Chapter 123: A Major Discovery

Yang Dong and Lü Yanqing sat inside the car, listening to the audio coming through the monitoring headset, their expressions shifting with remarkable intensity.

They were not alone in the vehicle; sitting in the back seat was a middle-aged leader of distinguished presence, though his face was currently set in a grave and solemn expression.

The drunken conversation between Zhao Pengcheng and Old Lin continued.

"Old Lin, Director Sun is about to retire. When that happens, I, Zhao Pengcheng, will be the Executive Deputy Director of the Municipal Organization Department. As for you, Old Lin, you will step into my current position, becoming a deputy department head and settling into a deputy division-level rank."

"You need to look at the big picture, Old Lin. Once you are a deputy department head and I am an executive director, the combined influence we wield within the Municipal Organization Department will be even greater."

"And once that influence grows, every facet of personnel management will require our personal attention and effort, won't it? Hahaha!"

"Even if Gu Tong is a member of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee and the top leader of our Organization Department, he will still have to listen to us."

Zhao Pengcheng was truly drunk. Had he been sober, he wouldn't have dared to utter such words even if given a hundred times the courage. It was only in this state of intoxication that he felt secure enough to speak without guard. He knew Old Lin was in the same boat as him, so there was no need for vigilance.

The mention of Gu Tong caused the corner of the middle-aged leader’s mouth in the back seat to curl, though the smile was somewhat chilling.

"Director, you shouldn't talk so recklessly," Old Lin said, sitting at the table. Hearing Zhao Pengcheng’s drunken revelations, he was startled. Although he had consumed a fair amount of alcohol, his tolerance was slightly higher than Zhao’s. He hurriedly grabbed Zhao’s arm to stop him, wary of walls having ears.

"It’s fine! We both have shares in this hotel, what is there to fear?" Zhao Pengcheng waved a hand, shook off Old Lin’s grip, and laughed. "Old Lin, you’ve become more timid as time goes on."

"Back when Little Cai from the Finance Bureau wanted to secure a formal position, you had the nerve to take two hundred thousand from him. Why are you so cowardly now? Hahaha, Old Lin, this doesn't look like you."

Zhao Pengcheng began to mock his partner-in-crime. Old Lin gave a bitter smile and replied, "Director, we are competing for the deputy director position; it's better to be careful and steer the ship steadily."

"That’s true, I’m competing for the executive position too. I should be more careful." Finding Old Lin’s logic sound, Zhao Pengcheng immediately fell silent and reined himself in.

"Old Lin, hurry up and handle that money. We cannot let the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection find it." Zhao Pengcheng’s topic shifted back to the illicit funds, his tone stern as he warned Old Lin.

Old Lin nodded heavily. "Right, I’ll go back and handle it immediately!" He rose unsteadily from his chair, clutched his briefcase, and walked out.

"You go handle that, I’m heading home!" Zhao Pengcheng chuckled as he stood up, feeling dizzy—he was truly drunk. He grabbed his briefcase, and the two stumbled out, leaning on each other for support.

"Two leaders, please, watch your step, watch your step."

After exiting the private room, the manager of the high-end hotel immediately stepped forward to assist them, escorting them out of the building.

"Manager Niu, regarding last month’s dividends... hehe..." Zhao Pengcheng pinched his fingers together, gesturing to the hotel manager.

"Rest assured, your share will definitely be there!" Manager Niu promised immediately, waving his hands to reassure him.

"Good, good, good. The usual, then: convert it directly into foreign currency and transfer it to my son’s account in the UK!" Zhao Pengcheng instructed, terrified that the money might fall through.

"Don't worry, it will be the usual," Manager Niu nodded, smiling obsequiously as he helped Zhao Pengcheng into the car.

"Manager Niu, just hold onto my share for now. The city is keeping a close watch lately; I’ll withdraw it all in a few months," Old Lin said, patting the manager on the shoulder.

"Understood, Section Chief Lin. I’ll keep it safe for you; you can take it whenever you like. I hear your son is getting married? I will certainly prepare a generous gift and a big red envelope when the time comes. Safe travels to you both."

Manager Niu watched as both cars departed in different directions, waving with a smile until they were out of sight.

"Damn it, these parasites. They’re so paranoid about not getting their money," Manager Niu’s smile vanished the moment the cars were gone, replaced by a face full of fury.

He had worked hard to open a high-end hotel, only to be forced to bribe these people constantly, even handing over thirty percent of his dividends. And you couldn't refuse. If you didn't pay, within a few days, the tax bureau, public security, urban management, industry and commerce, environmental protection, and other departments would all come knocking, fining you until you were forced to pay.

"Manager Niu, it’s not very polite to talk about people behind their backs."

Suddenly, a voice teased from behind him. Startled, Manager Niu’s hair stood on end, and he spun around violently.

"Who are you?" He saw several people standing behind him, all with young faces. The leader, the youngest of them, looked to be about twenty-six or twenty-seven.

Yang Dong smiled and displayed his Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection credentials. "From the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. We need Manager Niu’s cooperation on a small matter."

Hearing the words "Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection," Manager Niu’s heart sank. He forced himself to stay composed, frowning as he asked, "The Discipline Commission? I’m not a Party member or an official. Why are you looking for me?"

"Manager Niu, I hope you will cooperate. You know the identities of the two who just left better than we do, don't you?"

Yang Dong’s smile faded, and he looked at the manager with a serious expression. Hearing this, especially the mention of Zhao Pengcheng and Old Lin, Manager Niu’s face changed instantly.

It seemed the Commission for Discipline Inspection was targeting those two officials. Unfortunately, it was he, a businessman running a hotel, who was caught in the middle. He didn't steal or rob; he simply had to do this to keep his business running smoothly.

"What is it that the Commission wants to know?" Manager Niu asked with a sigh of resignation.

"Manager Niu, whether your business operations are legal or not is not the concern of our Commission. We are here today only to find out how many shares those two officials had in your hotel and how much they received in dividends. If you have the ledgers, show them to us."

Yang Dong was direct with his request. Manager Niu felt a slight sense of relief. Yang Dong’s implication that his business legality was irrelevant to them suggested that the Commission was only interested in the officials, not in troubling him. This put his mind at ease.

"Follow me." Manager Niu nodded and turned toward the hotel. Yang Dong and Lü Yanqing exchanged glances and followed.

Five minutes later, Yang Dong and Lü Yanqing emerged holding the dividend records for Zhao Pengcheng and Lin Liangming. Every transaction was documented, including where the funds were transferred.

Yang Dong couldn't help but admire Zhao Pengcheng, the old fox. No wonder the Commission could never find any money in his bank accounts or any real evidence. The man never touched the bribe money himself; he had Manager Niu handle it, converting it into foreign currency in Hong Kong before transferring it to his son studying in the UK.

As for Zhao’s own assets, there was only one house, one car, and a few tens of thousands in his bank account. No matter how hard the investigators looked, they could find no other leads. That was the mark of a clever, cunning official.

Yet, he had still left a trail. It just goes to show how alcohol can ruin everything.

"Minister Gu, this is the evidence of corruption for Zhao Pengcheng and Lin Liangming."

Yang Dong returned to the Jetta and handed the ledgers to the middle-aged leader in the back seat.

It was Gu Tong, the Minister of the Municipal Organization Department.