Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 302 The Wisdom of the Beautiful Bureau Chief

Geng Dongqing wasn't surprised: "It's normal for her to avoid you when things are at their most sensitive. But you can't just let it go like that."

How much was the jewelry you gave her last time worth?

Huang Xiaoyong answered truthfully: "The more than 800,000 yuan was paid by Bi Yuan."

Geng Dongqing nodded: "More than 800,000 yuan is enough for Li Li to be sentenced to several years."

Call her now and make her understand how serious this situation is!

Just as Huang Xiaoyong was about to make the call, Geng Dongqing reminded him, "Remember to record it; these are all evidence."

After ringing five or six times, Li Li finally answered, "County Chief Huang, is there something you need?"

"Old classmate, is it a convenient time to talk?"

"Speak."

"Old classmate, you must already know about the reopening of the investigation into the Wanshan Bridge..."

Li Li interrupted Huang Xiaoyong: "County Chief Huang, what you're saying is absurd. I'm the deputy director of the Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, not the director of the Transportation Bureau. How would I know about the reopened investigation into the bridge collapse? Why would I care about this?"

"Old classmate, stop trying to fool me."

I know you're well-informed; you must have known about Mayor Wen before we did.

The investigation team has been restarted, and the Discipline Inspection Commission is still leading it. This clearly shows that they want to escalate a small matter and complicate a simple issue.

"We're under immense pressure here in Qingshan County."

Li Li said in a businesslike manner, "County Chief Huang, I understand how you feel."

However, the investigation has strict procedures and discipline, and Mayor Wen will certainly adhere to principles and act impartially.

What you need to do now is to adopt the right attitude, fully cooperate with the new investigation team, clarify the issues, and learn from the lessons.

As for the rest, don't think too much about it, and you shouldn't think too much about it.

Li Li is clearly trying to deny the situation.

Huang Xiaoyong felt it was time to confront her.

"Old classmate, you're a smart man. Once the Discipline Inspection Commission starts investigating, they'll show no mercy and dig deep into the ground."

If we really delve into it, pulling out the radish will bring out the mud along with it, which is bad for everyone.

That time at the teahouse, I gave you a gift, but I forgot to tell you the price—over 800,000?

Li Li sneered inwardly. If they were still using this to threaten me now, they would have turned it over to the Discipline Inspection Commission long ago!

Wen Changcheng was shrewd. If he hadn't handed it over to the Discipline Inspection Commission but had returned it to Huang Xiaoyong, it wouldn't have been returned. Even if it had, it would have left a trace.

"County Chief Huang, I don't understand what you mean. I didn't accept the so-called gifts worth more than 800,000 yuan."

In the past two or three years, we haven't even had a single meal together.

"A teahouse? I vaguely remember one. You treated me to tea at a teahouse in an alley near my house last month, right?"

"Yes, that time I gave you a paper bag and said there was a little trinket inside, and even hinted that a good saddle is for a good horse."

"It seems like that's true. A good saddle for a good horse? I don't remember you saying that."

However, you did give me a plain paper bag, saying there was a little trinket inside.

"Old classmate, that's what they say, so why would I give you a little trinket?"

Those are jewels, bought from South Africa, worth over 800,000.

"County Chief Huang, you didn't say it was jewelry, much less that it was worth more than 800,000!"

We're all old acquaintances, so just say it: what exactly are you trying to say?

Huang Xiaoyong was secretly pleased, thinking that his threat had worked:

"Old classmate, let's be frank."

The bag contained a set of diamond jewelry worth over 800,000 yuan.

You know why I gave it to you. It's for the Wanshan Bridge investigation. I wanted to ask you to put in a good word for me with Mayor Wen so that the investigation results could be released as soon as possible and safely.

Now, seeing that things are about to escalate, the investigation has been reopened, the disciplinary committee has intervened, and it's possible that they will have to investigate the source of funds and the transfer of benefits.

If these 800,000+ yuan worth of jewelry are discovered, not only will I be in trouble, but you, Director Li, will probably also be implicated.

Li Li sneered: "County Chief Huang, as I just said, I am the deputy director of the Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. My job responsibilities are culture and tourism, and have nothing to do with transportation construction or accident investigation."

I'm just a deputy division-level cadre, while Mayor Wen is a full-fledged department-level cadre. Even if I wanted to help, do you think I would have a chance to speak up for Mayor Wen?

Even if I could speak to Mayor Wen, would I interfere with the city's normal investigative work? Would I cross the red line of Party discipline and national law?

Li Li's tone turned serious: "County Chief Huang, what kind of person do you take me for? And what kind of person do you take Mayor Wen for?"

