The pinnacle of power: starting with having sex with a female leader-Chapter 17 - 00: I Can Take Responsibility

Cheng Yuan was utterly distressed. Why couldn’t the executive director believe him?

"Executive director, I’m just the lowest-ranking Deputy Town Chief. Ma Guorong arranged it this way because he thought he had me cornered! It also serves as insurance for them; if there were ever any issues with the dam and bridge later on, they could pin the blame on me!"

"The reason I requested to apply for the special fund was precisely because I didn’t want to be the scapegoat. Moreover, I wanted to do something tangible for the people of Lingshan Town."

"Stepping back, establishing a special fund is all to your benefit with no harm! If a major issue arises in a project under your supervision, wouldn’t you also have to take responsibility?"

Shen Manwen furrowed her brows deeply, carefully contemplating Cheng Yuan’s words.

Perhaps, Cheng Yuan had a point.

"Chief Cheng, even if what you say is true, even if I established the special fund, it would be useless. I’m just the executive deputy county chief; above me, there’s the County Chief and the Secretary. If they wanted to tamper with the special fund, you and I could do nothing to stop it."

Cheng Yuan’s heart sank instantly.

Indeed, like the executive director, he was also under the Secretary’s thumb.

Was this a situation with no way out?

Cheng Yuan shook his head helplessly.

"It seems I have only one way out left — resigning before the project starts."

Resigning?

Shen Manwen’s gaze sharpened, by now she was sixty percent persuaded by Cheng Yuan’s words.

Applying to be a civil servant was like crossing a wooden bridge by an army of thousands, incredibly challenging!

Cheng Yuan had become a Deputy Town Chief and yet was choosing to resign.

Clearly, he was genuinely driven to a desperate end.

"Chief Cheng, resignation isn’t necessary. Just focus on doing the project well, ensuring the quality of the work; leave the financial matters to me. I can guarantee that every penny will be spent where it should be."

Cheng Yuan looked at Shen Manwen skeptically.

"Executive director, didn’t you just say that if the Secretary and County Chief tampered with the special fund, you couldn’t stop them either?"

"I truly cannot stop them, but what if a higher authority intervenes? Do you think it could then be stopped?"

Cheng Yuan immediately became excited.

How could he have forgotten?

The Executive Director came in from above and had strong support from higher-ups!

If the Executive Director was willing to utilize those connections, the special fund could definitely be safeguarded!

Cheng Yuan bowed deeply to Shen Manwen.

"On behalf of the eighty thousand residents of Lingshan Town, I thank the Executive Director! Your name will forever be engraved in the history of Lingshan Town, bringing lasting honor!"

Cheng Yuan’s flattery excited Shen Manwen wildly, like drinking a bottle of ice soda on a sweltering summer day.

It was utterly refreshing!

This bastard, not only was he impressive in bed.

His mouth was quite formidable too.

Ptui! Ptui! Ptui!

How could she think this way?

Wasn’t she desperate to tear this bastard apart?

"Chief Cheng, don’t get too excited too soon; drawing the attention of higher authorities is not an easy task. Do you have a way?"

Cheng Yuan’s tone turned somewhat somber.

"Just by reporting the actual number of residents who have died in the Weidong River in recent years, the authorities will definitely take notice."

The actual number?

Shen Manwen looked at Cheng Yuan with a skeptical gaze.

"Wasn’t it just two children that died this year?"

Cheng Yuan shook his head slightly, his face momentarily revealing an uncontainable grief.

"I don’t know about before, but in just my five years in Lingshan Town, a total of 37 people have died in the Weidong River!"

Shen Manwen stood up abruptly, her face in disbelief as she stared at Cheng Yuan.

"What are you saying? Within five years, 37 people from Lingshan Town died in the Weidong River? Why has no one reported this? Are the leaders of Lingshan Town all incompetent?"

Cheng Yuan sighed.

"Each incident was reported to the county by Secretary Lan. But for some reason, the county has never reported it up the chain and has autonomously suppressed the issues, ruling the villagers’ deaths as accidents."

"It was the same this time. Secretary Wu initially wanted to suppress the issue, but a sister of one deceased child, a journalist, exposed the matter."

"Otherwise, who knows how long it would have been suppressed."

With a bang!

Shen Manwen slammed her fist down on the table!

Deaths were being covered up, and they had the audacity to consume the plight of the deceased!

These people truly deserved death!

Shen Manwen took a deep breath, trying hard to control her emotions.

"Cheng Yuan, is everything you said true?"

"Executive Director, I swear on my party principles, everything I’ve said is true."

"Good! Go back immediately and collect the data! Bring it to me first thing tomorrow morning, I’ll send it to the city as soon as possible, and secure the special fund as quickly as we can!"

"Yes, Executive Director!"

Logically, Cheng Yuan should have taken this opportunity to slip away while Shen Manwen didn’t mention that night. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

But Cheng Yuan felt, some matters were better addressed sooner rather than later.

"Executive Director, about that night..."

Shen Manwen suddenly remembered the incident that night, and her face instantly darkened.

"Which night?"

"The night at the Jinmao Hotel."

Shen Manwen, with a darkened face, said, "What about the Jinmao Hotel? I have never been to Jinmao Hotel. Have you?"

Cheng Yuan froze.

What did the executive director mean?

Was she pretending to have amnesia?

Cheng Yuan took a deep breath, looked up defiantly at Shen Manwen’s beautiful face, and mustered his courage, "Executive Director, I know I’m not worthy! But still, I want to say, I can take responsibility for that night’s event!"