Chapter 482: Wang Haiyang

On January 18, Mayor Lu Fan, accompanied by Vice Mayor Ma Caihong and Education Bureau Director Chang Zhichao, went to Wulong District Second Middle School to inspect the construction progress of the cafeteria renovation project.

The renovation work is proceeding with tense order; Lu Fan conducted a careful inspection at the cafeteria construction site, asking in detail about progress and quality assurance. He demanded that the Wulong District Party Committee and district government give high priority to construction safety and quality, pay attention to the post‑renovation cafeteria layout, and provide students with a more comfortable, convenient, and safe dining environment. He instructed that work be carried out strictly according to the construction plan and standards to ensure the project's smooth completion.

District Party Committee Secretary Li Yuan stated that after the Spring Festival holiday, Wulong District will strictly implement the municipal government's decisions and, according to the new management measures, ensure the food safety of all students in the district.

Next, Lu Fan visited the agricultural product wholesale market and other locations to inspect food safety, market supply, and market supervision work during the Spring Festival period.

At the subsequent symposium, Lu Fan pointed out that all levels and relevant departments must combine the characteristics of holiday consumption, strengthen emergency management, keep a close watch on key links, and adopt effective measures to truly reinforce food‑safety supervision, elevate market supervision, and improve market supply. By joint management and each fulfilling its duties, they should ensure the holiday market operates normally and orderly, food‑safety oversight is effective, and the whole city enjoys a peaceful, joyful, and stable Spring Festival.

In the afternoon, back in his office, Lu Fan was reviewing documents when Du Wenlong called, saying, "Brother Fan, Ma Li has already been 'taken down'; everything that needed to be reported has been. I have an important matter to brief you on: according to Ma Li, Wang Haiyang is likely to flee, though the exact time is uncertain."

"Wenlong, thanks for your effort! Keep digging deeper!"

After hanging up, Lu Fan personally called Public Security Bureau Director Tian Xuan, asking him to come to the office immediately.

Half an hour later, Tian Xuan hurried over.

As soon as he entered, Lu Fan got straight to the point, asking, "Has Wang Haiyang shown any abnormal behavior? Reliable sources say he intends to 'run away'!"

Tian Xuan replied promptly, "Mayor, I have assigned the Criminal Police Team Leader and the office director to monitor him personally; so far we have not observed any irregularities."

Lu Fan thought for a moment, then said gravely, "Special cases require special treatment; we must keep close surveillance and, if necessary, take measures to ensure the target remains within sight 24 hours a day. Also, we need pre‑deployment at the train station and airport. Tian Xuan, leaders must stand up to the organization's test and cannot afford any lapses!"

Tian Xuan responded with steady eyes, "Rest assured, Mayor, I will give my all and guarantee the mission's completion."

After Tian Xuan left, Lu Fan seriously contemplated how to handle the matter. By rank and procedure, it is not his business—like a dog catching mice, meddling could draw criticism, and he seemed impatient to become Municipal Party Committee Secretary. If he ignored it, Nanyuan could suffer huge losses; a long‑time Municipal Party Committee Secretary daring to "grab" could involve corrupt funds of astronomical size, and Nanyuan's development needs money, so the huge sum must not be lost!

Who should he report this to? Secretary Hao Guangqi? Or Governor Tang Bing? For some reason, Lu Fan trusts Governor Tang Bing more.

Unnoticed, night fell, and Lu Fan still couldn't decide, so he could only turn to Li Lao; having an elder at home is like having a treasure, and Li Lao's extensive experience will surely offer the most appropriate advice.

When the call connected, Lu Fan said, "Grandpa, I'm not disturbing your rest, am I?"

Li Lao smiled and said, "You're getting older and feel less, Xiao Fan, have you run into a difficult matter?"

"Yes, I've discovered that Municipal Party Committee Secretary Wang Haiyang of Nanyuan has a tendency to flee, and it's been confirmed by his mistress, but the exact timing is still unclear. Grandpa, have I overstepped? This shouldn't be a concern for me as mayor!"

Li Lao said earnestly, "Responsibility is a kind of duty, a realm, a spirit; it's the quality of 'needing no whip to spur one's own hooves.'"

As Nanyuan's mayor, you must be responsible for the land, accountable for the land, and fulfill your duties; when faced with extraordinary matters, you must take extraordinary actions and bravely shoulder extraordinary responsibility.

"Xiao Fan, I suggest you report this to Secretary Wang Hongtao; he will give you specific instructions, which will also demonstrate your sense of responsibility and duty, perhaps bringing you unexpected gains. Whether you can endure at critical moments, stand firm in difficulty, and seize opportunities will determine how far you can go."

Lu Fan said sincerely, "Thank you for your guidance, Grandpa! Also, this matter won't have any adverse impact on you, will it?"

Li Lao laughed and said, "When I worked in Nanyang, Wang Haiyang was only a county chief. It's common for cadres to be uneven, so you needn't worry about that. After Wang Haiyang is taken down, you'll become Municipal Party Committee Secretary; the urgent task is to develop Nanyang well, which is the foundation of your career and success!"

After hanging up, Lu Fan weighed his words and dialed Wang Hongtao's number.

