Xu Chunliang said, "The person who reported has sinister intentions. I can’t let this matter go just like that. Don’t tell to correct if there’s an error or be cautious if there isn’t; I must find this person this ti. Secretary Qiu, who reported ?"
Qiu Guixian was startled by the aggressive look in Xu Chunliang’s eyes. "It wasn’t ; it was soone who reported to the county, and the county leaders asked to investigate."
Xu Chunliang said, "The leaders asked you to investigate, not to tarnish my na. How did I get involved in such a scandal? You need to explain this to !"
Qiu Guixian quickly waved his hands. "It wasn’t , I swear it wasn’t ."
"Then tell who said it?"
"I don’t know!"
Xu Chunliang said, "You don’t know and you’re still coming to ? Secretary Qiu, this is the second ti you’ve pinned baseless accusations on . Such lies cannot withstand scrutiny; anyone with a bit of logic wouldn’t believe them. Yet, you not only believe them but use such trivial issues to disgust ."
Qiu Guixian was extrely embarrassed. "Xiaoxu, I’m doing my job, not targeting you. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m trying to clear your na."
Xu Chunliang said, "Misunderstand? A few days ago, you said I was operating in a black box; now, you say I’m involved in misconduct. How much have you tarnished the na of an innocent person like ? I’ll endure it this ti, but three strikes and you’re out. If next ti you sar without investigation, and can’t na the whistleblower, I’ll hold it against you."
At this mont, Xu Chunliang’s phone rang, and Qiu Guixian finally breathed a sigh of relief, quickly getting up and almost fleeing the room. The pressure he felt earlier was too strong, and he truly feared that Xu Chunliang’s fists might land on his face, as Xu’s tendency towards violence was a well-known fact.
The call ca just in ti and Qiu Guixian clumsily escaped from Xu Chunliang’s office. After calming down, he realized how pathetic his disciplinary work had beco; no, he had to find soone to reason with.
Xu Chunliang decided not to bother arguing with such a fool as Qiu Guixian; the guy had no brains.
The call was from i Ru Xue.
Xu Chunliang answered the phone, and i Ru Xue said, "Town Mayor Xu, impressive. You’ve just been in office for a couple of days and already involved in such scandals."
Xu Chunliang felt caught between laughter and tears—where could he possibly explain himself? Good deeds never leave the door, but bad news travels a thousand miles; rumors had spread to i Ru Xue so quickly.
Xu Chunliang said, "I do want to be involved in a scandal, but my little power is not enough for that. If any beauty entertained such thoughts about , she’d certainly lack a few brain cells."
i Ru Xue said, "Let’s not underestimate yourself, Town Mayor Xu. You are now in charge of attracting investnts and managing culture, education, and health in Hu Shan Town. That’s quite a bit of power."
Xu Chunliang said, "If you have any plots, I wouldn’t mind establishing so unspoken rules with you."
i Ru Xue snorted, "The fox’s tail is showing."
Xu Chunliang said, "My power isn’t as great as yours. If there were unspoken rules, it would be you pulling them on ."
i Ru Xue said, "Completely shaless, aren’t you?"
Xu Chunliang could tell she didn’t sound genuinely angry and sighed, "Little Weishan Town is complicated, and people are sinister here. Every one of these an people is worse than those in Changxing."
i Ru Xue laughed, "What’s the matter? Feeling dejected?"
"A bit dejected, but my head isn’t hanging."
i Ru Xue said, "The Xu Chunliang I know wouldn’t give up so easily."
Xu Chunliang said, "I haven’t even made a move yet, so how have I lost? The rumors about were stirred up by the hot spring business. I reckon there’s an eighty to ninety percent chance that it’s He Xingjian. That guy, relying on so connections, got an exclusive license for the developnt of hot spring water in Dongzhou. It’s essentially a monopoly. The more eager he is to take advantage of this, the more I’ll thwart his plans."
i Ru Xue said, "Don’t get angry, he’s just a small businessman. It’s not worth losing your temper over."
Xu Chunliang said, "I’m not angry. If I were to be angry, it’s with you."
"What are you angry at for? I haven’t offended you."
"Of course I’m angry at you. I’m devoted, passionate, and faithful to you, yet you don’t trust and suspect of such a scandal. It’s honestly too heartbreaking and disappointing."
i Ru Xue laughed, "Alright, alright, I’m wrong. I shouldn’t have doubted you. There, there, don’t be mad."
"You think saying not to be mad will work? No, shouldn’t you compensate a bit?"
"How should I compensate?"
"With, you know, physical affection."
"Xu Chunliang, that’s going too far!"
Xu Chunliang said, "How am I going too far? I didn’t make any extre demands, just a little kiss... a few touches... Spring is here, everything is awakening, you should consider my inner needs too."
i Ru Xue said, "You really aren’t a good person. It’s fortunate you don’t have much power, or you might actually use power for personal gain."
"Really?"
"Don’t be so cheesy, I really can’t stand you. When will you be back?"
Xu Chunliang laughed, Secretary i tacitly agreed, and he felt a certain part of his body itching to move: "I’ll go back now."
"Crazy, I’m at work."
