Official Career Storm
Chapter 377

Chapter 377: Chapter 377

"Knock knock."

"Come in."

Director Qin pushed open the large office door.

"Secretary Wu."

"Director Qin, what is the matter?"

Director Qin walked over, took out his phone, opened a video, and handed it over, "This was sent to me by Director Yao of Dujiang County. Secretary, please take a look."

In the video was an office.

Inside the office were Wu Ming, Bai Ruyi, and Song Guanchao.

Additionally, there were three men.

The content of the video showed Song Guanchao striking the three men in a fight.

His actions were quick, decisive, and brutally fierce.

Almost all were subdued with a single move.

After watching the video, Wu Qiangwei rested her hand on her forehead, her eyebrows tightly knitted together.

Director Qin glanced at her and said, "Secretary Wu, I’ll head back now."

"Mhm."

After Director Qin left, Wu Qiangwei let out a long sigh.

She had asked Director Qin to investigate the factory fire in Dujiang County, but instead, he brought back this video.

The message was quite clear—Song Guanchao was indeed involved in a physical altercation, and the punishment opinion issued by the province was justified.

Even if she wanted to object, there was no way she could.

After all, there was video evidence.

Of course, every story has its context.

Song Guanchao wouldn’t have lashed out without reason.

But the video was released by the Dujiang County Public Security Bureau, so they controlled the narrative of cause and consequence.

Wu Qiangwei’s frown deepened, and after a moment, she picked up the landline and dialed the City Committee Office.

Xu Xin picked up the receiver, "Hello, City Committee Office."

"Director Xu, arrange a trip to Dujiang County for investigation the day after tomorrow at noon."

"...Okay."

She knew Secretary Tu was deliberately avoiding her, unwilling to see her.

Since he was unwilling, she decided to go herself.

By personally making the trip as the third in command of Lingjiang, she gave him enough face.

She was now willing to bring the issue into the open for discussion, which was as much as she was prepared to do.

If he still refused to let Song Guanchao go, then Wu Qiangwei wouldn’t mind completely falling out with him.

...

In the evening.

Song Guanchao arrived at the old government compound of Lingjiang City.

Last time, it was here that Wu Qiangwei had dinner with Minister Zhou.

The door was opened by an auntie in her fifties.

"Hello, Auntie."

"Hello, are you Secretary Song? Please come in."

After changing his shoes, Song Guanchao entered the living room and noticed that the home was warmly decorated, filled with signs of everyday life.

He had always thought that Minister Zhou only stayed here for appearances when entertaining guests for dinner.

But from the look of the household, it was clear that he often lived here.

"Guan Chao, you’re here." Zhang Meilin was also there, greeting him with a familiar smile.

"Xiao Song has arrived."

Minister Zhou also got up from the couch with a hearty smile, noticing the items in his hand, he said, "Why bring something?"

"Just two bottles of wine, not expensive."

After all, he was visiting, and the fact that they were willing to see him at this time was a sign of trust.

Or perhaps, it was an investment.

Song Guanchao set down the wine, greeted Zhang Meilin and Minister Zhou, and sat on the couch to chat.

Minister Zhou said, "I’ve heard about your situation. What are you planning to do now?"

Song Guanchao replied, "To be honest, my visit to Minister Zhou today is precisely about this matter."

"Oh? Do tell."

Song Guanchao didn’t answer, but instead asked, "Does the previous agreement between Minister Zhou and Secretary Wu still stand?"

Minister Zhou looked into his eyes and nodded, "It stands."

Song Guanchao said, "Since it stands, the position of County Party Secretary of Dujiang County still belongs to Secretary Zhang."

His tone was very calm and his expression unruffled, but he was filled with confidence.

Zhang Meilin had been sitting on the side all along, saying nothing and appearing like a peripheral figure.

Upon hearing Song Guanchao’s words, he felt perplexed. Song Guanchao was confident, but where did this confidence come from?

