Chapter 100

Chapter 56: Voting

Wu Qingyuan said expressionlessly, "Then let's vote!"

Everyone returned to their seats, and people like Shao Guoping also sat down to watch.

"Regarding the reservoir issue, those who do not support further investigation, please speak up." Wu Qingyuan played a trick, using "those who do not support" instead of "those who oppose," which could easily lead to a misunderstanding if one wasn't careful.

Sure enough, the standing committee members all pondered for a moment, remaining silent.

Wu Qingyuan slowly raised his right hand: "I do not support further investigation! I trust my comrades!"

After understanding Wu Qingyuan's meaning, the standing committee members began to express their opinions.

The first to support Wu Qingyuan was the Party Masses Secretary Qi Dongshan. He raised his right hand high and said, "I oppose further investigation! Our cadres are all trustworthy!"

Most cadres were appointed through him, the Party Masses Secretary, so he naturally opposed the investigation. Otherwise, wouldn't he be slapping his own face?

Shi Guozhu raised his hand and laughed loudly, "Our Public Security Bureau only deals with arrests, I oppose the investigation!"

Three votes!

"Cough! Let me say a few words." Jin Yuzhong, the deputy county magistrate who had been silent, suddenly spoke up: "I think the incident has already happened, and further investigation would be futile. It would be better to establish an account under the name of the Discipline Inspection Commission. If anyone has embezzled, they can return the money to this account anonymously, without any accountability. This way, we can protect our cadres and recover the embezzled funds."

Wu Qingyuan glared at him and sneered, "Deputy County Magistrate Jin, are you supporting or opposing? What do you mean by this? Are you implying that our cadres have engaged in embezzlement?"

Xue Xue said, "If they could return the embezzled money so easily, this matter would be much simpler! I fear Deputy County Magistrate Jin is thinking too simply. People don't shed tears until they see the coffin."

Jin Yuzhong's face turned red. He hadn't expected that his first attempt at being a fence-sitter would be seen through by his two superiors. Realizing he couldn't avoid it, he gritted his teeth and said, "I oppose the investigation!" as he raised his right hand.

Xue Xue was genuinely surprised, not expecting Jin Yuzhong to defect at the last moment!

Four votes against!

The atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly became tense.

The air seemed to be filled with a thick smell of gunpowder.

Li Yi sighed helplessly, realizing the situation was hopeless!

Wu Qingyuan hadn't expected that Jin Yuzhong, who had always opposed him, would support him. Surprised, he nodded lightly at Jin Yuzhong.

Jin Yuzhong's face lit up as if he had received the emperor's favor. Although the promotion of section-level cadres was not within the county party secretary's authority, the secretary's opinion had a significant influence on the municipal party committee. Getting a word of praise from Wu Qingyuan would increase his chances of becoming the county magistrate.

If Xue Xue lost this matter, her influence in the standing committee would reach its lowest point. A few more squeezes, and she might be driven away. With Wu Qingyuan's support, he could smoothly take her place.

A flash of anger appeared on Xue Xue's face, especially when she learned that Jin Yuzhong was not the mastermind behind the village woman's attack. She had been friendly to him, delegating power and trying to win him over, but she hadn't expected him to cast his precious vote for Wu Qingyuan at this critical moment.

Man's plans are nothing compared to heaven's will!

A thick smile appeared on Wu Qingyuan's face as he looked at the remaining standing committee members and said, "Everyone, please express your stance!"

The remaining four standing committee members were the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Cao Congyang, the Organization Minister Xiong Ziguang, the Propaganda Minister He Guodong, and the United Front Work Minister Zhan Zaiping.

Among the four, the Organization Minister Xiong Ziguang always followed Wu Qingyuan and Qi Dongshan. As the Organization Minister, he had no choice but to follow the secretary.

Wu Qingyuan looked at him with hopeful eyes. In his view, Xiong Ziguang's vote was as certain as catching a crab in a bamboo basket.

Xiong Ziguang shifted uncomfortably under Wu Qingyuan's gaze. He lowered his head but could still feel Wu Qingyuan's burning eyes. Those eyes seemed to be pulling him: "Vote quickly, I need this vote!"

Xiong Ziguang looked out the window.

Outside, the scene was bleak. Gray old buildings stood under a gray sky, looking pale. This small city in the middle of the southern province had a long history but was poorly developed. Rows of evergreen trees swayed helplessly in the scorching sun, as if trying to escape the wind but being held back by the ground.

Xiong Ziguang was momentarily lost in thought, thinking about his past and his family. He had only one son, who, after graduating from university, was assigned to work in a factory. His son wanted to work in the county government, and he also hoped his son could work in the government. So he approached Wu Qingyuan, hoping the secretary could help arrange a job for his son.

