Chapter 999

A person of Miao Wei's rank is naturally received personally by Hou Junlai.

"Mayor Miao, why do you have time to come to our Discipline Inspection Commission today? No one here is willing to come."

Hou Junlai first made a teasing remark.

Miao Wei said blankly, "Secretary Hou, stop joking with me; I'm here to surrender."

Hou Junlai then said seriously, "Surrender? If you had come ten minutes earlier, it might count as a surrender, but now someone has already reported you. Even if you don't come, we will go to your place to request you."

Miao Wei almost lost his footing upon hearing this and fell forward. Surrender and being reported are completely different concepts; the matter is the same, but the outcome of handling it is entirely different—it's a matter of attitude.

After a full half‑minute, he asked, "What exactly is going on? I know my own problem; I came this time specifically to be frank with Secretary Hou."

Hou Junlai said, "We have already clarified your case. One issue is that you allowed villagers to illegally mine at Sha He; you participated, and almost all cadres here were involved. As the primary leader, you bear direct responsibility."

"According to your view, this was originally ambiguous, but from my perspective, illegal is illegal, disciplinary violation is disciplinary violation; there is no such thing as ambiguity."

"In addition, regarding the mass incident between the Miao and Yao families, what exactly happened to the lives involved? I think you know better than we do. I'd like to give you some dignity by having you write the relevant matters in my office; there's no need to go to the interrogation room right now."

Miao Wei felt the sky had collapsed; even this step was taken by someone else first. Of course he knew that Wang Yinxiang and Yao Lichun had reported everything. At that moment he even felt a bit regretful, but in fact there is no 'regret medicine'; having done it, he must bear the corresponding responsibility.

Hou Junlai, having obtained the results of those people's reports, went straight to find Su Yang.

"County Magistrate Su, just as you said before, they were behind this, and now the truth is fully revealed; it can be raised directly at the County Party Standing Committee. As for those individuals, dismissal is inevitable; the subsequent judgment will depend on how the procuratorate and courts decide."

Su Yang replied after listening, "In the whole Guantan Gou Zhen, aside from Minister Yang, almost everyone else cannot escape. To put it bluntly, if we really expose it, all the town cadres would be wiped out. Such a result, if presented at the Standing Committee, I think 100% would not pass, because it's a family disgrace."

"Lieshan Xian would never dare to have two such heinous incidents in the short term. Moreover, more people than these are involved; Ma Su should not be moved for now. If Ma Su is moved, it would mean everyone has to be moved."

"We lack the strength now, and the timing is unsuitable. You should, according to regulations, inform Secretary Zhang and County Magistrate Zhao, and also submit a report to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission to see their attitude. Moreover, this concerns the work of the Discipline Inspection Commission; it would be inappropriate for me to take a stance first."

"Of course, the meeting room previously decided to appoint me as the head of the accident investigation team for these two homicide cases; it seems it can be closed now, and I also need to write a complete report for the two principal leaders."

In Su Yang's mind, this matter caused no ripple at all; how could it get any worse? It's just as it is. If only a few participated, he would definitely flip the table this time, but with so many people, opening it now would trigger a bomb. When that happens, although those people will certainly face legal penalties, he won't be any better off either.

Hou Junlai, somewhat unwilling, said, "Is that all we're going to settle for? Then wouldn't our Discipline Inspection Commission truly be just as others say—that we haven't done any work these past years?"

Su Yang said, "You've already dealt with the town mayor, the deputy secretary, and a deputy town mayor of Guantan Gou Zhen; isn't that work? Do you really think only handling a few deputy division-level cadres counts as work? This matter isn't ready for complete liquidation yet; we may not have the advantage at the Standing Committee now. There are several projects still to be passed at the Standing Committee, and if we tear the face now, we won't gain any benefit."

"For the overall development and for the Common People of the whole county to enjoy good lives, our temporary compromise and patience is also a strategy."

Hou Junlai said, "That's right; my work does have limits. Sometimes I only see things from the Discipline Inspection Commission's perspective, whereas County Magistrate Su stands higher and sees farther."

Su Yang said, "Enough, stop giving me that routine. The investigations that need to be done must continue covertly, and the issues that need to be implemented must keep being implemented. It's not that these matters aren't to be handled, just that the time isn't right."

Although he said that, after Hou Junlai left, he did not prepare materials to report to Zhang Jiangbo and Zhao Nanxing, but instead called Former County Magistrate Tong Guohua.

His call seemed to be expected by the Former County Magistrate; once connected, he laughed and said, "County Magistrate Su really called me; I'm waiting in the small courtyard. Let's chat; perhaps I can help clear up some matters for you."

After Su Yang expressed his thanks, he drove to Former County Magistrate Tong Guohua's residence.

Today the Former County Magistrate seemed to have prepared in advance; on the kang table in the house were already four small dishes and two pots of wine.

When Su Yang entered, Former County Magistrate Tong Guohua warmly said, "During this big New Year, I'm alone here; I haven't prepared fine wine or dishes, only plain tea and simple food, please forgive me."

Su Yang said, "Former County Magistrate, no need to say that. I should have come back right away to pay New Year's respects to you, but there are so many affairs in the county that I can't get away from them; I hope you'll understand."

The two of them continued talking and sat down on the kang.

The Former County Magistrate poured Su Yang a glass of wine, smiled and said, "I've also heard about the county affairs. You were supposed to be on vacation in Jingcheng, and you came back in such a hurry; I guess your wife also has opinions about it, right?"

Su Yang said, "The world is vast, but work is the biggest. If this incident hadn't occurred, I would definitely have finished my marriage leave in Jingcheng before returning, but some people seem to dislike me and keep looking for trouble."

"To be honest, with incident after incident, even though I'm not the main leader of the county, I feel embarrassed. So today I come to the Former County Magistrate to seek advice; please point me to how, in Lieshan Xian's environment and our county's Political Ecology, we can develop steadily and fundamentally improve the lives of the Common People."