Chapter 185

Taking advantage of the three-minute break, Lin Dongfan went to the restroom.

In the restroom he ran into a middle-aged man from the Comprehensive Guidance Section; the man was only in his forties, already balding on top, with weak urination that left a yellow stain on his shoe.

Lin Dongfan helped by pulling out two paper towels for him.

"Thanks."

The incident of his shoe getting wet with urine made the middle-aged man feel extremely embarrassed.

Lin Dongfan quickly gave him a step up to ease the atmosphere: "You've been under a lot of pressure lately, not resting well? I sometimes end up like that too."

"The pressure lately really has been a bit heavy."

The middle-aged man went along with the step, putting on a show of sighing on the surface, but inside he was cursing: "Damn, got taken in by a quack merchant again—what useless kidney‑tonifying Golden Pill, it's good for nothing..."

After wiping clean the urine stain on the shoe surface.

The middle-aged man stood up and washed his hands.

He chatted with Lin Dongfan with interest: "You're the new Section Chief of Investigation One, right?"

"Good eyesight." Lin Dongfan said: "May I have your esteemed surname?"

The middle-aged man cheerfully introduced himself: "I'm from the Comprehensive Guidance Section, Yuan Junshan. I'm a bit senior, so just call me Old Yuan."

In this world where seniority and rank are everything.

Yuan Junshan's qualifications are certainly far above Lin Dongfangu's; he's ten or so years older. However, his rank is not as high as Lin Dongfangu's—it's half a level lower than Lin Dongfan's.

Toward Lin Dongfan, Old Yuan still shows respect.

Old Yuan Shan isn't stupid—a mere local section chief who got promoted straight to bureau section chief; such a person must have some background.

Yuan Junshan chatted up amiably: "Section Chief Lin, on your first day on the job, are those under you not very enthusiastic?"

"You've hit the nail on the head; they really are a bit sullen." Lin Dongfan gave a modest smile: "Could you give me some pointers?"

Yuan Junshan pricked up his ears, listening for any movement behind him.

He heard no one approaching the restroom.

Only then did he continue to give Lin Dongfan a little report: "The problem lies with Old Peng."

"I've never met Peng Tianhua before, so why is he giving me a cold shoulder?" Lin Dongfan wondered.

Yuan Junshan laughed: "He's been eyeing the section chief position all along; he didn't expect you to drop from the sky. You took his seat—who else would he resent but you? And those six subordinates under him are all his old followers."

"Heh, looks like I've really become a bare‑bones commander." Lin Dongfan self‑mockingly chuckled.

Yuan Junshan said: "Getting these people to obey your orders really isn't easy. If they think promotion is hopeless, they really will dare to give you a cold face. Take it slow, don't rush."

"Thanks."

"Take it slow—that's impossible."

Uncle Lin Zhenhua comrade gave him only six months; if he couldn't secure that seat within half a year, he'd have no chance to return to Jianglan for a major cleanup.

Today is destined to be a great day of proving the Dao.

Lin Dongfan returned to the meeting room full of fighting spirit; the seven people led by Peng Tianhua had already taken their seats in advance.

Following the usual procedure, Lin Dongfan should next set the tone.

This is his first time as a leader.

No matter what, he must assume the imposing presence that Leng Chuan had in Jianglan Province; let the winds blow from any direction, old me will stand unmoving like a bell!

You handle reporting and quibbling; I'll handle criticizing you!

Upon further thought, Lin Dongfan felt that approach was boring; time is precious, and not everyone is worth my criticism.

Better to first sound them out, see whether these people can actually be of use to me.

So as not to waste time.

Thinking this through, Lin Dongfan propped his leg on the meeting table, lit a cigarette, and then slowly said: "Report on the cases you have in hand."

This unrestrained sitting posture obviously exceeded the comprehension of Peng Tianhua and the others.

Damn it!

Your leg is practically kicking up to the heavens—what do you think this place is?

The altar of the Red Flower Society?

Do you think we're all your lackeys?

Peng Tianhua, holding back his anger, retorted: "The cases that need handling have all been dealt with." Then he shifted his tone, turned and glared at his subordinate beside him: "Xiao Zhao, haven't you washed your feet? You reek!"

