Chapter 1018: The Tiger's Tail That Can't Be Hidden

Provincial-level cadre?

I'm not qualified to put handcuffs on you?

Facing Meng Qinghe, who doesn't know his own weight, Lin Dongfan really wanted to slap him to death! Damn, old-timer in the officialdom, are provincial-level cadres that impressive? I've taken down provincial-level cadres before.

Lin Dongfan turned his head and gave Section Chief Sun a look.

Section Chief Sun understood implicitly.

He immediately pulled two documents from his briefcase and displayed them in front of Meng Qinghe: 'These are the detention warrant and search warrant issued by the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission—look closely.'

!!!

Meng Qinghe stared intently, his eyes instantly widening like copper bells.

Just moments ago his back was ramrod straight, but it instantly went limp; the arrogance on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by panic.

But he quickly realized that the more desperate the situation, the more he needed to stay calm.

He took a deep breath, feigned innocence, straightened his back, and said: 'What do you want to search? Search away! I, Meng Qinghe, am upright and sit properly; there's nothing shameful in my home!'

'Since Deputy Mayor Meng is so confident, we won't hold back.' Speaking lightly, Lin Dongfan gave Section Chief Sun and the others a look: 'Don't just stand there, Section Chief Sun, get to work.'

Yes!

Section Chief Sun waved his hand, and the disciplinary inspection staff behind him sprang into action.

Everyone had clear divisions of labor.

Their focus was on leaving no corner unchecked.

In the study, books on the shelves were pulled out one by one to be examined, and the drawers were opened with a clatter.

In the bedroom, the wardrobe was turned upside down, and the bed planks were lifted for inspection.

Even the kitchen, bathroom, and the storage cabinets on the balcony, picture frames on the walls, etc. —any place where something could be hidden—did not escape the inspectors' search.

The 'beep-beep' of the metal detector and the 'rustle' of turning papers rose and fell in the originally quiet villa.

Meng Qinghe stood in the center of the living room.

Although his hands were cuffed, his face gradually showed a smug smile, and he occasionally glanced at Lin Dongfan, his eyes seemingly saying: 'Look, I told you there's nothing.'

More than half an hour passed.

The personnel in charge of the search returned one after another to report.

Their faces showed some doubt: 'Mayor Lin, Section Chief Sun, we've searched the place thoroughly and found nothing abnormal—no large sums of cash, no valuables, and no suspicious materials.'

Hahaha!

Seeing Lin Dongfan and the others looking astonished, Meng Qinghe immediately laughed, straightening his back ramrod stiff.

Meng Qinghe directly extended his cuffed hands toward Lin Dongfan.

Shaking them made the handcuffs clank.

'Mayor Lin, did you hear that? The facts have proven that I, Meng Qinghe, am an honest official who can withstand organizational scrutiny and search.'

At this moment, it seemed like the highlight of Meng Qinghe's life.

Not only was his face filled with a smug smile.

His tone also carried a hint of provocation: 'I, Meng Qinghe, am someone who cares about face. Now, trouble you, Mayor Lin, to personally help me remove these handcuffs! Otherwise, I'll take these handcuffs to the Provincial Committee! Then you'll surely be blamed for abuse of power, and that won't sound good when it gets out.'

Faced with Meng Qinghe's smug, petty grin, Lin Dongfan not only didn't get angry, but instead revealed a hint of amusement.

Lin Dongfan raised his hand and pointed to the iron bucket nearby: 'Want the handcuffs off? Not so fast. Deputy Mayor Meng, first explain to me why you were burning genuine currency? Burning RMB is illegal—lightly it warrants a warning and fine, heavily it invites criminal liability. As a provincial-level cadre, you wouldn't not know that, would you?'

Without waiting for Meng Qinghe to reply.

Lin Dongfan's gaze then fell on the unburnt piece of paper in the iron bucket.

He then posed a second question: 'Also, that partially burned ancient painting—its material and brushwork are unusual—what painting is it? Why did you burn it?'

These two questions cut straight to the heart.

The questions made Meng Qinghe's heart skip a beat, and the smile on his face froze instantly.

But he quickly regained his composure: 'I already explained earlier—I was burning a few useless old books! Who knew there were a few genuine bills tucked inside? I only found out later. This was purely accidental, not me deliberately burning money! I, Meng Qinghe, am not that extravagant.'

Meng Qinghe glanced at the damaged painting in the bucket.

He continued his sophistry: 'As for that so-called ancient painting, it's just a knockoff picked up from a street stall, worth hardly anything. Taking up space, I burned it clean. What? Is burning your own property illegal?'

'Heh, you really won't shed tears until you see the coffin.'

Lin Dongfan stepped forward two paces.

His eyes locked onto Meng Qinghe's: 'Whether this painting is genuine or a fake, sending the fragments to the Appraisal Center will tell us right away.'

He said.

Lin Dongfan turned and ordered the nearby staff: 'Collect the leftover coins and painting fragments from the iron bucket, label them, and send them for appraisal.'

Yes!

The staff immediately took out evidence bags and carefully collected every leftover item from the iron bucket.

Watching this, Meng Qinghe felt a bit uneasy.

But he stubbornly refused to back down, sticking out his neck and saying: 'No matter how you appraise, I'm upright and have nothing to fear! Mayor Lin, can you now remove my handcuffs?'

'Comrade Meng Qinghe, don't rush.' Lin Dongfan joked: 'It's not easy to get these handcuffs on; learn to cherish them—maybe in a few days you'll get a chance to eat plain boiled bitter melon.'

You!!!

Meng Qinghe's neck flushed red with anger, leaving him speechless.

Lin Dongfan chatted easily: 'What's with you? As a deputy bureau-level official, don't be so petty. I heard your daughter Meng Wanqing made a lot of money from live streaming. Not long ago, she bought a large villa with a garden in Binhu New District, renovated even more lavishly than a royal garden. You don't plan to take us to see it?'

...!!!

Meng Qinghe wore a black line on his head, his panic impossible to suppress.

Section Chief Sun urged: 'Comrade Meng Qinghe, lead the way ahead. If you insist on going your own way and resisting inspection, it won't do you any good.'

'When did I ever resist inspection? This is absurd! Haven't I been cooperating with you all along?'

Meng Qinghe angrily glared at Section Chief Sun.

He again turned his gaze back to Lin Dongfan, gritting his teeth warning Lin Dongfan: "Mayor Lin, my daughter is neither a civil servant nor has she done anything illegal, you have no right to search her residence! You hold a search warrant for my home and go search my daughter's home, this is an infringement of citizens' lawful rights!"

"I come from the political system; I don't need you to give me a legal lecture."

Lin Dongfan's sword-like eyebrows twitched slightly.

He merely glanced coldly at Meng Qinghe, then turned and left: "Section Chief Sun, take him to the car, go to Binhu New District!"

"'Take him away.'"

Section Chief Sun gestured to his subordinates; two discipline inspection workers immediately moved in, one on each side restraining Meng Qinghe.

Meng Qinghe angrily shook his arms, but couldn't break free of the restraints.

On the spot, he grew anxious, his face flushing red.

He shouted angrily at Lin Dongfan, who was walking out: "Surname Lin, in the whole Jianglan Province, the most vicious big tiger is you! You, a nepotistic faction that bullies with power, what qualifications do you have to investigate me!"

"'Seal his mouth for me.'"

Lin Dongfan gave an order; the accompanying staff quickly fetched tape and sealed Meng Qinghe's mouth.