booktalesy Chapter 230 Catching Adulterers
Chapter 230 Catching Adulterers
Liu Shuang was engaged in a fierce internal struggle.
On the one hand, he was Zhang Ping's confidant. Everyone knew that Zhang Ping had powerful backers, and many people wanted to curry favor with Zhang Ping.
Moreover, he and Zhang Ping were in the same boat; if one suffered, the other suffered; if one prospered, the other prospered.
On the other hand, Wu Zhiyuan is the town's Party Secretary, a very powerful and capable leader. He was Xu Youwei's former secretary, as everyone knows.
Most importantly, Wu Zhiyuan is only 28 years old and is already a member of the county party committee standing committee, with unlimited potential.
Offending Wu Zhiyuan will also have dire consequences.
Therefore, under Wu Zhiyuan's persistent questioning, he could only continue to evade the question.
"Secretary Wu, from the very beginning, I have been working on the Xindian Avenue project with the principle of benefiting the town and the people. Every step has been carried out in accordance with procedures and the instructions of the leaders."
What power can a deputy town mayor like me have? Isn't it just running errands and coordinating things?
The specific contract terms and profit sharing were all negotiated personally between Mayor Zhang and General Manager Qin.
It was no easy feat to get Xindian Avenue up and running; Mayor Zhang played a crucial role.
The collaboration with Youdong Company was a last resort at the time, as the town was facing financial difficulties and could not have secured such a large project on its own.
As for whether there's anything inappropriate about this, I really wouldn't dare to say anything.
But I can guarantee that I, Liu Shuang, have never taken a single penny that I shouldn't have, nor have I ever done anything to betray the organization!
Wu Zhiyuan softened his tone: "Mayor Liu, you've worked in the government for many years, you should understand one thing:
Some things can't be covered up by saying you can't remember or don't understand.
If the organization wants to investigate, it will definitely be able to find out the truth.
You know the saying, "You can't hide fire with paper."
I'm having a heart-to-heart talk with you today to give you an opportunity, and it shows my care and concern for the cadres.
If the organization traces you back to that person, the situation will be different.
Liu Shuang knew that Wu Zhiyuan was telling the truth; if the organization really wanted to investigate, many things couldn't be covered up.
However, once he betrays Zhang Ping, he will also be unable to withstand the backlash from that circle.
Now, whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get cut.
It's like a gamble, betting on who has the stronger backing, who has the better methods, and who will have the last laugh.
In the ensuing conversation, Liu Shuang remained evasive and unresponsive.
Wu Zhiyuan's last bit of patience was also exhausted.
He knew that he couldn't get any substantial information out of Liu Shuang.
"Mayor Liu, since you insist on this statement, then let's end our conversation here."
However, I would like to emphasize a few points. First, as the supervisor in charge of Xindian Avenue, you bear leadership and direct responsibility.
No matter how much you emphasize following procedures and instructions, this point cannot be changed.
Second, your claim of not knowing or being unclear cannot be used as a reason to absolve yourself of responsibility in the face of an investigation.
Third, we welcome your personal guarantee of integrity and self-discipline, but ultimately, it must be tested by facts.
Liu Shuang stammered, "I...I know."
Wu Zhiyuan waved his hand, signaling him to leave.
Liu Shuang left, looking preoccupied.
Wu Zhiyuan took the initiative to talk to Liu Shuang, and Liu Shuang would most likely inform Zhang Ping. They might form a defensive alliance. This might seem like stirring up trouble, but Wu Zhiyuan had a deeper purpose.
First, it's a tactic to lure the enemy out. Directly confronting Liu Shuang will inevitably alert Zhang Ping and others, forcing them to take action.
In the midst of panic, people patch up loopholes and collude to fabricate evidence, which is most likely to leave new flaws and may even lead to mistakes that provide unexpected breakthroughs for the investigation.
A static cover is hard to lift, but a dynamic opponent may expose weaknesses.
Second, leverage external resources. Lin Xue, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, is about to arrive, and her research topic directly addresses corruption risks.
Zhang Ping is a deputy division-level leader and a cadre under the management of the city. If he has any problems, the municipal discipline inspection commission should intervene. Moreover, he has powerful backers and cannot be easily touched.
Exposing one's family scandal at this time not only demonstrates one's commitment to facing the problem, but also allows one to leverage Lin Xue's authority and power to overcome potential obstacles, turn passivity into initiative, and push for a thorough investigation of the issue.
As Wu Zhiyuan was deep in thought, there was a gentle knock on the office door.
"Please come in."
The door was pushed open, and Hu Lijin walked in.
She was holding a blue folder in her hand.
