Chapter 1021: The Golden Feast in the Gas Cylinder

Since she's so confident, just turn the valve.

Okay.

At Lin Dongfan's command, the Discipline Inspection Commission officer stepped forward, held his breath, gripped the gas cylinder valve, and slowly turned it counterclockwise.

Just half a turn.

Hiss—

A pungent smell burst out, carrying a familiar irritating odor. This damn thing isn't fake! It's genuine liquefied petroleum gas that can poison people.

The Discipline Inspection Commission officer instinctively covered his nose and quickly tightened the valve clockwise.

He then reported to Lin Dongfan: "Mayor Lin, the cylinder indeed contains gas. The smell is strong, the composition is fine."

As soon as he said that, the atmosphere in the living room instantly became much more subtle.

The anti-corruption bigwigs present exchanged bewildered looks, their faces showing confusion—if the cylinder really contains gas, how do we explain its weight of over five hundred jin?

Section Chief Sun furrowed his brow and walked two circles around the gas cylinder.

He tried to move it, but it wouldn't budge, then he tapped the cylinder.

The gas cylinder emitted a dull 'thud-thud' sound.

"I've used gas before. Normally when you tap it, the echo isn't like this—why is this cylinder's echo so dull? It's really strange."

Section Chief Sun turned his gaze toward Meng Wanqing.

His tone carried an unquestionable solemnity: "Meng Wanqing, how long have you used this gas cylinder? How could it be so absurdly heavy?"

Meng Wanqing's tense nerves had already relaxed somewhat, but tears still clung to her eyelashes.

She lowered her head.

Her voice still carried a sob.

Yet she sounded more justified: "How would I know? Anyway, the cylinder contains gas. I bought a reinforced model for safety and haven't moved it since bringing it home."

At that moment, Meng Qinghe also stopped struggling, the 'wu-wu' sound in his mouth fading, a flicker of secret joy flashing in his eyes, as if everything had returned to his control.

Lin Dongfan said nothing, crouched down, and carefully examined the cylinder.

The gas cylinder looks no different from an ordinary household model, except it feels unusually heavy. No matter how thickened the body, it couldn't possibly be heavy enough to be immovable.

When things go awry, there must be something fishy.

Lin Dongfan stood up, speaking with certainty: "A normal gas cylinder holding gas weighs only over fifty jin. Even a reinforced model has limited body weight; it absolutely cannot reach several hundred jin. Something must be hidden inside, but what exactly and how it's hidden is still unclear."

"'Bring over a metal detector to check.' a female officer shouted to her colleague."

Lin Dongfan rolled his eyes at her: "Just gave birth, your IQ hasn't recovered? The gas cylinder itself is metal; the detector would alarm on contact—how could you tell what's hidden inside?"

"'Ah? This... okay, the boss's criticism is right...' the female officer laughed embarrassedly, thinking, 'Sure enough, pregnancy makes you stupid for three years—she's embarrassed herself even at her parents' home.'"

Lin Dongfan stared at the gas cylinder, analyzing: "At this weight... could the cylinder possibly be made of gold? Cast it, then spray a layer of green paint to cover it up..."

Meng Wanqing's face slightly changed upon hearing this: "Why don't you believe me? I said it's just an ordinary reinforced gas cylinder. If you don't believe me, scrape off the paint with a knife and see if it's gold."

Her words seemed like a casual complaint, but were actually guiding Lin Dongfan's investigative direction.

The anti-corruption veteran, Fan Ye, had maxed out his experience.

He saw through her little trick at a glance.

Lin Dongfan couldn't be bothered with her, turning directly to the Anti-Corruption officer: "You few, work together to move the gas cylinder to the open-air balcony, open the valve, release the gas, be sure to ensure safety. Section Chief Sun, contact the fire brigade and have them send two explosion-proof personnel over, bring professional tools, and cut open the cylinder."

Okay.

Section Chief Sun immediately pulled out his phone to contact the fire brigade.

Four strong Discipline Inspection Commission officers joined forces, exerting immense effort, slowly shifting the heavy gas cylinder toward the open-air balcony.

The cylinder scraped the floor with a 'creak-creak' sound.

With every step moved, everyone present felt a bit more curiosity and tension—this damn gas cylinder is heavy, what on earth is hidden inside?

Meng Wanqing watched the cylinder being moved, her face turning ashen as paper, her lips trembling from nervousness.

Meng Qinghe also widened his eyes, staring fixedly at the cylinder being moved to the balcony, struggling while his gagged mouth kept making 'wu-wu' sounds.

Break down!

On the open-air balcony, staff opened the valve; the pungent gas smell poured out continuously, quickly blown away by the cool evening breeze.

For safety, everyone retreated to the living room, watching from afar as the valve continued to release gas.

Until no smell could be detected at all.

Only then did they step forward to tighten the valve.

"'Mayor Lin, the gas has been fully vented.' a Discipline Inspection Commission officer stepped forward to report."

Lin Dongfan replied: "Wait for the fire brigade to arrive before we act."

Lin Dongfan walked to the window, lit a cigarette, gazed at the misty night outside, his thoughts surging—what on earth could it be? To be this heavy...

He couldn't figure it out.

All he could do was wait for the moment the truth would be revealed.

Twenty minutes later.

A fire truck came wailing.

Two firefighters in explosion-proof suits, carrying explosion-proof metal cutters, hurried into the villa: "Mayor Lin, we're here, please give orders!"

"It's this gas cylinder."

Lin Dongfan pointed to the cylinder on the balcony: "The gas inside has been vented, but the weight is abnormal. I suspect something is hidden inside; we need to cut it open for inspection. When cutting, be sure to stay safe."

Received!

The firefighters immediately headed to the balcony to begin the final pre-cut inspection.

They first used professional equipment to test the cylinder's seal, confirming no residual gas, then powered the cutter, and the piercing 'zz' sound instantly shattered the silence.

In the living room, everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the balcony.

Meng Wanqing and Meng Qinghe, one burst into tears, the other's face turned ashen! What this father and daughter heard seemed not the sound of a metal cutter, but the horn blown by the Grim Reaper.

The cutting sound lasted for over ten minutes.

The thick carbon‑steel tank body was slowly slit open.

When the firefighters used a crowbar to pry open the cut tank body, several gleaming gold bars fell out. The two firefighters were stunned, eyes wide open—this was the joy of the anti‑corruption officials.

"My goodness!"

One of the firefighters almost had his jaw drop.

At that moment, the people in the living room could no longer hold back, all crowding onto the open balcony. When they saw the interior of the tank clearly, everyone was stunned speechless.

This is hardly an ordinary gas cylinder.

This is clearly a specially made storage tank!

The interior of the gas cylinder is divided into upper and lower layers.

The upper layer is a thin gas chamber, the gas already emptied. The lower layer is separated by a thick steel plate, packed full of gold bars.

The gold bars were stacked neatly, radiating a pure, dazzling golden sheen.

These gold bars looked utterly free of impurities.

The purity is extremely high!

Light shining on these gold bars reflected a brilliance that almost made one unable to keep their eyes open, like an extravagant golden feast taken to the extreme, yet exuding a piercing aura of greed.

Meng Qinghe saw this, his legs went weak, and he collapsed on the spot.