Official title: Refused to stay at the university, started his career in a rural town.

"The meeting is paused for a 10-minute break!"

As Gu Changhe's expression changed drastically, the atmosphere in the conference room became tense.

His suggestion to adjourn the meeting sparked various thoughts among the participants. Clearly, the secretary's words were related to the task assigned by Secretary Gu Changhe.

This is still not good news!

Gu Changhe, who rushed back to his office, looked even more embarrassed when he saw the report on his desk.

"Inspection Report on the Comprehensive Building of the Teachers' Training School Commissioned by the Ninghe County Party Committee to the Handong University Laboratory"

The letterhead of the report given to Li Jian by Zheng Kai, the secretary of the Ninghe County Discipline Inspection Commission, was exactly the same, but the author of this report was Wang Minhua, the director of the laboratory at Handong University!

As the final arbiter of major infrastructure projects in the province, Wang Minhua's name is familiar to cadres at the municipal level and above, and is even well-known.

After all, if a project wants to quickly pass through layers of review and save time on various tedious reporting procedures, then attaching Wang Minhua's testing or forecast report is the simplest method.

In Handong, the name Wang Minhua represents authority!

Even a project without a foundation can have its approval fee increased by 20 percent simply by having Professor Wang Minhua's approval.

Of course, most people can't get Professor Wang Minhua to do this test or provide a prediction report.

After all, they deal with all sorts of people every day. If you submit a small project, it will be rejected before it even reaches them.

But this seemingly minor second inspection of materials actually alarmed this person.

"Handong University, Handong University~!"

Gu Changhe gritted his teeth, but ultimately didn't dare utter that word.

The first line of the report reads: Ningzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection:

The laboratory of Handong University, commissioned by the Ninghe County Party Committee, and through Professor Wang Minhua's personal experiments, discovered that the problems with the comprehensive building of the Ninghe County Teachers' Training School were quite serious, and recommended that it be abandoned immediately!

The test results are attached.

Result 1...

Gu Changhe didn't want to look at the lengthy test data that followed, nor did he need to. For the Ningzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, the opening paragraph was enough.

Even the esteemed Wang Minhua personally took charge? Isn't this like using a cannon to kill a mosquito? It has to be a cannon with both cannon and howitzer capabilities!

"Who delivered it?"

Unwilling to give up, Gu Changhe asked his secretary, Sun Weiqiang.

"Express delivery by post; the postman said it was sent at noon."

Sun Weiqiang twitched his lips and answered softly.

From Jingzhou to Ningzhou, less than 300 kilometers, the postal speed is truly unparalleled!

"Alright, fine, let's leave it at that!"

Gu Changhe let out a long sigh of relief, then lay back in his chair, his eyes vacant.

This time, I'll have to carry that kid's sedan chair again!

That's alright. Anyway, the news about this test report will leak out sooner or later, so it doesn't mean I've backed down in Ninghe County.

I was secretly lamenting that I was a few points short of getting into Handong University back then!

After a while, Gu Changhe raised his wrist to check his watch and walked towards the conference room.

It seemed that none of them had left; they were all sitting in their seats, lost in thought.

"Let's readjust the tasks we just assigned."

"Comrade Wang Jian, arrange for someone to secretly go to Ninghe County first thing tomorrow morning to cooperate with their preliminary investigation results, continue the investigation, and solidify the evidence."

"Director Gao, the task remains the same. Focus your efforts on reviewing all the projects undertaken by Hongda Building Materials and the Second Municipal Construction Company over the past three years to see if there are any irregularities."

"In Ninghe, the office has authorized them to expand the scope of their investigation. Comrade Wang Jian will carry the authorization materials and hand them over tomorrow. Make sure to keep it confidential."

"Work assignments complete, meeting adjourned!"

He hurriedly said a few words to Gu Changhe, his face even more unpleasant.

He also secretly regretted that he had been too hasty, bringing all the Party Committee members back for a Party Committee meeting so late at night. He was afraid that news of this meeting would spread throughout the entire Municipal Party Committee tomorrow.

