Chapter 2: Discipline Inspection Commission Summons, Wildly Fabricating a Persona

The outbreak situation of the Chu Jinsong case exactly matches the development trajectory in Lin Dongfan's memory.

Three days later, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission announced that Chu Jinsong had been placed under detention.

At the same time, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission dispatched a special investigation team to reside in Nanzhou City to investigate the city's political and legal system.

Anyone who had work contact with Chu Jinsong was summoned for questioning.

This sub-provincial-level city had not seen such a major political upheaval for many years.

For a time, the city was in an uproar.

The main issue involved in the Chu Jinsong case is the Nan Electric asset auction case.

The Nanzhou City Nan Electric Cable Factory is Along-established state-owned enterprise that was declared bankrupt several years ago.

Now, with urban expansion and development, the city is disposing of Nan Electric's assets to free up land for a commercial zone.

Someone reported to the provincial authorities:

Accusing Chu Jinsong of using his authority to facilitate, setting special bidding conditions for specific relations, selling Nan Electric assets at low prices, and receiving huge bribes.

Later, media journalists also wrote articles endorsing it.

They asserted with conviction:

The dozen or so companies that participated in the bidding indeed faced unfair black-box operations; the victimized companies had once raised objections to the court, demanding the auction be revoked, but encountered great resistance during evidence collection.

Between the lines, they subtly mocked Chu Jinsong for monopolizing power in Nanzhou and interfering with judicial fairness.

How dare a little reporter stir up trouble?

Anyone with a bit of sense knows this is being orchestrated by someone of considerable rank behind the scenes, aiming to topple Chu Jinsong.

And that behind-the-scenes pusher is Xiao Yunce.

Xiao Yunce holds the high positions of Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee member and Executive Vice Mayor, currently overseeing finance, economy, housing management, and urban-rural construction, wielding real power.

Xiao Yunce and Chu Jinsong have always been on bad terms.

Half a year ago, when Changming District was advancing demolition and resettlement work, a violent incident harming civilians occurred. Chu Jinsong directly criticized it at the meeting, leading to a fierce clash with Xiao Yunce.

This time Xiao Yunce seized the opportunity to act, and it was certainly ruthless.

Given this aggressive move, as soon as he acted, he pressed Chu Jinsong down onto the floor.

From any angle, Chu Jinsong is on a dead-end path.

Now the small fry of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee are all thinking about how to avoid trouble.

Around four in the afternoon.

The office's sunny beauty Su Yuhong, taking advantage of the empty surroundings, came over to chat idly with Lin Dongfan: "It's already four o'clock, and Secretary Li hasn't returned yet—do you think he'll be taken in?"

The Secretary Li she referred to is Lin Dongfan's nemesis, Li Hengbo.

Li Hengbo is highly trusted by Chu Jinsong, and at only 27 years old he was promoted to the office secretary position; therefore, the first person summoned by the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission's special case team is Li Hengbo.

But this does not mean Li Hengbo will be implicated.

Lin Dongfan cautiously responded to Su Yuhong's gossip: "Even if heaven and earth were overturned, an upright Secretary Li could not be toppled—don't speculate wildly."

"He still claims to be upright? I scoff! He..."

Su Yuhong, who often suffers resentment at work, was about to retort with a couple of sarcastic remarks.

Suddenly seeing Lin Dongfan give her a look, she immediately understood and swallowed her words.

She turned around and looked—sure enough!

Heaven really is blind—even if heaven and earth were overturned, Secretary Li couldn't be toppled!

The pretendedly upright Li Hengbo returned, his eyes like a installed navigation system, locking onto the gossip scene as soon as he entered.

Under the pressure, Su Yuhong listlessly returned to her seat.

Li Hengbo came over and tapped Lin Dongfan's desk: "What are you all idly chatting about? Use your brains to think about how to improve!"

"I didn't say anything."

Lin Dongfan put on a serious work attitude, head down and busy, his heart already sharpening his knives toward pigs and sheep.

In my previous life, you got me into your hands, my wife became your secret lover, my son is yours, and even if he goes to prison he cannot escape death.

In this life, I will slowly play with you!

Do you want to marry the gorgeous Chu Lingxi? Or do you still want to be the Chu family's son-in-law who rides the dragon to swift advancement?

Dream on—everything exists in dreams.

After I pry away your political resources, I will make you regret coming into this world!

……

The next morning.

What was bound to come eventually arrived—Lin Dongfan and Su Yuhong both received summons from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission's special investigation team.

The atmosphere on site was very tense.

After arriving at the summons location, the two were placed in two separate interrogation rooms.

The two officials sitting across from Lin Dongfan.

One male, one female.

The man is surnamed Leng, about forty, a section chief level, looks very stern, with piercing eyes. The woman is quite young, responsible for taking records, her presence far weaker than that of Section Chief Leng.

Section Chief Leng fixed his gaze on Lin Dongfan's eyes: "Today we invited you here mainly to verify a few details; don't be nervous."

