Chapter 835: Cutting Off the Firewood Under the Cauldron (Part 2)

Municipal Party Committee building, Wang Qigang's office.

Wang Qigang was reading a document issued by the province, and his mood was quite good.

Zhao Tianyu's side, although they borrowed high-interest loans from the border institution, as long as the audit proceeds smoothly, once the asset unfreeze color number arrives, they can smoothly overcome this crisis.

Everything is under control!

Unexpectedly, the red telephone on the desk suddenly rang.

Wang Qigang glanced at the caller ID—Mayor's office. He couldn't help but frown, but still answered: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, what's up?"

"Secretary Wang, there's an urgent situation I need to report." Lin Dongfan's voice was calm, but the calm carried a blade: "Deputy Director of the Audit Bureau and Zhao Group Audit Team Leader Comrade Yan Wenbin, suspected of serious job-related crimes, has currently been placed under detention for investigation by our city's Discipline Inspection Commission."

"What?!"

Wang Qigang exclaimed in shock, this was purely an instinctive reaction of disbelief!

This anger is inevitable.

The Discipline Inspection Commission of Wuzhou City is taking measures against local officials!

As the head of the Municipal Party Committee, he being the last to know the situation feels like his own power has been hollowed out.

But this extreme reaction also exposes Wang Qigang's true emotions.

By the time he realized these details, it was already too late.

Wang Qigang had to suppress his turbulent emotions and put on a composed demeanor as steady as Mount Tai before collapse: "When did this happen?"

"Just now, Discipline Inspection Commission's Comrade Shi Liantang personally led the team; the evidence is solid."

Lin Dongfan's tone remained calm: "Yan Wenbin's family expenditures seriously mismatch his legal income. Moreover, according to preliminary investigation, while handling Zhao Group's audit work, he also suspected of taking bribes and dereliction of duty."

"!!!"

Wang Qigang's head buzzed, and he was momentarily speechless.

"Given that the audit team leader is implicated, the original audit report has lost credibility." Lin Dongfan continued to brandish his sword: "I suggest immediately forming a new audit team to re-audit those seven projects of Zhao Group. Before the new audit team issues an official report, the freeze measures on all of Zhao Group's assets shall remain unchanged."

"Suggestion!"

"That word is used very skillfully."

"According to procedure, forming an audit team is the municipal government's responsibility; Lin Dongfan could directly order it."

"But he insists on using the word 'suggestion,' ostensibly to respect Secretary Wang Qigang of the Municipal Party Committee, but actually to disgust Wang Qigang."

"It's as if saying—You want to protect Zhao Group? No way!"

Wang Qigang gripped the telephone handset, veins bulging on the back of his hand! He truly hadn't expected that a move he thought was sure to win would be turned against him by Lin Dongfan.

One misstep, and he fell into a passive situation again.

Wang Qigang took a deep breath, forced himself to calm: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, about this matter…… should we reconsider more carefully? Yan Wenbin's issue can be investigated slowly. But the audit of Zhao Group concerns the livelihoods of over eight thousand migrant workers and the resumption of work on seven key projects; this cannot be delayed!"

"Precisely because it concerns people's livelihoods, we must be even more careful." Lin Dongfan's voice turned cold: "Secretary Wang, if the audit procedure itself is flawed, can the audit conclusion still be trusted? If, due to certain considerations, we turn a blind eye to Zhao Group's problems, who will bear responsibility when problems arise later?"

This sharp rebuttal instantly left Wang Qigang speechless.

Speaking of taking responsibility for this matter.

Even if Wang Qigang were supremely confident, he would not dare casually take on this responsibility! The Zhao Group's upper and lower levels—how many shady problems actually exist—he knows better than anyone; it's nothing but a beehive full of a thousand holes!

He hesitated for a moment.

Wang Qigang gritted his teeth and squeezed out a helpless remark from between his teeth: "Then…… who do you plan to have lead the new audit team?"

"I initially consider having Xu Shiyuan from the Audit Bureau personally take charge, drawing business backbone from various counties and districts to form a new joint audit team." Lin Dongfan said: "This audit must be thorough, leaving no stone unturned."

"!!!"

Wang Qigang only felt his vision go dark.

Xu Shiyuan is a person promoted by Lin Dongfan, famous for being impartial and strict! Letting the Xu-surname lead the team, those bad accounts of Zhao Group will surely be caught one by one.

Moreover……

Drawing backbone from various counties and districts means the audit team will escape his Wang Qigang's control!

This move is nothing short of cutting off the firewood under the cauldron!

Before Wang Qigang could think of a countermeasure, Lin Dongfan started playing the old bureaucratic trick: "Secretary Wang, if you have no objection, I'll arrange it now."

"!!!"

Wang Qigang felt a suffocating frustration, as if ten thousand miles of grass-mud horses were galloping and neighing! Who said I have no objection? Who allowed you to do this?

Damn! Riding on my head to shit and piss, yet I still have to say your urine is good!

This endless anger was ultimately suppressed by Wang Qigang in his heart! It's not that he didn't want to retort, but there was really nothing to gain from it.

He had to admit that this time Lin Dongfan had given him a chilling to the core.

"I have no opinion."

After giving that helpless reply, Wang Qigang hung up the phone dejectedly; afterward, he just sat frozen in his chair, motionless, as if he had lost his soul.

The office air-conditioning was blasting, but his back was already soaked through.

Yan Wenbin was detained, the new audit team formed, the re-audit launched! With this combination of moves from Lin Dongfan, Zhao Tianyu's high-interest loan will absolutely not see the day the assets are unfrozen.

And once Zhao Tianyu is driven to a dead end……

Wang Qigang dare not think further.

He picked up the phone on the desk, scrolled to Zhao Tianyu's number, but his finger hovered over the dial button, hesitating to press it.

What should he say if he calls now?

Say Yan Wenbin was detained? Say the audit work has to be redone? Say your money isn't enough and you're preparing for bankruptcy?

Zhao Tianyu will go crazy!

And once that madman goes crazy, he'll be capable of anything! It's inevitable that he'll do something highly detrimental to Wang Qigang.

After hesitating for a while, Wang Qigang finally put the phone down.

He walked to the window, deep in thought—just how much money did that fool Yan Wenbin take from Zhao Tianyu? Also, how did Lin Dongfan uncover Zhao Tianyu's source of funds?

All of this happened too fast and too suddenly!

Just like a precisely mis-handled knife, it directly stabbed into Zhao Tianyu's vital point! At the same time, it also injured Wang Qigang.

Considering his own safety.

After a moment's thought, Wang Qigang picked up the red telephone on his desk and dialed the number of Executive Vice Governor Deng Chunning, who had once shown him kindness by promoting him.