"What exactly is going on?" Chen Feng questioned the accountant.
"There was money in the Nanmiao City Religious Affairs Bureau's account, but..." the accountant stammered.
The matter involved too many people; he didn't know if he should speak.
"No 'buts.' Just tell me directly! If the money can't be disbursed, stammering won't solve anything. Confess and you'll be treated leniently; harboring this information will make you guilty even if you're not," Chen Feng said, his gaze sharp and cold.
Hearing Chen Feng's words, the accountant immediately caved. Without another word, he explained the whole story.
The situation was simple: the money in the account had been misappropriated.
The person who misappropriated the funds was none other than Xiao Teng, the head of the Nanmiao City Religious Affairs Bureau.
"Are you saying all the money was misappropriated by Xiao Teng?" Chen Feng stared intently at the accountant.
"Yes, Deputy County Head Chen. All the money was taken by Xiao Teng for business. I'm just an accountant; I have nothing to do with this matter." The accountant's forehead was covered in sweat. The Nanmiao City Religious Affairs Bureau's funds were not a small sum. If an investigation was launched, he'd surely get a life sentence. He had to distance himself from Xiao Teng immediately.
"Don't panic. I know you have nothing to do with this matter. If they investigate, you'll be fine. However, as the accountant, you do bear a tiny bit of responsibility..." Chen Feng said, playing a strategic game.
This accountant was crucial for the swift disbursement of funds. He was also the best messenger between Chen Feng and Xiao Teng.
"Deputy County Head Chen, please rest assured. As long as you don't blame me, I'll do whatever you ask." The accountant, being an experienced hand in official circles, immediately understood Chen Feng's hint and expressed his willingness to follow Chen Feng's instructions.
"Just cooperate with me! Let's be frank, I need you to pass a few messages to Xiao Teng." Chen Feng said with a serious expression.
"Deputy County Head Chen, please rest assured, I'll deliver your exact words to Xiao Teng," the accountant replied urgently. This was a huge matter, and he had to seize the opportunity for leniency.
"It's just one sentence: if Xiao Teng disburses the money within three days, I'll pretend nothing happened. Oh, and don't forget to tell Xiao Teng that this disbursement is being personally handled by the Wang family from the capital." Chen Feng stated calmly.
"Deputy County Head Chen, did I hear you correctly? You're not going to send Xiao Teng to jail? This isn't a small sum of money; anyone who misappropriates it will go to jail." The accountant asked with bewilderment.
"You're only partly right. In normal circumstances, embezzling so much money would indeed lead to jail, and a life sentence at that. However, there are priorities. My main focus in Nanmiao City is not anti-corruption, but rather fighting organized crime. Therefore, as long as Xiao Teng cooperates, he can escape this ordeal." Chen Feng explained seriously.
"It can be like this?" The accountant was utterly confused. After many years in official circles, this was the first time he had encountered such an unconventional way of handling affairs.
"Absolutely! To put it simply, officialdom is about getting things done; you can't be too rigid. Take Xiao Teng's situation, for instance. Can I put Xiao Teng in jail for life? Yes, I can. But if I do that, Xiao Teng will definitely transfer the money out of the country. Without that money, I won't be able to deal with the criminal elements in Ji Miao County. I can turn a blind eye to corrupt officials, but not to criminal elements. That's what we call prioritizing." Chen Feng explained word by word.
The accountant understood instantly and was impressed by Chen Feng. Initially, he had doubted how someone like Deputy County Head Chen, from the lower ranks of officialdom, could have connections in the capital's power circles. However, after witnessing how he handled Xiao Teng's situation, it made perfect sense. This young man had a grand vision. He acted with composure and clarity, never losing sight of priorities. It wasn't surprising that someone with such a vision would know people in the capital's power circles.
"Deputy County Head Chen, what if... what if Xiao Teng doesn't cooperate?" the accountant ventured cautiously.
"Don't worry, Xiao Teng isn't foolish; he knows how to weigh the pros and cons," Chen Feng replied confidently.
"Deputy County Head Chen, there's something I don't know if I should say..." the accountant said, hesitating.
"What is it? Speak your mind."
"What if Xiao Teng has connections in the capital?" the accountant asked quietly. It wasn't an impossible scenario. Xiao Teng wasn't stupid; he wouldn't dare misappropriate such a large sum without someone backing him.
"Xiao Teng likely has connections in the provincial capital, or even the central capital. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had the audacity to misappropriate such a large special fund. However, it doesn't matter. No matter how many connections Xiao Teng has, they can't outweigh the Wang family from the capital." Chen Feng's explanation finally put the accountant's mind at ease.
Without further ado, the accountant went to find Xiao Teng. Xiao Teng was rarely at the office; he was either hobnobbing with superiors or indulging himself elsewhere, always with the excuse of "official business." Honestly, no one knew where Xiao Teng was hiding except for the accountant.
Soon after, the accountant found Xiao Teng in a private room at a nightclub in Nanping City, consorting with some Miao girls.
"Why are you here?" Xiao Teng asked displeasantly. He was in the middle of enjoying himself with the Miao girls and was annoyed by the interruption. If it weren't for the accountant's cooperation in misappropriating the special funds, he would have started scolding him long ago.
"Something big has happened, Director Xiao," the accountant blurted out.
"What are you shouting about? I know all the important figures in Nanping City's official circles. If anything were to happen, I'd be the first to know. How is it possible that you, an accountant, know about it before I do? Forget it. Considering we're in this together, I won't scold you. Leave quickly; don't interrupt my fun." Xiao Teng said sternly to the accountant, not bothering to conceal his actions as he caressed the Miao girls beside him. The accountant felt like vomiting. He couldn't believe Xiao Teng was shamelessly touching the girls in front of him.
"Director Xiao, this matter wasn't initiated by people in Nanmiao City; it's from Ji Miao County below." The accountant forced himself to speak, suppressing his nausea.
"What? You're saying people from Ji Miao County are targeting me? Hahaha, have you been in official circles for nothing all these years? In this field, a higher rank crushes a lower one; don't you know that? Can a mere county-level official harm me? That's a joke." Xiao Teng laughed heartily.
"Director Xiao, this Deputy County Head is no ordinary person..."
"Shut up! Are you still going on? Because we're in this together, I haven't lost my temper, and you're still pushing it? Ridiculous claims keep pouring out. There's a world of difference between the capital and a county. A deputy county head having connections in the capital? Who would believe that? The capital's power circles are full of national-level officials; how can a deputy county head establish connections?" Xiao Teng roared, clearly angered.
"Director Xiao, I'm not clear on the specifics. However, Deputy County Head Chen does have connections with the Wang family from the capital. If you don't believe me, you can look..." Saying this, the accountant showed Xiao Teng the approval document issued by the Wang family from the capital. Xiao Teng was dismissive at first, but as he looked, sweat began to bead on his forehead.
"Damn it! It really is the seal of the Wang family from the capital!"
"Quick, tell me, is Deputy County Head Chen an old man?" Xiao Teng asked tentatively. Damn it, this Chen Feng must be an elder. Only then could he have some connection with the Wang family from the capital!