Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

"It's not guidance, it's learning," Gu Mingyuan said calmly.

"Director Li, take me to the engineering department."

Li Weiguo's expression changed slightly, but he still tried to remain calm: "Okay, this way please."

The engineering department is on the second floor, and the department head, Wang Dayou, is not in his office.

"Where is Section Chief Wang?" Gu Mingyuan asked.

"I went to the construction site. There's a project acceptance inspection in Yunwu Township today," Li Weiguo explained.

Gu Mingyuan nodded and walked into the engineering department office.

A county-wide transportation plan map hangs on the wall, and the table is piled high with drawings and documents.

He picked up a construction contract at random and started flipping through it.

"Director Li, last year the county built 280 kilometers of rural roads. What was the total investment?"

"About... about seventy million." Li Weiguo wiped his sweat.

"How's the quality of the construction? Have there been any problems?"

"Overall it's good, there were some minor issues in a few sections, but they've all been rectified."

Gu Mingyuan put down the contract and looked directly at Li Weiguo: "Are you aware of the roadbed subsidence in the Qingshi Township section?"

Li Weiguo trembled: "I...I know. It's a construction quality issue, and we've already ordered it to be redone."

"Is it just the construction quality?" Gu Mingyuan pressed.

"The supervision unit bears no responsibility? The acceptance process bears no responsibility? And you, the bureau chief, bear no responsibility?"

After being questioned three times, Li Weiguo's face turned pale: "Secretary Gu, I... I bear responsibility for inadequate supervision. I have already submitted a self-criticism to the county party committee."

"Is self-criticism useful?" Gu Mingyuan's tone turned cold.

"Roads can be repaired if they're damaged, but how can you repair a government whose credibility is lost? How can you regain the trust of the people if it's gone?"

He looked around at the staff in the office: "I'm here today to tell my colleagues in the Transportation Bureau that project quality is the lifeline, and integrity and self-discipline are the red lines. Anyone who crosses these lines will pay the price!"

As Gu Mingyuan was leaving the Transportation Bureau, he told his secretary, Xiao Chen, "Notify the Audit Bureau to conduct a comprehensive audit of all projects of the Transportation Bureau over the past three years."

"yes!"

On the morning of October 27, Sun Zhengping, deputy secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, arrived in Liping with five discipline inspection cadres.

Sun Zhengping, in his early fifties, has a lean face and sharp eyes. He is known as the "Iron-Faced Judge Bao" in the discipline inspection system of Hanjiang Province.

Gu Mingyuan received them in the county party committee meeting room.

"Secretary Sun, welcome to Liping to guide our work!" Gu Mingyuan warmly shook hands.

"Secretary Gu, you're too kind. We're here to cooperate with your work," Sun Zhengping said succinctly and directly.

"Secretary Pei has already explained that the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection will fully support the anti-corruption work in Liping. Let's get straight to the point and talk about the situation."

Gu Mingyuan asked Qiu Mu to report first.

Qiu Mu was clearly surprised that the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection had arrived so quickly, and he was somewhat nervous when he reported: "Currently, we have obtained clues about disciplinary violations by 28 cadres, mainly involving misappropriation of poverty alleviation funds, kickbacks for projects, and false reporting and fraudulent claims."

"Three people have been placed under detention, including Wang Dayou, the head of the Engineering Section of the Transportation Bureau."

Sun Zhengping frowned slightly after listening: "That's all?"

Qiu Mu was taken aback: "Secretary Sun means..."

"What I mean is, the clues are too simplistic and the level is too low," Sun Zhengping said bluntly.

"It's simply impossible for corruption in a county to only reach the section-level!"

Gu Mingyuan continued, "Secretary Sun, my judgment is the same as yours. The corruption in Liping goes far beyond this. I suspect there are even bigger protectors and deeper chains of interests involved."

He glanced at Qiu Mu: "This is also why I asked the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to get involved. The County Commission for Discipline Inspection might not be able to investigate thoroughly enough on its own."

Qiu Mu's face turned ugly, but he dared not refute.

Sun Zhengping nodded: "Okay, then let's dig deeper into the existing clues. The Wang Dayou case is the breakthrough point. We need to find out the facts of his bribery, and more importantly, where the money went and whether any higher-level officials were involved."

He turned to Qiu Mu: "Secretary Qiu, are the detention procedures for Wang Dayou complete?"

"It's all complete, and everything was done according to procedure."

"Okay, take us to the detention center. I want to interrogate him myself."

Qiu Mu hesitated for a moment: "Secretary Sun, this... isn't this against the rules? According to procedure, it should be handled by our county discipline inspection commission..."

"From now on, this case will be led by the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection." Sun Zhengping stood up, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Secretary Pei has authorized me to take full charge of the anti-corruption investigation in Liping. Secretary Qiu, please cooperate."

Qiu Mu had no choice but to nod: "Yes, I will cooperate."

The group arrived at the detention center of the county discipline inspection commission—a small, detached building in the backyard of the county party committee guesthouse.

Wang Dayou was locked in a room on the second floor. He was in his forties, with disheveled hair and a fearful look in his eyes.

Upon seeing Sun Zhengping and the others enter, he was so frightened that he stood up.

"Wang Dayou, do you know me?" Sun Zhengping sat down opposite him.

"I...I know you. You are Secretary Sun from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"It's good that we know each other." Sun Zhengping opened his notebook.

"Then I'll cut to the chase. You accepted 80,000 yuan in bribes from the construction company, designated specific suppliers, and caused the Qingshi Township road to fail quality standards. Do you admit to these things?"

Wang Dayou knelt down with a thud: "Secretary Sun, I was wrong! I was confused for a moment and accepted the money. I am willing to return the ill-gotten gains and accept the organization's punishment!"

"Returning the stolen goods is a must, and the matter will definitely be dealt with," Sun Zhengping said calmly.

"But now I'm asking you, did you keep all 80,000 yuan for yourself, or did you divide it up?"

Wang Dayou trembled and dared not answer.

"Speak!" Sun Zhengping slammed his hand on the table.

"I...I got a portion of it," Wang Dayou said, trembling.

"Who did you give it to?"

"I gave...I gave Director Li 10,000, and I gave...I gave Secretary Qiu 20,000."

The room fell silent instantly.

Qiu Mu's face turned deathly pale: "Wang Dayou! You're slandering me! When did I ever take your money?"

Wang Dayou looked up at him, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Secretary Qiu, last Mid-Autumn Festival, your son got married, and I gave him a red envelope... have you forgotten?"

Qiu Mu was struck dumb, took two steps back, and slumped into a chair.

Sun Zhengping looked at Gu Mingyuan, and the two exchanged a glance.

Sure enough, the problem lay within the disciplinary committee itself.

"Wang Dayou, continue. Besides Li Weiguo and Qiu Mu, who else is there?" Sun Zhengping continued to ask.

"And...and there's Vice County Head Wang, who's in charge of transportation. He took 30,000. I kept the remaining 20,000."

"How was the money given? Under what pretext?"

"Director Li paid the fee under the guise of consulting fees, through his brother-in-law's company. Secretary Qiu paid in cash, delivered in a tea box. Deputy County Head Wang deliberately lost at mahjong..."

Sun Zhengping took notes one by one, then said to the accompanying discipline inspection cadres, "Take immediate action against Director Li and Deputy County Head Wang. Comrade Qiu Mu, please cooperate with the investigation."

Qiu Mu slumped in the chair, his face ashen.

Gu Mingyuan felt both angry and heartbroken.

What's infuriating is that corruption in Liping is so severe that even the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission is involved.

It's heartbreaking that these cadres were once passionate young people; how did they end up like this?