"Secretary Wu, there are a few documents that need your approval." Hu Lijing handed over the folder with both hands.
"Mayor Hu, please have a seat. I have a question to ask you." Wu Zhiyuan gestured for Hu Lijing to sit in the chair opposite the desk.
"Secretary Wu, please speak." Hu Lijing sat down.
"Mayor Hu, tell me everything you know about Xindian Avenue."
For example, why develop Xindian Avenue? Are the procedures compliant? How does Youdong Company operate? What is the background of Youdong Company? How much did the town government profit from it?
Hu Lijin is the director of the Party and Government Office. The director of the Party and Government Office is the town's chief steward; the office is almost always present at any town meeting.
Moreover, the Party and government offices effectively communicate and coordinate information, ensuring comprehensive access to information.
"Secretary Wu, since you asked, I will report to you what I know and what I have heard personally."
This information may not be comprehensive and may contain personal subjective judgments; it is for your reference only.
Hu Lijing first set the tone, and then began to speak in a gentle and detailed manner.
"The Xindian Avenue project was probably conceived in the first half of last year."
The direct cause was that the town was in financial straits at the time, and there was no money to pay bonuses to cadres, nor to pay the hospitality expenses owed to restaurants or the charter fees owed to taxi drivers.
Mayor Zhang Ping proposed that we should learn from the experience of other towns in developing their own, and leverage land resources to drive urban construction while increasing fiscal revenue.
The old street area of Xindian Town has only two streets in a cross shape. The roads are narrow and traffic is congested, which restricts commercial development.
Widening roads, improving transportation, enhancing the image, and revitalizing land – this general direction is correct.
Therefore, the town proposed building a new Xindian Avenue, which would not only improve the town's traffic conditions but also generate revenue.
However, there is a problem: it occupies part of the farmland and involves land acquisition and demolition.
If strictly following the regulations, none of these practices are compliant, but other townships are doing it this way, and the county turns a blind eye.
There were differing opinions from the very beginning regarding the specific operational path.
One opinion is that the town should take the lead and actively seek road construction projects from higher levels, but this requires multiple levels of approval, takes a long time, and there is no guarantee of success.
Another opinion, advocated by Mayor Zhang Ping, is to introduce a capable company to carry out overall development, operate independently, and assume full responsibility for profits and losses. The town government would not need to bear the costs of land acquisition and demolition; it would only need to provide coordination and services without incurring financial risks.
Ultimately, the second opinion prevailed, and Youdong Company was chosen.
Qin Youdong, the owner of Youdong Company, is well-known in Qingshan County. It is said that he and Mayor Zhang Ping were junior high school classmates.
But as far as I know, they are not classmates, but alumni.
The cooperation model between the town government and Youdong is a land swap project.
Simply put, the town packaged the planned commercial land along Xindian Avenue and gave it to Youdong Company as a return for its advance payment for road construction, demolition compensation, and infrastructure support.
Youdong Company can sell the land on both sides of the road directly or carry out commercial development and sales.
It's like the town built a commercial street without spending a penny and even made money from it.
The profit-sharing ratio between the town and Youdong Company was specifically negotiated between Mayor Zhang Ping and Qin Youdong. I'm not entirely sure of the exact amount.
Wu Zhiyuan asked, "Didn't the town government and Youdong Company sign a contract?"
Hu Lijin said, "There is a contract. It was signed by the town government and Youdong Company. It has official seals and signatures. There is a copy in the archives. But the situation is a bit complicated."
"Where does it get complicated?" Wu Zhiyuan pressed.
"The contract stipulates the rights and obligations of both parties, including that Youdong Company is responsible for road construction, demolition compensation, and infrastructure support."
The town is responsible for coordination and providing policy support, and the revenue from the completed land will be shared based on net profit.
However, the main contract is very vague, and many key details, including the profit-sharing ratio, are not clearly written in; it is only said that they will be agreed upon separately.
I don't know the specifics of the agreement; probably only a few people, such as Mayor Zhang Ping, Deputy Mayor Liu Shuang, and Director Zhao Weizhong, know.
Wu Zhiyuan understood.
The most critical part of the entire cooperation, which is most likely to lead to the transfer of benefits and corruption risks, has deviated from standardized record management and become a side agreement or verbal agreement, thus losing effective supervision.
Hu Lijin added: "Secretary Wu, the question of how much money the town made from it, or rather, how much it should have made, is probably a mess."
As stipulated in the main contract, the town government would receive a share of the net profit.
Net profit is revenue minus costs and expenses. However, the exact amount of revenue and the exact amount of costs and expenses are both unclear.
The net profit is naturally a mess, and so is how much money is distributed among the shareholders.
However, the bonuses that our staff received earlier this year were paid retroactively by Youdong Company.