At first, Xiao Zhao was a bit dazed.

When Xiao Zhao realized this was a case of pointing at mulberry to curse the locust, Lin Dongfan had already spoken: "I'm asking you, what cases do you have on hand? Yet you run off to worry about whether someone washed their feet—you care so much about foot‑washing, why not go work at a foot‑massage parlor?"

The senior veterans present clearly didn't expect the newly arrived Lin Dongfan to launch straight into an attack.

Everyone glanced at the rebuked Peng Tianhua.

Peng Tianhua's face had darkened to the extreme; he gritted his teeth and replied: "I already said just now, the cases that need handling have all been handled!"

"Really?"

At this moment, Lin Dongfan's eyes truly blazed like torches.

Both eyes fixed straight on Peng Tianhua.

He bluntly pressed on: "The case of Hai Mining Group's Party Committee Secretary and Chairman, Song Wen, the 'suicide out of fear of crime'—isn't that a case?"

Mentioning the Song Wen case, the whole room flared up, realizing Lin Dongfan was trying to stir things up.

Song Wen died on April 5, 2007, Qingming Festival, while returning home to honor his ancestors; he "committed suicide" in front of his family's ancestral grave.

That was already three years ago, old news.

Peng Tianhua, suppressing his anger, gave a faint smile: "Section Chief Lin, you've just arrived, you don't know the situation—mixing up old accounts is understandable, but! you……"

"Cut the nonsense!"

Lin Dongfan forcefully cut off Peng Tianhua's nonsense.

Coldly pressing, asked: "Just one sentence—can it be investigated or not?"

"Bang!"

Peng Tianhua finally couldn't hold back, slamming a palm on the table and standing up abruptly.

Without showing any weakness, he snapped at Lin Dongfan: "What investigation? Song Wen already committed suicide three years ago—who else do you want to investigate? If you say you want to investigate someone, I think we should just name them directly!"

"If you don't know who to investigate, why are you sitting here?" Lin Dongfan pointed at the door: "Get out! Come back when you've figured it out!"

"You! ……"

Peng Tianhua obviously didn't expect Lin Dongfan to be so rash.

They say a mighty dragon doesn't crush the local snake, but you, on your first day on the job, don't even understand the situation and dare to put on airs here with me!

For a moment, Peng Tianhua found himself in an awkward dilemma of advance or retreat.

Being kicked out of the meeting was really embarrassing.

But if he stubbornly stays, it's equally embarrassing, making it seem like he doesn't dare to leave, and those who don't know might think he's afraid of Lin Dongfan.

After thinking it over

Peng Tianhua swept his gaze over the others present: "Why are you all still sitting here? Didn't you hear Section Chief Lin say just now that if you don't know who to investigate, you have no right to sit here? Do you all know?"

His scheme worked out exactly as he hoped.

He thought that as long as these people left with him, he wouldn't lose face; then Lin Dongfan would be sitting here alone, a lone commander, and the embarrassment would be his.

But he didn't know that Lin Dongfan was playing the 'kill the chicken to scare the monkey' game, having long guarded against this move.

Just as everyone was about to stand up together

Lin Dongfan on the spot pulled out his phone and called Leng Chuan of Jianglan Province: "Chief Leng, please borrow a few people from your unit to the headquarters—kindly arrange it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the six people who had just stood up sat down again.

To say they weren't nervous would be a lie.

Damn it!

His methods are too ruthless!

If Lin Dongfan really brings those people over, taking their positions, what will become of them? In the future they'll definitely be reassigned by Lin Dongfan elsewhere to fill gaps and do grunt work.

Peng Tianhua saw his six subordinates retreat to their original seats, and furious, he exploded: "You lot! Have you all figured it out? Have you really figured it out?!!"

The six lowered their heads in embarrassment, remaining silent.

Lin Dongfan pointed at the door: "Those who don't understand, please get out on your own—don't disrupt my meeting."

"I've figured it out—investigate! We must investigate!"

What an unbelievable reaction—Peng Tianhua suddenly plopped back into his seat, sitting bolt upright.

This shameless posture left the six subordinates secretly shocked.

Everyone alike shot a slight contemptuous glance, each thinking: "Damn it, without our strong support, even you, Lao Peng, are useless!"