The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"Is it really that mysterious?"

Chen Fang asked jokingly.

Zhu Tan exaggeratedly said, "Is it even more mysterious? Do you know who owns Tiancheng Garden? It's Zhang Cheng."

"The Zhang Cheng of Tiancheng Group?"

Chen Fang was still startled when he heard the name.

It had been said before that Changming County had three influential figures.

They were known as One Cheng, Two Jiu, Three Old Scar.

Though they were named together,

their actual strengths were vastly different.

Zhu Xiaojiu could only be considered wealthy, and Old Scar at best a thug. These two combined couldn't match up to Zhang Cheng's little finger.

Not only was Zhang Cheng ruthless and decisive, he had a saying, "Tiancheng settles no accounts overnight," which well illustrated just how thunderous his methods were.

Three to four years ago,

Zhang Cheng had an underling who committed a crime elsewhere and fled back to Changming County to hide.

Police from outside had sent four officers over to capture this underling.

The arrogant Zhang Cheng directly led a group to the hotel where these four out-of-town policemen were staying and took back his man, leaving the policemen with no choice but to call for backup.

One year ago,

the province launched a special campaign against gangsters and evil forces.

The Wen'an City Public Security Bureau sent an investigation team specifically to probe into Zhang Cheng's criminal connections.

After more than a month of effort, just as they were about to close the net, the hotel storing the case files suddenly caught fire. Although no one was injured, the files were reduced to ashes in the blaze.

Witnesses who had initially promised to testify suddenly retracted their statements, without exception.

The most recent incident happened a few months ago.

An important member of Zhang Cheng's gang was arrested for a brawl.

After relentless efforts by the county public security, this member agreed to turn and testify against Zhang Cheng, but that night, the police's safe house suddenly lost power and the member mysteriously died in the restroom.

Subsequently, the deputy chief of the Public Security Bureau leading the investigation into Zhang Cheng was transferred.

This case remains unsolved to this day.

In Changming County, there's a saying in the shadows.

Li Duming might be the top authority by day, but by night, Changming County is under Zhang Cheng's rule.

This shows just how powerful he is.

Back to the main topic, back to Tiancheng Garden.

Tiancheng Garden is a new residential project developed by Tiancheng Group in Changming County, aimed to be the most upscale community there.

One month ago,

a scaffolding collapse at a construction site in Wen'an City resulted in the deaths of two workers.

The Mayor of Wen'an City personally ordered a major safety inspection of all construction sites across the city.

After inspecting the Tiancheng Garden site, the city's safety inspection team identified major safety hazards and demanded a complete rectification, issuing a notice that required approval from the county's safety bureau before work could resume.

But Tiancheng Garden merely took a few days off and then resumed construction.

Ignoring the city's rectification notice completely.

Such an incident would normally not be a big deal for Tiancheng Group, and could have been overlooked.

But Mei Shikang's intention was to have Chen Fang make trouble for Zhang Cheng.

Who isn't aware of Zhang Cheng's methods?

If Chen Fang really went looking for him, could Zhang Cheng possibly spare him?

Of course,

the real schemer behind this plot was Zhao Shoujiang, but Chen Fang didn't know that yet.

Meddling with Zhang Cheng's construction site, he neither had the capability nor the courage.

As Zhu Tan said, this matter was a bomb, the kind that could obliterate him completely.

It must be said, Mei Shikang's thoughts were quite malicious.

"Chief Chen, I advise you to go find Chief He immediately and push this matter aside, otherwise, you really won't be able to handle the aftermath,"

Zhu Tan said.

Chen Fang waved his hand and said, "Pushing it aside is definitely not an option, I'll think about what to do next."

"Chief Chen…"

Zhu Tan intended to continue persuading.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!"

Chen Fang said.

The office director, Tian Xingpo, poked his head in and said, "Chief Chen, the Disciplinary Committee has sent someone over, Chief He is asking you to come to the meeting room immediately."

The Disciplinary Committee has sent someone over?

