Chapter 34: Xiao Yunce's Counterattack

Chu Jinsong's concerns are not without reason, but if you try to bring out the tiger-head axe to chop someone's head, will they obediently stretch out their neck for you to chop?

There aren't that many stupid people in officialdom.

A fierce tiger will definitely bite back.

When the news of Cheng Dao's arrest broke, the shock in Nanzhou's officialdom was off the charts—if not a ten, then at least a nine.

Ancestral grave buried with gold!

Colleagues were shocked on one hand by Cheng Dao's terrifying "filial piety".

On the other hand, they were intimidated by the 9·28 Special Case Group's swift and decisive anti-corruption action, and even the well-connected Executive Vice Mayor Xiao Yunce only received the news two hours after Cheng Dao's arrest.

The Special Case Group didn't even say hello; a vice-ministerial-level figure said they'd arrest whoever they wanted.

Anyone with a bit of political sensitivity could notice:

This time, the 9·28 Special Case Group silently entered Nanzhou City—not just going through the motions, but really intending to perform surgery on Nanzhou's officialdom, and a major surgery at that.

Xiao Yunce, nearing fifty, what great winds and waves hasn't he experienced? Tonight he's still worried enough to make his scalp go numb.

The night grew darker.

Xiao Yunce continued to stand by the office window, deep in thought.

Secretary Bai Wentao brought him a cup of tea and reported his afternoon's actions: "Mayor Xiao, I've already sent someone to pick up Cheng Dao's daughter Cheng Feilan. Cheng Dao is a sensible person, you can rest assured."

"This was handled neatly."

Cheng Feilan, who has been living with Cheng Dao's ex-wife all along, is sixteen this year.

Because Cheng Feilan was slapped by Cheng Dao in anger when she was little, causing a hearing impairment.

Cheng Feilan has always hated Cheng Dao and refuses to acknowledge him as her biological father.

Cheng Dao, therefore, feels guilty and constantly tries to make amends to his daughter, attempting to mend their father‑daughter relationship.

But Cheng Feilan simply refuses to acknowledge her father.

Over the years, Cheng Feilan has been like a heart‑ailment lodged in Cheng Dao's heart.

Now Bai Wentao's move to take Cheng Feilan away is tantamount to grabbing Cheng Dao's lifeline; for his daughter's safety, Cheng Dao certainly dares not bite anyone at random.

But…

Given the current situation, the provincial anti‑corruption drive is swinging so fiercely that Xiao Yunce dare not let his guard down.

He's endured so many years.

He, this Executive Vice Mayor, had barely managed to become Acting Mayor after all those years.

Chu Jinsong transferred his son‑in‑law to the Jianglan Province Anti‑Corruption Bureau, letting him join forces with the 9·28 Special Case Group to strike back, and Xiao Yunce's greater worry is that the truth of the 9·28 forest fire won't be suppressible.

Once that matter is exposed, it will certainly affect his shedding of the two words "Acting".

He thought it over for a good while.

Xiao Yunce solemnly instructed Secretary Bai:

"Immediately notify Dai Fengnian: those nine victims not on the death list must each be given a plausible cause of death. At the same time, find a way to seal the mouths of those families; they must not be allowed to spout nonsense."

"Understood." Bai Wentao nodded.

Xiao Yunce further instructed: "Also, assign someone to keep close watch on every move of the Special Case Group. Especially Chu Jinsong's son‑in‑law—what's that kid's name again?"

"Lin Dongfan."

Bai Wentao replied without hesitation.

Xiao Yunce pondered for a moment.

A hint of a playful smile curled at the corner of his mouth:

"Tomorrow, the Special Case Group will surely continue interrogating Cheng Dao's statement—this is a good opportunity to set a trap. Find a way to leak some information to Cheng Dao, using his mouth to lure that Lin‑surname guy into the pit. Better yet, just take care of that Lin kid once and for all."

"Hehe, I was just thinking the same thing."

Bai Wentao seized the opportunity to show off, proving that his thinking was highly in sync with the leader's and that he would not deviate in his actions.

That night, past two in the morning.

Cheng Dao, temporarily detained in Room 404 of the Qing Lake Guesthouse, was shoved awake in his sleep.

The room was pitch black.

No lights were on.

A man stood at the bedside and asked, "Want to bite Dai Fengnian to death?"

"Who are you?"

Cheng Dao rubbed his eyes; everything before him was pitch black, he could see nothing. Not only were the lights off, but the curtains were drawn tight, letting in no light at all.

The mysterious person said, "Cut the chatter, I'm here to help you."

"How are you helping me?" Cheng Dao asked, puzzled.

The mysterious person criticized, "Your statement today is weak—you claim Dai Fengnian dragged you into trouble, saying he induced you to take bribes and collect money, but you have no evidence, so how can the Anti‑Corruption Bureau make an arrest?"

