Chapter 1802

Chapter 1802: Chapter 1802

"Knock knock." Wu Qiangwei gently tapped the table, her gaze scanning Cao Xiaolou with dissatisfaction.

Cao Xiaolou immediately fell silent, his face clouded.

The atmosphere in the conference room was oppressive, and Wu Qiangwei stopped asking questions, remaining silent in her seat.

"Mayor Wu, let’s eat first," Cao Xiaolou suddenly suggested.

"Is Magistrate Cao hungry?" Wu Qiangwei replied, "If you’re hungry, have someone go to the cafeteria and pack some food."

"I’m worried about the leaders being hungry."

"I’m not hungry."

Cao Xiaolou forced a smile and stopped talking.

About twenty minutes later, Yang Ling arrived.

Yang Ling was just a county-town teacher, the highest officials she had met were Gao Qi and Song Guanchao.

In the conference room, besides these two, she didn’t recognize anyone else.

From the seating arrangement of these two, it was apparent that the young woman had a higher status.

"Mr. Yang, please sit," Wu Qiangwei said softly.

"Oh." Yang Ling sat cautiously to the side.

Gao Qi pretended not to know her, and Song Guanchao introduced, "This is Mayor Wu of Jiangzhou City; this is Magistrate Cao of Gaoshui County..."

After the introductions, Song Guanchao directly asked, "Mr. Yang, has your salary been delayed?"

As soon as he spoke, Cao Xiaolou and others immediately looked over.

Their stares were as sharp as knives. Yang Ling lowered her head, not daring to face them, nor dare to respond.

Though she had asked Gao Qi beforehand, and Gao Qi had given her a heads up on how to answer.

But being on the scene, facing so many officials, she couldn’t help but feel terrified.

For someone like her from the town, the notion that citizens cannot fight officials was ingrained in her bones, something that couldn’t be changed quickly.

"Mr. Yang, Director Song is asking you a question," Cao Xiaolou chimed in appropriately, "Don’t be afraid or have concerns. If the school is delaying your salary, speak the truth. If anyone dares trouble you afterward, I’ll stand up for you!"

Song Guanchao glanced at him, lightly tapping his finger on the table to make a "knock knock" sound, "Magistrate Cao, don’t interrupt when I’m asking questions."

"Sorry." Cao Xiaolou displayed a faux apologetic gesture.

Song Guanchao said, "Mr. Yang, you shouldn’t have any psychological pressure. Sanwan Town is under Gaoshui County, and Gaoshui County is under Jiangzhou City. Mayor Wu is the mayor of Jiangzhou City. She’s dealing with this matter now, no one would dare make any small moves."

This statement made Cao Xiaolou’s eyelids twitch.

It seemed like he was comforting Yang Ling, but in reality, it was a warning directed at himself.

Cao Xiaolou felt uneasy, even somewhat puzzled. What is Song Guanchao up to?

It’s just a minor issue, is it necessary to make it such a big deal?

"Yes..." Yang Ling pursed her lips, her gaze becoming more steady, "The school is delaying my salary."

Song Guanchao asked, "How long has it been delayed?"

"17 months."

"How long?"

Though Song Guanchao already knew, at this moment, he pretended to be shocked, his tone involuntarily raising.

Cao Xiaolou inwardly cursed, glancing at Wu Qiangwei only to see Mayor Wu’s expression was unpleasant, clearly angry.

Song Guanchao continued to ask, "Is it just you, or has the salary of all teachers been delayed?"

Yang Ling replied, "All salaries have been delayed, but not everyone has been delayed as long as I have. Some teachers, it’s only been three to four months."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because they protested," Yang Ling, now emboldened, said everything she wouldn’t normally dare to say.

She knew that this was her one chance.

With the mayor in front of her, if attention could be drawn, the salary issue would definitely be resolved.

As for retaliation, she didn’t have to worry.

As a whistleblower, if anyone dared retaliate against her, it would be like slapping Wu Qiangwei in the face.

"Protest?" Song Guanchao mused for a few seconds, understanding the underlying principle.

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease."

"Rewards based on protest."

This was an undeniable truth.

As for teachers like Yang Ling who worked diligently, they were always the ones bullied.

"Mr. Yang, I heard that you went to the city to report the delayed salary issue?" Song Guanchao asked.

"Yes."

"Was the report made in your real name?"

"Yes."

"Which department was the report made to?"

"I submitted my report to the City Disciplinary Inspection Committee."

"Did you receive a reply?"

"No."

"I heard you were arrested? Was this before or after submitting the report?"

"The day after submitting the report."

"Who arrested you?"

"The police from the county’s police station."

"On what charge did they arrest you?"

"I don’t know."

"Don’t know? Then there was no reason."

Seeing Song Guanchao’s increasingly detailed questions, focusing on more pointed matters, Director Huang from the county police department couldn’t sit still.

Director Huang’s forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat, trying several times to interrupt but not daring, continually casting pleading glances at Cao Xiaolou.

Cao Xiaolou pretended not to see.

He could tell that Mayor Wu was upset.

In this situation, the more he talks, the more mistakes he makes. The best approach is to wait for the leaders to propose a solution themselves.

As for pleading, wait until the leaders’ anger cools down, and have Zhou Zheng intercede.

Only intervention from an official of the same level as Mayor Wu would work.

"Director Huang!" Song Guanchao called his name.

Director Huang trembled, exhibiting a half-cry, half-smile expression.

Song Guanchao asked, "Who gave the order to arrest Mr. Yang?"

"Director Song, I need to inquire about that..."

"You’re not aware?"

"Not aware!" Director Huang didn’t dare to admit, as what Cao Xiaolou could see, he naturally could too.

Admitting it at this time would be suicidal.

Song Guanchao said blankly, "Director Huang, I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself. If you explain the situation clearly now, the City Government will consider leniency. But if you lie and intentionally conceal, once investigated, you’ll be severely punished!"

The prepared rhetoric from Director Huang instantly swallowed back into his stomach.

Judging from Director Song’s demeanor, he didn’t seem to be bluffing.

To admit or not?

He glanced sneakily at Cao Xiaolou, who glared at him.

Director Huang gritted his teeth and decided to take a gamble.

"I’m really not aware."

"Not aware is good; if you were, it’d be a big problem."

Song Guanchao didn’t press further; once he decided not to admit, no amount of pressure would work.

He turned to Wu Qiangwei, "Mayor Wu, the situation is roughly clear. The salary delay issue exists and has persisted for nearly two years. Moreover, Gaoshui County’s issue is not just the salary delay; from the current situation, someone in the county has withheld the subsidies issued by the education bureau for the teachers."

"After Mr. Yang reported to the City Disciplinary Inspection Committee, the county police department immediately sent people to arrest her, indicating that there are insiders in the county police department."

"I propose immediately forming a task force to investigate this case specifically! We must clear the skies over Gaoshui County!"