Chapter 145: No Breakthrough!

[Page 1 of 3]

Yang Dong took the notebook and began leafing through it carefully.

Indeed, it contained detailed records of every gift Zhao Guojun had given and received during the Mid-Autumn Festival and Spring Festival each year.

But as for the monetary value, honestly, that was difficult to define.

If the relevant regulations were applied strictly, this would constitute a violation of Party discipline.

Yet within the system, such conduct was already considered fairly restrained, and it would be unreasonable to censure him too harshly.

Even if he were censured, the most it would amount to was a verbal warning: return the gifts and be more careful next time.

Yang Dong placed the notebook on the table, then raised his head and continued questioning him. “Comrade Zhao Guojun, according to the statements given by Zhao Pengcheng and Lin Liangming, your promotion last year from director of the Administrative Committee of Kaiyang County Economic Development Zone, a position at section-chief level, to deputy county magistrate was arranged through Zhao Pengcheng. They claim you paid two hundred thousand yuan in all. What do you have to say about that?”

Yang Dong did not intend to trade blows with Zhao Guojun point by point. He went straight to the heart of the matter.

A conversation was not the same as an interrogation, and the proper limits had to be observed.

If this had been an interrogation, Yang Dong would not have been so courteous.

If Zhao Guojun refused to speak, certain measures would be taken. There was no helping that.

But this was merely a conversation between the discipline inspection commission and a cadre. It was neither an interrogation nor formal disciplinary action, and it carried no coercive force.

If Zhao Guojun cooperated, all would be well. If he did not, there was little Yang Dong could do.

“This did happen.”

To Yang Dong’s surprise, Zhao Guojun actually admitted it so readily.

His refusal to follow the expected script startled not only Yang Dong, but also Lu Yanqing and the others responsible for taking notes. They all raised their heads and looked at him.

Zhao Guojun was even admitting to this? Did he not realize that such an admission might get him suspended from office?

Yang Dong frowned. He felt that Zhao Guojun could not possibly be so easy to deal with.

Sure enough, Zhao Guojun continued, “But the logic is not what you describe.”

“I was a victim as well. From what I understand, during my tenure at the Economic Development Zone Administrative Committee, I worked diligently and responsibly and achieved some tangible results. The enterprises in the zone paid more than three hundred million yuan in taxes every year. That was a genuine accomplishment.”

“Therefore, Secretary Tan Long had already recommended me to the organization for the position of deputy county magistrate of Kaiyang County, with responsibility for the economic development zone and investment promotion.”

“But I knew nothing about it at the time. Secretary Tan is very discreet. He does not tell us about matters that have yet to take shape.”

“However, Zhao Pengcheng, Lin Liangming, and the others exploited this information gap. They deliberately hinted, both openly and covertly, that if I wanted a promotion, I would have to pay.”

“I was indeed anxious then. I had been director of the development zone administrative committee for a full five years, and my state of mind had begun to waver. I failed to resist the honeyed words of Zhao Pengcheng, Lin Liangming, and the others.”

[Page 2 of 3]

“I gave them two hundred thousand yuan. I borrowed part of it from relatives, and the rest came from money I had earned through stock trading.”

“My stock trading had been registered with the county discipline inspection commission several years ago. You can check the records. There was nothing improper about that money.”

“Less than half a month after I gave the two hundred thousand yuan to Zhao Pengcheng and Lin Liangming, the municipal Party committee’s Organization Department began its inspection of me. At the time, I assumed it was the result of Zhao Pengcheng and the others’ efforts.”

“But later, Secretary Tan called me in for a conversation and explained the real reason. That was when I realized I had been deceived.”

“I immediately confessed everything to Secretary Tan. He told me to go to Secretary Xin Yao of the county discipline inspection commission.”

“I went to Secretary Xin Yao, and he dealt with me leniently and put the matter on record. After that, I found Zhao Pengcheng, Lin Liangming, and the others.”

