Chapter 29 of 100

Chapter 29: Official Authority - Part 2

16 min read3,941 words

Wen Yuxi glanced at him indifferently and said sternly, "This is not the time to assign blame! Organize the rescue efforts immediately! However, your departments of transportation and health do need some reorganization! If it weren't my secretary who died today, or if I hadn't been here, wouldn't this matter have been swept under the rug?"

Wang Guozhi understood the meaning behind Wen Yuxi's glance.

A car accident, even if it resulted in the death of Secretary Wen's secretary, was not something for which a vice governor in charge of transportation and health should be held responsible. By saying this, Wen Yuxi was merely expressing an attitude, an attitude of seeking favor. Of course, this meaning could only be understood, not spoken aloud.

Clearly, Wen Yuxi understood his intention and supported him, using this opportunity to make personnel adjustments within the two major departments of transportation and health!

And these personnel adjustments were exactly what Wang Guozhi, who had just taken office and was not yet firmly established, desperately needed! Without them, it would be difficult to place his own people in the solidly entrenched health and transportation systems, and without his own people, it would be impossible to control these two departments!

Li Yi, standing nearby, heard their conversation and nodded in understanding.

At that moment, Wen Yuxi happened to look over and, seeing Li Yi nodding at him, thought for a moment and recognized him, then beckoned to him.

Li Yi, unsure, pointed to himself. After receiving confirmation from Wen Yuxi, he bent his waist, crossed the police line, and walked to Wen Yuxi, respectfully saying, "Hello, Secretary Wen!"

"Haha, you know my identity now? You're not calling me Uncle Wen anymore?"

Li Yi replied, "I dare not. I was ignorant before, please don't take it to heart, Secretary Wen."

"Li Yi, Li Yi from Nanjing University—am I right? Hmm, you can still call me Uncle!" Wen Yuxi smiled, a rare expression: "I should thank you! You have made a significant contribution to the steel industry in our province!"

"Doing my duty! I dare not take credit. Actually, I have many more immature ideas about industry, but due to time constraints, I didn't get to express them all. If necessary, you can send someone, and I can discuss them in detail with him," Li Yi said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Oh? That would be great! To be honest, I'm very curious about you! How about this, I'll send someone to pick you up another day, and we can have a good talk," Wen Yuxi said after some thought.

The people around them were all surprised, and their looks at Li Yi became somewhat unusual.

The provincial party secretary was actually going to personally meet with a student!

And he was going to discuss industry with him?

What important information did this contain? What was the relationship between this young man and Wen Yuxi? The implications were worth pondering for those in the political arena.

Wen Yuxi asked, "Were you passing by here?"

Li Yi answered, "Today is Sunday. I was drinking with a friend, and he received a pager call saying there was an emergency. Since he had had a few drinks, I drove him here."

"Oh? Your friend?" Wen Yuxi asked, somewhat surprised: "Who is he? What kind of matter could require his attention?"

Li Yi, embarrassed, said, "His name is Chen Xiang, and he is the captain of the city traffic police."

When Wen Yuxi heard this, a sharp look flashed in his eyes, piercing Li Yi as if trying to see through his heart, making Li Yi feel inexplicably cold.

Li Yi knew that his move had been too obvious, and Wen Yuxi had seen through it and seemed very angry.

But he had a clear conscience and faced it calmly. After all, he was telling the truth, and it was Wen Yuxi who had asked. What did it have to do with him?

Wen Yuxi slowly nodded and said, "Hmm, Captain Chen is not bad. He arrived in a timely manner and followed traffic rules!"

At that moment, Chen Xiang walked over and, hearing these words, was moved to tears! He felt a surge of energy and looked at Li Yi with gratitude.

To avoid suspicion, Li Yi did not make eye contact with him. But he knew that he had gained Chen Xiang's trust.

Ye Chengfeng and Wu Jiang were slightly shaken and exchanged glances after looking at Chen Xiang.

Wen Yuxi waved his hand and said, "How about this, when you have time, come over for tea!"

Li Yi respectfully replied, "Sure!"