"I'll stake my head on it—Dai Fengnian's embezzled money is definitely more than mine." Cheng Dao spat resentfully, "That bastard is just a scoundrel; if you really dig into him, you'll surely find something."

The mysterious person chuckled lightly, "All that's nonsense—arrests need evidence. You can't provide clues, but I can give you some, so I'm here to help you."

"What clues do you have?" Cheng Dao asked curiously.

The mysterious person replied, "Dai Fengnian has a mistress named Yao Meina, 21 years old. Moreover, Yao Meina bore him an illegitimate son, who is now four."

"Holy shit!" Cheng Dao exclaimed in shock, "That dog can do that at his age—still knocking up other people's wives. Twenty‑one, kid four—doesn't that make Yao Meina a mother at seventeen, pregnant at sixteen? He doesn't even spare underage girls; that dog Dai Fengnian is truly no good."

The mysterious person continued, "Yao Meina's first time was when Dai Fengnian raped her."

"What a beast!" Cheng Dao grew more furious as he listened, "A sixteen‑year‑old blossom should be hitting the books in school, aiming for college, yet this old beast ruined her and made her a mother."

The mysterious person added, "Back then, Yao Meina wanted to call the police, but Dai Fengnian threatened and lured her. At that young, inexperienced age, she became his mistress. Dai Fengnian gives her a monthly allowance of three thousand yuan—sometimes cash, sometimes a bank transfer, which can be traced in the bank records."

"That old beast truly deserves the death penalty!" Cheng Dao exclaimed indignantly, "Yao Meina is also stupid—selling herself for three thousand a month, who's going to pay for raising the child?"

The mysterious person avoided answering.

He only said what he wanted to say: "Yao Meina now lives with her child at Villa No. 7, Danfeng Ridge. That is Dai Fengnian's private luxury villa, a golden house hiding a beauty."

"Brother, who are you? Since you know so much explosive info, why not directly report Dai Fengnian?"

In the pitch-black room, Cheng Dao rubbed his eyes, trying to make out the mysterious person's appearance.

"I've reported it, but to no avail."

Saying that, the mysterious person turned and left, and backhandedly locked the door.

Originally two prosecutors guarded the door, but today they apparently ate something wrong; both were squatting in the toilet with diarrhea, feeling weak as if about to prolapse.

The hallway had light, and one could see the mysterious person wearing a black baseball cap and a black mask.

Only after leaving the Qinghu Reception Hall and getting into a private car did the mysterious person take off the baseball cap and mask; this guy was Li Hengbo, who had recently been assigned to grassroots village poverty alleviation.

Li Hengbo reported to Bai Wentao sitting beside him: "Secretary Bai, everything has been settled."

Bai Wentao asked: "Regarding the matter of Dai Fengnian keeping a beauty in a golden house, did Cheng Dao doubt its truth?"

"I told the story just as you said; he listened and got really excited, with no suspicion at all." Li Hengbo said.

Bai Wentao praised with a smile: "This was handled well."

"Secretary Bai, being able to work for you is a great fortune for me, Li Hengbo." Li Hengbo expressed his loyalty wholeheartedly: "From today on, you are my guiding light; you point, I strike."

Hearing those words, Bai Wentao found them very pleasing.

Bai Wentao lit a cigarette contentedly and said: "Earlier you said you wanted to transfer back to the municipal agency; don't rush this. Get things done well, and you won't lose out in the future. Right now there are still plenty of troubles in Qingzhu Village, and as the village-resident cadre there, this is exactly your chance to show what you can do."

"Understood, I know how to handle this."

Li Hengbo carefully maintained the mindset of a sycophant.

Bai Wentao took a slow puff of smoke.

He then leisurely instructed: "Because of Yang Tao's higher-level petition, Dai Fengnian previously publicly scolded you, saying you couldn't even manage a person. You should let it go, set aside personal grudges, and prioritize the bigger picture."

"Whatever you say, I'll do it." Li Hengbo looked sincere.

Bai Wentao further instructed: "If Dai Fengnian cannot settle the matter of the nine deceased's families in Qingzhu Village, you must use your advantage as the village-resident First Secretary to help him resolve it."

"Don't worry, those troublemakers can't stir up any trouble; I have a way to make them shut up."

Li Hengbo declared confidently.

Regarding the minor grudge between him and Dai Fengnian, Li Hengbo didn't care.

He now only wants to cling to Bai Wentao's thigh, squeeze into the Executive gang's core circle, climb step by step, and take down Lin Dongfan!

Even if Lin Dongfan's father-in-law is Chu Jinsong.

So what?

Li Hengbo was full of confidence in his plan; in his view, he knew everything about Chu Jinsong's affairs, and once he got into the Executive gang's core circle, he only needed to lend a little help to assist Xiao Yunce in taking down Chu Jinsong.

Once Chu Jinsong falls, dealing with Lin Dongfan later will also be a piece of cake.