Chapter 219 Project (5)
At seven-thirty in the evening, inside the largest private dining room of the Yiyang Hotel, Zhu Yan was hosting Sha Chuan. Also present were Li Guangzhong, the Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of Shazhou City, and two businessmen from Taiwan.
Hou Weidong sat at the end of the table. It was his first time meeting people from Taiwan. In his childhood, he had often seen slogans on walls reading “Liberate Taiwan, Unify All of China.” Later, he had watched Taiwanese films such as A Boat in the Vast Ocean, Mom, Love Me Once More, and Huan Yan. These were the basic impressions Hou Weidong held of Taiwan. Now that he was face-to-face with them, he found them quite ordinary. They had no horns on their heads, nor flowers painted on their faces; they were just common people.
Listening to their accent, Hou Weidong thought to himself, “They say people in Shazhou cannot distinguish between flat and retroflex tones. It seems the Taiwanese are much the same.”
The entire banquet focused solely on building rapport, avoiding any serious business matters, which created a harmonious and pleasant atmosphere.
After the dinner concluded, Hou Weidong escorted Zhu Yan downstairs. At the entrance, Zhu Yan stopped and instructed, “The audit team’s report will be ready in a couple of days. Keep this in mind.”
Watching Zhu Yan’s figure disappear into the doorway, Hou Weidong reflected, “Secretary Zhu is the Party Secretary, yet he is currently taking on the duties of the County Mayor as well. Will Mayor Ma Youcai have any objections?”
In the past, when he served as a deputy township cadre, he had only watched the high-and-mighty secretaries and mayors from afar at conference halls. Now that the distance had closed, he perceived a different flavor in their interactions.
The next day, August 28, Hou Weidong was in his office. He retrieved the list of the audit team members and, in the name of the County Party Committee Office, obtained the contact information for the four individuals. Apart from Kong Zhengyou from the Supervision Bureau, who was still using a pager, the staff from the Audit Bureau and the Finance Bureau all possessed mobile phones.
At this point, the audit team had been stationed at the Yiyang Native Produce Company for only one day. Hou Weidong made a note in his small pocket notebook: “August 29: Contact Zhang Haotian from the audit team.”
On the twenty-eighth, the audit team spent their time examining accounts, eating, and singing karaoke. The account books of the Native Produce Company remained spotless.
After dinner that evening, Kong Zhengyou did not go to sing; he went straight home.
In his bedroom, he habitually opened his notebook. However, he discovered a piece of paper inside that had not been there before. The handwriting on the note was clumsy, seemingly written with the left hand: “The accounts you are auditing are fake. At No. 115 Zhongshan East Road, the true account books and vouchers are kept in a safe. Do not let Zhang Haotian know. Remember this.”
“Who placed this note in my bag?”
“How extensive is the involvement in this matter?”
Although Kong Zhengyou had only been at the Supervision Bureau for two years, he had already handled two cases, bringing down two bureau-level leaders. Upon receiving this note, he believed in its authenticity and began to ponder the scope of the issue.
After thinking for a while, he made up his mind. He changed his clothes and went downstairs. Once in his office, Kong Zhengyou immediately called Supervision Bureau Director Liu Kai on his mobile phone: “Director Liu, this is Kong Zhengyou. I have important information to report to you.”
Liu Kai was outside in the courtyard playing Chinese chess with several retired veteran cadres. Hearing the call, he set up a cannon on the board and said, “Deputy County Mayor, double cannons forcing the palace. Your general has nowhere to escape.”
The “Deputy County Mayor” was a retired vice county mayor. Because his surname was Fu (which sounds like “forever”), he was jokingly referred to as the eternal Deputy County Mayor. With his graying hair, he said, “This game doesn’t count. You ambushed my horse. Let’s play another round.”
Liu Kai smiled and said, “I have something to attend to in the office. I’ll play chess with you tomorrow, sir.”
When the Deputy County Mayor retired, he had not undergone the public sector reform, so his pension was significantly lower than that of cadres who had participated in the reform. Seeing the younger subordinates from his past now riding in cars and earning much higher salaries, he felt increasingly unbalanced. Dark, damp remarks were always on his lips: “You’re just busy for nothing. Corrupt officials run around on the roads; do we even need to investigate them? Back in the day, when we county-level cadres went to the countryside, we walked. Look at these people now, driven to the door by cars every day. The Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervision Bureau need to issue documents to stop this misuse of official vehicles for private purposes.”
The courtyard where Liu Kai lived was full of retired veteran cadres. He had long developed immunity to such comments and replied, “Deputy County Mayor, I ride my bicycle to work every day.”
The Deputy County Mayor added, “Other bureau directors have cars. Some bureaus even assign private cars to deputy positions. You, a dignified Director of the Supervision Bureau, are actually riding a bicycle. That’s too much of a hardship. I’ll talk to Old Zhu for you and get you transferred to a more comfortable department.”
In Yiyang County, the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Supervision Bureau were merged into one entity. They were allocated two vehicles: one was the private car of Qian Zhiguo, the Standing Committee Member and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, which no one else could touch. The other was a Jeep, but this vehicle was even more temperamental than the Director himself. It spent more time in the repair shop than on duty, and the exorbitant repair costs ate up a significant portion of everyone’s welfare benefits. Therefore, the comrades in the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Bureau hated that Jeep.
Liu Kai disdained to ride that old Jeep; he preferred the bicycle that had accompanied him for many years.
