Chapter 867: Dropping the Chain at a Critical Moment!

Friday.

Xie Zhan led a team to Dayu County to investigate the progress of the Anthracite Project.

Although Xie Zhan had his Secretary notify Dayu County to keep the Smokeless Coal Factory operating normally and to avoid a grand reception, the members of the County Party Committee still came to the highway exit to wait.

They waited for a full hour.

The city motorcade arrived.

Executive Vice Mayor Xie Zhan got out of the car to greet everyone.

Because Jiang Anbang was still recovering from his leg injury, Tang Ye stood at the side of Ou Xiye.

Under normal circumstances, after Xie Zhan took the initiative to shake hands with Ou Xiye, he should have shaken hands with Tang Ye.

However, Xie Zhan's gaze bypassed Tang Ye and he patted Chen Qing on the shoulder, "I came for this investigation at the invitation of Comrade Chen Qing. I believe the Anthracite Project in Dayu County will surely become a source of economic growth for Yanzhou and an opportunity for Dayu County to shake off poverty and become prosperous."

Chen Qing knew that Xie Zhan was deliberately highlighting his own importance.

"Welcome, Mayor Xie, for coming to provide guidance! We will certainly pay close attention to this project and will not let down your expectations."

Subsequently, Xie Zhan's gaze landed lightly on Tang Ye, "Comrade Tang Ye, long time no see!"

Tang Ye did not pay much mind to Xie Zhan's deliberate cold shoulder and said softly, "Mayor Xie, hello."

Xie Zhan did not speak to Tang Ye again and proceeded to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with the other committee members.

The Anthracite Project was one he had brought in.

For Xie Zhan to understand the progress of the project, communicating with Tang Ye would have been most appropriate.

But Xie Zhan deliberately left Tang Ye aside, placing Chen Qing in a more important position.

This was clearly a deliberate targeting.

Could it be related to the fact that Chen Qing organized a gathering a few days ago, which he declined?

Tang Ye did not overthink it.

After all, he was currently the Deputy Secretary, not the Executive Deputy County Magistrate.

If the County Magistrate asks for leave, the Executive Deputy County Magistrate must perform the duties of the County Magistrate; it made sense for Chen Qing's position to be ranked ahead.

Everyone got into their cars.

"Comrade Chen Qing, get in my car!" Xie Zhan invited.

"Very well." Under the envious gazes of the crowd, Chen Qing sat into car number 004.

Chen Qing deliberately observed Tang Ye's expression, but could discern no joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.

However, he felt that Tang Ye must be feeling terrible inside.

If it were him, he would certainly feel the frustration of doing all the work for someone else's benefit.

Inside the Audi, Xie Zhan cast his gaze outside the window.

The Smokeless Coal Factory was arranged within the Dayu Industrial Park. Looking at the beautiful factory buildings and tidy streets in the park—though not yet fully formed, the high-rise buildings were in their embryonic stages of construction—a hint of approval appeared in his eyes.

He had come to Dayu County for investigations before, and his impression of the place was that it was poor and backward; to cater to trends, they had set up an industrial park, but in reality, it was a clumsy imitation that had become a mere showpiece project.

However, upon arriving, he discovered that the situation here had changed significantly compared to before.

Previously, the streets were dilapidated, the environment was terrible, and a strange odor permeated the air.

But now, the streets were clean, many green plants could be seen, the weather today was excellent, and the air was quite good as well.

Such a major change was to be credited to Tang Ye.

Xie Zhan was a person extremely picky about details; with his caustic and sharp nature, he was surprisingly approving of the changes in Dayu County.

In less than half a year, the originally decaying and backward city had unexpectedly gained a sense of vibrant vitality.

This latent vigor made Xie Zhan feel the changes brought about by Tang Ye.

From the perspective of urban governance, Tang Ye's arrival had yielded significant results.

The motorcade drove on the road for thirty minutes and finally arrived at the office building of the Ruilin Anthracite Factory.

This was a thirteen-story silver-gray building, and a large banner had long been hung on the office building.

It read—Welcome City Leaders to Ruilin to Provide Guidance on Work.

Walking at the very front was LiuYing, the General Manager of Ruilin Group in charge of the Anthracite Project; she was not tall, but she had a very imposing manner and was quite conspicuous in the crowd.

LiuYing was initially just an ordinary worker who started from the most bitter and exhausting positions; after decades of hard work, she became a leader in the industry and was poached by Qiao Wansen from a competitor's company with a high salary.

What LiuYing brought was not just a technical team, but also a management model with international competitiveness.

"Mayor Xie, welcome to inspect."

"Manager Liu, I am here to visit. Furthermore, if you have any needs, you can bring them up, and I will help you resolve them."

"Very well, how about we go to the conference room to rest for a moment? I will brief you on the factory's situation."

The group moved to the conference room.

LiuYing gave an introduction to the progress of the Anthracite Project.

Subsequently, Xie Zhan gave a brief speech, hoping that Ruilin could maintain a good momentum of development and ensure that the project could be implemented as soon as possible.

The television Reporter crouched with a camera, turning back and forth around the conference table, and staff from the newspaper and the group also held cameras to take many photos.

After the nearly one-hour meeting ended, everyone went downstairs to visit the construction site, where they saw the latest equipment imported from Germany.

This set of equipment was introduced at a high price, and the province and city would provide policy-based subsidies.

LiuYing introduced the equipment.

Not many people present could understand.

Tang Ye was one of them.

LiuYing was still very professional.

LiuYing's introduction was very accurate, with technical data precise to two decimal places, without the slightest error.

"The basic production line is configured with core equipment such as the JawCrusher, DrumScreeningMachine, and JigCoalWashingUnit. The processing adopts a three-stage sorting technique, achieving a raw material utilization rate of over 98% through crushing, screening, and washing. During the processing, the carbon content increase rate can reach 15%-20%."

After LiuYing finished the introduction, she slowed her pace, took out her phone, and stood by a machine to answer a call.

After hearing just a few sentences, her expression changed; she gave some instructions in a low voice and then hung up the phone.

She walked to Tang Ye's side and gave a cough.

Tang Ye understood immediately, hurried to the side, and asked in surprise, "General Manager Liu, is something the matter?"

LiuYing nodded and said softly, "Secretary Tang, some petitioners have blocked the main entrance. I had the people from the Security Section go to handle it, but there are many people who have come, and I am afraid an accident might happen."

With City Leaders here for an inspection, how could a gate-blocking incident break out?

The timing was arranged so coincidentally; there must be an insider, otherwise, how could they have timed the location and moment so precisely!

Tang Ye reassured LiuYing, "Follow the procedure for the reception; do not be affected by what is outside."

LiuYing bit her lip, took a deep breath, and walked toward the direction of Mayor Xie.

At this moment, the Secretary leaned into Xie Zhan's ear and whispered a few words.

Xie Zhan's expression changed slightly, and he asked in a deep voice, "General Manager Liu, I heard that there are common folk outside holding up banners; what is going on here!"

Fine beads of sweat appeared on LiuYing's fair forehead, "Mayor Xie, I am sorry, I did not expect such a situation to occur; we are already doing our best to coordinate."

Xie Zhan waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Let's go to the entrance and take a look!"

Chen Qing's face turned ashen, and his heart sank!

Isn't this dropping the ball at a critical moment!