Chapter 366: Simply a Jinx!

Nie Kai sat in his office, and the liaison officer walked in with light steps, leaning over to report: "County Magistrate Nie, the people from Runsheng have already withdrawn. The County Environmental Protection Bureau just sent someone to remove the seal."

Nie Kai frowned slightly: "Secretary Han actually agreed to it?"

The liaison officer said in a low voice: "The Environmental Protection Bureau received instructions to assist Runsheng with their rectification. I heard it was a suggestion put forward by Tang Ye. The enterprise side also accepted the government's opinion and is willing to stop production to carry out factory renovations."

Nie Kai's expression shifted: "I didn't expect Secretary Han to compromise; this is truly unexpected."

Before the words had even faded, the landline on the desk suddenly rang.

He picked up the phone: "Guosheng, what is it?"

"County Magistrate Nie, you have to help me! I just got news that Secretary Han has already let the County Commission for Discipline Inspection intervene to investigate the matter of Guangtai's illegal sewage discharge causing children to be poisoned." Liao Guosheng's urgent plea for help came through the phone.

Nie Kai's scalp went numb instantly: "Hasn't this matter already passed for several months? Why is the investigation being restarted suddenly?"

Liao Guosheng's tone was bitter: "The day before yesterday, Cheng Lin and Tang Ye went to Fugu Village for an unannounced visit and were blocked by Yang Dagen and his men. They didn't reveal their identities at the time, and Yang Dagen said a few harsh words; I reckon the two of them are holding a grudge."

Nie Kai rubbed his temples and pondered: "You need to be prepared. If you really can't hold out, just push someone else out to take the blame."

Hanging up the phone, Nie Kai let out a heavy breath and cursed under his breath: "This kid Tang Ye is simply a jinx; wherever he goes, trouble follows!"

He had long anticipated that Tang Ye's arrival would stir up waves, but he hadn't expected that this person would cause such a big commotion only two days after taking office.

Suppressing his irritation, Nie Kai collected his thoughts and walked straight toward the County Magistrate's office.

Seeing him enter, Gao Hong stood up and poured a cup of tea: "Old Nie, what's the rush?"

"County Magistrate Gao, Liao Guosheng just called to say that the Discipline Inspection Commission is going to conduct an in-depth investigation into the Fugu Village matter." Nie Kai got straight to the point.

Gao Hong looked at him with a calm gaze: "This matter was decided at the Five-Person Group Meeting. Secretary Han and Secretary Cheng have firm attitudes, and there is nothing I can do."

Nie Kai stared at Gao Hong, his tone carrying unwillingness: "The Industrial Park is a core project handed to us by Mayor Xiao. Are you just going to watch it get torn to pieces?"

Gao Hong was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice: "Old Nie, we have worked together for many years and both poured our heart's blood into the Industrial Park. But the times have changed, and the development models of the past no longer work. We must follow the trend."

Nie Kai stood up abruptly, his eyes cold as ice: "Are you trying to let Mayor Xiao down?"

Gao Hong said indifferently, "We cannot let the people down."

Nie Kai gave Gao Hong a look of contempt.

Watching Nie Kai's departing back, a flash of forbearance and helplessness crossed Gao Hong's eyes.

He knew clearly that many people below were waiting to see him arm-wrestle with Han Guangyao, but at this moment, the wisest choice was still to remain still and preserve his strength.

Tang Ye's arrival made Gao Hong keenly perceive the subtle changes in the political situation of Suiyuan.

On the surface, this young man intervened in the Runsheng incident and successfully resolved the dispute, but in the deeper game, Cheng Lin had actually engaged in a hidden contest with Han Guangyao.

And in the end, Tang Ye used his own line of thinking to make Han Guangyao waver, helping Cheng Lin win this silent confrontation.

Thinking of this, a bold idea suddenly flashed through Gao Hong's mind.

The current situation in Suiyuan was essentially a micro-projection of the high-level power struggle within the Hanzhou Municipal Committee.

Some people felt that Tang Ye was Cheng Lin's reinforcement.

But upon careful consideration, Tang Ye and Cheng Lin were not in the same camp.

Behind Cheng Lin was Xia Hong.

