Chapter 24 Autumn Cicada

  Qiu Shunming stood in the corridor for a moment, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He was about to push open the door and enter the private room to call out Lin Nan, Peng Hui and others to discuss countermeasures when his phone rang again. Looking at the number, it was Huang Hai, the Secretary of the K City Discipline Inspection Commission.

  The tax system is a high-risk industry that easily breeds corruption. As the head of the local taxation bureau, in order to grasp the party's style and clean government construction within this unit well, and also in case something happens to cadres within this unit, being able to coordinate or intercede, generally good relations are maintained with the main responsible persons of the procuratorate and discipline inspection committee. Therefore, Qiu Shunming and Huang Hai handled their relationship relatively well, often getting together to drink tea, eat meals, play cards, go fishing, and having more phone contact.

  But at this moment, Qiu Shunming received a call from Huang Hai, and in his heart, he had a bad premonition: this call was likely related to Ye Ming's case.

  As soon as the phone was connected, Huang Hai asked straightforwardly: "Director Qiu, has your municipal bureau put a cadre named Ye Ming from Xinleng County Bureau under double designation? What are the reasons and basis for your double designation of him? Is there corresponding evidence to support it?"

  Qiu Shunming thought for a moment and replied carefully: "Secretary Huang, the main reason we are dealing with Ye Ming this time is that he beat Li Li, the head of Xinleng County Bureau, and Chen Weiping, the director of the office, without any reason. Both of them were beaten into minor injuries. This matter was witnessed by all cadres and staff of Xinleng County Bureau, and many cadres and staff wrote written testimony materials, the evidence is very sufficient."

  Qiu Shunming did not dare to mention the matter of Ye Ming accepting a bribe of 3,000 yuan again, because the other party was the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission and he knew that his subordinates must have investigated this case and knew that this so-called bribery incident was purely a false accusation.

  Huang Hai hesitated for a moment on the phone and said, "Old Qiu, we are old friends, so let's be straightforward with you: according to my information, Ye Ming beat up Li Li and that Chen surname office director because Li Li often harassed a female cadre named Chen Yi. He was standing up for that female cadre when he used his fists. Of course, it was wrong of him to use violence and he should be punished. However, more than ten days ago, you gave Ye Ming a major demerit penalty and also demoted him for half a year. In all fairness, this punishment is quite severe.

  Here is the translation:

  "After Secretary Li of the Provincial Discipline Commission learned about Ye Ming's disciplinary action, he instructed the Law Enforcement Supervision Department to look into this case. At that time, Secretary Li's intention was that he thought there was no provision for demotion in the regulations for disciplining cadres, and that this was a local policy of your tax system. He wanted the Law Enforcement Supervision Department to look into it, which meant to see if Ye Ming could be prevented from being demoted. However, you city bureau thought that Ye Ming had gone to the Provincial Discipline Commission to file a complaint, and in a fit of anger, they put him under shuanggui (a form of detention). Secretary Li was furious when he learned about this inside story, and it is said that in his hospital room, in front of many subordinates, he slammed his fist on the table, saying that your city tax bureau was lawless, that Li Li was a loser and a typical corrupt element. He demanded a thorough investigation into this matter and required regular reports on the progress of the investigation... Old Qiu, I heard that you have a good personal relationship with Li Li, and I remember that you even took him to dinner with me once. In this situation, I suggest you make a decision as soon as possible. As the saying goes, 'when one should act but does not, they will suffer the consequences.' This is not the time to consider brotherly feelings or friendship... I've said all I need to say, now it's up to you to handle it!"

  Qiu Shunming understood the implication of Huang Hai's words: The Discipline Inspection Commission would soon take action against Li Li, he reminded himself to quickly take measures against Li Li, sacrifice a pawn to save the chariot, so as not to be implicated himself...

  However, only Qiu Shunming himself was clear in his heart: he and Li Li were actually two grasshoppers on a single string now, neither of whom could leave the other. And now, these two grasshoppers were facing deep autumn, and really might not be able to jump for many more days...

  After hanging up the phone call from Huang Hai, Qiu Shunming suppressed the sadness and fear in his heart, stood there quietly for a moment, then pushed open the door of the private room and walked in.

  After he left the private room to answer a call outside, the atmosphere at the wine table suddenly cooled down: Peng Hui and others, because of Ye Ming's relationship, no one was willing to toast Xia Chuchu, they were all drinking by themselves. And Xia Chuchu saw that none of them came to toast her, so she couldn't possibly take the initiative to toast them with Ye Ming.

  So when Qiu Shunming entered, the private room was very quiet, with everyone lowering their heads to eat and drink, without even a single polite phrase.

  Qiu Shunming put on a smiling face, walked quickly to his seat, picked up a glass of wine, bypassed Xia Chuchu, and went straight to Ye Ming's back, patted Ye Ming's shoulder, and said warmly: "Xiao Ye, as the head of K City Taxation Bureau, I don't understand you young and promising grassroots cadres well enough, and I don't care about you enough, which led to some unpleasant events. This is my dereliction of duty. Now, I'd like to offer you a glass of wine and sincerely apologize for my dereliction of duty!"

  As soon as this was said, the people in the private room were shocked and their mouths were wide open: what's going on? Ye Ming is still an official under investigation, why did Qiu Bureau suddenly want to show such respect and apologize to him?

  Ye Ming himself was also a bit confused, but seeing Qiu Bureau Director being so humble, he felt that he couldn't be too rude either. So he stood up, turned around and clinked his cup with him, and the two of them downed their drinks in one gulp.

  Xia Chuchu was stunned for a moment, then immediately smiled and stood up, picking up a cup of wine, saying to Qiu Shunming: "Director Qiu, thank you! I'm not usually a drinker, but since you're being so polite, I'll make an exception and have a cup with you!"

  Qiu Shunming waved his hand and said, "Chu Chu, don't be polite, if you can't drink it, let Xiao Ye have it instead! I think he has a big capacity for liquor, probably more than all of us at this table combined! Haha!"

  At this time, everyone at the table had already noticed that Director Qiu had unknowingly changed "Ye Ming" to a more affectionate "Xiao Ye", and his attitude towards him had made a 180-degree turn...

  At this moment, Qiu Shunming glanced at them and suddenly said: "Director Lin, Director Wang, Comrade Peng, don't be so reserved, let's liven up the atmosphere. I suggest that everyone at this table should give Ye a toast individually. Today we will test Ye's capacity for liquor and see how much he can drink. Come on, let's start with Director Lin!"

  Qiu Shunming started to toast, Lin Nan was full of doubts, but he didn't want to refuse, so he picked up a cup of wine and stood up, toasted Ye Ming a cup of wine.

  Others, including Peng Hui, were also named by Qiu Shunming one by one and had to bow to Ye Ming in turn.

  At the end of the banquet, Qiu Shunming said to Lin Nan: "Director Lin, please call and notify other members of the municipal party group to come to Baozhu County Bureau immediately. We will hold a temporary party group meeting here this afternoon to study the issue of lifting the dual control over Comrade Ye Ming."