Chapter 396 Seizing the Case Handling Rights
"Director Lu, according to my inference, the problems of Shanshui Group are very serious and require a full-scale investigation by a capable force.
I want you to continue investigating Shanshui Group. As for Bai Zhiming's case, it's a self-surrender case, so it's not difficult to investigate, so let someone else take over." Lu Tao said very sincerely.
After learning that Bai Zhiming had surrendered himself, Lu Tao could no longer sit still.
When a department director surrenders himself, there must be a lot of corrupt officials involved behind the scenes. How could such a great credit be given to Lu Yike?
If this case was handed over to him, with this merit as a foundation, and with the support of his father-in-law Zhong Zhengguo, once Ji Changming retired, the position of Prosecutor General of Handong Provincial Procuratorate would be his.
How could Lu Tao's little trick be hidden from Lu Yike, who cursed inwardly, "Humph, this guy is dreaming, trying to steal my credit? He's just daydreaming!"
Then, she responded with a serious face: "I'm sorry, Director Lu, this case was assigned to me by Chief Prosecutor Ji. If you really want to seize the right to handle the case, then please ask the Chief Prosecutor to tell me in person."
After saying that, Lu Yike turned around and left without looking back.
Lu Tao looked at Lu Yike's back as she walked away, gritting his teeth in anger, but there was nothing he could do.
Strictly speaking, Lu Yike's background is far superior to his. Not to mention that the current provincial party secretary Qi Tongwei is his brother-in-law, Lu Yike's own background alone is not comparable to his.
After all, he is just a son-in-law of the Zhong family, and Zhong Zhengguo will not offend the Lu family and the Pei family for him.
But it was impossible to ask him to give up. There was nothing he could do about Lu Yike, so he set his sights on Ji Changming, thinking he could control him.
Not long after, Lu Tao came to Ji Changming's office and walked in without knocking.
Hearing someone coming in, Ji Changming thought it was the secretary, so he asked without even looking up, "Xiao Gao, is the matter settled?"
"Prosecutor Ji, it's me, Lu Tao." When he heard it was Lu Tao, Ji Changming's eyes flashed with coldness, and then he changed back to his amiable look.
He felt that Lu Tao didn't care about him at all and didn't even have basic courtesy. He didn't even report in when he came into his house.
However, Ji Changming was an old fox after all, and he did not let Lu Tao see that he was unhappy. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "It's Lu Tao, what do you want from me?"
"Chief Prosecutor Ji, Comrade Lu Yike is currently busy with the Shanshui Group case. I want her to focus on this case and leave the Bai Zhiming case to someone else. What do you think?" Lu Tao made an excuse for himself.
Ji Changming looked Lu Tao up and down several times. He really didn't know where he got the nerve to openly steal the credit from Lu Yike. Didn't he know that she was Qi Tongwei's wife and sister-in-law?
Ji Changming narrowed his eyes and replied, "Okay, if you want to take over, just go to Secretary Qi and ask him to dismiss me. After you take over my position, you can take over Bai Zhiming's case."
Honest people also have temper, let alone an old prosecutor who has been engaged in political and legal work all his life. Ji Changming was really angry this time.
As soon as he handed the case to Lu Yike, Lu Tao wanted the right to handle the case. He really thought that he, the prosecutor, was made of clay. It was Qi Tongwei who decided his retirement benefits, not the Zhong family behind Lu Tao.
Ji Changming is able to serve as the vice-ministerial level prosecutor of the Handong Provincial Procuratorate, so he must have someone behind him.
Lu Tao looked at Ji Changming and didn't understand what was wrong with him today. He was usually very polite to him and always responded to his requests.
How could he know that this was the resentment that the other party had been accumulating towards him for many days, which finally erupted today.
"Prosecutor Ji, I..."
"No need to say more. The case will be handed over to Comrade Lu Yike. If you have any opinions, you can report them to Secretary Qi of the Provincial Party Committee." Ji Changming interrupted Lu Tao without waiting for him to say anything.
