The next day.
The morning was bright and breezy.
The Xinhua News Agency reporters were expected to arrive in Yantai County at nine-thirty, so Dong Xuebin got up early. After breakfast, he rushed to the Investment Bureau Compound, held a temporary meeting with the office staff, and repeatedly went over the instructions. In the end, he did not bring Guo Panwei along. He drove the Camry alone to the County Party Committee Compound. Zhao Xinglong and several County Government Office staff members were already prepared. As soon as Dong Xuebin arrived, Zhao Xinglong had the accompanying Government Office staff go downstairs to ready the cars, while he and Dong Xuebin headed together to Deputy Secretary Cao Xupeng's office.
More than ten minutes later.
Zhao Xinglong checked his watch. "It's nine-thirty. They should be here any moment."
From behind his desk, Cao Xupeng said, "Little Dong, there's no problem with the itinerary, right?"
"No problem. Don't worry." Dong Xuebin took out the route schedule and glanced at it. "Everything has been arranged at the various project sites. Nothing will go wrong."
Zhao Xinglong's phone rang.
Zhao Xinglong casually reached into his pocket and answered. "Hello, it's me... What's wrong? What? Where did they go?" His face darkened slightly. "What's the exact location? What time did they arrive? Mm, mm... All right, I understand." After hanging up, Zhao Xinglong's expression was unpleasant. He said to Cao Xupeng, "I just got word that the Xinhua News Agency comrades didn't come to the County Party Committee. After arriving in Yantai County, they went straight to a project site to conduct interviews. They even went to that pork processing plant newly brought in by the Investment Bureau. The land has only just been allocated and construction is about to begin. What is there to see?"