Wu Qingyuan had readily agreed, but a month passed with no progress. When Xiong Ziguang asked, Wu Qingyuan said he was new and couldn't arrange personnel matters yet, suggesting they wait another month. Three months later, when Xiong Ziguang went to him again, Wu Qingyuan found excuses to delay. Now, almost half a year since Wu Qingyuan took office, there was still no progress. When he went to Wu Qingyuan again, he was told that the staffing issues were difficult to resolve and to wait a bit longer.

His son worked in a small chemical factory in Sanjiang City, far from home. The factory produced agricultural fertilizers, known for its poor air quality and health risks. A few days ago, his son was accidentally splashed with urea in his eyes at work. Fortunately, he was treated in time and didn't suffer major injuries, but if he had gone blind, his life would have been ruined. Because of this, his wife had a big argument with him, calling him a coward and saying that a respected Organization Minister couldn't even arrange a job for his own son! After the argument, his wife took leave from her job and moved to Sanjiang City to take care of their son.

Sigh! Xiong Ziguang's mood was as listless as the weather outside.

Seeing Xiong Ziguang's silence, Wu Qingyuan's smile gradually froze. In fact, he could have solved Xiong Ziguang's son's problem. Even with tight staffing, as the county party secretary, he could arrange a position, especially with Xiong Ziguang's help as the Organization Minister.

However, Wu Qingyuan, new to Lianshui, needed the support of the standing committee. He needed to use this to control Xiong Ziguang, ensuring he supported him in the standing committee and didn't oppose him in work.

His plan had indeed worked. Xiong Ziguang had followed his orders for the past six months, supporting him unconditionally in the standing committee. He had planned to help Xiong Ziguang after the New Year, but he hadn't expected Xiong Ziguang to have a change of heart!

Xiong Ziguang still didn't speak, and the other standing committee members remained silent.

Although Xiong Ziguang lowered his head, his peripheral vision was still on Wu Qingyuan. Seeing the disappointment and anger on his face, he felt a great sense of satisfaction. "You've been playing me like a monkey, now I'll play you back! Let you see that I, Xiong Ziguang, am also a significant figure! Don't underestimate me!"

Wu Qingyuan lost all confidence in Xiong Ziguang and turned to the other standing committee members. Cao Congyang met his gaze indifferently, and Wu Qingyuan quickly turned to the Propaganda Minister He Guodong. He Guodong was drawing in his work diary, occasionally looking out the window, as if sketching, ignoring Wu Qingyuan's anxious gaze.

Wu Qingyuan could only look at Zhan Zaiping, the United Front Work Minister, who was over fifty and not in the best spirits. He was leaning back in his chair, eyes half-closed, as if already asleep.

Wu Qingyuan was so angry that his teeth ached. "Fine! One pretends to be an artist, the other pretends to be asleep. Let's see how long you can keep it up!" He extended his index finger and tapped the wooden table rhythmically, saying loudly, "Comrades, is there anyone else who does not support? Please raise your hand!"

No one responded.

Xue Xue's pale face regained some color, and she said, "Secretary Wu, can we proceed to the next round of voting?"

Wu Qingyuan thought, "I have four votes, you might not win! Xiong Ziguang didn't vote for me, but he might not vote for you either. Zhan Zaiping is a sly old fox, he might keep pretending to sleep." With this thought, he felt more confident, his expression improving. He nodded and said, "Alright, let's proceed to the next round of voting. Those who support continuing the investigation, please raise your hand!"

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Xue Xue raised her hand first, followed by the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Cao Congyang. The Propaganda Minister He Guodong put down his pen, stopped drawing, and raised his right hand.

Three votes!

Wu Qingyuan was unhappy to see He Guodong raise his hand and coldly snorted. "Why did you stop drawing?"

Xiong Ziguang still kept his head down, and Zhan Zaiping continued to pretend to sleep.

Four to three!

Xue Xue closed her eyes in frustration, a wave of unwillingness surging in her heart. She looked at Xiong Ziguang and said, "Minister Xiong, don't you have any comments?"

Xiong Ziguang raised his head as if startled, looked at Xue Xue, and said, "Oh! Regarding the investigation, I am not opposed."

Xue Xue asked, unwillingly, "So you support it?"

Xiong Ziguang chuckled, "Well, ..."

Li Yi suddenly called out, "Minister Zhan!" and quickly walked over, picking up a pen from the floor.

Zhan Zaiping opened his eyes in surprise and saw Li Yi smiling and handing him the pen, "Minister Zhan, your pen fell."

Zhan Zaiping wasn't confused. He knew he never brought a pen to meetings because he was a soldier by background, poor as a child, and had never been to school. He joined the army in his teens and couldn't write much, even if he had a pen, he wouldn't use it.

"This pen..." Zhan Zaiping was about to say it wasn't his, but saw Li Yi wink at him.

Suppressing his doubts, Zhan Zaiping took the pen and felt a small piece of paper under it. The paper had a line of small writing: "Minister Zhan, Commander Ding Jinquan sends his regards."

Zhan Zaiping was startled, looked at Li Yi, who smiled at him, "Minister Zhan, you can continue sleeping, I won't disturb you." He then quietly stepped back.