Chapter 369: The Determination to Investigate to the End!

Tuesday afternoon.

Tang Ye saw Xu Qiao when he went downstairs.

She was dressed in formal attire, her short hair neat and sharp, and her entire person exuded a capable and spirited aura.

Xu Qiao is now a well-known beauty in the County Party Committee Compound; many people have wanted to play matchmaker for her, but she has rejected them all.

Guo Liang had once mentioned this matter to Tang Ye. Tang Ye knew that Guo Liang wanted him to persuade Xu Qiao.

But Tang Ye always felt that he should not get involved in Xu Qiao's personal life.

"County Magistrate Tang, the motorcade has been arranged properly and will arrive shortly. Secretary Cheng is currently handling some affairs and will be here in a moment."

Tang Ye joked with a smile: "It has been a year, yet you have become distant with me, even changing how you address me."

Xu Qiao was stunned for a moment, her eyes lighting up: "Then can I still call you Master in the future?"

"One must still observe the rules on formal occasions," Tang Ye reminded her gently, "but feel free to do so in private."

Xu Qiao responded softly and then added: "Actually, I saw you a few days ago and have been wanting to report on my work situation to you alone."

"I am aware of your situation," Tang Ye comforted her, "Secretary Cheng thinks highly of you, saying that your reports are solid and your work is meticulous. Follow her well—she is a capable leader with potential; you can learn real skills by following her."

As Cheng Lin's Liaison Officer, Xu Qiao knew her female superior's background and abilities better than anyone, and she was well aware that her future was limitless. Her heart was filled with gratitude: if Tang Ye had not recommended her to Cheng Lin back then, a female cadre on the secretarial track would not know how many walls she would have hit in a male-dominated officialdom. Now that she had met a female superior, she could avoid the gossip of the workplace and devote herself entirely to her career; it could be called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

While they were talking, the official car had already stopped downstairs.

Cheng Lin appeared a moment later. Xu Qiao waited for the two of them to sit in the back row before she gently closed the door and sat in the front passenger seat.

More than an hour later, the sedan drove into the City People's Hospital—the primary mission of their trip was to visit the thirty poisoned children from Fugu Village.

The hospital had already received notification, and Dean Lu personally led a team to wait in front of the outpatient building.

As soon as Cheng Lin's party entered the ward, an old woman dressed in simple clothing knelt toward her with trembling legs.

Tang Ye was quick-witted and fast-handed, hurriedly supporting the old woman's thin shoulders: "Yang Daniang, please don't do this; tell us slowly if you have something to say."

The old woman wiped away her tears, her voice choked with sobs: "Secretary Cheng, County Magistrate Tang, we have all heard about it. It is thanks to you going to the village for an undercover visit that day that the township took this matter seriously. Otherwise, these children... sigh, they are all left-behind children. Most of their parents are working away, and it all depends on us old bones to raise them. How would we know how to deal with a factory!"

Cheng Lin's eyes grew warm. She reached out and gently held the old woman's rough wrist, her tone carrying unquestionable firmness: "Daniang, remember my words—since the Government has taken over this matter, we will never give up halfway. The children's treatment and subsequent compensation—all problems will be managed to the end."

The old woman wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her voice trembling: "We tried to negotiate with the enterprise earlier, but the other party's attitude was very fierce, and they even hired gangsters to come to our door and intimidate us. These children are only so young, yet they have suffered such great misery... If only we old bones could suffer for them, that would be good..."

"Don't worry, Daniang." Tang Ye leaned over to comfort her, his voice gentle yet powerful, "I just asked the Attending Physician; as long as they receive active treatment, the children will all get better."

After soothing the family members, Cheng Lin and Tang Ye followed the hospital staff to the conference room.

Dr. Qiao, the Director of the Hematology Department, reported in detail on the progress of all the sick children's conditions and the follow-up treatment plans.

After the discussion ended, Dean Lu expressed his concerns with a troubled expression.

"Secretary Cheng, County Magistrate Tang, our hospital is doing its best to treat the children, but the issue of medical expenses is truly thorny. Guangtai only paid a portion of the fees upon admission, and despite multiple reminders, they have not continued to pay. Currently, the hospital is covering everything. If the funds do not arrive for a long time, the follow-up treatment will be difficult to sustain."

