Chapter 98: Great Change

When Yuan Gongping left his house in the morning, his right eyelid started twitching uncontrollably, and he had a bad feeling, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

The secretary was already waiting by the car. Seeing Yuan Gongping come out, he quickly stepped forward to take the bamboo cup from Yuan Gongping's hand and opened the car door for him.

"Is that Zeng Yi doing well now?" Yuan Gongping asked casually.

The secretary was taken aback. The boss never inquired about such trivial matters. What was different today? It was quite unusual. He still replied, "It's really unexpected. Such a minor section chief turned out to be a major corrupt official in our cadre ranks. The Discipline Inspection Commission is currently investigating him, and I believe there will be results soon."

Yuan Gongping responded with an "Oh" and got into the car. He couldn't figure out why he had asked that question. He had been very troubled lately. First, Yuan Wenjie fell ill and was admitted to the hospital, unconscious, but no cause could be found. Then, a cashier from Feilong Construction suddenly went missing. Yuan Gongping had already mobilized all his resources to find the cashier, as the information the cashier held was crucial to him.

Perhaps it was because of Wenjie's illness that he thought of the doctor. He had heard that the doctor was quite skilled in medicine. With this thought, Yuan Gongping closed his eyes and rested in the car.

The car quickly arrived at the venue of the Nanjiang Province Transportation System's Clean Government Construction Conference. All the important leaders of the transportation system were waiting at the entrance of the venue.

As soon as Yuan Gongping's car, the number seven standing committee member's car, came to a stop, the director of the Transportation Department, Han Guosheng, immediately opened the car door for him. The crowd then burst into enthusiastic applause, with everyone smiling and giving Yuan Gongping a warm welcome, escorting him into the venue.

As the executive vice governor, Yuan Gongping was responsible for urban construction and transportation, and it was his duty to attend the conference on clean government and anti-corruption in the transportation system. However, he had been appearing more frequently lately. He attended every conference he could, building momentum, showing a strong desire to take over the governor's position.

"... In recent years, the transportation system has seen multiple cases of disciplinary violations and illegal activities by party members and cadres. As a party member and a part of the transportation system, we must recognize the long-term, complex, and urgent nature of clean government and anti-corruption efforts. We must learn from these cases, prevent small issues from growing, and always remember the party's discipline and national laws..."

"... All levels of the transportation department must focus on major issues while paying attention to minor ones, integrating style and discipline into every aspect of personal learning, life, and work. We must be people-oriented, silently fostering a good atmosphere of diligence and integrity, and actively promoting the culture of integrity. We must educate for integrity, lead by example, create an environment of integrity, read for integrity, talk for integrity, warn for integrity, ensure integrity through systems, support integrity through families, and evaluate integrity through society, leaving no room for corruption to grow, and striving to mitigate the risks of corruption in our positions..."

"... I hope everyone will take this clean government conference as an opportunity to further strengthen the efforts to address both symptoms and root causes, pushing the clean government and anti-corruption work to new heights, and striving to achieve new levels in all our work, making new contributions to the economic development and social stability of Nanjiang!"

With a round of enthusiastic applause, Yuan Gongping concluded his speech.

The director of the Transportation Department, Han Guosheng, took the microphone and clapped vigorously, saying, "Just now, Governor Yuan provided very important guidance and opinions on the clean government and anti-corruption work in our transportation system. Everyone must deeply understand and earnestly implement these, and we must not be perfunctory..."

Han Guosheng was about to flatter Yuan Gongping further when a loud "bang" was heard, and the meeting room door was pushed open. Fang Nanguo strode in, followed by seven or eight people.

Yuan Gongping's heart sank. When did Fang Nanguo return? Why hadn't he received any prior information? A sense of foreboding rose in his heart. He quickly got up and walked down from the stage, extending his hand and smiling warmly, "Secretary Fang, when did you return? Why didn't you notify me? I would have gone to the airport to pick you up."

Everyone at the meeting stood up, and the important leaders, including Han Guosheng, followed closely behind Yuan Gongping.

