Chapter 953: The Trash-Talk King Is Absent

In the evening, at the riverside.

Lin Dongfan and Shi Liantang walked side by side along the riverside, their pace neither fast nor slow. The riverside willows swayed, a gentle breeze brushed their faces, bringing a hint of refreshing coolness.

"Mayor Lin, you really aren't going to the meeting?"

Shi Liantang's voice was kept very low, as if afraid it would be blown away by the wind.

Lin Dongfan did not answer this question.

He took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit one, and said: "Lao Shi, you say Character came to Wuzhou today—why didn't he give advance notice?"

"Maybe he wants to launch a surprise attack, to see the real situation in Wuzhou." Shi Liantang laughed.

Lin Dongfan slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.

He smiled with deep meaning: "Not long ago, our Jianglan Province's veteran leader Comrade Liang Jingzhong once told me to relax, saying Secretary Jiang wouldn't trip me up. Now it seems even veteran leaders can misjudge."

Upon hearing this, Shi Liantang merely smiled and dared not comment casually.

Lin Dongfan added: "This Secretary Character didn't even say hello, secretly coming to Wuzhou a day early to make an undercover visit—clearly he's just looking for some presence in Wuzhou."

"Regardless of whether he's looking for presence, your trump card, he surely knows it—I don't think he'd be foolish enough to play opposite you." Shi Liantang analyzed.

Lin Dongfan said: "Whether he wants to play opposite me, we'll know after a try."

"How to try?" Shi Liantang asked.

Lin Dongfan immediately replied: "Go help me pass a message—just say I'm feeling unwell."

"Really not going to the meeting?" Shi Liantang pressed.

Lin Dongfan smiled without a word, turned and walked back, leaving Shi Liantang alone, bewildered in the wind. Old Shi now understood—Master Fan was determined to assert his authority over the new secretary.

……

At eight o'clock in the evening, in the Municipal Party Committee's small meeting room.

More than a dozen standing committee members.

They sat around a large round table.

Because the new leader—Character—doesn't smoke, the few old smokers in the venue were all holding back their cravings, and nobody put a cigarette to their lips.

Seated in the chief seat, Character glanced at the vacant mayor's seat.

He then raised his wrist to check the time.

Seeing Character growing impatient, Shi Liantang said: "Secretary Character, Mayor Lin earlier asked me to pass along a message: he's feeling unwell today and can't come; please understand."

"Feeling unwell?"

Character stared in surprise.

He quickly forced a modest smile: "No problem, Mayor Lin's health comes first. Since he's not coming, let's start the meeting."

Character said it lightly, but the sharp‑eyed people present all heard—this wasn't understanding, but him suppressing his anger.

That makes sense.

On the new secretary's first day in office, he convened the first standing committee meeting, and the mayor was unexpectedly absent.

Isn't this clearly an attempt to give the new secretary eye drops?

Among the sharp‑eyed present, some secretly sighed, "Mayor Lin really isn't giving face!"; others secretly chuckled, eager to see the show, unable to wait to find out who will win.

Character said: "At today's meeting, I'd like to discuss Wuzhou's public security situation with everyone."

He said.

Character glanced over everyone present.

He continued: "I arrived in Wuzhou this afternoon without notifying anyone, and wandered the streets on my own. You all guess what I saw."

Nobody responded.

All dozen or so pairs of eyes in the room focused on Character alone.

Character said:

"Two young men fought over a parking spot, brawling in the street."

A concerned citizen reported it to the police.

However……

After the police arrived, their handling left me stunned.

The responding police didn't ask about right or wrong, didn't check surveillance, didn't pursue responsibility, and simply dispersed the onlookers.

The assailant didn't even need to show his ID, and after injuring someone could swagger away.

I want to ask you all, comrades—is this how Wuzhou's public security system normally maintains order? It's utterly absurd!

When he said the last sentence, Character emphasized his tone, almost slamming the table.

The meeting room fell dead silent.

Some lowered their heads and stayed silent, some pretended to reflect, and some waited for the new secretary's instructions.

Probably only the Executive Vice Mayor, Meng Qinghe, felt secretly pleased.

Earlier, because he was close to Wang Qigang, Meng Qinghe also often opposed Lin Dongfan. After Wang Qigang was demoted four ranks, Meng Qinghe never spoke up in meetings again.

Living as a mute wasn't pleasant, but today he finally got a chance to speak.

Meng Qinghe lightly tapped the table twice, smiling ambiguously, and said: "Secretary Character, regarding public security, I happen to have a situation to report."

"Go ahead and say it."

Character immediately shifted his gaze to Meng Qinghe.

Meng Qinghe said: "This afternoon, my son Meng Yu was beaten severely on the pedestrian street. His face is badly bruised, multiple soft tissues are contused, and he's still lying in the hospital."

He paused briefly.

Meng Qinghe then tapped the table and said: "An Executive Vice Mayor's son can be beaten like this just walking down the street. What about ordinary citizens—who will guarantee their safety?"

Everyone present remained silent.

Meng Qinghe then opened fire: "Speaking of this, I have to say: our Public Security Bureau Chief Luo Zhiwei comrade, perhaps he's gotten used to being a hands-off manager and still hasn't adapted to the days without Zheng Congwen."

Fortunately Luo Zhiwei isn't a standing committee member, so he isn't qualified to attend today's meeting.

If he were present.

Get hit with this blow, and you'll surely be beaten until you spit out two taels of old blood on the spot!

Meng Qinghe's salvo isn't just criticism of him being a hands-off manager; it also slyly mocks him for being of the same ilk as Zheng Congwen, which is somewhat deadly.

Zheng Congwen, that's someone who is extremely likely to be sentenced to death!

Such a vicious attack.

Even Shi Liantang of the Discipline Inspection Commission felt his scalp go numb upon hearing it.

Old Shi immediately understood: Meng Qinghe is trying to take advantage of the situation, striking two blows at once—on one side cozying up to the new secretary's thigh, on the other using this chance to suppress dissent.

Shi Liantang couldn't hold back any longer and said: "Wuzhou is such a big city—how could it possibly have no public security issues at all? The youngsters on the streets are full of vigor; occasional minor scuffles are inevitable. If we make a big deal out of this little thing and put Chief Luo on the spot, that's really making a mountain out of a molehill."

"Is this making a mountain out of a molehill?"

Meng Qinghe turned his head and stared straight at Shi Liantang.

Banging the table, he rebutted with conviction: "Is the matter of public safety for the people a small thing? Old Shi, what's gotten into your awareness today? This isn't like your usual style."

!!!

Shi Liantang was left speechless by the choking; shooting off his mouth has always been his weakness.

He turned his head and glanced at the vacant mayor's seat.

This moment.

I greatly miss Mayor Lin!

The so‑called Cannon King of Kings, Mayor Lin, has never lost in a shouting match; if he were presiding, today there'd be no chance for someone like Meng Qinghe to strut about showing teeth and claws.

At this tense meeting, someone is glum, and surely someone else is secretly pleased.

Character glanced at the silent Shi Liantang, then at the other standing committee members present: "Regarding what Deputy Mayor Meng just brought up, does anyone have anything to add?"

Collective silence.

Lin Dongfan isn't here, so this bunch is like they have no backbone—they simply dare not oppose the newcomer Old Guo, mainly because they haven't figured out Old Guo's background.