This is insane!
Liang Guan hadn't expected that even after using the names of the provincial and municipal party committees to pressure Qin Mu, this kid would still stubbornly resist.
He's basically a dead pig that doesn't fear boiling water, ignoring even the provincial and municipal party committees.
Any cadre who wants to advance wouldn't do this. Breaking with convention and being too unconventional is definitely detrimental to career development.
Liang Guan is the top leader, and Qin Mu is the second-in-command. If Liang Guan really complains to the municipal party committee, in the eyes of the leadership, Qin Mu will be seen as someone who doesn't obey orders. If he's blacklisted, he'll basically have no chance of promotion in the future.
Because of disunity!
Disregarding the leadership!
When the organization evaluates cadres, it will naturally consult Qin Mu's colleagues, and as the leader of Qin Mu's team, Liang Guan's opinion is paramount.
That's why Liang Guan thinks Qin Mu is truly insane. Is it really necessary to gamble with his future?
Isn't this blatantly ignoring all the unspoken rules of officialdom? This is completely untenable.
"Qin Mu, you are utterly lawless, disrespectful to your superiors, uncooperative with your colleagues, acting arbitrarily and independently. You wait, I'm going to the municipal party committee right now."
Liang Guan knew he had to respond. If he let it go like this, he, as the county party secretary, would be completely disgraced.
"I will resign in person with Secretary Li and Mayor Qiu. I cannot remain the Huaining County Party Secretary. Please ask them to find someone more capable!"
Liang Guan snorted coldly and said directly.
Uh…
Playing this far?
Liang Guan's solution indeed left Qin Mu somewhat helpless.
If the other party resigned, the one most guilty would undoubtedly be Qin Mu.
That's beyond doubt!
A county magistrate forcing the county party secretary to resign—Qin Mu's reputation as county magistrate would be completely ruined.
"Secretary Liang, you're being too impulsive."
Qin Mu chuckled lightly, then asked seriously, "Is it worth making such a big fuss over these two scoundrels?"
"What if they turn out to be lawbreakers? By making this scene, you'll just be their protector, and your own reputation will be completely ruined."
Liang Guan naturally knew this.
But he was already on the verge of action!
He couldn't let Qin Mu manipulate him now because of concerns about the future.
"Qin Mu, I'll only give you three minutes to consider. Either you apologize to Comrades Chen Xin and Niu Feiyu, or I'll go to the municipal party committee and resign. The choice is yours."
Liang Guan said coldly, "There are only these two paths. Think about it!"
Stubborn to the end!
Indecisive to the end?
Qin Mu looked at Liang Guan and said calmly, "Secretary Liang, I don't want to choose either of these paths!"
"I choose a third path!"
What does that mean?
A third path?
Liang Guan frowned immediately. He hadn't offered a third option; what choice did the other party have?
"You are…"
"Hello, is this Secretary Fang?"
Liang Guan was about to ask when Qin Mu dialed a number first, saying, "Excuse me for bothering you, but where are the comrades from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection? Some people are getting impatient."
"You brat, I told them to go ahead yesterday, and you said there was no rush, but today you're urging me again."
Fang Xiu was speechless, saying with dissatisfaction, "You haven't risen that high in rank, but your demands are getting higher and higher!"
"They set off early this morning and are waiting in Huaining County. I'll send a message; they'll be there in ten minutes!"
"If you keep bothering me like this, I'm going to get angry."
This…
Qin Mu sensed the dissatisfaction in Secretary Fang's tone. He knew that he had been too willful this time; how could he keep changing his mind like this when dealing with superiors?
A different, more short-tempered leader would have already started yelling.
"Secretary Fang, I'm so sorry."
Qin Mu quickly apologized. "I felt you were very polite and approachable, like family. I was too willful, I'm truly sorry. Don't worry, I will definitely correct myself in the future, handle official business strictly, and won't call you randomly again, much less disrupt the investigation's progress."
What does that mean?
Fang Xiu on the other end of the phone was stunned.
Treat him like family?
Just those four words made Fang Xiu's face flush slightly.
Luckily, she was in her office, and no one else was around. Otherwise, her subordinates would probably be dying of curiosity, wondering who this person was who could make the usually aloof Secretary Fang blush.
"You brat!"
"If you dare do that, see how I deal with you!"
"You can call me anytime, whether it's work-related or personal, you can contact me. This is a privilege I'm giving you!"
Fang Xiu spat lightly, then hung up the phone.
To put it bluntly, Qin Mu's words about treating her like family struck a chord with her.
Her favorite person was Qin Mu's father, and Qin Mu bore a resemblance to him. Treating him like family naturally made Fang Xiu very happy.
Therefore, it was only natural that she would give Qin Mu the green light.
Women are emotional creatures, after all.
No matter how strong-willed Fang Xiu was, she was still a woman.
It worked!
Hearing Secretary Fang's words, Qin Mu couldn't help but smile. Sure enough, as long as he used his trump card, he could please Secretary Fang.
Luckily, his father had a lot of charm; otherwise, he would have displeased Secretary Fang today.
After hanging up the phone, Qin Mu noticed that Liang Guan and the others were looking at him strangely.
Thinking about it, it made sense; the way he spoke to Secretary Fang was indeed a bit odd.
Considering Qin Mu's single status and Secretary Fang's status as an older, unmarried woman, the possibilities were even more obvious.
"Qin Mu and Secretary Fang...?"
"Isn't the age gap too big?"
"In today's society, nothing seems impossible!"
"A relationship between an older woman and a younger man, with an age difference of ten or twenty years, doesn't seem like a big deal, does it?"
...
Many thoughts flashed through Liang Guan's mind, and he felt a growing apprehension towards Qin Mu.
This kid's relationship with Secretary Fang of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection is far too unusual.
If it really is that kind of relationship, then he'd better be careful in the future!
The Secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection is no ordinary person; the Municipal Party Committee's five-member group and the Commission for Discipline Inspection are powerful departments—they're not to be trifled with.
"Secretary Liang, please wait a moment. The comrades from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection will be here in ten minutes, and then we'll have the results."
Qin Mu glanced at Liang Guan and said calmly, then turned to Chen Xin and Niu Feiyu, who were waiting anxiously nearby, and said, "Don't worry, you two. Think about how you're going to explain this to the comrades from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. You certainly haven't forgotten what illegal or disorderly conduct you've done in the past!"
"Confess properly, and you'll be treated leniently if you confess; if you resist, you'll be punished severely!"
What?
Is it for real?
Liang Guan wasn't particularly concerned, but Chen Xin and Niu Feiyu were genuinely anxious.
"County Chief Qin, we don't understand what you mean at all."
Chen Xin couldn't help but say, "We're completely innocent, wholeheartedly serving the people. What have we done to displease you that you have to frame us like this!"
"If we've done anything wrong, you can point it out. Don't always send the comrades from the Commission for Discipline Inspection to investigate, increasing their workload."