42: Chapter 42 Ouyang Yang confessed

The next morning, Zhang Huaijing took a taxi to drop Wen Di off at the airport.

She wasn't the type to cry or fuss. Although the two had spent a wonderful and wild night together, leaving her feeling quite reluctant to part, she remained radiant and happily boarded her flight.

At noon, Zhang Huaijing returned to Haizhou Hotel when Secretary Ji Xuewen called him:

"Secretary, are you available? I'd like to come see you."

"What is it?"

"Deputy Director Ouyang Yang has confessed!"

"I'm at Haizhou Hotel. Come over."

Ten minutes later, Secretary Ji Xuewen entered Zhang Huaijing's room alone.

"Secretary, after several days of continuous interrogation, Deputy Director Ouyang Yang broke down and spilled everything," Secretary Ji Xuewen said, looking exhilarated.

"Sit down and tell me," Zhang Huaijing said, appearing as calm as ever. He poured him a cup of tea, and they sat on the living room sofa to talk.

"He admitted to abusing his power to accept bribes during the bidding and procurement of engineering projects, totaling 820,000 yuan in cash and valuables worth 250,000 yuan. At the same time, he kept a mistress named Lin Fang, a substitute teacher in Nanshuo Town. After he helped her get a permanent teaching position, they got together, and it's been four years. We have also taken Lin Fang into custody."

Lu Waner's father had worked conscientiously as a substitute teacher for 30 years, but because he didn't give gifts or pull strings, he still hadn't secured a permanent position. Yet Lin Fang, only 29, had been made permanent after just three years of substituting.

Whenever there is unfairness, corruption is often hiding behind it.

Zhang Huaijing secretly felt indignant for Lu Waner's father, but he also understood that there was no need to rush; someone would deal with it eventually.

He asked, "What else did he confess?"

Secretary Ji Xuewen replied, "Basically that's it. He didn't implicate anyone higher up. However, he mentioned that the money he took wasn't nearly enough to pay for a promotion to the deputy division level. Previously, the buying and selling of official positions in Wanghai County was quite serious. He said he gave County Magistrate Du Huaishui's wife, Minister Xia Nanfeng, 300,000 yuan, hoping she would pull some strings to get him nominated for a deputy division-level position to the municipal level, and he promised another 500,000 yuan after it was done. He said Minister Xia Nanfeng accepted it and agreed."

"He was taking the indirect route, not giving it directly to County Magistrate Du Huaishui, right?"

"Yes, a smokescreen. Actually, what connections would Minister Xia Nanfeng have to get a deputy division-level spot reported to the municipal level? County Magistrate Du Huaishui has them; after all, he is one of the Mayor's The Eight Vajras, and he has a close relationship with Secretary She Xionghan of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

After finishing, Secretary Ji Xuewen sighed deeply, "I never expected such a big parasite to be hiding right under my nose. I actually valued him, wanting to cultivate him, so I let him handle document drafting. When he couldn't do that, I had him handle receptions. It turns out he was just useless mud that couldn't be propped up, and he was a corrupt criminal to boot. It's heartbreaking!"

"I'm afraid he's not just a parasite, but a traitor disloyal to the Party and the organization!" Zhang Huaijing slammed his teacup onto the table. The lid slid, making a crisp clatter.

Secretary Ji Xuewen said with a look of shame, "Yes, a shameful traitor. It was me, the Secretary, who was blinded—I didn't see him clearly."

Their implication was that Deputy Director Ouyang Yang was a spy planted by County Magistrate Du Huaishui in the County Party Committee Office. But they couldn't say it outright; otherwise, it would paint political infighting as a struggle between enemies.

Zhang Huaijing asked again, "You should have emphasized to him many times that voluntarily confessing to issues the organization wasn't aware of would count as a meritorious service, right?"

"Yes, we emphasized it repeatedly."

"And he didn't confess to anything else?" Zhang Huaijing was almost certain that on the night of August 25th, when Deputy Director Ouyang Yang tricked Cui Liming into working overtime at the County Party Committee Office, it was a necessary link in Du Zitong's murder of Cui Liming.

Otherwise, how could Ah Shui and Ah Shun have grasped Cui Liming's whereabouts so precisely?

