Chapter 886

Seven days later, the Municipal Party Committee's small meeting room.

This meeting was chaired in full by Wang Qigang; nominally it was to resolve the Cloud Peak Mountain Villa project's work stoppage, but anyone with sense knew that what Wang Qigang truly wanted to settle was Lin Dongfan.

To expand the criticism of this meeting, he fully established his prestige.

Besides the Standing Committee members, the heads of all units under the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government were summoned. Only Luo Zhiwei of the Municipal Public Security Bureau was absent; Luo Zhiwei continued to take sick leave, and the person representing the City Bureau at the meeting was Zheng Congwen.

Everyone present was sharp; as soon as they sat down, they smelled the gunpowder of today's meeting.

Wang Qigang sat in the chief seat, a document spread before him, a faint smile on his face. That smile looked amiable, but those who knew him well knew this damn smile hides a knife.

Sitting to his left, Lin Dongfan held a teacup, slowly blowing on the tea leaves, his face showing no expression.

Everyone had arrived.

Wang Qigang glanced over the room and cleared his throat.

He spoke solemnly:

"Today's meeting, the main agenda is still the Cloud Peak Mountain Villa project."

"This project has been halted for so long; the province is urging, the city is anxious, and the public is watching. Yet even now, it's still a mess lying there."

Saying this, Wang Qigang shifted the focus onto Lin Dongfan.

He directly threw the problem to Lin Dongfan: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, this project has always been under your responsibility. Tell us, what exactly is going on?"

Lin Dongfan set down his teacup.

He politely replied: "Secretary Wang, the Cloud Peak Mountain Villa issue is being gradually resolved. Huang Jintang has been criminally detained, and his illegal activities are under investigation. As for resumption of work..."

"Gradually resolved?"

Accustomed to being domineering, Wang Qigang still had no habit of respecting others, directly interrupting Lin Dongfan's words.

At the same time.

Wang Qigang's smile also grew a bit colder: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, this 'gradual'—how long? One month? Two months? Or one or two years?"

Lin Dongfan said nothing.

Wang Qigang added emphasis: "The province sent another notice yesterday asking when the project can resume work. How am I supposed to respond? Say you're 'gradually resolving' it?"

The meeting room fell silent.

Everyone present looked at each other, not daring to breathe. Even a blind person could see that Secretary Wang intended to sacrifice Mayor Lin.

Executive Vice Mayor Meng Qinghe lifted his teacup, pretending to drink, but his eyes were fixed on Lin Dongfan.

He was close to Wang Qigang, but he didn't dare to jump in and speak up at this moment. If Lin Dongfan fought back, getting splashed with blood would be pointless.

Propaganda Department Head Liu Ruqing lowered her head to look at her notebook, the pen tip moving back and forth without writing a single character.

She belonged to the moderate faction, offending neither side and unable to rely on either.

In such a situation, playing dead is safest.

Organization Department Head Lao Han leaned against the chair back, closed his eyes to rest, as if hearing nothing. He was an old fox, knowing that in such a moment whoever spoke first would suffer.

Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Shi Liantang sat upright diagonally opposite Lin Dongfan, turning a pen in his hand, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the tabletop and Lin Dongfan.

Old Shi was different from others; he was a supporter of Lin Dongfan.

More precisely, Old Shi used to be a subordinate of Lin Dongfan's father-in-law, Chu Jinsong. Back then, his rise to the top position of the Discipline Inspection Commission was inseparable from Secretary Chu's patronage.

Old Shi glanced at Lin Dongfan, seeing that this young mayor's expression remained unchanged, he inwardly nodded.

Fine, he can hold his breath.

But some words, as the Discipline Inspection Commission secretary, he must say.

"Secretary Wang." Shi Liantang spoke up, his voice not loud but each word clear: "I want to say a couple of things."

"Old Shi, what do you want to say?"

Wang Qigang frowned slightly, looking at him, expecting that the other had nothing good to say.

Shi Liantang put down the pen in his hand:

"The Huang Jintang case has been under the Discipline Inspection Commission's attention. This person is not simple; he has deep interest ties with the Zhao Group, and the issues involved are not merely blocking a construction site."

"Mayor Lin's order to detain people was procedurally compliant."

"As for the responsibility for the work stoppage, I think it shouldn't be entirely blamed on Mayor Lin."

"Who's behind Huang Jintang? Why does he dare act so arrogantly? If these questions aren't clarified, even if work resumes today, it could stop again tomorrow."

