's hands were shaking. Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang turned around, looked at him, and continued: "It would be fine if it wasn't uncovered, but if it is, even if you are a vice-provincial level official, I cannot protect you."

These words were too heavy; Zou Nanping's legs went weak, and he almost couldn't stand.

"Vice Governor Fang, I... I really just wanted to..."

"Wanted what?"

"Wanted to give them a warning? Wanted to make them restrain themselves? Comrade Nanping, do you know how stupid this warning of yours is?"

He walked back to the sofa and sat down, his tone softening slightly.

"You just said the Executive Vice Governor and the Discipline Inspection Commission are keeping a close eye on the medical and health sector."

"Then let me ask you, are there problems in the medical and health sector?"

Zou Nanping was silent for a few seconds, then said with difficulty: "Yes."

"What problems?"

"Historical... some problems."

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang nodded: "Historical problems."

"Then tell me, were these problems caused by our current administration?"

Zou Nanping shook his head: "No."

"Then should we investigate? Should we reform?"

Zou Nanping didn't speak. Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang looked at him, his gaze becoming deep.

"Comrade Nanping, let me tell you, we should investigate! We should reform!"

"Correct problems where they exist, plug loopholes where there are any."

"What is the point of covering things up? Doesn't that amount to shielding corruption and shielding crime?"

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang paused, his tone becoming more serious.

"Or is it that you, Zou Nanping, are already deeply involved?"

Zou Nanping suddenly raised his head, his face pale.

"Vice Governor Fang, I have not! I swear to heaven, I absolutely have not!"

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang looked at him, his gaze carrying some scrutiny.

After a long while, he nodded: "Good, I believe you."

Zou Nanping breathed a sigh of relief, but his heart was still pounding wildly.

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang leaned on the sofa, his tone becoming calmer.

"Comrade Nanping, you have been with me for fifteen years, you should know my temper."

"I hate people who play tricks and play dirty."

"If you have a problem, bring it to the table. If you have an opinion, raise it to my face."

"What kind of skill is it to do those underhanded things behind my back?"

Zou Nanping lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang continued: "The Executive Vice Governor and the Discipline Inspection Commission investigating the medical and health sector is their duty."

"If problems are found, they should be handled and rectified. This is responsible to the people, and it is responsible to our government."

"You thought they were coming for me? You thought they were coming for my position?"

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang shook his head, his tone filled with helplessness.

"Comrade Nanping, your perspective is too narrow."

Zou Nanping's face flushed red and white. Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang stood up, walked to him, and looked down at him.

"Let me tell you, Governor Zhou Wenbin and Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection Li Gang are here to get things done, not to fight for power."

"The organization sent them to Fengtian to cooperate with the work, not to engage in struggle."

"You thought about things wrong, got the direction wrong, got yourself involved, and implicated others."

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang paused, his tone becoming more severe.

"That warning of yours, you thought you were helping me? You were causing trouble for me! If it really gets uncovered, how can I explain it to Commander-in-Chief Xu? How can I answer to the Provincial Party Committee?"

Zou Nanping's sweat poured down even more heavily. Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang looked at him coldly and suddenly sneered.

"Tell me, if Commander-in-Chief Xu also wants to play a little joke on you, and says a few words to the comrades in the Organization Department about you liking to help others achieve their goals or being willing to contribute, would you be afraid?"

Zou Nanping's legs gave out completely. If Commander-in-Chief Xu really said that, he, Zou Nanping, would have to report to the Provincial Clapping Association tomorrow.

"Vice Governor Fang, I was wrong."

"I was really wrong, please give me a chance, pull me up!"

Vice Governor Fang Zhenggang looked at him, silent for a long time.

Then he sighed, waved his hand, and said: "That's enough, go back and reflect on yourself."

"Put away those little thoughts of yours and focus your energy on the real work. You personally handle the rectification of the medical and health sector and get results."

"As for the matter in Lvjiang City..."

"I hope never to hear similar jokes again."

"If there is another time, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Zou Nanping nodded repeatedly and backed out of the office.

The moment the door closed, he leaned against the wall and let out a long breath.

His legs were still weak, and his palms were full of sweat.