Chapter 936

Although Lin Dongfan was held back by Old Fu and Old Shi, he did not strike again.

But Wang Qigang was still so nervous his heart raced, standing frozen in place, afraid that even the slightest move would cause Lin Dongfan to lash out like a death god.

No one in the meeting room dared to move or speak; even breathing was suppressed to a minimum.

Those who had just been watching the wind direction.

Now they didn't even dare to lift their heads.

Only when Lin Dongfan returned to his seat, dragged his chair over, and plopped down did the tense atmosphere in the room ease slightly.

Lin Dongfan picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of cool tea, and his expression remained unchanged.

"Now, continue the meeting."

The rhythm of today's meeting room had already been fully controlled by Lin Dongfan. His voice wasn't loud, but each word was spoken clearly, directly intimidating hearts.

The entire audience listened in solemn silence.

Only Wang Qigang remained standing in place, unsure whether to sit or stay standing.

The head of the Political and Legal Committee, Old Fu, turned his head and glanced at Wang Qigang.

He wanted to tell Wang Qigang to sit down, but feared overstepping the bounds of authority; whether the secretary sits or not is not his place to speak. Who knows if Wang Qigang still wants to continue this meeting.

Just then.

Lin Dongfan suddenly asked Wang Qigang: "Do you feel ashamed now? Do you think you're no longer qualified to sit in the chief seat?"

!!!

This piercing double question instantly left Wang Qigang blushing with embarrassment.

The next second he sat back down in his chair.

Sitting beside Lin Dongfan, Shi Liantang couldn't help but feel endless admiration, thinking that as a princeling of the Jing circle, Lin Dongfan invariably had the upper hand, whether with fists or sharp words.

When the princeling unleashed this barrage of words, Wang Qigang truly had no choice.

Regardless of whether Wang Qigang wanted to continue the meeting, he had to obediently sit down; otherwise, he would be admitting he lacked the qualification to take the chief seat.

"Next, let's discuss personnel matters."

Lin Dongfan couldn't even be bothered to glance at Wang Qigang.

He outright ignored Wang Qigang.

Addressing everyone present, he said: "Wan Xiaoqing, a section-level cadre, was promoted two ranks to bureau chief. Yet less than a month into the post, she halted Wuzhou's key projects. I believe she lacks the ability to be bureau chief. I now propose removing Wan Xiaoqing from her position as Tax Bureau chief. Who agrees? Who opposes?"

Having said that, Lin Dongfan was the first to raise his right hand.

His gaze swept across the room like a sharp blade, scraping across everyone's faces.

Shi Liantang was the first to raise his hand: "I agree."

Old Fu of the Political and Legal Committee hesitated briefly, then also raised his hand: "I agree as well."

Immediately after, the Organization Department head, Propaganda Department head, United Front Work Department head, and others raised their hands one after another to show agreement, without a hint of hesitation.

Soon, a sea of hands rose in the meeting room.

Only two people did not raise their hands.

One was Wang Qigang, gritting his teeth and staying silent, leaning back in his chair with both eyes closed, as if asleep—or feigning death.

The other was Executive Vice Mayor Meng Qinghe.

Meng Qinghe sat beside Wang Qigang; his hands on the table seemed at a loss, constantly stealing glances at Wang Qigang's reaction, unsure whether to raise his hand or not.

Lin Dongfan's death‑god‑like gaze quickly fixed on Meng Qinghe: "Vice Mayor Meng, do you have any objections?"

!!!

That death‑like gaze swept over him, making Meng Qinghe's heart skip a beat and his face flush with extreme embarrassment in an instant.

He then glanced at Wang Qigang's reaction.

Seeing Wang Qigang still with eyes shut and silent, he tremblingly raised his right hand: "I… I have no objections…"

"Next time, act faster—don't waste everyone's time!"

Lin Dongfan withdrew his death‑god‑like gaze.

On the spot he announced the vote result: "All thirteen members of the Standing Committee were present. Twelve voted in favor, one abstained—the motion passed. The Organization Department should expedite the procedures to remove Wan Xiaoqing from her bureau chief position."

"Hmm."

The Organization Department head nodded in acknowledgment.

Lin Dongfan lifted his gaze to Gao Yicheng, who was seated in the back as an observer, and continued: "The next agenda item concerns Comrade Gao Yicheng."

Upon hearing this, Gao Yicheng shuddered all over and instinctively straightened his back.

