The stage was filled with celebration.

After all, the emergency disaster relief in Houtang Village resulted in no casualties, naturally uplifting everyone's spirits.

Of course, not everyone was happy.

Ding Mengxiang was an exception.

The past five days had been agonizing for him.

He had been constantly worried that Chen Fang and Wang Yiyi would reveal his "dereliction of duty."

Unexpectedly, neither of them had let slip this issue when facing inquiries from their superiors.

Some might say, wasn't this a good thing?

Certainly, it was.

But Ding Mengxiang didn't believe that Chen Fang would let him off the hook.

On this point, he was self-aware.

In his view, Chen Fang hadn't made a move because he was waiting for the right moment, and today's commendation ceremony was the perfect opportunity. He would reveal the truth in front of the city leaders and all the county officials, and by then, he would certainly be utterly disgraced.

Especially since the media, including the city-level television station, would also be present at today's commendation ceremony.

Nine o'clock in the morning.

The entire auditorium erupted into applause.

County Party Secretary Song Yiqiang, along with the City Organization Department's Minister of Propaganda Gao Chang, walked onto the stage amidst resounding applause.

This also signaled the official start of the commendation ceremony.

There were two rows of seats on the stage.

In the first row sat four people, with Song Yiqiang and Gao Chang in the center.

Next to Song Yiqiang was Jinde County Party Secretary Fan Xian, and next to Gao Chang sat Jinde County Mayor Ding Mengxiang.

Leading officials from both the city and county levels were seated in the second row.

Below the stage were some units that participated in the emergency rescue and the outstanding workers who had emerged during the effort.

It must be said, the scale of this commendation ceremony was quite substantial.

All the top leaders of Jinde County's four teams were in attendance.

This showed the high regard the city and county party committees and governments had for the commendation ceremony.

The ceremony was personally hosted by Fan Xian.

After the meeting began, Ding Mengxiang's eyes were constantly searching the crowd below the stage.

Finally, in the first row, he spotted Chen Fang and Wang Yiyi, both wearing ribbons. His emotions were a complex mix of anger and regret.

According to the agenda, Fan Xian hosted first, followed by speeches from Song Yiqiang and Gao Chang.

After that, the formal commendation segment began.

The emergency rescue effort recognized three advanced collectives and three advanced individuals.

The advanced collectives were Jinde County's Criminal Police Brigade, Jinde County Hospital, and Wen'an City Organization Department's Party Member Commando Team.

As the first government units to arrive at the scene, it was fitting they were commended.

The three advanced individuals, needless to say, included Chen Fang and Wang Yiyi, and the third was Houtang Village's village chief, Old Crooked Yan.

The commended groups went on stage to receive their awards first.

The certificates of honor and prize money were personally presented by the City Organization Department's Minister of Propaganda Gao Chang.

Then, the advanced individuals ascended the stage to receive their awards.

This time, the awards were presented by County Party Secretary Song Yiqiang.

Chen Fang and his companions were beaming with joy. Seeing such a cheerful Chen Fang, Ding Mengxiang's heart rose to his throat.

Fortunately, the entire process went smoothly.

Chen Fang did not create any trouble.

Just as the three were about to step down from the stage.

Suddenly.

The Chairman of the County Political Consultative Conference, Zhu Liangjia, stood up.

He walked straight to the lectern, picked up the microphone and announced in front of everyone, "Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, if I may interrupt for a moment."

This commendation ceremony.

Zhu Liangjia did not have a designated time to speak.

His sudden appearance inevitably led everyone to whisper to each other in hushed tones.

Fan Xian asked, "Chairman Zhu, is there something you need?"

Zhu Liangjia, with a stern face, replied, "Today is a joyous occasion, and I really shouldn't disrupt everyone in this atmosphere, but as the head of the Jinde County CPPCC, it is my responsibility to participate in politics and policy discussion. I would like to request a few minutes of Secretary Song's time."

Song Yiqiang also had no idea what was going on.

After consulting with Gao Chang, they eventually nodded in agreement.