Hearing this, Cheng Lin frowned slightly, her face showing surprise: "Guangtai hasn't paid off the fees yet?"

Dean Lu gave a wry smile, his tone helpless: "Finance reported that they only paid the initial diagnostic and treatment fees. Considering the difficulties of the children's families, our hospital paid in advance, but in the long run, the hospital's financial pressure is truly too great..."

"Please rest assured, Dean Lu." Tang Ye immediately took over the conversation, his eyes determined, "This fee will never be in arrears. We will summon the enterprise for talks and ensure that the funds are implemented as soon as possible."

Dean Lu nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Tang Ye for a moment.

If it were not for the favor of Tang Ye previously pushing for the new hospital project to be implemented, the hospital would never have taken on such a high risk of advance payment without the fees being settled.

Leaving the hospital, they returned to the official car.

Cheng Lin's expression was grave, her fingertips tapping lightly on her knees: "I really didn't expect Guangtai to be so arrogant. Not only are they going back on their word, but they treat credibility like dirt."

Tang Ye's gaze darkened, his fingertips rubbing the buttons on his suit cuffs: "There is another possibility—could this treatment money have gone into someone's private account?"

Cheng Lin took a deep breath.

She had to admit that Tang Ye's concern hit the nail on the head.

She pressed her brow, her tone suddenly turning cold.

"If it is discovered that someone dared to touch the children's life-saving money, no matter who is involved, they will not have an easy time."

"I have already had Wan Ming start investigating Guangtai; I believe there will be results soon."

Cheng Lin understood in her heart.

Although Nie Kai had previously pushed out the Deputy Township Head in charge of environmental protection to "take the fall," Tang Ye did not intend to let the matter rest there.

Now, the fact that the treatment fees were maliciously in arrears made her even more determined to investigate to the end.

Tang Ye was not optimistic about this matter.

Because it also involved the issue of compensation.

Even the medical expenses were being paid with such difficulty; as for getting the compensation, the difficulty would be even greater.

Cheng Lin dialed Liao Guosheng's phone number directly.

Seeing the caller ID, Liao Guosheng's brow immediately twisted into a 'chuan' shape, but his tone carried a bit of hypocritical fawning when he answered the phone.

"Secretary Cheng, Guangtai is, after all, a large-scale enterprise, and their financial procedures have always been strict. I can only try my best to urge them. Besides, the villagers are opening their mouths like lions, asking for 500,000 per person in compensation; for thirty people, that is 15 million! Guangtai has decided to go through legal channels and sue the villagers..."

Listening to his evasive words that favored the enterprise in every sentence, Cheng Lin only felt her inner fire rising.

"Liao Guosheng, you had better be clear about your own identity—you are the Secretary of the Township Party Committee, a grassroots cadre elected by the Party and the masses, not a watchdog for an enterprise! I am now explicitly demanding: the treatment fees must be in the account by 5:00 PM today, and not a single cent of the compensation can be missing. If you cannot do it, you will bear the consequences yourself."

Liao Guosheng pulled a mocking sneer at the corner of his mouth, but he kept agreeing on the surface: "Yes, yes, yes, I will communicate with the enterprise immediately and guarantee that I will do my best."

After hanging up the phone, he spat a mouthful of thick phlegm at the corner of the wall and squeezed out a cold sneer through his teeth: "A female secretary from the outside dares to boss me around? I'll just pretend to comply while secretly defying her; what can you do to me?"

"Sister, don't be angry. Isn't Liao Guosheng just relying on his relationship with Nie Kai to be so fearless? If you ask me, he is courting his own destruction!"

"Even if I don't serve as this Deputy County Party Secretary anymore, I will make Liao Guosheng pay the price!"

Tang Ye knew that Cheng Lin was truly furious!

He thought to himself, this Liao Guosheng is truly blind!

Can he cover the sky with one hand just by leaning on the crooked tree that is Nie Kai?

Does he really think he cannot be dealt with!