Chapter 792

As expected, after Liu Guizhi held up a banner and presented the commendation banner, criticism of Lin Dongfan has been growing throughout the city.

Named entities: Liu Guizhi (person), Lin Dongfan (person), commendation banner (item). Also possibly "throughout the city" is generic. Person names must be rendered in pinyin, not translated.

But note: The glossary list only includes those specific terms; we must reuse exact English from glossary for terms already listed. For others, we need to provide pinyin for person names, place names, etc. However, the instruction: "Use glossary names exactly as provided." For terms not in glossary, we need to translate them according to rules: person names -> pinyin, place names -> pinyin if meaningless proper noun, else translate meaning. For sects, etc., translate meaning.

Thus we need to produce glossary list after translation, listing every named entity / coined term appearing in these lines, with the English forms we used (pinyin or translated). The glossary should list each unique named entity.

We must output after all lines: ===TITLE=== then translation of title, then

They had just snatched Li Chuangen up, putting on a proper front; the next moment they were rallying the crowd to give themselves face—some people really have no shame.

When it comes to putting on a show, someone admits to being second best, and nobody dares claim second.

They're born with a golden spoon in the Jing circle, a princeling; you may not like it but you have to accept it—didn't you see that even the top boss has to yield three points? Five million in compensation, say approve and it's approved.

……

Such mocking voices were rampant, continually transmitted into Lin Dongfan's ears.

Even Master Fan was so calm it was a mess.

All along pretending not to have heard.

But this does not mean Master Fan is a ninja turtle; strictly speaking, Master Fan never had the talent for enduring humiliation and bearing burdens; he was merely waiting for an opportunity to set things right.

Monday afternoon.

City Government Conference Room No. 1.

Around the oval redwood long table sat a full crowd, the air filled with a subtle tension.

All the department heads had arrived—Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Land, Environmental Protection, Industry and Commerce, Taxation…—each leader sat upright, waiting for the leadership to set the tone.

Seated at the head, Lin Dongfan had no thick stack of documents before him, only a cup of tea and a pen.

He scanned the room.

Where his gaze fell, some lowered their heads pretending to take notes, while others lifted their tea cups to hide their nervous expressions.

"Everyone's here, let's start the meeting."

Lin Dongfan got straight to the point, his voice not loud but clear enough: "Today's agenda is just one item: the special rectification of enterprise-related issues across the city."

A slight commotion rose in the conference room.

The enterprise-related issues mentioned here mainly refer to illegal fees, illegal fines, and illegal apportionment, and the two excesses, which had been discussed before on a small scale.

Everyone present knows that the term refers to illegal fees, illegal fines, and illegal apportionment; while the two excesses refer to many overdue payments to enterprises and many restrictive competition clauses.

These are several knives hanging over enterprises' heads, and also fatty meat in the bowls of some people.

"First, I'll report a set of data." Lin Dongfan picked up the tablet beside him, swiped the screen: "In the past year, the city's enterprise complaint and reporting platform received a total of 327 enterprise-related complaints, of which 189 reflected illegal fees, illegal fines, and illegal apportionment, as well as the two excesses—many overdue payments to enterprises and many restrictive competition clauses—accounting for nearly sixty percent. These complaints involved 18 departments and units, among which……"

Saying this, Lin Dongfan turned his gaze to the director of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau: "Complaints related to planning and construction total 45."

He then looked to the director of the Environmental Protection Bureau: "Complaints related to environmental protection enforcement total 38."

He then turned to the director of the Industry and Commerce Bureau: "Complaints related to market supervision total 29……"

With each number he read,

The person named would see their face darken a bit.

"Only less than thirty percent of these complaints are actually resolved in the end." Lin Dongfan set down the tablet: "Most are just official replies of 'investigation shows the allegations are unfounded' or 'already urged rectification.' Companies dare to be angry but dare not speak, swallowing their anger. Why? Because they fear offending the administrative departments, fearing later retaliation."

He scanned the room again.

His voice sank:

I just want to ask everyone here—now the real economy is so tough, the survival pressure on small and medium enterprises is so great, you don't think of ways to optimize the business environment and reduce enterprise burdens, but instead resort to various means to extort, set up tolls, and reach out for money! How is it that if you don't do this, you can't survive?

