Chapter 1009

When returning from the hospital to the Jinxi County Party Committee building, it was already 3 p. m.

Today's sunshine, though as warm as a woman's embrace, was utterly useless; it could not dispel the grave gloom on Lin Dongfan's face.

Today, Fan Ye had no mood to bask in the sunshine.

Nor did he have the mood to think about women.

Sun Bingliang's worn crutch, the deathly pale face on his hospital bed, the humiliation and harm he suffered over five years—like thorns, they pierced Lin Dongfan's heart, leaving him somewhat unable to let go.

"Notify everyone, cancel the original schedule!"

"At 7 p. m. tonight, hold a special meeting on anti-corruption and anti-blackforce; all standing committee members of the county Party Committee, namely the principal heads of the county Faction, Procuratorate, Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission, etc., must not be absent without cause!"

As soon as Lin Dongfan got out of the car, he gave an order to his secretary Xiao Chen, his tone leaving no room for objection.

Xiao Chen's heart tightened; he quickly replied, "Yes, I'll arrange it right away." Having followed Lin Dongfan for years, he had never seen the Mayor so angry, and could tell this meeting would not be calm.

Liu Zhibang followed closely, lowering his voice: "Mayor Lin, would you like to rest a moment? You've been busy since morning and haven't even had lunch."

"No need."

Lin Dongfan waved his hand and strode into the county Party Committee building: "Sun Bingliang and his son are still lying in the hospital, while a scoundrel like Chen Cheng has been at large for five years—how could I have the mind to rest?"

7 p. m. in the evening.

The county Party Committee meeting room was brightly lit.

Along the long conference table, the core leaders of Jinxi County were seated.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it made it hard to breathe.

Most people kept their heads down, not daring to look directly at Lin Dongfan in the chief seat.

This Mayor, from the moment he entered, had not uttered a word; his face was gloomy as a death god, and the low pressure emanating from him enveloped the entire meeting room in an invisible pressure.

"Thud!"

Lin Dongfan's fingers slammed heavily on the tabletop, the dull sound breaking the silence.

He lifted his gaze and swept over everyone.

His gaze finally settled on Lv Zhiqing, chief of the county Faction, and his voice was ice-cold and piercing: "Chief Lv, do you know this person Chen Cheng?"

Lv Zhiqing's heart skipped a beat; he hurriedly stood and replied: "I know… Mayor Lin, Chen Cheng is a well-known figure in our county; he has also been involved in some public security cases before, but…"

"But what?"

Lin Dongfan cut him off, his voice suddenly rising: "Breaking ordinary people's legs! Forging loan agreements! Maliciously seizing land! Even, in broad daylight, running to the hospital to commit violence, intending to kill and silence witnesses! How can such a lawless hooligan run rampant in Jinxi County for so many years? Give me an explanation!"

The last sentence, Lin Dongfan almost shouted it out, shaking the meeting room's windows into a hum.

Lv Zhiqing's face turned deathly pale, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.

He stammered in his defense: "Mayor Lin, this isn't our fault…… The county bureau's authority is limited, Chen Cheng's background is complex…… We also want to intervene in many matters, but we can't……"

"Can't handle it?!"

Lin Dongfan slammed the table hard, a loud bang, and the water cups on the table jumped up from the shock.

Lin Dongfan shouted angrily: "As the chief of the county Faction, you tell me you can't handle it? When ordinary people's lives and property are infringed, who should they turn to?!"

"!!!"

Lv Zhiqing was scolded so badly he didn't dare lift his head.

Lin Dongfan stared at Lv Zhiqing, his eyes sharp as a blade: "I ask you, can you handle this case or not? If you can't, step down now and let someone who can take over!"

"!!!"

Lv Zhiqing's face flushed red, both ashamed and aggrieved.

He knew Lin Dongfan was furious, but Chen Cheng's background was indeed not simple; the county bureau could not shake that background.