Wen Yuxi patted his shoulder, and Li Yi felt a warm force pass through him, making him feel somewhat elated.

Leaders are leaders. Long-term positions and political life have cultivated a strong presence, combined with the authority and prestige accumulated over time, making people feel inexplicably tense and excited when they meet them.

Wen Yuxi turned around, his smile gone, and asked, "Where are the people from the Provincial Health Department? Why haven't they arrived yet?"

A person ran over and reported in a low voice, "Director Zhou was drinking with someone and got drunk. His secretary said he couldn't wake him up..."

"Ridiculous! A provincial department director, living a life of drunkenness, who will take responsibility when an emergency occurs? Who will the subordinates report to? Such a person, occupying such an important leadership position, is not doing their job! This is a serious dereliction of duty to the people of the entire province, and a lack of responsibility! I suggest that Comrade Zhou Gensheng be immediately relieved of his position as director of the Provincial Health Department!"

Everyone present agreed. This was the first time since Wen Yuxi took office that he had disciplined a department-level official. Although the incident was accidental, it was also a well-thought-out move. Otherwise, such a simple traffic accident would not have led to the dismissal of the provincial health department director.

Comrade Zhou Gensheng was probably still wandering in his dreams, completely unaware of his situation. When he woke up the next day, his position would be gone, and his glory and wealth would be like a bubble, making him regret the things that had misled and harmed him.

The officials present understood why Wen Yuxi had come in person. It was to make an example and warn others!

No one had expected that a traffic accident would ultimately target the health system!

The injured were all loaded onto ambulances, and the cause of the accident was quickly reported to Wen Yuxi.

Wen Yuxi's face turned ashen as he listened to the staff report.

The perpetrator was Wen Yuxi's secretary, the car belonged to the unit, and the woman who died with the secretary was not his wife. When the accident occurred, their positions were particularly unusual: the woman's upper body was undressed, revealing her white, full breasts, and her head was buried in the secretary's crotch, with the secretary's pants down to his knees.

Wen Yuxi listened quietly and then turned to a middle-aged man behind him, saying, "Secretary Zheng, what a fine secretary you've chosen for me!"

The middle-aged man was the Secretary-General of the Provincial Party Committee, a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Provincial Party Committee General Office, Zheng Zhihong. Zheng Zhihong was closer to Governor Tang Chunqiang and often spoke on his behalf at the Standing Committee meetings. Wen Yuxi had long been dissatisfied with him. How could he allow someone to sleep soundly beside his bed? However, he had been unable to find an opportunity to discipline him. When he received the call about his secretary's car accident, he immediately notified a group of relevant leaders and rushed to the scene. The previous punishments and dismissals of the health system were actually for Zheng Zhihong to see.

Zhou Gensheng and others were the chickens, and Zheng Zhihong was the monkey.

Zhou Gensheng and others were the mountains, and Zheng Zhihong was the tiger.

Wen Yuxi wanted to make it clear to the Southern political arena that he was the top leader! The power of personnel appointments was in his hands! Don't think he was an outsider and easy to bully!

Zheng Zhihong, a seasoned politician, could not fail to understand Wen Yuxi's intentions. The person you, Zheng Zhihong, recommended, has now caused a scandal that disgraces the provincial party secretary. You must take responsibility! How much responsibility and how you take it depends on what you do!

After much deliberation, Zheng Zhihong lowered his head, "Secretary Wen, this is my mistake! I failed to judge people correctly. Please rest assured, I will not make the same mistake in the future."

It sounded like he was talking about recommending the secretary, but only the parties involved understood the deeper meaning.

Wen Yuxi nodded in satisfaction, "It's hard to know a person's true nature. It's not your fault. Let's put this aside. After you return, help me find a better person."

A few medical staff carried several bodies past, each covered with a white sheet. The autumn wind blew, lifting one of the sheets and revealing the face of a young man. Li Yi had seen this face at the steel summit. At that time, the face was full of confidence and ambition, but now it was being carried to the morgue. It made one sigh at the unpredictability of change and the uncertainty of fate.

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