Chapter 555

At 11:50 p. m., a female driver was driving a BMW motor vehicle, heading toward the checkpoint section on Shangdu Road, about 200 meters ahead, when she saw police had set up a checkpoint and immediately made a U-turn.

But in a panic, she rear-ended a two-wheeled electric vehicle and fled, dragging the victim about 1,000 meters, after which the police immediately moved forward to stop her.

"Don't run!" A shout and the sound of car doors being pounded followed, then came the urgent roar of the vehicle frantically accelerating, instantly shattering the night's tranquility.

Wang Rui rushed forward, frantically pounding on the windows and doors; seeing that she did not stop, he decisively chose to smash the window directly with a window-breaker, causing his wrist to be cut by glass shards.

After stopping the woman's car, a strong smell of alcohol could be detected inside, and Wang Rui intended to use a breath-alcohol tester to screen the driver.

"How much alcohol did you drink?"

The female driver coquettishly said, "I didn't drink, did I?" intending to bluff her way through.

Wang Rui again sternly questioned: "Exactly how much did you drink?"

Seeing the female driver not answer, Wang Rui asked her to produce her driver's license, vehicle registration, and other documents.

But the female driver still refused to cooperate, taking out her phone and continuously making calls, and when urged, she kept saying, "Wait a minute, please wait."

Wang Rui said, "You cannot contact anyone right now; first produce the documents."

Obviously, the female driver still did not realize what her actions meant; she was either trying to ingratiate herself or acting coquettish, even expecting others to pamper her.

Wang Rui sternly said, "I warn you again: please get out of the car for an alcohol test!" Having said that, he directly opened the door.

After the offending female driver reluctantly got out of the car, reeking of alcohol and staggering, almost falling, she muttered curses and then astonishingly said, "I know your superior; I'm looking for the head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department—you don't believe me?" Afterwards, she dove back into the car to make a phone call, completely ignoring the police.

Wang Rui kindly reminded: "Comrade, I'm telling you, this law enforcement operation is being fully recorded on video and audio—do you understand?"

"Get your bureau chief over here! You little traffic cop, quit your nagging!"

Although he was angry, since there were reporters present, Wang Rui could only enforce the law civilly, enduring the humiliation; moreover, he sensed that the female driver indeed had some backing, and protecting oneself is human nature.

As expected, Wang Rui heard the female driver finally get through on the phone, urgently saying, "Director Lin, I've been stopped by the police—quickly think of a solution for me!"

"You've been drinking again?"

"I haven't drunk much; I only had a little bit!"

……

Wang Rui again reminded: "Calling anyone over is useless; naming any person only harms them—just cooperate!"

Soon after, the female driver realized the seriousness of the situation, got out of the car voluntarily, and said she had been too nervous earlier to breathe out, expressing willingness to cooperate with the police in an alcohol breath test.

Even in the middle of the night, onlookers had gathered at the scene, and they were discussing it heatedly.

The entire alcohol test process took five minutes to complete, during which she blew a total of ten times, with the final reading at 117 mg/100 ml, already suspecting drunk driving.

The police were preparing to take the offending female driver to the hospital for a blood test, but at that moment she said she had to wait for her relatives and friends to arrive and accompany her before going to the hospital for blood testing.

After 1 a. m., the female driver's relatives and friends finally arrived. The police then took her to the city hospital for a blood draw. By then, more than two hours had passed since the accident.

In the hospital, the woman appeared to have regained consciousness. Facing the reporters' cameras, she defended herself: "I have severe hypertension and high blood lipids; the doctor warned me not to drink alcohol, so I haven't drunk any—I wouldn't gamble with my life!"

Although she was being unreasonable and obstinate, the illegal facts could not be denied, having been recorded in full, and moreover, "enthusiastic netizens" uploaded it to the internet.

After the accident, the injured woman was sent to the hospital, but her condition after treatment is unknown.

By the early morning, this malicious drunk-driving accident had already spread across online media and multiple video platforms, provoking public condemnation from netizens.

"Judging by the woman's demeanor, there must be someone backing her!"

"Never mind whether she knows the minister; even if she knew the Buddha himself, she'd still be finished this time!"

"Knowing a leader doesn't mean you can do as you please; it only ends up harming others!"

"How arrogant! She claimed she'd call the head of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee—is that the nation's youngest Organization Department minister, Lu Fan?"

"No way? I've heard that Lu Fan is a good official; he wouldn't be so low-class, would he?"

"You can know a person's face but not their heart; many people appear righteous on the surface but harbor adultery and theft behind closed doors!"

"Exactly, exactly, look at that female driver—she's quite attractive, and Lu Fan is young and capable; maybe there really is something between them! Men, after all, can understand."

……

By the time work started, the female driver's drunk-driving accident and Lu Fan, the head of the Organization Department of Huayuan Province, had completely become today's online hot topic, widely discussed by netizens, bringing Lu Fan an undeserved disaster!

Lu Fan had just left his villa, preparing to go to the office, when his wife's phone call came in.

"Husband, the internet is full of negative news about you—why haven't you dealt with it yet?"

Lu Fan felt a bit dazed, questioning doubtfully: "Negative news about me? What heinous act have I done that has provoked heaven and angered the people?"