Behind Tang Ye was Jiang Jing.

Now that he no longer had a backer in the Municipal Committee, if he could borrow the resources behind Tang Ye, he might be able to open up a new situation.

And Tang Ye, having just arrived, would surely be eager to achieve political results and gain a firm foothold in Suiyuan.

If some kind of tacit understanding could be reached to form a community of interests, it might be the key step to breaking his own predicament.

Tang Ye returned to his office and dialed the phone number of Municipal Finance Bureau Chief Gao Ping.

After Cao Zhengchun was investigated, Gao Ping and Feng Kun had competed.

In the end, because he relied on the key vote from Jiang Jing, Gao Ping successfully became the Chief of the Municipal Finance Bureau.

Therefore, Gao Ping was now the most loyal member under Jiang Jing's command.

"Chief Gao, this is Little Tang. Are you free recently? I'd like to invite you to a meal."

Gao Ping chuckled: "County Magistrate Tang's meal, I'm afraid it comes with a 'topic' attached, right?"

Tang Ye went straight to the point: "The Municipal Government has a special appropriation for environmental governance this year, and I would like to consult you on the specific details of the application policy."

Gao Ping realized: "So you've set your sights on these funds. But I'll say the ugly things first: the policy hurdle is easy to pass, but the 'crossing the river'—the hurdle of Mayor Jiang—is not so easy."

Tang Ye smiled faintly: "That's why I wanted to invite you to a meal, to properly learn from your experience."

"Alright, let me check my schedule and I'll get back to you later." Gao Ping hung up the phone, shaking his head helplessly with a laugh.

As Jiang Jing's former secretary, now that Tang Ye was serving as Deputy County Magistrate in Suiyuan County, if he submitted a funding application, as long as it was reasonable and compliant, it would naturally be easy to talk to Jiang Jing.

Moreover, Gao Ping knew in his heart that his ability to sit in the position of Finance Bureau Chief was actually due to Tang Ye's secret assistance.

If it weren't for him persuading Lin Ru to report Cao Zhengchun back then, this position wouldn't have been his turn.

More importantly, Tang Ye was no ordinary person.

A twenty-nine-year-old at the Deputy Division Level was already a rare figure in Hanzhou.

Even more importantly, this kid had charged directly to the Deputy Division Level within two years.

Building a good relationship with a young cadre with such great prospects as Tang Ye was by no means a bad thing.

He glanced at his schedule and replied to Tang Ye, agreeing to meet on Tuesday evening.

Tang Ye felt relieved and thanked him repeatedly.

Before dialing Gao Ping's number, Tang Ye had inevitably felt a bit apprehensive.

He and Gao Ping were only nodding acquaintances; he hadn't expected the other party's attitude to be so accommodating.

He secretly rejoiced that his previous work experience in Secretariat Section Two had indeed laid the groundwork for his current network of connections.

Opening his laptop, Tang Ye pondered for a moment before drafting an "Application for Special Appropriation for Environmental Governance."

Although he needed to apply to the city to secure these funds, some procedures could not be avoided.

Afterward, Tang Ye took the documents and headed to the office of the Executive Deputy County Magistrate.

Seeing Tang Ye arrive, Nie Kai was slightly startled, then immediately put on a smile: "County Magistrate Tang, what matter has caused you to make a personal trip?"

"Executive Nie, this is the draft application report for environmental governance funding; I would like to ask you to review it first."

According to financial procedures, matters involving funding applications must first be communicated to the official in charge before being reported level by level.

Nie Kai took the report and, after glancing at the title, knew it was related to the rectification of Runsheng.

"Fine, I will take a look later," he replied indifferently.

"I have troubled you, Executive Nie."

"By the way, is your hand alright?" Nie Kai asked with hypocritical concern.

"It's fine, just a minor skin wound," Tang Ye nodded and took his leave.

Once the office door closed, Nie Kai's expression turned cold, and he crumpled the report into a ball and threw it into the wastebasket.

"Want to get money from me? What a pipe dream! Why don't you go take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror!"

He had not looked at the contents in detail at all.

With the county's finances already stretched thin, how could it be possible to allocate funds to a private enterprise for environmental rectification?