Chen Fang nodded and said, "Alright, I'll be right there."

Then, he patted Zhu Tan on the shoulder and said, "Do me a favor."

"Director Chen, just say the word."

"Help me check Zhang Cheng's schedule."

"Director Chen, you couldn't possibly be serious..."

Zhu Tan hadn't finished speaking when Chen Fang had already left.

In recent days,

Tang Weiping's trafficking of special industry qualification certificates had blown up in Changming County.

The preliminary investigation by the anti-corruption bureau concluded that the case involved amounts up to several million yuan.

In such a small county town, that was enough to cause a huge uproar.

This had also put the Safe Supervision Bureau in the eye of the storm.

Apart from the implicated staff,

the leaders of the Safe Supervision Bureau were repeatedly summoned by the Disciplinary Committee.

The sudden visit by the Disciplinary Committee, unsurprisingly, was also due to this matter.

When Chen Fang arrived at the meeting room, it was already filled with people.

In the chief seat, there sat a woman.

Seeing this woman, Chen Fang too was taken aback.

He hadn't expected Xu Lianyun to personally take charge.

Who was Xu Lianyun?

She was a member of the Standing Committee of the Changming County Party Committee and the Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee.

Xu Lianyun was 39 this year.

Although nearly forty, she didn't look it at all.

Perhaps because she took good care of herself, even on close inspection, her skin remained extremely delicate and lustrous.

And Xu Lianyun must have been quite beautiful when she was younger, because even at her age, she still looked very dignified.

Perhaps it was because she worked in discipline.

She rarely smiled or joked.

In the official circles of Changming County, everyone secretly called her "Sadako."

"Director Chen, Secretary Xu arrives and you're still late. Do you have any sense of organizational discipline at all?"

Chen Fang had just walked in.

Mei Shikang murmured something.

Chen Fang felt so wronged inside. As soon as Tian Xingpo called him, he came over.

He hadn't delayed at all.

Seeing Tian Xingpo's hardly contained expression in the corner, Chen Fang understood.

Tian Xingpo had deliberately delayed calling him to embarrass him for being late, probably at Mei Shikang's instigation as well.

"Alright, now that you're here, take a seat,"

Xu Lianyun said coldly.

Chen Fang felt helpless.

Being late was being late, and nobody was likely to ask why.

"Now that everyone is here, I will say a few words,"

As soon as Xu Lianyun spoke,

everyone in the room promptly picked up their pens, ready to take notes.

"Tang Weiping's case has sounded an alarm for all of us in the Safe Supervision Bureau, and it indeed shows that there are significant issues within the bureau. However, I came here today to commend two comrades whose performance in the Tang Weiping case was exemplary,"

The former part of her statement made everyone tense up.

The latter part allowed them to relax again.

"The first comrade is Comrade Wang Qin from the discipline inspection team, and the other is Vice Director Chen Fang, who just joined us at the Safe Supervision Bureau. The anti-corruption bureau has already reported to me that the rapid solving of Tang Weiping's case was due to the cooperation of these two comrades. On behalf of the County Disciplinary Committee, I express commendation for these two comrades, and I invite everyone to applaud."

With that,

Xu Lianyun was the first to start the applause.

The meeting room erupted into thunderous applause, with only Mei Shikang frowning miserably.

Next,

Xu Lianyun continued with her expectations and suggestions for the work of the Safe Supervision Bureau.

After half an hour, the meeting concluded.

Xu Lianyun addressed everyone, "That will be all for today's meeting. Comrades Wang Qin and Chen Fang, please stay behind; the rest of you may leave."

After everyone had left,

Xu Lianyun first shook hands with Wang Qin and said, "Comrade Wang Qin, as a disciplinary officer, your work in the Safe Supervision Bureau has been outstanding, and I will consider proposing to the organization department to promote you."

These words made Wang Qin beam with joy.

She said somewhat shyly, "Secretary Xu, actually, Vice Director Chen played a bigger role in the Tang Weiping case."