Chapter 251: The Investigation (Part 2)
Although Ji Daolin was a leader of the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee, he held only the position of Standing Committee Member. He could not compare in status with Zhou Changquan, the Municipal Party Secretary. Consequently, Zhu Yan, the Secretary of the Yiyang County Party Committee, did not go to Shawanzi to welcome the guests. Instead, Qian Zhiguo, the Secretary of the Yiyang County Commission for Discipline Inspection, accompanied by Deputy Secretary Liu Kai and Deputy Director of the Commission Office Hou Weidong, went to Shawanzi, located at the border between Shazhou and Yiyang, to receive them.
This was an unwritten rule. No official red-header document stipulated such a protocol, yet everyone in the political arena understood the underlying power dynamics and adhered to them voluntarily.
December arrived quickly. The autumn wind and rain brought a gradual chill. The north wind swept over the mountains on the northwest side of the ridge, rushing directly into the relatively flat terrain of Shazhou. The temperature in Yiyang dropped rapidly to five or six degrees Celsius.
At Shawanzi, Qian Zhiguo, Hou Weidong, and the others huddled inside their car, their eyes fixed on the direction of Shazhou.
Hou Weidong sat in the Commission Office’s mobile Santana. It was a car that was neither brand new nor old, but in decent condition. Since Hou Weidong had become the Deputy Director of the Commission Office, this vehicle was nominally a shared official car, but in practice, Hou Weidong became its primary user. The staff in the Administrative Section were always astute; they would only arrange for other members of the Commission Office to use the car when Hou Weidong was not in need of it.
In this sense, the car had effectively become Hou Weidong’s personal vehicle.
The driver was roughly the same age as Hou Weidong, but everyone called him Xiao Zhu. Initially, Hou Weidong had addressed him as Master Zhu, but under Xiao Zhu’s persistent insistence, Hou Weidong had eventually agreed to call him Xiao Zhu.
Xiao Zhu turned on the air conditioning. The interior of the car grew warm. Hou Weidong found the temperature too high and was about to ask Xiao Zhu to lower it, but Xiao Zhu spoke up first.
“Director Hou, the air conditioning in this car is the worst. It’s manageable in winter, but in summer, the car turns into an oven. Should we consider replacing the unit? We can’t let Director Hou suffer.”
Hou Weidong did not wish to appear overly rigid or austere over such minor matters. “If it can be repaired, repair it. If not, replace it.”
Hearing Hou Weidong’s prompt agreement, Xiao Zhu looked pleased.
Hou Weidong did not particularly like Xiao Zhu, who seemed somewhat slick and cunning. He thought of his former driving instructor, Wang Bing. Wang Bing works at the driving school under the Transportation Bureau. I should find a way to transfer him to my side later.
At that moment, Ji Daolin’s car came into view. At Shawanzi, Ji Daolin stepped out of the car and shook hands warmly with Qian Zhiguo. He then shook hands with Liu Kai, the Deputy Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission. Qian Zhiguo introduced him: “Secretary Ji, this is Hou Weidong, Deputy Director of the County Party Committee Office. Director Hou.”
Hou Weidong spoke with a tone that was respectful yet friendly. “President Ji, hello.”
When Ji Daolin was at Shazhou College, he and Hou Weidong had lived in the same building. However, both were very busy, and in the year and a half since then, they had met only a few times. The last time Ji Daolin had come to Shazhou for an inspection, he had seen Hou Weidong working outside, but at that time, he had been focused on placing You Hong under shuanggui (disciplinary detention) and had not spoken with Hou Weidong. Hearing Qian Zhiguo’s introduction now, Ji Daolin expressed surprise.
“Hou Weidong? You’re the Deputy Director of the County Party Committee Office now? The young man is doing well.”
Hou Weidong quickly responded with humility. “When you were at the college, you had very strict requirements for us student cadres. I still benefit from that experience today.”
