The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"The issue on the agenda today is the collapse of the school building's wall at Huguang Township Elementary School. The night before last, the wall of Huguang Township Elementary School suddenly collapsed, leaving a hundred students without a school to attend now. This problem is very serious, so we are holding a meeting today to discuss it,"

Qi Hui had just finished speaking.

Deputy Director Gao Duan cleared his throat and said, "It's the same old problem we've always had. The Education Bureau has not been unhelpful in trying to solve it. The key issue is the school's funding. The Education Bureau should not be the only one to solve this. Huguang Township is the main responsible party; if they don't contribute money, what's the point of us discussing alone?"

"That's right. Vice County Mayor Pan has discussed this issue with Huguang Township more than once. If Huguang Township doesn't take it seriously, are we in the Education Bureau to be the big suckers?"

Lou Aiqin also huffed coldly and said.

Chen Fang hadn't even said anything yet.

But others had already started objecting.

Qi Hui put on a troubled expression and said to Chen Fang, "Director Chen, the issue of Huguang Township Elementary School has always been a top priority for our Education Bureau. It's just that Huguang Township has not shown their sincerity in this matter, and with our own bureau's funding difficulties, it is unlikely that this problem will be resolved."

Right off the bat,

Qi Hui and the others blocked what Chen Fang was about to say next.

It was evident from this,

The meeting was doomed to end inconclusively. It was already a foregone conclusion.

Chen Fang nodded and asked, "Is there a significant financial shortfall in our bureau?"

Qi Hui immediately turned to Shi Zhengxiang, after all, Shi Zhengxiang was in charge of finance.

Understanding the situation, Shi Zhengxiang said, "Director Chen, there's no financial shortfall, but the funds have all been approved during the two sessions earlier this year and have specific designated uses. Regarding Huguang Township Elementary School, I can't provide a single penny."

Chen Fang asked, "Do we have specific targets planned out?"

"Yes."

Having said that,

Shi Zhengxiang passed a folder to Chen Fang.

He said, "You can take a look at it, every penny has been allocated, and we really can't spare any extra."

Chen Fang opened the folder,

and scanned it closely,

pointing to one of the items, he said, "Here there's a budget for the Education Bureau's equipment procurement, costing 540,000 yuan. Take this amount for the use of Huguang Township Elementary School first."

"That's impossible!"

The moment Shi Zhengxiang heard this, he immediately refused,

sternly saying, "Many of the equipment in the Education Bureau are aging and need replacement, which has also been approved by the People's Congress. It's not possible to arbitrarily change the intended use."

"You just take care of reallocating the funds. I will deal with the rest of the issues,"

Chen Fang said.

Shi Zhengxiang turned to Qi Hui and asked, "Director Qi, what do you think?"

Qi Hui furrowed his brows and said, "Director Chen, it's not that this money can't be reallocated to Huguang Township, but this allocation was already confirmed in a party group meeting long ago. It's just irrational to change its purpose arbitrarily."

"What's all this about rationality? In extraordinary circumstances, extraordinary measures are called for. We'll arrange the funds this way. Are you saying that my word as a director doesn't count?"

Chen Fang asked.

No sooner had he spoken,

Shi Zhengxiang sneered and said, "Sorry, Director Chen, but what you say doesn't count indeed."

"Oh? My word doesn't count? Are you implying that your word does?"

Chen Fang asked.

Shi Zhengxiang looked contemptuous,

and said, "The financial authority within the Education Bureau is in my hands, Shi Zhengxiang. If I say the funds can be used, then they can be used. If I say they can't, then they can't be used."

"So what you're saying is, your power as a deputy director is greater than my power as the actual director?"

Chen Fang asked.

Shi Zhengxiang waved his hand and said, "Don't try to pressure me with your authority. It works on others, not on me. Unless Vice County Mayor Pan nods in agreement, don't bother discussing anything else."

"Oh, now I'm beginning to understand. Vice County Mayor Pan may have left, but the Education Bureau's financial authority is still held by him, isn't that so?"

Chen Fang asked sharply.

