Chapter 858: No One in the City Bureau Is Usable

The purpose of summoning everyone today is to examine injuries, to ferret out the mole within the police force.

Team Captain Zhou Zheng is absent.

Deputy Team Captain Gao Yicheng originally thought this was a good opportunity to confirm Zhou Zheng's suspicion of being a mole; once Zhou Zheng steps down, the team captain position will also rotate to him, Gao Yicheng.

Never did I expect that Political Commissar Zheng would actually step forward to vouch for Zhou Zheng.

After all, I still underestimated Zhou Zheng's team's connections.

Gao Yicheng suppressed his anger with a smile, turned his gaze toward Lin Dongfan, and deliberately remarked in a teasing tone: "Our Team Captain Zhou Zheng really picked a convenient time to fall ill."

Hearing that, Lin Dongfan merely smiled knowingly, without further comment.

Lin Dongfan directly asked Old Zheng: "Political Commissar Zheng, what happened to Team Captain Zhou Zheng?"

"He went back to his hometown yesterday to see his daughter, gathered with some relatives, drank a few extra cups, and accidentally fell on his way home." Old Zheng said, "I heard he hit his head and needed seven or eight stitches."

"He hit his head?"

Lin Dongfan furrowed his brows slightly, "I'm here to examine injuries and ferret out the mole; we're checking for head wounds!" Now you tell me Team Captain Zhou Zheng got drunk and just happened to injure his head?

At this moment, it wasn't just Lin Dongfan harboring a bellyful of doubts.

Bureau Chief Luo Zhiwei's face also turned extremely grim, thinking, "This damn coincidence is outrageous, it's practically a coincidence that even grandma's house would find!" Are we all idiots?

If there's a mole in the police force, Bureau Chief Luo Zhiwei certainly bears full responsibility.

But whoever shields and protects the mole, it's not just a matter of responsibility; they'll face legal judgment! Double expulsion is minor, imprisonment is major.

In this matter, Luo Zhiwei understands it clearly.

Luo Zhiwei coldly questioned: "Old Zheng, don't let anyone fool your eyes—Is Team Captain Zhou Zheng really drunk and injured his head?"

"He called last night to ask for leave, and this is what he said on the phone."

Seeing the mayor's and bureau chief's faces darken a little, Political Commissar Zheng clearly sensed the grave political atmosphere and dared not speak too boldly on the spot.

Political Commissar Zheng also told Lin Dongfan: "Team Captain Zhou Zheng is currently lying in City No. 1 Renmin Yiyuan; I intend to go see the situation shortly. Mayor Lin, would you like to come along?"

"I won't go."

Lin Dongfan returned a faint smile: "Since Team Captain Zhou Zheng is injured, he should rest properly. As for the case, Comrade Gao Yicheng will now take full responsibility."

As soon as those words fell, Bureau Chief Luo and Political Commissar Zheng both felt uneasy inside.

Although Lin Dongfan is a municipal leader, directly intervening in the City Bureau's work and naming who should handle the related case is against regulations.

The awkward atmosphere on the scene also made Gao Yicheng sense a looming crisis.

Being promoted by Mayor Lin is a good thing.

But offending Bureau Chief Luo and Political Commissar Zheng will likely make his future days difficult, after all they are his direct superiors who can decide his fate.

He pondered left and right.

Gao Yicheng humbly replied: "Thank you, Mayor Lin, for your trust. Team Captain Zhou Zheng has only taken leave for now, and we don't yet know how long he'll need to rest. If I fully take over his cases, that might be inappropriate," he said, while also giving Bureau Chief Luo and Political Commissar Zheng a questioning look.

Gao Yicheng, who thought himself exceptionally clever, felt quite confident about this maneuver.

He thought he had expressed gratitude to Mayor Lin, maintained humility, and upheld the power of Bureau Chief Luo and Political Commissar Zheng over public security.

But he didn't realize that at this very moment, Lin Dongfan cast a disappointed glance.

Lin Dongfan directly asked Luo Zhiwei and Political Commissar Zheng: "What do you think?"

