Chapter 19: Beautiful Girls Are Useful

  Liu Siyuan felt a bit helpless, and he spread his hands: "Xin Yi, you also overestimate me. A rich young lady like you would never look at someone like me, I'm just a poor guy from a small county town."

  Fang Xinyu blinked and adjusted her glasses, letting out a soft sigh. "I hope so. By the way, did you spend Spring Festival at home?"

  Liu Siyuan was taken aback and said, "Yes, where else can we go?"

  Fang Xinyu cried and laughed at the same time: "Don't you go give your leader New Year's greetings?"

  "Are you referring to two directors?"

  "Not just that, there's also Minister Ouyang and Secretary-General Zhang, you have to go pay your respects for the new year."

  Liu Siyuan was startled and hastily said: "Someone of my level, how could I enter the homes of two big leaders... Besides, there are many people who come to pay New Year's visits, they won't miss me if I don't go, and even if I do go, it's unlikely they'll remember me."

  "You're wrong, the leader indeed can't remember who came to pay New Year's greetings, but whoever didn't come will definitely be remembered."

  "I'm just a small fry..."

  "You may be just a small figure, but you are one of the two key people being cultivated. Don't you think that this time, among all the promoted cadres, only you were chosen? It's clearly a special arrangement, which shows that Minister Ouyang and Secretary-General Zhang have put in a lot of thought. You can't not go visit them during the New Year."

  Liu Siyuan was stunned, it seemed that this promotion was indeed just him alone, not with others together, a batch of people promoted together, it was indeed a bit special. Anyway, Fang Xinyi's words about the twists and turns of officialdom were definitely correct, so he hastily nodded in agreement.

  Xin Yuan Chemical Plant was built in the early 1990s, and at that time it was considered to be in the suburbs. However, as a result of economic development over the years, the city's scale has expanded rapidly, and now this area is already within the true urban district. From a layout perspective, it has become very unreasonable, not only affecting the air quality nearby but also having a significant impact on groundwater due to large amounts of wastewater discharge. The original urban planning obviously lacked some foresight.

  After entering the 21st century, with everyone's increasing environmental awareness, newly built factories have been laid out much more reasonably, basically far away from urban areas and water sources, and sewage treatment systems have been added. Many early polluting factories were relocated or even directly demolished.

  However, for various reasons, the Xinyuan Chemical Plant has stood still on the banks of the Han River and has become a peculiar phenomenon in Hanzhong City. Almost every year, the provincial and municipal people's congresses include it as an agenda item, and every year the provincial and municipal governments pat their chests and say they will solve it, but until today it is still stubbornly surviving there. It must be said that Zhang Zhengdong has indeed given Liu Siyuan a great challenge.

  After understanding the background clearly, even Ouyang Qian, who used to be arrogant, couldn't help but pout and complain a few sentences, anyway, the meaning is that the provincial party committee and government supervision room can't solve this kind of trivial matter, what good way do we have.

  Liu Siyuan actually agreed with her in his heart, but he still had to encourage her verbally, saying that it was up to people and the organization to test us. Ouyang Qian was also amused by him and said, "Now it's just the two of us, can you stop being so formal? The provincial government has been unable to solve this problem all along, I think even if my dad came out in person, it would be useless."

  Liu Siyuan smiled and said: Let's understand it first, the provincial government can't solve it, maybe the method is not right, we may try other methods. By the way, have you checked the background of this factory?

  Ouyang Qian said that the background was not investigated, and there was only a clue, which was that the factory director used to be a retired military officer, who was said to have been seriously injured and had to retire. Liu Siyuan thought for a moment, it seems that it is a military background, no wonder the provincial government is also hesitant.

  As they spoke, the two of them had already arrived at the entrance of Xinyuan Chemical Plant. The gate still looked like it was from last century, with rust spots all over it. The factory buildings were built on the side of a mountain, and looking far into the distance, one couldn't even see the edge, giving an idea of its massive scale. However, despite the vastness of the plant area, there were very few people seen walking around, and all items were neatly stacked, clearly indicating that the management level was not low.

  The main gate is closed, with a small door open on one side for people to enter and exit, next to the security room.

  "Shall we go in?" asked Ouyang Qian.

  "It looks tough, those few security guards look quite serious."

