Chapter 256

This public opinion battle, Gao Peng lost, lost utterly.

Lin Dongfan

The poster ridiculed Nanzhou officials besieging the anti-corruption special task force, secretly jeering that Nanzhou is a breeding ground for corrupt elements! One could say every word draws blood, far more ferocious than the voices of these crowds on site—by tens of millions times,

From the moment Wang Xiaosheng of the Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department gave his all but still could not delete the post, Gao Peng had no choice left.

Zhao Lianyue

Only in this way can it be proven that Nanzhou is not a breeding ground for corrupt officials, and that it is not he, Gao Peng, who behind the scenes incites the clueless masses to besiege the anti-corruption special task force.

Heaven's Edge Community

Municipal Party Committee

Section Chief

Anti-Corruption General Bureau

Anti-Corruption Special Task Force

Tiaowen Dashu went all out: "Yesterday I saw you on TV, you yourself said that the Anti-Corruption Bureau's Section Chief Lin disregarded our common folk's lives, causing the pollution to spread. Now you're again defending that Section Chief Lin; I see you all are wearing the same pants, not a single good one among you!"

Lin Dongfan, who was drinking water, almost puffed out a laugh.

Well deserved!

As expected of the elder‑generation crowd, when they complain they hit the nail on the head—every word strikes the heart, directly poking Gao Peng's sore spot.

Lin Dongfan put on an innocent look and asked Gao Peng, "Secretary Gao, is what this elder said true or false? Did you really frame me?"

"!!!"

Gao Peng's face turned as black as… well, you know, ten thousand grass‑mud horses galloped and neighed in his heart—life really is unpredictable; if you can shift the blame well enough, you'll surely end up hurting yourself.

But I have to endure it—even if I can't help it, I must endure!

As the old saying goes: "Endure for a moment and the seas will calm." If the wind and waves aren't calm, it only shows your endurance hasn't been perfected—you need to endure more!

Let whoever wants to mock do so; I'll just take the blame.

Gao Peng secretly made the endure hand seal.

Choosing to ignore Lin Dongfan's mockery, he faced the crowd and explained: "I know you have many questions and grievances. Please believe me—the government has always been working hard, always putting the people's interests first. Following the principle of seeking truth from facts, I truly haven't covered for anyone; the chemical‑pollution incident really has nothing to do with this Section Chief Lin. That TV interview was my unclear wording, which caused the misunderstanding…"

After explaining until his mouth was dry, some people in the crowd remained doubtful.

Gao Peng then made another promise to the crowd: "I guarantee that within three days I will properly resolve the chemical‑pollution issue. If I can't solve it, I, Gao Peng, am willing to resign and take the blame—today I'll treat this as a military order to you all. Please believe me once more, and disperse. The sun is fierce; staying gathered like this isn't good. Don't let the problem remain unsolved while you suffer heatstroke—it's not worth it."

The sun is indeed fierce.

Gao Peng's remarks struck a chord with the crowd, slightly easing the atmosphere.

The crowd chatted seven‑to‑eight about the rights and wrongs of the matter, then dispersed, each going home to discipline their own children.

At that moment Gao Peng also let out a sigh of relief.

However, when his gaze shifted to Lin Dongfan, Gao Peng's nerves tightened again—this bloodless war was far from over!

Gao Peng, face cold, demanded: "Was it you behind the scenes manipulating that public‑opinion post on Tianya Community?"

"What post?" Lin Dongfan put on a clueless look.

Gao Peng said: "You're still playing dumb with me!"

"What am I pretending?" Lin Dongfan said calmly: "Go ahead, I'm all ears."

Gao Peng angrily rebuked: "The crowd has misunderstood some of your actions, yet you don't explain—instead you're forcing me to clean up after you! Do you even know what you're doing? This isn't framing me; you're smearing the government's image! As a Party cadre, have your Party spirit, principles, and bottom line all been eaten by dogs?!"

"Secretary Gao, are you addicted to scolding people?" Lin Dongfan's face flushed slightly with anger: "I'm not your subordinate anymore—please watch your words. Besides, you're baselessly attacking me like a mad dog, slapping unfounded labels on me for no reason—is this your Party spirit and your way of handling affairs?"

"Who are you calling a mad dog? Keep your mouth clean!" Gao Peng glared with both eyes, his fury seeming ready to devour someone.

