Chapter 241
After getting the job done, Cao Guoxiang hurriedly went to find Nan Sheng. "The leaders agreed. We can expand the production scale now."
Nan Sheng glanced at him. "What's the rush? Let's wait another two days."
Cao Guoxiang: Fine!
You're the boss with the temper, so you call the shots!
Over in Huaishan County, Li Qun thought it was a joke when he received the news of his dismissal. Suppressing his panic, he said,
"Working in the government, unless you make a particularly severe error in principle, it's impossible to be punished this heavily. I'm easily frightened, so don't scare me."
"Brother Li, it's really not a joke. The county has already issued the dismissal notice, saying you committed a major disciplinary violation. Now the whole town government knows about it."
Li Qun had just gone out at noon, only to return to this news. He simply couldn't believe his ears.
"I'm going to find Director Liu!"
Why did he work so diligently every day and try every possible way to please Director Liu? Wasn't it all for a good future?
He hadn't done anything recently. For such severe consequences to occur, it must be related to what Director Zhao mentioned a couple of days ago. No wonder Nan Mingli came over to verify the situation with him afterward.
Director Liu, oh Director Liu, you'd better not have done this on purpose, or else no one will be left in peace!
Director Liu was sitting in his office at this moment. Knowing his "danger period" had not passed, he was holding the phone putting on an act. When Li Qun pushed the door open, he heard him shouting excitedly.
"This matter has nothing to do with Li Qun. It was me who was too busy and forgot to notify Comrade Nan Sheng. If she insists on pursuing it, let me go, but don't make things difficult for Li Qun."
Li Qun's words of confrontation got stuck in his throat. He was hoping Director Liu could really make the leaders reconsider his punishment. Otherwise, he would absolutely go to the county to report him!
"Director Qiao, listen to me, everything I said is true. I forgot to arrange for someone to notify Comrade Nan Sheng to answer the phone that day. I'm not covering up for Li Qun; it's all my responsibility."
After an unknown amount of time, Director Liu hung up the phone dejectedly, only to look up and find Li Qun standing right in front of his desk.
"You know everything?"
Li Qun nodded. Director Liu's words just now had successfully soothed his impulse. "Director Liu, can I still continue to work?"
Director Liu replied with absolute certainty that he could. "I'll go to the county right now to explain the situation to the leaders. How about this, you go home and rest for two days first. Don't worry, I definitely won't let you lose your job."
This was Director Zhao's plan. He wanted to stall Li Qun. After stalling for a period of time, even if Li Qun came out to cry foul, he could easily explain that Li Qun was asking him for a favor, and his refusal led to this retaliatory behavior.
Sure enough, hearing Director Liu's affirmative answer, Li Qun's heart settled down a lot. "Alright, then I'll go home and wait for your news."
Li Qun didn't pack his things. Ignoring the superficial concern of his colleagues, he walked straight out of the government gates. Not long after, Director Liu also came out, hurriedly pushing his bicycle and leaving in the direction of the county town.
After his figure disappeared, Li Qun stepped out from a hidden corner, but he still couldn't be sure if Director Liu would actually go to the county town.
Since the higher-ups had handed down such a severe punishment, it only showed that the nature of the matter was particularly egregious and had caused serious consequences. Would Director Liu, who valued his job so much, really tell the truth?
After getting off work, Mingli first went to the black market to buy a chicken and some rice. Since his parents weren't home, he and his wife stayed at home to take care of his grandfather.
A married young man was no longer the reckless boy he used to be. He now had responsibilities on his shoulders, knew better how to be considerate, and even planned to buy a chicken to nourish his wife.
Just as he rode out of town, he heard someone calling him from behind. "Mingli, can you stop for a second? I need your help with something."
Mingli knew who it was just from the voice. He stopped his bike and turned around with a surprised expression. "Clerk Li, didn't you go home?"
Li Qun knew what Mingli was thinking—he just assumed Li Qun had already been fired. But among those who knew the inside story, aside from Director Liu and Secretary Ma in the entire town government, probably only Nan Mingli was left.
"It's nothing else. I just want to ask, exactly how important was that phone call before the New Year? Why would the county issue such a severe punishment just because I forgot to pass on the message?"
Mingli looked at Li Qun and sighed. "If I don't tell you the truth, I'm afraid you won't accept it either."
The two then parked their bikes by the side of the road and spoke face to face.
"My sister set up a fertilizer plant in Rongcheng, and they are currently producing a type of compound fertilizer. This project is extremely important. It's going to be put into trial use during this year's spring plowing, and our county even wanted to apply for a batch through my sister's connections."
