Chapter 463: Exposing the Ugly Face-to-Face

This time, Fang Jingwen and Zhou Ruohan were surprisingly in agreement, they almost spoke in unison saying, "Okay, Secretary Zhou,

This again left Zhou Hongtao completely confused; actually he just wanted to get the support of either one of them, that would be enough.

It appeared that the overall situation remained firmly in his grasp, thereby fully demonstrating his dignity.

Zhou Hongtao heard and said, "Good, then since that's the case, let's adjourn the meeting; I'll go with County Magistrate Zhou and Secretary Fang to participate in the interrogation.

"But I have a harsh word to say upfront: no matter who you bring or what relationship, anyone who comes here asking for help, I ask you to refuse; otherwise don't blame me for being unsentimental.

For a county's top leader, saying this is already quite heavy.

Of course, it's also because Zhou Ruohan and Fang Jingwen's presence prevents his authority as top leader from being fully exerted; otherwise, a single glance from him would be enough to frighten this bunch for half a day.

After the meeting adjourned, Zhou Hongtao and the three of them went straight to the Discipline Inspection Commission. Along the way, Fang Jingwen's face remained gloomy; although Zhou Hongtao didn't say there were any problems inside the Discipline Inspection Commission, nor did he, like Zhou Ruohan, slap him in front of everyone.

But after all, this is something that actually happened; of course, if it were other leaders, one could say they're just unfamiliar with the new unit.

All work hasn't been fully rolled out, personnel haven't been completely controlled, so it's understandable that such a situation would arise.

Normally speaking, for a new leader to take office and thoroughly settle internal affairs, to grasp all power in hand, it cannot be done without three months.

Fang Jingwen already counts as using iron‑fisted methods; in fact, she had already seized all initiative within two weeks, and among the many people in the Discipline Inspection Commission, there are a few who don't know life or death, leaking information to the outside.

This is actually a normal phenomenon; which unit doesn't have a few little troublemakers?

But in Fang Jingwen's case, such a thing is absolutely not allowed.

When they reached the floor of the Discipline Inspection Commission, she made a phone call: "Let all mid‑level and above cadres in the unit come to the main conference room.

"Not only mid‑level cadres, but everyone else besides us who are working on the case should also come.

The three of them came together; they said they were going from the county's main office to the Discipline Inspection Commission, but actually it's just the same building, only two floors down.

After hanging up, she said to Zhou Hongtao, "Secretary Zhou, why don't you give a few words to our Discipline Inspection Commission comrades, to cheer up everyone's work, how about boosting morale?

"As for the questioning of Cui Mingjiu and them, we can wait a bit.

Zhong Hongtao was instantly baffled by what Fang Jingwen was up to; no matter who else it was, he wouldn't give them face. He had clearly said he came to participate in the interrogation, yet once he arrived you changed my work direction— is that appropriate?

You're a deputy secretary, yet you're giving the secretary work instructions? Leading the work direction?

But there's nothing to be done— who made it Fang Jingwen? He said, "Fine, then following Secretary Fang's suggestion, let's first meet the Discipline Inspection Commission comrades; to be honest, it's been so long that I haven't specially cared for those comrades, which also counts as making up for my work shortcomings.

Fang Jingwen, upon hearing that, said, "Thank you, Secretary Zhou; please also have County Magistrate Zhou join us later.

Zhou Ruohan was somewhat suspicious; what is Fang Jingwen up to? She could figure it out with her toes— this is definitely not just asking Zhou Hongtao to go over to cheer up the Discipline Inspection Commission comrades.

Because that's completely unnecessary; even saying that such superficial, perfunctory work, Fang Jingwen essentially looks down on it.

When things go awry, there must be something fishy!

Indeed, if it were another person, they could directly understand it as flattering Zhou Hongtao, letting him say a few words, which also makes the top leader look good.

Of course, whatever they think, anyway Fang Jingwen does what she likes; it couldn't possibly affect her.

Her sole focus right now is to hear what Cui Mingjiu and Lu Kai have to say; she wants to know who gave Cui Mingjiu the guts to do such a heinous thing.

But she still replied, "Fine, anyway I've never been to the Discipline Inspection Commission before; this is a good chance to learn about its work.

When all the Discipline Inspection Commission staff received Fang Jingwen's notice, they immediately became very tense, because whenever Fang Jingwen makes such a move, eight or nine out of ten people are bound to fall.

This time he again implicated the two top leaders of Xiushui Xiang, making people inevitably suspect that there's a so‑called mole inside their Discipline Inspection Commission.

When all the Discipline Inspection Commission personnel rushed to the conference room, Zhou Hongtao and the three of them also arrived.

Fang Jingwen asked Zhou Hongtao to sit in the main seat, then he and Zhou Ruohan each took their seats.

"Comrades, we warmly welcome Secretary Zhou to say a few words to cheer us up, and also ask him to point out the shortcomings in our work and propose related suggestions.

After saying that, she led the applause first.

The others followed with enthusiastic applause; after a round of loud clapping, Zhou Hongtao slowly said, "Comrades, to be frank, I hadn't previously come to our Discipline Inspection Commission to meet and chat with everyone, to understand the problems you encounter at work, and to show some concern……

Zhou Hongtao spoke very slowly; in fact he was also thinking about what he should say, since this wasn't originally in his plan, now being forced to say something, he inevitably had to filter it in his mind first.

But he also knew that today Fang Jingwen's purpose certainly wasn't to have him give a speech here to rally morale.

There's definitely her own agenda here, so in under five minutes he finished his talk.

At that point, Fang Jingwen then said to Zhou Ruohan, "Next, please also have County Magistrate Zhou say a few words to the comrades.

This comes across as rather perfunctory— what does "also please" mean? Obviously it's just Zhou Hongtao having finished speaking, adding a mere courtesy.

If we followed the normal procedure, after the top leader finishes speaking, the second‑in‑command would definitely speak next; that's a given. There's no need for Fang Jingwen to ask this extra question.

Zhou Ruohan said, "No need, no need; everything I wanted to say that Secretary Zhou said has already been said.

At this moment Fang Jingwen cleared her throat and continued, "Comrades! Do you know why we've gathered you all here? I want, in front of Secretary Zhou and County Magistrate Zhou, to straighten out the discipline and work‑style problems inside our Discipline Inspection Commission.

"The Xiushui Xiang case was originally known only to a few people; I've repeatedly stressed that, we're conducting this investigation covertly, we mustn't tip off the suspects—but the result? The Xiushui Xiang side learned of our purpose and simultaneously carried out heinous actions.

"It nearly endangered the lives of several poverty‑alleviation comrades; while we were holding the meeting, some comrades were still in the intensive care unit.

"So now I'm giving you a chance for self‑reflection: who leaked this information to Cui Mingjiu or Lu Kai? I ask you to admit it yourselves.