Chapter 252

Gao Peng - a person.

none.

The act of killing one's own younger sister (no), provincial (generic), High-tech District? Actually line: "We can only put on a brave face and deal perfunctorily with the provincial authorities, using the pretext that further investigation and statistics are needed, temporarily suppressing the true casualty figures of the explosion." No named entity besides provincial (generic) and maybe "explosion accident" generic. Also High-tech District appears later in line 4.

Qian Muye of the High-tech District Public Security Bureau. The named entities are: High-tech District, Public Security Bureau (generic). It's an official title: Public Security Bureau. According to the instruction, we should list official ranks/titles, so we include Public Security Bureau. We translate the meaning: Public Security Bureau. Also Qian Muye is a person.

Li Chunyan - a person.

Later, think of a way to pass a word to Zhao Lianyue; Zhao Lianyue, upon learning that Li Chunyan has confessed, will surely grit his teeth and keep the truth of the explosion rotting in his gut.

Sacrificing Li Chunyan to save everyone is worth it!

Lin Dongfan (person), Zhao Lianyue (person), Qian Muye (person), Li Chunyan (person).

To secure victory, Gao Peng adopts a two-pronged approach.

none.

Gao Peng (person), explosion site (generic), on-site work promotion meeting (generic).

First, urge the relevant departments to properly handle the resettlement of victims' families and promptly deal with the chemical pollution at the accident site.

Thus building an image of being diligent, responsible, and concerned for the people's livelihood.

The next step is to do everything possible to pass the buck, push Lin Dongfan into the eye of public opinion, so that Lin Dongfan is overwhelmed and unable to interrogate Zhao Lianyue.

Municipal Party Committee publicity officer. The named entities are Municipal Party Committee (already in glossary) and publicity officer (a generic title). According to the instruction, we should list official ranks/titles, so we include Publicity Officer.

Provincial TV reporter (generic). Secretary Gao - a title: Secretary Gao. This refers to Gao Peng as "Secretary Gao". According to the instruction, we list official ranks/titles, so we include Secretary Gao.

"This is a painful question, well asked."

Gao Peng had been waiting for this earth-shattering question, having drafted his response at least three times in his mind.

none.

Municipal Party Committee, High-tech District, Zhao Lianyue, Lin Dongfan, Municipal Party Committee (again). Also Anti-Corruption Bureau.

none.

Nanzhou, Jingcheng, Bureau Chief (title). Li Mingtang is referred to as Bureau Chief Li Mingtang. So we have Bureau Chief as a title, and Li Mingtang as a person. Also Peng Tianhua. According to the instruction, we list official ranks/titles, so we include Bureau Chief.

Media reporter (generic).

Claiming that a large amount of toxic chemicals had been dispersed by yesterday's heavy rain, not only expanding the contamination area but also seeping into the strata, polluting the soil and groundwater.

The area within a one-kilometer radius of the explosion site has already been severely polluted.

Lin Dongfan - a person.

Lin Dongfan (person), Municipal Party Committee.

"You with the surname Lin, come out and give us an explanation!"

"We are all residents living near Qiangsheng Petrochemical; we've provoked no one and offended no one! You, for the sake of personal performance, disregard the lives of so many of us—do you still have any conscience?"

"Truly lacking in great virtue, utterly devoid of conscience!"

"My dog died suddenly today; I suspect it licked the poisonous water by the roadside! Now we dare not drink water—how will we live from now on?"

"Charge in and see where he hides!"

Anti-Corruption Special Task Force, Clear Lake Guesthouse.

Zhang Yong, police officer (generic).

none.

Peng Tianhua, Jian Sining, Director Lin (title). The Five Cent Party is excluded.

none.

In Peng Tianhua's view, those rhythmically chanting protesters outside must have been paid; the mastermind behind them is clearly trying to drive Director Lin to the brink.

"You few, stay on guard here; absolutely do not let them rush in!"

Peng Tianhua, Jian Sining, Zhang Xiaoguang, Tang Xia, Zhang Yong.

What to do when the fire is at one's eyebrows? Peng Tianhua thinks the best solution is to bribe the fire.

none.

none.

Under the guidance of such social awareness, Peng Tianhua, upon seeing Lin Dongfan, immediately offers advice: "Director Lin, making money is as easy as picking it up; throwing money to settle things, you get it? Money can make ghosts turn the mill."

Lin Dongfan.

He lifted his right foot onto the chair, intently trimming his toenails; he couldn't avoid it, and only upon putting on his socks this morning did he discover that the toenail had pierced a hole in his big toe.

Regarding Peng Tianhua's suggestion, Lin Dongfan seemed not to have heard it, mainly because he couldn't be distracted.

The pointed-nose clippers in his hand had already reached deep into the side groove of his big toenail; that spot was a hard nail, deeply embedded in the flesh, usually causing a bit of pain when walking.

none.

Once that flesh-piercing toenail is successfully dug out, it will feel extremely refreshing! However, during the digging process one must be especially careful, or else it could hurt all the way to one's grandmother's house.

Director Lin.

Lin Dongfan.

Unable to hold back, he urged again: "Four or fifty people have gathered outside the guesthouse, about to rush in—can you first put out the fire? The situation is already extremely urgent......"

Lin Dongfan.

That bit of toenail deep in the side groove couldn't be cut, so Lin Dongfan simply gripped it with the clippers and gave it a hard squeeze; although it drew a little blood, the feeling of relief was still incredibly satisfying.

The long-oppressed big toe finally no longer feels the squeezing pain, feeling relieved.

Seeing Lin Dongfan put down his right foot and then lift his left, Peng Tianhua burst out a black line: "Director Lin, it's work hours—can't you do something proper?"

"What I'm doing is proper; the body is the capital of revolution." Lin Dongfan said while clipping: "Before, my wife always clipped them for me; later her belly grew bigger, making it inconvenient to squat, and she never clipped them even after giving birth. Look at the length of these toenails—if I don't clip them, I could really dig out a three-bedroom apartment in place."

Peng Tianhua was speechless; having seen many pretentious people, it was truly the first time he'd seen someone show off his virtuous wife while clipping his toenails.

Damn it, a big local tycoon sitting on several hundred million!

Going to a foot‑massage place for a quick rub‑down—could it actually shorten one's life?

Peng Tianhua forcibly suppressed his sour‑grape jealousy and squeezed out: "Director Lin, I want to know right now—can you throw money at this to settle it?"

"No."

"Why?"

"It's not my pot, I won't take the blame."

"Those forty or fifty people outside are about to storm in—what do we do now?"

"Go online and see if anyone's posting that corrupt officials are stirring up clueless citizens to besiege the anti‑corruption task force."

"Public opinion counter‑offensive?"

"Forgot to tell you, I'm a hidden bigwig in the media world, holding PR resources that can call the wind and summon the rain."

"!!!"

Peng Tianhua watched Lin Dongfan, head bowed, trimming his toenails.

He suddenly felt he'd been lacking a bit of respect for this big shot—truly wrong; how could such a menial task as trimming toenails be left to the big shot himself?

"Director Lin, let me take care of this dirty, tiring work."

Peng Tianhua dropped to his knees and carefully tended to Lin Dongfan's feet: "My daughter's dreamed of being a star since she was little—I don't know if Director Lin can give her a hand. I think she's got the talent to be a superstar; she takes after her mother, not me—a natural beauty, gorgeous everywhere."