Hearing this, Li Qun understood most of it. "That phone call was about the fertilizer plant, and it was very urgent, right?"
Mingli nodded. "Yes, extremely urgent. You should know that for every day production is delayed, many regions will fail to get the trial qualifications for the compound fertilizer. Because of that phone call, our application report here was rejected. The city called down to hold us accountable, and what's more, the province might even be paying attention."
Li Qun felt as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar. Especially with the cold wind constantly hitting him now, he felt a chill radiating from the inside out.
"Then tell me, if Director Liu goes to the higher-ups to plead for me, is it still possible for me to keep my job?"
Mingli remained silent. His reaction gave Li Qun his answer. "I understand. Thank you for telling me the truth."
Li Qun pushed his bike homeward. With every step he took, his hatred for Director Liu grew a little more. He was certain that this man had done it on purpose.
If the city was holding them accountable, the county would definitely call Director Liu in advance to notify him and ask for details. Yet, instead of telling him the truth, Director Liu had set a trap for him to walk right into.
Fortunately, he had been extra cautious today, otherwise he would have continued to be deceived. Immediately, Li Qun also hopped on his bike and headed toward the county town, completely ignoring the fact that it was getting dark.
Li Qun thought Director Liu was just putting on an act and hadn't actually gone to the county town, but he was wrong. Director Liu really did go, only he had a different purpose for this trip.
"Director Qiao, Li Qun has already packed his things and gone home. I thought about it over and over, and I still feel guilty. I also have an undeniable responsibility in this matter."
Qiao Yan had a decent impression of Director Liu, so he didn't beat around the bush.
"Did you think you could get away with it? Soon someone will take over your position and go work in Huaishan Town. As for how you will be reassigned, I still need to look into it.
Lao Liu, whatever you do, never make such a rookie mistake next time. Your work attitude must be rigorous!"
Director Liu had at least kept a job, so he kept his posture very low. "Yes, yes, yes, I will keep that in mind. But is there still room to turn things around for Li Qun? He has been with me for a long time, after all."
Qiao Yan told him to look on the bright side, saying that this was a document handed down from the province, and there was nothing he could do. "However, I have already applied for the compound fertilizer from Rongcheng again. If we can get a good result, your situation will be a bit better."
Seeing that Qiao Yan didn't suspect anything, Director Liu finally felt relieved. When he checked into the guesthouse, he was still having a headache over how to pacify Li Qun.
Although this man seemed obedient, doing whatever he was told, he was actually very ambitious. He was just waiting for an opportunity to climb the ladder. Therefore, while Director Liu was willing to use him normally, he would never treat him as a trusted confidant.
"Otherwise, maybe compensate him with some money?" Director Liu thought groggily.
When Li Qun arrived at the county town, his face was already frozen pale. After getting off his bicycle, his legs and feet were stiff and barely working. He had managed to endure the journey to the county town entirely on a surge of sheer anger.
He banged on the door of the guesthouse and managed to get a room using his identity as a government worker. Seeing how badly he was freezing, the staff assumed he had some urgent business and hurriedly brought a pot of hot water up to his room.
Coincidentally, he was staying in the room right next to Director Liu.
Early the next morning, Director Liu went into the county town to say his greetings and then left. However, there was still no movement from Li Qun's room. Remembering the state he was in when he arrived yesterday, the staff went to knock on his door.
After quite a while, Li Qun struggled to get up and open the door. He was already burning up with a severe fever. Having suffered a blow first and then freezing for several hours, it would be a miracle if he didn't fall ill.
"Clerk Li, let me take you to the clinic, or should I invite the young doctor over to give you an injection?"
Li Qun shook his head and asked the staff what time it was. Upon learning that the government offices had already started work, he begged her to find someone to give him a ride.
"I have urgent business to report at the government office. Please help take me there."
The staff didn't dare to delay. Soon, Li Qun met with Qiao Yan, who thought he had come to plead for mercy.
"Look on the bright side. If you make a mistake, you have to bear the consequences. Yesterday, your Director Liu also came over to plead for you, but to tell you the truth, this matter is already settled. It's no use looking for anyone!"
Li Qun's voice was a bit hoarse as he said sarcastically, "Then did Director Liu tell you that he made me take the blame because he was afraid of taking responsibility himself?"
Qiao Yan looked surprised. "What nonsense are you talking about? You are also a member of the Discipline Inspection Commission. You must be responsible for your words and actions."
