Chapter 429: with translation of chapter title

In October 2013, Zhengtong Capital, led by Lin Dongfan, formally secured Haishan Shi's top project—the Fisher Port New City, with an initial investment of 18 billion.

The demolition work was also fully launched.

With this major project settled, it not only meant that Lin Dongfan had defeated Zheng Canghai in business; it also meant that Yu Huacheng had, for the first time, defeated the all-powerful Guo Lichun at the level of power.

Of course, the biggest contributor behind this was Zhang Yinlan.

Zhang Yinlan, who was in charge of civil affairs, was well versed in the tactic of going with the flow. She turned the fishermen's demands into a sword of public opinion and fiercely stabbed Guo Lichun.

Without her sword-wielding assistance, Yu Huacheng would have had no chance at all to weaken the power held by Guo Lichun.

The first day of the fishing village demolition.

At dusk.

The sky began to drizzle with a hazy rain.

A black Audi with license plate "Yue O·00001" exited the Yuehai Expressway and entered Haishan Shi.

The person sitting in the car was Wang Daochen.

After exiting the expressway, Wang Daochen switched to a local-plate business car and headed straight for the fishing village. The villagers had already moved out, and excavators were demolishing houses, with dust flying everywhere at the scene.

Wang Daochen did not get out of the car.

He merely rolled down half the window, glanced at the situation outside, and then remarked with feeling: "Look at this bustling scene—with this business acumen, what need is there for any official post?"

Today Wang Daochen came to the fishing village without even bringing his secretary.

The only person in the car besides him was his trusted driver, Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye joked, "Boss, are you praising him or disparaging him?"

"The old master of the Lin family called me last night to criticize me, blaming me for letting him go alone into danger; I have no standing to criticize him." Speaking of this, Wang Daochen also felt immense pressure.

The princeling of the capital circle!

To accomplish the great anti-corruption undertaking, he ventured into the tiger's den, concealing his name and posing as a tycoon!

This bad idea was the princeling's own.

Besides nodding his support, Wang Daochen had no other recourse. But if the princeling were to die unfortunately in Haishan, Wang Daochen would bear the primary responsibility.

Wang Daochen picked up his phone and dialed Lin Dongfan's number: "Your hard hat is askew… hehe, you say how would I know? Turn your head to the left."

Having said that, he hung up.

Less than half a minute later.

Lin Dongfan, wearing a white hard hat, came running over in a flustered manner, got into the car, and joked: "Esteemed Boss Wang, what wind is blowing today that it has brought you here?"

"I was inspecting the neighboring county, passed by here, and decided to stop by to see you."

In the course of speaking, Wang Daochen closed the car window glass to ensure privacy inside.

The experienced driver Xiao Ye also got out of the car at this point, patrolling the surroundings outside to prevent anyone from approaching.

Lin Dongfan chuckled, "Boss Wang, you surely didn't just come by the way for such a simple reason? Are you here to urge me to hand in my homework?"

"Urging homework, that's not the case, but the pressure facing me is indeed quite great."

Wang Daochen thought pensively.

Then he continued speaking to Lin Dongfan:

"The former chief of your Anti-Corruption Bureau, Liang Wei, his body still lies in the mortuary. Because the truth of his murder has not been made public, his family refuses to cremate and bury him.

From the provincial level up to the central authorities, now all levels of leadership are staring intently at Haishan's problems.

All the pressure falls on me.

Even some in the province are shouting for riot police to be dispatched from elsewhere to take over Haishan's order until its black evil forces are wiped out.

But no one dares to make that decision.

The reason is simple: doing so would create a very bad impact on society. Once the government's image is damaged at that time, who would dare to come to Haishan for investment in the future?

This is also the main reason I support your going undercover, concealing your name to conduct a secret investigation.

If we could eradicate Haishan's problems at the root with the smallest cost, that would naturally be best. Of course I also understand that the pressure you face is no less than mine.

Uh…

All of the above is nonsense.

Yes, in Lin Dongfan's view, this is just taking off one's pants to fart.

Lin Dongfan laughed: "Boss Wang, thank you for your understanding and support. By the way, since I came to Haishan, I have several times almost been killed. Now I don't ask for anything else; I just want to ask you, besides verbal support from the province, can you give some actual support?"

"Haven't I been supporting you with concrete actions?" Wang Daochen frowned without relenting: "For example, supporting you in becoming a tycoon and opening a company—just for that matter I have run to the capital several times."

"I admit that, you have indeed worked hard." Lin Dongfan smiled: "But relying only on that is not enough."

Wang Daochen asked: "Then what else do you want me to do to support you?"

Lin Dongfan said bluntly: "I need a capable assistant to help me promote someone."

Wang Daochen assumed Lin Dongfan was referring to Jian Sining, so he said bluntly: "That Jian Sining from Jianglan is your junior apprentice sister, right? Earlier Li Mingtang transferred her from Jianglan to the General Bureau, and then dispatched her from the General Bureau to our Baiyue Province stationed office to handle cases. You've already arranged her yourself—why would I need to promote her?"

"I'm not talking about Jian Sining." Lin Dongfan said.

Wang Daochen was a bit dazed: "Not her? Then who do you want me to promote?"

"A local petty police officer in Haishan." Lin Dongfan said: "His name is Chen Shaokang; only he can currently help adequately, but his authority is too low, and recently he has been framed, given a suspension pending investigation. Do you think you could promote him to the criminal investigation detachment of the Provincial Public Security Department? I need to rely on him to catch people."

"Wouldn't it be better to just send someone directly from the Provincial Department to assist you? No need to go through all this trouble." Seeing that Lin Dongfan had something to say, Wang Daochen added unhurriedly: "Just now you said Chen Shaokang is in the stage of suspension pending investigation; mainly this is taken into consideration. Promoting him under such circumstances would undermine the system."

Lin Dongfan obviously had already anticipated that Wang Daochen would say that.

Lin Dongfan emphasized with reason and evidence:

"First, have the people from the Provincial Department colluded with those from Haishan?

"The depth of it, you don't know, nor do I. You dare to take this risk, I dare not—this concerns my life and death.

"I can only use people I can trust.

"Second, as I just said, Chen Shaokang has been framed.

He was suspended for investigation after offending local officials and businessmen and being maliciously retaliated against.

You just need to bring out an investigation result to clear his name, and this matter would be easily settled; then, taking advantage of the situation, promote him a step—it's reasonable and proper.

Promoting Chen Shaokang would sound a warning bell to the local bullies.

This would reveal the province's determination to fight corruption and eradicate evil.

It would have a deterrent effect."

Lin Dongfan's words left Wang Daochen speechless, able only to smile and compromise.

Think about it: promoting a trustworthy police officer locally would indeed help speed up the eradication of Haishan's corruption and evil.

Consider carefully for a moment.

Wang Daochen said to Lin Dongfan: "The matter of promoting Chen Shaokang, after I return to the province I will have the Provincial Department take care of it. But your own problem—you also cannot take it lightly."

"What problem do you have?" Lin Dongfan laughed in surprise.

Wang Daochen, half-smiling, rapped Lin Dongfan: "Officials cannot engage in business—that's the system. Now, because the situation is special, the province has no choice but to approve your temporary involvement in commerce. You must observe the bottom line, not reverse priorities. Your father called me yesterday, clearly opposing your abandonment of office for business."

"Then please tell my father that, whether I'm in business or in government, I serve the people." Lin Dongfan chatted and laughed freely; as for how the future path would concretely unfold, he himself hadn't figured it out.