Chapter 963

Character returned to the Municipal Party Committee Office, threw his briefcase onto the desk, and plopped down into the chair.

He stared at the calligraphy on the wall that read "Integrity and Purity" for Along time. The characters were well written and finely mounted, but right now they felt glaring to him.

Someone knocked on the door.

Before he could answer, the door was pushed open.

Meng Qinghe walked in, familiar with the routine, his face full of smiles: "Secretary Character, you're back? How did the Provincial Party Committee meeting go? When will the Provincial Department release my son?"

Character lifted his head and glared—a genuine glare.

Recalling how he had been left speechless by Luo Xiang's retort at the Standing Committee meeting, recalling Chief Qi's subtle yet powerful countermeasure, recalling Jiang Huan'tian's tactful criticism…

All of this is thanks to the hypocrite standing before him.

Character now not only does not want to see Meng Qinghe's hypocritical smile, he even wants to raise a big slap and give him two hard smacks to vent his hatred.

But his reason would not allow him to do such a crazy thing.

"Meng Qinghe, tell me the truth!" Character snapped: "Your son—was he just passing by that private room yesterday, or was he the overall commander outside?!"

"Secretary Character, I…"

Before Meng Qinghe could straighten out his tongue and thoughts,

The fuming Character already roared: "Yesterday you told me your son just happened to pass by and went in after hearing the fight! But the Provincial Department's investigation documents clearly state that your son was the organizer and planner of the whole incident! Thirteen people armed with weapons stormed the private room, beating anyone they saw! And you call that just passing by?!"

"!!!"

Meng Qinghe, veins bulging on his forehead, forced a defense: "Secretary Character, that document was written by people from the Provincial Department—it's hardly credible. You know what kind of people those in the Provincial Department are, don't you? Whether it's Chief Qi or Yang Qing, they're all in the same boat as Lin Dongfan…"

"Shut up!!!"

Character suddenly bellowed in anger, cutting off Meng Qinghe's words.

At this moment.

Character was like a furious mad lion.

His eyes widened: "I've just arrived and know little about Jianglan's situation! So you think I'm easy to fool? You're treating me like a three‑year‑old?!"

"Secretary Character, I don't mean that, really I don't."

Meng Qinghe broke out in a cold sweat from anxiety.

Character kept scolding: "Do you know what I went through in today's Standing Committee meeting? It's because I believed your nonsense! I was left speechless by someone's retort! I'm just a jumping clown, becoming the laughingstock of the whole room!"

"Secretary Character, let me explain…"

"Get out!!!"

Character's voice grew louder and louder; this anger had fully erupted and could not be contained. He pointed his arm toward the door, and the expulsion order rang deafeningly.

Meng Qinghe, having been cursed at until his face was red, dared not utter another sound.

He withdrew, covered in dust and embarrassment.

In the hallway.

City Bureau leader Luo Zhiwei, who had come to report work, saw Meng Qinghe slinking out of Character's office like a defeated stray dog, head down and shoulders slumped.

Unable to hold back, he stepped forward and asked: "Mayor Meng, what's going on?"

Meng Qinghe glanced up, immediately straightened up and put on an official air: "Why are you everywhere? Shouldn't you be installing your surveillance instead of running over here?"

"The citywide surveillance installation is being implemented; I'm here to report progress." Luo Zhiwei felt that Meng Qinghe was either sick or had just been scolded, snapping at anyone like a mad dog.

So Luo Zhiwei asked again: "Is Secretary Character just blowing his top?"

"He's in a great mood—go in and see for yourself." Meng Qinghe gave a light chuckle, turned and walked away, embodying the petty villain to perfection.

At least, in Luo Zhiwei's view, Meng Qinghe is absolutely a genuine petty person.

Luo Zhiwei glanced at the sign on the Secretary's office door, then at Meng Qinghe striding away, hesitated three seconds, and decisively decided to retreat.

He thought, "Only an idiot would rush into the line of fire!"

Some people make decisions by slapping their thighs—on one hand demanding citywide surveillance to eliminate blind spots, on the other refusing to allocate funds! This is nothing but an old man crawling into a blanket to mess around pointlessly.

Reporting or not reporting this makes no difference whatsoever.

Thinking this, Luo Zhiwei immediately abandoned the idea of reporting, turned and left. He figured it was better to avoid getting scolded and just go back to his office to wait for retirement.

……

At eight o'clock in the evening, the basketball court of the municipal sports stadium.

The lights illuminated the entire court brightly; the floor was polished enough to reflect a person's silhouette. The squeak of shoes on the floor was sharp and piercing, while the thud of the basketball hitting the floor was deep and powerful.

Lin Dongfan dribbled to beyond the three‑point line, leapt and shot. The basketball traced a perfect arc through the air, swoosh—nothing but net.

Chief Qi clapped beside him, sincere praise: "Mayor Lin, your three‑pointer is even more accurate than my shooting—impressive."

Lin Dongfan picked up the ball and said nothing.

Yang Qing wiped sweat from his face, towel draped over his shoulders, panting: "Show‑off Lin, did you take stimulants today? You're making every shot."

"Talent—you can't envy it."

Lin Dongfan passed the ball to Chief Qi, walked to the sidelines, picked up a water cup and took a sip.

Finally he leaned back against the chair.

Gazing at the lights on the court, his gaze grew somewhat unfocused.

Chief Qi, also tired from playing, walked over with a basketball and sat down beside Lin Dongfan: "What's up? Anything on your mind?"

"Old Qi, what do you think of Luo Zhiwei?"

Lin Dongfan tightened the cap on his water cup.

Chief Qi paused, then gave a hesitant smile and asked: "Why are you suddenly curious about old Luo? Did he stir up trouble?"

"Citywide surveillance installation—1,600 points, the City Bureau has no money. I told him to figure it out himself, so he went to the second‑hand market and scooped up a batch of cheap gear. He also pulled technical staff from within the unit to install and debug it himself. He really dares to think—he's a real money‑saving ace." Lin Dongfan remarked with a smile.

Chief Qi also chuckled: "Isn't that great? Self‑reliance, saving the city a huge expense."

"You're not actually working; he's just going through the motions." Lin Dongfan said.

Yang Qing walked over and said: "When Zheng Congwen was around, he acted as a hands-off manager. Now that Zheng Congwen has fallen, he still acts as a hands-off manager. He's already given up; you can't expect him to work."

Lin Dongfan said: "As the head of the City Bureau, lying low is not acceptable. His every word and action will affect the execution strength of the entire public security system."

"What do you mean? Want to move his position?" Yang Qing asked with a smile.

Lin Dongfan frowned and did not answer.

Director Qi took up the conversation: "Old Luo is capable, but he's lost his fighting spirit. Because of the matter of entering the standing committee, he's struggled several times without getting a seat, and he's lost hope. Now either we talk to him, give him a proper warning, or, as Yang Qing said, directly replace him, letting Old Luo step back to the second line."

"Replace whom?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Director Qi glanced at Yang Qing and said with a smile: "This is ready-made—transfer Old Yang over. Old Yang is already at deputy bureau level; transferring him to the City Bureau would be a high-spec placement. Running for vice mayor and entering the standing committee would also be much easier."

Lin Dongfan smiled, not rushing to express his stance.

He and Yang Qing thought alike—the key to this matter still depends on Character's attitude; if Character opposes it, the matter will face strong resistance.