"It's not a matter of personal favor. We're both government officials, serving the people. Investigating corrupt officials is also doing the people a favor. There's no need for such formalities between us."
Qin Mu smiled, waved his hand slightly, and said, "I'll leave the rest to you."
"It's no trouble at all. I'm used to it."
Zhuo Zhihong shook his head and said, "However, shouldn't I congratulate you?"
Congratulate me?
"Congratulate me on what?"
Qin Mu countered.
"With the top leader gone, you, the second-in-command, have made a great contribution. Don't you have a chance to rise in rank?"
Zhuo Zhihong said in a low voice, "If you want, I'll have the old man pull some strings for you."
"There are some things your Qin family can't handle directly, but our old man is perfect for it. He has connections in Jiangnan. Getting things done for you shouldn't be a problem."
The larger the family, the more attention it attracts. Qin Mu is the Qin family's eldest grandson, so he's bound to attract a lot of attention. If the old man were to actually use his resources, it would easily be criticized.
"But if the Zhuo family intervenes, it'll definitely be easier and less conspicuous."
"No need."
Qin Mu waved his hand repeatedly, saying seriously, "If your grandfather tries to pull strings for me, I'll probably get scolded. Not only will I get scolded, but you'll be in trouble too. You can't do that."
This…
Is that even possible?
Zhuo Zhihong smiled wryly, saying, "I didn't expect your Qin family's discipline to be so strict?"
"Of course. My grandfather is like a god who secretly controls everything. If I dare to cheat or take shortcuts, he'll definitely stand up and teach me a lesson."
Qin Mu immediately said.
"Alright… then I won't help you pull strings."
After hearing this, Zhuo Zhihong completely abandoned the idea. He couldn't make things worse.
After a few brief pleasantries, Zhuo Zhihong got into his car and drove back to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.
And as soon as Qin Mu turned around, he saw countless eyes fixed on him.
With the top leader arrested, Qin Mu, the second-in-command, naturally became the focus of attention.
"County Chief Qin, given the current situation…"
Deputy County Party Secretary Gao Qiang approached and asked, "Should you take charge of the work at the County Party Committee?"
"Isn't there a need for such a rush?"
Qin Mu pondered for a moment and said, "What we need to do now is wait for instructions from higher-ups. Unless it's particularly urgent, we'll wait for the new secretary to arrive!"
"If there are any urgent matters that require immediate attention, summarize them and we'll discuss them at a Standing Committee meeting."
Logically, this would be a prime opportunity for Qin Mu to seize power, but he knew that no matter how hard he tried, the position of County Party Secretary wouldn't be his for the time being.
Rather than trying to seize power, it was better to be a law-abiding citizen, do his job well, and wait for the new secretary to take office.
"Alright, everyone, get back to your work. Focus on your duties, and don't gossip about things that aren't appropriate."
Qin Mu glanced around at everyone and spoke directly.
After speaking, he went straight back to his office.
Gao Qiang and the others exchanged glances, their faces showing admiration.
Everyone loves power, but maintaining one's integrity in the face of it is no easy feat.
At this juncture, with the county party secretary taken away, it was the perfect opportunity for Qin Mu, the county head, to take charge of the entire county's work and issue orders.
Even if the city and provincial leaders knew, they wouldn't say much.
Because at this critical moment, without a top leader, the second-in-command is essentially the top leader, and taking charge of the work is perfectly acceptable.
But Qin Mu, on the other hand, said nothing and showed no intention of taking charge. This composure and calmness were truly admirable.
Back in his office, Qin Mu listened as Jiang Haoxuan and Han Ying poured out their grievances.
"County Chief, you really scared us to death!"
"We all thought something terrible had happened to you."
"Secretary Yu wanted to hold a meeting to discuss your case, and we were both too scared to leave the house."
...
"This situation was rather special, so I didn't have time to inform you. Fortunately, the final outcome was good."
Qin Mu smiled and offered a word of comfort. After leaving Wenyu Tourism Company yesterday, he immediately hailed a taxi and headed to the provincial capital, not caring about anything else.
Having evidence in hand, the most important thing was to find someone who could maximize its effectiveness, and time was of the essence; going to the provincial capital was the only option.
"County Chief, you flatter us. You're the leader; you don't need to consult us before doing anything."
Han Ying quickly said, "We wanted to contact you because we were worried about you and wanted to tell you about the situation here. As long as you're alright, everything is fine."
"No, no, we're a team."
Qin Mu waved his hand slightly and said, "We're superior and subordinate, but we should also be trustworthy partners. I hope that in the future we can work together to contribute to the great cause of national rejuvenation!"
A team!
Partners!
Qin Mu's words deeply moved Han Ying and Jiang Haoxuan.
The county chief's high regard for them made them feel incredibly honored and privileged. Serving such a leader was their blessing.
"County Chief, you must be tired after working all night. We won't bother you any longer. Please call us if you need anything."
Han Ying was perceptive; she immediately noticed Qin Mu's fatigue. After a few simple words, she pulled Jiang Haoxuan out.
"Director, the county head really values us! I'm willing to work my ass off for him!"
Jiang Haoxuan's eyes were filled with determination as he earnestly said, "In all my years of working, I've never met a leader with such a good temper as the county head."
"You should be secretly happy. Being a secretary to someone like County Head Qin is a blessing you've accumulated over eight lifetimes."
Han Ying smiled and said, "Learning from County Head Qin will greatly benefit you in the future!"
"I know!"
Jiang Haoxuan nodded heavily, his expression resolute.
...
Qin Mu's words were clearly intended to completely win over Han Ying and Jiang Haoxuan. Previously, with Yu Xuewen's presence, Qin Mu couldn't fully trust them.
But now it's different. Yu Xuewen, who had been the top official in Huaining for three and a half years, is completely finished. Even if a new secretary takes office, Jiang Haoxuan and Han Ying won't side with him. After all, the new secretary wouldn't trust them either. Coupled with Qin Mu's personal charisma, it's enough to make them completely loyal.
After finishing all that, Qin Mu didn't care about anything else. He lay down on the sofa and fell asleep. He was exhausted after a night of tossing and turning; a good night's sleep was the most important thing.
Meanwhile, news of Yu Xuewen's arrest began to circulate within the Jiangzhou Municipal Party Committee and Government.
Some people started to get anxious.