Chapter 57

In order to detain Yin Qiuhong immediately and prevent her from further seizing the negatives of the memorial photo.

Lin Dongfan, on his way back to the city, called Leng Chuan, who then further contacted Chu Jinsong, and a swift counteroffensive storm thus kicked off.

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Chu Jinsong representing the Municipal Party Committee

Still on the way, Lin Dongfan received Leng Chuan's return call, being told not to return to the Qinghu Guesthouse but to go directly to the Municipal Party Committee Building No. 2 for a meeting.

On the other side, Lan Jie's photo studio in the town had its doors tightly shut.

Yin Qiuhong, accompanied by nine forest police, loitered at the photo studio's entrance, inquiring of nearby shop owners for Lan Jie's contact number, hoping to obtain the negatives of the memorial photo.

Hong Sihai, Party Group Secretary and Chief of the Forest Public Security Bureau

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"Director Hong, I'm still in Dongchuan Town; I have something here and can't leave for now."

"Don't tell me that; I don't want to know what you're doing! Immediately stop all your work and be at the Municipal Party Committee Building No. 2 for a meeting within thirty minutes!"

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He hadn't finished speaking when the phone emitted a series of beeps.

This indisputable tense atmosphere forced Yin Qiuhong to compromise, first returning to the city for the meeting.

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Yin Qiuhong sternly instructed the nine forest police: "Keep watching here; tonight you must find Lan Jie and get the negatives in hand."

"Director Yin, rest assured, we know what to do."

The leading forest police, despite a large bruise still on his face, still put on a show of unwavering loyalty.

Yin Qiuhong felt confident in these subordinates of hers and immediately said nothing more.

When Yin Qiuhong hurriedly arrived at the Municipal Party Committee Building No. 2, she was still a few minutes late; as soon as she entered the conference room, a strongly oppressive solemn atmosphere swept over her.

Lin Dongfan, who had clashed with her in the afternoon, had already arrived a step ahead of her and was seated in the spectators' section.

13 Standing Committee members

Leng Chuan, Team Leader of the 9·28 Special Case Group; Xu Liangyuan, Chief of the Municipal Public Security Bureau; Hong Sihai, Chief of the Forest Public Security Bureau

Gao Peng, Municipal Party Committee Secretary, pursuing further studies in Beijing

Xiao Yunce, Executive; Chu Jinsong, Deputy Municipal Party Committee Secretary and Political and Legal Affairs Committee Secretary

Yin Qiuhong wanted to find a seat to sit in the conference hall.

Chu Jinsong indifferently pointed to the row where Lin Dongfan was sitting and said, "Sit in the spectators' section."

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As she stepped into the spectators' section, Yin Qiuhong glanced at Xiao Yunce; seeing him calm and composed, she steadied herself and sat beside Lin Dongfan.

She thought that a gamble wasn't necessarily a loss; today, it was still uncertain who would win the prize.

"What happened today need not be repeated; I've already said it once." Chu Jinsong rapped his knuckles on the table and angrily criticized, "Some of our cadres are now utterly lawless!"

"Secretary Chu, don't get angry yet; perhaps first listen to Comrade Qiuhong's explanation," Xiao Yunce advised.

Chu Jinsong directed his gaze toward Yin Qiuhong.

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Yin Qiuhong had already risen to speak: "Regarding today's matter, I indeed acted impulsively; I will reflect..."

"Just a bit impulsive?" Lin Dongfan feigned skepticism: "Deputy Director Yin, have you forgotten what you did this afternoon? Shall I remind you?"

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Even from the moment the order to act was given, Yin Qiuhong had already prepared herself psychologically to face all of this.

Yin Qiuhong explained confidently: "Because there are some doubts in the September 28 forest fire case, superiors have issued instructions demanding that our Forest Faction restart the investigation procedure. This afternoon, we were also gathering evidence and carrying out the mission."

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Members of the Anti-corruption Special Case Group; Chief Leng

Upon hearing that, Lin Dongfan almost grabbed a chair to beat her mother.

Damn it, who's obstructing whom? How dare they, in front of all the city's leaders, swing a harrow like that, thinking being lowly makes them invincible?

Lin Dongfan glanced at Leng Chuan's reaction.

Old Leng was still the same old Leng, with an ice‑cold face throughout, showing no emotional fluctuation at all; his expression control was spot‑on.

Xu Liangjiu of the Municipal Public Security Bureau

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"That set of memorial photos was first taken by our task force. Now our task force members have been beaten, the evidence seized. I demand that the Nanzhou Municipal Party Committee and government give me a reasonable explanation."

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Leng Chuan's words sounded like he was putting pressure on those Nanzhou leaders.

But the impression given was still that his grip wasn't firm enough.

It's like when your own child gets beaten and you go to the other parent saying, "You owe me a reasonable explanation!" What's the point of an explanation? You should just beat them outright.

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Yin Qiuhong, Deputy Chief of the Forest Public Security Bureau

Moreover, they used police equipment and injured someone.

Regardless of Yin Qiuhong's reasons, violating discipline and law, this is an indisputable fact.

