Power and Wealth

Chapter 823 – First Mission

Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan’s apartment.

After 10 am.

Xie Huilan and the City Education Ministry Chief had tea and chatted. But they had just met and did not talk about important stuff.

After a while, Liao Yiming stood up. “Mayor Xie, it’s late. I am going back.”

“What’s the rush? Leave after lunch. It’s almost lunchtime anyway.” Xie Huilan looked at the time.

“I don’t want to bother you and Director Dong.” Liao Yiming smiled. “I will visit you another day.”

Xie Huilan hesitated for a second and nodded with a smile. “Alright. We will have many opportunities to get together in the future.”

Dong Xuebing walked over. “I will walk you out.”

Liao Yiming quickly replied. “Mayor Xie, Director Dong, you don’t need to do this.”

Xie Huilan looked at Dong Xuebing. “Oh, Xiao Bing, where’s the tea leaves?”

“I had packed it.” Dong Xuebing passed a small box of Da Hong Pao tea leaves to Liao Yiming. “We don’t have many tea leaves at home. Please don’t mind the small amount.” Xie Huilan did not have much tea leaves at home, as such tea leaves were rare.

Liao Yiming smiled. “This small box of tea leaves is priceless. It’s almost impossible to buy it. How can I accept such a valuable gift?”

Dong Xuebing passed the box to him. “Chief Liao, don’t be so polite with us.”

“Err….” Liao Yiming accepted it. “Thank you.”

Dong Xuebing closed the door after sending Liao Yiming.

Xie Huilan lazed on the sofa and unbuttoned the top button of her blouse. She looked different from minutes ago.

Dong Xuebing blinked and sat beside her. “Is Liao Yiming trying to get closer to you?”

Xie Huilan smiled. “I think so, but it could also be a normal visit. Let’s wait and see.”

“I think he must be thinking of joining your faction.” Dong Xuebing said. “If not, he would not be so polite.”

“Alright. It’s our rest day today. Let’s not talk about work.” Xie Huilan smiled as she played with Dong Xuebing’s hand and fingers. “My Little Husband had done well earlier. You showed decency and did not say the wrong things. You should be rewarded. I allow you to rest this afternoon and don’t need to cook lunch. It’s been a while since I entered the kitchen. I will show you my cooking skills today.”

Dong Xuebing wiped off the cold sweat on his forehead. “How is this a reward? Let me cook lunch.”

Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you trying to say I can’t cook?”

“You should know the reason….” Dong Xuebing smiled and did not say anything.

Suddenly, Dong Xuebing’s phone rang. Ring… ring… ring…. It was a number from the City Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Dong Xuebing answered immediately. “Hello, I’m Dong Xuebing.”

“Director Dong, I am Office Department Gao Wenrong.”

“Oh, Brother Gao. What is it?”

“We have a meeting in the Commission for Discipline Inspection, and the leader asked me to inform you.”

“Now?”

“Yes. I think it’s about an urgent matter.

“Alright. I will go over now.”

After hanging up, Dong Xuebing looked at Xie Huilan. “Seems like I don’t have the chance to taste your cooking. I need to go back to work. Have lunch yourself.”

Xie Huilan smiled and nodded. “Go ahead.”

Dong Xuebing sighed. “I get even get a proper rest during the weekends.”

“That’s your responsibility as Inspection First Office Director. Stop complaining.”

“I know. I was only grumbling. I am going out now.”

“Call and inform me if you are coming back for dinner later.”

“I know.” Dong Xuebing walked towards the door and turned back. “Give me a kiss before I go.”

Xie Huilan smiled and lifted Dong Xuebing’s right hand to her lips. She kissed the back of his hand lightly. “Is this good enough?”

Dong Xuebing replied angrily. “What’s so good about that? I asked you to kiss me and not my hand. Never mind. Forget it. I got to leave now.”

Dong Xuebing heard Xie Huilan giggling when he closed the door. He will make sure to teach her a lesson when he returns.

The City Party Committee Building.

Commission for Discipline Inspection building.

The office building was quiet when Dong Xuebing entered. Most staff were not working today.

Dong Xuebing knocked on the small meeting room’s door and heard someone inside say. “Come in.”

A few people were in the meeting room.

The City’s Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary He Shuien, Secretary Wang Youfu, and Director Liang Xuan.

He Shuien saw Dong Xuebing and waved him over. “Director Dong, have a seat.”

