Chapter 1010: Fu Xinping Hears the News and Panics

In the top-floor private room of the Golden Night Entertainment City in Wuzhou District, smoke swirled, the clack of mahjong tiles rose and fell, interspersed with bursts of forced laughter.

Fu Xinping sat in the seat of honor, wearing a brand-name casual outfit, his Rolex watch on his wrist flashing blindingly in the light.

He held a nine of bamboos tile, grinning ear to ear, his face full of triumphant smiles: "Gentlemen bosses, please excuse me, please excuse me, I'm going to win this round again."

Those seated at the table were all bigwigs of Wuzhou's entertainment industry—some ran KTVs, some foot massage parlors, some bath centers.

They nodded and bowed, their faces full of obsequious smiles.

"Director Fu, your luck is just booming!"

The boss of the bath center, Zhang, hastily pushed his tiles to concede, then shoved a thick stack of cash toward Fu Xinping: "I lost this round again; I should congratulate Director Fu!"

"Yes yes, Director Fu, since you became bureau chief, your luck has been heavenly; we're just riding on your coattails!"

The KTV boss Li also chimed in, shuffling tiles while secretly giving a glance to the person beside him.

Everyone knows that when playing mahjong with Fu Xinping, winning or losing hinges on a single realization: whoever beats this power-holding bigwig will find it impossible to get by in Wuzhou thereafter.

This isn't mahjong at all—it's clearly a setup to give Fu Xinping money.

Fu Xinping unceremoniously stuffed the cash into his briefcase, his heart bursting with joy.

He had only just taken the deputy bureau chief position a few days ago, enjoying the spring breeze of success; he not only held real power but could easily accept these bosses' "tributes," and looking ahead, after just two more years he could rise further to the bureau chief's seat, even hope for a transfer to the provincial level—such days were practically more carefree than a god's.

"Come on, come on! If I don't win enough from you old foxes today, I'm not leaving!" Fu Xinping rubbed the mahjong tiles, in high spirits, downing two glasses of foreign liquor, his face flushing.

Just then, his pocketed phone suddenly rang urgently.

Seeing the caller ID was his plant in the Jinxi County Public Security Bureau, Fu Xinping frowned, picked up the phone without hesitation, his tone tinged with impatience: "What is it? Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Director... Director Fu! Something's happened! It's disastrous!" the voice on the other end trembled, utter panic: "Chen Cheng... Chen Cheng has been arrested!"

"Arrested?"

Fu Xinping froze for a moment, then snorted: "Arrested? So what? What big deal? He hasn't caused enough trouble in Jinxi County? Just have the underlings say hello, pay a fine, and it's settled."

In his eyes, Chen Cheng was merely a money-making machine.

"No, Director Fu!"

The informant's voice was urgent: "It was Mayor Lin himself who arrested him! He came to the county to inspect a project, on the spot caught Chen Cheng committing violence in the hospital, and arrested Chen Cheng together with the village party secretary of Sun Family Village! Lin Dongfan just convened county officials, held a special meeting on anti-corruption and anti-gangsterism, declaring he would investigate to the end, digging deep into the protective umbrella behind it!"

"Lin Dongfan?!"

Those three words struck like a thunderbolt, instantly hitting Fu Xinping's head.

His smile froze instantly, the mahjong tile in his hand snapping onto the table, his face turning deathly pale in a flash.

"And... there's worse!" the informant continued: "Mayor Lin bypassed your bureau and directly contacted the provincial department. The provincial department has already set up a special task force to thoroughly investigate Chen Cheng's case!"

"What?!"

Fu Xinping felt his head buzz, his blood seemingly freezing instantly. Bypassing the bureau to ask the provincial department to form a task force—Lin Dongfan means business.

"Damn it!"

Fu Xinping cursed low, no longer in the mood to play mahjong.

He shot up, grabbed the briefcase beside him, face panicked: "Something urgent came up at the bureau; I have to go back and handle it, let's play another day!"

Before anyone could react, Fu Xinping was already running out in a hurry, so flustered he forgot to take the cash he had just won.

The bosses in the private room exchanged glances, all sensing something was off.

They began to discuss in murmurs:

"What's going on? What's wrong with Director Fu?"

"Looks like something big happened……"

"Could it be that he offended someone?"

Fu Xinping ran all the way out of the entertainment venue, jumped into his private car, his face still ashen. He leaned back in the seat, fists clenched, his mind in turmoil.

Escape?

Or struggle a bit?

Lin Dongfan is a tough character with a hard background and hard-handed methods.

Chen Cheng, that useless fool, whether he can withstand the provincial department's interrogation is unknown; if that fool gives him up...

If he doesn't flee, the consequences are unimaginable.

But……

Thinking about how he had only just taken the deputy bureau chief position a few days ago, seeing the path upward already open, next step he could be promoted to vice mayor and join the standing committee.

To just slink away in disgrace would truly be unwilling.

Moreover, having operated in Wuzhou for years, his network of connections is intricate; perhaps there is still a chance.

"Damn it, I'll go all out!" Fu Xinping gritted his teeth, made up his mind, quickly ordered the driver: "To Meng Qinghe's house, fast!"

The driver dared not delay.

He pressed the accelerator, the car sped toward Meng Qinghe's residence.

Half an hour later.

The car stopped downstairs at Meng Qinghe's home.

Fu Xinping tidied his clothes, took a deep breath, hurried upstairs, and pressed the doorbell.

The door was opened by Meng Qinghe's wife; seeing Fu Xinping arrive late at night, she blinked: "Director Fu? It's so late, what do you want with my old Meng?"

"It's a matter of life and death!"

"Come in first."

As for the specifics, Fu Xinping didn't want to elaborate.

Meng's wife didn't press further, having Fu Xinping enter, then turned to call someone.

Not long after, Meng Qinghe came out in pajamas, a hint of displeasure on his face: "Xinping? Why so urgent this late? Let's talk in the study."

"Hmm."

Fu Xinping followed Meng Qinghe into the study, closed the door behind him, the panic on his face could no longer be concealed, he said urgently: "Mayor Meng, something big has happened! Lin Dongfan drew a knife in Jinxi County!"

"Drew a knife? What knife did he draw?"

Meng Qinghe lifted his teacup, took a sip, his tone flat, apparently not too concerned.

"He arrested Chen Cheng!"

Fu Xinping said urgently: "It's the mine owner Chen Cheng from Jinxi County, that bastard today went on a rampage in the hospital, Lin Dongfan caught him on the spot. Now Lin Dongfan has already convened a special meeting in Jinxi County, demanding anti-corruption and crackdown on organized crime, bypassing the City Bureau and directly asking the Provincial Department to set up a task force to dig deep into the protective umbrella behind Chen Cheng!"

Meng Qinghe's hand holding the teacup paused, his brows furrowed: "Chen Cheng? That rascal mine owner? What relation does he have with you? Why are you so flustered?"

Fu Xinping's face flushed then paled.

Knowing this could not be concealed.

He could only steel himself and confess: "Mayor Meng, I... when I served in Jinxi County back then, I helped Chen Cheng cover up a few matters. Recently, the City Bureau's public security project lacked funds, and the city didn't allocate any. I... I had no choice, so I pressured Chen Cheng a bit, hoping he would donate some money for charity."

"You're foolish!"

Meng Qinghe slammed his teacup onto the table, tea splashing everywhere.

His face turned deathly pale.

He pointed at Fu Xinping's nose, furious, shouting: "Fu Xinping! Are you fucking brain‑dead? At this critical juncture, you not only fail to cut ties with that rascal, but you dare to take his money?!"