Frankly, for someone within the system, once summoned by the Discipline Inspection Commission, the first thought that comes to mind is whether their little misdeeds have already been exposed.

Faced with such a stern interrogation scene, just sitting down makes one's palms sweat nervously.

But for Lin Dongfan, who has lived two lives, the former life's feeling of sitting on pins and needles will certainly not recur.

Now anticipating future developments.

What's there to fear!

Facing Section Chief Leng's questioning, Lin Dongfan remained calm and composed, adopting a cooperative attitude: 'What do you want to ask? Ask away—I will tell you everything I know, holding nothing back.'

"Regarding the judicial auction procedure for Southern Power assets, has your Political and Legal Affairs Commission interfered?"

"We are a guiding unit, mainly responsible for guidance and coordination, implementing the Party's line and policies. If you are asking whether our unit has guided the disposal plan for Southern Power assets, then yes, we have. However, the specific bidding conditions and judicial auction procedure are ultimately not decided by our Political and Legal Affairs Commission, but by the court."

"For some matters, you should think clearly before answering; don't put psychological pressure on yourself."

"Speaking the truth, what pressure could there be? I am stating only facts. Secretary Chu has been framed; I sincerely implore the organization to clear Secretary Chu's name!"

"Innocence?"

Section Chief Leng sitting opposite looked slightly startled.

Even the female clerk in charge of taking notes heard it, stopped writing, and glanced at Lin Dongfan in surprise.

Everyone says human relations are as thin as paper.

"Today's matter is truly novel—under this high-pressure atmosphere where people are panicking, someone still dares to risk everything to speak up for Chu JingSong."

Section Chief Leng stared at Lin Dongfan's eyes in disbelief.

"You say Chu JingSong was framed—what evidence do you have?"

"I cannot produce concrete evidence, but having worked in the Political and Legal Affairs Commission for so many years, I know what kind of person Secretary Chu is better than you do."

"Then tell me, what kind of person is Chu JingSong?"

"A good person."

"Even a good person needs evidence—you're from the political and legal system; do I need to explain this further? Lin Dongfan, on matters of principle, don't let emotions guide you; seek truth from facts."

Section Chief Leng kept his gaze fixed on Lin Dongfan's eyes.

That half-smile gave an intangible sense of oppression, as if reminding Lin Dongfan not to foolishly cry out for someone's injustice.

Lin Dongfan understood both the literal and implied meaning of those words.

"The officialdom is no playground; on matters of principle, if you let emotions dictate your stance and pick the wrong side, you might end up dragging yourself down—then you'll have nowhere to cry."

The problem is, Lin Dongfan himself no longer has any room to choose.

"Regarding the Chu JingSong matter, although Li Hengbo is currently taking the prudent self-preservation route, he hasn't done the stupid thing of kicking someone when they're down, leaving himself some leeway."

"Once Chu JingSong is reinstated, he will still reuse Li Hengbo and even take him as a son-in-law living in his wife's family."

"For now, Lin Dongfan can only go all‑out, risking the offense of Executive Vice Mayor Xiao Yunce, to cry out for Chu JingSong's injustice."

"As the saying goes, wealth and honor are sought in danger."

"In the future, my approach will form a stark contrast with Li Hengbo's, making the superiority clear at a glance; I believe Chu JingSong will also reconsider his use of personnel and will not again wholeheartedly cultivate Li Hengbo as before."

Thinking this through,

"Lin Dongfan answered Section Chief Leng neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Finding evidence is your Discipline Inspection Commission's job. I trust you, and I trust the organization—you will surely clear Secretary Chu's name.""

This resolute attitude caused Section Chief Leng to furrow his brows deeply.

Section Chief Leng stared at Lin Dongfan for a while before finally saying, 'You may go.'

"Secretary Chu is a man of courage and responsibility—a straight‑shooting steel type; that's my evaluation of him. I don't believe he would commit a principled mistake. As long as Secretary Chu's name can be cleared, if you need me, just summon me—I'll come at once. Thank you, both leaders."

Saying this, Lin Dongfan rose and gave a deep bow to the two Discipline Inspection Commission officers.

After Lin Dongfan left,

The young female clerk beside him put down her pen and, smiling, said to Section Chief Leng, 'This Lin Dongfan is really an oddball.'

"His words may seem worthless, but they also rang a warning bell for us. We cannot assume from the outset that Chu JingSong is a corrupt official and merely dig for his criminal evidence."

Section Chief Leng pondered the case details thoughtfully.

The female clerk nodded in deep agreement: 'Lin Dongfan daring to risk everything to speak up for Chu JingSong is indeed suspicious. The waters of Nanzhou seem far deeper than we imagined.'

"No matter how deep the water, the turtle that deserves to be caught must still be caught." After a moment's thought, Section Chief Leng suddenly chuckled and remarked, "This Lin Dongfan actually has a boldness that fears no fall."