Chapter 40: Investigative Visits

Two young and beautiful women had been arranged at the dining table, originally intended to keep Zhang Jun company. However, because Liu Yujie was present, these two women were never put to use.

After the meal, Jin Jianjun smiled and said, "Secretary Zhang, our county has organized a dance party. Would you and your wife like to attend and join the festivities with the people?"

Zhang Jun checked the time; it was not yet seven o'clock, and there was nothing to do at home, so he said, "Sure! When it comes to dancing, I'm a layman, but fortunately, my wife is a master on the dance floor; she can lead me."

With that single sentence, he effectively neutralized their attempt to use a "honey trap."

Liu Yujie pursed her lips and smiled, very satisfied with how Zhang Jun had elevated her in front of outsiders.

The dance began. Zhang Jun danced with his wife.

Leaning against his shoulder, Liu Yujie whispered, "They really did prepare a honey trap. If I weren't here, would you have taken the bait? Those two girls were truly pretty—great figures, too."

Zhang Jun smiled indifferently and replied, "That 'if' doesn't exist. I wouldn't give anyone the opportunity to ruin my future."

His cell phone in his pocket buzzed a few times, and he felt several messages coming in. He did not check them immediately but waited until they had finished the dance and sat down to rest before pulling out his phone.

Shen Xue had sent: "Brother Zhang, where are you traveling?"

There was another one: "I passed by your building and saw the lights were off. Are you not home?"

Zhang Jun replied, "I've returned to the countryside. I won't be back in the provincial capital for a few days."

Shen Xue quickly responded, "I miss you. I'll be waiting for your return."

Thinking of Shen Xue’s graceful and delicate body, Zhang Jun couldn't help but feel a surge of heat.

The music started up again. Zhang Jun didn't want to give others a chance to invite him to dance, as he found it hard to refuse, so he simply stepped onto the dance floor with his wife again. Since ancient times, heroes have struggled to overcome the allure of beautiful women. Zhang Jun knew his own willpower was mediocre, certainly not comparable to those legendary figures, so he had to rely on self-discipline.

By the time the dance party ended, those two young women had never found an opportunity to get close to Zhang Jun.

From that day on, Zhang Jun acquired a nickname: "The Model Husband!"

This nickname spread from Meishan County and soon became known throughout the entire province. Any honor, while bringing praise, also brings constraints.

Zhang Jun found himself bound by this reputation as a model husband! But that is a story for later.

That night, Zhang Jun and his wife returned home. Liu Yujie was as gentle as water. Zhang Jun enjoyed his wife's affection, and they drifted off into a dream together.

The next day, after breakfast, Zhang Jun left with Master Wu. He was there to investigate. Before Ma Hongqi had left, he gave Zhang Jun a file of whistleblower reports, which detailed the content of the complaints.

The money distributed by civil affairs bureaus in various places consists of various types of subsidies. For example, after soldiers are discharged, the money provided by the civil affairs bureau is called a separation allowance. Self-employment economic subsidies consist of three payments: the retirement pay from the military, the self-employment economic subsidy from the local government, and the family preferential treatment payment. Another example is the "minimum living guarantee" subsidy provided by the civil affairs bureau to low-income urban and rural families, scattered orphans, children in difficult circumstances within the district, and destitute people living in scattered arrangements.

There were over a dozen whistleblower letters in total. The volume was high, and they were all filed under real names by different individuals. This quantitative change led to a qualitative one, which finally drew Ma Hongqi's attention to the issue.

Zhang Jun arrived at Shiban Village. He asked around and located He Laosan's home.

He Laosan lived in a house made of mud bricks, a rare sight in the countryside these days. The wooden door was left slightly ajar. Zhang Jun knocked and called out, "Is He Laosan home?"

An old grandmother, leaning on a cane, came over tremblingly. She scrutinized Zhang Jun, puckering her toothless mouth, and asked, "Who are you?"

She spoke in the local dialect, but fortunately, Zhang Jun could understand her. He replied, "Grandma, my name is Zhang Jun. May I ask if He Laosan is home?"

The grandmother was a bit hard of hearing; she tilted her head to listen and then said, "My third son? He's out working in the fields. What do you want with him?"

It was too difficult to communicate with her, so Zhang Jun said, "Could you ask him to come back? I'm from the province, and I'm here to discuss something with him."

The grandmother agreed and went outside to call her son back. Before long, He Laosan walked over, carrying a hoe and wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve.

Zhang Jun took out the whistleblower letter he had written and asked, "He Laosan, you wrote this, didn't you? It was sent to the provincial petition office, and they forwarded it to Governor Ma."

"I wrote it! So what? Is it a crime? Come on, arrest me then! In this day and age, are we not even allowed to tell the truth?" He Laosan dropped his hoe, stood akimbo before Zhang Jun, and said with a face full of indignation, "I'm not afraid!"

Master Wu spoke up in a stern voice from the side: "He Laosan, how are you talking? Do you know who this is?"

Zhang Jun waved his hand and said, "He Laosan, I am here on behalf of Governor Ma to verify the situation. Can you take responsibility for every word you wrote? You should know that fabricating facts is an illegal act."

He Laosan shouted, "Hmph! What do I have to fear? I have a seventy-year-old mother above me, two children still in school below me, and my wife is paralyzed at home and can't move. So what if I'm on the minimum living guarantee? Look around the whole village—is there anyone whose situation is more difficult than mine? Can you find another?"

"Your family didn't qualify for the minimum living guarantee?" Zhang Jun asked.

He Laosan was full of rage and spat out foul language, "Qualify, my foot! The village officials said the quota for the minimum living guarantee is limited! They said my conditions didn't meet the criteria, but I can see that those spots were all taken by people with connections!"

Zhang Jun looked at his house and asked, "He Laosan, do you have any evidence for these claims?"

He Laosan looked at him with disdain and said, "You want evidence? Just go see who is actually receiving the minimum living guarantee, and you'll understand!"

Just then, a few people ran over. The leader shouted as he approached, "He Laosan, stop spouting nonsense!"

The man ran right up to Zhang Jun and asked guardedly, "Who are you people? Are you reporters from the provincial capital? Don't listen to He Laosan's nonsense! This man is a stubborn petitioner; we have such a headache with him!"

Zhang Jun raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"

"I am the village Party secretary. Whatever you want to know, you can ask me."

"You're the village Party secretary? You've come at the right time. I am here to investigate and verify why He Laosan failed to qualify for the minimum living guarantee. Do you have anything to say about that?"

"He's just spouting nonsense! You reporters shouldn't be deceived by him!"

The village secretary did not recognize Ma Hongqi's official car. Seeing that Zhang Jun looked sophisticated and refined, he simply assumed they were reporters from the provincial capital.

Zhang Jun said in an authoritative tone, "How many households in your village receive the minimum living guarantee? Give me their list."

The village secretary let out a scoff, waved his right hand, and said in a harsh tone, "Let me tell you, reporter comrade, who do you think you are? You think I'll give you whatever you ask for? You should just leave! This isn't something you can manage!"