Chapter 1801

Chapter 1801: Chapter 1801

Director Huang was visibly embarrassed, having received a call from Cao Xiaolou earlier and prepared himself mentally, yet still felt uneasy in the face of Wu Qiangwei’s questioning.

"Mayor Wu, this was done by the people below," Director Huang shifted responsibility to his subordinates.

This matter can be big or small, mainly dependent on the leadership’s classification from above.

Wu Qiangwei asked, "Where is Yang Ling?"

"She’s already been released."

"Released?" Wu Qiangwei snorted, looking at Cao Xiaolou: "Who gave you the power to arrest and release at will? County Magistrate Cao, do your Gaoshui County police not need evidence to make arrests?"

Cao Xiaolou bowed his head, showing humility: "I just learned about this matter myself, Mayor Wu, rest assured, such incidents will absolutely not happen again in the future."

Wu Qiangwei said, "Yesterday, before going to the school, I asked you whether the issue of overdue teacher salaries had been resolved. How did you answer me? You said it was resolved and also promised it wouldn’t happen again."

"If Yang Ling’s family hadn’t come to see me today, I’d probably still be kept in the dark by you."

"County Magistrate Cao, you have quite the audacity and power as a county magistrate!"

Cao Xiaolou tried to explain: "The teachers’ salaries in the county have indeed not been overdue; the oversight was on the townships."

After speaking, he looked uneasily at Wu Qiangwei.

Wu Qiangwei’s face was very calm, showing no emotion.

After a long while, she said, "County Magistrate Cao, you have let me down."

"Mayor Wu..."

As Cao Xiaolou tried to explain, Wu Qiangwei turned to the Director of the Education Bureau: "Director Bai, you tell us, have the overdue salaries for teachers in the county and townships been fully resolved?"

Director Bai’s eyes shifted between Cao Xiaolou and Wu Qiangwei, not knowing how to respond.

He couldn’t discern Wu Qiangwei’s attitude but was afraid to say the wrong thing and anger Cao Xiaolou.

"I, I... I have to go back and check." Director Bai said.

Wu Qiangwei expressed disappointment: "You are the Director of the Education Bureau, yet you still need to check whether teachers’ salaries have been overdue?"

"I..."

"Call your deputy director over."

Director Bai was stunned, his face turning pale: "Mayor Wu..."

"Call them over!"

"Yes, yes..." Director Bai was visibly shaken, his hand trembling as he held the phone.

He made the call and informed the deputy director to come over immediately.

After the call, Wu Qiangwei said: "Director Song, contact Mayor Liang and arrange for a deputy director to come over."

Song Guanchao asked knowingly, "Right now?"

"Right now."

"Understood."

Song Guanchao started making the call.

Cao Xiaolou, along with several deputy county magistrates and two directors, felt deeply uneasy.

This Mayor Wu seemed to be angry.

It appeared she wouldn’t rest until she got to the bottom of this matter!

Cao Xiaolou wanted to say something, but seeing the journalist still recording live, he swallowed his words.

About twenty minutes later, all three deputy directors of the Education Bureau arrived.

As soon as they entered the conference room, they sensed something was off from Cao Xiaolou’s nervous expressions and the heavy atmosphere.

"Sit," Wu Qiangwei said.

The three pulled out chairs and sat down quietly.

Wu Qiangwei asked: "Have the salaries for county and township primary and middle school teachers been overdue?"

The three immediately looked at Director Bai, then quickly at Cao Xiaolou.

"Mayor Wu is asking, hurry up and answer!" Cao Xiaolou took the opportunity to give them a hint.

Wu Qiangwei didn’t interrupt, wanting to see how rotten the team at Gaoshui County had become and if there was any hope of saving it.

The three didn’t know the situation at the scene; although they understood Cao Xiaolou’s hint, they dared not answer hastily.

Besides, what they couldn’t believe was that Wu Qiangwei called them over just to ask this question?

After much deliberation, one deputy director said: "Mayor Wu, I am not responsible for this, so I am unclear."

The other two deputy directors also said: "I am also not very familiar."

Wu Qiangwei sighed lightly; Gaoshui County’s education system was completely ruined.

Song Guanchao was quite pleased, looking at Cao Xiaolou with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

Poor County Magistrate Cao, even now, he couldn’t see the situation clearly and still thought he could rely on his coercion to force these officials to bail him out.

Little did he know, the worse their performance, the bigger his problem would be.

"These directors are not very attentive to their work." Song Guanchao sneered, saying: "Mayor Wu, I think we shouldn’t bother with such trouble. Why not directly invite those teachers over?"

The directors and deputy directors all harbored a deep hatred for Song Guanchao.

Could you possibly die if you kept your mouth shut?

Cao Xiaolou flared his nostrils, knowing that Wu Qiangwei was determined to get to the bottom of this, and the issue couldn’t be covered up.

Thus, he reprimanded: "Director Bai, call and find out whether those teachers’ salaries have been disbursed?"

"Yes, yes, I will inquire now."

Director Bai made a show of making a phone call.

A few minutes later, he set down the phone and said: "Mayor Wu, indeed, some teacher salaries are still overdue."

Wu Qiangwei nodded and looked at Director Huang: "Call Mr. Yang and have her come over."

Director Huang dared not refuse, obediently dialing Yang Ling’s number.

Yang Ling, having just been released and not yet gone far, received the call.

She was a bit scared and hesitated to go to the county government.

So after hanging up, she called Gao Qi, hoping to get some advice from him.

Gao Qi laughed and said: "Go ahead, don’t be afraid; the matter has been resolved."

...

Wu Qiangwei’s target at this point turned to Cao Xiaolou and others: "Tell me the reason for the overdue salaries."

Cao Xiaolou shook his head, putting on an angry expression: "Mayor Wu, I was unaware of this matter. But rest assured, I will definitely investigate."

Wu Qiangwei looked at the deputy magistrates: "What about you, do you know?"

Cao Xiaolou claimed ignorance, and naturally, they dared not speak recklessly, all shaking their heads in feigned ignorance.

"Why hasn’t Mayor Gao come over?" Wu Qiangwei asked, "Call Mayor Gao over."

Cao Xiaolou’s heart skipped a beat, saying: "Mayor Gao is busy..."

"Then have him stop being busy." Wu Qiangwei shut down any excuses.

"Fine, I’ll call Mayor Gao." Cao Xiaolou was furious.

It was because of Gao Qi that this originally good investigation turned out like this.

After the call connected, Cao Xiaolou asked: "Mayor Gao, where are you? Okay, put down what you’re doing; Mayor Wu wants you to come to the conference room on the third floor."

Gao Qi was just in the office, and arrived within five minutes after receiving the call.

Upon entering the conference room and seeing so many people, he realized the situation had escalated.

He had just sat down when Wu Qiangwei asked: "Mayor Gao, are you aware of the overdue teacher salaries in the county?"

Gao Qi didn’t answer but looked at Cao Xiaolou.

Wu Qiangwei asked: "Mayor Gao, I asked you a question, why are you looking at County Magistrate Cao?"

Gao Qi smirked: "I am aware of the overdue salaries."

"Oh? Why were they overdue?"

"This..." Gao Qi shook his head: "I only know they were overdue, but not the specific reasons. If Mayor Wu wants to know, you should ask County Magistrate Cao."

"Bang!" Cao Xiaolou slammed the table, his gaze could almost slice Gao Qi: "Gao Qi, speak if you’re going to, but don’t drag me into it with that tone! The school is managed by the Education Bureau, how would I know about the overdue salaries?"

Gao Qi laughed relaxedly and wasn’t angered nor intimidated by his stance, instead spreading his hands innocently.