Chapter 451: Yu Huacheng's Forbearance

The morning after Lin Dongfan was arrested.

Provincial Party Committee Office.

Wang Daochen's butt hadn't even warmed the seat when he was startled into jumping up by Jian Sining's report: "They've gone too far! They dare to play the frame‑up trick!"

Jian Sining had received a call from Lao Ba the previous night.

She had originally wanted to report to Wang Daochen last night, but every time she called, the secretary answered, and some matters were inconvenient to discuss with the secretary, so she could only wait until morning to meet Wang Daochen face‑to‑face.

Jian Sining worried: "Secretary Wang, I'm most afraid that Guo Lichun and the others will resort to murder, then pin a suicide‑to‑avoid‑responsibility hat on Director Lin."

"He dares!"

Wang Daochen also broke out in a cold sweat from anxiety.

If Lin Dongfan really died in Haishan Shi, the trouble would be huge. By then the Lin family would be furious, and it would no longer be a matter of anti‑corruption or not.

Wang Daochen hastily picked up the red desk phone.

He dialed Yu Huacheng's dedicated line.

As soon as the call connected, he angrily berated Yu Huacheng: "Yu Huacheng, what are you eating for a living?! This morning people from the Provincial State-owned Assets Commission came to me, saying your Haishan local government is maliciously targeting Zhengtong Capital! Moreover, someone used a frame-up tactic to arrest Zhengtong Capital's chairman Fan Donglin!"

Wang Daochen was still very cautious.

He skillfully dragged the Provincial State-owned Assets Commission forward as the responsible party, which not only let him avoid suspicion but also strengthened Lin Dongfan's merchant identity, preventing his true identity from being exposed.

He angrily ordered Yu Huacheng over the phone:

"If Fan Donglin really killed someone, then of course he should be handled accordingly! But if he was framed, you bear an inescapable responsibility!"

"It's utterly lawless!"

Once the equity structure is corrected, Zhengtong Capital will be a provincial-level state-owned enterprise of bureau rank, its administrative level not lower than that of your Haishan Municipal Party Committee and municipal government.

Your Haishan Public Security Bureau arrested the head of Zhengtong Capital without even saying hello.

"Who gave you the authority?!"

The roar from Provincial Party Committee Office No. 1 echoed throughout the office; it's unknown whether Yu Huacheng on the other end of the phone was frightened into shouting as well.

Anyway, Jian Sining standing before Wang Daochen was shaken to the point of her blood boiling.

All that could be heard was Wang Daochen issuing another order: "Does your City Bureau have evidence that he killed someone? If there's no evidence, release him immediately! And transfer the related case to the Provincial Department's special task force for handling!"

Before hanging up, Wang Daochen angrily criticized once more: "It's simply absurd!"

Jian Sining quickly handed Wang Daochen a cup of tea: "Secretary Wang, please calm down first."

"It looks like the matter of promoting Chen Shaokang can't be delayed any longer." Wang Daochen took a sip of tea to soothe his hoarse, fiery throat, then added: "The problem over in Haishan is far worse than we imagined. Right now we urgently need a daring, fighting police commander to go to the front lines to assist Lin Dongfan in charging into battle."

Jian Sining nodded in deep agreement.

Wang Daochen, frustrated that his efforts were futile, continued to criticize: "That Yu Huacheng doesn't even know what he's doing—Lin Dongfan was arrested last night, the news has reached the province, yet he claims he doesn't know."

"'Do you think he truly doesn't know, or just pretends not to know?' Jian Sining asked with a smile."

Wang Daochen furrowed his brows, not answering the question hastily—this is no joking matter; the consequences of knowing versus not knowing are vastly different.

If Yu Huacheng truly didn't know Lin Dongfan had been arrested, that would amount to negligence.

If Yu Huacheng knew Lin Dongfan had been arrested but pretended not to, turning a blind eye to Lin Dongfan's situation, he would be suspected of weakness and incompetence.

Or perhaps…

He might even want Lin Dongfan dead!

That last possibility is the most deadly—it means the whole of Haishan has rotted through, everyone harboring ulterior motives, corrupt elements.

After pondering for a while,

Wang Daochen solemnly instructed Jian Sining: "Xiao Jian, your senior brother is now in peril; you must tighten up on your end. Be sure to dig deep into Huang Tao's confession and quickly obtain evidence of corruption involving Guo Lichun and the others."

