Chapter 1218: The Provincial Party Secretary Has Been Alarmed!

Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

Hou knocked open the door to Zhang Nan's office.

Zhang Nan glanced at Hou and asked softly, "Is there something you need?"

Hou smiled awkwardly: "Director Zhang, there is a dinner party this weekend; I wanted to ask if you have time to attend!"

Zhang Nan waved her hand: "I don't have time! You should go instead!"

Hou knew that Zhang Nan was very dissatisfied with his performance at the High-end Manufacturing Summit last time, and he had been looking for an opportunity to make amends.

He understood Zhang Nan very well.

Director Zhang liked to play mahjong, so he played to her interests.

"Director Zhang, after the dinner, there will be a card game. There are already three people, but if you are not willing, then I will organize others!"

Zhang Nan asked calmly: "Who is attending the dinner?"

Hearing Zhang Nan say this, Hou immediately knew there was a chance and hurriedly replied: "Besides me, there are two investors. They plan to invest in the Photovoltaic Project and want to ask you to provide some guidance."

The so-called guidance, to put it bluntly, was to look for policies and resources.

Zhang Nan encountered these types of enterprises every day, so she didn't pay much attention and said indifferently: "I have things to do tonight; why don't we schedule it for a few days later?"

Hou thought to himself that getting Zhang Nan to loosen up was already a success, and he gently placed a bag by Zhang Nan's hand: "This is a gift my girlfriend brought back specifically for you from abroad, just a small token of my appreciation."

The chill on Zhang Nan's face dissipated quite a bit, and her tone softened as she encouraged Hou: "You are very flexible in how you do things, and I still think highly of you. Although there was a little accident last time, there will still be opportunities in the future. You must be prepared, and when the time is right, you must be able to withstand the pressure."

Hearing Zhang Nan's encouragement, Hou felt extremely uplifted, his eyes reddening, and even welling up with tears.

"Director Zhang, I really blame myself. I know you have always looked after me, but I have let down your good intentions. Recently, I have often suffered from insomnia and cannot sleep."

Zhang Nan comforted him: "You are still young; there are plenty of opportunities. However, you must take it seriously next time. I still think highly of you."

Under Zhang Nan's soothing words, Hou walked out of the office in a good mood.

Sure enough, just as his girlfriend said, women of any age find it hard to resist the temptation of luxury goods.

Zhang Nan opened the packaging bag, glanced at the tag, and flipped through the attached receipt; it was actually a five-digit figure, almost half a year's salary for Hou.

Zhang Nan muttered to herself: "Hou has a good eye and found a good partner. Just from this gesture, one can tell that his girlfriend's taste and strength are not ordinary."

Just then, the landline rang.

Seeing that it was a call from a superior, Zhang Nan quickly answered: "Director Song, hello, is there something you need?"

Song Guowei's tone was somewhat serious: "Come to my office."

Zhang Nan immediately felt that something was wrong and hurriedly got up to rush to the Director's office.

Inside the office, besides Song Guowei, there was the deputy director in charge of discipline inspection, as well as a strange face.

Song Guowei introduced to Zhang Nan: "This is Secretary Yan from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection."

As soon as Zhang Nan heard it was the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, her head felt like it had exploded.

"Secretary Yan, hello!"

Secretary Yan's tone seemed relatively relaxed, yet it carried a bone-chilling coldness: "Comrade Zhang Nan, I have received instructions from Secretary Wen of the Provincial Party Committee; you need to cooperate with us in investigating a case."

Zhang Nan hurriedly feigned composure, pulled herself together, and squeezed out a smile: "Okay, Secretary Yan, I will definitely cooperate actively."

Secretary Yan stood up, nodded slightly at Song Guowei, and his gaze fell back on Zhang Nan: "Then please come with me."

Zhang Nan's forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat; she knew better than anyone what this departure meant!

The moment Zhang Nan followed Secretary Yan out of the Development and Reform Commission building, the news spread instantly.

"Did you hear? Zhang Nan was taken away!"

"How could she be taken away?"

"It is said it has to do with Zhang Wan?"

"How could she be involved with a big star?"

"That's a long story! Zhang Wan was dating a second-generation rich kid, and it turned out this kid's family was involved in smuggling. Xiyang has an enterprise called Zhenao Group, which teamed up with this family to smuggle. And Director Zhang previously leaked important policy secrets to Zhenao Group!"

"Leaking secrets! That makes the problem serious!"

At this moment, Hou was huddled in a corner, feeling his hands and feet go cold.

Five minutes ago, he had just called his girlfriend, praising her for picking a good gift, and after Director Zhang saw the gift, her attitude toward him had changed drastically.

Who could have imagined that just after he finished speaking, Zhang Nan would be invited by the Discipline Inspection Commission to "drink tea."

His first reaction was whether he could get that gift back.

But before he could even reach the office door, he was stopped by someone.

"Who are you?"

"I am... I am from the Industrial Development Division." Hou answered stutteringly.

"The Discipline Inspection Commission is handling a case; don't loiter around here." The staff member's gaze scanned Hou's face back and forth.

Hou felt a wave of guilt and hurriedly turned to leave.

He walked to the restroom, found a stall, and closed the door.

Hou dialed his girlfriend's number and said in a low, urgent voice:

"It's bad, something big has happened."

His girlfriend asked in confusion: "Didn't you just say Director Zhang was preparing to promote you? What happened?"

"Zhang Nan was just taken away by people from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection! Her office has been sealed. The bag you gave her is still in the office!"

His girlfriend was full of surprise: "How could this be! Why would she suddenly be investigated? Wasn't it said that her background was extremely deep?"

Hou wore a mournful face, unable to cry: "I don't know either. Sigh, what kind of situation is this!"

Hou now had only one thought: he must quickly distance himself from Zhang Nan.

He knew all too well what the usual fate of someone investigated by the Discipline Inspection Commission was.

If Zhang Nan's trouble implicated him, he would likely have no hope of advancement for the rest of his life!

Zhang Nan was arranged to stay in a hotel.

Secretary Yan walked in, carrying a bag in his hand.

He placed the bag in front of Zhang Nan and said in a calm tone, "This bag was found during a search of your office. I have looked into the bag inside; it is worth five figures. Let us start our conversation with this bag."

Zhang Nan had not yet adjusted his mindset and forced himself to remain calm, saying:

"Secretary Yan, this bag was purchased on my behalf by a colleague. I am not clear on exactly how much it cost. He said it was a high-quality replica, probably only worth a few hundred yuan!"

Secretary Yan slammed the table, his voice stern: "Zhang Nan, who do you think this excuse can fool? The Discipline Inspection Commission only conducts further investigations into you once we have obtained evidence. Your issues are very serious and have already alerted Secretary Wen of the Provincial Party Committee. I advise you: do not harbor any delusions of luck!"

Zhang Nan bit his lip, lowered his head in silence, and tears slid from the corners of his eyes.

In the eyes of the experienced Secretary Yan, what Zhang Nan shed were nothing more than crocodile tears!

"Let us talk about a different direction. How did you and Chai Zhenkun meet?"