Chapter 18: A Turning Point

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“Not bad. Wherever you work, it’s still just a job.” Lu Hao released Niu Dashan and gave an awkward smile.

What had she come here for? Could she be planning to investigate him further? The thought made Lu Hao instinctively uneasy.

Qin Yi gave him a knowing smile, then asked coldly, “Which one of you is Niu Dashan?”

“That’s me. Who are you people, and what do you want?” Niu Dashan asked with a frown.

“We’re from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection!”

One of Qin Yi’s colleagues immediately displayed his credentials, then pointed at Niu Dashan. “You’re coming with us.”

The moment those words were spoken, even Lu Hao was stunned.

“What… what do you want me for?” When Niu Dashan realized they were from the municipal commission rather than the county commission—a higher-level authority—his legs began to tremble uncontrollably.

“What do you think? Did you really believe no one knew what you’d been doing? If you don’t want anyone to know, then don’t do it in the first place,” Qin Yi said icily.

“I… I…” Niu Dashan’s face turned deathly pale, and he began to stammer.

“Take him away!” Qin Yi waved impatiently. Several colleagues immediately came forward and held Niu Dashan by both arms.

“On what grounds? What right do you have to take me away? I want to see our township head…”

Niu Dashan tried to resist, but no one paid him any attention. They simply dragged him away.

Lu Hao had experienced things like this before, so he quickly regained his composure. As long as Qin Yi wasn’t there to cause him trouble, that was all that mattered.

For everyone else in the office—and indeed for the entire Fangshui Township—it was the first time they had witnessed such a scene. Before long, every office was in an uproar.

At one point, Lu Hao went to the restroom. When he returned, he saw that Song Bo was also being dragged out of his office.

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Song Bo was nothing like the arrogant man he had been the day before. His face was deathly pale, and he looked like a prisoner about to be led to the execution ground.

After that, everyone in the Poverty Alleviation Office was summoned for questioning one after another. Lu Hao was no exception.

The township government had prepared a room for the disciplinary inspectors on the third floor. When Lu Hao entered, Qin Yi and two other people were waiting for him.

“Lu Hao, I hear you were recently transferred to the Poverty Alleviation Office. How much do you know about the embezzlement and bribery there?” Qin Yi asked sternly, getting straight to the point.

“I don’t know all that much, but I’ve reviewed the accounts of the poverty-alleviation funds, and there are many problems. A great deal of money that should have been spent on poverty relief was diverted elsewhere, and part of the subsidies meant for impoverished households was withheld by the office,” Lu Hao answered truthfully.

When Song Bo had suddenly ordered him to take charge of the poverty-relief records, Lu Hao had discovered that something was wrong. In the end, they had made him take the blame.

“Is there anything else?” Qin Yi asked.

“I want to report them. I hope the authorities will ensure that those who broke the law receive the punishment they deserve!” Lu Hao summoned his courage and spoke up.

He had already understood why Qin Yi had come. She wasn’t there to target him; she was investigating the Poverty Alleviation Office.

So Lu Hao told her everything that had happened over the past two days, including how the township Party committee had ordered him to take the blame for Niu Dashan and Song Bo and had punished him for it.

Qin Yi nodded in satisfaction. “You may go back for now. We will handle this matter impartially.”

When Lu Hao returned from the disciplinary inspection office, he found that Tang Chunyan was the only person from the Poverty Alleviation Office who had come back.

The others had vanished along with Song Bo and Niu Dashan. They had probably been placed under separate investigation by the disciplinary inspectors.

“Lu Hao, the municipal inspectors arrived at exactly the right time. Now that they’re being investigated, your punishment may well be revoked. Your good fortune is finally here,” Tang Chunyan said cheerfully.

She had known for a long time about the shady dealings involving the office’s funds, but she had held no influence. Niu Dashan had never taken her seriously. Now, at last, everything had come to light.

“Let’s hope so.” Lu Hao could only smile bitterly.

Suddenly, he thought of Ziyi.

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He had complained about the matter to Ziyi over dinner, and today the municipal disciplinary inspectors had suddenly sent Qin Yi to investigate. Could Ziyi have pulled strings behind the scenes?

As Lu Hao pondered this, Sun Xiaolei from the Party and Government Office suddenly arrived at the Poverty Alleviation Office. Smiling from the doorway, he said, “Lu Hao, Secretary Lin wants you to serve as acting director of the Poverty Alleviation Office.”

“Me?” Lu Hao stared at him in surprise.

“That’s right. Until further orders are issued, you’ll be in charge of the office. Also, the disciplinary inspection of you and Tang Chunyan is over. Neither of you has any problems, so you may return to work as usual,” Sun Xiaolei said.

He couldn’t help feeling envious of Lu Hao. Lu Hao had only arrived a few days ago, yet he had already become deputy director of the Poverty Alleviation Office. Now he was acting director as well. An official appointment would probably follow soon, and he might even be promoted to deputy section chief. Sun Xiaolei had worked for years and was still only an ordinary staff member.

“Lu Hao, see? I told you your good fortune was coming,” Tang Chunyan said excitedly, happy for him.

With Lu Hao in charge of the office, she would no longer have to worry about Niu Dashan’s moods. Life would be much easier from then on.

Lu Hao was also pleasantly surprised, and he felt even more grateful to Secretary Lin.

He had wanted to call Fang Jing and tell her, but after picking up his phone, he put it down again. The notice rescinding his punishment had not yet arrived. There was no harm in waiting until everything was officially settled before telling her.

Before long, Lu Hao heard more news.

Aside from those taken away from the Poverty Alleviation Office, Zhao Gang, Li Haotian, Deng Song, and even the newly appointed Wang Shaojie had all been summoned by the disciplinary inspectors. The commotion was enormous. For the time being, Deputy Secretary Lin Xiyue was overseeing the work of Fangshui Township.

The municipal inspectors remained in Fangshui Township for three days, combing through the Poverty Alleviation Office’s accounts from top to bottom and leaving everyone in the township on edge.

After Qin Yi led her team away, she made a phone call from the car. The caller ID clearly displayed the name Ye Ziyi.