Dong Xuebing knew they were waiting for the rest to arrive, and he sat beside Liang Xuan, nearer to the head of the table. He sat there because of his position, and they had fixed sitting arrangements.

About two to three minutes later, the Inspection Bureau Chief, Xiao Bin, arrived.

He Shuien finally said. “Everyone is here. Let’s start the meeting.”

Xiao Bin looked at him. “Secretary He, what happened?”

He Shuien paused for a second and passed a document to Xiao Bin. “Take a look at this first.”

Xiao Bin’s face changed after reading the document, and he passed it to Wang Youfu. Wang Youfu finished reading it and passed it to Dong Xuebing.

He Shuien said. “Our Complains Department received this report this morning, and Director Liang informed me immediately. As you can see, it is regarding Nan Shan District Party Secretary Geng Yuehua receiving bribes. It was an anonymous report, and the whistleblower claimed to be a China Construction Bank staff. This person had accidentally discovered Geng Yuehua had two million RMB of savings in her bank account. I immediately checked that account, and it was under her name with two million RMB. This account was not included in Geng Yuehua’s declared asset. What do you all think of this case?”

Yuehua?

Geng Yuehua had received bribes?!

Dong Xuebing’s face changed, and he couldn’t believe it.

Secretary Wang Youfu replied. “Secretary He, is this confirmed?”

He Shuien replied. “This is Inspection First Office’s job. I did not get anyone to check, but this is almost confirmed.”

“Are you saying that we should investigate Geng Yuehua?” Xiao Bin looked at He Shuien.

He Shuien looked at everyone. “I would want to hear everyone’s opinion.”

Dong Xuebing could not hold back and said. “How did that bank staff see Geng Yuehua’s saving account accidentally? That person also reported it to the Commission for Discipline Inspection. I find it suspicious and might be a setup for Secretary Geng. It might be done by someone who had a grudge against her. Even if Geng Yuehua had received bribes, why would she keep the money in her bank account? This is too suspicious.”

Liang Xuan looked at Dong Xuebing. “I also think so. Our Complain Office had received many similar reports in the past, and most of them were false accusations or setups.”

Xiao Bin added. “Since this had happened, we should still look into it.”

Dong Xuebing was about to say something but stopped. He knew this matter must be investigated. The whistleblower might have sent this complaint to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. They might question the City’s Discipline Inspection on why no actions were taken.

Liang Xuan slowly added. “I remember Secretary Geng’s outstanding performance during the earthquake, and she was reported in the media many times.”

He Shuien nodded. “This is a problem. The City had just recently praised and promoted Geng Yuehua, and if we investigate her….”

Everyone understood what he meant.

This was like slapping their faces or the City Party Committee slapping themselves. It would be hard to handle and might affect the civilians’ trust in the government. Of course, if this can be handled quickly, He Shuien would not call for this meeting on the weekend.

Everyone started to discuss this case.

In the end, He Shuien decided. “Alright. I will speak to the Party Committee, and we will investigate Geng Yuehua. But the investigation must be conducted silently. Director Dong, your Inspection First Office must monitor this closely. Oh, is there any Nan Shan District staff that broke the rules?”

Dong Xuebing hesitated for a second. “Yes. A Deputy District Mayor.”

This Deputy District Mayor’s surname is Zhang. On Dong Xuebing’s first day, Liu Hanqing asked his staff to check this person’s bank account. Dong Xuebing had no impression of this Deputy District Mayor Zhang working in Nan Shan District. He must be one of the bottom-level Deputies without any real power.

He Shuien replied. “Alright. You will bring your men to go to Nan Shan District on the pretext of investigating this Deputy District Mayor and investigating Geng Yuehua’s case in secret. See if this accusation is true. Remember, do it in silence and be mindful.” He turned and looked at the rest. “This applies to you all too. Don’t leak this out.”

“Understand.”

“Yes.”

Everyone is okay with Dong Xuebing taking on this mission. Investigating District and County Division Chief Leaders is the Inspection First Office’s duty. But Dong Xuebing felt uneasy and frustrated. He did not expect his first mission after getting appointed to be investigating Geng Yuehua. When he was Guang Ming Subdistrict Office Director, he had a bad relationship with her on the surface. No one, including her brother, knows about their unique relationship.

Sigh…. Why is this happening?

How is Dong Xuebing going to explain the investigation to her?

Corruption and bribery? If Geng Yuehua is corrupted, the government will have no clean staff.