Chapter 1050 - 1048: Suspended from Duty
The two of them had been romping in bed for nearly an hour. For the first time, Lin Chuan experienced the allure of a foreign woman, particularly entranced by Helen's legs.
Helen's legs were truly exceptional, not only smooth to the touch but also captivating to look at.
"Lin Chuan, I'm a bit hungry." Helen said shyly when she noticed Lin Chuan staring intently at her exposed legs.
Reluctantly, Lin Chuan tore his gaze away from Helen's legs and said, "I'm a bit hungry too. Why don't we go out for something to eat?"
Helen nodded silently, and Lin Chuan jumped up, unabashedly getting dressed in front of Helen.
After getting dressed, Lin Chuan saw Helen still wrapped in the sheet, lying on the bed, her eyes on him. He couldn't help but say, "Why are you looking at me? Do I have flowers growing on my face?"
Helen pursed her lips and said, "Go away, who's looking at you. You, turn around, I need to get dressed."
Lin Chuan laughed, "We've already been through this, why are you still shy? Do you want me to help you get dressed?" As he spoke, he walked towards Helen lying on the bed.
Although Helen appeared bold in matters of affection, she was fundamentally a conservative woman. Seeing Lin Chuan approaching, she thought he was really coming to dress her, and she hurriedly shouted, "Lin Chuan, don't come over."
Lin Chuan laughed heartily, "Alright, I'll go wash up in the bathroom. Hurry up and get dressed."
...
Jiangbei City Committee.
Tang Yumeng had just finished receiving a delegation from out of town and entered her office when Xiao Xue came in, looking a bit off, and said to Tang Yumeng, "Secretary Tang, something has happened."
Tang Yumeng looked at Xiao Xue and asked, "What happened?"
Xiao Xue said, "Secretary Tang, Secretary Chen just came looking for you. He said the investigation team sent by the Provincial Committee is waiting for you in the meeting room and asked you to go over immediately."
Tang Yumeng smiled, "I thought something was up. I'm aware of the investigation team sent by the Provincial Committee. I'll head over now."
"Secretary Tang," Xiao Xue said anxiously, "it's not that simple. I heard the investigation team has some evidence and is about to announce the decision to suspend you."
Tang Yumeng was taken aback and said, "Evidence, what evidence, what right do they have to suspend me?"
Xiao Xue said, "I'm not sure either, Secretary Tang; you should give Secretary Liu of the Provincial Committee a call to find out."
After pondering for a moment, Tang Yumeng walked over to her desk, picked up the phone, and dialed Secretary Liu of the Provincial Disciplinary Committee.
"Secretary Liu, this is Tang Yumeng." After the call connected, Tang Yumeng said to Secretary Liu, "I heard the Provincial Committee decided to suspend me. What's going on?"
Secretary Liu said over the phone, "Xiao Tang, don't worry. That anonymous letter somehow ended up with the Central Disciplinary Inspection Committee. Our Provincial Committee also received notification from them. Please bear with it for now and temporarily put aside your work to cooperate with the investigation team to clarify the issues. I believe you're innocent."
With Secretary Liu saying this much, Tang Yumeng had nothing else to say. She hung up the phone, frowning. Helen asked cautiously, "Secretary Tang, what did Secretary Liu say?"
Tang Yumeng shook her head slightly and said, "Secretary Liu asked me to temporarily put aside my work and cooperate with the investigation team to clarify the issues."
Xiao Xue didn't know what else to say and could only comfort Tang Yumeng, "Secretary Tang, I trust that they will sort things out and you'll be okay."
Tang Yumeng smiled and patted Xiao Xue's shoulder, said nothing, and turned to leave the office.
In the City Committee meeting room, Tang Yumeng entered to find several people sitting inside. Seeing her come in, one of them said, "Secretary Tang, you're here. Please have a seat."
The speaker was Hu Xuefeng, the leader of this investigation team, a little over thirty, and the deputy head of the Provincial Organization Department.
Besides the investigation team members, Chen Mingguo was also present.
Tang Yumeng had only met Hu Xuefeng once or twice; she nodded and smiled at him, then sat down.
"Secretary Tang, before we officially start the investigation into your issue, I will first announce the Provincial Committee's decision regarding you." Hu Xuefeng said, "After studying the matter, the Provincial Committee has decided that Comrade Tang Yumeng will temporarily be suspended from work to assist the investigation team in addressing the issues raised in the anonymous letter. Comrade Tang Yumeng's duties will temporarily be taken over by Comrade Chen Mingguo."
At this moment, Chen Mingguo appeared very composed, though his eyes carried a subtle hint of amusement that was hard to detect.
Hu Xuefeng then began questioning Tang Yumeng. The questions related to real issues, which she did not deny, although some of these matters were indeed hard to explain clearly.
By the time she left the meeting room, it was almost past five in the afternoon. Tang Yumeng didn't return to her office nor alarm anyone. She left the City Committee office building and hailed a taxi home.
When she got home, Tang Yumeng suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue. Without even taking off her coat, she slumped onto the sofa.