"I’ll pick you up after work."
On the other end of the phone, Secretary i glanced at the clock on the desk and whispered, "No need, I don’t have much work in the afternoon, I’ll co to Weishan Island to see you."
Xu Chunliang was montarily stunned and then understood i Ru Xue’s thoughtful intentions. She wanted to make their relationship public to clear up rumors. Xu Chunliang felt a warm sense of gratitude; she was really considerate of him.
Qiu Guixian recounted his ordeal, feeling extrely aggrieved. He was following orders from higher authorities and performing his duties, yet Xu Chunliang not only refused to cooperate but also mocked and ridiculed him, calling him disgusting, accusing him of lacking logic, and intimidating him fiercely.
Qiu Guixian furiously said, "Secretary Qin, I’m fifty years old, isn’t that at least considered his senior? How can he treat like this?"
Qin Zhengyang consoled, "Old Qiu, don’t be upset. Young people tend to be blunt, and perhaps soone is indeed trying to sar and wrong him."
Qiu Guixian said, "A fly won’t bite a seamless egg!"
Qin Zhengyang thought to himself, with this remark, it’s no wonder Xu Chunliang wants to hit you; even I feel like hitting you. Your investigation, wasn’t it just about Mo Han contracting the distillery? I was the one who made the decision at the ti and have already said the matter is closed. Are you not going to let it go until you push to the front?
Qin Zhengyang said, "That’s not how you should put it, Old Qiu. I need to criticize you for that. We must trust our comrades, especially young cadres. We must be tolerant. I think Xu Chunliang’s point wasn’t wrong; what power-deal transaction are you talking about? With the power he has now, who would even bother with him?"
Qiu Guixian said, "That may not be the case. How did the Secretary of Houshiliang Village end up behind bars the year before? His power wasn’t large, his level wasn’t high, yet he also engaged in power-for-sex transactions."
Qin Zhengyang was growing increasingly unhappy. "Old Qiu, I think you’re prejudiced against Xiaoxu."
Qiu Guixian said, "It’s not that I’m prejudiced against him; soone reported him. A few days ago, they accused him of shady dealings during the distillery contract process..."
Qin Zhengyang cut him off without hesitation, "Old Qiu, did you forget or are you intent on hearing my explanation again? I was the one who approved Mo Han contracting the distillery. At that ti, Xu Chunliang hadn’t even started working in Hu Shan Town, so there was no shady dealing, nor any power-deal transaction. Old Qiu, were you implying this to ?"
Qiu Guixian was dumbfounded. He couldn’t fathom why Qin Zhengyang was shielding Xu Chunliang so heavily; it didn’t make much sense.
"Secretary Qin, it’s not that I’m targeting you. Soone reported Xu Chunliang, and the higher-ups asked to look into it. I’m just doing my job. I hold no prejudice against him; and certainly not against you."
Qin Zhengyang said, "It’s good if there’s no prejudice. I always feel that the focus of your disciplinary work shouldn’t be on digging into issues with our fellow comrades, but rather giving our own people a clean slate. The aim of discipline inspection is to identify truly problematic cadres, not to chase shadows. If soone reports Xu Chunliang today and you start investigating without evidence, would you do the sa to if soone reports tomorrow?"
Qiu Guixian’s face turned scarlet with embarrassnt. He didn’t understand why he had irked Qin Zhengyang so much. When Xu Chunliang first arrived, everyone thought that Qin Zhengyang had given him a difficult task as a form of initiation, but as ti passed, it beca clear that instead of targeting Xu Chunliang, Qin Zhengyang had actually beco his protector. Was the initial trouble just for show to outsiders? Did they share so mutual interest?
Qin Zhengyang’s face was no longer smiling. "Old Qiu, is there anything else you wish to report?"
"No...no more..."
Even if Qiu Guixian were less tactful, he knew that the conversation had to end. This was not the place to reason with Qin Zhengyang.
As he turned to leave, Qin Zhengyang called him back: "Wait, who exactly reported it?"
Qiu Guixian said, "I don’t know. The city asked to look into it."
Qin Zhengyang said, "In the future, when you encounter such matters, find evidence first. If there’s no evidence, don’t investigate."
Qiu Guixian slinked out of Qin Zhengyang’s office.
Upon leaving, he ran into Xu Chunliang, who was coming to report to Qin Zhengyang. Qiu Guixian wanted to avoid him but was blocked by Xu Chunliang: "Ca to tattle on ?"
Qiu Guixian was so angry that his face turned purple: "Do I look like I would?"
"Hey, just joking around, why so serious?"
Xu Chunliang knocked and entered Qin Zhengyang’s office.
Qin Zhengyang said, "What’s up?"
Xu Chunliang said, "Nothing major, just want to request half a day off."
Qin Zhengyang said, "Since when did you beco so disciplined?"
Xu Chunliang said, "My girlfriend is here, I want to spend the afternoon with her."
Qin Zhengyang’s eyes shifted slightly: "Town Mayor i?"
Xu Chunliang nodded: "She’s working in the High-Tech Zone now."
Qin Zhengyang laughed: "So you’re planning to go public, to make those rumors collapse on their own?"
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