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If this matter were reported to the province, under normal circumstances Yin Qiuhong would very likely be expelled from both party and position. It's a sure‑win game; why leave any bargaining room for these grandsons?

I don't understand, I truly don't understand what's going on in Leng Lao Da's head.

Lin Dongfan stood up with a belly full of gloom.

He was about to speak out a couple of complaints.

Only saw Leng Chuan cast a complex glance, looking a little vexed yet also hinting a warning, silently seeming to ask: "Why did you stand up? Did nails grow on the chair? Can't you just sit calmly?"

That glance is too complex!

Helpless, Lin Dongfan sat back down in the chair.

At this moment, Xiao Yunce spoke:

"Director Leng, the deceased's portrait is indeed important evidence of the 9·28 forest fire. The Forest Faction is the responsible unit for the 9·28 forest fire case; Yin Qiuhong's actions today, though a bit extreme, are understandable emotionally. She too wants to re-investigate the truth of the forest fire and give the public an answer."

Have to say, Old Xiao's rhetoric is still pretty badass.

With a single move of "praise and blame combined" great supernatural power, he directly reduced the illegal and disciplinary violent action into a somewhat justifiable extreme act.

The key is you can't find any loophole in his logic.

Chu Jinsong suppressed his anger and smiled: "Mayor Xiao, what do you think should be done about Yin Qiuhong's issue?"

"My suggestion is to suspend her for inspection, let her reflect."

He paused briefly.

Xiao Yunce shifted gears: "Considering the 9·28 forest fire case has been reopened for investigation, and Yin Qiuhong is the primary responsible person for this case. Secretary Chu, do you think this would work? Give Yin Qiuhong a chance to redeem herself through merit. If the case is solved, merit offsets fault; if not, future penalties will be combined."

"Mayor Xiao, isn't this punishment plan essentially no punishment at all?" Xu Liangyuan of the City Bureau laughed: "The comrades from the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau and Changming Sub-bureau will probably not accept it in their hearts."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunce gave a faint smile without speaking, thinking: You, Xu Liangyuan, have only been in charge of the Faction for a few days? Rushing to jump out and perform, aren't you afraid of throwing out your back?

Chu Jinsong asked Leng Chuan: "Director Leng, what's your opinion?"

"Since everyone is working for the job, I respect the decision of the Nanzhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government. But Director Xu also makes sense; I hope you can make a prudent decision." Leng Chuan replied calmly and composedly.

Chu Jinsong carefully concluded: "Combining all opinions, give Yin Qiuhong a chance to redeem herself through merit, keep her administrative post unchanged; at the same time, put her under party probation for two years, stripping all her party positions. Does anyone have any objections to this decision?"

Everyone present remained silent.

Giving Yin Qiuhong a chance to redeem herself through merit, retaining her administrative post as deputy director of the Forest Faction, this is a compromise toward Xiao Yunce.

And putting her under party probation for two years is to give Leng Chuan an explanation.

Party probation for two years!

This counts as a relatively heavy punishment—not only stripping all party positions, but also during the party probation period there is no voting right, election right, or right to be elected.

Chu Jinsong's conclusion obviously aims to smooth things over.

This forced Lin Dongfan to ponder a question: Why does Old Boss Leng not report this to the province, and why does his father-in-law also want to smooth things over?

After a little thought, Lin Dongfan suddenly understood much.

Participants in today's violent clash included, besides the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau personnel, also members of the Forest Faction and the Changming Sub-bureau's criminal investigation detachment.

This matter seriously damaged Nanzhou's public security image and political-legal order.

If this were reported to the province, the father-in-law who oversees political and legal work would likely also be hard-pressed to avoid blame. To take down Yin Qiuhong while dragging in a political and legal committee secretary, this fight is indeed not worth it; both sides can only step back.

This is probably also the main reason why Yin Qiuhong dared to violently seize the portrait.

Yin Qiuhong, that little vixen, had long anticipated that Leng Chuan and Chu Jinsong wouldn't dare report the matter to the province, playing a game of acting recklessly because she feels secure.

Lin Dongfan took out his phone and sent a message to Yin Qiuhong: "Little vixen, you're quite far-sighted."

"Messing with you is just like playing!"

Yin Qiuhong sat beside Lin Dongfan; at the venue she didn't dare to open her mouth to insult him, just like Lin Dongfan, clutching her phone to wage a text-message war.

Lin Dongfan mocked with a smile: "Put under party probation for two years, and you still feel proud—really full of swagger! Your boss Xiao is so badass, why doesn't he help you get this party discipline punishment lifted?"

"Your boss Chu is also pretty badass, why doesn't he just slap me to death?" After replying to the message, Yin Qiuhong gave Lin Dongfan a sideways glance.

Lin Dongfan quickly replied: "You're not worthy of having Boss Chu personally take action. Dealing with you, I, Lin Dongfan, am enough; sooner or later I'll beat you to death."

"I suspect you're driving; even if I lie flat, do you dare to mount me?" Yin Qiuhong chuckled lightly.

Lin Dongfan typed with a smile:

"Is your face as pretty as my wife's, or your body as good as my wife's? Don't come nauseating me. When I say I'll beat you to death, I really mean it! Have you seen a fist as big as a sandbag?"