Afternoon.
Xi Ping Third Middle School field.
Dong Xuebing ordered his staff to check the surroundings under the watchful eyes of the security guards.
After a while, Dong Xuebing called Fei Fan over. “How is it?”
Fei Fan hesitated. “I don’t see any problems with the construction materials.”
Dong Xuebing frowned. “Not a single problem? All these are quality materials?”
Dong Xuebing was not surprised and was sure Feng Jie had leaked the news of their inspection to the relevant parties. They had switched all the materials and destroyed any evidence. They would not find anything even if they checked everything. However you can change all the materials, but the built building cannot be changed. He waved and said. “Go in and check.”
“Yes.” Fei Fan walked into the building.
Ring… ring… ring…. Dong Xuebing’s phone rang.
It was Deputy Secretary Zhan Guiping, and Dong Xuebing quickly answered. “Secretary Zhan.”
“Director Dong.” Zhan Guiping said. “Did you all find anything from the undercover investigation?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “We failed in conducting the undercover investigation. Deputy City Mayor Feng is here. He arrived after we reached and told everyone we were from the City Discipline Inspection. Xi Ping District’s person in charge of the rebuilding projects was Deputy City, Mayor Feng. I suspect news of our investigation was leaked, and Deputy City Mayor Feng was here to disrupt our investigation. Those substandard construction materials were gone. I suspect it was shifted away, and the materials here were newly brought in. Obvious marks were left on the ground. They are putting on an act for us. After Deputy City Mayor Feng exposed us, everyone knew we were from the Discipline Inspection. How will we catch the staff involved in this case? We are unable to proceed with the investigation.”
“City Mayor Feng is there?!” Zhan Guiping understood what had happened, and he looked terrible. It was apparent he was trying to stop their investigation. What is he trying to do?
“Yes. He is still walking around.”
“Come back since you all cannot find anything.”
“Secretary Zhan, I want to continue. I am sure something is wrong somewhere.”
“Didn’t you say they were prepared for your visit?”
“I still want to try. Maybe we can find a clue.”
“Alright. I spoke to Secretary He. Secretary He wants us to go all out if we find evidence of Xi Ping District staff eyeing the disaster relief funds.”
“I understand. I will report to you once I find anything.”
Dong Xuebing checked the time after hanging up. It was about time.
According to the newspaper, a mild earthquake will happen around ten minutes later. A school building will collapse, resulting in seven dead and five injured. It was a piece of last-minute news, and the article did not mention the details. Dong Xuebing looked at the uncompleted building and saw the construction workers there. Fei Fan, Zhuzhu, and the rest were about to enter, and he immediately stopped them.
“Go to the completed building first.” Dong Xuebing said.
Fei Fan, Zhuzhu, and Ning Shaoyang paused for a second and turned to the other building. Deputy City Mayor Feng, Deputy District Mayor Chu, and the Xi Ping District staff entered that building.
Dong Xuebing quickly entered the uncompleted building. The workers were working, and the air was filled with dust.
“Where is the person in charge?” Dong Xuebing asked a worker.
The worker was confused. “Huh? What is the person in charge?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Your supervisor.”
“Oh, he is upstairs.” The worker pointed up.
Dong Xuebing nodded and got up the stairs. Around a dozen workers were working on the first level, which should be the ‘seven dead and five injured’ reported in the papers. Since he is here, he will not allow anything to happen to them. He was about to call for the person in charge when he heard a middle-aged man talking upstairs.
“Pack up and take a break.”
“Ok.”
“Oh.”
Dong Xuebing walked upstairs.
The person in charge saw Dong Xuebing and recognized him. Someone should have called him, and the person in charge pretended not to see him. He called all the workers and left the building. They gathered at a sunny spot in the school field for a break. They chatted, drank, and ate there. To his surprise, the person in charge left the field and entered the other building. He should be looking for Feng Jie and the rest.
Everyone is resting?!
What is going on?
Dong Xuebing looked at the workers. They were out in the open and far from the school building. They should not be at risk of getting killed or injured. He checked the time, and the mild earthquake was a few minutes away. Why did the newspaper report there were seven dead and five injured? Did the future change because he brought the Discipline Commission staff over? Was it because Feng Jie and his men were here and caused a butterfly effect? Does that mean there will not be anyone dead, even if he did not do anything now?
That should be it.
Great. I can save my breath talking to them.
Dong Xuebing nodded and lit a cigarette in the field. He still felt uncomfortable and walked over to the workers. “Bro, can I ask something?”
The workers looked at Dong Xuebing. “What is it?”
Dong Xuebing asked. “Is this your normal break time?”
A worker replied. “Yes.”
“How long is your break?”
“Around twenty minutes.”
Twenty minutes? That mild earthquake and building collapse would be over.
When Dong Xuebing was thinking, another worker said. “Our boss told us we were supposed to work on that completed building today.” He pointed at the completed building. “We still have some work inside, but leaders are here for an inspection. We cannot go in now.”
What?!
It’s that building?!
Dong Xuebing was stunned. “That means if no one came today, you all would be working in that building, and nobody will be in this uncompleted building?!”
“Yes.”
Dong Xuebing took a deep breath. He thought it was the uncompleted building that collapsed.
It was the other building!
If he had not brought his team, and Deputy City Mayor Feng did not come for an inspection, these workers would be working in the completed building.
Shit!
Dong Xuebing’s men were still in the building!
