Official Career Storm

Chapter 1694: Chapter 1694:

Chang Hai was not someone easily angered, yet Song Guanchao’s words made him furious.

Song Guanchao stared back, unyielding, trying to discern whether his anger was genuine or feigned.

To his surprise, Chang Hai was truly angry.

"Mayor Chang has quite a temper," Song Guanchao sneered. "What, did I say something wrong? If I did, please correct me, Mayor Chang."

Chang Hai’s nostrils flared, and the hand resting on the desk had already clenched into a fist, veins visible on the back of his hand. Clearly, Song Guanchao’s words had touched his limit.

Seeing him silent, Song Guanchao continued, "If you did it, own it! Dare to do but not dare to admit, it really makes me look down on you."

Chang Hai took a deep breath and said, "I said, I just want a solution that benefits everyone! If you think I have dealings with the enterprises in the park, you can let the Disciplinary Committee and the police investigate, and I will cooperate with the investigation! I am clean and innocent, not afraid to be checked!"

His words were firm, his gaze no less intimidating, surprising Song Guanchao somewhat.

Chang Hai didn’t seem to be lying; this he could discern.

Song Guanchao pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, I’ll trust you for now. But there’s one thing I don’t understand, and I hope Mayor Chang can clarify."

"Since you have no dealings with these enterprises, why do you protect them so much?"

"The employment provided by companies and the taxes generated are indeed important, but you can’t let them violate the regulations and pollute the environment, affecting the lives of nearby residents, just because they contribute, right?"

"Or is it that, in your eyes, Mayor Chang, there’s only political achievements, and not the ordinary people?"

Chang Hai’s face turned cold, not directly answering his question: "You shouldn’t interfere in this matter, I will handle it."

Song Guanchao sneered: "How will you handle it? If you could really solve it, it wouldn’t have dragged on for ten years or more. Mayor Chang, it’s not that I don’t believe you; it’s your performance that makes me unable to trust you."

No matter what he said, Chang Hai kept repeating the same sentence: "I will handle it."

Song Guanchao grew a bit impatient: "I roughly understand why you are reluctant to solve it. Yes, you might not have taken bribes, but your constant delay is because you worry that the issue with the park might affect your future, isn’t it?"

"Song Guanchao!" Chang Hai’s face twisted slightly. "Don’t use your narrow-minded views for moral judgment on me!"

"Morality?" Song Guanchao’s smile grew more mocking: "Does Mayor Chang still talk about morality? How many ordinary people have been affected over the past ten years due to pollution from the park?"

"How many have fallen ill because of pollution?"

"Talking to me about morality, it’s laughable to me."

Song Guanchao stood up: "Before evening, come to the City Government and submit the level of pollution from the park in written form. I need to know how severe the pollution in the park has become!"

"I will refer to your plan for handling the issue based on the pollution situation. If the City Government is not satisfied with your handling plan, the City Government will comprehensively take over the park."

"Oh, and one more thing," Song Guanchao said: "Mayor Wu and I went to see Governor Yang this morning."

Upon hearing this, Chang Hai suddenly looked at him, his expression hesitant: "You... you went to see Governor Yang?"

"Governor Yang already knows about the situation with the park. But as I just said, we don’t know to what extent the park’s pollution has reached. So, naturally, neither does Governor Yang."

"But I can tell you Governor Yang’s stance on this matter."

Song Guanchao paused, giving him ample time to react, and said, "Governor Yang is not like you; he is not an official who only cares about political achievements. Even if the park was facilitated by him, if there’s a problem, it must be punished, and if it needs to be shut down, it will be shut down. That’s Governor Yang’s stance."

"Mayor Chang, if I remember correctly, you were able to rise from a regular cadre to the position of Vice Mayor today largely due to Governor Yang’s favor and support, right?"

"Honestly, I don’t quite understand why a leader like Governor Yang, who truly serves the people, would choose someone so irresponsible as you to manage the park."