This sharp criticism left the conference room deathly silent.

Usually when Secretary Wang chairs the meeting, he wouldn't be so blunt. Lin Dongfan is picking up a club and smashing everyone's heads, as if the whole world is turbid and only he is clear.

Everyone present had some pent-up anger.

The over-fifty, thin-haired director of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, Zhou, spoke up with effort: "Mayor Lin, the data you mentioned……might be one-sided. Our planning and approvals are lawful and compliant, fee standards are open and transparent, and there is simply no phenomenon of illegal fees or illegal apportionment……"

"Is that so?"

Lin Dongfan interrupted him.

He directly posed the question: "But recently a business owner told me that the Guanghua Science and Technology Park project in East City took eight months to get the planning permit, with materials supplemented seventeen times back and forth, and just the 'expert review fee' was paid six times, totaling over 800,000. Does this count as indirectly increasing enterprise burden?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou choked on the spot, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

Lin Dongfan then turned to the director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, Tang: "Director Tang, what exactly is going on with the Hongsheng Chemical Plant in the western suburbs? Don't you want to explain?"

Director Tang replied dismissively: "Mayor Lin, our environmental protection enforcement is also for protecting the environment; some enterprises do indeed have illegal discharges……"

"Illegal—these two words have become a universal key in your hands!"

Lin Dongfan's voice and expression turned angry and stern:

"Last year, the Hongsheng Chemical Plant was penalized by you nine times, with a total fine of 2.3 million!"

According to my understanding:

The enterprise's pollution control facilities are complete, and its emission data have consistently met standards.

Why fine it?

Because each inspection can dig up a new problem!

It's either that the hazardous waste label is stuck crooked, or the ledger is missing a line of text! Are you enforcing the law, or just looking for trouble?

Faced with this harsh and biting criticism, Director Tang's face turned purple, his heart apparently having ten thousand curses roaring, yet he dared not make a sound.

The atmosphere in the conference room dropped to freezing point.

Lin Dongfan looked around the room, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable force:

Today's meeting, I'm not here to listen to your grievances, nor to bargain with you. The special rectification plan has already been issued by the Discipline Inspection Commission. Starting today, the Leading Group's office will set up a special complaint channel; any issues related to illegal fees, illegal fines, and illegal apportionment, as well as the two excesses—many overdue payments to enterprises and many restrictive competition clauses—should be reported directly to me.

Seeing everyone present lower their heads and remain silent.

Lin Dongfan then emphasized:

"First, each department shall conduct a self‑check within three days, listing all enterprise‑related fees and fines items with their basis and standards."

Anything unreasonable shall be cancelled outright!

"Second, re‑examine all enterprise‑related complaints and reports from the past two years; refund where due, hold accountable where due."

"Third, focus on checking whether there is any graft, kickbacks, or benefit‑transfer in the approval procedures for major city projects in recent years."

Especially projects involving large enterprises like the Zhao Group, we must get to the bottom of them!

Just uttering the four words "Zhao Group" seemed to release a suffocating chill, making the atmosphere in the meeting room much more solemn.

Wang Qigang's confidant, Li Bin, the director of the Municipal Party Committee Office sitting at the side, couldn't help but speak: "Mayor Lin, the Zhao Group is a key enterprise in the city, isn't it..."

"Precisely because it is a key enterprise, it should be protected all the more."

Lin Dongfan went with the flow.

Yet his tone was calm and ruthless: "We are rectifying the 'three chaos and two excesses', optimizing the business environment; the beneficiaries are precisely these law-abiding enterprises. If the Zhao Group has no issues, it will naturally withstand investigation."

Having said that, Lin Dongfan didn't continue, but everyone understood the meaning.

Today's meeting, frankly speaking, is just using this as a pretext to take action!

Lin Dongfan used the rectification of the 'three chaos and two excesses' as an excuse, striking left and right! One arrow aimed at the department heads who obey Wang Qigang, to 'knock the mountain to shake the tiger'; another arrow aimed at the Zhao Group, to 'cast a stone to test the waters'.

His sharpness was such that Li Bin embarrassedly closed his mouth.

"Meeting adjourned."

Lin Dongfan stood up: "The plan will be issued today; all departments must implement it promptly. I want to see actual action, not just written reports!"