"I understand." Jian Sining said: "Secretary Wang, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to interrogate Huang Tao."

"Go."

After seeing Jian Sining off, Wang Daochen summoned his secretary again, ordering the secretary to urge the Provincial Public Security Department personnel to swiftly implement Chen Shaokang's promotion.

Haishan Shi.

Having just been scolded, Yu Huacheng now stood with his hands behind his back at the office window, lost in thought; his face showed no trace of panic, only a hint of doubt.

He couldn't fathom how this had happened—something that had only occurred the night before had already alarmed the Provincial Party Committee so quickly.

Could it be that I underestimated Fan Donglin's background?

After thinking it over, Yu Huacheng shook his head again, feeling it unlikely, because no matter from which angle you look, Fan Dongfan does not resemble a relative of Secretary Wang.

If they were relatives, the well‑connected Guo Lichun could not possibly be unaware.

The available information shows: Fan Donglin made his fortune through stock speculation, accumulating a certain amount of capital; at most he merely relied on his financial advantage to gain the favor of the Provincial State-owned Assets Commission.

Having analyzed this far, Yu Huacheng also let out a sigh of relief.

Half an hour later.

Yu Huacheng summoned the deputy mayor in charge of public security, Li Yongyuan, to the office and confronted him face‑to‑face: "Last night, was it you who ordered the arrest of Fan Donglin?"

"Cai Yang was killed last night, and Fan Donglin is a major suspect in the case," Li Yongyuan replied calmly.

Yu Huacheng bluntly said: "Having a suspicion and having evidence are two different things—release him immediately."

"Secretary Yu, we live in a law‑based state; we act on principle and follow procedure! Is your order lacking consideration?" Li Yongyuan retorted to his face.

This arrogant attitude made Yu Huacheng's face flush slightly with anger.

Yu Huacheng coldly stared at Li Yongyuan: "Are you teaching me how to do things?"

"Secretary Yu, you misunderstand me; I'm merely speaking of principle."

Li Yongyuan gave a faint smile.

He added: "Fan Donglin is currently suspected in a major criminal case; we have lawfully apprehended him, and the procedure is fine. If you think my approach is problematic, feel free to raise it for discussion at the Standing Committee meeting. If Mayor Guo and the other standing committee members support you, then I have nothing more to say—you say release him, and I will release him."

Yu Huacheng grew angrier the more he listened: "According to your logic, only Guo Lichun's nod would make this matter effective—does my word count for nothing?"

"You've misunderstood again," he said, "I mean we should put it up for discussion at the Standing Committee." Speaking and laughing, Li Yongyuan talked about principle on the surface, but his contemptuous attitude showed through completely, as if he had already judged that Yu Huacheng would never turn things around in Haishan and would forever be pressed into the ground and rubbed by Guo Lichun.

It was this contemptuous attitude that thoroughly enraged Yu Huacheng.

There was such a moment.

Yu Huacheng really wanted to slap him, to let Li Yongyuan feel what it means when a tiger doesn't show its might—you treat me like a sick cat!

He endured.

He knew better than anyone that now was not the time to slap! Venting emotions when the situation isn't ripe is something only a brainless hothead would do.

If you cannot tolerate small things, you will ruin great plans!

Yu Huacheng coldly warned Li Yongyuan: "Listen to me, it's not that I want to release Fan Donglin; it's that the people from the Provincial State-owned Assets Commission went to Secretary Wang and filed a complaint against you! Just now Secretary Wang personally called me, and I took the scolding for you! Whether to release him or not, you handle it yourself! If you think you have the strength to look down on Secretary Wang, you can also not release him; but if you end up losing your job later, I'll set off firecrackers to see you off."

...!!!

As soon as he heard the three words "Secretary Wang," Li Yongyuan's arrogant aura vanished completely.

He looked doubtfully at Yu Huacheng: "Secretary Yu, forging an imperial decree is something you can't do. Are you sure a mere merchant could alarm Secretary Wang?"

"If you don't believe me, you can call the Provincial Committee to verify."

Saying this, Yu Huacheng picked up the tea on the table, turned and walked to the windowsill, looking out at the scenery of eternal spring outside, and secretly suppressed a murderous rage!

If he hadn't restrained himself, he would have already splashed this cup of tea in Li Yongyuan's face.

A mere vice mayor!

He dares to repeatedly provoke and question him, this secretary! Such lawless conduct, in any city, is an unacceptable heinous incident.