The people from the Disciplinary Inspection Commission had been watching the situation unfold with a detached indifference, neither hindering nor actively pushing it forward.
Now that the scene had reached a certain point, they stepped forward to apprehend Qian Guotao.
The leader, in particular, waved his hand, signaling for the surrounding reporters to disperse.
He was a classmate of Qiu Jie. While he had always disdained his old classmate's character, if Qian Guotao had indeed committed such a heinous act as he claimed, then he wouldn't mind seizing the opportunity to ruin him completely!
That was why he hadn't stopped the reporters from crowding around. But now that enough had happened, there was no need to continue.
Seeing the Disciplinary Inspection Commission personnel approach, Qian Guotao's face instantly turned ashen.
He knew he was finished!
It must have been Qiu Jie orchestrating things from behind the scenes. With this seemingly plausible evidence, he wouldn't be able to explain himself even if he had a hundred mouths!
...
The administrative building in Jianghan City was in chaos.
"Damn it! Other provincial observation delegations are about to arrive, where are the reception vehicles you organized?"
Yu Chengyang, the administrator of Jianghan City, stood in front of the administrative building, his face a mask of fury as he berated the assembled staff.
As a relatively underdeveloped province, Guanjiang Province had finally secured a spot to host an international event. The Dongzhou Industrial Expo was therefore immensely important to Guanjiang Province.
Jianghan City, as the host city, was paying utmost attention to it!
All government departments were putting in their best effort, cooperating and working diligently to ensure the expo would be held smoothly and splendidly!
However, no one could have foreseen that after meticulous planning, a hitch would occur in the opening ceremony of the expo, originally scheduled to begin at 10 AM today!
Guests and delegates from various Dongzhou countries were already in place, awaiting the arrival of the observation delegation members from other provinces of the Yuan Federation.
Yu Chengyang's original plan was for him, as the administrator of Jianghan City, to accompany the observation delegates from other provinces to the venue.
For this purpose, he had specifically arranged a luxurious reception bus to pick up these delegates and transport them to the venue together.
But to his surprise, at such a crucial juncture, a major problem had arisen!
"There's nothing we can do, Administrator."
A staff member replied with a grim expression, "Our luxurious reception bus suddenly stalled on its way here for reasons unknown and is now stuck on the road, unable to move."
"Did you only prepare one vehicle? Hurry and dispatch other vehicles!"
Yu Chengyang's face was contorted with anger.
"However, all our backup reception vehicles are blocked due to a traffic accident and cannot get through!"
The staff member nervously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, saying helplessly.
"No one could have predicted such a coincidence!"
Yu Chengyang became even more enraged by the staff member's words.
"Don't tell me no one could have predicted it! Since you're in charge of this, you must anticipate and account for all possibilities! Otherwise, what do I need you for?"
"This..."
The surrounding staff members exchanged glances, lowering their heads, unable to speak.
Finally, someone suggested,
"How about we arrange a bus or some private cars to pick up the observation delegation?"
However, as soon as the words left his mouth, he was once again reprimanded by Yu Chengyang.
"Nonsense! If you use a public bus or scattered private cars to pick up the observation delegation, it will look like a bunch of guerrillas! How will that reflect on Guanjiang Province? Who wouldn't know something went wrong?
Especially with the international friends attending, how will we answer if they ask about the situation?"
"This..." Everyone looked at each other, realizing this was indeed a significant problem!
This wasn't like a busy farming season where you'd ask the third uncle's neighbor from the next village for help with a tractor. This event represented the prestige of Guanjiang Province, even the nation!
"Then... then what should we do?"
After a long pause, no one could come up with a good solution.
Yu Chengyang sighed helplessly, "At this point, we can only arrange a bus... Huh? What is that?"
All eyes turned towards the entrance of the administrative building, where a luxurious bus with a novel and elegant design was slowly approaching.
Yan Donglai, the director of the Patent Office, yawned as he steadily gripped the steering wheel. His face was sallow and pale, his hair dry and split, and the dark circles under his eyes indicated he hadn't slept well in many days.
After working overtime late into the night, he had finally managed to complete the patent procedures.
Looking at the bus, packed to the brim with various documents, Yan Donglai sighed helplessly.
Was that guy named Wang Yu a genius or an eccentric? He had come up with so many patent applications that his own office couldn't accommodate them, forcing him to borrow his bus to transport them.
Transporting patent documents in a bus? Who had ever heard of such a thing? It would probably get him labeled as crazy if he told anyone!
With a big yawn, Yan Donglai parked the bus. He had to admit, this bus was quite easy to drive.
Its handling and comfort far surpassed the dilapidated jeep at the administrative building.
Reluctantly taking his hands off the luxurious steering wheel, Yan Donglai got out of the bus.
As soon as he stepped out, he was stunned by the scene before him. Administrator Yu Chengyang, along with the heads of departments from the administrative building, had surrounded him, their faces filled with excitement.
What was going on? Wasn't the administrator and the big bosses busy with the expo? Why were they suddenly surrounding a lowly patent office employee like him?
Had they found out about him reading newspapers during work hours?
Yan Donglai's heart was filled with anxiety, and then he saw Administrator Yu Chengyang speak,
"Director Yan, where did this vehicle come from?"
Huh? They weren't going to reprimand him for reading newspapers at work?
Yan Donglai's heart skipped a beat. "This vehicle was left by the director of the Jiangyang County Automobile Factory, who was applying for patents. It's used to transport their patent documents."
"Patent documents?
Jiangyang County Automobile Factory? Is there such a factory in Jiangyang County? Why are there so many patent documents?"
Yu Chengyang's gaze swept over the interior of the bus, and he was startled by the dense, overflowing files before him.
There were so many?
This Jiangyang County Automobile Factory was simply too extravagant! Why had he never heard of this factory before?
Judging by the sheer volume, this was enough work to fill the Patent Office's tasks for three years!
However, this was not the time to dwell on these questions. Yu Chengyang looked directly at Yan Donglai, his expression serious,
"Comrade Yan Donglai, the organization needs to requisition this vehicle now!"