Ji Daolin smiled and said to Qian Zhiguo, “When Hou Weidong was at the college, he was one of the best student cadres. To be appointed as Deputy Director of the County Party Committee Office at such a young age shows that being a student cadre is indeed useful.”
Qian Zhiguo had not realized that Hou Weidong had this connection with Ji Daolin. He laughed and said, “Director Hou is a reserve cadre for the County Party Committee. The young man has great drive.”
Upon arriving at the County Party Committee Office compound, Zhu Yan received Hou Weidong’s report and personally went downstairs to welcome Ji Daolin. The municipal and county leaders chatted amiably as they went upstairs. However, once they entered the Standing Committee meeting room, Ji Daolin’s smile vanished. His expression became extremely serious.
“Secretary Zhu, I am not here today to listen to the County Party Committee’s report. I am here to discuss specific matters.”
There were six people in the meeting room: Ji Daolin, Secretary of the Shazhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection; Meng Qing, Standing Committee Member of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection; Zhu Yan, Secretary of the Yiyang County Party Committee; Qian Zhiguo, Secretary of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection; Ji Haiyang, Standing Committee Member and Director of the County Party Committee Office; and Hou Weidong, who attended the meeting as a non-voting member, primarily responsible for taking minutes.
“The matter we are discussing today is very important. I hope everyone will keep it confidential.”
As Ji Daolin spoke, he exchanged a glance with Zhu Yan. Zhu Yan understood Ji Daolin’s meaning and nodded slightly, indicating that he trusted these individuals.
“The issues confessed by You Hong are serious. They involve several mid-level cadres in the Public Security Bureau. It is a typical nest case, involving the buying and selling of official positions, as well as problems in several cases. Comrade Changquan attaches great importance to this case and has instructed that it be investigated to the end. Here is the circulation document from Comrade Changquan. Please take a look.”
After Zhou Changquan had inspected Yiyang, Huang Zidi had specifically called to convey two points: first, Comrade Changquan intended to appoint Zhu Yan as the Vice Mayor of Shazhou; second, Yiyang must strictly maintain stability during this period and avoid any mishaps.
Therefore, after reading the circulation document, Zhu Yan felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, he hoped to take this opportunity to severely rectify the situation; on the other hand, if the matter became too large and involved too many people, it would certainly have negative repercussions.
Hou Weidong also read the circulation document. Seeing that Director Qin of the Qinglin police station was not mentioned, he breathed a sigh of relief. During his years in Qinglin Town, the Gravel Association had given Director Qin considerable gifts and money. If he were implicated in this investigation, Hou Weidong would feel deeply embarrassed.
After everyone had finished reading the document, Ji Daolin reiterated, “This matter involves a wide range of people. To maintain social and political stability in Yiyang County, everyone must guarantee absolute confidentiality with their Party spirit.”
Zhu Yan pondered. If it were only about the Public Security Bureau, sending a Deputy Secretary would have been sufficient. Ji Daolin did not need to come to Yiyang personally. There must be other matters. Aloud, he said sincerely, “As the County Party Secretary, the fact that a large-scale corruption case has occurred in the Public Security Bureau means I must submit a self-criticism to the Municipal Party Committee. I hereby state my position to Secretary Ji: the Yiyang County Party Committee is firmly determined to fight corruption. We will thoroughly investigate the problems within the Public Security Bureau and will not tolerate any evil.”
Ji Daolin said, “Now is the time to solve the problem, not to discuss responsibility.”
Zhu Yan arranged, “This matter will be fully responsible by Secretary Qian Zhiguo of the Discipline Inspection Commission. First, formulate a work plan, then report it to Secretary Ji. Once Secretary Ji agrees, we will execute the plan meticulously. Secretary Zhu, do you think this is acceptable?”
