Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 42 The Secretary Wins the Complete Trust of the Municipal Party Secretary

Xu Youwei nodded: "That's right. This shows that Zhang Wanlin is scared and is trying to put out the fire, afraid that I'll make a big mess!"

When higher-level leaders come to conduct research, we must, of course, attach great importance to it and actively cooperate.

Zhiyuan, you need to start preparing the report materials, highlighting how we value the development of the private economy and optimize the business environment. For example, we visited Jintang Group today.

Wu Zhiyuan took careful notes in his notebook.

Xu Youwei continued, "For now, we will respect the new accounts of Qingqing and Wu Qiang's families and will not pursue the matter further to avoid putting them in danger."

To be honest, they had no choice but to change their tune.

How can the vulnerable stand against Zhang Wanlin and the lower-level officials he has bribed and corrupted?

Xu Youwei paused for a moment, and then concluded: "This is a battle that tests composure and wisdom."

The opponent is using every resource to launch a counterattack, and has even brought in the imperial edict.

We must hold our ground and not retreat, but we must also be strategic and avoid direct confrontation.

Wu Zhiyuan was very pleased. Xu Youwei was now referring to "we," which was enough to show that in Xu Youwei's mind, he was not only a secretary, but also a trustworthy comrade-in-arms.

In such a short time, he was able to gain Xu Youwei's complete trust, not only because he was good at his job as a secretary, but mainly because he risked his life to save his master and won the trust of Xu Youwei's lover and daughter.

Last time, when accompanying Liu Qingqing and Xu Yunxi to Longqiao Ancient Town and her father's aquaculture farm, Xu Yunxi played, ate local dishes, and sketched. She was in a very good mood and talked much more than the day before.

When Xu Youwei saw his daughter become lively and cheerful again, he felt the same joy as when she was born seventeen years ago.

Xu Youwei was worried that his daughter might develop depression if she stayed away from this for too long.

In hindsight, that worry was unnecessary.

If you have any problems, call the police.

After get off work, Wu Zhiyuan called Sun Runcai and subtly mentioned the installation of the camera, but made no mention of the wiretapping in Xu Youwei's office.

Sun Runcai immediately said that he would take care of it and get it done that night.

Sun Runcai arrived while Wu Zhiyuan was working overtime writing materials.

Sun Runcai brought not ordinary surveillance cameras, but hidden cameras.

According to him, using ordinary cameras would easily alert the enemy and make those with ulterior motives take precautions.

Moreover, Secretary Xu has many visitors. When he enters, the first thing he sees is a camera pointed at him. What will he think?

Wu Zhiyuan thought Sun Runcai's words made a lot of sense.

The hidden camera brought by Sun Runcai is small and exquisite, and looks no different from an ordinary smoke detector.

Sun Runcai warned, "Zhiyuan, does Secretary Xu know about this? If he doesn't, he might think you're monitoring him, and the consequences could be severe."

Wu Zhiyuan patted Sun Runcai on the shoulder: "Don't worry, all you have to do is keep it a secret."

Sun Runcai, a shrewd and calculating man, said with a hidden meaning, "These days, there are quite a few people who secretly photograph leaders. Some leaders who are secretly photographed have their secrets exposed, and they're left speechless, unable to complain."

Wu Zhiyuan smiled and replied, "Yes, that's precisely why we're taking precautions."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a call came in from an unknown number.

Since becoming Xu Youwei's secretary, many people have been seeking him out.

Some of them were comrades from districts and counties. They didn't have any special business; they just wanted to get close to them and become acquainted with them.

"Secretary Wu, I am Wu Qiang from Longqiao Town, Haihe County. I'm from the same village as Qingqing—"

Wu Zhiyuan interrupted Wu Qiang: "I know, what's the matter?"

Wu Qiang seemed a little nervous: "Secretary Wu, may I see you? I have something to say to you in person, and there's something else for you."

Wu Zhiyuan's heart skipped a beat: "Okay. Where are you?"

Wu Qiang said, "I'm in Haihe County, I'll be there in about an hour."

Wu Zhiyuan said, "Okay, I'll wait for you at the Chengnan Gas Station on the way from Haihe County to Longcheng."