Today he had been summoned by the Municipal Affairs Office to attend the meeting as an observer, which was already unexpected; after all, this is an enlarged Standing Committee meeting, and even the head of their bureau, Luo Zhiwei, could only sit aside as an observer.

From start to finish, neither he nor Luo Zhiwei beside him uttered a word.

Throughout, he remained a calm onlooker, watching Lin Dongfan punch after punch leave Wang Qigang dazed, and seeing the usually high‑and‑mighty Standing Committee members raise their hands one after another to vote…

In the midst of his excitement.

The meeting room again echoed with Lin Dongfan's voice: "Initially, Comrade Gao Yicheng was suspended for investigation; it has now been clarified that he was the target of malicious suppression. During the pursuit of Zheng Congwen, Gao Yicheng suffered serious injuries yet persisted in the chase, ultimately capturing the criminal suspect, demonstrating major meritorious service."

After a brief pause, Lin Dongfan swept his gaze across the room.

He then continued: "I now propose reinstating Comrade Gao Yicheng's work and promoting him from deputy to regular, appointing him as detachment chief of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Who agrees? Who opposes?"

Having said that, Lin Dongfan again raised his right hand first.

Luo Zhiwei, the Municipal Bureau leader sitting with Gao Yicheng as an observer, also raised his right hand: "On behalf of the Municipal Bureau, I firmly support the superior leadership's decision."

Immediately after.

The Discipline Inspection Commission's Shi Liantang, the Political and Legal Committee's Old Fu, and the Organization, Propaganda, and United Front department heads all raised their hands in unison, without a hint of hesitation.

Worth mentioning is that.

This time Meng Qinghe also raised his hand as if he had broken through the Ren and Du meridians—his speed was not slower than anyone else's, as if he feared that a delay of a second would earn him a call‑out from Lin Dongfan.

Twelve voted yes, one abstained, and the motion passed! Lin Dongfan then ordered: Have the Organization Department follow the procedure and put it into effect this afternoon.

Twelve in favor, one abstained, the motion passed! Lin Dongfan further instructed: "The Organization Department will follow procedure; it will be implemented this afternoon."

No problem.

No problem.

The Organization Department head went along with everything, not daring to voice any dissent.

The Organization Department Head fully cooperated, daring not to raise the slightest objection.

Lin Dongfan lowered his hand, glanced at the observer Gao Yicheng, and gave a faint smile. Gao Yicheng was instantly moved, his eyes welling up, thinking—Mayor Lin, you're acting for the greater good.

Lin Dongfan lowered his hand, glanced at the observing Gao Yicheng, and gave a faint smile. Gao Yicheng instantly grew excited, his eye sockets reddening as he thought—Mayor Lin's righteousness!

Meeting adjourned.

Meeting adjourned.

Following Lin Dongfan's order, the bigwigs in the meeting room, as if released from a spell, all stood up.

With Lin Dongfan's command, the bigwigs in the meeting room, as if freed from a paralysis spell, all rose to their feet.

Some walked quickly, some slowly, but no one dared to speak.

Some walked quickly, some slowly, but no one dared to speak.

Their footsteps grew fainter down the hallway.

Footsteps grew fainter down the hallway.

Like the sea receding at low tide.

Like the receding tide.

Wang Qigang, stunned and disoriented, stayed seated without moving. He opened his eyes to the empty meeting room, and his heart felt equally hollow.

The dazed Wang Qigang remained seated in his chair, motionless. He opened his eyes, gazing at the empty meeting room, his heart equally hollow.

At that moment he felt it deeply—Wu Prefecture had entered Lin Dongfan's era.

At this moment he keenly felt—Wuzhou had entered the era of Lin Dongfan!

Today!

Today!

Lin Dongfan's three punches!

Lin Dongfan's three punches!

They didn't just take away his dignity; they also took away his authority, reducing him, the municipal Party secretary, to a completely expendable role.

It not only stripped away Wang Qigang's dignity, but also his authority, reducing this Municipal Party Committee chief to a completely irrelevant role!

A wave of grief welled up inside him.

Grief surged like a tide.

He couldn't suppress it.

It could not be suppressed.

Wang Qigang shut his eyes; every cell in his body seemed to radiate despair. This quiet despair hurt more than the three punches to his face.

Wang Qigang closed his eyes; every cell of his body exuded despair. This silent despair was more painful than the three blows to his face.

What left Wang Qigang even more bewildered was not knowing how the Provincial Party Committee would view Wu Prefecture's situation.

What left Wang Qigang even more at a loss was—not knowing how the Provincial Party Committee would view Wuzhou's situation.