When these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the meeting room subtly shifted.

Meng Qinghe's hand holding the teacup paused; he thought, "This Shi Liantang is really hard-headed! He actually dared to publicly dismantle a superior's ladder at the meeting!"

Liu Ruqing's pen tip paused, then continued to scribble.

Lao Han opened his eyes a bit, then closed them again, as if he had heard and seen nothing, acting as if he transcended the three realms and lay outside the five elements.

Wang Qigang's face darkened, his eyes fixed on Shi Liantang: "Old Shi, I don't quite understand what you're saying! According to you, the Cloud Peak Mountain Villa work stoppage—could it be because someone is pulling strings behind the scenes? You suspect someone is deliberately holding back Mayor Lin? Then tell us, who in Wuzhou has such capability?!"

Who has such capability?

Heh!

This isn't the case of 'no silver here but three hundred taels'!

Shi Liantang suppressed his anger inwardly and replied politely: "Secretary Wang, I am the Discipline Inspection Commission secretary, not a fortune-teller. Whoever has a problem, we'll know only after investigation. But one thing I can be certain of—the Huang Jintang case cannot be simply treated as a public security case. If there truly is someone behind him, we must ferret that person out."

Wang Qigang smiled, a bit cold: "Old Shi, your awareness is high indeed. Then tell us, how long will this case take to investigate? One month? Two months? Or one or two years? The province is urging for progress; how am I to report to them? Are you saying the Discipline Inspection Commission has reservations, letting the province wait?"

"!!!"

Shi Liantang was choked and momentarily speechless.

Wang Qigang didn't give Shi Liantang a chance to catch his breath, continuing: "Old Shi, I heard you were promoted by the late Secretary Chu Jinsong himself! I know you have deep ties with Mayor Lin, but now we're discussing work, not reminiscing! If you have any evidence, produce it; if not, don't beat around the bush here!"

These words were already heavy, equivalent to criticizing Shi Liantang and Lin Dongfan for forming cliques and factions.

Shi Liantang kept a cold face and said nothing more.

Executive Meng Qinghe, seeing this, immediately took up the thread and echoed Wang Qigang: "Secretary Wang is right; our focus now is solving problems, not assigning blame. Mayor Lin just said he's gradually resolving it. But the issue is, this 'gradual' needs a time limit, right? The province can't wait."

This remark seems neutral, but in fact it's handing Wang Qigang a knife.

Wang Qigang nodded satisfactorily: "Mayor Meng, your remark hits the point. Comrade Dongfan, give everyone a clear answer—when exactly can work resume?"

Faced with this step-by-step tightening offensive, Lin Dongfan remained unmoved.

Old Fan calmly took a sip of tea: "Secretary Wang, I already made it clear earlier—the Huang Jintang case is under investigation. Once the matter is clarified, work will naturally resume."

"Wait for the investigation to clear up?" Wang Qigang snorted coldly: "That'll be the year of the monkey and month of the horse!"

Just then, Zheng Congwen suddenly spoke up: "Secretary Wang, let me interject."

Wang Qigang looked at him: "Old Zheng, go ahead."

Zheng Congwen stood up, with a solemn expression: "Leaders, after Huang Jintang was arrested, his brother Huang Jingrong sued the Mortal Group in court, demanding 1.67 billion. Everyone knows this. But what everyone may not know is that there were serious procedural irregularities in Huang Jintang's arrest."

He paused, his glance sweeping lightly over Lin Dongfan.

He then continued:

"The team that led the arrest of Huang Jintang at that time was Deputy Brigade Commander Gao Yicheng of the City Bureau's Criminal Investigation Detachment. And Gao Yicheng committed clear violations during the arrest, even suspected of torture to extract a confession!"

"What's even more worrying is……"

"The reason for the torture to extract a confession is that some of our leaders, in order to seek private gain for the Mortal Group, used public power to strike back at Huang Jintang!"

Such behavior not only seriously damages the image of our public security forces, but also Huang Jingrong and the Mortal Group's fuse to the public hall!

As his words fell, the entire hall fell into dead silence!

Although Zheng Congwen didn't name anyone, everyone present knew he was secretly stabbing Lin Dongfan in the back!

It is well known that Gao Yicheng had spoken with Lin Dongfan on the phone the day he went out on duty.

In an instant.

Everyone present turned their gazes toward Lin Dongfan in unison.