Chapter 548: Benefit Exchange? Fan Ye Won't Do It!

After leaving Wang Daochen's office, Chen Gang fell into an awkward dilemma, feeling like a suckling pig roasted over fire, both sides scorched, sizzling oil.

On one side, Lv Yizhi did not want to sit and wait for death.

Lv Yizhi wanted to make a big deal out of Qiao Lianzhou's suicide, using it as a pretext to forcibly suppress Lin Dongfan's determination to investigate to the bottom.

His attitude was clear: Lin Dongfan must be dealt with, at least to make him stop!

And on the other side...

Wang Daochen, the chief, had an ambiguous attitude.

Wang Daochen said, "I will get to the bottom of it," "It's not false," but then lightly tossed the question of how to handle Lin Dongfan aside like a ball.

It was obvious that Wang Daochen did not want to take action against Lin Dongfan.

After getting into his own special car, cutting off the outside world, Chen Gang allowed himself to show a hint of fatigue and irritation. He rubbed his throbbing temples, his mind quickly calculating the pros and cons.

Deal with Lin Dongfan?

The idea had just sprouted when it was nipped; that kid Lin Dongfan is a hornet's nest, you can't poke it!

Not to mention Lin Dongfan's mysterious background in Jingcheng.

Just based on Wang Daochen's vague attitude, one must be cautious! If I really were to "severely handle" Lin Dongfan, I fear the next person with no will to live would be me.

Lv Yizhi clearly wanted to use Chen Gang as a pawn; if successful, Lv Yizhi would eliminate a potential threat; if failed, Chen Gang would be the scapegoat, neither inside nor outside.

This losing deal cannot be done.

Not handle it?

This also seems unworkable; Lv Yizhi's side will definitely not let it rest.

Qiao Lianzhou becoming a vegetative state has too bad an impact; someone must step forward to take the blame and give an explanation to all sides.

Lv Yizhi has been operating in the province for years, his influence not to be underestimated; if he is really angered, he might not get off easily.

Moreover...

Procedurally speaking, Lin Dongfan's investigative approach is indeed too radical, giving people something to hold against him.

"It's tough..."

Chen Gang let out a quiet sigh, leaning back in his chair, closing his eyes to ponder.

In officialdom, sometimes it's not about distinguishing absolute right from wrong, but about weighing pros and cons; in reality, it's about how to avoid risks and seize trends.

This time...

It seems we can only muddy the waters.

We must neither let Lv Yizhi grab a handle to make a big fuss, nor actually move Lin Dongfan, that great Buddha; we need to find a balance point where everyone can step down gracefully.

Thinking this through, Chen Gang's train of thought gradually became clear.

Thinking that if Lin Dongfan could be stopped from relentlessly pursuing the corrupt line of Qiao Lianzhou, Lv Yizhi's side would have a breather, and likely would not insist on "handling Lin Dongfan".

Lv Yizhi is a sly old fox; unless absolutely necessary, he also does not want to offend the Jingcheng princeling.

After thinking it over for a while.

Chen Gang dialed Lin Dongfan's number, his tone returning to its usual steadiness, even with a hint of imperceptible warmth: "Dongfan, come to my office for a moment... Yes, regarding the Qiao Lianzhou matter, we need to have a deep discussion..."

Half an hour later, Lin Dongfan pushed open the door to Chen Gang's office.

Chen Gang rose enthusiastically, personally brewed a cup of tea for Lin Dongfan, then slowly got to the point, his expression turning grave: "Dongfan, what's the situation with Qiao Lianzhou's side?"

"The experts' consultation results are out; he will likely become a vegetative state, with little hope of waking up."

Lin Dongfan did not conceal it in the slightest; even if he didn't speak, the truth could not be hidden; those bigwigs in the province who are good at maneuvering, who doesn't have eyes and ears everywhere?

Chen Gang, after hearing that,

He let out another soft sigh: "Ah... Qiao Lianzhou, I never expected him to do such a foolish thing. No matter how great his mistake, ending it this way is ultimately unwise."

Saying this, Chen Gang carefully observed Lin Dongfan's reaction.

