Official Career Storm
Chapter 225

Chapter 225: Chapter 225

Chairman Du Lingchun met the three individuals in the VIP room.

He thought he was only going to meet Song Guanchao, but Director Chen of the Industrial and Commercial Bureau, and Director Yu of the Finance Bureau, had also arrived.

Quite the entourage, indeed.

"Secretary Song, Director Chen, Director Yu."

Chairman Du sat down and greeted each one in turn.

"Chairman Du, hello."

Song Guanchao smiled and said, "You’ve heard about the Hui Po Company case, haven’t you, Chairman Du?"

Chairman Du felt a chill, but his expression remained unchanged, "I have."

Song Guanchao said, "Because of this case, the City Committee has established a guidance group, of which I am the leader. Hehe, according to the information I currently have, Zhang Xiaoming’s account was opened at your bank."

"Secretary Song, I really didn’t know about this."

Chairman Du hastily tried to absolve himself of responsibility.

Song Guanchao chuckled, "Don’t be nervous, Chairman Du, I’m not saying it’s related to you."

He took out a cigarette, leaned back slightly, and crossed one leg over the other.

Although he was looking straight ahead, it gave Chairman Du the impression of being looked down upon from a height.

Unconsciously, Song Guanchao had taken control of the conversation, as if he were the bank chairman.

Song Guanchao blew out a puff of smoke and didn’t rush to speak, making Chairman Du a bit nervous.

Because what Song Guanchao was talking about was the Hui Po Company case.

Flicking the ash off his cigarette, Song Guanchao said, "Could you provide the initial account opening information for Zhang Xiaoming’s side, Chairman Du?"

Chairman Du said awkwardly, "That’s client confidentiality..."

"Oh, client confidentiality, huh, hehe."

Song Guanchao’s smile was inscrutable, leaving one to wonder what was on his mind.

"This case is being closely monitored by Mayor Zheng, and Director Qin is also following up. The case has now been cracked, and we are currently in the stage of recovering the embezzled assets."

"Do you know the specifics about Hui Po Company, Chairman Du?"

"No, not very clearly."

"It’s actually not that complicated. Essentially, Zhang Xiaoming and some outsiders set up a company whose main business was collecting parking fees."

"However, these parking spots belong to the state, and the revenue should be turned over to the municipal treasury, but Zhang Xiaoming and his group pocketed it for themselves. Legally, this is called the misappropriation of state-owned assets."

Song Guanchao continued with an easy smile, "I believe Director Qin’s side must definitely have irrefutable evidence and will soon be in touch with the bank..."

Chairman Du hurriedly said, "As long as all the proper procedures are followed, we will definitely cooperate with Director Qin."

"Hmm," replied Song Guanchao, "the procedures will surely be complete, so you needn’t worry about that, Chairman Du. But while the recovery of assets is one thing, what I am mainly interested in knowing is who handled Zhang Xiaoming’s initial account opening. Additionally, with large sums of money moving in and out of accounts opened in his name, doesn’t your bank conduct any risk assessment?"

"After all, Zhang Xiaoming is a public official. It would not have been so smooth without the cooperation of insiders at the bank, would it?"

Chairman Du broke out in a cold sweat.

Beside him, Chen Jie and Yu Lifang also felt a tremor of fear.

Threatening people was something at which Song Guanchao excelled.

"Hehe, don’t be nervous, Chairman Du, I’m just asking casually. After all, recovering the embezzled money is the most important thing."

"As long as the money is returned, everything is negotiable, whether or not to investigate thoroughly is a matter for further discussion."

Song Guanchao extinguished his cigarette, got up, and said, "Alright, it’s getting late, Director Chen, Director Yu, let’s go."

The two women stood up, and Chairman Du also rose, "Secretary Song, let me see you out."

Leaving the bank’s main entrance, Song Guanchao seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "You’re acquainted with Mr. Zhang Yue of the Zhujiang District Branch, aren’t you, Chairman Du?"

