Chapter 811: Roll Call at the Meeting

Seeing off Yang Xiaoju and her daughter, the office fell quiet.

Shi Liantang carefully spread those few slips of paper on the coffee table, then picked up the broken-screen phone: 'Mayor Lin, I've had the tech department restore the phone's data. As for these slips……'

"Investigate."

Lin Dongfan picked up the slip labeled '3.18-Su-8000': 'March 18, Su Qingyu, 8,000 yuan. Go check the consumption records at Blue Wave Pond that day to see if that's the amount.'

"Understood." Shi Liantang noted it down.

"And there's this 'Yuan-fish'."

Lin Dongfan picked up the corresponding slip: 'Check all of Yuan Ben Zhong's consumption records at Blue Wave Pond to see just how many 'fish' he actually 'ate'.'

Shi Liantang pushed up his glasses: 'Those records should be available at the fishing spot. But Yuan Ben Zhong's consumption is all recorded under Su Qingyu's account, so……'

"Then let's investigate Su Qingyu." Lin Dongfan said: 'Can the accounts of Green Wild Landscaping stand up to scrutiny?'

The two exchanged a glance, both understanding what that meant.

Su Qingyu is the son-in-law of the Zhao Group and Zhao Tianyu's brother-in-law. Investigating him is tantamount to moving against the Zhao Group. And behind this, there may well be involvement from even higher up.

But Lin Dongfan's eyes were firm: 'Since we've started, there's no turning back. Yuan Ben Zhong must be investigated, and Su Qingyu must be investigated. Whoever should be investigated will be investigated—no one can be let off.'

Shi Liantang took a deep breath: 'All right, I'll arrange it right away.'

"Wait a moment."

Lin Dongfan called him back: 'Retrieve Chen Lao Ban's phone recording as soon as possible. Also, check where driver Lao Liu of Yuan Ben Zhong was that night and what he did.'

"You suspect……"

"Not suspicion, but verification." Lin Dongfan said: 'If Chen Lao Ban truly was driven to despair after being beaten, then whoever did the beating won't get away.'

Shi Liantang nodded and hurried out.

The office was left with only Lin Dongfan; he picked up the slip labeled 'Yuan-fish' and stared at it for Along time.

A tiny slip of paper, just two simple characters.

Yet behind it lay the helplessness of an ordinary citizen and the arrogance of an official.

He carefully put the slip away.

He dialed the internal line: 'Xiao Chen, notify everyone to hold a special meeting this afternoon. Topic—regulating leaders' off‑duty conduct and strengthening integrity and self‑discipline.'

"All right, Mayor Lin, who should attend?" Xiao Chen asked.

"All division‑level and above officials across the city." Lin Dongfan paused, then added: 'Special emphasis—every member of the Land Resources Bureau leadership must be present.'

After hanging up, Lin Dongfan walked to the window.

Downstairs, Shi Liantang's car was driving out of the City Government compound. It would first take Yang Xiaoju and her daughter home, then head straight to the Discipline Inspection Office case‑handling point.

A storm was brewing.

At this very moment, Yuan Ben Zhong was in his luxurious office, taking Su Qingyu's phone call.

"Bureau Chief, the arrangements for tonight are set—the few new girls are all nice; you'll definitely like them."

"Sure, Old Su, I trust you to handle things." Yuan Ben Zhong said with a grin: 'By the way, has the Blue Wave Pond matter been cleaned up?'

"This matter… we'd already settled it—pay and keep quiet." Su Qingyu said helplessly: 'I don't know what happened, but Yang Xiaoju seems to have changed her mind; I heard she went to the City Government today.'

Yuan Ben Zhong's face shifted slightly: 'What is she going there to do?'

"I don't know." Su Qingyu said: 'Bureau Chief, should we……'

"No need."

Yuan Ben Zhong snorted coldly: 'What can a widow stir up? Let her make a fuss; she'll tire herself out and stop. Mayor Lin's just arrived, too—he's putting on a show, receiving petitioners, understandable.'

He paused, then his tone lightened: 'What time tonight? I'll come over after my meeting here.'

"Seven o'clock, the usual place."

"All right."

After hanging up, Yuan Ben Zhong leaned back in his leather swivel chair and crossed his legs.

He felt completely at ease.

What could a widow whose husband's dead possibly do to him? Yuan Ben Zhong has been operating in Wuzhou for years—what storms hasn't he seen?

And what about Lin Dongfan? An appointed mayor with an unsteady base—what can he do to him?

He hummed a little tune, picked up the desk calendar, and flipped to next week.

Next Tuesday, the plot in East City is slated for approval. He's already 'coordinated' the floor‑area‑ratio adjustment plan; once it passes, another sum will go into his pocket.

Thinking of that, Yuan Ben Zhong's mood brightened considerably.

Afternoon.

The special meeting commenced on time.

Lin Dongfan sat in the center of the presidium, holding the document titled 'Several Opinions on Further Regulating Leaders' Off‑Duty Conduct (Draft for Comments)', and read it aloud word for word.

Below, the city's division‑level and above officials sat in a dense mass.

Some took notes seriously, some played with their phones heads down, others simply closed their eyes to rest—after all, this kind of meeting is held year after year, month after month, and the ears have grown calloused to it.

The Land Resources Bureau's seating section was in the middle, toward the front.

Yuan Ben Zhong sat in the second row, holding his phone and secretly sending WeChat messages under the table.

On the screen was his conversation with Su Qingyu:

"Those two models tonight—are they definitely college students?"

"Absolutely genuine—art academy students, just signed with our company for etiquette work."

"All right, seven thirty—don't let anyone see them."

After replying to that message, Yuan Ben Zhong looked up at the presidium and instantly felt annoyed—there was Lin Dongfan still speaking, his tone grave, his expression earnest.

Yuan Ben Zhong snorted inwardly:

"Damn it, you're just putting on an act—keep acting!"

What after‑hours conduct rules, what integrity and self‑discipline—who can't shout a slogan?

After so many years in Wuzhou, I've seen plenty of this "new official's three blazing acts" routine. In the end? It's still just eat, drink, and take what's due.

Yuan Ben Zhong put away his phone, adjusted his sitting posture, and put on an appearance of listening attentively.

But his glance flicked toward Wang Qigang, who was sitting in the front row.

Secretary Wang seemed in a good mood today, occasionally exchanging a few quiet words with the Executive Vice Mayor beside him.

This gave Yuan Ben Zhong more confidence; he thought that as long as Secretary Wang, this big tree, didn't fall, he, Yuan Ben Zhong, would be as steady as an old dog… wait, no, as steady as Mount Tai!

As for Lin Dongfan? An airborne parachutist—what kind of waves could he stir up?

Thinking this, Yuan Ben Zhong even felt like laughing.

He recalled the eighty‑pound big blue fish he'd caught at Bibo Tan last week, recalled Chen Lao Ban kneeling on the ground begging him, recalled those fifty thousand yuan of "local specialties"…

Someone died?

Dead is dead.

What's the life of a fishing‑pond operator worth? A hundred‑thousand‑yuan compensation, and the family just signs— in this world, nothing can't be settled with money.

If there is, just add a bit more.

Yuan Ben Zhong was lost in thought when he suddenly heard Lin Dongfan call his name: "Bureau Chief Yuan."

Yuan Ben Zhong jerked upright, quickly straightening: "Mayor Lin, go ahead."