Since taking office as the Jiangbei City Party Secretary, Tang Yumeng had always been busy. She's dedicated so much to her work and to the development of Jiangbei City.
In her mind, the image of Lin Chuan appeared. Tang Yumeng softly called out Lin Chuan's name, wishing he were by her side now.
No paper can wrap up a fire, and the news of Tang Yumeng being suspended from work quickly spread within the City Committee.
Luo Guoqing had followed Lin Chuan abroad, but after Lin Chuan got into trouble, he returned and, after visiting Tang Yumeng twice, went back to work at the City Committee. As for the Song family brothers, Song Wen and Song Wu, although they outwardly submitted to Lin Chuan, they harbored a deep-seated resentment towards him.
This resentment stemmed from many sources and wasn't easy to articulate all at once.
The Song family brothers couldn't stay abroad any longer and returned to Jiangbei City. Since they couldn't just sit idle, they managed to pull some strings and also returned to work at the City Committee to make ends meet.
In the lounge, the Song family brothers were chatting idly again.
"I've been saying all along that Secretary Tang would be out, but you guys didn't believe me. Look, it's happening now," Song Wen said, squinting at the others in the lounge.
Song Wu chimed in, "Secretary Tang brought this on herself. I heard she's being investigated for issues regarding her lifestyle."
Someone said, "That can't be right. Everybody knows about Secretary Tang and Lin Chuan; it's a legitimate relationship. There's never been any word of Secretary Tang having lifestyle issues."
Song Wen said, "What do you guys know? I heard Tang Yumeng was messing around not only with Lin Chuan but with others too. Heh, she looks like a flirtatious woman."
This guy really is a piece of work, talking about Tang Yumeng by name without any respect.
As soon as Song Wen finished speaking, someone entered the room and cursed at Song Wen, "Song Wen, you bastard, how dare you slander Secretary Tang. I'm going to shut your filthy mouth today."
The person who entered was Luo Guoqing. He had heard Song Wen's words at the door and was filled with anger. After cursing, he charged at Song Wen and swung his right fist at him.
Song Wu, having been disabled by Lin Chuan, lacked combat strength. Though Song Wen still had some fight left in him, he wasn't skilled at brawling. Before he could dodge, Luo Guoqing's punch landed right on his face.
Bang...
Luo Guoqing's punch was powerful, and blood immediately flowed from Song Wen's nose.
Though Song Wu had no combat strength, seeing his brother get hit, he shouted loudly, "Luo Guoqing, don't go too far! You still think Tang Yumeng has your back?"
Luo Guoqing spat toward Song Wu, cursing, "Song Wu, you bastard, I live an honest life. I can't stand your kind. Today you slander Secretary Tang, I can't stand it, so I wanted to teach you two scoundrels a lesson."
Enraged, Song Wu, despite his disabled leg, pounced toward Luo Guoqing.
The others in the lounge quickly stood up to hold back Song Wu and Luo Guoqing, urging, "We're all colleagues here, aren't we? Let's just leave it at that."
Blood gushed from Song Wen's nose, but he didn't even bother to wipe it, yelling that he wanted to fight Luo Guoqing.
Luo Guoqing sneered coldly, shook off the two holding him, and kicked Song Wen to the ground.
As the commotion escalated, the office director came in. Taking note of the scene, he scolded everyone, "Are you all so idle that you want to fight in the City Committee courtyard?"
Song Wen, his face bloodied, looked at the office director and complained, "Director, it was Luo Guoqing who started the fight. You can't let him off."
The office director glared at Song Wen and Song Wu, saying, "Neither of you brothers is any good. Get back to your posts."
The Song brothers wanted to argue, but two people quickly pulled them out.
Luo Guoqing also headed out with his head lowered when the office director called him back, "Old Luo, the organization will get to the bottom of Secretary Tang's matter. I also believe Secretary Tang is innocent. I've heard that the anonymous letter was deliberately sent to the Central Disciplinary Inspection Committee. If you have time, you should investigate."
Luo Guoqing was taken aback and said, "How do I investigate an anonymous letter with no name?"
The office director gave Luo Guoqing a look and said, "Old Luo, use your brain. If the anonymous letter was widely distributed, there must be some clues left behind."
Upon hearing this, Luo Guoqing immediately understood. The anonymous letter was sent to the Jiangbei City Committee and the Provincial Committee, probably more than a hundred copies. It was likely sent through express or postal service. If they could track down the courier or postal company, they might uncover the person behind it.
"Thanks, Director. I'll start looking into it now," Luo Guoqing said as he turned to leave.
The office director called him back again, "Old Luo, wait a minute. This is the anonymous letter I received. See if you can find any clues."
Taking the anonymous letter, Luo Guoqing thanked the office director again and left the lounge for Helen's office.
Xiao Xue was organizing some documents. Seeing Luo Guoqing enter, she asked, "Old Luo, do you need something?"
Luo Guoqing went up to Xiao Xue and whispered, "Xiao Xue, take a look at the sender's stamp on this anonymous letter."
Xiao Xue looked at Luo Guoqing with curiosity and, after glancing at the letter, said, "It's a regular mail letter. Is there something wrong?"