Chapter 479: Skilled at Finishing Blows

I think you have no right to arrest me!

That remark silenced the scene for a moment; Lin Dongfan and the others stared at Guo Lichun as if he were a monster, and to say they weren't the least bit shocked would be a lie.

Shocked by Guo Lichun's twisted values!

A major corrupt official actually, with righteous appearance, interpreted his corrupt behavior as a necessary means to benefit the people.

Beautifying honeycomb-style corruption as an "incentive mechanism".

Using the quality of municipal projects to prove his 'take from the people, use for the people' sophistry.

Portraying himself as a "pragmatic politician".

The shock value of Guo Lichun's corrupt logic lies in: he is not completely unreasonable, but by exaggerating human selfishness, his words become confusing and impactful.

He formed a "Guo-style corrupt philosophy system" that at first glance seems quite reasonable.

Just one careless mistake.

Several anti-corruption officers present almost got drawn in by him.

If officials need to fill their own pockets first to build quality municipal projects, then shouldn't farmers also need to fill their pockets first to grow high-quality grain?

So the question arises: where should farmers go to embezzle?

If farmers can't grow quality grain, what will the nation eat? Are we supposed to let everyone live on northwest wind?

Or it's that farmers are awesome—without taking a penny, they feed the whole nation!

Lin Dongfan smiled and mocked: "Guo Lichun, Guo Lichun, have you heard this saying—if you can do it, do it; if you can't, step aside and let the capable take over!"

"What do you mean?" Guo Lichun said, somewhat surprised.

Lin Dongfan said with a smile: "Farmers who don't take a penny feed the whole nation. Street cleaners who don't take a penny still get up at four in the morning and sweep the streets spotless. Do you think Haishan's civil servants are more delicate than other workers? Without gulping gold and swallowing jade, they can't display the proper spirit of being human."

Guo Lichun smiled and retorted: "Farmers and street cleaners have no opportunity to embezzle. If they had the opportunity, you'd see whether they'd embezzle or not."

"You're shifting concepts again."

Lin Dongfan frowned, pointing directly at the core issue: "What I'm saying is, in a situation where they haven't taken a penny, have they done their jobs well? Have they made it so you have money but can't buy grain? Have they made it so you step in dung as soon as you go out? Is the streets filled with flying garbage?"

!!!

Guo Lichun instantly fell silent, a gloomy expression appearing on his face.

Lin Dongfan chuckled lightly: "If you think this office is no good to hold, and not being corrupt makes work unmotivating, then you can simply not hold this office—no one's forcing you to cling to this position. If you don't do it, many are willing to; why suffer the risk and wrong yourself? Commissioner Guo, don't stay silent—tell me, isn't that the truth?"

!!!

Who wants to stay silent? You've let him finish speaking!

Guo Lichun gritted his teeth in anger, glanced at Jian Sining and the others, then at Lin Dongfan: "Today, are you dead set on arresting me, with no room for negotiation?"

No room for negotiation.

Lin Dongfan shook his head noncommittally.

The several anti-corruption officers nearby had already prepared to arrest Guo Lichun, waiting only for Lin Dongfan's order! Two of the prosecutorial officers carried guns, in case of violent resistance.

After multiple observations, Guo Lichun has now noticed these details.

Realizing that any move on his part would cause those two prosecutorial officers to draw their guns instantly, Guo Lichun still felt a bit unwilling.

Guo Lichun coldly stared at Lin Dongfan: "I struggled for 24 years to reach this position; I may have no merit, but I have endured hardship. On what grounds do you deny everything I've done?"

"More than twenty years ago, you had Zheng Canghai set up the Fisheries Association to collect black money in place of the proper department. Later the Fisheries Association upgraded into the Sea Dragon Association, monopolizing the city's big and small projects, with all industries suffering its abuse. Afterwards, the Sea Dragon Association gave birth to the Sea God Foundation, which you used as a charitable fundraising front to force businessmen to donate, or to collect bribes under the guise of fundraising. In the past ten years, the money you received from the Sea God Foundation totals as high as 97.6 hundred million."

Saying this, Lin Dongfan flung out a profit-sharing list.

He directly displayed it in front of Guo Lichun.

Lin Dongfan asked indifferently: "Just because you amassed wealth by any means, making the people unable to live! Just because you ordered others to kill indiscriminately, even daring to kill the chief of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau! Just because you nurtured black evil forces behind the scenes, being mayor by day and a boss by night! Are these reasons enough?"

!!!

Each word, each sentence, was like a sharp knife stabbing straight into Guo Lichun's heart.

The pain made Guo Lichun's face alternate between green and white, fury blazing in his eyes, but he dared not vent his anger like a beast.

The two prosecutorial officers with torch-like gazes stared at him, already having placed their hands on their waists.

Ready to draw their guns at any moment!

Could today be my, Guo Lichun's, doom?

In that moment, Guo Lichun despairingly closed his eyes, lifted his head and remained silent for a while. When he opened his eyes again, his eye sockets were already somewhat red and moist.

He had probably swallowed his bursting tears.

He took a deep breath.

After his emotions calmed, he calmly made a request to Lin Dongfan: "I'll go with you, but I have a small request."

"Speak."

Lin Dongfan actually wanted to see what other tricks he had up his sleeve.

Unexpectedly, Guo Lichun turned his head to look at the detained mistress: "Although she is my kept mistress, our relationship is merely a simple male-female one. I provide her material satisfaction; she provides me spiritual and sensual satisfaction. Matters of corruption and blackmail have nothing to do with her—please release her…"

Before Guo Lichun could finish.

The mistress sister quickly interjected: "Exactly, exactly, his affairs have nothing to do with me. Beforehand I didn't know he was a corrupt official; if I had known, I certainly wouldn't have involved myself with her."

This eager-to-disassociate expression made the people around unable to hold back laughter.

Quite likely it hit home—only to see Old Guo suddenly speechless, eyes shut, his whole expression gloomy to an extreme, almost like a heart of dead ash.

Lin Dongfan smiled: "Take them all back."

"No, Leader, he said it's unrelated to me—why are you arresting me?" The mistress sister protested urgently: "Being a mistress isn't illegal—on what grounds are you arresting me?"

"Every penny he spent on you came from illegal graft—do you say it's unrelated to you?"

Lin Dongfan casually remarked, causing this mistress sister's legs to go weak and her defenses to collapse on the spot.

Panicked tears streamed down.

Guo Lichun let out Along sigh to the heavens: "Ah... indeed, stupidity invites disaster, and you're stupid to the extreme! This time even Mazu can't save you—you're on your own."

"Who do you call stupid? This is all your fault! And you're still here spouting cold remarks." Qingfu Jie's emotions had already collapsed; she wanted to rush down and tear at Guo Lichun.

"Don't move! Behave yourself!"

Jian Sining's movements were becoming more and more practiced; as soon as she made a move, she had Qingfu Jie firmly under control.

At this moment Lin Dongfan pulled out the handcuffs and personally slapped them on Guo Lichun: "To be honest, your taste in mistresses is really not great."

"!!!"

Guo Lichun closed his eyes, and resentment welled up.

He silently cursed: "Damn your mother, you bastard aren't any good either! I've already fallen to this low point, and you still want to add insult to injury! If you don't stab me, doesn't your conscience bother you?"