Shi Zhengxiang disdainfully said, "So what if it is? Let me be clear with you, I only listen to Vice County Mayor Pan. If you think you can, go ahead and fire me!"

"You think I can't deal with you?"

Chen Fang asked.

Shi Zhengxiang leaned back in his seat and said, "Here I am, sitting right here. If you have the guts, try to do something to me."

With the conversation reaching this point,

the atmosphere had become very tense.

Qi Hui didn't say a word.

After all, the scenario unfolding now was exactly what he had been hoping to see.

In his view, Chen Fang was unaware of his own limits, thought too highly of being the director, and clashed with Shi Zhengxiang. In the end, he would not be able to achieve anything. Once word got out, he would naturally lose face.

As a result,

His authority in the Education Bureau was naturally all but lost.

Shi Zhengxiang was fearless and composed.

He crossed his legs, stared at Chen Fang, and seemed to be telling him, "If you have the guts, come at me. I'm right here waiting for you."

Thud thud thud.

A series of knocks suddenly sounded.

Cai Liangren, the deputy director of the office, came in and said, "Reporting to the leader, people from the Audit Bureau have arrived."

Chen Fang waved his hand and said, "Okay, you can take them directly to finance."

"Yes, leader."

Cai Liangren turned to leave.

Shi Zhengxiang suddenly stood up and asked, "What are the people from the Audit Bureau here for?"

Cai Liangren glanced at Chen Fang and said, "It was Director Chen who asked for them. He said it's a routine financial audit that he voluntarily requested."

Boom!

Shi Zhengxiang was immediately stunned.

After a pause, he asked, "Chen Fang, what do you mean by this?"

Chen Fang shrugged and said, "I don't mean anything. As the new director, I have to understand the financial situation of our Education Bureau, don't I? It's quite normal to ask for a financial audit, isn't it?"

"Did you get my consent?"

Shi Zhengxiang asked, somewhat frantic.

Chen Fang smiled and said, "Do I need your consent to request a financial audit? Besides, I've reported this to County Mayor Li. Are you so audacious now that you won't even listen to County Mayor Li's orders?"

"You..."

Shi Zhengxiang was momentarily lost for words.

Qi Hui stood up.

He walked over to Shi Zhengxiang, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Director Shi, if Director Chen wants to investigate, let him. What's the big deal? After all, every sum of money has been approved by the higher-ups, so what is there to fear?"

Shi Zhengxiang had been in charge of the Education Bureau's finances for many years, and there had never been any issues.

Qi Hui was completely confident in this.

That was exactly why he made such a statement.

Seeing that Shi Zhengxiang still looked worried,

Chen Fang sneered, "Director Shi, you haven't been fiddling with the finances, have you?"

"How... how could that be possible?"

Shi Zhengxiang appeared visibly flustered.

Chen Fang continued, "If you're not guilty, then just sit down quietly. I reckon the results will be out very soon."

Although Shi Zhengxiang did sit down,

He looked extremely restless.

A fine sweat began to form on his forehead.

About twenty minutes or so later,

The door to the meeting room opened again.

This time, the person who came in was neither Cai Liangren nor someone from the Audit Bureau, but a person from the Disciplinary Committee.

They entered the meeting room, looked around, and asked, "May I know which of you is Comrade Shi Zhengxiang?"

"I... I am,"

Shi Zhengxiang stood up, trembling.

The person from the Disciplinary Committee nodded and said, "Comrade Shi Zhengxiang, there are some matters we need you to come back with us to verify. Let's go."

After that,

Two workers from the Disciplinary Committee came up behind the disheartened Shi Zhengxiang and took him away.

What's going on?

Everyone else was still confused up to this point,

Especially Qi Hui.

He completely didn't understand; how come Shi Zhengxiang had been taken away after just a meeting?

This had never happened before.

Once Shi Zhengxiang was taken away,

Qi Hui hurried out of the meeting room and grabbed one of the staff from the Disciplinary Committee, asking, "Chief Jiang, what's going on? Did something happen to Director Shi?"

Chief Jiang shook his head and said, "Director Qi, the case hasn't been cleared up yet, so I can't disclose any information to you for now."