Xu Chunliang said, "What evidence do you have to report them?"

"What evidence do they have to say we’re engaging in shady operations?"

Xu Chunliang said, "They have laws to rely on. According to the relevant state regulations, that’s indeed the case."

Pu Jian said, "There is a scope for the relevant regulations as well. I have no objection to the hot spring project being ordered to stop, but what does our winery workshop refurbishment have to do with them? Isn’t their reach a bit too long?"

At this moment, Lv Aihe from the Comprehensive Office of Party and Government Affairs came over to notify Xu Chunliang to attend a meeting in the small conference room.

Xu Chunliang told Pu Jian to go back first and reminded him not to get into conflicts with the people from the Ecological Environment Construction Investment Group. The other side has already played all their cards, and he has his own countermeasures. The other side is acting under the government’s name, and their counterattack should also be official against official, which is how things are done.

This meeting was convened temporarily and was not a regular team meeting. Besides Secretary Qin Zhengyang, there were also Secretary Qiu Guixian, responsible for discipline inspection work, and Deputy Town Mayor Li Guangtian, responsible for natural resources.

When Xu Chunliang entered, a few people were already there; they must have had a preliminary meeting.

Qin Zhengyang invited Xu Chunliang to sit down and smiled, "It’s not an official meeting, just gathering everyone to discuss some recent matters."

Xu Chunliang sat next to Li Guangtian, and Qin Zhengyang asked Qiu Guixian to speak first.

Qiu Guixian cleared his throat and said, "We’re all insiders here, so I’ll get straight to the point. We’ve recently received several reports, all related to Xiaoxu."

"I’ve only been at work for less than a week, and so many people are already coming after me. Is it because of past issues or current matters?" Xu Chunliang immediately categorized the reports as slander against him, implying all the reports against him are lies.

Qiu Guixian said, "Xiaoxu, don’t get agitated. I’m just stating the situation. I didn’t say the reports equal facts. We will investigate and verify, and we won’t wrong a good comrade." The implication was that they wouldn’t let off any bad comrade either, and he didn’t have much fondness for this cadre on temporary transfer, Xu Chunliang.

Xu Chunliang said, "It seems I underestimated the difficulty of working in Hu Shan Town. I was initially supposed to start after the holiday, but Secretary Qin asked me to come over in an emergency. While I was busy putting out fires, some petty people were busy slinging mud at me. Secretary Qin, did you know all along that this task would be thankless, which is why you assigned it to me?"

Qin Zhengyang chuckled, "You don’t even know what the situation is, why are you in such a hurry?"

Qiu Guixian said, "I’m not talking about the matter with Jiang Ailian; the reports all concern the Weishan Island Winery. Town Mayor Xu, I want to ask if Mo Han, who contracted the winery, is your friend?"

Xu Chunliang nodded, "Yes, she is my friend. She was interested in the Weishan Island Winery, so I recommended her to Secretary Qin."

Qin Zhengyang nodded, indicating there was no problem with this. He could help prove it. Actually, Qin Zhengyang didn’t care much about the Weishan Island Winery in the past. The winery was poorly managed and went bankrupt. It wasn’t a large area, so someone willing to invest was, of course, welcomed with open arms. No one expected to discover a hot spring in that area.

Qiu Guixian said, "Someone reported that you provided Mo Han with conveniences during the contracting process, helping her acquire the Weishan Island Winery at a price far below market value."

Xu Chunliang coldly chuckled, "Far below market value? May I ask, what is the market price of that place? After the winery closed, it was left idle for years. Did it generate even a cent of benefit to the town?"

Qiu Guixian said, "Xiaoxu, I’m not targeting you, I’m just relaying what people reported verbatim. If there are issues, we address them, otherwise, it’s a lesson learned."

Xu Chunliang said, "What do you mean by ’a lesson learned’? Shouldn’t those spreading rumors about me bear any responsibility?"

Qin Zhengyang said, "On this issue, I can help prove that Xiaoxu only introduced Miss Mo, he did not participate in the contracting process, and at that time, Xiaoxu hadn’t started working in the town yet."

Deputy Town Mayor Li Guangtian said, "It’s all because of that hot spring. If no hot spring had been discovered, no one would have paid attention to that area. Ever since the hot spring was found, all sorts of troubles emerged. Ultimately, it’s due to jealousy. They think Miss Mo got a windfall, so they’re trying to undermine her with claims of shady operations, which are irresponsible."

Qin Zhengyang said, "The winery contracting was indeed Xiaoxu’s recommendation, but I was the one who handled it. If there was shady operation involved, it means I have issues."

Qin Zhengyang’s words concluded the matter, clearing Xu Chunliang of all doubts. Xu Chunliang pondered why Qin Zhengyang, who was clear about everything, wanted to set up this arrangement. Was it to show his fairness and responsibility in front of him, or was it a necessary procedure in the system? It seemed to be a combination of both.

Qiu Guixian said, "The main reason for external skepticism is because Miss Mo just contracted the winery when she discovered the hot spring."

Li Guangtian said, "That’s just fate, she was lucky."