Minister Zhou was equally curious about where his confidence stemmed from.

He didn’t ask directly, instead, he took out a cigarette and offered it to him.

The two men sat in the living room, puffing smoke into the air. After a while, Minister Zhou said, "Is there anything you need my help with?"

Song Guanchao was about to shake his head when suddenly he thought of something and asked, "Minister Zhou, are you familiar with Tu Zhaorui?"

"In what aspect?"

"For instance, his grudge with County Magistrate Hou."

Minister Zhou didn’t rush to answer, thought for two seconds, and then suddenly said, "Do you plan to go directly to Tu Zhaorui and flip the table?"

Song Guanchao was stunned for two seconds.

I asked about Tu Zhaorui and County Magistrate Hou’s grudge; how did you guess I plan to flip the table?

Song Guanchao simply couldn’t see the connection between the two.

This Minister Zhou, his thoughts were indeed too unfettered.

Seeing Song Guanchao’s reaction, Minister Zhou knew he had guessed right.

He smiled and said, "If you want to understand their grudge, I suggest you go ask Director Qin about it, but I’m not sure if he will talk."

Director Qin...

He didn’t have much to do with Director Qin.

Moreover, now that he was branded as guilty, Director Qin probably wouldn’t even want to see him.

Minister Zhou said, "Before you flip the table with Tu Zhaorui, think it through, once you release the arrow, there’s no turning back."

"You should know, Tu Zhaorui may not bow to tough tactics. If he refuses to play ball after you turn hostile, it won’t be as simple as receiving a warning sanction. It’s very likely that you won’t even be able to keep your job as a secretary."

Song Guanchao scoffed, "If he dares to turn against me, Guangyue City’s standing committee can forget about advancing, and he can remain a County Party Secretary for life! I’m just a broken secretary without even a division-level rank, trading me for a future deputy department-level official, any way you slice it, I’m a bargain."

"It’s easy to talk like that, but by doing this, you’re making a deadly enemy. This could significantly affect your future political prospects."

Minister Zhou said, "Besides, is it worth it for Dujiang County? If you did nothing, you would simply face a warning sanction. But if you act, the worst outcome is offending an official with real deputy department-level power."

Song Guanchao replied nonchalantly, "There’s not a question of worth. Not everything must be weighed by pros and cons. There are always things that are above everything else."

Minister Zhou gave a slight smile, stared at him for a long time, and said, "Xiao Song, I actually quite appreciate you."

Song Guanchao just smiled and said nothing.

Strictly speaking, there was enmity between him and Minister Zhou.

It was just that Minister Zhou was not yet certain of it.

He said he appreciated him, and Song Guanchao believed that.

But appreciation is one thing, and once there were conflicts of interest between them, he had no doubt that Minister Zhou would wield the harshest measures against him.

Soon, the meal was ready.

Song Guanchao accompanied Minister Zhou and Zhang Meilin in drinking over half a jin of alcohol.

After tasting the variety of flavors, Song Guanchao excused himself and left.

He checked the time; it was just 7:30 pm.

It was still early.

Song Guanchao called up Director Qin.

"Director Qin, do you have some time?"

Director Qin was extremely surprised to suddenly receive a call from Song Guanchao.

You want to see me?

See your grandpa!

He had no fondness for Song Guanchao whatsoever. Normally, he couldn’t find a pretext to deal with him, but now that he had the opportunity, Director Qin was not going to give him the time of day.

"Unfortunately, I’m quite busy over here."

"Hehe, if Director Qin won’t see me, then I’ll have to go find County Magistrate Hou."

Director Qin’s temple throbbed, "What do you mean, Secretary Song?"

"Director Qin, we are both discerning people. If things are spelled out too clearly, it loses its charm."

"Zhujiang Road University Street, Brother Ming’s Barbecue, I’ll wait for you."

Song Guanchao dropped the address and hung up the phone.

He knew Director Qin would definitely come.

He didn’t dare not to.

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