Chapter 338: I

Returning to the office, Tang Ye's mobile phone rang.

Seeing it was Wan Ming calling, he thought to himself that since he had previously tasked him with investigating Yin Ying, he must have uncovered some leads.

Wan Ming's voice came through the receiver.

"I've been tailing Yin Ying these past few days and discovered that she spends her days either shopping or at bars; she hasn't been to her unit at all."

Tang Ye was not surprised.

After that incident, Yin Ying's superiors naturally dared not assign her any work.

However, hindered by Cao Zhengchun's influence, they could only turn a blind eye.

"Are there any other anomalies?" Tang Ye pressed.

Wan Ming's tone suddenly turned serious: "She has been with a woman quite often lately. I looked into that woman's background; she is Cao Zhengchun's daughter, just back from South Korea."

A keen intuition told Tang Ye.

Cao Zhengchun's daughter suddenly returning from abroad was somewhat abnormal!

"Send me the photos!"

Soon, the photos appeared in Tang Ye's inbox.

He took a yellowed photograph from his drawer.

He thought to himself, why don't they look very similar!

Then he thought again.

She had returned from South Korea, and he understood in an instant!

The comparison finished, Tang Ye dialed Wan Ming's number again.

"Did Cao Lingling return to the country alone this time?"

"She came back alone! But there is always a man following her. They play until very late every day, then go to a hotel to get a room. The man is the son of Feng Kun, Deputy Director of the Municipal Finance Bureau. These kids, relying on their fathers' backgrounds, really live quite extravagant lives, spending their days in debauchery."

Tang Ye's pupils contracted sharply.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth: "Old Wan, I've found the breakthrough! Keep tailing them."

Hanging up the phone, Tang Ye went to Jiang Jing's office and knocked on the door.

"Mayor Jiang, there is an urgent matter I would like to report to you."

Jiang Jing took off his gold-rimmed glasses, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and nodded at Tang Ye, "Speak, what is it?"

"I am requesting to see Lin Ru."

Lin Ru had already been taken away by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection for investigation for some time.

Why did Tang Ye want to see Lin Ru at this time?

"Give me a reason."

Tang Ye took a stack of photos from his briefcase, placed them gently by Jiang Jing's hand, and explained: "The girl in the photo is named Cao Lingling, Cao Zhengchun's daughter. She has been studying in South Korea and was in a relationship with Lin Ru's son; they were almost at the point of marriage. But just a few days ago, she quietly returned to the country and has been fooling around with Feng Kun's son."

Jiang Jing stared at the photos, lost in thought, "Lin Ru is in trouble, and Cao Zhengchun's daughter has changed her affections so quickly—that really is quite realistic!"

Tang Ye continued: "My idea is to use this matter to provoke Lin Ru; it might just make her cooperate with us and hand over evidence of that group's violations and illegal activities. The Municipal Government Supervision Office's report regarding the embezzlement of public funds by Yin Ying of the Chengzhong District Finance Bureau is clearly a cover-up. As the person in charge of the Supervision Office, it is impossible for Lin Ru to be unaware, and she very likely assisted in it. As long as Lin Ru is willing to assist in the investigation, the true faces of those people can be completely exposed."

Jiang Jing rubbed his chin, pondering to himself.

Although this move was unconventional, it was indeed feasible.

But, could someone taken away by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection be seen just because one asked?

"I will contact the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection later to see if I can arrange for you to meet her," Jiang Jing responded.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the red dedicated landline on the desk rang abruptly.

Jiang Jing picked up the phone, his expression instantly turning grave.

After hanging up, he said with a heavy face: "The Chengzhong District Government has been surrounded; migrant workers are demanding payment for construction work. I have to go to Building No. 1 for an emergency meeting now; you come with me."

Tang Ye's brows locked together; he reacted quickly, knowing the reason.

There was a construction payment for the Chengzhong District Government Administrative Center that Jiang Jing had previously delayed signing due to certain concerns.