Xu Chunliang said, "It has nothing to do with luck. If Miss Mo hadn’t contracted the winery, hadn’t renovated it, the underground hot spring might not have been discovered even in eight hundred years. Now that she’s uncovered a hot spring, everyone comes out to show their presence, isn’t this kind of behavior a bit disgraceful?"

Li Guangtian gave a wry smile, "It’s not about them showing presence; the Natural Resources Protection Law requires it. Although the contractor discovered the hot spring, it belongs to the state, and individuals have no rights to develop or utilize it."

Xu Chunliang said, "I have no objections to the law, but I do object to those using the law as a banner. Just now, Deputy General Manager Yan Fangming of the Ecological Environment Construction Investment Group came into my office threatening me, openly boasting about making things difficult for me."

Qin Zhengyang frowned, "Did he say that?"

Xu Chunliang took out his phone and played the recording from earlier. He didn’t mind using some tactics against a petty character like Yan Fangming.

...Some matters can be big or small; digging up too much can make things very unsightly.

...You’re really fearless like a pig unafraid of scalding water; do you want to bring disgrace on yourself?

...Alright, you’re a Deputy Town Mayor, so what? Hu Shan Town is merely at a departmental level; you’re acting all important. Not just you, even your Secretary Qin is merely a departmental level official. What? Planning to go against higher-ups? Aren’t you afraid of all getting dismissed?

Yan Fangming outright belittled the whole Hu Shan Town, which unnerved even Qin Zhengyang. What’s wrong with being a department-level official? In Hu Shan Town, a department-level official is the top leader; there shouldn’t be anyone tougher than me!

Qin Zhengyang angrily knocked on the table, "Who is this person? Does he represent the Natural Resources Administration Bureau? What right does he have to issue orders here?"

Li Guangtian explained, "He’s the Deputy General Manager of the Ecological Environment Construction Investment Group. According to city regulations, the rights for hot spring development within the Dongzhou administrative district are entrusted to this group."

Xu Chunliang said, "I heard he’s the brother-in-law of Xie Zhongxin, the person in charge of the Natural Resources Administration Bureau. They keep claiming we’re engaged in shady operations. How come I feel these bastards are projecting, as their own conduct is dubious?"

Qin Zhengyang said, "An innocent man gets in trouble because he possesses something valuable. The hot spring has exposed the baseness of human nature. What’s their real demand?"

Xu Chunliang said, "The company made a proposal to have the original contractor, Mo Han, withdraw and let them contract the winery and proceed with hot spring development and utilization."

Li Guangtian said, "According to the regulations, it should be like this. Their company does have experience in hot spring development, so if they can reach an agreement, it would be best."

Xu Chunliang said, "Impossible. Contractor Mo Han stated that she has signed a contract with Hu Shan Town and intends to stick to it. Equatorial Capital is far stronger than that Ecological Environment Construction Investment Group and intends to develop its own hot spring resort."

Qin Zhengyang said, "But according to Dongzhou City’s regulations, no other organizations or individuals other than the authorized unit have the right to develop hot springs."

Xu Chunliang said, "Regulations are static, but people are dynamic. We have a prior contract with Miss Mo. If we stand by idly on this matter, not supporting Miss Mo’s legitimate rights and interests, where is our credibility? If contracts aren’t respected, what safety or assurance is there for investors? Who will invest in Weishan Island in the future?"

Qin Zhengyang fell silent. Xu Chunliang made a compelling point.

Qiu Guixian said, "I don’t think it’s that serious. As long as the Ecological Environment Construction Investment Group is willing to compensate Miss Mo for her losses, it can be resolved."

Xu Chunliang said, "They’re only willing to compensate for her losses up to now, what about the future? If what we discovered wasn’t a hot spring but a gold mine, and people dug up gold, then those bastards from the Ecological Environment Construction Group came claiming the gold mine was theirs. They might cover all the mining costs, but they won’t allow even a grain of gold to be taken away. Would you agree if you were in this position? Do you think that’s reasonable?"

Qiu Guixian was stumped by this question; he was responsible for discipline inspection, and this matter wasn’t really his concern.

Li Guangtian said, "What can be done? The national regulations are as such, we can’t challenge the national laws for an investor’s benefit, right?"

Xu Chunliang said, "I’d like to ask, what happens if our unit finds a hot spring? Based on your logic, should we hand it over to the Ecological Investment Group to develop it?"

Li Guangtian paused and laughed, "Your analogy is not quite appropriate and unlikely."

Xu Chunliang said, "Why is it unlikely? Water flows, and the winery isn’t far from the town government. Who knows, maybe one day a spring might actually appear within our town government compound. Town Mayor Li, if such a situation arises, would you report it to the Natural Resources Administration Bureau?"

Li Guangtian scratched his head, "That would need to be decided by Secretary Qin."

Qin Zhengyang knew clearly that Xu Chunliang was defending Mo Han. Actually, the discovery of the hot spring was just a small matter. Regardless of who develops it, ultimately, the investment is on Weishan Island, beneficial and harmless to Hu Shan Town. But he did not anticipate it would lead to so many issues from the beginning.