Chapter 784

The next morning, Municipal Party Committee Conference Room No. 1.

The oval-shaped redwood conference table was polished to a shine, twelve high-backed leather chairs arranged neatly. In front of each table were placed nameplates, teacups, and notebooks. On the east wall of the conference room hung the party flag and the national flag; the west side was a full-length floor-to-ceiling window, morning light slanting in through the blinds, casting alternating light and dark stripes on the tabletop.

The standing committee members entered one after another.

The first to arrive was the Propaganda Department Director named by Wang Qigang. Then came the Organization Department Director, the Executive Vice Mayor……

No one's face showed much expression.

They merely nodded to each other, each found their seat and sat down, flipping through the meeting materials laid out in advance.

There were only two copies of the materials:

One copy was the Commission for Discipline Inspection's "Preliminary Situation Report on Comrade Li Chuan-gen's Suspected Violations of Discipline," a thin three-page sheet.

The other copy was a proposal drafted by the Municipal Party Committee Office titled "Suggestions on Establishing a Leading Group for Citywide Party and Government Cadres' Discipline and Work Style Education Rectification," also three pages.

At 8:05 a. m., Lin Dongfan walked in.

He wore an administrative jacket, a white shirt, no tie, and his steps were steady.

He paused briefly at the door, his gaze sweeping the conference room, then walked to the seat marked with his name, to the left of Wang Qigang's main seat.

When he sat down.

The Executive Vice Mayor beside him lowered his voice: "Mayor Lin, you worked hard last night."

"It's my duty."

Lin Dongfan responded lightly, opening his notebook.

9:00 a. m.

Wang Qigang arrived right on time.

He wore his usual gentle smile, nodding to the standing committee members on either side as he walked: "Everyone here? Good, let's make the most of our time."

He took the main seat.

He did not rush to speak, but lifted his teacup and took a sip, his gaze slowly sweeping the room. Though his look seemed casual, it caused the faint chatter in the conference room to vanish instantly.

"Comrades, we've called this meeting on short notice; you surely know the situation."

Wang Qigang set down his teacup.

His voice steady:

"Last night, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, acting according to law, took investigative measures against Comrade Li Chuan-gen."

"The incident was sudden, but the procedure was compliant."

"As the Place Municipal Party Committee Secretary, I bear an inescapable leadership responsibility for our team members and for such problems appearing among the city's cadres."

Having spoken of self-reflection, Wang Qigang paused for a moment.

When he spoke again,

his tone grew much graver:

"Although Li Chuan-gen's case is an individual matter, the nature of the problem is serious and its impact extremely bad."

"This exposes weak links in our cadre education and management, as well as in the discipline and work style construction of the political and legal system."

"In this regard, the Municipal Party Committee must engage in deep reflection and treat the matter seriously."

The opening remarks set the tone—not shying away from the problem, but framing it at the level of "individual cadres" and "work style construction."

"First, please let Comrade Shi Liantang introduce the preliminary situation."

Wang Qigang looked toward the Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary seated on his right—Shi Liantang.

Shi Liantang pushed his glasses up.

He opened the report before him:

"Based on the information currently available, Li Chuan-gen is mainly suspected of the following issues."

"First, he long accepted banquets and high-consumption entertainment from service recipients. Last night, for example, he was caught red-handed by our law enforcement officers at the Yulongwan Bath Center."

Shi Liantang's wording was extremely cautious, using the neutral term "service recipients" and not mentioning the Zhao Group or Wang Lao San.

Shi Liantang continued:

"Second, the tea shop run of his wife Wang Xiumei has long been suspected of overpriced sales and disguised bribery."

"Preliminary checks show dozens of abnormal transactions in the past three years, with the highest single amount reaching one million yuan."

"Third, during the period when Li Chuan-gen oversaw the Western Suburb Branch, he mishandled demolition disputes in the jurisdiction and did not give enough attention to problems strongly reflected by the masses."

"In particular, he failed to timely and effectively investigate the suspected violence and coercion by certain demolition companies."

Shi Liantang's report was restrained; each point had factual support but was not elaborated. He mentioned not a word about Li Chuan-gen's ties to the Zhao Group or about the Liu Jianjun death incident.

After the report, the conference room fell silent.

Wang Qigang nodded: "Everyone is clear on the situation. Li Chuan-gen's case must be investigated strictly according to law and discipline by the Commission for Discipline Inspection, with no leniency. But what I want to emphasize is……"

He scanned those present, his gaze also turning sharp.

"First, this is an individual problem; we cannot therefore deny the entire political and legal team."

"The vast majority of police in Wuzhou's political and legal system have long made important contributions to maintaining social stability and safeguarding public safety; this foundation must be affirmed."

"Second, case handling must be based on facts, not expanded or linked arbitrarily."

"If there is a problem, investigate it; but we must not create something out of nothing or chase shadows; it must withstand historical scrutiny."

"Third……"

Having said this, Wang Qigang turned his gaze to Lin Dongfan.

"In earnest tone, 'Comrade Dongfan, though newly arrived, you have detected the problem with a high sense of political responsibility and taken decisive measures.'"

"This shows the vigor and responsibility of young and middle-aged cadres; the Municipal Party Committee fully affirms this."

Wang Qigang's series of moves both expressed his stance, set boundaries, and gave Lin Dongfan face.

Lin Dongfan listened quietly, smiling inside.

"Based on the above considerations..."

Wang Qigang suddenly shifted gears, picked up the second document: "I propose to take this incident as an opportunity to establish the 'Leading Group for Education and Rectification of Discipline and Work Style of Municipal Party and Government Cadres'. I will serve as the group leader, Comrade Dongfan will serve as the executive vice group leader, and the relevant responsible comrades from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Discipline Inspection Commission, Organization Department, and Publicity Department will serve as vice group leaders. We will concentrate three months' time to conduct a comprehensive examination and in-depth rectification of all municipal party and government cadres."

Speaking, he looked at everyone present: "This plan, let's discuss it."

The conference room was filled with low murmurs of discussion.

The head of the Organization Department was the first to state his position:

"I agree. Although Li Chuangen's problem is an individual case, it also serves as a warning to us; we cannot be careless. Carrying out a concentrated education and rectification, I think it is very necessary."

The head of the Publicity Department then stated his position:

"As for public opinion guidance, our Publicity Department will fully cooperate. The tone can be set as 'Blade inward, self-renewal', which both reflects the Municipal Party Committee's determination and maintains the overall image of the team."

The Executive Vice Mayor pondered: "Rectification is necessary, but we must pay attention to the methods and approaches..."

Statements came one after another.

Basically, everyone expressed support, but each statement carried the considerations of their respective department.

Wang Qigang kept a smile on his face, nodding occasionally.

After everyone had more or less finished speaking, he then looked at Lin Dongfan: "Comrade Dongfan, as the executive vice group leader, what are your thoughts?"

Everyone's gaze focused on him.

Lin Dongfan closed his notebook, lifted his head, and did not rush to state his position.

He first asked a question to the Discipline Inspection Commission:

"Secretary Shi, the earlier report mentioned that Li Chuangen accepted a banquet from the service recipients. What exactly do these 'service recipients' refer to in terms of enterprises and individuals?"

As soon as his words fell, the entire conference room fell into deadly silence.

Nobody expected Lin Dongfan to be a person "utterly lacking political wisdom"; not only did he avoid answering Secretary Wang's question, but he also turned the spear inward, directly probing the sensitive issue that everyone avoided discussing.