31: Chapter 31 The Secretary Made a Mistake

"This..." Hu Zhengren wanted to report to Director Tu Jianping, but he was worried about getting dragged into it. Reporting to the County Party Secretary, however, would be jumping over the chain of command. He knew that the County Magistrate and the Public Security Bureau Chief were in cahoots and were at odds with the County Party Secretary.

He was caught in a dilemma.

"Are you waiting for me to make the call?" Zhang Huaijing's face darkened, his tone thunderous.

Hu Zhengren wilted and had no choice but to dial Secretary Ji Xuewen's mobile phone: "Secretary Ji Xuewen, something has happened. Tonight, following the bureau's deployment, I came to Green Field Resort to carry out a 'crackdown on pornography and illegal publications' operation. As it turns out, we ended up investigating Secretary Zhang Huaijing..."

"What? Who told you to investigate? Is Green Field Resort a place you can just investigate?!" Secretary Ji Xuewen on the other end of the line was immediately furious. He steadied his emotions and asked, "What is the situation now?"

"Secretary Zhang Huaijing did not solicit a prostitute. Two young women swiped a card and came in on their own, and no transaction took place..."

"I'm coming over immediately!"

Secretary Ji Xuewen hung up the phone immediately.

A few minutes later, Zhang Huaijing's phone rang. It was Secretary Ji Xuewen calling:

"Secretary, I am sorry. I have caused you alarm. I am coming over immediately to apologize and handle this properly."

"Thank you for your trouble, Secretary Ji Xuewen." Zhang Huaijing said this calmly.

"Should I also report this to our Director?" Hu Zhengren muttered to himself, while also asking Zhang Huaijing.

Zhang Huaijing waved his hand and said: "Wait until your Secretary arrives before we discuss it."

Hu Zhengren had no choice but to give up. At this moment, the walkie-talkie on his shoulder rang:

"Report, Captain, we caught another pair on the second floor."

Hu Zhengren's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly asked: "Did they complete a transaction?"

"Yes."

"What are their names?" Hu Zhengren asked in a rush. He felt a bit uneasy, terrified that the person might also be someone he couldn't afford to offend.

"Secretary Jiang Tao!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Huaijing's anger flared up instantly.

Hu Zhengren knew something was terribly wrong the moment he saw his expression. He smiled obsequiously: "Secretary Zhang, he..."

Zhang Huaijing shot him a cold glance and said nothing.

Clearly, this was a setup.

Zhang Huaijing had seen through their tricks, but who would have thought that the idiot Secretary Jiang Tao would make a mistake? With that, the situation became complicated.

Of course, if Zhang Huaijing's will had been even slightly weaker and he had crossed the line, he would have been unable to explain himself no matter what. He might even have been disgraced, and his political career would have been affected.

In the end, this kind of thing is like mud falling into your pants—even if it isn't excrement, it's still treated as such.

As his thoughts raced, Zhang Huaijing said: "Secretary Jiang Tao is my Secretary. Bring him here, but don't alert anyone else."

Hu Zhengren immediately made arrangements over the walkie-talkie.

Two minutes later, Secretary Jiang Tao walked in, looking dejected. Seeing Zhang Huaijing, he felt as if he had encountered a savior, yet he was also overwhelmed with shame. He hurriedly defended himself: "Secretary, they set me up..."

"How did they set you up? Explain it clearly." Zhang Huaijing asked calmly.

Secretary Jiang Tao recounted the situation in detail.

After finishing, he spoke with an expression of grief and indignation, but noticing the leader's expression was off, he suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly changed his demeanor, admitting his mistake solemnly:

"Secretary, I'm sorry, I was wrong... I was wrong..."

"You can shut up now." Zhang Huaijing coldly interrupted him and glanced at Hu Zhengren. "Captain Hu Zhengren, you are supposed to be a captain with rich experience in handling cases, right? You should be able to see that this is a setup. You've been used as a pawn."

Hu Zhengren sighed with a complicated expression: "Secretary Zhang, to be honest, if I had known that you and your Secretary were staying in these two rooms, I wouldn't have come to conduct this raid even if it killed me."

The problem was that Secretary Jiang Tao had made a mistake he shouldn't have, and that was his fault.