"Yes, Director Qiao. I came today to tell the truth. I want to report Director Liu. Not only did he shirk responsibility in the phone call incident, but he also caused division for his own selfish interests, formed cliques, and affected the normal work of the town government.
He also made me collude with local thugs to crack down on the black market, and many of the confiscated goods were secretly divided up among us."
As the director of the Discipline Inspection Commission, upon hearing Li Qun's report, Qiao Yan immediately found someone to take notes and asked him to explain the situation in detail.
After listening to the whole thing, he had to admit that it was indeed well-founded. Lao Liu really surprised him. No wonder he was so proactive in fighting for the job of cracking down on the black market; it turned out there was a profit to be made.
"Then why did you take the blame for him before, and now step forward to report him? Is it an unequal distribution of the spoils?"
Li Qun smiled bitterly. "I had no idea that the phone call from Rongcheng was so important. It was Director Liu who deliberately obscured the real situation, which is why I was willing to take the fall."
Qiao Yan had someone settle Li Qun down, and then immediately sent people to the town to investigate the situation. If it was true, he would deal with it severely. Under his jurisdiction, such disciplinary violations were not allowed.
Since getting married, Mingli went to work happy every day. After arriving in town today, thinking about the big fat chicken his wife would personally stew for him when he went back tonight, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.
Secretary Ma was fiddling with his teacup. "That guy went to the county yesterday. Who knows what he's fussing about."
Mingli thought to himself that fussing was useless. "I guess Li Qun has also gone to the county. He stopped me yesterday and asked about the whole phone call incident. He won't let Director Liu off the hook."
The two exchanged a glance, knowing that Director Liu's good days were over. Sure enough, before anyone came back, a call from the county arrived.
After hanging up the phone, Secretary Ma smiled and said, "We've got work to do. We need to cooperate with the comrades from the county to investigate the evidence of Director Liu's disciplinary violations."
Mingli thought to himself, what was there to investigate? They already had a lot of things in their hands. He had wanted to teach him a lesson for a long time, but Secretary Ma kept saying the time wasn't right, which was why he had been let off the hook for so long.
Director Liu didn't notice anything unusual when he returned to town, but he still felt uneasy in his heart. So, after work, he personally went to Li Qun's house.
Li Qun's family still didn't know what had happened. Seeing Director Liu come over, they brought him into the house.
"The child is sick and his fever hasn't broken yet. I'll take you in to have a quick look, but please be careful not to catch it."
After entering the room, Director Liu saw that Li Qun was indeed at home, and his heart felt much more settled. Being sick was good; at least he would be quiet for a few days.
"Li Qun, don't put too much psychological pressure on yourself. I have already communicated with Director Qiao, and he said he will report it to the city leaders."
Li Qun nodded weakly. "Then I'll trouble you, Director."
Director Liu hadn't come empty-handed. Not only did he bring things, but he also stuffed money inside. After he left, deep hatred was revealed in Li Qun's eyes.
Director Qiao had made it very clear that his reporting was meritorious, but because he had worked under Director Liu before, even if he was proven innocent, there was no way he could return to work in the government. At most, his merits and faults would offset each other.
He was still so young. What future could he possibly have now?
Qiao Yan was a man who valued efficiency. He quickly obtained the evidence, and Director Liu was arrested. When he was arrested, he was at home drinking a little wine, and Mingli kindly let him finish his drink.
"Don't be afraid. Have a few more sips. I'm afraid you won't be able to live such a comfortable life in the future."
Director Liu's face was full of terror. "Nan Mingli, I am the director of the Discipline Inspection Commission. On what grounds are you bringing people to arrest me? I want to see Director Qiao!"
"Don't worry, you will see him. It was the county that asked us to cooperate with the arrest in the first place. Do you want to say a few words to your family? Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't be coming home for a while."
While Director Liu was being taken away, his home was also thoroughly searched. Not many things were found, as he had converted them all into money.
Mingli didn't take all the money away; he left a hundred yuan, letting the county reconcile the accounts with the rest before deciding whether to return a portion.
Director Liu's wishful thinking vanished when he saw that the local thugs had also been arrested at the same time. He immediately knew for sure that Li Qun had reported him. How on earth had he discovered the truth?
Director Liu tried to force himself to calm down, but the things he had done simply didn't allow him to deny them. His fate was easy to imagine.
Qiao Yan really couldn't understand why Lao Liu would do these things. However, after meeting with him once, Director Liu only cried bitterly and begged for mercy, so he couldn't be bothered to ask anymore.
Everyone must be responsible for their own actions, and as a member of the government, this is even more so...