What do you mean by quitting the business? I'm not a big shot.

Chapter 627 The Golden Body Will Be Broken
Yin Zhaotang asked, "How do you feel about the level of waste?"

After a moment's consideration, Zhuang Zhuoyan replied, "The donation to Hong Kong Island this time amounted to HK$54 million, with a waste rate of less than one-tenth. The administrative performance was quite good."

Yin Zhaotang nodded slightly: "Neglect in management, carelessness of staff, excessive work pressure, and transportation processes can all cause material losses."

"A drop below one-tenth is considered normal; a drop to five percent is exceptional, demonstrating clean governance. This time the performance was good; the investigation team deserves credit."

Zhuang Zhuoyan smiled and said, "With supervision, people will definitely be more attentive to their work."

"In addition, 17 cases of irregular fund allocation, illegal bidding and procurement were discovered, with the smallest amount being 3,600 yuan and the largest being 2 million yuan."

"Thirty-six people were involved."

Yin Zhaotang's expression was cold, but he wasn't surprised. There are always people who defy the rules. He fantasized that an investigation team would make these parasites and cockroaches obedient and stop their greed.

Innocent!

With a stern face, Yin Zhaotang said seriously, "Compile the investigation results, submit one copy to Shanghai, and hand one copy to the company."

"TVB and 91 Magazine will allocate a special time slot to announce it to the public."

Zhuang Zhuoyan stood at attention, saluted, and replied, "Yes, sir!"

His relationship with Yin Zhaotang was more like a collaboration. The investigation results could be embellished, but the investigation team would not allow any alterations or deletions.

In fact, the COVID-88 pandemic was the first time China had received large-scale donations since the reform and opening up. It was normal for there to be imperfections in the procedures, waste, and corruption.

The Shanghai leadership team may not have achieved a perfect score, but they delivered an 80% result, which demonstrates their competence.

Three days later, Chong Cheuk-yin appeared on TVB's special anti-epidemic program to announce the results of an investigation into waste, which immediately caused an uproar in society.

Li Jiacheng took some time to review the interview in his office, his expression grave: "His investigation findings were so detailed, even including domestic rectification results. Juzai, is the information you have still powerful enough?"

Li Zeju had long known about the existence of the anti-waste investigation team, and frowned, saying, "Inspector Zhuang's investigation results are more in-depth than ours. The cases we have at hand are probably a bit lacking."

Li Jiacheng nodded: "The investigation team is authorized to operate openly, so they definitely have more information than we do. We just didn't expect them to actually dare to investigate, instead of just putting on a show."

Li Zeju sighed, "I admire them a bit. Well done!"

Li Jiacheng glanced at his eldest son with disdain and said, "Only small fry are unlucky. None of the real leaders have gotten into trouble."

"They're just putting on a show, trying to fool the citizens. You've dealt with them before, don't you know what kind of people they are?"

Li Zeju thought about his investigation team, which had been following several penniless people who were obsessed with money. They were shocked to find that not a single one of them dared to take anything during the incident: "Perhaps, the disaster situation is too severe for them to act recklessly."

“A dog can’t change its habit of eating shit.”

Li Jiacheng sneered: "If you can't hold back once, can you hold back every time? If you don't have bullets, then make your own. You understand?"

Li Zeju seemed to understand and nodded: "No problem, I'll take care of it."

As the epidemic neared its end and the tense atmosphere in Shanghai and Beijing subsided, the headlines on television and in newspapers shifted to a celebratory tone after the departure of the medical team from Hong Kong. Public opinion needed a landmark event to declare the end of the crisis. Politically, a celebration was needed to reassure the public.

The same principle applies to hiring opera troupes and dancers for funerals.

The propaganda department organized a "Shanghai-Hong Kong Friendship Gala" to be held on the Bund. They invited not only mainland performers but also many prominent artists from Hong Kong and Macau.

Zhou Huimin, Jackie Chan, and Anita Mui all participated.

As for the investigation team's report, it was handled discreetly in the domestic media, but a stern announcement was made through the Hong Kong Island Xinhua Daily, ranging from minor disciplinary actions for improper allocation to major cases of embezzling charitable funds resulting in imprisonment.

The principle of punishing the guilty and being open and transparent has garnered much praise from Hong Kong people and greatly increased their trust in the mainland. However, as the pandemic is being reviewed and the healthcare system is being rebuilt, another major case has come to light.

As a major economic center, Shanghai had become short of medical resources. The central government allocated funds to build new hospitals and increase the number of medical staff.

Meanwhile, a medical device agency in Hong Kong donated a batch of equipment, which was then illegally resold, generating profits of over five million Hong Kong dollars.

The ICAC suspects money laundering and bribery of mainland public officials, and has formally launched an investigation, arresting the manager of the agency.

With overwhelming publicity from media outlets such as Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), ATV, and the South China Daily, the anger of Hong Kong people was stirred up, and some even launched a "no donation" movement in Central.

Chen Xianzong, Zhang Zhouren, and other leaders who spearheaded the donations were verbally and publicly condemned, labeled as "Hong Kong traitors."

By this time, the investigation team had been disbanded, and even Zhuang Zhuoyan was unsure of the truth. Faced with questioning from the big boss, he looked embarrassed: "Whether it's true or false, it's hard to tell anymore. But with media coverage, the truth doesn't matter anymore. The people of Hong Kong have already accepted it as true. However, with the preliminary work of the investigation team, the impact on public opinion should be limited."

Having finally seen a glimmer of hope for victory, Chen Xianzong, with a cigar in his mouth, stood up and said, "At the national level, the impact is limited, but it will have a huge impact on our election."

"Inspector Zhuang, you have a lot of influence in the ICAC. Do you have any way to deal with those investigators? As long as they don't try to pin the blame on us, we can do whatever we want."

Zhang Zhouren nodded slightly: "There's only one month left until the vote. We can't afford to mess things up at this crucial moment."

Zhuang Zhuoyan said, "I discovered that Cheung Kong donated instant noodles that were nearing their expiration date, and that distribution company also has shares in Hutchison Whampoa."

Yin Zhaotang, of course, deduced from the clues that Chang Shi was up to no good behind the scenes, and slowly said, "Public opinion has shifted. If you want to keep your votes, you must overturn the verdict!"

"It's true that Cheung Kong donated near-expiry noodles to Shanghai residents, but the residents still ate them happily. They ate them, and that's all. Making a fuss about it will only make people laugh."

Zhuang Zhuoyan found it troublesome: "But those who were arrested in China were truly corrupt."

Yin Zhaotang raised his hand: "No beating around the bush, Li Jiacheng is obstructing the election to repeal my bill. Go after the Li family and find evidence that he manipulated the ICAC."

"Whether he can win the election or not is up to the citizens, but it is our job to put that man surnamed Li in jail."

Li Ka-shing wields immense power in Hong Kong Island, using money to control people and influence public affairs through his connections. He no longer respects public officials and can even contact the "Governor" (a high-ranking official) when he needs something.

They completely misunderstood the situation and intentionally dragged public officials into it, crossing the line and causing collective dissatisfaction within the "Shanghai circle."

Today, he dares to scam a mid-level manager at a medical company; tomorrow, will he dare to start a real estate company and scam senior managers as well?
To win votes in Hong Kong Island, they disregard human relationships; then don't blame them for showing no mercy. Lee's golden armor is about to crumble; only one final blow is needed!
(End of this chapter)