Chapter 144: Vice Mayor Ma's Malicious Account Freeze, Zhang Zhidong Rages at Corrupt Officials

Lu Qingshan heard the words "the city has sent an inspection team to freeze accounts," and it felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck his head. The excitement he just felt over the province's funding support plummeted instantly to freezing point.

"What freezing of accounts? Tiezhu, speak slowly—what exactly is going on?" Lu Qingshan forced down his fury, but his voice trembled.

Zhao Tiezhu gasped heavily, pointing toward the factory: "Brother Qing Shan, four or five vehicles have arrived, led by a Vice Mayor named something Ma—he says he received a report that our money's source is illegitimate and wants to freeze all accounts! Li Jianqiang and his group are now arguing with them."

Zhang Zhidong heard this, his complexion darkened instantly, and a flash of cold light flickered in his normally gentle eyes.

"Deputy Bureau Chief Li!" Zhang Zhidong turned to the provincial inspection team, "Is your province aware of this matter?"

Deputy Bureau Chief Li wore a bewildered expression: "Secretary Zhang, we have no idea at all! We came today for a routine inspection, and just earlier we even praised them for having complete paperwork!"

"Director Wang, Section Chief Zhang, what about you?" Zhang Zhidong continued to press.

Several provincial experts shook their heads, indicating they were unaware; Director Wang was especially indignant: "Isn't this nonsense? We just finished inspecting, the financial conditions of the three factories are crystal clear—what problem could there be?"

Lu Qingshan looked at Zhang Zhidong's grim face and felt a warm surge inside. This municipal Party secretary clearly supported them sincerely; otherwise he wouldn't be so angry.

"Let's go! We'll go take a look!" Zhang Zhidong strode toward the factory, and several members of the provincial inspection team followed closely.

Lu Qingshan and Lin Yue'e exchanged a glance; his wife squeezed his hand tightly, her palm slick with sweat.

"Qing Shan, could there be any problem?" Lin Yue'e whispered, lowering her voice.

"Don't worry, we have a clear conscience." Lu Qingshan tightened his wife's hand, insisting that now was not the time to panic.

The group hurried to the factory gate and indeed saw several vehicles bearing city license plates parked haphazardly, as if asserting authority. A large crowd of workers surrounded the gate, pointing and shouting, their faces full of anger.

"Brother Qing Shan is here!" Zhao Er Zhuang, sharp‑eyed, was the first to spot Lu Qingshan and shouted loudly.

The workers cleared a path; Lu Qingshan saw Li Jianqiang in a heated argument with several men in Zhongshan suits. Leading them was a man in his forties, square‑faced, with shrewd little eyes, brandishing a document flamboyantly.

"You are illegal fundraisers!" the man's voice was sharp. "A ruined village collecting over a million in two months? Even a ghost wouldn't believe it!"

Li Jianqiang's face flushed with anger: "Vice Mayor Ma, your words are excessive! All our production processes and financial status are open and transparent; the villagers can testify!"

"Testify?" the Vice Mayor Ma sneered, "Of course the villagers will speak for us! I'm telling you, you must cooperate with the investigation, or it will be considered resisting law enforcement!"

Lu Qingshan heard this and could no longer suppress his fury. This Vice Mayor Ma was clearly looking for trouble, and his attitude was extremely vicious.

At that moment, Zhang Zhidong strode over.

"Ma Defu!" Zhang Zhidong's voice was like a cold wind in a winter's night, "What are you doing here?"

The Vice Mayor Ma, seeing Zhang Zhidong, paled instantly, yet forced himself to say, "Secretary Zhang, I received a report and came to investigate an illegal fundraising case."

"Report? Who reported it?" Zhang Zhidong pressed further.

"That… was a public report," Ma Defu stammered.

"What public? What surname and given name?" Zhang Zhidong's gaze was as sharp as a knife.

Ma Defu clearly became uneasy: "The reporter… requested confidentiality."

"Confidential?" Zhang Zhidong sneered, "Ma Defu, do you think I'm a three‑year‑old child?"

Lu Qingshan watched the scene and privately admired Zhang Zhidong's mettle. This municipal Party secretary was indeed formidable; a few words cornered Ma Defu.

At that moment, Deputy Bureau Chief Li of the provincial inspection team also stepped forward: "Vice Mayor Ma, we just conducted a comprehensive inspection of the three factories; all paperwork is complete, finances are clear, there are no issues. From where does your claim of illegal fundraising arise?"

Ma Defu, seeing the provincial inspection team present, grew even more sullen: "Deputy Bureau Chief Li, perhaps you haven't grasped the matter deeply enough…"

"Not deep enough?" Director Wang also stepped forward, "Is the inspection by our provincial Health Department not thorough enough? Production permits, business licenses—everything that should be there is present!"

"Exactly!" Section Chief Zhang also voiced his indignation, "They paid 120,000 yuan in taxes over two months; such a good enterprise you don't support, but instead suppress?"

The workers, hearing these words, became even more agitated.

"Vice Mayor Ma, you're trying to drive us to death!" Zhao Qiang shouted loudly, "We finally have work, we finally have income; with your freeze, our whole family will be left with nothing!"

"Exactly! Brother Qing Shan leads us to earn money, every cent is blood‑sweat money; on what grounds do you call it illegal?" Zhao Fei said angrily.

More workers gathered, speaking in a chorus to defend Lu Qingshan.

"We work here every day; what we produce and who we sell to is crystal clear!"

"The ledgers are in the office; anyone can see them—what could be hidden?"

"Vice Mayor Ma, you're bullying honest people!"

Facing the enraged workers, Ma Defu clearly became uneasy. The few subordinates he brought stared at each other, unsure what to do.

Lu Qingshan watched the scene and felt a warm surge inside. These workers he spent day and night with stood by his side at the crucial moment; this trust was more precious than anything.

"Everyone, fellow villagers, please calm down first," Lu Qingshan stepped forward; though his voice was not loud, it carried a convincing authority.

The workers gradually fell silent, and everyone's gaze focused on him.

"Vice Mayor Ma, may I ask, you claim we are illegal fundraisers—what evidence do you have?" Lu Qingshan's voice was calmly unsettling.

Ma Defu was intimidated by this calm aura and stammered, "Well… we are investigating…"

"Investigating?" Lu Qingshan sneered, "May I ask what you investigated? Our production process? Our sales channels? Or our financial status?"

"This…" Ma Defu could not find words.

"Let me tell you what we investigated."

Lu Qingshan's voice rose gradually, "Our dried meat is sold to the Shenyang Hualian Commercial Group, with contracts and invoices; our Chinese medicinal herbs are sold to a Beijing pharmaceutical factory, with test reports and payment receipts; our mineral water and soda are distributed province‑wide through the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, with supply agreements and bank transfer records!"

Each time Lu Qingshan spoke, Ma Defu's face grew paler.

"The source of every cent and the destination of every cent are all verifiable!"

Lu Qingshan's gaze was as sharp as a blade, "Vice Mayor Ma, you keep saying we are illegal fundraisers; then tell us, exactly where are we illegal? Where is the fundraising?"

Ma Defu was left speechless by the question, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.