Helplessly,

Lv Zhiqing steeled himself and replied: "Mayor Lin, it's not that I don't want to handle it, but I truly can't. Chen Cheng's case involves too wide a scope, the resistance is great; relying solely on our county bureau's strength, we cannot investigate it further. To thoroughly investigate this case, a special task force must be formed by the superiors. It would be best to report it to the Provincial Department, which might offer a chance to break through."

"Great resistance?" Lin Dongfan narrowed his eyes: "Then why didn't you report it before?"

"We did report it……" Lv Zhiqing wore a look of grievance: "As early as three years ago, we compiled Chen Cheng's issues into materials and submitted them level by level. But after submitting, there was no response. Later we learned the materials were stuck in the City Bureau, which never forwarded them upward."

"Stuck in the City Bureau?"

Lin Dongfan's eyes instantly deepened, immediately grasping Lv Zhiqing's meaning.

Stuck in the City Bureau!

This means Chen Cheng's protective umbrella is not in the county bureau but in the City Bureau. No wonder Chen Cheng has been wreaking havoc in Jinxi County incessantly, yet no one dares to move against him.

Seeing this, Liu Zhibang hurriedly rose and walked to Lin Dongfan's side, whispering a few words in his ear.

Having long served in Jinxi County, he had also heard some rumors about the City Bureau; earlier he had suspected that Chen Cheng was backed by people from the City Bureau, but lacking evidence, he dared not speak rashly.

After hearing this, Lin Dongfan's expression eased slightly, yet he still carried an unquestionable authority.

Lin Dongfan stared at Lv Zhiqing: "Chief Lv, I don't care what difficulties you had before; from now on, Chen Cheng is under your personal supervision! You must assign people to watch him 24/7 to ensure his personal safety! If anything happens to him, you will bear the primary responsibility and be removed from office on the spot—no leniency!"

"!!!"

Lv Zhiqing felt a black line across his forehead, his head about to explode, the pressure unprecedented.

But there was no way.

Whether you can bear it or not, you have to bear it; just look at Lin Dongfan's ruthless expression and you know this damn thing is absolutely no joke.

Lv Zhiqing replied glumly: "Mayor Lin, rest assured, I will do my utmost. If Chen Cheng meets with an accident during the investigation, you won't need to remove my cap; I myself would have no face to continue."

"The same goes for everyone else!"

Lin Dongfan then swept his gaze over the various department heads present.

With a solemn and stern demeanor, he issued the order: "Starting today, the entire county launches a special anti-corruption and anti-blackforce operation! All leads related to Chen Cheng, no matter who is involved, must be investigated to the end, with no leniency! Anyone who dares to leak information, shield or condone, will be punished equally!"

All present were silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to utter a single "no".

After the meeting ended.

Lin Dongfan dialed Yang Qing of the Provincial Department: "Old Yang, Jinxi County has a political achievement waiting for you to scoop up. Come over immediately with your team to handle the case exclusively."

"What political achievements could Gold Stream County have? You bastard, you wouldn't be trying to trick me into coming over to help you take the blame, would you?" Yang Qing had just finished a meeting and was on his way home.

Lin Dongfan cursed: "Look at your bastard's conscience, when have I ever screwed you over?"

"Fuck, you've screwed me over a bit?" Yang Qing angrily said: "Last week I went to the bathhouse to relax, and you bastard immediately called my wife, saying I'm incorrigible."

"It was your wife who called me, not me calling her, you need to get it straight." Lin Dongfan said: "I don't have a habit of lying; I answer whatever she asks, speaking frankly."

"Go die, you bastard, I wipe your ass every day, yet you stab me in the back—where's your shame?" Yang Qing swore more and more fiercely.

Lin Dongfan laughed and asked: "Your resentment is really damn strong, speak up—do you want this batch of political achievements or not?"

"For the sake of the political achievements, I'll temporarily not hold it against you. Wait for me, I'm heading back to the office right now to rally the troops." Saying that, Yang Qing jerked the steering wheel and made a U-turn in place.