Chapter 50 of 100

Chapter 50

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Chapter 6: Stormy City

At this moment, in the conference room of the Sanjiang Municipal Committee, the atmosphere was tense, like a storm was about to break.

The members of the Standing Committee arrived one by one and took their seats, waiting for the two leaders.

"It's raining so hard, and a phone call summoned me back from the provincial capital! I wonder what important matter it could be!"

"What else could it be? The position of the Finance Bureau Director is still vacant! Those two are still at each other's throats, aren't they?"

It was 9:35, and neither Meng Di nor Xiong Xi had shown up. The Standing Committee members began to fidget uneasily and whisper among themselves.

"They all love to put on airs!"

"Wait! What's the difference where we sit?"

"Hem!" Meng Di stood at the door and coughed lightly. The conference room immediately fell silent. The Standing Committee members turned their heads, avoiding each other's gazes, each one appearing deep in thought.

Meng Di glanced at Xiong Xi's empty seat, frowned in dissatisfaction, and walked to the main seat to sit down.

"Today, I called everyone here..." Meng Di began, but was rudely interrupted by another voice: "Secretary Meng, Mayor Xiong hasn't arrived yet. Let's wait a bit longer!"

The speaker was Deputy County Magistrate Zhang Zaili, a loyal supporter of Xiong Xi, who was eagerly awaiting Xiong Xi's promotion so he could step up.

Meng Di gave him a cold look, but Zhang Zaili kept his eyes on the table and absentmindedly played with a pen, ignoring Meng Di's glare.

The other Standing Committee members remained silent. Meng Di suppressed his anger and said calmly, "Let's wait a bit longer. Have the secretary call Mayor Xiong again."

At that moment, Wang Haishan drove into the government compound, shielding his head with his hands, and ran toward the office building in the heavy rain. He first headed to Deputy Mayor Zhang Zaili's office, who was in charge of water conservancy and flood control. The door was closed, and no one answered when he knocked.

The situation was extremely urgent. Wang Haishan thought for a moment and then rushed to Mayor Xiong Xi's office.

"Knock, knock, knock!" Wang Haishan knocked on the door and heard sounds from inside, indicating someone was there. He didn't dare to enter without permission.

"Who is it!" came Xiong Xi's agitated voice from inside.

"Mayor Xiong, hello, this is Wang Haishan from the Water Conservancy Bureau. I have an urgent matter to report."

"Take it up with your director! Have your director talk to Mayor Zhang! Do you know the rules?" Xiong Xi, who was in the middle of something, was quite irritated.

"Mayor Xiong, the water level at Malin Reservoir is too high, and a mountain flood has broken out. The rain shows no sign of stopping, and the situation is extremely critical. Advisor Li suggested we take immediate emergency measures. Due to the urgency, I came directly to the municipal government to report."

"I understand! Go back and report to your director, and contact the Flood Control Office and the Reservoir Management Bureau. Do you need to bother me with such trivial matters?" Xiong Xi's anger subsided when he heard it was an urgent official matter, but he still spoke sternly.

Wang Haishan responded with a "Yes," and heard the sounds inside the room again, mixed with heavy breathing. He wondered, "Is Mayor Xiong unwell, perhaps with asthma?"

Without permission, he didn't dare to enter the mayor's office. He went back downstairs, got into his car, and drove to the Water Conservancy Bureau. As he entered the gate, he saw the director, Wang Youmin, about to leave in his car. He quickly blocked the entrance, opened the door, and ran to the director's car in the rain, shouting, "Director Wang, Director Wang!"

The director's name was Wang Youmin, around forty years old, and a distant relative of Wang Haishan.

Wang Youmin, who had been promoted rapidly in his twenties and had been stuck in his current position for a long time, had been in the bureau longer than Wang Haishan had been in the Water Conservancy Bureau. Wang Haishan was recruited by him.

Seeing his car blocked, Wang Youmin was about to get angry but then saw Wang Haishan and asked, "What's going on? Why are you in such a panic?"

"Director Wang, I just accompanied Advisor Li to check the water level at Malin Reservoir. The situation is very serious, and we need to take immediate flood control measures!" Wang Haishan stood outside the car, getting drenched within seconds.

Wang Youmin pondered for a moment and said, "Flood control is the responsibility of the Flood Control Office, and the reservoir is managed by the Reservoir Management Bureau. Inform them of the situation. My aunt is in the hospital with a stomachache, and I need to go. We'll talk when I get back."

"Hey! Director Wang!" Wang Haishan grabbed the car window, preventing it from closing. "Director Wang, Advisor Li is still waiting for a response at the dam!"

Wang Youmin thought for a moment, instructed the driver to back the car under the eaves, got out, and returned to his office. He took a towel to wipe the water from his head and threw it to Wang Haishan. "Dry off quickly! We need to hold an emergency meeting!" Wang Haishan, having received the order, immediately ran to notify everyone.

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