Chapter 778

Seven days later, the mayor's office.

Lin Dongfan had more than a dozen documents piled before him, all "answer sheets" submitted by the departments. As he flipped through them one by one, Fan Ye's face grew black to the extreme.

Ten thousand grass-mud horses in my heart, galloping and roaring!

"The Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau's report ran a full eight pages, of which seven and a half pages were excerpts from policy provisions, and the final half page drew a conclusion: In view of the unclear property rights and other historical legacy issues, it recommends maintaining the original compensation plan (500,000), but appropriately increasing the consolation money from a humanitarian perspective (200,000)."

This compensation amount in Wuzhou only covers the down payment on a new home; where is the orphaned widow supposed to live?

And there's the Petitions Bureau's report, also a thick stack.

It consists entirely of petition case numbers and handover records, and finally, in bold red type, summarizes: All petition matters have been transferred according to procedure, with a resolution rate of 100%.

A 100% resolution rate, yet not a single problem solved—what a damn irony!

The report submitted by the Western Suburb Street Office is even more outrageous; throughout it talks about having done a lot of mass ideological work, striving to resolve conflicts, and maintaining social stability, but regarding the specific matters of Liu Guizhi's family, there is only a simple sentence: "We have communicated many times and will continue to patiently guide."

Finally, the Public Security Bureau's report.

Lin Dongfan opened this report, read only three lines, and got so angry he threw the report onto the table.

The report states:

After investigation, Liu Jianjun's death was due to a sudden onset of his own illness.

On the day of the incident, Chengxin Company employee Wang Lao San (the bald man who assaulted the memorial hall) and others indeed had an argument with Liu Jianjun, but there was no direct physical conflict.

As for the accusation of snatching medicine, the evidence is insufficient.

Wang Lao San and others' acts of smashing the memorial hall and threatening the family members are suspected of provoking trouble; it is proposed that Wang Lao San be given an administrative detention of fifteen days and a fine of one thousand yuan.

That's it, so lightly.

One life, a family shattered, ultimately reduced to 'an argument' and 'provoking trouble,' finding a hooligan to take the blame and call it a day.

"Damn it! Forcing me to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys."

Lin Dongfan snorted in anger, his heart sharpening its knives toward the pigs and dogs.

He picked up the internal line and told Secretary Xiao Chen: "Notify the head of the Municipal Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission, just say I'd like to invite him over for a chat about work."

Half an hour later, Municipal Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission Secretary Shi Liantang pushed the door and entered.

He was a man in his early fifties, not tall, with a gaunt face, wearing a pair of old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses, looking like a middle school teacher.

But his eyes were bright, with a penetrating gaze when he looked at people.

"Mayor Lin."

Shi Liantang's voice was calm, his handshake firm.

"Secretary Shi, sorry to disturb you." Lin Dongfan invited him to sit, personally poured tea: "I asked you to come today to seek advice on some work matters."

Shi Liantang took the teacup, didn't drink, set it on the table: "Mayor Lin, you're too polite; just give any instructions."

"Not really instructions."

Lin Dongfan pushed the several reports on the table toward him: "Take a look at this first."

Shi Liantang carefully read each report one by one, his face showing no expression.

After finishing, he took off his glasses, wiped the lenses, put them back on, and asked: "Mayor Lin, what do you want me to look at?"

"Looking at perfunctoriness, looking at buck-passing, looking at blatant cover-up." Lin Dongfan's voice turned cold: "One life, seven days of investigation, and this is the conclusion they reached. Secretary Shi, do you think this is normal?"

Shi Liantang fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "Mayor Lin, the Discipline Inspection Commission handles cases based on evidence and procedure. These reports… on the surface, they follow the process."

"Surface?" Lin Dongfan stared at him, lightly joking: "Secretary Shi, when Secretary Chu was in charge of Wuzhou, you were his old subordinate. He often mentioned you to me, saying you're someone who can't tolerate a speck of sand in your eye. Now that Secretary Chu has been transferred, can you tolerate sand in your eye?"

That was a heavy remark.

Shi Liantang lifted his eyes to look at Lin Dongfan, his gaze complex.

After a while, he sighed: "Mayor Lin, since you brought up the old leader, I'll say a few heartfelt words."

He lifted his teacup and took a sip.

He explained calmly: "The situation in Wuzhou is more complex than you see. Some things aren't that we don't want to investigate; we can't, because pulling one thread moves the whole body."

"So you're just not going to investigate?" Lin Dongfan asked: "Just watch those people continue to run amok? Watch ordinary folks like Liu Guizhi keep being bullied?"

"Of course not." Shi Liantang set down his teacup, leaned forward slightly: "But investigating requires a method, a breakthrough. Like now, all departments follow the 'rules,' their reports are watertight; even if you slam the table and shout, what can you do? At most it's just criticism and education, neither painful nor itchy."

He paused, lowered his voice: "Mayor Lin, if you want to draw your sword, you must first find a vital point that can be struck down with one blow."

Lin Dongfan's eyes shifted: "What do you mean?"

