Chapter 7: A Late-Night Visit to the Municipal Committee

Yang Zixuan dialed An Zai Shan's beeper.

Soon, An Zai Shan replied.

"The evidence has been found. The corruption within Hongfang is severe, with serious misappropriation of public assets. I estimate that Xu Fuguo and Li Sicheng are also implicated. This case could very well turn into a nest of corruption. When are you free?" Yang Zixuan said with a serious expression.

"A nest of corruption?" An Zai Shan drew in a sharp breath. "Are you sure?"

He had originally thought that the biggest issue with Hongfang was Li Sicheng and Xu Fuguo's poor judgment and leadership responsibility, which wouldn't significantly impact their careers. However, if the two were acting as protectors and colluding with Hongfang's leaders to misappropriate public assets, the situation would become much more serious, turning into a major nest of corruption.

It was a sensitive time, with the Soviet Union, a major northern country, on the verge of disintegration. The corruption issues before the Soviet collapse were also severe. Some domestic discourses and analytical articles pointed out that the serious corruption from the bottom up in the Soviet Union was one of the factors leading to its disintegration, and this view had gained some support from the higher-ups.

If a nest of corruption were to erupt within the Luofu Province at this time, it would be like a spark igniting a forest fire.

"There's a 60% chance," Yang Zixuan said confidently.

After a moment of contemplation, An Zai Shan, on the other end of the phone, said calmly, "Alright, wait for me there. I'm currently in a meeting at the county committee discussing the Hongfang issue. I'll find an excuse to leave and head over to you immediately. We need to deliver the evidence to the municipal committee promptly."

Yang Zixuan responded and hung up the phone. He then instructed Su Ming, "If a county leader rushes to Daming City to report to the municipal committee leaders, you all can go back and rest. We two will go."

"I want to go with you," Su Chen pouted, stepping forward and tugging at the corner of Yang Zixuan's shirt. Su Chen, still a young girl, was curious about everything.

Yang Zixuan, who had never seen this cute side of Su Chen, felt a bit dizzy and cursed inwardly, thinking she was a little vixen. He wondered how many people she would charm when she grew up.

"No way. You're so beautiful. If something happens while walking at night, your boyfriend will curse me to death," Yang Zixuan teased, his nerves finally relaxing.

"Rubbish! I don't have a boyfriend," Su Chen flicked the hair hanging in front of her eyes behind her ear, biting her lip and glaring at Yang Zixuan with clear eyes that were both angry and embarrassed. "You're a county leader, how can you talk to a girl like that?"

She then widened her eyes and stared at Yang Zixuan.

Yang Zixuan, not to be outdone, also widened his eyes and stared back at Su Chen without restraint.

Su Ming, standing to the side, was stunned. This Yang County Leader must be acting foolish again, actually getting into a staring contest with a little girl.

After a while, Su Chen, being a girl with a thin face, couldn't take it anymore. She turned her head away, not daring to look at Yang Zixuan anymore, but she could still feel his shameless gaze lingering on her face...

"Stop looking, I'm leaving, and I won't talk to you anymore." Su Chen turned her head sharply, stomped her foot, and fled like a flash...

Yang Zixuan was left with a mischievous smile, but no one could see it in the darkness.

Soon, the headlights of the motorcycle illuminated the road in front of Yang Zixuan.

Yang Zixuan looked up and saw An Zai Shan's somewhat scholarly face.

"The Hongfang workers are still gathered in front of the county government, and the county committee has convened an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures. It's not very decent for you, as a vice-county magistrate in charge of the textile sector, to be absent and missing in action..." An Zai Shan, now more familiar with Yang Zixuan, spoke with a hint of teasing.

"Ha ha, if I didn't go missing, I would probably be isolated for investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission and thrown into detention before I could attend the county committee meeting," Yang Zixuan said as he got on An Zai Shan's Jialing motorcycle.

In the 1990s, not many section-level officials like An Zai Shan could afford cars.

Daming City, located in the eastern part of Luofu Province, held a middle economic and political position in the province. The number of provincial leaders from Daming City was not particularly high, but they still formed a significant political force within the province.

The Daming Municipal Committee's family dormitories were by the Hong River. When Yang Zixuan and An Zai Shan arrived, it was already past 8 PM.

"I've already called Minister Liu Zhen of the Municipal Publicity Department. Let's go in together," An Zai Shan said to Yang Zixuan.

Liu Zhen was a local official in Daming City, having risen step by step from the publicity department. He had been in a leadership position in the municipal committee for nearly ten years. Despite his unremarkable appearance, his authority remained intact. When Yang Zixuan and An Zai Shan entered, he was sitting on the sofa in a white shirt, watching TV. "Zai Shan and Zixuan, come in and sit down."

This was the first time Yang Zixuan, from his past life to the present, had met such a high-ranking municipal official, and he felt somewhat uneasy.

"Zai Shan, how are you getting along at the Hongshui County Court? Is your work going smoothly?" Liu Zhen, watching the TV screen, took a sip of tea and asked casually.

"Pretty good," An Zai Shan, who was familiar with Liu Zhen, spoke without restraint.

"Zixuan, I heard that some people from Hongfang caused a disturbance at the county government today, right?" Liu Zhen instructed his wife to serve tea, put on his reading glasses, and turned to Yang Zixuan, asking intentionally or unintentionally.

Yang Zixuan sat up straight, organized his thoughts, and said, "Minister Liu Zhen, I came tonight to report on the Hongfang issue."

Liu Zhen thought for a moment, waved his hand, and smiled, "You should report to Secretary Lin Pei or Mayor Tang Lu..."

Yang Zixuan was taken aback, unsure of the meaning behind Liu Zhen's words. He looked at An Zai Shan, hoping for an answer, but An Zai Shan also looked bewildered...

"I'm afraid it would disturb Secretary Lin and Mayor Tang's rest at this late hour, so I came with Director An to report the specific situation to you first..."

Liu Zhen thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll call Secretary Lin and see if he's asleep. If not, I'll have Zai Shan take you to the No. 1 Building of the Municipal Committee to report to him."

With that, Liu Zhen picked up the old-fashioned rotary phone on the coffee table and dialed the number of Secretary Lin Pei of the Municipal Committee.

This old man clearly knew about the Hongfang issue but didn't want to get involved, so he passed the buck to Secretary Lin Pei!

Yang Zixuan made this judgment and looked at the black bag in his hand.

It seems the Hongfang issue is not simple.

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