Half past nine.

Meeting room.

Although it's just a special meeting, the attendees are more than those at the standing committee meeting.

Besides Secretary Lu, Mayor Zheng, and Wu Qiangwei, Mayor Jiang is also attending the meeting.

Additionally, several deputy mayors from the city, the district committee secretary, as well as directors from the Judicial Bureau, Finance Bureau, Housing and Construction Bureau, City Construction Bureau...

The city leaders who can be named are all present.

Wu Qiangwei was startled to see so many people.

What's Secretary Lu up to?

She wasn't the only one, other members attending the meeting were equally surprised.

This meeting seems off.

"Director Jiang, is everyone here?" Secretary Lu asked.

Jiang Yiren, who rarely appeared at the city committee, had paper and pen ready to record the minutes, nodded: "Everyone is here."

"Then let's start the meeting."

Secretary Lu's face showed no expression as his gaze swept the crowd, stopping on Wu Qiangwei for two seconds, and said: "Three things."

"First, last Friday, in the Worker New Village District, there was a collective jump by residents, a very bad incident, with a bad impact."

"Director Qin."

"Investigate this matter thoroughly, ask these residents if someone was manipulating them from behind the scenes."

"Okay." Director Qin nodded.

Wu Qiangwei looked a bit uncomfortable.

Secretary Lu didn't mention names, but the words seemed directed at her.

The meaning was clear.

Just shy of pointing at her nose, telling everyone that she, Wu Qiangwei, was behind the trouble.

The attendees were inwardly shocked.

The incident on Friday night was tightly suppressed, with no waves on the internet.

If Secretary Lu hadn't mentioned it, they wouldn't have known.

They cautiously observed Wu Qiangwei, then turned their gaze to Secretary Lu.

The city committee is a bit chaotic.

The two secretaries, one primary and one deputy, have a rift now, a conflict too large to reconcile.

It's a stance of "it's either you or me."

Soon enough, one of them might be out.

"Second item."

Secretary Lu looked at Jiang Yiren, who stood up, picked up a stack of documents, and distributed them to everyone.

Wu Qiangwei opened them; it's the compensation plan for the old city renovation project.

Compensation fee, 10,300 yuan per square meter.

Wu Qiangwei let out a light sigh and flipped to the last page, where the date was clearly the end of September.

This...?

How did this happen?

The initial rumor of 7,000 yuan per square meter didn't come from strangers but was heard from Tao Lianguang of the Railway Bureau's investment department.

With his status and relationship with Song Guanchao, it's impossible he would lie.

The subsequent rumor of 5,000 was learned from the demolition households.

Later, the 2,000 yuan per square meter came from the same source.

The demolition households were even so dissatisfied that they jumped collectively.

Yet now the compensation plan is right in front of them.

10,000 per square meter!

Complete market price determination.

The time is still late September.

Wu Qiangwei's heart chilled.

Immediately realizing someone maliciously spread these rumors.

Who was it?

She discreetly scanned the people present, but couldn't discern it.

Who could it be?

"The resettlement price is calculated entirely according to the market valuation."

"I've also asked the responsible heads of related departments, the rumors of 7,000, 5,000, even 2,000, are false information!"

"I know many people are watching this project closely."

"And I know my position is also closely watched by many!"

"Someone wants to use this method to ruin my reputation and pull me down from my position."

"I am aware of all this."

When Secretary Lu spoke these words, his eyes were still fixed on Wu Qiangwei.

The meeting room was full of powder keg tension.

"I, Lu Zhizhong, say today, even though I have no backing, as long as I am the city secretary for one day, Lingjiang remains under my control!"

"Whatever tricks you have, feel free to use them."

"But before touching me, weigh your own qualifications!"

The most bewildered was Zheng Bihui.

He was too confused.

He remembered Secretary Lu had clearly told Director Tu of the City Construction Bureau to evaluate at the price of 5,000.

Why is the compensation plan at 10,000?

This guy, which sentence of his is true and which false?

What exactly does he want to do?

Zheng Bihui suddenly felt a chill in his heart, sensing this guy's deep and frightening facade.

No honest word to his partner.

"Director Qin." Secretary Lu called again, "Keep investigating, I want to know who is spreading rumors!"

Director Qin nodded, thinking this investigation is quite futile.

A total waste of police resources.

Secretary Lu changed tones and said: "Project funding is very tight now. We currently have approximately a 2.6 billion gap."

"Today we called everyone to solve this gap."

The crowd was puzzled.

How are we supposed to solve it?

Very soon, they knew.

Secretary Lu said: "Transportation Bureau, prepare 20 million!"

Deputy Director Fu of the Transportation Bureau was dumbstruck for two seconds, immediately said: "Secretary Lu…"

Secretary Lu raised his hand to stop his words: "20 million, it's not much, don't complain to me. Your hardship is also my hardship. This is a crucial moment where everyone must tighten their belts and cooperate more. Is there any problem, Director Fu?"

Deputy Director Fu maintained a polite smile, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Secretary Lu turned to Director Qin, continuing the demand: "Police Department, 30 million."

Thirty million...

The crowd listened, their hearts trembling.

This darn thing, asking for money so bluntly, do you really think it grows out of thin air?

Less than two months till the year's end, which department can spare so much office budget?

Secretary Lu continued the allocation: "Housing and Construction Bureau, 10 million."

"Judicial Bureau... Director Si, how much office budget is left in your Judicial Bureau?"

"None."

"None? Where's the money?"

"Last month, Secretary Song applied for a transfer payment, already paid the project engineering costs."

Secretary Lu chuckled lightly, saying nothing more: "Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, 30 million…"

He assigned one by one, finally calling on the Finance Bureau: "Finance Bureau…"

Director Gao immediately said: "Secretary Lu, our bureau really has no money left; the budget is all spent already, you should know this."

Secretary Lu said: "I'm not asking you to pay."

"The Finance Bureau will supervise, and collect all the money by the end of the month."

Director Gao sighed in relief.

After adjourning the meeting, Mayor Zheng followed him upstairs.

"Secretary Lu, do you really think they'll pay?"

Secretary Lu sat down, took out cigarettes and handed one to him: "Don't I know them; demanding money is like asking for their lives."

"Moreover, I'm a chief with hollowed-out power; do they even care?"

Secretary Lu suddenly chuckled self-deprecatingly: "In their eyes, I'm just a rootless duckweed. Don't be fooled by my bold directives in the meeting, assigning this and that, once the meeting's over, who takes me seriously?"

"They won't give the money."

Mayor Zheng was even more bewildered: "Then why did you do all this…?"

"Preparation."

Secretary Lu said: "I have to let them know that the project is seriously lacking funds, so much that it can't operate without them providing money."

"And then?"

"And then?" Secretary Lu smiled: "Then, sell the project."

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