“They returned the two hundred thousand yuan to me, and the two of them apologized, asking me not to reveal what had happened.”

“I was afraid the consequences would be too serious. That was where I went wrong. I shielded them from punishment for their illegal and disciplinary conduct.”

“After recovering the two hundred thousand yuan, I donated one hundred thousand yuan in my own name to support the elderly living alone and without family. The donation is recorded with the county charitable organization. You can check it.”

“As for the other one hundred thousand yuan, I returned it to my relatives.”

Zhao Guojun gave a complete account of everything. His expression remained calm and ordinary, as though he were recounting someone else’s affairs. He showed not the slightest trace of tension or unease.

Such composure meant one of two things. Either Zhao Guojun truly had nothing to fear—he had acted uprightly and had nothing to hide—or his will was extraordinarily strong, allowing him to lie without the slightest change in expression.

But lying seemed nearly impossible. His account involved both Secretary Tan Long and Secretary Xin Yao of the discipline inspection commission.

If the matter was true, Yang Dong indeed had no grounds for dealing harshly with Zhao Guojun.

But if it was false, then the consequences would be grave.

It would mean officials shielding one another, with Kaiyang County potentially lying on Zhao Guojun’s behalf.

And the people doing the lying would be Secretary Tan Long and Secretary Xin Yao.

If that were the case, the matter would escalate.

Yang Dong stared gravely at Zhao Guojun, trying to detect some other emotion on his face.

But he was disappointed. Zhao Guojun displayed nothing but calm and composure.

There was a trace of anxiety, but it clearly stemmed from the investment promotion meeting that was about to begin. Zhao Guojun kept glancing at his watch, as though demonstrating his sense of responsibility to the people and to his work.

“Your account is completely different from the testimony given by Zhao Pengcheng and Lin Liangming,” Yang Dong said again, questioning him.

[Page 3 of 3]

Zhao Guojun smiled and replied without the slightest panic. “That is because they have a great deal of resentment toward me. After all, anyone would be unhappy if two hundred thousand yuan they had handed over were demanded back, wouldn’t they?”

“They may be deliberately trying to drag me down with them and smear me.”

“But in reality, they are the criminals. I am not. I am the victim!”

Zhao Guojun continued answering Yang Dong, and a trace of indignation had clearly entered his expression.

Yang Dong frowned. “But you did spend money to buy a promotion. That is a fact, and you cannot deny it.”

“Yes, that is a fact. That is why the county discipline inspection commission already dealt with me leniently.”

“I received an internal Party warning and was barred from promotion or transfer for one year.”

Zhao Guojun’s answers were seamless. There was not the slightest flaw in them.

“Was the disciplinary action imposed by the county discipline inspection commission absolutely valid?” Lu Yanqing asked from the side, supporting Yang Dong.

Zhao Guojun immediately turned to her and nodded. “At the time, I still held a section-chief-level position. The county discipline inspection commission had the authority to issue an internal Party warning, and it reported the matter to the County People’s Congress.”

“Since you had already received an internal Party warning, why were you still appointed deputy county magistrate?” Yang Dong had found a major loophole and immediately pressed him on it.

At this, a complicated expression appeared on Zhao Guojun’s face. He sighed and said, “I have Secretary Tan to thank for that.”

“Secretary Tan personally went to the municipal Party committee and its Organization Department to vouch for me. That was how I was able to receive my promotion.”

“Secretary Tan’s appreciation for talent moved me deeply.”

“From that moment on, I became even more determined to serve the people and develop the economy with all my strength. I had to live up to Secretary Tan’s trust, live up to the nurturing kindness of Kaiyang County, and live up to the four hundred thousand people of Kaiyang County.”

Lu Yanqing looked at Yang Dong, her face solemn.

They had found no breakthrough with Zhao Guojun.

Yang Dong did not look at her. Instead, he rose to his feet and extended a hand toward Zhao Guojun.

“Ten minutes are up, Magistrate Zhao. You may go attend your meeting.”