Back in his office, Liu Kai looked at the note Kong Zhengyou had handed him. He did not immediately make a judgment. The Yiyang Native Produce Company had had many issues over the past few years, but the letters reporting the situation were few, and the matters ultimately died out without resolution. Yi Zhongling was a famous figure in Yiyang, closely connected with the top leaders of the county. Who knew the inner workings?
Liu Kai realized the problem was not simple. He said, “This was arranged by Standing Committee Member Ji.”
He pondered for a moment and said, “Yi Zhongling is a famous entrepreneur in our county and also a People’s Congress representative. If we are to move against him, we must call Secretary Qian.”
Qian Zhiguo was just about to host a welcome dinner for Mayor Ma Youcai, who had just returned from a business trip. Hearing Liu Kai’s brief report, he said, “Director Liu, good things do not come from haste. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”
Liu Kai hung up the phone and spread his hands to Kong Zhengyou, saying, “Boss Zhou has something to attend to and cannot come. Keep this note safe; don’t lose it.”
After Liu Kai left the office, Kong Zhengyou locked the note in his desk drawer. Just as he was preparing to leave, he took the note out again, went to the typing room, and made two copies. He hid one copy in the files in his office and kept the other on his person. The original was placed back in the desk drawer.
At this time, Hou Weidong was also working overtime in the office building. After he finished preparing the materials Secretary Zhu needed, it was already eight o’clock. He was so hungry that his chest felt pressed against his back. As he went downstairs, he happened to meet Kong Zhengyou from the Discipline Inspection Commission.
Hou Weidong nodded politely and casually said, “Still working overtime this late?”
In the County Party Committee organs, Zhu Yan was the most famous news figure. Wherever he went, he was the focus of attention. Hou Weidong was now Zhu Yan’s shadow, and most people in the organs recognized him. Kong Zhengyou’s Discipline Inspection Commission was on the second floor, right at the window position, so he often saw Hou Weidong entering and exiting the compound with Zhu Yan.
Seeing Hou Weidong greet him proactively, Kong Zhengyou smiled and said, “Secretary Hou, you’re working overtime too.”
Hou Weidong’s position was sensitive, so he was particularly humble. He smiled politely and said, “May I ask who you are? I haven’t been in the organs for long. I recognize many faces, but I can’t recall the names.”
“I am Kong Zhengyou from the Discipline Inspection Commission.”
Hou Weidong had not been in the County Party Committee organs for long. He only knew Kong Zhengyou’s name and phone number but did not recognize him in person. Hearing him introduce himself, Hou Weidong casually asked, “Director Kong, you are conducting the audit at the Native Produce Company. How is the situation?”
Kong Zhengyou’s heart skipped a beat. He thought, “The matter at the Native Produce Company is truly not simple. From Secretary Hou’s words, it is evident that Secretary Zhu is very concerned about this.” He chose his words carefully: “From the current accounts, there are no problems. The final conclusion will only be available after the audit is completed.” Since Hou Weidong was not formally inquiring about the audit team on behalf of the County Party Committee Office, Kong Zhengyou, adhering to the discipline of the Discipline Inspection Commission, did not reveal the matter of the note.
The two parted politely in the compound. Kong Zhengyou kept thinking about the note. He rode his bicycle slowly toward Zhongshan Road. No. 115 Zhongshan East Road was an old building with three stories above ground and one basement. It looked like the office building of an old unit. Under the cool light of the streetlamps, the main door of the office building was tightly closed, appearing old and quiet.
He rode his bicycle, thinking about the Native Produce Company, and slowly returned home.
The night passed without incident, calm and peaceful.
August 29 was the third day the audit team had been stationed at the Yiyang Native Produce Company.
Kong Zhengyou sat in the Native Produce Company office, looking at the beautiful fake accounts. Since the mysterious appearance of the note the previous day, he had lost interest in the account books in front of him. However, since Zhang Haotian and the others were very serious, he pretended to be serious as well.
Li Qi was still in charge of reception. She carried a water bottle, constantly refilling the water for the audit team members. Her eyes occasionally stole glances at Kong Zhengyou. Seeing that although Kong Zhengyou was looking at the account books, he had only turned one page in half an hour, a small smile unconsciously appeared at the corners of her mouth. This smile was like a wave in the sea, disappearing in an instant.
“Beep, beep.” Kong Zhengyou’s pager broke the silence of the meeting room. He looked at the message and then said to Zhang Haotian, “Director Zhang, there is something in the office that requires me to return.”
Li Qi was refilling water for Li Feng. Hearing Kong Zhengyou’s voice, her hand trembled slightly.
Kong Zhengyou returned to the Discipline Inspection Commission. He took out the note and went to Qian Zhiguo’s office. Qian Zhiguo, Liu Kai, and another deputy secretary, Hu Jiabin, were all present. The three of them took turns reading the note. Qian Zhiguo said, “This is an important clue. Director Liu, contact the Procuratorate. We must conduct a secret search at No. 115 Zhongshan East Road within fifteen minutes.”
Hu Jiabin said, “Yi Zhongling is a People’s Congress representative and a famous entrepreneur. If we investigate him, should we report this to Secretary Zhu?”
Qian Zhiguo said to Liu Kai, “You go handle it first. Speed is precious in military operations. You are a veteran of discipline inspection; I won’t say more.” He then said to Hu Jiabin, “You go prepare the personnel. If we find the account books, conduct a preliminary investigation immediately.”
After making the arrangements, Qian Zhiguo walked upstairs, preparing to report the matter to Zhu Yan.