Now, because it had triggered a mass incident, Jiang Jing was likely to be pushed to the forefront and fall into a passive situation.

……

Upon arriving at the Building No. 1 conference room of the Municipal Party Committee.

The ten Standing Committee Members were already seated.

Zhou Chengwu was the last to enter the venue, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

It finally landed on Du Chengfeng: "Comrade Cheng Feng, tell us about the specific situation over in Chengzhong District."

Du Chengfeng stood up, looked around, and said in a heavy tone: "The impact of this incident is extremely vile. Someone posted news on Weibo about the Chengzhong District Administrative Center building owing wages, and even attached photos of the scene surrounding the government.

With only half a month left until the New Year, the topic of migrant workers demanding wages is already sensitive; once this matter was exposed, it quickly sparked heated discussion, and even provincial leaders have taken notice."

Zhou Chengwu crossed his arms, his expression serious: "Everyone, speak freely and discuss how to handle this."

Vice Mayor Zhao Disheng spoke first: "Xia Zhentao and I understood the situation immediately. The government owes the construction unit part of the payment; the construction unit cannot receive the money, so naturally, they cannot settle with the foremen, which has led to the migrant workers' wages having no source."

"Exactly how much construction payment is still owed to the construction unit?" Zhou Chengwu asked with a frown.

"It is said to be over twenty million," Zhao Disheng sighed helplessly, "Actually, there is money in the account, but it is stuck at a certain link."

Having said that, Zhao Disheng's gaze slowly turned toward Jiang Jing.

Jiang Jing was in charge of the Municipal Finance Bureau and had not agreed to allocate these funds.

Now, a huge uproar had been caused by the issue of fiscal allocation.

The finger of responsibility was undoubtedly pointed at Jiang Jing.

Tang Ye saw it clearly in his heart; this siege incident was by no means accidental—it was clearly a "trap" meticulously planned against Jiang Jing.

Xiao Jingyu, the "Deputy Class Monitor" of the Standing Committee, spoke up at this moment.

His tone carried reproach: "Comrade Jiang Jing, it cannot be denied that you are indeed a capable hand at financial management; since you took charge of finance, Hanzhou's fiscal situation has improved significantly. But you cannot delay signing what needs to be signed! Cao Zhengchun has reported to me many times that you are excessively compressing fiscal expenditures, putting him under immense work pressure. Now that such a big incident has occurred, Hanzhou has lost all face. In my opinion, if we just allocate the money directly, wouldn't the problem be solved?"

Jiang Jing pondered for a moment, her tone firm: "The fiscal account has money, but that money is for teachers' salaries. Let's speak behind closed doors; the Chengzhong District Administrative Center was an over-budget project from the start, and it has always relied on misappropriating funds from other projects to fill the hole. As far as I know, Chengzhong District has been in arrears on teachers' salaries for half a year, and just last week, teachers went to the Municipal Government to petition for their pay."

Zhou Chengwu's expression changed abruptly; clearly, he had not expected the problems in Chengzhong District to be this severe.

Xiao Jingyu impatiently interrupted Jiang Jing: "It doesn't matter if teachers' salaries are delayed a bit, but this matter is currently causing a huge stir in the city and must be resolved immediately. If someone takes extreme measures, if someone jumps off a building, and lives are lost, who will take the responsibility?"

Jiang Jing responded calmly:

"This matter must be resolved rationally.

Whether it is migrant workers' wages or teachers' salaries, neither can be allowed to go unpaid.

Migrant workers have a labor relationship with the developer, so their wages should be the responsibility of the construction unit;

Teachers' salaries must be used for their designated purpose and must never be misappropriated.

Furthermore, this construction unit is riddled with problems; setting aside whether they cut corners on the project, is their use of funds compliant? Are there illegal activities? Is there any cadre backing them? We must investigate this thoroughly!"

Having said this, Jiang Jing cast a meaningful look toward Tang Ye.

Tang Ye understood immediately.

He quickly took a stack of documents from his file bag and respectfully presented them to Jiang Jing.