Wu Zhiyuan nodded without saying anything more.
Hu Lijin makes a good point. At present, Youdong Company's accounts are a mess, but if we investigate further, it is not difficult to sort them out.
Because you can get a rough estimate of how many storefronts and land were sold, and how much the land acquisition, demolition, and road construction costs were, as long as you carefully verify the information.
……
Zhang Ping's office.
He called Sun Dewang over.
Sun Dewang was making a huge fuss about the high-standard farmland construction project, constantly complaining and tattling, which Zhang Ping had already heard about.
We have to give them a warning; if we can bribe them, that would be even better.
Sun Dewang used to be the deputy director of the town's Party and government office. He was reassigned to the town's agriculture, forestry and water resources office because of his straightforward and disobedient personality.
But today, Zhang Ping smiled and put on a different face: "Dewang is here, please sit down."
Sun Dewang sat down, and Zhang Ping personally poured him a glass of water. Then he said, "Dewang, I called you here to hear how the high-standard farmland project is progressing recently."
The county is about to conduct an inspection; we can't afford any mistakes.
Sun Dewang bluntly stated, "Mayor Zhang, in my opinion, there are serious problems with the quality of the project."
For example, the lining thickness of some irrigation canals is insufficient, and the thickness of the crushed stone subbase on farm roads is inadequate, which will reduce their drought resistance and drainage capabilities…
Zhang Ping interrupted Sun Dewang: "Dewang, your sense of responsibility is good."
However, construction projects inevitably have some minor flaws.
Yonggu Construction is a legitimate company with qualifications and experience; it's generally acceptable.
Didn't the supervisor sign it off? You should trust the opinions of professional organizations.
The key now is to maintain progress, complete the task on time, and prepare for the inspection; that's the big picture.
Don't get too hung up on some minor details; it can damage relationships and hinder work progress.
He changed the subject: "Dewang, I know you are a hard worker and a responsible person."
Hu Lijing has been promoted to deputy mayor, and she will have to give up her position as director of the Party and government office sooner or later; many people are watching her closely.
I've always had high hopes for you. It's time for you to make a move.
If this high-standard farmland project passes inspection smoothly, it will be a major achievement for you.
When the time comes, I will definitely strongly recommend you to take over as the director of the Party and Government Office. You'll have a bright future ahead of you!
This is a carrot, a blatant promise of profit and bribery.
Sun Dewang sneered inwardly. He had long heard about Zhang Ping's methods of winning people over, which were nothing more than promising them official positions.
But Sun Dewang is not Liu Shuang; he has his own bottom line.
Moreover, Wu Zhiyuan trusted him a lot.
If he were to be bribed by Zhang Ping now, he would not only be betraying his own conscience but also Wu Zhiyuan's trust, which would be tantamount to cutting himself off from the future.
Sun Dewang said, "Mayor Zhang, thank you for your high regard."
However, high-standard farmland represents the money the government invests in agriculture and is a manifestation of the implementation of pro-farmer policies.
The quality of the project is related to the output of farmland for decades to come and the livelihoods of farmers.
I think this is not a trivial matter; it is a fundamental issue.
Problems should be pointed out and rectified. Only in this way can we truly live up to the expectations of the country and the farmers, and this is what we cadres should do.
As for personal advancement, I believe the organization will take a fair approach, but the prerequisite is to do the job well and thoroughly.
These words were tantamount to a direct rejection of Zhang Ping's good intentions.
Zhang Ping's face instantly darkened, and his feigned smile vanished without a trace.
He hadn't expected Sun Dewang to be so ungrateful and stubborn. A surge of anger welled up inside him.
"Sun Dewang, what does it mean to do your job well?"
You're spreading rumors everywhere, slandering key projects, and interfering with normal work. Is that what you call doing your job well?
"Let me tell you, the high-standard farmland project is a key task set by the town's Party committee and government. You, a mere deputy director, are pointing fingers here and making irresponsible remarks there. What are you trying to do? Huh?"
He stood up, pointed at Sun Dewang's nose, and said, "Let me tell you straight, if you want to mess with me, as long as I'm still the mayor of Xindian Town, you can forget about all that nonsense!"
Sun Dewang stormed off!
He had nothing to fear, and he wasn't afraid of Zhang Ping's threats at all!
Zhang Ping was notorious for his womanizing; it was said that people often saw women entering his dormitory at night.
A plan quickly took shape in Sun Dewang's mind:
Are you threatening me? Are you trying to make me look bad? Fine, let's see who looks bad first! If you do the first thing, don't blame me for doing the fifteenth!
He's going to keep watch, to catch them in the act! To catch them in the act!