Xu Chunliang said, "The person who reported me has sinister intentions. I can’t let this matter go just like that. Don’t tell me to correct if there’s an error or be cautious if there isn’t; I must find this person this time. Secretary Qiu, who reported me?"

Qiu Guixian was startled by the aggressive look in Xu Chunliang’s eyes. "It wasn’t me; it was someone who reported to the county, and the county leaders asked me to investigate."

Xu Chunliang said, "The leaders asked you to investigate, not to tarnish my name. How did I get involved in such a scandal? You need to explain this to me!"

Qiu Guixian quickly waved his hands. "It wasn’t me, I swear it wasn’t me."

"Then tell me who said it?"

"I don’t know!"

Xu Chunliang said, "You don’t know and you’re still coming to me? Secretary Qiu, this is the second time you’ve pinned baseless accusations on me. Such lies cannot withstand scrutiny; anyone with a bit of logic wouldn’t believe them. Yet, you not only believe them but use such trivial issues to disgust me."

Qiu Guixian was extremely embarrassed. "Xiaoxu, I’m doing my job, not targeting you. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m trying to clear your name."

Xu Chunliang said, "Misunderstand? A few days ago, you said I was operating in a black box; now, you say I’m involved in misconduct. How much have you tarnished the name of an innocent person like me? I’ll endure it this time, but three strikes and you’re out. If next time you smear me without investigation, and can’t name the whistleblower, I’ll hold it against you."

At this moment, Xu Chunliang’s phone rang, and Qiu Guixian finally breathed a sigh of relief, quickly getting up and almost fleeing the room. The pressure he felt earlier was too strong, and he truly feared that Xu Chunliang’s fists might land on his face, as Xu’s tendency towards violence was a well-known fact.

The call came just in time and Qiu Guixian clumsily escaped from Xu Chunliang’s office. After calming down, he realized how pathetic his disciplinary work had become; no, he had to find someone to reason with.

Xu Chunliang decided not to bother arguing with such a fool as Qiu Guixian; the guy had no brains.

The call was from Mei Ru Xue.

Xu Chunliang answered the phone, and Mei Ru Xue said, "Town Mayor Xu, impressive. You’ve just been in office for a couple of days and already involved in such scandals."

Xu Chunliang felt caught between laughter and tears—where could he possibly explain himself? Good deeds never leave the door, but bad news travels a thousand miles; rumors had spread to Mei Ru Xue so quickly.

Xu Chunliang said, "I do want to be involved in a scandal, but my little power is not enough for that. If any beauty entertained such thoughts about me, she’d certainly lack a few brain cells."

Mei Ru Xue said, "Let’s not underestimate yourself, Town Mayor Xu. You are now in charge of attracting investments and managing culture, education, and health in Hu Shan Town. That’s quite a bit of power."

Xu Chunliang said, "If you have any plots, I wouldn’t mind establishing some unspoken rules with you."

Mei Ru Xue snorted, "The fox’s tail is showing."

Xu Chunliang said, "My power isn’t as great as yours. If there were unspoken rules, it would be you pulling them on me."

Mei Ru Xue said, "Completely shameless, aren’t you?"

Xu Chunliang could tell she didn’t sound genuinely angry and sighed, "Little Weishan Town is complicated, and people are sinister here. Every one of these mean people is worse than those in Changxing."

Mei Ru Xue laughed, "What’s the matter? Feeling dejected?"

"A bit dejected, but my head isn’t hanging."

Mei Ru Xue said, "The Xu Chunliang I know wouldn’t give up so easily."

Xu Chunliang said, "I haven’t even made a move yet, so how have I lost? The rumors about me were stirred up by the hot spring business. I reckon there’s an eighty to ninety percent chance that it’s He Xingjian. That guy, relying on some connections, got an exclusive license for the development of hot spring water in Dongzhou. It’s essentially a monopoly. The more eager he is to take advantage of this, the more I’ll thwart his plans."

Mei Ru Xue said, "Don’t get angry, he’s just a small businessman. It’s not worth losing your temper over."

Xu Chunliang said, "I’m not angry. If I were to be angry, it’s with you."

"What are you angry at me for? I haven’t offended you."

"Of course I’m angry at you. I’m devoted, passionate, and faithful to you, yet you don’t trust me and suspect me of such a scandal. It’s honestly too heartbreaking and disappointing."

Mei Ru Xue laughed, "Alright, alright, I’m wrong. I shouldn’t have doubted you. There, there, don’t be mad."

"You think saying not to be mad will work? No, shouldn’t you compensate me a bit?"

"How should I compensate?"

"With, you know, physical affection."

"Xu Chunliang, that’s going too far!"

Xu Chunliang said, "How am I going too far? I didn’t make any extreme demands, just a little kiss... a few touches... Spring is here, everything is awakening, you should consider my inner needs too."

Mei Ru Xue said, "You really aren’t a good person. It’s fortunate you don’t have much power, or you might actually use power for personal gain."

"Really?"

"Don’t be so cheesy, I really can’t stand you. When will you be back?"

Xu Chunliang laughed, Secretary Mei tacitly agreed, and he felt a certain part of his body itching to move: "I’ll go back now."

