Chapter 1578: Cao Weiguo, who is not greedy for money

Guangdong Industrial Bureau.

Coming out of the interrogation room, Bureau Chief Jiang took Cao Weiguo to a teahouse, frowning as they talked about the case of the past few days.

This trip south to Guangdong was not just for inspection and condolences, but with the arduous task of "purifying the style and correcting discipline." Because of reports from the masses, the higher-ups assigned Bureau Chief Jiang to lead a team to investigate and must ferret out the black sheep.

After two days of secret investigation, Cao Weiguo alone ferreted out six corrupt officials, one of whom left a deep impression on him.

This corrupt official was only a deputy factory director, but in just two years, he had embezzled and taken bribes of over 8,000 yuan, toyed with more than a dozen women, and caused one woman to die from an accidental miscarriage. His corrupt behavior was extremely vile.

Before becoming a factory leader, this person lived a simple life and worked seriously. He had indeed put in a lot of blood and sweat and made many bright achievements from his time as a propaganda officer to his position as a factory leader. Because of his courage to take responsibility, hard work, and daring style, he was trusted and appreciated by his superiors.

Moreover, this person was excellent in eloquence and writing. During the movement, he wrote many materials, deeply exposing the wrong thoughts of the power-holders and reporting many corrupt cadres. After making progress, he was strict with himself, set an example, and was commended by his superiors several times.

After being caught, he was still serious, taking out a stack of certificates to try his best to prove himself. But in the face of ironclad evidence, this deputy factory director with outstanding achievements had to hold his head and repent, telling the process of his corruption.

This deputy factory director's father was an honest and simple farmer who worked from dawn to dusk, rain or shine, relying on farming to support the whole family and sending him to school. After graduation, he entered the factory as a propaganda officer and became the pride of the village.

Later, his father became ill from overwork and couldn't get up. On his deathbed, he held his hand: "Son! You must work hard, work desperately. You must make a career, hold the iron rice bowl well, get ahead, and bring honor to your ancestors..."

He kept his father's last words in mind, working tirelessly, not knowing how many days and nights he had stayed up, how much sweat he had shed, and how much blood he had flowed. During the flood relief, in order to save people, he resolutely jumped into the turbulent flood and became a hero praised by everyone. He finally got ahead, becoming a division-level cadre in his thirties, a deputy factory director managing thousands of people, and a big figure famous far and near in his hometown.

Such achievements were hard-won, and he cherished everything especially, being cautious in both work and life, acting very carefully, for fear of making mistakes and failing his father's expectations.

After becoming deputy factory director, many people came to him to pull strings, and the stream of people sending money and gifts was endless, but he refused them one by one. Eager to make progress, he didn't dare to take a single needle or thread, fearing that he would be caught by others, leaving a stain on his resume and affecting his political future.

But in the end, he still didn't escape the hunter's pursuit. A commune cadre of the same clan as him dragged him into the mire. On New Year's Eve three years ago, this commune cadre came to visit in the name of comforting the elderly. As soon as he entered the door, he moved rice, flour, and oil into the house. Accompanying him were the elders of the village, saying that all the elderly in the village who had reached the age had them, and his mother couldn't bear to refuse the rice, flour, and oil, leaving him no way to refuse.

Since then, every holiday, that commune cadre would send rice and flour, caring for the elderly meticulously, even more filial than to his own mother. As time passed, the relationship between the two became close, and they became good brothers who talked about everything. In work, he was cautious everywhere, but he opened a "gap" for this good brother. Later, he almost responded to every request, and the return gifts he received became more and more... His great political ambitions were worn away bit by bit in the wine, sex, wealth, and spirit.

In the quiet teahouse, Bureau Chief Jiang smoked one cigarette after another, and Cao Weiguo sat silently with a teacup. During the conversation, the two exchanged views and warned each other.

At this time, Cao Weiguo was no longer a new recruit, but a cadre at the department level with real power. He had personally participated in many large projects and handled many major cases... To speak of the power in his hands, it was much greater than those factory directors, deputy factory directors, and section chiefs he had taken down, and the interests involved were also much greater.

Fortunately, Cao Weiguo was famously "not greedy for money." Since entering the Industrial Bureau, he could pat his chest and say that he hadn't embezzled a single cent. Even if he received gifts during holidays, he would return them. Everyone in the bureau knew this, so he couldn't be caught in a trap, and no faults could be picked out. As for those who asked him to do things, the gifts they took out couldn't move him.

I sit on ten thousand acres of fertile land, countless cattle and sheep, and mountains of gold and silver. Can I look at those sesame seeds and dates? Can I lose the watermelon for the sake of sesame seeds?

Bureau Chief Jiang knew Cao Weiguo's "not greedy for money" point very well and appreciated it very much, so he repeatedly entrusted him with important tasks, regarding him as his right-hand man and confidant.

"Not greedy for money" was Cao Weiguo's advantage, but the flaws didn't hide the virtues. Cao Weiguo also had "shortcomings," that is, his interpersonal relationships were intricate, and his friends and relatives were like crucian carp crossing the river, to the point that Bureau Chief Jiang broke into a cold sweat for Cao Weiguo.

Don't fear the thief stealing, fear the thief thinking about it. There were too many temptations in this world. He was just worried that Cao Weiguo would make a mistake if he wasn't careful, so he had this teahouse conversation, hoping to warn his confidant.

Cao Weiguo said frankly: "Using copper as a mirror, one can straighten one's clothes; using history as a mirror, one can know the rise and fall; using people as a mirror, one can know gains and losses. Please rest assured, leader, I, Cao Weiguo, will definitely stick to my original heart, firm my belief, never do anything to let the people down, learn from Comrade Jiao Yulu, serve the people wholeheartedly, and contribute to the development of the motherland."

Bureau Chief Jiang nodded with satisfaction: "Weiguo, I believe you will do what you say, because I won't misjudge people."

After parting from the teahouse, Cao Weiguo returned to the guesthouse alone and picked up the "People's Daily" to study word by word. But before he could finish reading, the phone in the room suddenly rang.

On the phone: "I am so-and-so... The chief asked me to tell you that the matter of the factory you are investigating now, the situation inside is complex, involving... Now the production task is heavy... You understand."

Cao Weiguo hurriedly replied: "Yes, yes, yes, please tell the chief, please rest assured, I will try my best to ensure that it does not affect production..."

On the phone: "The chief said, you have done a good job in the past two years, very hard, and the achievements are also very prominent. The chief is very satisfied with you, hoping you will take care of your health and make persistent efforts. There are heavier burdens in the future that need you to carry."

Cao Weiguo: "Yes, yes, yes, thank you for the chief's concern, I will definitely not live up to the chief's cultivation."

After putting down the phone, Cao Weiguo sat on the bed, looking at the headline on the newspaper, shook his head with slight fatigue, lay on the bed, and looked at the ceiling, falling into deep thought.

As his position got higher and higher, the level of contact also got higher and higher. Cao Weiguo felt more and more pressure, with eyes everywhere and invisible shackles everywhere. A word from the chief made him rack his brains. It was not as comfortable and free as when he was at the Red Star Rolling Mill. ===== CHAPTER 1580 =====