If they could break through Deputy Director Ouyang Yang's defense, no matter how Ah Shui and Ah Shun tried to argue, Du Zitong could not escape the suspicion of being the mastermind, because Deputy Director Ouyang Yang wouldn't be in contact with Ah Shui and Ah Shun by phone; it must have been a direct, singular line of contact with Du Zitong.

"No," Secretary Ji Xuewen said decisively.

Zhang Huaijing picked up his teacup and took a silent sip, his expression inscrutable.

"Secretary, tonight we plan to release the announcement of Deputy Director Ouyang Yang's investigation on the County Party and Government website. The Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission has already agreed."

"Good. What did he say about the 'honey trap' incident?"

"It's the same old story: he claims it was a whim, that he took the initiative to contact Ah Shun and asked him to arrange for a lady to provide services, and that he had no idea about the Public Security Bureau's anti-vice raid."

"It seems he is still clinging to the hope that someone will save and protect him," Zhang Huaijing mused. "Continue the interrogation strictly and dig deeper. I believe there are even more explosive clues to be found on him. At the same time, ensure his personal safety."

"Does the Secretary mean that someone might kill him to silence him?"

"It's better to be safe than sorry."

"Understood, I will make the arrangements."

After finishing their business, Secretary Ji Xuewen's expression softened, and he said with a smile, "Secretary, have you eaten lunch yet? Come to my place. My wife is cooking a few dishes, and she's waiting for us."

Zhang Huaijing rubbed his stomach and said with a chuckle, "Now that you mention it, I really am hungry. Let's go. I'll go mooch a meal at Secretary Ji Xuewen's place."

"Not at all, it is my supreme honor for the Secretary to grace my home with his presence."

Secretary Ji Xuewen's home was in a new residential complex in Chaotou District.

He was originally the District Mayor of Chaotou District, then was transferred to another county to serve as County Magistrate the year before last, and this year, he was transferred to Wanghai County as Secretary.

Upon entering the house, the aroma of delicious food immediately hit their noses. Six hot dishes were already set on the dining table.

It turned out Secretary Ji Xuewen had prepared everything well in advance.

Secretary Ji Xuewen's wife, wearing an apron, greeted them warmly and invited Zhang Huaijing to sit down and eat.

Secretary Ji Xuewen brought over a bottle of Moutai, saying, "Secretary, this is from the year 2000. Let's finish it today."

"This is good liquor, but let's stop at a reasonable amount. It's noon, so let's not drink too much."

"I've witnessed the Secretary's drinking capacity; at least one and a half jin. I truly admire you from the bottom of my heart." As he spoke, he poured a full small carafe for each of them.

"Won't you have a couple of drinks too, Sister-in-law?" Zhang Huaijing asked politely.

Secretary Ji Xuewen's wife quickly waved her hand with a smile, "I'm sorry, Secretary, I don't drink. You two go ahead."

Secretary Ji Xuewen said, "She really doesn't drink. She'll toast the Secretary with tea later. Let me introduce my wife, Wan Xiaoli. She's a Chinese teacher at Chaotou District No. 1 High School. We've been married a long time. Our child is 18, in their third year of high school, living on campus. Their studies are intense, so they don't even come home on weekends now."

Wan Xiaoli smiled, looking a bit shy; she appeared to be a beautiful and virtuous woman.

Zhang Huaijing's heart skipped a beat. The Municipal Party Committee Minister of the United Front Work Department was named Minister Wan Jinlong. No wonder Secretary Man Chaojian said the other day that Minister Wan Jinlong had a good relationship with Secretary Ji Xuewen; it turned out to be this connection.

Anyone who can serve as a County Party Secretary is no ordinary person; they basically all have backers. Although the Minister of the United Front Work Department was nearing retirement age, he was still a member of the Standing Committee, and having worked in Haizhou for many years, he was someone who had a say.

Secretary Ji Xuewen had been suppressed by the County Magistrate and appeared weak and easy to bully, and he hadn't used this connection. It seemed he might have just been considering the overall situation, taking a step back to advance. The matter of placing Deputy Director Ouyang Yang under Shuanggui showed that, at his core, he was still tough and dared to fight.

He had underestimated him a bit before.