Fang Nanguo seemed to ignore Yuan Gongping's extended hand. He had a stern face and said, "Comrade Gongping, this is a comrade from the Central Discipline Inspection Commission. He has something to say to you!"

"Yuan Gongping, I am Du Jiang, the director of the Fifth Supervision Room of the Central Discipline Inspection Commission. This is my work ID!" Du Jiang showed his work ID to Yuan Gongping.

When Yuan Gongping heard "Central Discipline Inspection Commission," he knew things were not good. However, as a high-ranking official, he managed to maintain a basic level of composure, forcing a stiff smile. He extended his hand and said, "Director Du, welcome to Nanjiang for guidance..."

Du Jiang cut off Yuan Gongping's pleasantries, put away his work ID, and took out a red-headed document with a large red seal, presenting it to Yuan Gongping and said sternly, "Yuan Gongping, you are now under double regulation. Please come with us for an investigation!"

Yuan Gongping's face changed dramatically, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. He knew what he had done, and he was well aware of the implications of being under double regulation. No one who entered had ever come out. If he was under double regulation, it would mean the end for him. He became agitated and shouted, "You are putting a clean and upright official like me under double regulation without any reason. This is extremely unfair. I will make a phone call, I will appeal to the organization, I will inform the senior leaders!"

Du Jiang was not interested in listening to this nonsense. He waved his hand, and two burly men stepped forward, grabbing Yuan Gongping from both sides.

"Take him away!"

At Du Jiang's command, the Central Discipline Inspection Commission personnel began to escort Yuan Gongping out of the venue.

"I don't accept this! Fang Nanguo, this is a malicious retaliation and false accusation. Don't think I don't know about your affairs, I..." Yuan Gongping glared at Fang Nanguo, shouting loudly, his voice resonating through the room's microphones.

The burly men immediately covered Yuan Gongping's mouth and said, "Governor Yuan, you are too agitated. This is not good for your health. Let us take you out for some fresh air!"

With that, the two men lifted Yuan Gongping, who struggled, and carried him out like a chicken.

"Sec... Sec... Secretary Fang..."

Han Guosheng was so shocked that he could hardly speak. The scene had left him trembling, with only a wisp of his soul remaining.

Fang Nanguo's sharp gaze swept across the room, finally settling on Han Guosheng. He said coldly, "Continue the meeting!" and then strode out of the venue.

The venue fell silent, and everyone was stunned. Just a moment ago, Yuan Gongping was sitting confidently on the stage, talking about clean government and integrity. The next moment, he was dragged away by the Central Discipline Inspection Commission. The stark contrast left everyone in shock.

What happened?

Everyone looked at each other, trying to find answers.

The news of Yuan Gongping being under double regulation quickly spread, causing a seismic shift in the Nanjiang political scene. Everyone was dumbfounded, exclaiming that it was unexpected. Yuan Gongping was a member of the provincial standing committee, a high-ranking official directly managed by the central government. How could he be so easily put under double regulation?

Everyone knew that Fang Nanguo had some issues with Yuan Gongping. There were rumors that Fang Nanguo was very dissatisfied with Yuan Gongping's appointment as governor. However, Fang Nanguo was soon transferred to the Central Party School for study, and there were whispers that this was due to the influence of Yuan Gongping's backers, who were planning to remove Fang Nanguo from power.

But just when everyone thought that Yuan Gongping's ascension to the governor's position was a certainty, he was unexpectedly put under double regulation. This was a complete surprise to everyone.

This dramatic turn of events brought joy to some and despair to others.

Those who were happy thought that the old governor was about to retire, and now there was an open position for executive vice governor. This would create many opportunities. On the surface, there were only two positions, but the reality was far more complex. The governor's retirement would lead to a chain of promotions: the vice governor would take over, and the mayor would take the vice governor's position. Who would take the mayor's position? This chain reaction would involve many officials and positions, providing many people with the chance to advance.

