The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"Oh? Minister Li, are you implying that there's an issue with Comrade Qi Kang?"

Chen Fang's question was quite direct.

In the Shangqing Municipal Committee, everyone knew Qi Kang was a "spoiled rich kid." Speaking ill of him meant showing no respect to the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Committee.

Chen Fang naturally couldn't reveal his stance first.

The reason he asked was to probe Li Xuan's intentions.

He wanted to find out what exactly Li Xuan's purpose was today.

As mentioned before, Li Xuan was considered a very attractive woman within the system.

Moreover, she's only 38 this year.

For a female cadre at this age to step into a real deputy hall-level position, underestimating her would be foolish.

Before coming to Shangqing City,

Chen Fang had studied the biographies of each leader.

He was quite familiar with Li Xuan's career path.

She started her political career at the age of 23.

Initially, she worked at the Finance Bureau in Shangjiang District.

At 27, she married Wang Feng, the Executive Deputy General Manager of Hua Jian Third Bureau.

At that time, Wang Feng was already 44, a full 17 years older than Li Xuan, and it was his second marriage, so this marriage attracted a lot of gossip about Li Xuan.

Not long after getting married,

Li Xuan gave birth to a son for Wang Feng.

The following year,

Wang Feng was promoted to Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of Hua Jian Third Bureau, formally entering the ranks of state enterprise cadres with full hall-level positions.

Rising with the tide, Li Xuan was soon promoted to Deputy Director of the Finance Bureau in Shangjiang District.

The following decade was also a period of smooth sailing for Li Xuan.

From Director of the Finance Bureau in Shanghu District to Deputy District Mayor in charge of finance in Shanghu District, then Minister of Publicity in Zhongji County, and finally Vice Mayor of Shangqing City and from last year serving as a member of the Standing Committee of Shangqing Municipal Committee and Minister of Publicity.

Of course.

In this process,

Wang Feng's career was also smooth sailing.

Similarly, last year,

he officially took the top position at Hua Jian Third Bureau, serving as Party Secretary and Chairman of Hua Jian Third Bureau.

So, Li Xuan was not an ordinary person.

She was not only capable but also quite well-connected.

Li Xuan's face appeared gloomy.

It was obviously an unspeakable matter.

Seeing this.

Chen Fang said, "Minister Li, at today's Standing Committee meeting, you used me as an excuse to block Comrade Qi Kang's appointment. I don't mind, but this result is merely buying time. We all know Qi Kang's background; his appointment as County Party Secretary of Guangshou County is practically a certainty..."

At this point,

Chen Fang abruptly stopped.

He wanted to tell Li Xuan.

If she couldn't tell him the truth, all previous efforts would be futile, having no effect whatsoever.

Li Xuan's hands were rubbing her knees vigorously.

Her face was flushed.

She was biting her lips tightly.

Yet she remained silent.

In such a situation, Chen Fang didn't want to waste time on her.

He cleared his throat.

And said, "Minister Li, if that's the case, you'd better accept this reality. I have another meeting, so I'll go ahead."

After saying this,

Chen Fang stood up.

Just at this moment.

Li Xuan suddenly shouted, "Wait!"

She reached out her hand.

And grabbed Chen Fang's hand.

The moment their skins touched, she felt it was inappropriate and quickly let go.

"I'll tell you, I can speak, but...but...you must keep it a secret!"

Li Xuan said earnestly.

Topics that require confidentiality always tend to invite trouble.

At this moment, the last thing Chen Fang needed was to be dragged into another vortex of problems.

But looking into Li Xuan's pitiful eyes,

his heart twitched a bit.

He took a deep breath, sat down, and said, "If Minister Li trusts me, then tell me; if not, you don't have to say anything."

"I trust you; from the moment you took down Pan Shougu and Lou Youhua, I knew you were a good person. Only you can help me."

Li Xuan said anxiously.

Chen Fang nodded slightly.

He looked at her.

She pressed her lips together.

Slowly lifted her head.

First, she exchanged a glance with Chen Fang.

There was no denying that Li Xuan's face was flawless, especially her eyes, which seemed like pools of water. Staring at them for just a moment felt like one could drown in them.

"Secretary Chen, I'm not hiding it from you anymore. Even if it costs me my reputation today, I must expose Qi Kang's vile face..."

Halfway through her words,

Li Xuan's eyes welled up.

A tear rolled down.

She sobbed, saying, "Qi Kang...that bastard...he bullied me...I...I was violated by him..."

After uttering those final words,

Li Xuan could no longer bear the sorrow and began to sob quietly.

Chen Fang was stunned.

He looked at Li Xuan in disbelief.

To be honest,

he was utterly shocked at that moment.

Qi Kang being a "spoiled rich kid" was true, and his reputation as a womanizer was well-known in the city government. But he was only a deputy section-level official, while Li Xuan was a deputy hall-level city leader, and her husband wasn't a minor figure either. Was Qi Kang really audacious enough to go that far?

"Minister Li, this is no small matter. Didn't you report it to the police?"

Chen Fang asked.

Li Xuan shook her head.

Choking back tears, she said, "I...I didn't dare report it! Just as you said earlier, everyone in Shangqing City knows his background. If I accidentally provoke the person behind him, I, a small person, could be easily crushed."

Having such a concern was normal.

However, if someone like Li Xuan considered herself a "small person," then the ordinary folks on the street might not even count as people.

Chen Fang steadied himself and asked, "So, you intentionally obstructed Qi Kang's appointment as County Party Secretary?"

Li Xuan wiped away her tears.

And said, "Secretary Chen, exposing my most unsightly side to you isn't to use you for personal vendetta. In our compound, many women have been harmed by Qi Kang. Just a little investigation will reveal the truth. What I want to tell you is, Qi Kang is connected to the 626 case from a few months ago. If someone like him becomes County Party Secretary, can Guangshou County ever see daylight again?"

With a sudden buzz,

Chen Fang's mind exploded.

He became tense instantly.

And asked, "Minister Li, what did you just say? Can you repeat it, is Qi Kang connected to the 626 case?"

Li Xuan nodded firmly.

And said, "I have a friend who works in the Legal Department at the Public Security Bureau in Shanghu District. Because of her work, she has a good relationship with Qiu Feihong. She told me that on the night Qiu Feihong disappeared, they were dining together. Halfway through, Qiu Feihong received a call and went out. At that moment, my friend glanced at the phone from the corner of her eye, and the name noted on the call was 'Young Master Qi'..."