"This Public Security Bureau report is the weak point." Shi Liantang pointed at that report: "Wang Lao San, a petty street thug, what gives him the nerve to be so arrogant? Who's backing him? Why did the investigators wrap up the case so hastily? There's plenty of shady dealings in here."

He leaned back into the chair, his tone calm again: "On our side, the Discipline Inspection Commission has also recently received some petitions about the public security system. However, they're all anonymous letters, making verification difficult."

"What if I could provide leads?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Shi Liantang looked at him: "What leads?"

"Right now, Liu Guizhi has in her hands twenty thousand cash personally delivered by Zhao Tianyu, as hush money." Lin Dongfan spoke frankly: "Besides, on the day of the incident, there were at least a dozen eyewitnesses on site. Although no one dares to step forward now, once someone takes the lead, others will follow."

"Eyewitnesses need protection." Shi Liantang reminded.

"I have this arranged." Lin Dongfan asked: "You just need to give me a word—if this isn't first reported to Secretary Wang, do you dare to investigate or not?"

……!!!

Shi Liantang pondered for Along time, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.

The office was very quiet.

Only the clock on the wall ticked.

Finally, Shi Liantang spoke: "Mayor Lin, do you know why Secretary Wang has been able to sit steadily in Wuzhou for so many years?"

"Please advise."

Lin Dongfan listened attentively.

Because he knows the art of balance, he must balance the interests of each department; he must balance the relationships above; he must also balance economic development and social stability. In his system, everyone has a place, and everyone must follow his rules. Whoever disrupts the balance is the outsider.

He paused, looking at Lin Dongfan: 'You now are that outsider.'

Lin Dongfan laughed: "Just let the outsider be an outsider. Secretary Shi, I only ask you one thing: do you want to continue as a peaceful official in this balance system, or do you want to join me and be an outsider?"

This question was blunt, even somewhat offensive.

But Shi Liantang did not get angry.

He remained silent for Along time, so long that Lin Dongfan thought he wouldn't answer.

Then he slowly rose to his feet, walked to the window, and looked down at the municipal government compound.

"The former leader shared a drink with me before he left." Shi Liantang turned his back to Lin Dongfan, recalling with mixed feelings: "He said, 'Little Shi, over these years in Wuzhou, the thing I regret most is letting down those who believed in us, the common folk. There are things I wanted to do but didn't manage; if you ever get another chance, make up for them for me.'"

Saying this, he turned around again, and there was a light in his eyes behind the glasses.

As if he had made a decision.

He then asked Lin Dongfan: "What do you need me to do?"

Lin Dongfan also rose to his feet, walked to his side, and spoke in a steady, powerful voice:

"First, the Discipline Inspection Commission shall immediately set up a special task force to investigate the dereliction and malfeasance of the Public Security Bureau in handling the Liu Jianjun death case.

The focus is whether the handling officers took bribes or deliberately covered up.

Second, conduct a preliminary investigation into Chengxin Demolition Company and its behind-the-scenes Zhao Group. Especially their violent actions during the demolition in the western suburbs, and any possible transfer of interests.

Third, I need you to send a reliable person to contact the insiders of the West Suburbs Street Office and the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, to see if any comrades are willing to speak the truth.

A fortress is most easily breached from within.

After hearing these three requests, Shi Liantang nodded thoughtfully: "The first two, I can arrange right away. The third will take time and also depend on luck."

"I understand." Lin Dongfan extended his hand: "Secretary Shi, thank you."

Their hands clasped together.

Shi Liantang's hand was thin but strong.

He looked at Lin Dongfan, suddenly smiled: "Mayor Lin, do you know? Today coming to see me, you actually took a great risk. If I turned around and told this to Secretary Wang, you'd be in a very passive position."

"I know."

Lin Dongfan also smiled: "But my father-in-law once said, you're not that kind of person; otherwise you wouldn't have been transferred from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission to Wuzhou years ago for sticking to your principles."

Shi Liantang stared for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile: "The former leader even told you that. All right, then I won't hide it either. Mayor Lin, since this sword has been drawn, it must draw blood. Otherwise, next time you try to draw it, it'll be difficult."

"Rest assured." Lin Dongfan's eyes sharp: "This sword will not be sheathed until it draws blood."

Outside the window, the sky grew dark.

The lights of the municipal government building lit up floor by floor, like a huge chessboard.

And on the chessboard, a piece that had lain dormant for years finally began to move.

As Shi Liantang left, he paused at the door, turned back and added: "By the way, Mayor Lin, Li Political Commissar of the Public Security Bureau has a son studying in Australia; his expenses are not small. His wife opened a tea shop last year, and business is unusually good. This is just for reference."

The door closed gently.

Lin Dongfan stood by the window, watching Shi Liantang's car drive out of the compound and disappear into the twilight.

He picked up his phone and dialed Lao Ba's number:

"Lao Ba, send people to protect Liu Guizhi and her daughter around the clock. Also, find a few clever ones to loiter near the West Suburbs Primary School. I want to see who dares to move against the children."

After hanging up, he sat back at his desk, opened the Public Security Bureau's report, and drew a circle around the three characters "Wang Lao San".

Then, beside it, he wrote a single character—kill!