Ji Daolin nodded. “Standing Committee Member Meng of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection will be specifically responsible for liaising on this case. Secretary Qian can discuss with Standing Committee Member Meng, and then formulate a detailed work plan. Standing Committee Member Meng is the full representative of the Shazhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.”
He reiterated the requirements of the Municipal Party Committee, and the meeting concluded. The report materials Hou Weidong had carefully prepared were never submitted.
After discussing the official business, Ji Daolin seemed to relax. “Secretary Zhu, I have come to Shazhou several times, but I have never visited your office. Would you take me to see it today?”
Hearing this, Zhu Yan immediately realized his guess was correct. He smiled and said, “I have wanted to invite Secretary Ji to inspect the County Party Committee several times. Today is a good opportunity.”
When Ji Daolin and Zhu Yan arrived at the office, Hou Weidong poured tea for Ji Daolin. Realizing that Ji Daolin had more to say, he poured the tea and then withdrew.
After Hou Weidong left, Ji Daolin got straight to the point. “You Hong’s case involves Ma Youcai. In 2005, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, You Hong sent mooncakes to Ma Youcai, which contained a Swiss gold watch. According to You Hong’s confession, the watch was worth more than 20,000 yuan.”
An amount of over 20,000 yuan was sufficient to constitute a crime. However, for an incumbent county magistrate, one-sided testimony was not enough to take action lightly. Therefore, after Ji Daolin reported this matter to Secretary Changquan, he came to Yiyang personally.
Zhu Yan and Ma Youcai had never been on good terms. Hearing this news, he felt a sense of satisfaction on one hand, but on the other, as the County Party Secretary, if the county magistrate got into trouble, it would negatively affect him, especially at this critical moment when he was about to be promoted.
He thought for a moment before saying, “This is only You Hong’s one-sided account and cannot be taken as evidence. What are your instructions, Secretary Ji?”
Ji Daolin’s answer was concise. “I hope to clarify the matter.”
Zhu Yan’s mind raced. If an incumbent county magistrate gets into trouble, it will also reflect poorly on Secretary Changquan. Moreover, Ma Youcai only received a watch. If there were no other issues, Secretary Changquan would not make such a big fuss.
Thinking of this, he said slowly, “Ma Youcai is an incumbent county magistrate and a People’s Congress representative at the provincial, municipal, and county levels. We must be extremely cautious.”
“Secretary Changquan has given clear instructions. As the County Party Secretary, you should talk with Ma Youcai first. If the conversation does not go well, I will step in. We must control the negative impact to the minimum.”
This was essentially Ji Daolin’s trump card, coinciding with Zhu Yan’s judgment.
After assigning the task, Ji Haiyang accompanied Ji Daolin to the small guesthouse to rest. Zhu Yan personally called Ma Youcai. His tone was不容置疑 (unquestionable). “County Magistrate Ma, this is Zhu Yan. I have urgent business with you. Please meet me in Room 201 of the small guesthouse.”
Hou Weidong arrived at the small guesthouse early. He personally took the key to Room 201 and asked the waiters to temporarily withdraw, so that he could serve the two leaders personally.
Just as he had prepared Room 201, Ma Youcai’s car drove in.
Hou Weidong went up to greet him. “County Magistrate Ma, you have arrived. Secretary Zhu has already set out.”
Ma Youcai’s face was iron-gray. He ignored Hou Weidong and walked into the room on his own.
Seeing that Ma Youcai’s driver was still in the car, Hou Weidong approached him. “Master Li, please go to the guesthouse lobby to have some tea. I will call you when County Magistrate Ma comes out.”
The driver looked at Hou Weidong suspiciously and did not move. Hou Weidong put on a stern face. “This is the arrangement of the leaders. Do you want County Magistrate Ma to arrange your duties personally later?”
Seeing the situation was not right, the driver rolled his eyes at Hou Weidong and then left.
Zhu Yan arrived quickly. As he got out of the car, Hou Weidong went up to greet him and whispered, “County Magistrate Ma has already arrived.”