Chapter 388: The Whistleblower (Part 2)

The morning sun burst suddenly through the tree canopy, casting its golden rays over Shazhou. Guided by this light, the streets and alleys filled with bustling crowds, a testament to the infinite vitality brought by the sunlight.

Ma Youcai had arrived in Shazhou early in the morning. He and his driver sat by the roadside, sharing a bowl of zha jiang mian (noodles with soybean paste). Although Ma Youcai had served as a county leader for many years and frequently dined in high-end restaurants, he still held a special fondness for this humble dish. Three liang of noodles with the rich paste left him feeling thoroughly satisfied, a pleasure far surpassing that of any five-star meal.

"Human taste preferences are formed in childhood. Once established, they rarely change. No matter whether one eats exotic delicacies or foreign cuisine later in life, the flavors of one's youth remain the true favorites," Ma Youcai said casually to his driver, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

The driver smiled. "Secretary Ma, you’ve touched on something that resonates deeply with me. I came from a rural background. Over the years, I’ve grown accustomed to feasts of meat and fish, yet the most delicious food remains the stinky tofu my mother used to make."

By nine o’clock, the Audi, bearing its special pass, drove into the municipal party committee compound. The armed police guards at the gate recognized the license plate; they did not stop the vehicle but instead offered a standard military salute.

Ji Daolin, the Secretary of the Shazhou Commission for Discipline Inspection, had received a call from Ma Youcai early that morning. Although Ma had not explicitly stated the purpose of his visit, Ji understood the gravity of the situation. Standing by the window, Ji watched Ma Youcai enter the building with his leather briefcase. Only then did he slowly return to his seat, his expression turning particularly serious.

Once inside, Ma Youcai exchanged greetings and got straight to the point. "Secretary Ji, in recent days, whistleblowing letters have been flying everywhere. I have come to explain the situation to you proactively."

Ji Daolin replied with layered meaning, "Even if you hadn’t come, I was preparing to seek you out. Your proactive approach is a positive sign. Regardless of the investigation’s outcome, it demonstrates your good attitude and full trust in the organization."

Ma Youcai took the whistleblowing letter from his briefcase. "This is the letter. It alleges issues involving two million yuan. I am unsure if you have received this specific copy, but since the County Party Committee Office has it, I assume the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection also has a copy."

"We have received it," Ji said.

Ma Youcai offered a self-deprecating smile. "Two million yuan. According to the Criminal Law, this is a capital offense. I must clarify the matter with the organization. In the past few years, Yiyang has enjoyed political stability and harmony, entering a fast lane of development. Having served in Yiyang for so long, it has become my second hometown. I do not wish for these trivial disputes to disrupt Yiyang’s normal development."

History is created by the people, but leaders play a crucial role within it. This historical perspective, often mentioned in middle school textbooks, applies to society as a whole. However, when applied to a specific town, county, or city under the current system, the role of the leadership group is particularly evident. Zhou Changquan and Ji Daolin understood this deeply. They were both extremely cautious regarding matters involving the top party and government officials. This caution explained Zhou Changquan’s signature on the documents and Ji Daolin’s ongoing, carefully organized covert investigation.

Ma Youcai adjusted his shirt collar casually. "I have carefully considered the contents of this letter. They are basically true. The figure of two million yuan aligns closely with the actual situation."

Ji Daolin’s eyes narrowed slightly. He observed Ma Youcai’s demeanor, which did not match the typical expression of someone confessing to wrongdoing. He found the situation somewhat confusing. "If this is the truth, Shazhou will be involved in a major incident that will shake the Provincial Party Committee. As the County Party Secretary, your status is different."

A faint, self-mocking smile remained on Ma Youcai’s face. He recited the explanation he had prepared long ago and then handed Ji Daolin a receipt for the funds deposited into the anti-corruption account.

Like Ji Hanghai before him, Ji Daolin examined the receipt carefully. He let out a long sigh of relief, his expression thawing like ice under the first rays of the sun. He took a pack of cigarettes from his drawer, tore it open, and offered one to Ma Youcai. "Secretary Ma, you have handled this well. This receipt is your talisman. If you had truly accepted two million yuan in bribes, your political life would have ended, and you would have lost your personal freedom. For Shazhou, the political impact would have been enormous, with hidden losses that would take at least one five-year plan to recover from."

Ma Youcai took a deep drag of the cigarette, coughing several times as the smoke irritated his throat. "With this lesson, I believe we must prevent corruption through institutional measures. Over the past two years, Yiyang has explored a new path of open bidding. All government investments must go through the Bidding Office. No individual or unit is allowed to contract projects without authorization, otherwise, they will face serious disciplinary action."

"Of course, even with such measures, loopholes may still exist. However, compared to the previous reliance solely on personal moral self-discipline, the situation has improved significantly."

Ji Daolin showed great interest in this system. "Everyone is implementing bidding processes, but few have established a formalized system. Yiyang is ahead of the curve. Once things settle down in the next few days, I will invite Secretary Changquan to come down with me. You should provide a detailed report to Secretary Changquan regarding government procurement and open bidding."

After leaving Ji Daolin’s office, Ma Youcai walked into the courtyard and took a deep breath. He felt refreshed, the worries of the past few days swept away. He thought to himself, "The reason today went so smoothly is that I accurately gauged the attitudes of Secretary Changquan and Ji Daolin. It seems I need to interact more with Hou Weidong in the future. Those close to leaders indeed play a significant role."