  "Heh heh, watch me." Ouyang Qian smiled mysteriously and took Liu Siyuan directly inside.

  "Hey, who are these two comrades looking for?" The gatekeeper was indeed very professional, but when he saw Ouyang Qian, such a beauty, his tone was quite polite.

  "Oh, I'm looking for your factory's director." Ouyang Qian said casually.

  "Really? Looking for Gao Chulang?"

  "Right, right."

  "Do you have a reservation?"

  "Of course." Ouyang Qian said seriously. "Master, can we go in now?"

  The guard hesitated for a moment, seemingly thinking that such a beautiful girl didn't seem like a bad person, and nodded: "Register then."

  Ouyang Qian was registering while smiling and asking the security guard how to get to the factory affairs office, and the guard kindly gave them directions, making Liu Siyuan feel that the beauty trick really works.

  Fortunately, there was a gatekeeper to guide them, because the entrance of the factory office was not the main gate, but a smaller building behind the main workshop. The two of them wandered around the passageway littered with debris and finally found the legendary "High Place Long" in a shabby room, who looked like he was in his 40s or 50s, with a balding head, wearing a relatively clean work uniform, and fiddling with something on a machine with several other employees also wearing work uniforms.

  Liu Siyuan called out, he turned his head back impatiently and suddenly lit up, the beauty was indeed invincible. The tall man rubbed his hands together and asked politely: "Are you two looking for me?"

  "Oh, it's been a long time, we're from the Municipal Supervision Office. I'm Ouyang Qian, and this is our Director Liu."

  "What's the matter with the Municipal Supervision Office?" As expected, a vigilant glint flashed in his eyes.

  Liu Siyuan's mind turned quickly, and he hastily said: "Don't worry, we're just here on behalf of the municipal government to understand the situation at Xinyuan Chemical Plant."

  "What's going on? Is there any instruction from the factory leader?" Director Gao looked vigilant.

  Ouyang Qian pretended not to hear, and continued on her own: "As for this, I read last year's inspection report from our city government, which said that your factory would strengthen its wastewater treatment. I wonder how the situation is after a year?"

  The tall man's face changed several times, and finally said coldly: "I don't know about this, you go find the leader."

  "Are you also from our Hanjiang City?" Liu Siyuan suddenly asked.

  "Yes, what?"

  "The Xinyuan Chemical Plant is located at the foot of Dongshan, which is exactly the highest point in our Hanjiang City. All pollutants that seep into the ground will flow through the entire city, affecting the water source of the whole city. I believe you and your family are also drinking this groundwater." Liu Siyuan said with a serious tone.

  The tall man's face changed again and he said, "I'm busy, you all leave."

  Liu Siyuan thought for a moment, left a business card on his desk, and then took Ouyang Qian out.

  "Si Yuange, are you trying to move me with emotions?" asked Ouyang Qian after she came out.

  "I'm afraid he can't quit, after all, he has to rely on this factory to make a living, definitely..." Liu Siyuan said helplessly.

  "Hmph, why don't we just take a few more laps around here, take some more photos and post them online? I bet they'll be drowned by the saliva of every single person in Hanjiang City!"

  Liu Siyuan looked at Ouyang Qian's indignant face, and suddenly his eyes lit up. Perhaps this was a good way to use public opinion to create pressure. But thinking again, if he really did so, the situation would further deteriorate. If the other side withstood the pressure, but he himself didn't come up with a better solution, it would only bring him more trouble.

  But it's a pity not to take a few photos after finally getting in. The two of them were sneaking around all the way, and fortunately, they managed to take several unprocessed photos of wastewater being directly discharged into the small river. The scene was indeed shocking, and as they themselves lived in this city, they felt deeply sympathetic.

  "We must expose him online!" Ouyang Qian said viciously, her emotions somewhat unstable.

  Liu Siyuan had to use a lot of effort to calm her down, telling her not to be impulsive and to plan carefully before acting.

  Ouyang Qian's face was full of indignation, saying "How come our supervision is done like a thief, and we're even driven away? It's too suffocating. I used to think it was so powerful."

  Liu Siyuan was amused by her and said, "You want to be domineering, huh? Tomorrow, the two of us will go to the Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau and sit for a while. You'll know then." Ouyang Qian hastily said, "Okay, this group of bastards should be taken care of and not allowed to do whatever they want!"