Lu Tao took out his phone and dialed Xia Bingbing's number. The call was quickly connected, but Xia Bingbing didn't respond. Only soft sobbing could be heard from the phone.
Lu Tao waited quietly for more than a minute. When he heard that her sobbing had stopped, he said softly, "Chief Xia, Brother Ze just told me all the grievances and wrongdoings you've suffered these past two days. Actually, you don't have to take those baseless accusations and rumors to heart. Your character and work ability are well known in the Finance Bureau. I've seen it myself. Those people slandering you and attacking you only show how despicable and shameless they are. However, you're doing the right thing. You don't have to be afraid of them. "
Xia Bingbing was silent for a moment. She then said with a slightly hoarse voice, "Lu Tao, thank you. I want to ask you a favor. Can you ask Minister Fu of the Organization Department or Secretary Xie of the Commission for Discipline Inspection about what happened in the meeting on Monday? Last night, I asked Deputy Bureau Chief Zhou Youliang to ask Minister Fu, but Minister Fu didn't want to tell him the details of the meeting. He probably has some concerns in his heart. You have a better relationship with Minister Fu and Secretary Xie. If you can find out more about the situation, I'll have a better idea. "
Lu Tao's head was hot. He blurted out, "How about I ask Minister Fu and Secretary Xie out tonight and you can ask them in person —"
Xia Bingbing immediately interrupted him, "You can't do that! Lu Tao, although you're smart, you've never been involved in politics, so you don't know the rules and tricks. Right now is the most sensitive time. If I eat with Minister Fu and Secretary Xie and someone finds out, it will definitely be reported online. They will say that I used improper means to get a position for myself. Then, Minister Fu and Secretary Xie will be implicated. Also, if you ask the two leaders out to eat with me, not only will they not agree, but they will also think that you're very childish and simple-minded. It will make their impression of you worse. "
Lu Tao patted his head and said with a bit of shame, "Chief Xia, I'm right. I'm too simple-minded. Asking Minister Fu and Secretary Xie to eat with you at a time like this might cause negative effects. How about this? I'll call Minister Fu and Secretary Xie separately later to ask about the situation in the five-person group meeting. However, I don't think they'll reveal too much to me. Anyway, I'll learn as much as I can! "
Xia Bingbing nodded. She thought for a while and said, "Minister Fu is a reserved and principled person. After all, he is the head of an organization. He must have a strong sense of confidentiality, so I suggest you don't call him. You probably won't get anything out of him. It's better to talk to Secretary Xie directly. I also know Secretary Xie. He's a straightforward person, not scheming or shrewd. He treats his friends sincerely and warmly. If we ask him, we can probably get more information. "
Lu Tao agreed and said, "I'll call Secretary Xie right away. Oh right, can you come out and have a meal with me later? Since Brother Ze is here, the three of us can have a meal together. I'll tell you what Secretary Xie told me. "
Xia Bingbing hesitated for a moment and said, "Okay, you choose a place. I'll come over later."
Lu Tao said, "Just go to the '*' next to our local tax bureau. It's quite far from the county government and the finance bureau, so it's not easy to meet your acquaintances."
"Okay, you go with Little Ze first. I'll be there at six."
After hanging up the call with Xia Bingbing, Lu Tao immediately dialed Xie Benzhu's number. After the call connected, he heard Xie Benzhu say in a low voice, "Brother, I'm in a meeting at the provincial disciplinary committee. It'll take another ten minutes. I'll call you back later."
Lu Tao quickly hung up the phone and called Du Xiaoyu, who was at home with his mother and sister. He told her that he had a dinner date with a friend and wouldn't be home for dinner. He asked her to let his mother and sister know.
Then, Lu Tao and Xia Yuze walked to the '*' restaurant together. When they were about to reach the restaurant, Xie Benzhu called back and asked Lu Tao enthusiastically if something happened.
Lu Tao said, "Secretary Xie, someone from your county disciplinary committee called the director of the finance bureau's budget unit to the office this morning and asked her to explain some issues related to her lifestyle and integrity. Do you know about this?"
Xie Benzhu was shocked and cried out involuntarily, "No one told me about this. What's going on?"
Lu Tao told him about how Xia Bingbing had been called to the office by the deputy secretary of the county committee, Du Shangwu, and was investigated and questioned by the county disciplinary committee this morning.
Xie Benzhu waited for him to finish and said angrily, "Brother, this is a planned, organized, and premeditated act of intimidation and revenge. The purpose is to threaten Xia Bingbing and make her withdraw from the competition with Zhang Yaling. At the same time, they also want to attack me, County Mayor Su, and Minister Fu, so that we will submit to someone's' authority 'and no longer oppose his intention to promote Zhang Yaling. It's really despicable!"
Next, he didn't let Lu Tao ask any more questions. He told him in detail about the conflict and the result of the five-person group meeting on Monday. In the end, he said, "Brother, the discussion process of the five-person group meeting is top secret. According to the rules, the participants are not allowed to disclose the meeting to anyone. But you have helped me a lot, and you are a gentleman, so I told you about the meeting. I know you have a good relationship with Xia Bingbing. You can selectively disclose some of the things I said to her, but please ask her to keep it a secret and never tell anyone else about it. "
Lu Tao agreed and thanked him. After he hung up the phone, he walked into the "*" with Xia Yuze and asked the waiter to arrange a private room for them. They sat inside and waited for Xia Bingbing to come.
At five past six, Xia Bingbing walked into the private room. Lu Tao looked up and saw that her eyes were red and swollen and her brows were furrowed. Although she had put on some light makeup, it still couldn't hide the humiliation and pain on her face.
After sitting down opposite Lu Tao, Xia Bingbing suddenly said to Xia Yuze, "Xiao Ze, go sit at the bar outside first. Don't come in until I call you."
Xia Yuze knew that Xia Bingbing wanted to ask Lu Tao about the five-person group meeting, so it wasn't good for him to eavesdrop. He walked out of the private room obediently and told the waiter outside not to go in for the time being.
Lu Tao knew that Xia Bingbing had an impatient personality, so he went straight to the point and told her about the conflict that happened at the five-person group meeting.
Xia Bingbing listened to him in silence. Her tears flowed down unknowingly again, and she said in a choked voice, "Lu Tao, believe it or not, I didn't want to trouble you, Minister Fu, and Secretary Xie. If Zhang Yaling wanted to be the Deputy Director, then let her be. But my brother and Deputy Director Zhou Youliang tried their best to persuade me that this was a rare opportunity, and that I couldn't be better than Zhang Yaling in every aspect. It would be a pity if I didn't fight for it. So I acquiesced to Xiao Ze asking you for help. I didn't expect things to turn out like this. Not only was I framed and humiliated, but I also caused Minister Fu and Secretary Xie to fall out with Luo Qiulin. If I had known this would happen, I would have insisted on my own idea and not allowed Xiao Ze to come to you! "
Speaking of this, she covered her face and sobbed again.
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