"In this way, don't process Secretary Jiang Tao's matter yet. Have your brothers find a room to lock up those few fallen women and keep an eye on them. Wait until your Secretary comes over before we talk." Zhang Huaijing said, "Reporter Ye Xiaoni, thank you for your hard work, you may leave. However, before you go, please give me the tape you just recorded. I will return it to you tomorrow."

Reporter Ye Xiaoni knew this matter was complicated and naturally couldn't report it. She hurriedly agreed and gave the photographer a look.

The photographer then popped out the tape and handed it to Zhang Huaijing.

"Secretary, we will keep this a secret, don't worry." After Reporter Ye Xiaoni finished speaking, she took the photographer and left the room.

Thirty or forty minutes later, Secretary Ji Xuewen rushed into the suite. As soon as he entered, he expressed his apologies solemnly: "Secretary, I didn't arrange things well, I didn't do my job, and I have let you suffer a grievance. This matter, really, I know you are an upright person, so I didn't arrange for any young ladies. You are staying here, and Minister Meng and Minister Wang are also here; it's impossible for me to let people come to conduct a raid.

On the way here, I learned about the situation. It was a special operation conducted by the Public Security Bureau. Someone reported it to Hu Zhengren, which led to this huge misunderstanding. I apologize. On behalf of the County Party Committee, I offer my apologies to you, Secretary."

"Secretary Ji Xuewen, what are you apologizing for? This matter has nothing to do with you. Don't take the blame for everything." Seeing him looking weak and easily bullied, Zhang Huaijing gave him a pointed remark.

Secretary Ji Xuewen smiled helplessly and said: "I am the Secretary. Such a thing happened on my turf, and it was a reception I arranged personally; I cannot shirk the responsibility. Furthermore, it is my supreme honor that you chose my location as the first stop of your inspection tour, yet such a thing happened, which makes me feel deeply apologetic and uneasy."

"Secretary Ji Xuewen, I don't blame you. This matter must be investigated clearly and handled seriously. However, Secretary Jiang Tao is my Secretary. He was set up, so he can be considered a victim. Let's waive his punishment." Zhang Huaijing spoke unhurriedly, his tone gentle but his attitude firm.

Secretary Jiang Tao, who was pouring tea for everyone on the side, felt a warmth in his heart after hearing this.

Secretary Ji Xuewen declared: "Very well, I will comply and implement it! I will get to the bottom of this matter within two days!"

A few minutes later, the door was pushed open again. A short, chubby man in his forties entered. The face of Secretary Ji Xuewen, which had finally relaxed, immediately darkened. He said quite unhappily: "Director Tu Jianping, you who are as elusive as a dragon, what are you doing here?!"

Director Tu Jianping said with a face full of smiles: "Secretary Zhang, Secretary Ji Xuewen, I have come to offer my humble apologies! I am truly sorry. It's a case of the floodwaters flooding the Dragon King's temple—we didn't recognize our own family. The Public Security Bureau, in collaboration with several other departments, was conducting a 'crackdown on pornography and illegal publications' operation. Who knew that good intentions would lead to bad results? I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

As he spoke, he extended his hand toward Zhang Huaijing.

Zhang Huaijing still needed to maintain a leader's demeanor, so he extended his hand and shook it firmly, laughing: "Director Tu Jianping, you have quite a grip! You've got strength!"

Director Tu Jianping's fat, soft hands were only used to touching mahjong tiles and balls; how could they have any strength? He only felt the pain of being clamped by the other party. He squeezed out a smile and said: "Secretary Zhang, the responsibility for tonight's incident lies entirely with me. If you want to beat me, scold me, or punish me, please go right ahead."

"Director Tu Jianping, you are overstating it. Your Secretary Ji Xuewen will handle it properly." Zhang Huaijing released his hand and looked at him with a smile.

Before Secretary Ji Xuewen could speak, Director Tu Jianping strode up to Hu Zhengren, slapped him across the face with a loud smack, and cursed: "Hu Zhengren, what the hell are you doing? Who told you to come to Green Field Resort to investigate? Don't you know this is a forbidden zone? Are there not enough reports from the masses? Others know how to avoid the serious and focus on the trivial; don't you know how to handle things flexibly? You blockhead, you idiot!"