In the end, Lu Tao failed to snatch the power to handle the case from Lu Yike. He could only stand there in frustration and rage. He decided to find Zhong Xiaoai to complain tonight, saying that Ji Changming and the people from the Anti-Corruption Bureau were bullying him.
But what he did was destined to be a futile effort. No matter how confused Zhong Xiaoai was, he knew who he could offend and who he could not offend.
Obviously, Lu Yike is the one who cannot be offended, and doing so will only result in Zhong Xiaoai's scolding.
As expected, Zhong Xiaoai was very disappointed with Lu Tao and asked him, "Lu Tao, is this your first day at work?"
"Xiao Ai, I..."
"What do you mean by 'I'? Don't you know Lu Yike's background?
Not to mention that the Lu family itself is not much inferior to our Zhong family, and she is Pei Yihong's daughter-in-law. Do you think my father will offend both families at the same time because of such a case? "Zhong Xiaoai interrupted Lu Tao's words with a serious face, her tone tough and merciless.
Hearing Zhong Xiaoai's straightforward words, Lu Tao couldn't help but panic. He quickly explained: "Xiaoai, I'm really sorry. I just wanted to make progress so badly..."
However, Zhong Xiaoai did not give Lu Tao any chance to continue to defend himself. She snorted coldly and said, "Progress? How much does progress have to do with this case?
If my father really wanted you to be the Chief Prosecutor of Handong Provincial Procuratorate, he would have found a way to push you there even without this case.
But if he is unwilling to put in the effort to help you, even if you handle ten more cases like this, it will be of no avail.
Lu Tao, you are not young anymore, you are not the one who just graduated, how come you still don’t understand this truth?
Besides, Lu Yike is your subordinate. What's wrong with handing this case over to her? Would it mean that your leadership is ignored?
You must always remember your current identity. You are the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, not the director of the Investigation Department. You must consider issues from the perspective of the overall situation!"
Zhong Xiaoai was very disappointed with Lu Tao's performance. He was still so petty. If it weren't for his good looks, she really would look down on Lu Tao.
Originally, Lu Tao just wanted to find Zhong Xiaoai to pour out his grievances and complain.
I hope she can inform her father-in-law and tell him Zhong Zhengguo about her desire to become the Prosecutor-General of the Handong Provincial Procuratorate.
It will also let the old man understand that I am definitely not the kind of person who has no ambition and is content with the status quo!
What he didn't expect was that what he got in return for his high expectations was a series of complaints and rebukes from Zhong Xiaoai, which made Lu Tao feel disheartened and his mood plummeted.
At this moment, Gao Pingting's gentle and charming face suddenly appeared in Lu Tao's mind.
The beautiful and tender woman seemed to be his only comfort at the moment. As if possessed by some mysterious force, he could not help but grab his phone, quickly edited and sent a text message: "Ms. Gao, what are you busy with right now? Let's go out for a drink?"
After sending it out, Lu Tao felt a little regretful. He didn't know what Gao Pingting thought of him.
When Gao Pingting saw the message Lu Tao sent her, she couldn't help but smile, but she didn't reply immediately. Instead, she waited for more than ten minutes before replying.
"Director Lu, are you worried about something?" He neither agreed nor disagreed.
After seeing Gao Pingting's message, Lu Tao couldn't help but feel warm in his heart, and he couldn't help but want to confide in Gao Pingting about the grievances he suffered from Zhong Xiaoai.
Fortunately, he was still rational and did not say these things. Instead, he quickly replied: I am in a bad mood and want to find someone to have a drink with.
"Director Lu, it's not safe outside. If you don't mind, come over to my place for a drink." About five minutes later, Gao Pingting edited this message and sent it.
Following this message was Gao Pingting's address.
Gao Pingting was also testing Lu Tao to see if he would come.
Lu Tao was scolded by Zhong Xiaoai like a grandson, and he urgently needed to vent. Thinking of the tender Gao Pingting, he didn't think for long and replied: "Okay!"