Chapter 547

Ambulances wailed all the way, sending the unconscious Qiao Lianzhou to the emergency center of the provincial Renmin Yiyuan.

The red light in the resuscitation room blazed blindingly.

Lin Dongfan, Peng Tianhua and others stood guard outside, the atmosphere heavy. The thick smell of gas seemed still to linger at the tip of the nose, mixing with the hospital's disinfectant, making hearts feel like pins and needles.

After a tense rescue, the door of the resuscitation room finally opened.

The attending doctor walked out looking exhausted, pulling off his mask.

"Doctor, how is he?" Lin Dongfan stepped forward immediately to ask.

The doctor shook his head, his tone grave: "For now his life is saved, but the situation is not optimistic."

"What do you mean, not optimistic?" Peng Tianhua asked, a bit confused.

The doctor patiently explained to Lin Dongfan and Peng Tianhua: "The patient suffers from carbon monoxide poisoning combined with a large dose of sedative drug poisoning. Either condition alone is extremely dangerous; now they are superimposed, the damage to the brain can be described as devastating, not optimistic."

"Nonsense, who doesn't know poisoning is dangerous? You still haven't made it clear—what the hell does 'not optimistic' even mean?" Peng Tianhua said sternly: "Speak plainly, with confidence—can you actually save him or not?"

"Well…"

The doctor pushed up his glasses.

After a moment of hesitation.

He then proceeded to give a straightforward science lesson to these two medical novices before him:

"Carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, whose affinity is over 200 times that of oxygen.

This causes the blood's oxygen‑carrying capacity to plummet, leading to severe hypoxia in tissues and organs throughout the body, especially the brain.

The brain is the organ most sensitive to hypoxia.

If hypoxia lasts beyond a certain time, brain cells undergo irreversible necrosis and apoptosis.

Having said that, the doctor glanced at Lin Dongfan and Peng Tianhua's reactions; seeing these two medical novices still looking bewildered, he realized they still didn't grasp what the hell 'not optimistic' meant!

So…

The doctor, feeling vexed, continued the lecture:

"While suffering carbon monoxide poisoning, Qiao Lianzhou also took a large dose of sleeping pills. This drug severely suppresses the central nervous system, especially the respiratory and cardiovascular centers.

This causes breathing to slow and blood pressure to drop, further worsening the brain's hypoxia and ischemia.

Although we promptly administered hyperbaric oxygen therapy, drug antagonism, and supportive care for Qiao Lianzhou, the poisoning lasted a while, and his cerebral cortex and deep structures—such as the hippocampus and basal ganglia—have already suffered widespread, diffuse damage; from now on we can only do our best and leave the rest to fate.

Hearing this, Lin Dongfan reacted a bit faster than Peng Tianhua, at least grasping one thing: Qiao Lianzhou might not die, but he is likely to become brain‑dead, or in other words, a vegetative state.

Lin Dongfan asked glumly: "What are the odds of ending up vegetative?"

"Very high," the doctor replied without hesitation.

Peng Tianhua flared up at once: "What does 'very high' mean? Speak plainly! Give me a figure I can understand, like a percentage."

"99%."

The doctor weighed his words.

He continued the lecture for these two medical novices: "A persistent vegetative state, commonly called vegetative, means the patient may retain basic vital signs such as breathing, heartbeat, and sleep, and may even open and close his eyes unconsciously, but higher cognitive functions—consciousness, thought, emotion, awareness of self and surroundings—will be essentially lost. Whether he will wake up, when, is medically hard to predict; hope is slim.

Vegetative!

Those three words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.

Although Qiao Lianzhou got what he deserved, ending his political life—and even a normal person's consciousness—in this way still evokes regret.

Damn it!

If Qiao Lianzhou never wakes up, how are we supposed to follow the vine to melon?

……

That afternoon, in the office of Provincial Party Secretary Wang Daochen.

The atmosphere was even more oppressive than in the hospital resuscitation room.

Executive Vice Governor Lv Yizhi and Provincial Prosecutor General Chen Gang sat left and right on the sofa, their expressions and tones both heavy to the extreme.

"Secretary Wang, although we feel deep sorrow over this incident, we also bear an inescapable leadership responsibility," Lv Yizhi spoke first, lowering his posture, but then shifted: "However, I believe it is necessary to report the cause clearly to you."

Chen Gang immediately chimed in, his tone laced with restrained indignation: "Secretary Wang, Comrade Qiao Lianzhou certainly has his problems, but he does not deserve death, nor should he have been driven to a dead‑end! This affair is entirely the result of Comrade Lin Dongfan's serious overreach and violent interference in the Huang Shuju case."

"Oh? Please elaborate."

Wang Daochen leaned back in his chair, fingers lightly tapping the desk, giving no hint of pleasure or anger.