If someone from the Nanzhou officialdom encountered this scene, they'd usually feel nervous, a chill running down their spine, and lower their head to listen to the scolding.

This is also the main reason Gao Peng likes to glare and shout.

It can instantly push his official authority to its peak.

But this tactic doesn't work on Lin Dongfan; in his eyes, it's merely a desperate‑dog‑jumping‑over‑the‑wall act.

Never mind that I'm not your subordinate now.

Even if I were your subordinate, there'd be no need to watch your face while working—your Gao family is already at the end of its rope, still making a fuss at death's door; do you think I'm some scared kid?

Lin Dongfan gave a faint smile: "Vice‑ministerial level, what a mighty authority—but I, Lin Dongfan, am the reincarnation of Nezha, full of rebellious bones, and I love to talk back to those self‑important leaders; you say, does it anger people or not?"

"!!!"

Gao Peng's face flushed red with anger.

Unable to counter Lin Dongfan, he turned and shot his angry gaze at Luo Xiang of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission: "Secretary Luo, is this the good student you taught? You, as the teacher, have gone mute?!"

"Secretary Gao, he's talking back to those self‑important leaders—don't take it personally," Luo Xiang said, wearing a half‑smile.

Gao Peng's veins bulged with anger: "Did I take it personally? Which of your eyes saw me taking it personally? I've been standing right in front of you—are you blind?"

Luo Xiang, smiling, advised: "Calm down, don't get so worked up…"

"I see it now—'when teaching is not strict, the teacher fails.'" Secretary Gao's face darkened with anger: "Today the crowd caused a disturbance; your Political and Legal Affairs Commission bears responsibility for failing to maintain stability. If you want me to calm down, fine—settle the people's demands within two days. If you can't, I think you should resign voluntarily and let someone capable take over."

If you can't handle Lin Dongfan, then handle Luo Xiang.

With this "shift the universe" move, Gao Peng had mastered it to perfection, instantly backing Luo Xiang into a corner with no way out, leaving him only a helpless, laughing‑crying expression.

Seeing that Teacher Luo was unable to resist.

Lin Dongfan couldn't help but laugh and retort: "Secretary Gao, just now it sounded like you made a military pledge to the crowd, saying you'd resign if you couldn't solve the chemical‑pollution issue in three days. Now you're turning around and demanding Luo Xiang solve it in two days—I wonder why the time to solve the problem shrinks to just two days when it comes to Secretary Luo?"

"You have no right to interject!" Gao Peng snapped, glaring.

Lin Dongfan replied calmly: "Laughable—you came to my office to cause a disturbance, seriously hindering our anti‑corruption bureau's work, and yet I'm not allowed to speak? Let me ask bluntly: what exactly do you want to cause? Are you trying to drag out my precious time so I lack the energy to interrogate Zhao Lianyue?"

"!!!"

Once the truth was exposed, Gao Peng too was left speechless, just staring with both eyes and saying nothing.

Lin Dongfan again said:

「I heard that someone gave Qian Muye, of the High-Tech Zone Public Security Bureau, a death order, demanding that Qian Muye spare no expense to firmly pin the crime of Li Chunyan's warehouse bombing on him. 」

「Today I want to advise certain people: don't be overbearing; Nanzhou really isn't a place where just anyone can dominate. 」

「Now releasing the person is still possible; otherwise, once I obtain Zhao Lianyue's confession, everyone involved will have no way out. 」

「Lin Dongfan's words amounted to a warning, making the atmosphere on site much tensier. 」

「At the same time, it made Gao Peng angrily realize: 」

「This Lin Dongfan kid is no greenhorn; from beginning to end, all of his own actions never escaped Lin Dongfan's control. 」

「Too hateful! 」

「Since you've already laid your cards on the table, there's nothing more to say—it's just a bayonet fight. I want to see whether you'll get Zhao Lianyue's confession first, or I'll make Li Chunyan plead guilty first! 」

「Gao Peng steeled himself, turned and walked away while shouting harshly: "Lin Dongfan, listen up! Being too arrogant will exact a price! 」」

「"Xiao Yunce once warned me the same way, and the result was that Old Xiao ended up inside—do you think that's infuriating or not?" Lin Dongfan gave a casual smile, like a piercing arrow, straight into Gao Peng's ambitious heart. 」

「All one could see was Gao Peng clutching his chest, his face full of suppressed pain. 」