Chapter 1019

Pang De merely nodded slightly and did not let Su Yang and this department head sit down.

The department head's side is understandable; after all, they are comrades in the same unit, he is the unit's second-in-command, someone like him has a status far above mine, so it's normal for him to sit while I stand.

But he didn't let Su Yang sit, which actually already indicates a problem.

After Pang De sat down, he lightly asked: "How did your county's problem come up to the ministry? Didn't your province tell you? If you can't solve the problem, shouldn't you report it level by level?"

"If every place across the country came to our Ministry of Transport to run projects and seek funds, would our work still be needed?"

"Also, can you conduct yourselves properly? Don't play those little tricks, impersonating Organization Department people—what do you think this place is?"

"Your project isn't even a national key project, not to mention a provincial key project, or even a municipal key project—how did you come straight to our ministry?"

After saying that, he stood up and left; it was clearly intended to embarrass Su Yang.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the small meeting room, which had been warm and enthusiastic, plummeted to freezing point; the department head who had just been thinking about having dinner and drinks together, calling each other brothers, saw his face drop instantly.

"How can you behave like this? You haven't spoken a word of truth—do you think our Ministry of Transport is some kind of place? Wasn't what Pang De just said clear enough? We only study national key projects here, yet you brought a county highway project to us."

"What's the difference between your conduct and that of swindlers who swagger and deceive?"

"If you don't work properly all day and just look for loopholes to play petty tricks, that's a serious violation of regulations, understand?"

"Others can wait in line; why can't you? Does that mean other places don't need development?"

"Those local disagreements are caused by people like you who love to play petty tricks."

Flustered and exasperated, he directly took out his phone and called the Provincial Transportation Department.

"Hello, is this the Ganzhou Provincial Transportation Department office? I'm from the Comprehensive Planning Division of the Ministry of Transport; Lieshan County's highway project completely lacks the standards for approval and also involves violations."

"You actually came to the Ministry of Transport to ask for funds; I hope you can manage these matters in your province properly, so we don't have to clean up after you."

After saying that, he hung up the phone directly.

Although he didn't state his identity, the Provincial Transportation Department, upon hearing it was a call from a Ministry of Transport leader, would almost treat it as an imperial decree.

Normally, after this call, the county's highway construction would have to be put on hold.

If they ever want to restart the highway project, unless a provincial leader comes to the Ministry of Transport to smooth relations—and that leader must be at least a member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee—there is basically no hope.

After the department head finished the call, he also called the Security Office: "Come over; there are a few people impersonating Organization Department staff here—take them to the nearby police station."

"Good grief, this is directly denying Su Yang face—his expression changes in an instant; just moments ago he was so enthusiastic he wanted to become sworn brothers, now he's turned into an enemy who'd dig up graves and whip corpses."

Su Yang's face turned ashen instantly; he of course knew the project was certainly doable, and the Provincial Transportation Department wouldn't really cancel it just because of this call.

But openly defying orders isn't appropriate either; it might cause delays, and he'd need to settle things from here, otherwise he'd just be creating trouble for others.

He said: "Department Head, we said there were some issues when we came in earlier, but it's not enough to send us to the police station, is it?"

"Besides, you are a Beijing-based central ministry that serves everyone—why must you look down on us cadres coming from below?"

"If there are difficulties and you don't come to the ministry for help, what's the point of the ministry's existence?"

"Could it be that you just hold meetings all day, issue tasks, set standards, and create difficulties for grassroots work?"

After saying that, he turned and walked out; actually, when he heard Pang De's name earlier, he already had a rough idea of the outcome.

He just didn't expect Pang De, that kind of person, to be so blunt—he directly gave him a dressing-down from head to toe.

It seems Jia Guolong's uncle had already called him earlier; unless he could see Minister Xia as soon as he entered today, this project would inevitably run into all sorts of problems.

Just as he was getting up to leave, his pocket phone rang; he pulled it out and saw it was Minister Xia calling.

"Hello, Uncle Xia."

On the other end came Minister Xia's hearty laugh: "How come you, kid, are calling me? I had an event just now and missed your call—did you come to the capital?"

"Oh, I remember—is it because of your county's highway project?"

Su Yang said: "Exactly, that's the matter. I came to the ministry today to find you, but you weren't there, and then the ministry staff said what I did was against regulations, and just now they called our Provincial Transportation Department to have our project halted."

"And they also want the Security Office to send us to the nearby police station."

Upon hearing that, Minister Xia instantly understood; he coldly said: "I'm already on my way back—wait a moment, let me see who wants to send you to the police station."

"Over the past six months, I've been relatively lax about ministry affairs, and some people have started getting out of hand."

That department head, who had just been full of vigor, saw his expression change again. There were only three people in the meeting room, and the phone's earpiece was loud, so he heard everything clearly.

Although he didn't clearly see Su Yang's noted name, Su Yang addressed him as "Uncle Xia," and the voice coming through the receiver was indeed Minister Xia's.

His whole body felt as if struck by lightning; he stood rooted to the spot, unable to move for a while.

It's certainly good to be able to cling to Pang De's thigh, but offending Minister Xia in the rush to do so is practically courting death!

He looked at Su Yang and, after a while, stammered: "Su, County Magistrate Su, could there be a misunderstanding?"

"Just now you said you had an appointment with Minister Xia; I thought you were joking with us."

"Well then, can I go with you to meet the leader? And also admit my mistake on his behalf."

His several changes of expression are enough for Jiao Qiang, who follows Su Yang, to learn from for a lifetime; in short, it's just thick-skinnedness.

What just happened, he in a blink made it seem as if it never occurred; asking himself, such shameless conduct—someone like him could truly not pull it off, even though he's always been the chief steward of the county government.

Su Yang watched the department head flip his face repeatedly, and inwardly he couldn't help but feel contempt and sneer.

"I dare not accept that—weren't you saying you'd send me to the police station?"

"I can go on my own; no need for you, Department Head, to mobilize a crowd."