Huang Xiaoyong's heart sank. Li Li's change of attitude and her thoroughness in distancing herself from him far exceeded his expectations.

"Director Li, you can't say that. You accepted the gifts, and now that things have changed, you think you can just shirk responsibility? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

The teahouse's security cameras are recording everything. I went in carrying a paper bag, and you came out carrying a paper bag.

"If you'd like, we can go take a look together?"

"County Chief Huang, I have never denied accepting your little trinkets. Did I deny it? No!"

I don't quite understand. How much salary can a deputy county head like you earn in a month? How could you spend over 800,000 yuan in one go!

"You..." Huang Xiaoyong's voice trembled.

"What's wrong with me?" Li Li interrupted him. "County Chief Huang, let me give you a piece of advice: the most important thing right now is to adopt the right attitude and cooperate with the investigation."

Stop thinking about crooked and unethical ways of doing things, and don't even think about dragging others down with you.

Also, I want to tell you what happened to that paper bag.

To be honest, I wouldn't have accepted your little trinket if it weren't for our shared background as classmates at the Party School.

When I got home, I just tossed the paper bag aside.

It wasn't until I was tidying up my belongings two weeks ago that I discovered the valuable jewelry inside.

I immediately handed it over to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection intact, registering even the packaging and receipt. Secretary Han of the Commission has a copy on file.

Following Wen Changcheng's instructions, Li Li said, word by word, "I even wrote a formal self-criticism to the organization, admitting that I was not vigilant enough at the time and failed to refuse or verify the goods on the spot, which was my oversight."

But I have absolutely not used my position to seek any personal gain for you. Your attempt to blackmail me with this matter is nothing more than a way to drag others down and confuse the issue. I advise you to abandon that idea as soon as possible.

Huang Xiaoyong had planned everything meticulously, but he never expected Li Li to pull this stunt—handing it over to the Discipline Inspection Commission!

This move completely blocked all avenues of retreat. Instead of controlling the other party, it clearly handed over the evidence of his bribery to the disciplinary committee.

He asked incredulously, "You handed it in?" "Li Li, don't try to fool me, you dare lie to me!"

Li Li's tone was icy and showed no mercy: "Huang Xiaoyong, whether you're playing tricks or not, you can find out by checking the registration records at the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection!"

Now that things have come to this, the thing you should do most is not to try to shift blame and cover things up, but to take the initiative to confess to the organization, explain all your connections with Bi Yuan and the Wanshan Bridge project, and strive for leniency!

Although we were classmates at the Party School, Party discipline and national laws come first. I will never show favoritism, much less get involved in this mess with you!

Then, without waiting for Huang Xiaoyong to speak, he hung up the phone.

Just now, when Huang Xiaoyong made the call, she pressed the record button on her phone.

This conversation was recorded verbatim.

One fact is very clear.

That is something that even Huang Xiaoyong himself admitted on the phone: when he delivered the gift, he used an ordinary paper bag and didn't say it was jewelry, but rather a trinket.

As for Huang Xiaoyong's implication of "a good saddle for a good horse," she said she hadn't noticed it.

She wasn't afraid even if the disciplinary committee investigated her.

Wen Changcheng said a few more words, but the disciplinary committee could not classify her as having accepted bribes.

At this moment, Huang Xiaoyong was dumbfounded.

Because the phone was on speakerphone during the call, Geng Dongqing had already heard it.

"Secretary Geng, Li Li actually handed over over 800,000 yuan worth of jewelry to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection..."

"I heard that. Li Li is all looks and no brains; it definitely wasn't her idea. Wen Changcheng must have instructed her to do it."

Huang Xiaoyong quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Wen Changcheng instructed her to do it. She's just a pretty face, like Daji, all looks and no brains."

"Xiaoyong, Li Li not only handed it over, but also turned the tables on you."

Now, the evidence of bribery is that you yourself admitted it over the phone, and she even recorded it. Physical evidence, witness testimony, and audio recording—all are there.

Of course, you don't need to be afraid of this. Even if Li Li hands it in, it won't be very honorable.

Wen Changcheng will not allow the Discipline Inspection Commission to hold this matter accountable, and you don't need to worry about the bribery issue being exposed.

The most pressing issue now is that with the reopening of the investigation, Bi Yuan will most likely be arrested. If he is arrested, will he implicate you?

Geng Dongqing did not mention that Bi Yuan might implicate him.

In fact, over the years, he had accepted a lot of money and gifts from Bi Yuan and had his share of women at Biyuan Villa.