"Crazy, I’m at work."

"I’ll pick you up after work."

On the other end of the phone, Secretary Mei glanced at the clock on the desk and whispered, "No need, I don’t have much work in the afternoon, I’ll come to Weishan Island to see you."

Xu Chunliang was momentarily stunned and then understood Mei Ru Xue’s thoughtful intentions. She wanted to make their relationship public to clear up rumors. Xu Chunliang felt a warm sense of gratitude; she was really considerate of him.

Qiu Guixian recounted his ordeal, feeling extremely aggrieved. He was following orders from higher authorities and performing his duties, yet Xu Chunliang not only refused to cooperate but also mocked and ridiculed him, calling him disgusting, accusing him of lacking logic, and intimidating him fiercely.

Qiu Guixian furiously said, "Secretary Qin, I’m fifty years old, isn’t that at least considered his senior? How can he treat me like this?"

Qin Zhengyang consoled, "Old Qiu, don’t be upset. Young people tend to be blunt, and perhaps someone is indeed trying to smear and wrong him."

Qiu Guixian said, "A fly won’t bite a seamless egg!"

Qin Zhengyang thought to himself, with this remark, it’s no wonder Xu Chunliang wants to hit you; even I feel like hitting you. Your investigation, wasn’t it just about Mo Han contracting the distillery? I was the one who made the decision at the time and have already said the matter is closed. Are you not going to let it go until you push me to the front?

Qin Zhengyang said, "That’s not how you should put it, Old Qiu. I need to criticize you for that. We must trust our comrades, especially young cadres. We must be tolerant. I think Xu Chunliang’s point wasn’t wrong; what power-deal transaction are you talking about? With the power he has now, who would even bother with him?"

Qiu Guixian said, "That may not be the case. How did the Secretary of Houshiliang Village end up behind bars the year before? His power wasn’t large, his level wasn’t high, yet he also engaged in power-for-sex transactions."

Qin Zhengyang was growing increasingly unhappy. "Old Qiu, I think you’re prejudiced against Xiaoxu."

Qiu Guixian said, "It’s not that I’m prejudiced against him; someone reported him. A few days ago, they accused him of shady dealings during the distillery contract process..."

Qin Zhengyang cut him off without hesitation, "Old Qiu, did you forget or are you intent on hearing my explanation again? I was the one who approved Mo Han contracting the distillery. At that time, Xu Chunliang hadn’t even started working in Hu Shan Town, so there was no shady dealing, nor any power-deal transaction. Old Qiu, were you implying this to me?"

Qiu Guixian was dumbfounded. He couldn’t fathom why Qin Zhengyang was shielding Xu Chunliang so heavily; it didn’t make much sense.

"Secretary Qin, it’s not that I’m targeting you. Someone reported Xu Chunliang, and the higher-ups asked me to look into it. I’m just doing my job. I hold no prejudice against him; and certainly not against you."

Qin Zhengyang said, "It’s good if there’s no prejudice. I always feel that the focus of your disciplinary work shouldn’t be on digging into issues with our fellow comrades, but rather giving our own people a clean slate. The aim of discipline inspection is to identify truly problematic cadres, not to chase shadows. If someone reports Xu Chunliang today and you start investigating without evidence, would you do the same to me if someone reports me tomorrow?"

Qiu Guixian’s face turned scarlet with embarrassment. He didn’t understand why he had irked Qin Zhengyang so much. When Xu Chunliang first arrived, everyone thought that Qin Zhengyang had given him a difficult task as a form of initiation, but as time passed, it became clear that instead of targeting Xu Chunliang, Qin Zhengyang had actually become his protector. Was the initial trouble just for show to outsiders? Did they share some mutual interest?

Qin Zhengyang’s face was no longer smiling. "Old Qiu, is there anything else you wish to report?"

"No...no more..."

Even if Qiu Guixian were less tactful, he knew that the conversation had to end. This was not the place to reason with Qin Zhengyang.

As he turned to leave, Qin Zhengyang called him back: "Wait, who exactly reported it?"

Qiu Guixian said, "I don’t know. The city asked me to look into it."

Qin Zhengyang said, "In the future, when you encounter such matters, find evidence first. If there’s no evidence, don’t investigate."

Qiu Guixian slinked out of Qin Zhengyang’s office.

Upon leaving, he ran into Xu Chunliang, who was coming to report to Qin Zhengyang. Qiu Guixian wanted to avoid him but was blocked by Xu Chunliang: "Came to tattle on me?"

Qiu Guixian was so angry that his face turned purple: "Do I look like I would?"

"Hey, just joking around, why so serious?"

Xu Chunliang knocked and entered Qin Zhengyang’s office. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Qin Zhengyang said, "What’s up?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Nothing major, just want to request half a day off."

Qin Zhengyang said, "Since when did you become so disciplined?"

Xu Chunliang said, "My girlfriend is here, I want to spend the afternoon with her."

Qin Zhengyang’s eyes shifted slightly: "Town Mayor Mei?"

Xu Chunliang nodded: "She’s working in the High-Tech Zone now."

Qin Zhengyang laughed: "So you’re planning to go public, to make those rumors collapse on their own?"

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