Chapter 4: The Mysterious Woman

Hu Jiayun did not go into her own office but walked straight into the Party and Government Office.

“Good morning, Secretary Hu!”

Seeing Hu Jiayun enter, Xiao Liu, a staff member in the office, quickly stood up. This icy woman inspired a deep sense of fear in him.

“Have the newly assigned university graduate from the county come to my office. I want to speak with him,” Hu Jiayun said calmly, then turned to leave.

“Secretary Hu, he’s no longer in the Civil Affairs Office.”

Hu Jiayun paused, then turned back. “Not in the Civil Affairs Office? What do you mean? Didn’t the county assign him there? Where is he now?”

“He was sent to the nursing home yesterday.”

“The nursing home? Who arranged that?” Hu Jiayun’s tone was icily sharp. Then she added, “Notify Xiao Bo to come to my office immediately.”

When Xiao Bo received the notice that the Deputy Secretary wanted to see him, he was surprised but did not dare delay. He hurried to Hu Jiayun’s office.

“Secretary Hu, you wanted to see me?” Xiao Bo greeted her with utmost respect. In the entire Bishan Township government, no one dared to show disrespect to this mysterious woman.

“Director Xiao, the county assigned a new university graduate to your Civil Affairs Office yesterday, right?” Hu Jiayun asked coldly.

“Yes.” Xiao Bo nodded, puzzled by the sudden inquiry from this revered woman.

“Where is he now?” Hu Jiayun asked knowingly.

“Well… he was assigned to the nursing home,” Xiao Bo replied cautiously, sensing Hu Jiayun’s questions were aimed at Qin Feng.

“Did you arrange that?” Hu Jiayun fixed Xiao Bo with a cold stare.

Xiao Bo felt uneasy under her gaze but forced himself to answer, “Yes… yes.”

“Do the elders at the nursing home need a special person in charge? And he’s a top student. What, did you send him there to teach calculus to the elderly?” Hu Jiayun’s tone grew colder.

“Well… well…” Xiao Bo was left speechless.

“He was assigned by the county, and I need to report his status back to the county’s Organization Department. How am I supposed to explain this? That Bishan Township sent a top graduate to care for lonely elders at a nursing home?”

“Well… the situation…” Xiao Bo was at a loss for words. He dared not offend Hu Jiayun but also feared the local thug Yang Delin.

Hu Jiayun glanced at Xiao Bo again, clearly reading his thoughts.

“Director Xiao, recently I’ve received reports that someone in your department has been withholding subsidies meant for impoverished households,” Hu Jiayun said lightly.

Hearing this, Xiao Bo’s back went cold, and a cold sweat broke out.

“Is… is that true? Secretary Hu, I’ll investigate immediately,” Xiao Bo feigned ignorance.

“No need to trouble yourself. I will arrange for the Discipline Inspection Commission to investigate,” Hu Jiayun said casually.

Xiao Bo’s back was soaked with sweat, cold perspiration forming on his forehead.

“Secretary Hu, I’ll have Qin Feng return right away,” Xiao Bo hastily said, wiping his sweat.

“I want to see results by the end of the day. If you can’t handle it, I will have the Discipline Inspection intervene.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll resolve it immediately, right away!” Xiao Bo wiped his sweat and hurriedly left Hu Jiayun’s office.

Though Hu Jiayun spoke of subsidy withholding, what she really meant was to have Qin Feng transferred back. Xiao Bo was not fooled by her words.

As he walked away, he quickly dialed Qin Feng’s number on his phone: “Qin Feng, don’t stay at the nursing home any longer. Come back to the Civil Affairs Office immediately, the sooner the better!”

Xiao Bo was extremely anxious and tense.