Official Career Storm-Chapter 1474

Song Guanchao found it hard to decipher Zhou Zheng's real intentions.

However, he could sense Zhou Zheng's goodwill.

Hopefully, it wasn't just his imagination.

He nodded his head and left the office with Wu Yun.

After he left, Zhou Zheng sighed.

If Song Guanchao wasn't connected to Wu Qiangwei, he wouldn't be showing any goodwill.

Moreover, his goodwill was directed not at Song Guanchao, but at Wu Qiangwei.

...

"Is Secretary Zhou going to help you?" Wu Yun asked.

"Unclear."

"I feel he's on your side."

As an outsider, Wu Yun felt it more clearly.

Song Guanchao shook his head: "Let's go to the City Government."

Upon reaching the City Government, Song Guanchao said: "You sit in the office for a while, I'm going to see the Mayor."

He went upstairs, Shu Xue stood up and said: "Director Song."

"Is the Mayor busy?"

"Not busy, please hold on a moment."

Shu Xue knocked on the door: "Mayor, Director Song is here."

He followed Song Guanchao into the office, poured him some tea, then quietly exited.

Song Guanchao relayed his earlier conversation with Zhou Zheng and then asked: "Why has Secretary Zhou's attitude suddenly changed 180 degrees?"

He reached out to Wu Qiangwei to understand this point.

Wu Qiangwei also found it very strange.

Zhou Zheng's attitude couldn't change for no reason; when Song Guanchao offended him before, it was as if he had stepped on his tail.

But now it was completely different; he was even willing to stand by him.

It seemed somewhat peculiar.

"Since he's willing to get along, don't make things difficult for him; give him some face in public."

"I've always given him face."

Song Guanchao felt a bit speechless; he thought Wu Qiangwei had a biased impression of him.

He may seem impulsive, but he's not brainless.

"By the way," Song Guanchao asked, "Did Secretary Zhou say that the person behind Guo Tong has the surname Xu, and the connection is in Beijing. Do you know who that is?"

Wu Qiangwei shook her head: "Never heard of him."

She wasn't familiar with the local figures of Jiangzhou.

"Didn't you ask Secretary Zhou?"

"No," Song Guanchao felt a bit exasperated; Zhou Zheng's attitude had surprised him so much that he had forgotten the main business.

"Then wait until you have contact with the other party to discuss further."

Wu Qiangwei asked, "How do you plan to deal with Guo Tong specifically?"

Song Guanchao said, "It depends on whether Guo Tong cooperates."

"If he's willing to expose Zhang Yan and return the embezzled funds, I can let him go."

"That's impossible."

Returning embezzled money is not a common occurrence.

The nine state-owned enterprises suffered a total loss of over 30 billion.

Of course, it's not possible that Guo Tong swallowed all 30 billion.

Such a large pie likely involved other individuals sharing the spoils.

What's truly in Guo Tong's possession is estimated at five to six billion.

Guo Tong is merely the figurehead used openly; he works for Mr. Xu.

Of the five to six billion, most of it is in Mr. Xu's hands.

Guo Tong himself might not even have a billion.

Even if Guo Tong is willing to return the money, compared to the loss, this restitution is meager.

But Song Guanchao didn't concern himself with these aspects.

As Zhou Zheng mentioned, politics is about social niceties, and he didn't want to stir too much trouble over such trivial matters with a second generation who had connections in Beijing.

It wouldn't benefit him in any way.

But doing nothing and letting Guo Tong go was clearly not an option either.

This case is now very heated; it can't just start high and end low.

Hence, if Guo Tong wanted to get out, he must return the money and expose Zhang Yan.

Both are indispensable.

"I need to get busy now."

"Alright, good."

Wu Qiangwei wanted to ask him if he had time tonight, but the words were swallowed back.

Just wait a little longer.

He's indeed a bit busy these days.

Song Guanchao pushed open the office door and found a man next to Wu Yun.

A middle-aged man around forty years old.

The middle-aged man stood up and extended his hand upon seeing Song Guanchao: "Hello, Director Song. I am Xu Chengcheng."

What kind of name is this?

Wait, his last name is Xu?

Song Guanchao released his hand and poured him a cup of tea: "What brings Mr. Xu to see me?"

Xu Chengcheng didn't intend to beat around the bush, and said straightforwardly: "Director Song, could you do me a favor and let Guo Tong off?"

"So you've come for Mr. Guo."

Song Guanchao said, "Mr. Xu is candid, so let me be direct too. If you have Guo Tong return all the funds he embezzled over the years and expose Zhang Yan, I'll let him go."

Xu Chengcheng smiled wryly: "Director Song, could you change your request?"

Song Guanchao said seriously: "Nine state-owned enterprises, case amounting to three hundred billion, all I want is for him to return it, do you think my request is high?"

Xu Chengcheng glanced at Wu Yun: "Could Director Wu step outside for a moment?"

Wu Yun looked at Song Guanchao, who nodded, and she then got up and left.

Left with just the two of them, Xu Chengcheng shared his idea: "Director Song, provide an overseas account, and I'll have Guo Tong transfer a billion."

Song Guanchao sighed, these people are all alike.

They believe money can solve everything, and that he's no different from other officials; as long as the money is in place, everything can be settled.

"If Mr. Xu cannot accept my request, please leave."

"Two billion." Xu Chengcheng increased the stakes.

Song Guanchao shook his head.

Xu Chengcheng didn't increase the offer further; the smile on his face gradually disappeared.

He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, exhaled slowly, and said: "Director Song, are you not willing to extend me this courtesy?"

Song Guanchao said: "I've already extended Mr. Xu some courtesy; it is Mr. Xu who has rejected my condition."

"Two billion is not small." Xu Chengcheng flicked the cigarette ash and said, "But I could make the call to add another billion."

"..." Song Guanchao's mouth twitched slightly, did he really think I felt the money offered was too little?

"Mr. Xu probably misunderstood."

"I don't want money."

Don't want money?

Xu Chengcheng laughed, as if Song Guanchao were telling a joke.

He truly didn't believe anyone didn't love money in this world, let alone officials who didn't love money.

Saying no money was just not enough offered.

But he thought the offer he made was high enough.

All he needed to do was let Guo Tong go, and he'd receive three billion.

Yet he was unwilling to give a nod.

"Director Song has quite an appetite."

Xu Chengcheng stubbed out half of the cigarette in the ashtray, then picked up his phone and cigarette box and stood up from the chair.

Before leaving, he left a business card and gave Song Guanchao a sidelong glance: "Director Song, think about it; I'll be waiting for your call."

After saying this, without caring whether Song Guanchao had anything to say, he turned and left.

Just after he left, Wu Yun came in.

"What did he say to you?"

"He wanted to throw money at me."

"How much?"

She didn't ask if Song Guanchao accepted, because she didn't need to; she knew Song Guanchao.

"Three billion."

"So much!" Wu Yun was startled.

"Yes."

Song Guanchao was pondering whether to meet Zhou Zheng again and ask who exactly Xu Chengcheng was and which connection in Beijing was he referring to.

For political families, there is an unwritten rule.

If they don't intend for the next generation to pursue a political path, they usually give them a doubled-character name.

Upon hearing the name "Xu Chengcheng," he was sure that this guy's parental status must be extraordinary.

However, typically, such second generations are sent abroad.

Even if they stay in China, they are strictly prohibited from engaging in any government-related industries.

But Xu Chengcheng cultivated a Guo Tong and sought interests from state-owned enterprises.

Strictly speaking, he had overstepped his bounds.