"Oh dear, they're saying you're the protector and lover of last night's offending female driver! You didn't know? Hurry up and handle it—otherwise, who knows what they'll turn you into if it keeps spreading!"

Lu Fan replied: "An upright person fears no crooked shadow; when did I become anyone's protector? And a lover? Wife, you wouldn't suspect me, would you?"

"Rest assured, I know you—there's no chaos in the backyard, and I'm sure you wouldn't get involved with such a brainless woman; hurry up and settle the matter, don't let it affect your work."

Just as the call ended, Secretary-General Li Yu's phone came through, reporting the online timeline.

Lu Fan instructed him to have the head of the Provincial Network Information Office immediately go to the Organization Department and contact the Provincial Public Security Bureau to understand the situation.

Soon, Wang Honghai's call came in, teasing: "Minister Lu, how could you be so careless? You find a woman and still get exposed?"

Lu Fan helplessly said: "I haven't even had a chance to look at the video yet—do I look like that kind of person? Don't gloat over my misfortune."

Honghai laughed: "So what should we do now? Should I block those videos for you?"

Lu Fan thought for a moment and said: "That would just be trying to cover up and only make things more obvious; better to resolve it through proper channels—thanks for your concern."

"It's fine; between us, just let me know if you need anything—I'll be ready to help at any time."

Upon arriving at the office, not only had the head of the Provincial Network Information Office, Cheng Wenlei, already been waiting at the office door, but also the Standing Deputy Director of the Provincial Public Security Bureau, Liu Yang, had come.

After the two entered, they quickly gave a full report of the incident's background.

Liu Yang also reported an important situation: the drunk-driving female driver had indeed spoken last night with the Deputy Minister of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee, Lin Dian, for three minutes.

Now the matter became even clearer: Lu Fan had taken the blame for Lin Dian.

The pressing priority is to eliminate his own negative impact; Lu Fan asked: "Director Wenlei, you have experience—how should this be handled appropriately?"

Cheng Wenlei thought for a moment and replied: "Minister, to be frank, this sort of thing isn't easy to handle; either ignore it and let time fade it, or issue an official statement clarifying the facts. But sometimes such online incidents get blown out of proportion, sparking bigger debates and possibly causing even more serious negative repercussions."

Lu Fan then asked Liu Yang: "Will your Public Security Bureau issue an official bulletin on this accident?"

Liu Yang replied: "Department Head, the Public Security Department is under great pressure now; the Department Head is convening an emergency meeting to study how to handle this matter. When I came, the Department Head repeatedly urged me to ask you whether you have any specific instructions."

After consideration, Lu Fan said: "Sudden events are easily attracted by media focus and public attention; especially this kind involving privilege, public opinion attention will surge in a short time, every move of the government is under the spotlight of public opinion, quickly becoming a public hotspot. If mishandled, it will generate further public sentiment, adding fuel to the fire, plunging Huayuan Province into a public opinion whirlpool. If the response is mistaken, it will only add doubts, fuel rumors, interfere with event handling, and damage the government's image and credibility."

Handling public opinion for sudden events stresses the golden 4-hour principle; within 4 hours of the event occurring, it may be widely forwarded, and within 24 hours it can become the focus of public opinion. You must promptly release authoritative information, be candid with the public, seize the initiative in guiding public opinion, correctly and effectively guide public opinion, prevent various rumors and falsehoods from being continually amplified and spread in the public's skeptical voices, leading to escalation of the situation and pushing the public opinion crisis to a climax.

When issuing announcements, one must be open and transparent, not fear airing dirty laundry; proactively, comprehensively, frequently, and through multiple channels release the event information to satisfy media reporting needs and the public's right to know, without damaging legal authority, flexibly soothe public sentiment, thereby resolving the public opinion crisis.

Wen Lei, report to the Provincial Party Committee and the Propaganda Department as soon as possible; Liu Yang, convey my opinion to Governor Xianheng.

Cheng Wenlei left the Organization Department, immediately went to the Provincial Party Committee, reported the situation to Secretary Tang Bing, and conveyed Lu Fan's handling opinion.

Tang Bing nodded after listening and said: "Just handle it according to Lu Fan's opinion, Comrade Wen Lei; when handling public opinion, you must maintain objectivity and fairness, and fully uphold the image of Huayuan Province and the Provincial Party Committee leadership!"

As noon approached, Huayuan Province swiftly responded to the online public opinion incident involving a female driver's drunk driving accident; the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department, Provincial Internet Information Office, Provincial Public Security Department, Provincial Traffic Police Corps, and Yingjun Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department each issued an official bulletin: the offending female driver is a cadre of Yingjun Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, recruited via the civil service examination in 2022, now 25 years old, responsible for the drunk driving accident, and has been criminally detained. The injured are currently receiving treatment in hospital, with no immediate threat to life.

While netizens expressed outrage and condemnation of the perpetrator's behavior, they also questioned these bulletins: why is there no mention of the "Provincial Party Committee Organization Department Head" that the female driver referred to? Is the protective umbrella for the female driver perhaps the youngest Organization Department Head nationwide, Lu Fan?

Public opinion fervor intensified, to the point that even Secretary Tang Bing could not avoid confronting this issue.