A dozen seconds later, a voice both authoritative and friendly came, "Lu Fan, is there an urgent matter?"

Lu Fan hurriedly said, "Secretary, sorry to disturb your rest; I have an urgent situation to report to you!"

"Hmm, go ahead."

"Secretary, the Director of Nanyuan City Water Affairs Ma Li has abused her power, taken bribes, and, because of her improper relationship with Municipal Party Committee Secretary Wang Haiyang, I sought help from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee and took action against Ma Li. Today Ma Li disclosed an important piece of information: Wang Haiyang may soon travel abroad."

After a few seconds of silence, Wang Hongtao asked, "Have you reported this situation to the Huayuan Provincial Committee or the provincial government?"

Lu Fan replied, "Secretary, not yet. After all, Wang Haiyang is Municipal Party Committee Secretary, and what I'm doing isn't standard procedure. But the matter is urgent; if not handled promptly, Nanyuan could suffer massive loss, so I had no choice but to report to you!"

Wang Hongtao said gravely, "If he tries to flee, we must not let his scheming succeed! Lu Fan, you did the right thing—spotting the danger early and preventing it. From now on, you must implement tight monitoring of Wang Haiyang and must track his movements."

Lu Fan added, "Secretary, I will carry out your instructions fully! Also, Wang Haiyang and Provincial Public Security Department Director Zhang Yunheng are classmates and close friends."

"Okay, noted. If anything changes we'll communicate in time."

On January 19, the Nanyuan Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee issued a notice: after review and supervisory investigation, Deputy Education Bureau Director Liu Haojie, the Fifth Middle School principal, vice‑principal, and general‑affairs director violated organizational discipline, used their positions to seek benefits for others, accepted illicit assets of a particularly huge amount, and are suspected of bribery and embezzlement.

According to the "Disciplinary Penalty Regulations," the "Supervision Law," and related provisions, the Discipline Inspection Committee's standing committee deliberated and reported to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee for approval, deciding to expel the four from the Party, dismiss them from public office, confiscate their illicit gains, and transfer the suspected criminal matters to the procuratorate for legal prosecution, with the involved assets transferred with the case.

The City Government issued a statement: under the comprehensive rectification of school cafeterias across the city, starting next semester the city will implement the "Nanyuan City Student Cafeteria Management Measures" to ensure students' "tongue‑level safety." This incident

This is the handling result of the Fifth Middle School food poisoning case, fully demonstrating the Municipal Party Committee and City Government's high emphasis on student food safety and resolute determination to combat corruption, winning widespread praise from Nanyuan cadres and the public.

At 3 a. m. on January 20, Municipal Party Committee Secretary Wang Haiyang left his residential complex, wearing a hat and scarf, took a car to a hotel in the city. After half an hour he appeared at the hotel's back entrance, hailed a taxi, and went straight to the airport.

Wang Haiyang thought he was cautious enough and his plan flawless, unaware that the experienced Criminal Police Team Leader Liu Guohui had been keeping a tight watch on him.

Following the taxi, Liu Guohui called Deputy Public Security Bureau Director Kong Yongjie, saying, "Director Kong, the target should be on the way to the airport; I'm following from behind."

Director Kong replied gravely, "Okay, I've arrived at the airport."

After hanging up, Director Kong presented his credentials to the airport general manager and began reviewing today's passenger information.

He quickly found Wang Haiyang's ticket information: a flight to Chuting City in Nanling Province, but the ID had been altered, the name changed to "Wang Cheng"!

Kong Yongjie immediately ordered a household‑registration check on that ID; to his surprise it was genuine. He promptly reported this information to Director Tian Xuan.

After receiving the news, Tian Xuan did not dare any delay and reported to Mayor Lu Fan at once.

Upon hearing the news, Lu Fan was wide awake despite the pre‑dawn hour and immediately dialed Wang Hongtao's mobile.

When the call connected, Wang Hongtao, a hint of fatigue in his voice, asked, "Lu Fan, is there something about Wang Haiyang?"

Lu Fan quickly said, "Secretary, Wang Haiyang is heading to the airport now; his destination is Chuting City, flight at 6:50 am, arriving at 8:55 am. However, his ID shows 'Wang Cheng,' which can be verified in the household registration."

Wang Hongtao instructed, "Got it, keep a close watch and ensure he boards the plane; I'll handle things on this side."

"Rest assured, Secretary, I'll be careful, vigilant, and keep a tight hold!"

After hanging up, Lu Fan was fully alert and immediately called Tian Xuan, asking him to go to the airport in person and watch Wang Haiyang take off from the plane.

Boarding the plane as dawn broke, Wang Haiyang looked out at the gradually emerging outline of Nanyuan City and sighed deeply. He stared at the city, a wave of indescribable affection rising in his heart. This place held his youth, career, and family, yet now he had to leave.

Wang Haiyang was certain that staying would inevitably lead to imprisonment; to change his fate he could only go to a capitalist country to spend the rest of his life.

"Life forces many unavoidable choices upon us! Farewell, Nanyuan!" After the plane took off, Wang Haiyang waved out the window, shedding his guard and feeling a great sense of relief.