The Beautiful County Magistrate
Chapter 157: Actively Requesting a Public Investigation!

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Actively Requesting a Public Investigation!

In the office, Zhang Kuisan raised his voice tremendously, directing his sharp criticism towards Lan Qianrong, pressuring Lan Qianrong to self-criticize to severely undermine her dignity and authority.

Deputy County Magistrates Zeng Changyun and Ding Biao also relentlessly supported Zhang Kuisan, forcing Lan Qianrong into a corner.

Faced with the coercion of one Deputy County Magistrate and two Deputy County Magistrates, Lan Qianrong furrowed her brow and remained silent.

She clearly understood the current situation; Zhang Kuisan, Zeng Changyun, and Ding Biao were blatantly using the incident of Xu Qianli being taken away by the Disciplinary Committee for investigation as a pretext to deliberately trouble her.

If she were forced to compromise, she would never establish herself in the Jiang City administrative scene. She would be completely suppressed by Zhang Kuisan, never to recover, and ultimately would be disgracefully ousted from Jiang City, becoming a ridiculed figure, metaphorically as if she’d been kicked out with the speed of an airplane.

If she refused to agree and stood her ground, it seemed the three men wouldn’t easily relent.

Obviously, they had come prepared, clearly intending to break all pretenses with her!

Just when Lan Qianrong was in a difficult spot, the door suddenly opened, and Xu Qianli stormed in.

"To demand County Magistrate Lan to self-criticize, how dare you even suggest that!"

"Zhang Kuisan, Zeng Changyun, Ding Biao, no matter what you say, you’re still subordinates of County Magistrate Lan. Forcing your own leader into self-criticism without cause, aren’t you going too far?"

"Or do you now believe you have the capability to run wild over your own leader?"

Xu Qianli rebuked them severely, effectively putting the three on the spot.

Threatening their own leader, climbing on their leader’s head—the accusations were significantly serious, and the trio couldn’t bear them.

What shocked them even more was the appearance of Xu Qianli, who had been apprehended by the City Disciplinary Inspection Committee just yesterday. How had he returned in just one day?

Ding Biao quickly argued, "Xu Qianli is spurting nonsense! When have we ever disregarded our leader? It’s truly because you committed wrongdoings, and everyone is outraged, so we asked County Magistrate Lan to do something to calm the resentment among the staff. How did that turn around in your mouth? Moreover, this entire incident is because of you, and yet you have the audacity to be clamorous in front of us!"

Zeng Changyun added, "Exactly, the Party Secretary of Qingshan Town, Li Zhu, went to the City Disciplinary Inspection Committee to report your misdeeds, which we all know about. You, as the Government Office Director, daring to go to a town and insult women, extorting from town officials – it’s utterly disgraceful! You’ve also neglected your duties nearly causing the Qinglong River dyke to break, putting thousands of people at risk of losing their homes. What more could you possibly argue?"

Zhang Kuisan’s words were even sharper, "A person like you doesn’t deserve to work in our County Government. I’ll request the Organization Department to dismiss you from your post and expel you from the Party, and I’ll ask the Disciplinary Committee to investigate you, not letting you get off scot-free!"

Faced with their accusations and even threats and intimidation, Xu Qianli disdainfully flicked his ear.

"Are you done?"

"Now it’s my turn!"

"You three keep claiming I did those things, but did you see them with your own eyes, or has this matter been confirmed by the Public Security Bureau or the Disciplinary Committee?"

"Just because Li Zhu reported me, I’m a criminal, and I’ve actually done wrong?"

"What if one day, someone reports one or all three of you sneaking into a pigsty at night to eat pig feces, should I also believe that?"

"Look at you three, why do you look so upset? Could it be that my random remark actually hit the mark?"

"Especially you, Deputy County Magistrate Zhang, your fat cheeks are all red. Could it be a guilty conscience, have you actually eaten pig feces?"

"So, how did it taste?"

With his teasing, the three men looked even more displeased, especially Zhang Kuisan, who was so angry that he was the color of a liver.

Slamming the table fiercely, Zhang Kuisan exploded in rage.

"Enough, this isn’t a place for you to create a disturbance," said the Jiang City Magistrate. "You claim you haven’t done those things, but it’s not up to you to decide. It’s for the Public Security Department and the Disciplinary Committee to judge, not for you to say there’s nothing!"

"Xu Qianli, no matter what, you’re finished this time!"

Xu Qianli responded, "Deputy County Magistrate Zhang, you’re right. It should indeed be up to the Public Security Department and the Disciplinary Committee to determine the truth."

Turning his head, Xu Qianli directed his gaze toward Lan Qianrong.

"Leader, I propose that we immediately ask the Disciplinary Committee and Public Security Department to conduct a public investigation on me to ascertain the truth."

"Of course, to avoid any possibility of collusion, all mobile phones in the room must be surrendered—not just mine, but also those of Deputy County Magistrate Zhang, Vice County Magistrate Zeng, and Vice County Magistrate Ding, lest I inadvertently contact someone and arrange some sort of collusion."

"Right, to ensure credibility, we also need to have the leadership of the County Committee oversee this."

While saying this, from an angle unseen by Zhang Kuisan and the other two, Xu Qianli winked at Lan Qianrong.

Lan Qianrong remained composed, nodded slightly, and agreed.

Xu Qianli was the first to hand over his mobile phone.

Zhang Kuisan was displeased. "Why should we transfer our phones too? What does this have to do with us?"

Xu Qianli said, "Just hand over your phone if you’re asked to. If you refuse, it means you have something to hide!"

Zhang Kuisan slammed the table and lost his temper right there.

"Don’t get too smug, Xu Qianli. You’re just a small office director. What right do you have to order me, the Deputy County Magistrate?"

"You want to invite the Disciplinary Committee, the Public Security Department, and people from the County Committee to come over and confront Li Zhu in person? Fine, but this has nothing to do with me. Don’t even think about restricting me!"

Zhang Kuisan was unyielding about handing over his mobile phone.

It was a complete shock when Xu Qianli suddenly returned and called for a public scrutiny by the Disciplinary Committee and the Public Security Department into Li Zhu’s accusations against him; he was anxious to call Li Zhu, to brief and instruct him, considering the timing—how could he hand over his mobile phone?

With a sneer, Xu Qianli said, "If you don’t hand it over, it means your conscience is not clear!"

Finally, Lan Qianrong spoke up,

"Deputy County Magistrate Zhang, I think you should hand over your phone to avoid any embarrassment later."

"Rest assured, I won’t favor anyone in this matter, nor will I shirk responsibility."

"If Xu Qianli has indeed erred, not only am I willing to write a self-criticism, but I am also ready to submit my resignation and step down from the position of Jiang City Magistrate."

Lan Qianrong was willing to stake everything on her trust in Xu Qianli.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kuisan suddenly felt the pressure; if he could just prove Xu Qianli guilty of misdeeds in Qingshan Town, not only would Xu Qianli be done for, but Lan Qianrong would have to go as well—an undoubtedly great outcome for him.

"Fine, I’ll hand over my phone!"

In a moment of heat, Zhang Kuisan slapped his own phone down on the table.

Seeing him comply, Zeng Changyun and Ding Biao also handed over their phones.

Lan Qianrong then took the landline, making several calls one after another.

Before long, personnel from the County Committee, County Disciplinary Committee, and County Public Security Bureau gradually arrived at the County Government.