When Hou Weidong served as secretary to Zhu Yan, he had once been the vanguard in striking against Ma Youcai. For a period, Ma Youcai felt irritated whenever he saw Hou Weidong. Later, after the relationship between Zhu and Ma eased, Hou Weidong’s appearance became more agreeable to Ma, though merely agreeable. Once Zhu Yan left Maoyun, Ma Youcai immediately transferred Hou Weidong to the Science and Technology Commission, partly to vent his anger and partly to assert his authority.

Later, Hou Weidong was mysteriously transferred to the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee Office. Ma Youcai’s attitude toward him changed completely, and the two became good friends.

Through these recent interactions, Ma Youcai had gained a new understanding of Hou Weidong. "Hou Weidong is broad-minded and an extraordinary person. He is destined to achieve great things." At this point, Ma viewed Hou Weidong as an important figure of equal status, no longer seeing him as a young man just starting his career or as a junior secretary trailing behind Zhu Yan.

After leaving the municipal party committee compound, Ma Youcai called Hou Weidong. "Director Hou, this is Youcai. I just visited Secretary Ji and reported the situation."

Hou Weidong understood the implication immediately. "Secretary Ma, please rest assured. I will keep in touch with you regarding any developments." After seeing the receipt for the anti-corruption account the previous day, Hou knew Ma Youcai would easily pass this hurdle. Secretary Zhou Changquan had no intention of escalating the matter, as doing so would bring no benefit to either Zhou or Shazhou.

At eleven in the morning, Hou Weidong was still organizing documents when Zhou Changquan walked over from the next room. "Xiao Hou, the Provincial Party School classes begin today. You can leave early."

Hou Weidong looked slightly embarrassed. "Secretary Zhou, there is an opening ceremony at the Provincial Party School today, so some leaders have been invited. Classes will only be held on Saturdays and Sundays in the future, so it will not interfere with work."

Zhou Changquan smiled. "It is good for young people to be eager to learn. I fully support it. I have one request: study earnestly, acquire new knowledge, and master real skills. Only then can you cope with the increasingly complex situation."

Hou Weidong knew the reason for Zhou’s good mood and asked, "Big Brother Zhou, you are returning tomorrow, right? I will go to the airport to pick you up."

Zhou Changquan was in high spirits. "Aunt Liu insists on going to the airport tomorrow, so let her go. My son has been in the United States for three years, working on some project with a professor. He hasn’t returned until now. Aunt Liu couldn’t sleep last night."

"Is Little Brother Zhou coming home this year?"

Zhou Changquan replied, "That boy graduated from military academy two years ago and hasn’t returned home once. I don’t know what he is busy with. A son has his own affairs; I do not interfere. Aunt Liu often nags me about it. She says it is good that the son’s wings have hardened. Women are always so sentimental. Haha, there is nothing I can do about it."

Hou Weidong smiled. "I can understand Aunt Liu’s feelings. My mother is the same; she always urges me to go home."

Zhou Changquan spoke kindly. "Filial piety cannot wait. I remember you are from Wu Hai. It is not far. Go home more often when you have time."

At twelve o’clock, Hou Weidong had a simple lunch and returned to Xinyue Building. He started his Bluebird car. As he was about to enter the highway, he remembered what Li Jun had said and hesitated. "Should I pick up Guo Lan and Li Jun?"

"If they call, I won’t answer. If they don’t call, I won’t answer." Hou Weidong finally made up his mind.

He entered the highway, but no call came. Hou Weidong put the matter aside and focused on driving.

Upon arriving at the Provincial Party School, Hou Weidong felt relaxed. He parked his car in the playground and walked to the teaching building. It had been more than six years since he last attended school. Returning to the classroom, although not as a full-time student, he still felt a sense of familiarity.

About twenty people were seated in the classroom, mostly middle-aged men of distinguished bearing. These men were like patches of green leaves, among which five golden flowers stood out. The most vibrant of these flowers was Guo Lan from the Organization Department of the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee.

After settling down, Hou Weidong did not see Li Jun. He thought to himself, "Li Jun must have had something preventing him from attending today’s opening ceremony. Guo Lan is too thin-skinned to call."

After hesitating for a moment, he moved to sit near Guo Lan. "Guo Lan, when did you arrive?"

Guo Lan replied, "I arrived this morning. Minister Su had to come to the department for some business, so I came with him."

After chatting for a few sentences, Hou Weidong naturally took the empty seat behind Guo Lan.

The opening ceremony was simple. Once back in the classroom, everyone returned to their original seats. Hou Weidong picked up the textbook and flipped through it casually. Having graduated from the Law Department of Shazhou College, he found the courses familiar, even at the graduate level, with little difficulty.

Guo Lan studied diligently, taking notes seriously throughout.

Hou Weidong’s gaze often lingered on Guo Lan’s back. She had always worn short hair, very short. Now, her hair had grown slightly longer, becoming the ear-length bob common among women, with neat ends reaching her shoulders.

Hou Weidong’s mind wandered slightly. "If Guo Lan grew her hair long, she would surely have more of a feminine charm than with short hair."