In name only: I will break the chess game in Handong!

"Hey, that's easy, isn't it?"

You may not have money, but your uncle does!

"As long as you can get into high school, then university, and even later into graduate school and a doctorate, your uncle will support your tuition and living expenses, okay?"

No sooner had Chen Luo finished speaking than Secretary Yuechi objected.

Everything else is negotiable, but wouldn't it be a real slap in the face to the Beiyue Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China to ask Chen Luo to support the little girl's schooling?

"Comrade Chen Luo, we in Beiyue haven't reached that point yet. The Beiyue government can afford the girl's tuition and living expenses. It's just that some corrupt officials have been deceiving us. Once we get rid of these corrupt officials, there won't be any problem with her going to school."

That's not entirely untrue, but Chen Luo felt a connection with the little girl and still wanted to lend a hand.

"Secretary Yue, Beiyue is Beiyue, and I am me. There is no conflict. Over the years, my wife and I have sponsored at least 80,000 to 100,000 students. One more little girl is nothing."

"That's true. I heard that Dongsheng Investment Company is owned by you and your husband?"

Secretary Yuechi also became interested.

"Yes, it is jointly owned by the husband and wife, and they report it to the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Supervisory Commission every year."

"I didn't say there was a problem. You explained it so clearly. Sigh, it's true that comparisons are the thief of joy. You're so young and already a deputy provincial-level cadre, with both a son and a daughter, and a harmonious marriage. To be honest, I'm a little envious of you."

The two chatted casually when Mei Xiaoge and Ai Xianzhi finally returned with the village secretary.

Upon entering the courtyard, the village party secretary was dumbfounded by the demeanor of the accompanying staff. He knew he was probably doomed. After all, the county party secretary and county head had personally come to "invite" him; it was no wonder he was in trouble!

"Director Tang, we've brought the person. Should you consult with Secretary Yue?"

Mei Xiaoge and Ai Xianzhi did not dare to barge into the house at will. Instead, they reported to Secretary Tang. Secretary Tang did not say anything, but just nodded and went into the house to inform Secretary Yuechi and Chen Luo of the news.

A minute later, Secretary Yuechi took the lead and walked out of the house, with Chen Luo following behind at a leisurely pace.

After all, it was a family matter in Beiyue Province, so Chen Luo remained calm throughout, even though he was quite angry inside.

"Are you the village Party secretary of Daling Village?"

The pressure from Secretary Yuechi was still too strong. The village party secretary, who was around forty years old, kept his head down and dared not look up, for fear of making eye contact with Secretary Yuechi.

"Boss, I am..."

"Tell me, how did you allocate the quotas for registered impoverished households in the village? And how did you force this old lady to buy and sell her chickens for ten yuan a few days ago?"

If things are clear, then we'll hand it over to the Discipline Inspection Commission for processing according to normal procedures. If they're unclear, or if there's any concealment, your outcome won't be good! I am Yue Chi, the Deputy Secretary of Beiyue Province. You should understand the weight of my words!

This was a blatant threat, made without any attempt at concealment. It was precisely this attitude that completely broke down the village party secretary's psychological defenses. What did he do to deserve being personally interrogated by the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee?

Once the psychological defenses crumble, the truth becomes clear.

In no time, the village party secretary confessed everything: how he got the position through his brother-in-law, the deputy mayor, how he profited, how he exploited the villagers, and how he embezzled and misappropriated a total of four million yuan over seven years!

Secretary Yuechi looked very solemn upon hearing this result. The farmers were already poor, yet this village party secretary still managed to squeeze money out of them. In the end, it was the ordinary people who suffered.

......................................................

On the way back, Secretary Yuechi was very silent. This trip to Guangming County had left him with mixed feelings. He had been away from the grassroots for too long, so long that he no longer knew what kind of life the people there were living.

Chen Luo remained silent, wondering if similar situations existed in Handong, where village secretaries and party secretaries were corrupt and deceiving their superiors. Even one such example would be a disaster for the entire village.

In silence, the car returned to Guangming County.

A day later, Chen Luo boarded a plane back to Handong. At the airport boarding gate, Yue Chi held Chen Luo's hand for a long time.

"Chen Luo, thank you!"

Chen Luo shook his head.

"Secretary Yue, we are cadres, cadres who serve the people. Whether they are the people of Handong or the people of Beiyue, they are all our service recipients, aren't they?"

"I don't like to say polite words. These days are very important for our Beiyue Province. As long as we are determined to solve the problems, it is not too late. By the way, Ma Guangqun, the mayor of Xinzhou City, was placed under investigation by the Beiyue Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection this morning."

There are also some grassroots cadres and staff members being investigated. Comrade Chen Luo, next time you come to Beiyue, I believe you will see a different Beiyue!

"Then we'll wait and see next time!"

Goodbye, Secretary Yue, thank you for these past few days!

After saying goodbye, Chen Luo finally boarded the plane.

At 4 p.m. on Thursday, Chen Luo returned to Handong, and the plane landed at Jingzhou International Airport.

Upon arriving back at the Provincial Party Committee building, Chen Luo was stopped by Gao Yuliang as soon as he entered the building.

"Comrade Chen Luo, have you returned from your inspection tour of Beiyue Province?"

Chen Luo smiled and nodded upon hearing this.

"Yes, this trip was very fruitful! There are some problems that we in Handong may also have."

"Oh? Then I wonder if Comrade Chen Luo could talk to me about what the problem is?"

Chen Luo was somewhat taken aback by Gao Yuliang's invitation, but he did not refuse.

"Secretary Yuliang, shall we go to your office?"

"OK!"

Five minutes later, in the deputy secretary's office, Chen Luo and Gao Yuliang sat on the sofa on either side of each other.

"Comrade Chen Luo, please tell us what you've gained from this inspection tour!"

Gao Yuliang wasn't in a hurry either; he also wanted to hear what Chen Luo meant by "gains".

After thinking for a moment, Chen Luo began to speak.

After listening for a while, Gao Yuliang sighed softly.

"To be honest, this situation definitely exists in Handong, and the number is not small. The situation at the grassroots level is very complicated, especially in the villages. Those village party secretaries and village cadres deceive their superiors and subordinates, and the ignorant people have no idea what rights they have."

Even reporting it to higher authorities yielded no results; not all local governments are responsible.

"Yes! Secretary Yuliang, in this situation, our provincial party committee should play an even more crucial role. We must strike at both the tigers and the flies. Only by maintaining constant high pressure and a firm stance against corruption can we ensure that lower-level cadres dare not and do not want to be corrupt!"

"That's a good suggestion!"

"However, Comrade Chen Luo, I'm afraid you won't have time recently. Handong has been quite turbulent these past few days while you were gone."

I heard that yesterday afternoon, Comrade Zhao Dagong directly refuted the proposal of the Governor for building an army at the provincial government meeting, which caused a very tense situation.

In the end, even the provincial governor was so angry that his blood pressure spiked. If he hadn't been taken to the hospital in time, he could have been in serious danger!

Gao Yuliang smiled with narrowed eyes, while Chen Luo was somewhat bewildered. No one had told him such explosive news!

Could it be that Chen Luo could be sidelined?

Seeing this, Gao Yuliang explained: "This news is being kept very secret. Only a few members of the provincial government's party group know about it. It seems that Governor Jianjun issued a gag order, and Comrade Dagong and the others seem to be cooperating and haven't revealed it."

"Don't even mention you're not in Handong anymore. Even if you were, only Secretary Sha and I know anything about it. Comrade Guofu and Comrade Chunlin don't know anything either!"