-

Three days later, at nine o'clock in the morning, the small meeting room of the Ninghe County Party Committee was filled with smoke.

Wang Jian, deputy secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, sat at the first seat on the left at one end of the long table, with the investigation report of Hongda Building Materials spread out in front of him.

Opposite him was Liu Xiangdong, the county party secretary, and to his right was Zhou Liangshan, the county head.

Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Zheng Kai sat by the window, twirling a pen in his hand.

Yang Fan sat opposite Zheng Kai, with a newly printed list of projects involved in the case in front of him.

Li Jian stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

"I've reviewed all the public construction projects that Hongda Building Materials has undertaken in Ninghe County over the past three years." He picked up the list and said in a low voice, "Seventeen projects, six of which used steel slag concrete."

No one responded.

"Six." Wang Jian put the list down. "The Teachers' Training School Complex Building, Nanxiang Library, Chengguan Town Health Center, Ninghe No. 3 Middle School Gymnasium, County Drama Theater, and the County Party School Warehouse."

"Secretary Zheng, please inform the relevant personnel in this county involved in the case." Li Jian looked at Zheng Kai.

Zheng Kai opened the leather-bound notebook. "Preliminary confirmation: Qin Xiaowei, the youngest son of Qin Dafu, the general manager of Hongda Building Materials, was transferred from Ninghe No. 1 Primary School to the county propaganda department last July, with He Xiaoyun personally approving the transfer. In addition, there are five large transfer records in the personal account of He Xiaoyun's husband, Wang Jianguo, within the past two years, with the transferor being Liu Cuifen, a financial staff member of Hongda Building Materials."

Liu Xiangdong tapped his finger on the table. "Amount?"

"After obtaining detailed bank statements, the initial estimate is around three million."

Wang Jian turned to look at Liu Xiangdong. "Comrade Xiangdong, this is the county's opinion."

Liu Xiangdong pushed the enamel mug aside and looked at Zheng Kai.

"Secretary Zheng, based on the information you currently have, are the conditions for filing a case met?"

Zheng Kai closed the leather-bound notebook. "That's enough. He Xiaoyun is suspected of irregular recruitment and transferring benefits, and Sun Zhiguo is suspected of dereliction of duty—both lines can be drawn. As for whether there are deeper economic issues, we'll have to wait for the results of the subsequent interrogation."

Liu Xiangdong nodded, then turned to face Wang Jian. "Secretary Li, the county's opinion is—"

He paused, each word seeming carefully chosen.

"Immediately initiate investigation procedures against Sun Zhiguo and He Xiaoyun. The county discipline inspection commission will carry out the investigation, with the municipal discipline inspection commission sending personnel to provide guidance and supervision throughout the process. At the same time, please request the county public security bureau to cooperate in taking Qin Dafu, Qin Xiaowei, and Liu Cuifen, the three main persons in charge of Hongda Building Materials, into custody."

Wang Jian did not answer immediately, but turned to look at Zhou Liangshan.

"County Chief Zhou, what's your opinion?"

Zhou Liangshan sat in a chair, a cigarette dangling from his fingers.

He remembered every single one of those six projects. The library was a key county project two years ago, and he personally cut the ribbon.

"Agreed." Zhou Liangshan's voice was a little dry. "Investigate according to the law and regulations, however you should."

Wang Jian withdrew his gaze.

"Then it's settled." Liu Xiangdong stood up, his hands supporting him on the edge of the table.

"The meeting is over. We will proceed along two separate lines simultaneously."

"The first line of command is under the responsibility of Comrade Zheng Kai, and the County Discipline Inspection Commission will summon Sun Zhiguo and He Xiaoyun for questioning."

"The second line of command is under the responsibility of Comrade Yang Fan, who will contact the Public Security Bureau to take control of Qin Dafu and the other two."

He scanned the area.

"Then let's get started!"

The four men left without looking back, leaving only Zhou Liangshan in the conference room.

Zhou Liangshan remained seated, the cigarette in his hand almost burning down to the filter. He didn't flick the ash, just letting it burn.