Official Career Storm-Chapter 1309

Mr. Cao still came to the City Government. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He initially wanted to see Wu Qiangwei and apologize to her, but the secretary told him Wu Qiangwei wasn't there.

He knew Wu Qiangwei was in the office, just not willing to see him.

But knowing this makes no difference. Could he possibly force the Mayor to see him?

Then he turned to Zhang Yan.

Though Zhang Yan, the Deputy Mayor, wasn't as influential as before, she was still the second-in-command at the City Government.

Besides, he had no other choice at present and could only pin his hopes on her.

After hearing his complaints, Zhang Yan asked, "Why are you only coming to me now? What were you doing before?"

Mr. Cao said, "I didn't expect things to escalate like this."

Zhang Yan snorted coldly. "Turning a blameless driver into a fully responsible party — that's something I can't help with."

"Mayor Zhang, I am your supporter!"

He started playing the emotional card.

Zhang Yan waved her hand and said, "I told you, I can't help."

Mr. Cao knew she'd made mistakes, and her authority was not what it once was, but he thought Zhang Yan would help him somewhat.

Yet she didn't care at all.

How could this be?

Mr. Cao felt a sense of abandonment and anxiety blooming inside him.

He left the City Government and sat in his car, staring blankly for a long time.

He drove to the City Committee, intending to seek out Secretary Zhou.

But he knew that even approaching Secretary Zhou wouldn't help.

When Secretary Zhou was Mayor, he was in Zhang Yan's camp.

Now that Secretary Zhou had been promoted to City Secretary, he certainly wouldn't forget the past.

Considering his current predicament, Secretary Zhou not kicking him while he's down would already be a boon; helping him seemed almost impossible.

Yet, despite everything, he had to try.

He was at a dead end.

Half an hour later, he left the City Committee.

Standing in the parking lot, Mr. Cao lit a cigarette and held it between his fingers without taking a puff, appearing somewhat lost.

He had gone to see Secretary Zhou, and just like with Mayor Wu, Secretary Zhou also refused to see him.

He truly felt abandoned.

However, he was confused — how did matters escalate to this point?

Things were fine just this morning.

It was as though, all of a sudden, everything came to a head in one swift movement.

He felt a surreal sense akin to dreaming.

"Let it unrest! Let it unrest! At worst, I'll face disciplinary action; I damn well won't climb any higher, I'll just retire from the position of District Governor!"

He reckoned that no matter how big the uproar became, at most, he'd just be dismissed.

With this thought, he felt much more relaxed.

However, things did not go as he wished.

Early the next morning,

Mr. Cao, uncharacteristically, was out of bed by seven-thirty.

He usually got up at eight-thirty, finished his chores, and arrived at the district government by around nine-ten.

This sudden schedule change was a bit unsettling for him.

Though he had gotten up, his mind was still foggy.

After breakfast, he drove to the district government.

On the way, he received a call from Xiao Ting.

With his left hand holding the phone and his right hand clutching the steering wheel, he asked, "What's the matter?"

"District Governor, there's trouble!"

Hearing Xiao Ting speak in such a panic-stricken tone about bad news, he felt a wave of concern.

"The families of the deceased have arrived at the district government!"

Mr. Cao's hand shook, and the phone slipped from his grip, his vision going black.

When he came to, the traffic light ahead had just turned red, yet he failed to brake, and his car sped through the intersection.

An electric scooter was coming from the side.

Bam!

Mr. Cao slammed the brakes as he watched the scooter get hit, leaving a long mark on the ground and sliding seven or eight meters away.

The man on the scooter rolled on the ground several times.

Mr. Cao froze in his seat, his brain suddenly ceasing to function.

A nearby traffic cop directing the morning rush hurried over immediately.

One officer checked on the pedestrian while another forcefully knocked on the car door: "Get out of the car!"

At that moment, Mr. Cao was in a daze, everything clearly reflected in his eyes, but his ears seemed covered by a thin membrane, muffling external sounds.

Buzz...

A strong bout of tinnitus cleared, and his senses resumed, everything outside getting clearer.

"Get out of the car!" The officer pounded on the door.

He swallowed hard and opened the car door.

The officer looked angrily and said, "How were you driving? Ran a red light?"

"I..."

"Show me your vehicle registration and driver's license!"

"Oh, okay..."

...

District government parking lot.

Xiao Ting watched the family members of the deceased crowding outside the government building, pacing anxiously.

Yesterday it was the family of the driver, today it became the family of the deceased.

She scanned around, trying to locate hidden photographers amidst the crowd.

There must be photographers just like yesterday.

However, she couldn't spot any.

"Where is the District Governor?"

It was almost nine o'clock.

She glanced at Zhong Baofeng who was comforting the families and stepped aside to dial Mr. Cao's phone again.

Beep beep...

"Hello, District Governor, you... what? You hit someone?"

Misfortunes never come singly.

Good things remain unseen while trouble comes one after another.

How could things have gotten to this point!

Xiao Ting suddenly had an intuition.

She felt Mr. Cao might be finished.

This intuition came without reason or logic; it was purely a woman's sixth sense.

"I assure all of you as the Deputy District Governor, the district government absolutely won't turn a blind eye!"

"Please go back first, when Mr. Cao arrives, I will report to him, and within three days, you'll have a satisfactory response!"

Zhong Baofeng's voice brought her back to reality.

She saw that the family members were swayed by Zhong Baofeng's words.

They picked themselves up off the ground, rolled up their banners, and left the district government in an orderly fashion.

Zhong Baofeng wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked over to ask, "Where's Mr. Cao?"

Xiao Ting opened her mouth but couldn't utter a sound.

Zhong Baofeng frowned, "I'm asking you, where's Mr. Cao?"

Looking at his slightly impatient expression, flashes of his performance over the past two days replayed quickly before her eyes.

Suddenly, a new intuition struck her: perhaps Zhong Baofeng would replace Mr. Cao.

This thought startled her.

But... maybe it could happen?

Mr. Cao, having done so many foolish things and being exposed online.

Now, a car accident has just happened...

Even if he isn't personally dismissed, he'd likely be relieved from his position.

If Zhong Baofeng took over...

At this thought, Xiao Ting made up her mind.

She needed to find a way to connect with Zhong Baofeng.

At the very least, she needed to hedge her bets.

"Mr. Cao has had a car accident."

"What?" Zhong Baofeng was stunned. "What happened? Tell me in detail."

"On his way here, Mr. Cao collided with an electric scooter, and he is now being detained by the police."

Zhong Baofeng had only one thought: Could Fate itself be helping him?

At another time, even if Mr. Cao had killed someone, he could suppress it.

But it happened at this particular juncture.

"Mr. Zhong, I think it would be best for you to take charge of the district government for now."

Xiao Ting said with a tone softer than she'd ever used before.

She deliberately stepped forward, standing very close to him, her ample chest just barely brushing his arm, unspoken flirtation apparent.