Chapter 7 Unexpected Harvest

  For Wang Daguo, the most painful thing at present is that there are cases that cannot be investigated and things that cannot be managed. Or even if they are managed, it's useless. As for Yongsheng County, this mess, apart from complaining, Wang Daguo really can't do anything about it.

  "Director Zhou, the situation in Yongsheng County is very serious! I'm being roasted over an open flame now, and wanting to get rid of the 'Wang San' honorific title that's been placed on my head is truly not easy. This kind of work is really heartbreaking!" Wang Dagui poured out his grievances.

  Wang Dagui, a descendant of Shanxi, is the offspring of a southern cadre. He was born into a family of officials and spent several years at sea, but due to his poor management skills, he eventually returned to the system. Now in his early 40s, he can be said to be in his prime, but he is constrained by Zhou Qiball, and in the Heavenly Dynasty, the Discipline Inspection Commission works under the leadership of the Party Committee, not to mention Liao Chunsheng behind him.

  Zhou Zheng is a man of integrity and dignity in his dealings with others, possessing a calm and composed demeanor beyond his years.

  "King San, no, Secretary Wang, I've also heard about the Yongsheng County incident, but rumors aren't always true. We must seek truth from facts. This is what the discipline inspection work requires of us." Zhou Zheng seemed to be comforting Wang Dagang, who was pouring out his grievances.

  "Facts? Of course there are facts, all the problems reflected by the masses of Yongsheng County. But what can we do about it?" Wang Dagui was visibly agitated.

  "What's wrong?" Zhou Zheng furrowed his brow and asked with concern.

  "There are many issues, and it's hard to clarify them in a short time. Let me start by telling you one simple thing and give you a brief report."

  "Alright, you say!" Zhou Zheng expressed his agreement.

  "Yongsheng County, the current personnel corruption has reached an unbearable level. Recently, the county finance bureau needed to publicly recruit a few staff members, and the conditions were clearly written: requiring a college degree or above. But the result was that none of them met the requirements, with some not even having a high school diploma. One of them was even a junior high school graduate. Someone wrote an anonymous letter, and after investigation by the county discipline committee, it was found to be a female comrade who didn't have a high education level but looked pretty and pleasant. But this prettiness cannot be used as a recruitment condition. I called the personnel bureau to ask about it, and the director Liu Chuxiong also seemed helpless, saying that this matter was arranged by county committee secretary Zhou Qiball, and he couldn't do anything about it. Is there still any organizational discipline?" Wang Dagui spoke in one breath, seemingly feeling thirsty, and quickly drank a mouthful of tea.

  Zhou's expression turned solemn as he asked sternly: "Is that comrade a descendant of a martyr?"

  "That's not it, this woman was originally a waitress at the Yongsheng County Hotel, I don't know when she caught the eye of Secretary Zhou, there are rumors that this female comrade has already become Secretary Zhou's underground lover in Yongsheng County." Wang Daguo spoke very casually in front of Zhou.

  "This can't be said casually, it needs evidence, and be careful of being taken advantage of." Zhou Zheng worried that Wang Dagui's unguarded words would harm himself.

  "Secretary Zhou, don't worry about this matter. Actually, I was just venting to you, what else can be done?" Wang Dagui looked very pessimistic.

  Regarding Comrade Zhou Qiuball's question, I think that if it is a matter of work style, we should be good at reminding each other. If it involves violating the law, we must report to the higher-level party committee. The "number one hand" issue cannot be ambiguous. Handling cases must withstand the test of time, and also from the perspective of caring for and helping cadres, protecting cadres. Without solid evidence, we absolutely will not affect the work of cadres.

  Zhou Zheng paused for a moment, then continued: "According to the current central government's requirements for anti-corruption work, we must resolutely crack down on corruption and thoroughly investigate each case. As disciplinary inspection and supervision personnel, we must maintain high consistency with the Party Central Committee, while also recognizing the complexity of the situation and maintaining flexibility at various levels. We cannot act rashly or individually play heroism. We must believe in the organization and believe in the Party!"

  Zhou Zheng, a good cadre of the party, has always firmly believed in the party's line and faith.

  "Secretary Zhou, you must have some ideas about the problems in Yongsheng County?" Wang Dagui asked tentatively.

  "It's not about ideas, I just want to share some work experience with you." Zhou was facing Wang Dagui without much trust. Especially since Chang Yun had been immersed in the discipline inspection team for nearly ten years, many cadres' appointments and removals were related to him.

  "It seems Secretary Zhou doesn't trust me!" Wang Dagui seemed to have picked up on Zhou Zheng's misgivings.

  "No, I believe that loyal party cadres, central, provincial and municipal governments are all playing the next move." Zhou Zheng spoke vaguely, but cleverly conveyed all the information to Wang Dagui.

  "I understand." Wang Da Ge heard the implication behind the words.

  "What do you understand? I haven't said anything." Zhou Zheng played the old trick of being ambiguous. He looked at Wang Dagui, whose mouth corner revealed a mysterious smile. Wang Dagui also smiled uncertainly.

  In this complex situation, many normal conversations between cadres and the masses seem uneasy and full of drama.

  "Secretary Zhou, I won't say more. You are a leader I respect from the bottom of my heart. In this complex situation, you can still keep your integrity, and for that, I must admire you." Wang Dagui raised his teacup to toast Zhou Zheng. Zhou Zheng smiled and took a sip of tea with him. At this moment, Zhou Zheng suddenly had an idea in his mind: Wang Dagui is a talented person, if used properly, he will be more helpful in taking down the old tiger Zhou Qiball. He should further investigate Wang Dagui.

  "Like this Wang San, today I came here and encountered something."

  "I see, you're referring to the fight today." Wang Dagou interrupted Zhou Zheng's words.

  "Yes, what do you think?"

  "This gang of scoundrels is extremely wicked and should be severely punished!"

  "How can this be done?" Zhou Zheng asked.

  "This matter, I can no longer ignore it. Today, with Secretary Zhou present, even if it means risking my official position and putting my family's life in danger, I must see this through to the end. If anything happens to me, Secretary Zhou will be my witness and say that I gloriously sacrificed myself for the Party's cause." Wang Daguo suddenly felt a sense of martyrdom.

  Wang Dagui's words made Zhou Zheng understand that the water in Yongsheng County was very muddy this time. The county party secretary, who was also the head of the discipline inspection commission, was cracking down on a gang of evil forces, but it seemed like he was walking into a knife mountain and fire sea.

  "This matter is not urgent, to crack down on evil forces, we still need to rely on the government and the law. Our discipline inspection team can only do a good job in controlling internal personnel and avoiding related personnel from being involved." Zhou Zheng understood that Wang Dagui was not doing well in Yongsheng County, he must have been under the control of Zhou Qiball for a long time, oppressed to the point of having no room to breathe, his temperament seemed a bit strange, but still had a conscience. He didn't want to lose such a good cadre, so he intentionally changed the subject.

  "We should be reasonable and fair, I will discuss this matter with Secretary Jiang Xiaobei of the Political and Legal Committee. But Jiang Xiaobei is actually a man of Zhou Qibiao." Wang Daguo felt somewhat disheartened.

  "Oh, is Jiang Xiaobei the one who started it?" Zhou Zheng felt a sense of crisis approaching. Jiang Xiaobei was like Wang Dagui, knowing that he would also know about Wang Qichu and handling today's "beating incident". So Jiang Xiaobei must take measures to interfere with the case. What's even more frightening is Zhou Qiball behind him, what means will he use? A huge pressure came rushing towards Zhou Zheng.