Seeing Lin Dongfan just listening quietly without showing emotion, he continued: "Now, public opinion is rising outside, and the pressure from Governor Lv's side is also great. Of course, your initial intent in handling the case is good, meant to clarify the problem. However, in terms of methods, there are indeed some points worth discussing, giving others a handle."

Seeing Lin Dongfan suddenly frown, Chen Gang felt that the preceding groundwork was about done.

Then he shifted the conversation.

Adopting a frank attitude, he told Lin Dongfan: "Dongfan, you're still young, with a bright future. Sometimes, handling a case also requires strategy, knowing how to assess the situation and stop at the right point. Now Qiao Lianzhou has become a vegetative state; digging deeper into this line would not be meaningful, and would instead easily provoke unnecessary controversy and speculation, which is not conducive to stabilizing the overall situation. In my view, this matter had best be dropped here."

"Prosecutor Chen, I don't understand what you mean."

Lin Dongfan pretended to understand while acting confused, putting on a bewildered expression.

Chen Gang helplessly explained: "What I mean is that the Huang Xiuju case should be dropped here. You've also been under considerable pressure lately; you've worked hard, I suggest you take a break for a while. Moreover, Deputy Prosecutor Li will be transferred next month; I intend to push you up to that position. During this time, taking Along vacation will conveniently let you avoid idle gossip."

Benefits!

In Chen Gang's view, only tangible benefits can hit the vital point!

Although Lin Dongfan is already a vice-department level, the deputy prosecutor is also vice-department, the position unchanged.

But the deputy prosecutor is a definite vice-department substantive post, its status slightly higher than that of the Anti-Corruption Bureau chief, which counts as a concrete benefit.

Chen Gang confidently believed that the deputy prosecutor position would definitely move Lin Dongfan's heart!

Unexpectedly, Lin Dongfan's brow tightened, and he suddenly retorted: "Prosecutor Chen, you wouldn't really think I'm handling the case just to gain merit and promotion, would you?"

"!!!"

Chen Gang felt a black line on his head, his whole body almost turning to stone!

What's the situation?

Could it be that I didn't hit the psychological vital point of this princeling?

In this world, are there really people who don't want to be promoted?

Truly, living to see ghosts!

Chen Gang gathered himself, steeled himself, and emphasized: "The deputy prosecutor is a key step for you to rise to the department level. First, hone your skills in this position for two years, then you can go further. Dongfan, the organization's arrangement is essentially to cultivate and reuse you; you should seize this opportunity well and not disappoint the organization's expectations."

Chen Gang's words were still quite steady.

He didn't say "I", but said "organization", raising personal power operations to organizational arrangements, which can to some extent avoid risk and avoid falling into gossip.

But what he didn't know was that Fan Ye said he doesn't want a promotion, that's truly not wanting a promotion!

Resign from office to go into business!

This is Fan Ye's ideal.

Even stepping back many steps, even if Fan Ye really wanted a promotion, there's no need to sacrifice his principles to curry favor with Chen Gang's olive branch.

Lin Dongfan, with a half-smile, turned the tables:

"Inspector Chen, I also want to wrap up the case quickly and take Along vacation. But I have a few questions I don't understand; could you please give me some guidance

First, Huang Xiuju and Qiao Lianzhou had no grudge against each other, so why did Qiao Lianzhou want to put her to death?

Second, Huang Xiuju's son Zhu Siming died on the operating table, but the hospital wouldn't let Huang Xiuju touch Zhu Siming's remains, sending him straight to the crematorium that day—is that reasonable?

Third, after several days of in-depth investigation, our Anti-Corruption Bureau can confirm one point: Qiao Lianzhou's bribery amount is less than two million.

Two million!

Among corrupt officials of his rank, he's considered a 'clean official'; even if he went to court, he wouldn't get the death penalty or life imprisonment, so why would he commit suicide?

These things that defy common sense just don't make sense.

Qiao Lianzhou is so tense and desperate; do you think it's possible that, besides corruption, he also did something outrageous that invites universal condemnation—something that could warrant the death penalty?"

Faced with Lin Dongfan's three sharp questions, Chen Gang collapsed on the spot.

He painfully realized he had severely underestimated the seriousness of the Huang Xiuju case! One slip-up and he almost became mindless cannon fodder.