Official Career Storm

Song Guanchao is missing!

Upon hearing this news, Secretary Tian wasn't angry.

Instead, he confirmed one thing.

This kid probably has complete confidence that he can retrieve that sum of money.

Moreover, this kid noticed he was being followed and tricked him.

Secretary Tian realized he had underestimated him a bit.

He initially thought this trip would be easy, yet he didn't expect even a little secretary was so hard to deal with.

It was really beyond his expectations.

However, this matter is almost transparent now.

Since the opponent knows his purpose, there's no need to continue hiding.

"Contact Secretary Song and invite him out for a casual lunch."

"Okay." Tong Wen immediately started contacting him.

When Song Guanchao received the call, he was walking around Shouxi Lake with Liang Jiajia.

Seeing Tong Wen calling, he was quite surprised: "Hello, Secretary Tong."

"Secretary Song, do you have time for lunch?"

"Sorry, I don't."

What Tong Wen had prepared was blocked by his direct refusal.

It took a while before he said: "Secretary Tian would like to invite you to lunch."

Song Guanchao just said, "I'm sorry, I'm quite busy here and can't find the time. How about after the case is over, I visit Secretary Tian in the province?"

Obviously, Tong Wen was somewhat inexperienced, and the direct and clean refusal from Song Guanchao left him without a way in. So he reluctantly hung up the phone.

"Secretary Tian, Secretary Song refused."

Secretary Tian responded with a nod and picked up his phone to personally call Song Guanchao.

Just after hanging up, his phone rang again. Seeing the unfamiliar number, Song Guanchao roughly guessed it should be Secretary Tian.

This is wanting to lay cards on the table with him and force him to choose between two options?

Song Guanchao smirked; this Secretary Tian isn't too bright.

What makes him think, in a two-choice situation, I would definitely choose him?

He answered the phone.

"Hello, who's this?"

"Secretary Song, it's me." Secretary Tian's jovial voice sounded.

Although he guessed it, Song Guanchao still feigned surprise: "Secretary Tian?"

"Secretary Song, have you made any progress? I heard from Secretary Tong that you're quite busy at noon?"

"There's not much progress to speak of, it's just that time is tight and I can't afford any delays."

"Can you spare half an hour?"

Secretary Tian, after all these years, got right to the point, clearly determined to achieve his goal.

But Song Guanchao was not the passive type, not falling for his approach: "What does Secretary Tian need me for?"

Secretary Tian said, "I have something important. Where are you now, Secretary Song? I'll come to you."

"I'm in Guangling."

Already left?

Secretary Tian said, "Send me the address."

"Alright."

This meeting must happen, stalling tactics won't work.

Since that's the case, let's meet.

After sending the address, he told Liang Jiajia, "Secretary Tian will come to see me in a while."

Liang Jiajia was worried: "What does he want?"

"What else can he want, basically just forcing me to choose sides."

Song Guanchao said, "It's nothing, you go shopping on your own, and I'll come find you after handling this."

The two cities are very close, and at two in the afternoon, Secretary Tian's call came through again.

Song Guanchao chose a cafe in a busy district. The main reason for choosing here was the concern that Secretary Tian might play dirty.

Additionally, he bought a recorder to bring along.

One should not be without vigilance, especially against such sly old foxes.

Half an hour later, Secretary Tian arrived at the cafe, without Secretary Tong in sight.

The two sat at a window seat, relatively quiet, undisturbed.

"What would Secretary Tian like to drink?"

"Anything's fine."

Song Guanchao ordered a cup of coffee for him, and asked: "What's the matter, Secretary Tian?"

Laughing, Secretary Tian said, "It's best for Secretary Song not to continue with this case."

Compared to yesterday's beating around the bush, Secretary Tian was more frank now, directly stating his purpose.

Song Guanchao shook his head: "This is a task assigned by the City Committee leadership."

Secretary Tian said, "Secretary Song, you're a smart person, no need to say more. This matter is very important to me. If you help me, I owe you a favor."

In his mind, Song Guanchao laughed; do I really need a favor from you?

He really sees himself as a big deal.

Of course, thoughts like these remain unspoken.

"Sorry, Secretary Tian." Song Guanchao showed a smile of apology.

Secretary Tian stared at him for a few seconds, and asked: "Secretary Song unwilling to give me this face?"

Song Guanchao said, "Secretary Tian, you're overthinking it. Of course, I respect you, but as I said, it's a task given by the leadership. If Secretary Qu calls me now and tells me not to get involved, I certainly won't."

Secretary Tian took a sip of coffee, and suddenly said: "Secretary Song, your hometown is in the countryside, right?"

"Yes."

"Haven't bought a house in the city yet?"

"No."

"Did you enter the system for money or power?"

"Neither."

"Oh? Then Secretary Song must be a person of noble spirit."

Such sarcastic remarks are a bit irritating.

But Song Guanchao didn't mind; whatever attitude he has is irrelevant.

Secretary Tian said, "When I was mayor, there was a similar case in the city, but the amount wasn't as large."

"Does Secretary Song know how that matter was eventually handled?"

"I don't."

"The person in charge was a vice mayor at the time; it was an illegal fundraising case, amounting to over twenty billion. In the end, not a single cent was recovered."

"That vice mayor retired just a few years after handling this case."

"After retirement, he went abroad and bought a lot of houses and cars."

"This case involves an even larger amount, more than sixty billion."

"So much money has been transferred overseas; actually, there's little hope of ever getting it back."

"Therefore, even if it can't be recovered, the city and the province can understand. After all, no one is a god, don't you agree?"

Song Guanchao raised his eyebrows, understanding Secretary Tian's implication.

He offered a third choice!

Letting him embezzle this money!

As he said, if Song Guanchao could retrieve it, why not embezzle it?

Even if in the future he climbs up to vice mayor, or even mayor.

So what?

Compared to over sixty billion in cash, a mere mayor is nothing.

Better to retire, find a nice place, and be a wealthy man.

Sixty billion, no matter how you spend it, you could live a carefree life.

It's true, Secretary Tian's heart is really dirty.

An average person might truly be tempted by his words, aiming for that money.

But obviously, he chose the wrong person.

If Song Guanchao really had that kind of mindset, back then with that 70 billion, it was even more convenient than now.

After all, back then Wu Qiangwei and Qu Xiangru didn't know that the money was moved by him.

If he wanted to, he could have easily embezzled it.

But he didn't do it.

It's not that he's virtuous, nor that he doesn't like money.

It's just that he has principles.

"Secretary Tian makes a good point."

Song Guanchao said seriously, "It's indeed difficult to recover money moved overseas, not something an average person can do."

Secretary Tian smiled, this kid, moved by his words.

However, Song Guanchao's next sentence froze his smile immediately.

"But, I'm just not an average person, I think I'm capable of recovering it."