Chapter 220: Fighting Hoarding
In May, the SARS virus entered its outbreak period.
News of deaths and injuries came in every day, causing some speculation and confusion. Some people with ulterior motives also deliberately exaggerated the facts in an attempt to make huge profits.
Take Isatis root for example. It was originally just an ordinary medicine, but after some hype, its price soared from 2.2 yuan per bag at the beginning of the year to an astonishing 23.5 yuan.
At the same time, the prices of daily necessities such as rice, flour, grain, oil, iodized salt, etc. also rose one after another. This buying craze spread quickly, and people fell into panic.
Facing this sudden crisis, Qi Tongwei had already made full preparations. He took quick action and held an emergency press conference immediately.
At the press conference, Qi Tongwei said to the people of the city with a serious expression: "Don't panic! We have made sufficient material reserves to meet the needs of the entire Green Vine City.
Please stay calm and don’t rush to buy blindly, so as not to be deceived by those unscrupulous merchants.”
Then, Qi Tongwei emphasized: "I solemnly declare here that the prices of all commodities must be increased within a reasonable range. Any attempt to hoard goods and drive up prices is illegal and will be severely punished!"
Afterwards, Qi Tongwei announced a reporting channel on TV, calling on the public to actively report and claiming that once price gouging and other behaviors are discovered, they will be severely punished.
……
At Jianshan Club, Gao Mingyuan turned off the TV.
"Tell me what you think." Gao Mingyuan looked at Zheng Yihong.
Zheng Yihong thought for a moment and said, "Qi Tongwei is not a simple person. He emphasized the SARS virus at the first meeting at the beginning of the year and made specific arrangements. This is why our Green Vine can still remain relatively peaceful.
Given his strength, the next step will probably be to crack down on hoarding. At this juncture, whoever touches him will die."
"Yihong, do you know what I admire most about you?" Without waiting for Zheng Yihong to answer, Gao Mingyuan continued, "That is being a man of the times, knowing when to move forward and when to retreat.
Now the whole country is going all out to fight the SARS virus. If anyone deliberately drags his feet at this time, he will face unprecedented severe punishment, and even I will not be immune. "
Gao Mingyuan is known for his intelligence, calmness, and ruthlessness. He always looks at problems extremely accurately and knows how to advance and retreat.
"I understand. I will immediately notify everyone below to restore the price to normal." Zheng Yihong said as he prepared to get up and leave.
"Don't leave so quickly, wait a moment, let me think about it."
Gao Mingyuan closed his eyes and thought quietly for a moment, then suddenly opened his eyes, stared at Zheng Yihong and said, "The companies we directly control can sell goods at last year's prices, even if it means losses.
For those industries that we indirectly control, we can ensure profitability, but the price must be below the current market level, to ensure profitability without being seen as hoarding.
As for the tertiary market, just ignore it and cut off the connection directly, leaving it to the mayor to deal with.”
Zheng Yihong nodded in understanding. She had actually guessed that Gao Mingyuan would do this a long time ago. He would throw some scapegoats to the government to let them know that all acts of hoarding and profiteering would be investigated. It would be good for everyone.
As for the discarded chess pieces, Gao Mingyuan will quickly abandon them and find new people to replace them, which will not affect any of his interests.
Gao Mingyuan was indeed smart. He guessed Qi Tongwei's next move. After the press conference, Qi Tongwei convened a meeting attended by the industrial and commercial, tax, public security, and judicial and procuratorate departments.
At the meeting, Qi Tongwei said with a serious expression: "Comrades, in this special period, everyone knows what is the most important thing, that is stability.
The current situation is that stability overrides everything!
How can we achieve stability? That is, the people have food in their hands, there is food in the market, and the price is within a reasonable range. Otherwise, it will cause chaos and lead to some adverse effects.
Therefore, we must crack down on hoarding and must not allow criminals to take advantage of the opportunity to profit! "
Then, he emphasized again: "During the epidemic prevention and control period, any violation of state regulations on market operation and price management, hoarding, driving up prices, making huge profits, and seriously disrupting market order will be subject to criminal liability!"
He continued with a firm gaze and a resolute tone: "The public security department must act quickly, and the industrial and commercial taxation departments must also cooperate closely with the public security department and make preparations to crack down on illegal vendors!"
At this time, Guo Wenjian stood up and said, "Mayor Qi, we have found some clues and identified some suspects."
Since the government party group meeting at the beginning of the year, Guo Wenjian has actively participated in the investigation work.
However, due to his lack of tight control over the Public Security Bureau, he could only investigate some surface phenomena, and he was unable to touch the dark forces hidden behind the scenes like Gao Mingyuan.
Hearing this news, Qi Tongwei showed a relieved smile on his face: "Very good, once we have evidence, we must take action immediately!
We must investigate and deal with these illegal and criminal acts as quickly as possible and bring them to trial as soon as possible.
President Liu, I have a request. For the act of hoarding and profiteering, we must try them to the maximum extent and impose heavier sentences. We must teach those who attempt to operate illegally a profound lesson and tell them not to cross the legal red line!
At the same time, we also remind all businesses to strictly abide by laws and regulations and work together to overcome this epidemic! "
"Yes, Mayor Qi." Dean Liu quickly agreed.
Qi Tongwei turned his gaze to Ma Yan again and said in a serious tone: “Comrade Ma Yan, the protection of medical staff is of vital importance, and we must ensure that their lives are properly arranged.
After all, they are the ones who are working the hardest and facing the greatest risks during this difficult period.”
"I understand, Mayor Qi." Ma Yan answered without hesitation.
Immediately afterwards, Qi Tongwei deployed specific prevention and control measures in detail, and communicated with the main leaders of various counties and districts by phone, emphasizing that all efforts must be made to do a good job in epidemic prevention and control.
After the meeting, Qi Tongwei deliberately kept Guo Wenjian.
"Old Guo, what's the situation at the Public Security Bureau? Is it the same as before?" Qi Tongwei handed Guo Wenjian a cigarette.
Guo Wenjian lit a cigarette for Qi Tongwei first, then lit one for himself, took a puff, and then said, "Mayor Qi, the situation is still roughly the same as before.
However, the young men transferred from the Police Academy performed quite well.
In addition, I found that there was nothing wrong with He Yun. She was very cooperative at work. It was just that some people in the bureau thought that I had taken her position and felt resentful about it.
For this reason, Comrade He Yun also specifically criticized some people and asked them to correct their work attitude. "
It can be seen that Guo Wenjian admires He Yun very much, otherwise he would not speak for her.
Qi Tongwei didn't care how Guo Wenjian used people. He had only one requirement, which was that the public security team could be deployed and defeat the enemy at critical moments.
"I don't care. You can decide how to use the people, but you have to get it done for me. Let's use this hoarding as an experiment to show me the combat effectiveness of the Green Ivy Public Security."
"The Green Vine Police will definitely satisfy you." Guo Wenjian said firmly.