Once he had the approval of the highest leader present,

Zhu Liangjia looked towards Chen Fang's seat and said, "Comrade Chen Fang's work in the disaster relief efforts in Houtang Village is well known to all, and I would like to express my respect to Comrade Chen Fang here. However, merits are merits, and faults are faults—we cannot conflate the two. This has been a long-standing principle in our cadre work."

After he finished speaking,

he turned and extended his hand.

A secretary handed him a file folder.

He shook the folder in his hand in front of all the attendees and announced, "Secretary Song, Minister Gao, and all the leaders present, the CPPCC accuses Comrade Chen Fang of abuse of power and accepting bribes!"

This statement struck like a bolt out of the blue.

As soon as his words ended,

the entire auditorium was silent for a moment, and then, a few seconds later, a stir began.

The expressions of leaders Song Yiqiang and Gao Chang also turned unsightly.

After all, there was a television crew present today.

A commendation ceremony that was going smoothly, especially with Chen Fang being a main honoree, was now marred by the CPPCC's accusation of two serious crimes against him—wasn't this a slap in the face for both the City Committee and the County Committee?

Gao Chang cleared her throat.

She said, "Comrade Liangjia, if there is an issue, we can discuss it in private. Is it really necessary to do this at such an event?"

Leaders usually speak in a rather indirect manner.

But now, Gao Chang's tone was clearly a bit sharp.

In other words, both she and Song Yiqiang were somewhat angered.

Zhu Liangjia nodded and replied, "Respected leaders, I understand that it's indecent and thoughtless to say such things on this occasion. But my aim is to expose the true face of Comrade Chen Fang. The old saying goes, 'merits do not offset demerits', which is also the origin of our party's and our cadre team's self-rectification."

Just as Gao Chang was about to get angry,

Ding Mengxiang suddenly grabbed the microphone in front of him and said, "Secretary Song, Minister Gao, I think Comrade Liangjia has a point. Chen Fang being commended is one thing, and investigating corruption is another. Both are for the health of our cadre team. Since the CPPCC has the responsibility to participate in politics and policy discussion, and Chairman Zhu has said that he has evidence, we ought to take it seriously, shouldn't we?"

At this moment, Ding Mengxiang felt a surge of joy inside.

It was like someone had offered him a ladder while he was scaling a wall or handed him a pillow as he was going to sleep. Seeing Chen Fang being honored while feeling disgruntled inside, Zhu Liangjia's intervention was like a gift to him.

Could there be anything more gratifying in the whole world?

Not to show some support would be unacceptable.

Having heard the two county leaders speak, Song Yiqiang looked towards Fan Xian's seat and asked, "Secretary Fan, as the head of Jinde County, what is your view on this matter?"

Fan Xian pondered for a moment.

She said, "Given that County Mayor Ding and Chairman Zhu both have doubts and have voiced them publicly, if we don't clarify the matter, I believe everyone will remain unconvinced. In my opinion, since the leaders are all present, there is no harm in investigating."

Seeing Fan Xian speak this way,

Ding Mengxiang felt even more elated.

In his view, Fan Xian's response was a forced hand, as all the departmental leaders were present; suggesting a temporary halt to the investigation would appear to be an obvious favoritism, akin to rubbing the face of the County Party Secretary in the dirt.

Song Yiqiang and Gao Chang conferred in low voices.

About a minute later,

Song Yiqiang looked up.

He directed his gaze toward Zhu Liangjia and inquired, "Comrade Liangjia, you accuse Comrade Chen Fang of corruption and abuse of authority—what evidence do you have?"

At this point,

it was as if Song Yiqiang had tacitly agreed.

Zhu Liangjia felt a wave of relief.

He first presented the file folder to the two leaders, then stood in the center of the stage and declared loudly, "On the morning of February 18th at eleven o'clock, Vice Mayor Chen Fang visited the Tobacco Bureau and publicly accepted three superstore cash cards from the Bureau Chief Chou Goushi, each worth twenty thousand yuan, totaling sixty thousand yuan!"

As soon as he finished speaking,

there was an immediate chorus of hissing from the audience...

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