Those who were despondent were those who had backed the wrong horse, given the wrong gifts, and entered the wrong doors. They were now in a state of fear, worried that they might be implicated in the scandal.

Inside the Standing Committee's No. 1 Building, after treating Fang Nanguo, he fell into a deep sleep on the massage bed.

Zeng Yi quietly closed the door and went downstairs.

Feng Yuqin was sitting in the living room. Seeing Zeng Yi, she said, "Xiao Yi, come and sit. I've had the kitchen prepare some soup for you. Have a good drink and nourish your body."

"Thank you, Aunt Feng. My body is quite strong; I don't need any nourishment!" Zeng Yi smiled.

Feng Yuqin pulled Zeng Yi's hand and made him sit on the sofa, saying, "These people from the Discipline Inspection Commission are really too bold and reckless. I've heard everything from Xiao Tang!" Feng Yuqin was still angry, both because of Zeng Yi's suffering and because these people had dared to act against him without considering her.

"It's all over now. I am a doctor, and with some medicine, my body has recovered." Zeng Yi said.

Seeing Zeng Yi's smile, Feng Yuqin was reminded of when she was ill. At that time, Zeng Yi had the same smile. "You have suffered so much, but you are a good person!"

Feng Yuqin's words were not just polite. Before Zeng Yi was put under double regulation, he had sent some materials to Fang Nanguo. To avoid alerting Yuan Gongping and causing him to destroy evidence or eliminate witnesses, Fang Nanguo had remained patient. Only when the Central Discipline Inspection Commission had full control did he send Tang Haoran to rescue Zeng Yi.

In a sense, Zeng Yi's suffering was on behalf of Fang Nanguo.

"Those Discipline Inspection Commission people have been punished according to party discipline and national law. This is the will of heaven, and they have received their just desserts. Yuan Gongping has also received his due punishment." Zeng Yi thought of the treacherous Yan Jun and still felt a surge of anger. The news of Yuan Gongping's double regulation had somewhat calmed him, as Yuan Gongping was now experiencing the same fate he had.

The kitchen soon brought out a pot of soup, and the aroma filled the air. Zeng Yi took a deep breath and praised, "It smells so good!"

"If you like it, have more!" Feng Yuqin quickly had someone serve Zeng Yi.

After two bowls, Feng Yuqin tried to serve more, but Zeng Yi waved his hand, saying, "Aunt Feng, please don't serve more. I want to drink more, but my stomach can't handle it. I really can't drink any more."

Seeing Zeng Yi like this, Feng Yuqin felt happy and said, "If you crave soup in the future, come here, and I'll have it prepared for you."

Zeng Yi smiled but didn't commit. He said, "Aunt Feng, I have an idea I want to share with you."

Feng Yuqin had the soup cleared away and brought out a fruit platter. "Go ahead! Say what's on your mind."

"I want to go down to the grassroots and do some work!" Zeng Yi explained his idea. "Secretary Fang's old injury has recovered significantly and will be fully healed soon. With Secretary Tang, he will be fine, and the health base project has been temporarily halted. I want to take this opportunity to go down and gain some experience."

Feng Yuqin was a bit surprised and picked up a piece of watermelon. "What are your specific plans?"

"The deputy director of the Nanyun County Health Bureau has retired due to illness, and the Nanyun County authorities have invited me. I want to try it out!"

---

The kitchen soon brought out a pot of soup, and the aroma filled the air. Zeng Yi took a deep breath and praised, "It smells so good!"

"If you like it, have more!" Feng Yuqin quickly had someone serve Zeng Yi.

After two bowls, Feng Yuqin tried to serve more, but Zeng Yi waved his hand, saying, "Aunt Feng, please don't serve more. I want to drink more, but my stomach can't handle it. I really can't drink any more."

Seeing Zeng Yi like this, Feng Yuqin felt happy and said, "If you crave soup in the future, come here, and I'll have it prepared for you."

Zeng Yi smiled but didn't commit. He said, "Aunt Feng, I have