Chen Gang said: "As head of the Anti‑Corruption Bureau, Lin Dongfan's duty is to investigate corruption, bribery, dereliction of duty, and infringement—official crimes! The Huang Shuju case, however, is a criminal case! Lin Dongfan, waving the anti‑corruption banner, forcibly pointed fingers at judicial procedure, even repeatedly pressuring Qiao Lianzhou; that is the root cause."

Lv Yizhi neither agreed nor disagreed, merely nodding.

Building on Chen Gang's remarks, he added: "This is no longer simple overreach; he is seriously undermining judicial independence, using power to suppress law! Even if the Yuezhou Municipal Public Security Bureau and Procuratorate really mishandled a case, it's not his place to interfere arbitrarily—how can grassroots political‑legal cadres carry out their work then?"

Chen Gang then intensified his tone:

"Especially his investigative methods, which are downright brutal!

On the day Huang Shuju was released, Qiao Lianzhou brought media reporters to the detention center gate to receive her, intending to implement correction and rectification, to restore public trust in the political‑legal system.

Instead, Lin Dongfan humiliated him in front of the media.

Later, when Qiao Lianzhou attempted suicide on the rooftop, Lin Dongfan and Peng Tianhua, under the pretense of rescue, subjected him to personal humiliation.

This caused extremely negative social repercussions.

Afterward, Lin Dongfan sent people to the Yuezhou Procuratorate to hold talks that made everyone feel insecure, even stationing guards outside their doors.

How is this conducting an investigation?

This is clearly mental coercion and psychological torture!

Comrade Qiao Lianzhou ultimately suffered a mental breakdown under this enormous, abnormal pressure, driving him to take his own life!

Perhaps the most terrifying art in the world is the art of interpreting language!

The very same matter.

Lin Dongfan could offer the explanation "it ought to be this way," while Chen Gang could equally voice the criticism "how could this be reasonable?" The key is that neither side lied; they simply held different positions and perspectives.

Chen Gang and Lv Yizhi echoed each other.

The two cleverly shifted the root cause of Qiao Lianzhou's suicide from his own corruption and fear of punishment entirely onto Lin Dongfan's alleged overreach and rough handling of cases.

This posed no difficulty whatsoever.

Lv Yizhi then concluded:

"Secretary Wang, anti-corruption is correct, but we must observe rules, procedures, and methods! We cannot pursue so-called performance at all costs, even to the point of driving a cadre to death!"

Comrade Lin Dongfan's such disregard for the overall situation and willful recklessness.

It not only harmed Comrade Qiao Lianzhou, but also severely damaged the image and unity of our Baiyue Province's political and legal forces, with extremely negative impact!

I suggest…

Immediately correct Comrade Lin Dongfan's mistaken practices and impose serious disciplinary measures on him!

The two finished speaking.

The office fell into a brief silence.

Wang Daochen slowly lifted his teacup, blew away the foam, his gaze sweeping over Lv Yizhi and Chen Gang's faces, and lightly smiling asked: "So, your conclusion is that Comrade Qiao Lianzhou had no issues at all, and this all resulted solely from Comrade Lin Dongfan's disregard for rules? Regarding the Huang Xiuju case, the Yuezhou Municipal Public Security Bureau and the procuratorate really bear no responsibility? Is it truly that Comrade Lin Dongfan is making trouble for no reason?"

Though his question was light and airy, it was like a needle that precisely pierced the psychological defenses of Lv Yizhi and Chen Gang.

The two were momentarily speechless.

Their complexions turned somewhat unnatural.

Wang Daochen set down his teacup, his voice still calm but carrying undeniable weight: "The matter, I will clarify. Comrade Qiao Lianzhou's situation will be given full medical treatment. As for work-related issues…"

He paused, his eyes turning sharp: "I believe, the real cannot be fake, and the fake cannot be real; don't rush to conclusions."

Upon hearing this, Lv Yizhi's face darkened to the extreme.

He could bear it no longer and emphasized:

"Secretary Wang, the matter concerning Comrade Qiao Lianzhou will be followed up by the Provincial Procuratorate; if he is indeed suspected of dereliction of duty and abuse of power in the Huang Xiuju case, then whatever handling is warranted will be carried out!"

"At the same time…"

"Regarding Comrade Lin Dongfan's overreach interfering with judicial order and driving a prosecutor to suicide twice, this too must be taken seriously—handle it as warranted, and absolutely cannot be let off lightly."

As his words fell, the entire office fell into dead silence.

Force Wang Daochen to handle Lin Dongfan!

Old Lu's gall is not small!

Wang Daochen still wore an unruffled smile, shifting his gaze to Chen Gang: "Prosecutor Chen, Lin Dongfan is your subordinate; how to handle this is up to you to decide."

«!!!

Chen Gang broke out in a cold sweat, "Damn it, how did the ball get kicked to my feet?" If I dared to handle Lin Dongfan, would I need to come to you to complain?