"I in principle support the municipal decision." Political Commissar Zheng then shifted tone: "However, Deputy Team Captain Gao Yicheng is also correct; I personally suggest we wait until Zhou Zheng's injury is confirmed before making a decision—it's not too late."

Hearing that, Lin Dongfan glanced at Bureau Chief Luo's reaction.

Seeing Bureau Chief Luo remain silent, Lin Dongfan felt another wave of disappointment.

It's not hard to see:

These people in the Wuzhou Public Security System—mid-level officials are clueless! As for these two top leaders, each has their own stance: one wants to preserve himself prudently, the other leans toward the Municipal Party Committee Secretary Wang Qigang.

Since the commanders are unusable, we might as well not use them!

Lin Dongfan said: "Then let's follow Political Commissar Zheng's suggestion—wait until Team Captain Zhou Zheng's injury is confirmed before deciding whether to replace the commander."

At this moment, Lin Dongfan also felt relieved.

Fortunately, Zhao Linlin didn't directly call the police after last night's danger, but chose to seek help from him, Lin Dongfan! If Zhao Linlin had chosen to call the police and wait for rescue, she likely wouldn't have survived until dawn.

After leaving the City Bureau.

Lin Dongfan warned Zhao Linlin, who was closely following him: "Now there really is someone who wants you dead; when you go out, you must be sure to stay safe."

"I know."

Zhao Linlin followed Lin Dongfan all the way.

All the way to the parking lot, Zhao Linlin couldn't help but ask: "Mayor Lin, Team Captain Zhou Zheng getting injured and hospitalized at this time—is it really such a coincidence? Why don't you go to the hospital to expose him?"

"Zhou Zheng is a veteran criminal investigator; he understands criminal procedure better than you or I."

Lin Dongfan stopped at the car door.

He turned his head to look at Zhao Linlin.

He also said: "Since he claims he got drunk and fell in his hometown, he must have prepared the human and material evidence. Besides, you just saw Political Commissar Zheng helping him smooth things over."

Deputy Team Captain Gao Yicheng wanted to stab Zhou Zheng in the back, but he dare not go onto the front lines in the spotlight. Even if I paved the way for him, he wouldn't dare stride forward openly.

In the entire City Bureau, nobody would go all out for me.

Hearing this, Zhao Linlin found it somewhat hard to comprehend—she never expected someone of Lin Dongfan's stature to also have moments in Wuzhou where he can't fully exert his strength.

Zhao Linlin asked: "So what should we do now?"

"You go with me to see someone at the Provincial Department." Lin Dongfan opened the car door and got in; the bodyguard-driver Lao Ba had already started the engine, ready to go.

Next stop, the Provincial Public Security Department.

The car drove out of the City Bureau compound; Lin Dongfan leaned back in the rear seat, eyes closed, silent.

Zhao Linlin, sitting beside him, saw his furrowed brow and had things she wanted to ask but dared not.

She had originally thought Lin Dongfan could completely overwhelm Wang Qigang and dominate Wuzhou single-handedly.

Only now did she belatedly realize that the power struggle in Wuzhou City was far more complicated than she had imagined. Even someone like Lin Dongfan, a princeling of the capital circle, could hit a wall.

However…

She believed she had not backed the wrong side this time, and believed the tragedy of her brother and ex-husband would not repeat itself on her! For Lin Dongfan was not an unfeeling and unjust person; otherwise, how could he have kept her by his side?

Having thought this through, Zhao Linlin felt much more at ease.

She twisted open an unopened bottle of mineral water and thoughtfully handed it to Lin Dongfan: "Mayor Lin, would you like some water? I see you haven't had a drop since this morning…"

Thank you.

Speaking of water, Lin Dongfan really was a bit thirsty.

Lao Ba glanced at the earnestly flattering Zhao Linlin through the car's rearview mirror and couldn't help but smile: "General Manager Zhao, our mayor has worried a lot for your sake; don't you go burning bridges in the future."

"You're not bad at fighting, are you? If one day I, Zhao Linlin, betray and abandon righteousness, just slap me to death—I promise I won't utter a single complaint."

Zhao Linlin was also quite good at joking, laughing like a flower, completely without tension.