"No one is perfect. It seems even leaders like Governor Yang can have moments of misjudgment. Mayor Chang, you’ve really let Governor Yang down."

Song Guanchao shook his head, leaving those words behind, and departed with the two women.

Chang Hai did not erupt in anger again; the furious emotions rather turned calm.

After they left, Chang Hai sat heavily on a chair, his expression complex and silently sat for a few minutes, suddenly grabbing his phone and car keys, quickly leaving the office.

When he arrived at the parking lot, Song Guanchao had just driven away.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the government compound of the Provincial Committee.

After the security guard reported by phone, he was allowed entry.

In the yard of a two-story villa, Yang Gaolin squatted in the garden, holding a hose, cleaning the feathers of a parrot in a cage.

An elderly woman walked over and said, "Xiao Chang is here."

Yang Gaolin raised his head at this, happening to see a domestic sedan over ten years old parked outside the yard.

Chang Hai got out of the car and immediately met Yang Gaolin’s gaze.

Feeling somewhat ashamed, he bowed his head and approached the gate.

"Why did you suddenly come over?" The old lady spoke gently, and Chang Hai bowed his head, saying, "I’m here to see the old leader."

"Go ahead, I’ll make you a cup of tea."

The old lady patted his shoulder, saying, "Don’t be under too much pressure."

"Okay." Chang Hai entered the garden, seeing the old leader about to turn off the faucet, he hurried over to turn it off and then took over the hose seamlessly.

Yang Gaolin supported his knees to stand up, dusting off his pants, walked to the eaves, and pulled a chair to sit down.

"Don’t just stand there, sit." Yang Gaolin pulled out a cigarette, tossing one over.

Chang Hai took it and sat opposite.

"Xiao Chang, have some tea." The old lady placed down the cup of tea, not leaving, but went beside to trim the plants.

Chang Hai held the cigarette but didn’t smoke it, waiting for a moment before speaking, "Old leader, there’s been an issue in the park."

"Tell me about it."

"The park... the pollution is quite severe."

"Only quite severe?"

Chang Hai was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Very severe, to the point that it’s difficult to rectify. Those enterprises’ equipment can still be used for a dozen more years, but if filtering equipment is added, the cost is too high, even higher than directly replacing a new batch of equipment."

Yang Gaolin said, "So they are unwilling to incur these costs, aren’t they?"

"Yes."

"How long has it been?"

Chang Hai continued to be silent, and Yang Gaolin did not press for an answer.

After a few minutes, he spoke, "About ten years."

"For so long," Yang Gaolin asked, "why wasn’t it strictly managed according to the standards for discharge in the beginning?"

Chang Hai opened his mouth, saying, "At that time, they had just stabilized and were on track. The enterprises cried poor to me, hoping to delay for a while..."

"And then it just kept dragging, for over ten years, right?"

"...Yes."

"How many people have these enterprises affected? Was it counted?"

"It was counted." Chang Hai opened his mouth with difficulty, saying, "Nearby residents suffered from water pollution, causing collective poisoning incidents, and some residents contracted incurable diseases due to air and water source pollution..."

The more he spoke, the quieter his voice became, and his head also lowered more.

Yang Gaolin’s previously calm face was now silently layered with frost: "Over the years, why did you keep dragging it? Was it because you couldn’t bear losing the hat on your head or took benefits that forced you to drag it?"

Chang Hai shook his head, "Initially, I was worried about the enterprises’ pressure, later the enterprises deliberately concealed it, and when I realized the severity of the situation, it was too late. I was looking for a solution that could satisfy everyone..."

"Why seek such a solution? With things at this stage, do you still naively believe there’s an all-rounder approach?" Yang Gaolin shook his head in disappointment.

Chang Hai pursed his lips, finally saying after a long time, "The park project was your achievement while in office, if mishandled, I’m worried it might affect you."

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