Official Career Storm-Chapter 1458

Zhang Yan received a phone call.

The call was from a man named Guo Tong.

After the call connected, Guo Tong said only one sentence: "Qiu Zhen Ting has been arrested."

Zhang Yan's expression slightly shifted: "Who arrested him?"

"Song Guanchao?"

"What?" Zhang Yan found it unbelievable.

Guo Tong said, "You better watch out, he will probably come for you next."

"I understand."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yan frowned deeply but did not appear panicked.

...

At eleven in the morning, Qiu Zhen Ting was taken to the hotel for detention.

Song Guanchao ordered a lunchbox for him. Qiu Zhen Ting had no appetite but finished it anyway.

After eating, Song Guanchao said, "Secretary Qiu, are you planning to confess now, or would you like to rest first?"

Qiu Zhen Ting shook his head, "I don't know what I'm supposed to confess."

Song Guanchao said, "Then rest for a few days, and we'll talk when you remember."

He took away Qiu Zhen Ting's phone.

Qiu Zhen Ting sat in the chair, smoking and contemplating.

About half an hour after Song Guanchao left, a small drone suddenly flew outside the window.

A phone was hanging beneath the drone.

Qiu Zhen Ting froze for a moment, immediately looking toward the door.

Then he quickly moved over, stretching his arm through the security window bars to grab the phone.

Just as he got the phone, a call came in.

"Secretary Qiu, I've arranged a lawyer for you."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Qiu Zhen Ting wasn't surprised. He sighed inwardly: "Thank you, Mr. Guo, but in such matters, I fear even a lawyer might struggle to help."

Guo Tong said, "It can help a bit. Cooperate, confess voluntarily, and unless something unexpected happens, the sentence will be around ten years."

Ten years...

This number left Qiu Zhen Ting feeling hopeless.

He already knew the purpose of Guo Tong's call.

But thinking about losing at least ten years of freedom, Qiu Zhen Ting felt a strong panic and unwillingness.

He was almost fifty; in ten years, he'd be close to sixty.

With his chronic illness, it was uncertain whether he'd even survive those ten years, yet he'd spend his later years in prison.

Sensing his emotions, Guo Tong said, "Secretary Qiu, don't be too down. It's only ten years. At least the money in your hands is still yours."

"When you get out, take the money, move to another country, enjoy retirement, and spend time with your grandkids. Life still holds promise, doesn't it?"

Qiu Zhen Ting was silent for a long time before saying, "I understand."

Guo Tong said, "Secretary Qiu, take a good rest."

After the call ended, Qiu Zhen Ting sat dejectedly on the bed.

Guo Tong's call appeared to comfort him, but it was actually a threat.

He only mentioned the sentence length, advising cooperation and confession, yet omitted what would happen if he refused to cooperate.

Because it didn't need to be said.

Since Guo Tong could freely hand over the phone to him, if he didn't confess or tried to implicate others, Guo Tong could also ensure his doom.

This was unsaid; everyone was implicitly aware of it.

When he accepted bribes and illegally altered these state enterprise reforms, he had tacitly agreed to the inherent risks.

He was just unlucky to be caught.

Since caught in the act, he had to accept the gamble and its consequences.

Although he lost his freedom, at least the money remained, and his life wasn't at risk.

...

After leaving the hotel, Song Guanchao didn't head to the city bureau but returned to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

He found the office director Sun Yuan and got straight to the point: "Secretary Qiu has been put under dual investigation."

Sun Yuan was stunned for several seconds, confirming Song Guanchao wasn't joking.

"Dual investigation?"

"Yes." Song Guanchao said, "Are you aware of the Tengxiang Company reform, Director Sun?"

Sun Yuan showed a flash of hesitation, nodding, "Yes, I know."

Song Guanchao said, "Could you please explain it in detail, Director Sun?"

Sun Yuan asked, "Which aspects does Director Song want to understand specifically?"

Song Guanchao said, "For example, the company's reform, evaluation, and who exactly was involved."

Sun Yuan said, "Secretary Qiu and several Deputy Secretaries were involved."

"Director Sun knows where the relevant documents are stored?"

"Yes." Sun Yuan said, "This part of the work is mainly managed by the Enterprise Reform Office, and the documents are stored there."

Song Guanchao said, "Could you please contact the director of the Enterprise Reform Office and ask him to come over?"

"Okay."

Sun Yuan called Yan Hua, the director of the Enterprise Reform Office. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Meanwhile, Song Guanchao told Wu Yun, "Get in touch with Political Commissioner Wen and ask her to send some people over."

Wu Yun acknowledged and left the office to contact Wen Ru.

He had been focused on arresting Qiu Zhen Ting and had overlooked those Deputy Secretaries.

Mainly because he didn't expect the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission to be so thoroughly corrupt.

On this side, Sun Yuan finished his call.

"Mr. Yan will be here shortly."

After Sun Yuan spoke, Song Guanchao handed him a cigarette, which he accepted with a thanks.

As they smoked together, Song Guanchao asked, "How long have you been at the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, Director Sun?"

"Five years." Sun Yuan actually found it curious.

Since Song Guanchao was neither from the Disciplinary Committee nor the police, though he knew about issues at the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, it wasn't his place to address them.

Unless the city had set up a special task force for this matter.

If that were the case, it indicated that the city placed great importance on this matter and had known about it for a long time, carefully planning its approach.

Now that people were being apprehended, it suggested the city already had substantial evidence.

He silently reflected, thinking that the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission was in for a major purge!

He also felt a bit excited.

He had been in the office for five years, working from deputy director to director, but saw no further prospects for advancement.

But now, suddenly, he saw hope.

"Five years, quite a while."

Song Guanchao asked, "During these five years, how many state-owned enterprises has the Enterprise Reform Office handled for reform?"

Sun Yuan thought seriously for a few seconds, then shook his head: "I haven't specifically focused on this; from what I recall, about three."

Song Guanchao nodded. He estimated that it was definitely not just a one-time occurrence.

He called for the director of the Enterprise Reform Office, wanting to clarify how many state-owned enterprises had undergone reform in these years.

One should know, the profit for a state-owned enterprise was calculated in at least tens of billions.

And the losses caused by shortfalls could reach twenty or thirty billion, even more.

Creak.

Wu Yun entered, having finished her call.

Accompanying her was Yan Hua, the director of the Enterprise Reform Office.

"Mr. Yan, let me introduce you."

Sun Yuan stood up and introduced, "This is Director Song from the City Government Office, Song Guanchao."

Yan Hua, in his forties, maintained his figure well, and one could see he was quite handsome in his youth.

He approached and shook hands with Song Guanchao, not overly enthusiastic, even somewhat aloof.

Sun Yuan introduced further, "This is Director Wu from the Disciplinary Committee."

Disciplinary Committee?

Yan Hua's expression stiffened.

Noticing his change of expression, Song Guanchao smiled and said, "Mr. Yan, please have a seat."