"Yes, I know him."

"This Mr. Zhang is the wife of one of my former leaders."

Chairman Du was taken aback, unsure of the meaning behind his deliberate mention of this.

Was he suggesting special consideration?

Or was he planning to remove her from position?

"Mayor Li’s downfall hasn’t affected Mr. Zhang at all, has it?"

"No, no," he replied.

Song Guanchao nodded, "That’s good to hear. After all, Mayor Li had shown me considerable kindness in the past. If his downfall were to affect Mrs. Li, I would feel quite guilty."

Du Lingchun understood, this meant he had to take good care of Zhang Yue.

He suspected that Zhang Yue might have said something to Song Guanchao in private.

"Secretary Song, rest assured. We don’t practice guilt by association here. Mayor Li’s downfall is his own. Mr. Zhang’s work capability is obvious to all, and she certainly won’t be affected."

"Heh, that puts my mind at ease."

Song Guanchao shook his hand, "Chairman Du, you’re busy, so I’ll take my leave now."

"Secretary Song, take care."

He escorted him to the parking lot, watched him get into his car, and watched him drive away before Du Lingchun let out a sigh of relief.

He lit a cigarette, standing in the parking lot.

Upon reflection, Du Lingchun belatedly realized that Song Guanchao’s visit seemed specifically concerned with Zhang Yue’s situation.

"Damn it, almost got played by him!"

Du Lingchun threw the cigarette butt to the ground and stamped on it, slightly annoyed.

He wasn’t a fool. He hadn’t reacted at the moment, but now, analyzing calmly, he knew the purpose of Song Guanchao’s visit.

But upon further thought, his brows furrowed again.

"This Secretary Song is rather sinister."

If Song Guanchao had directly mentioned Zhang Yue’s matter, he wouldn’t necessarily have obliged him.

But the sly part about him was that he didn’t bring it up directly.

He went beating around the bush, starting with the case of Hui Po Company.

Indeed, Zhang Xiaoming’s account had been opened at Lingjiang Bank, and if it came down to it, the frontline staff would surely have to take responsibility.

As the provincial branch chairman, he might at most receive a couple of criticisms.

But the issue was, if Song Guanchao decided to go hard, like getting the Disciplinary Committee to do a thorough check for corruption within the bank, that would be a major problem.

Considering Song Guanchao’s performance today, it wouldn’t be surprising if he resorted to such exasperating tactics.

Du Lingchun felt suffocated and consequently a bit irritated with Zhang Yue.

"This bitch, so arrogant!"

"Your man is already locked up, and you’re still acting all high and mighty, damn it!"

He cursed in his mind, but he dare not actually do anything to Zhang Yue.

Secretary Song personally made the visit to find him and mentioned Zhang Yue, which was akin to openly telling him she had powerful backing, advising him to consider his position before touching her.

In the system, harmony was valued, and there was nothing that couldn’t be solved.

Besides, he had heard of Secretary Song’s rising star in the city committee lately.

It was said that several people had fallen at his hands.

Especially concerning the last bank robbery case; even the provincial level was watching him.

Any clear-sighted person could see that Secretary Song’s political future was bright.

Under these circumstances, nobody would dare to offend him carelessly.

Song Guanchao leaned back in the front passenger seat, feigning sleep with his eyes closed.

He had originally planned to pressure him through taxation or the Industrial and Commercial Bureau, but those departments couldn’t touch him.

But he had plenty of tricks; going straight to the Disciplinary Committee would have made the threat too obvious.

It just so happened a guidance group was established, and it was a waste not to use that power.

The car stopped at the city committee, and Song Guanchao pushed the door open to leave.

Chen Jie gnawed her teeth irritably inside the car, "What does this bastard take me for!"

Not even a greeting as he got out of the car.

Even as a deputy director, she had never experienced such disrespect.

But then, thinking of Song Guanchao’s means, a surge of anger quickly dissipated, and she had no choice but to accept reality.

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om

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