After hanging up the phone, Wu Zhiyuan and Sun Runcai briefly explained Wu Qiang's situation.

Sun Runcai said without hesitation, "Zhiyuan, I'll go with you."

Wu Zhiyuan said with a grin, "I'm going back late, I've kept you from spending time with your sister-in-law."

Sun Runcai chuckled: "We're an old married couple."

Wu Zhiyuan said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Runcai, don't tell me you're keeping the home fires burning while having affairs on the side!"

Sun Runcai chuckled dryly, neither admitting nor denying.

Wu Zhiyuan increasingly felt that something was wrong with Sun Runcai.

He knew that before marrying Qin Lu, Sun Run had dated several girlfriends, and all of them had slept together.

Sun Runcai wasn't exactly handsome, but he was silver-tongued, good at sweet-talking and deceiving, and knew how to win a girl's heart.

However, this guy is quite loyal, values ​​friendship highly, and is trustworthy.

The Chengnan Gas Station is located in a suburban area with little traffic at night and a wide field of vision, making it easy to observe whether anyone is following them and to quickly evacuate.

Wu Zhiyuan parked the car at a gas station in a dimly lit spot where he could monitor the main road. He turned off the engine but did not get out of the car. The two of them cautiously observed their surroundings.

A dozen minutes later, a motorcycle drove into the gas station and refueled.

While in the car, Wu Zhiyuan received a text message from Wu Qiang saying that he had arrived.

Wu Zhiyuan gave his location and license plate number.

Wu Qiang has arrived.

Wu Zhiyuan opened the car door and let him get in.

Seeing that there was still one person in the car, Wu Qiang was stunned.

Wu Zhiyuan explained, "Don't worry, this is my friend."

"Secretary Wu, I was released yesterday. These past two days, I've felt like someone is following me."

At night, I was driving on the road and felt like a car was following me. I deliberately drove on a rough rural road.

Motorcycles can easily pass through, but cars can't; they risk losing their tails.

Wu Zhiyuan handed Wu Qiang a bottle of mineral water and comforted him, "Take your time, it's safe in the car. My friend here is a policeman."

Wu Qiang stared at Sun Runcai for a few seconds.

Wu Zhiyuan asked, "Wu Qiang, why did your mother change her address?"

Wu Qiang took a few sips of water and said, "Secretary Wu, it was all Zhang Wanlin's men who forced us to do this."

The county public security bureau summoned my parents to the county detention center for a talk. Besides us, there were also two coal mine leaders present.

They forced me to admit that I had posted false information online, or they would have me sentenced by the court.

If I admit to spreading false information, they will release me immediately, pay my back wages, and arrange for me to work at the county's Dadi Real Estate Company, which is also owned by Zhang Wanlin.

My parents were afraid I'd go to jail, so they cried and begged me to sign a document admitting to spreading false information. I had no choice but to admit it.

But my conscience won't let me live with myself! The dozen or so lives lost in the well are real. If Zhang Wanlin had reported it promptly and organized a rescue, perhaps a few lives could have been saved. But the reality is, they were practically buried alive! Zhang Wanlin is essentially committing murder!

Sun Runcai asked in a deep voice, "You said someone was following you. What exactly happened? Did you see who it was? Do you remember the license plate number?"

Wu Qiang shook his head: "It's just a feeling. I always felt like there was a car following me at a distance, but I shook it off as soon as I turned into a side road."

Wu Qiang took out a USB flash drive and a piece of paper from his inner pocket.

"Secretary Wu, the video on the USB drive was taken with my phone while I was watching the surveillance footage. I hid it in a secluded corner of my house. The police have questioned me many times, but I haven't said anything."

The paper contains a drawing of the location of the mine where the accident occurred, along with the names and contact information of some of the deceased miners.

Wu Zhiyuan accepted the USB drive and paper; it was a weighty entrustment.

Wu Qiang is gone.

Before leaving, Wu Zhiyuan repeatedly told him to be careful and to keep the matter strictly confidential.

On his way back to the city, Wu Zhiyuan saw Su Taohong again when he passed by the Jintang Hot Spring Resort.

It's really a narrow road for enemies!