Chapter 972

That same afternoon after the meeting, the matter went viral.

That same afternoon after the meeting, the matter went viral.

Someone posted a video on a short-video platform: at the gate of the Municipal Party Committee building, hundreds of villagers held items and banners, and were forcibly dispersed by government staff.

Someone posted a video on a short-video platform: at the gate of the Municipal Party Committee building, hundreds of villagers held items and banners, and were forcibly dispersed by government staff.

The video also came with a caption: "The Faction Chief was removed from office, ordinary people sent items to express thanks, yet they were driven out of the Municipal Party Committee compound……"

The video also came with a caption: "The Faction Chief was removed from office, ordinary people sent items to express thanks, yet they were driven out of the Municipal Party Committee compound……"

Although the video is short—only a few seconds—the visual impact is extremely strong.

Translation: "Although the video is short, only a dozen seconds, its visual impact is extremely strong."

Adding to this, the caption is highly inflammatory.

Translation: "Plus this extremely provocative caption."

The comment section exploded.

Translation: "The comment section exploded."

What kind of place is this? Even ordinary people sending items to good cadres is not allowed?

Translation: ""What kind of place is this? Even ordinary people sending items to good cadres is not allowed?""

Removed from office? Why remove such a good cadre? Who decided that?

Translation: ""Removed from office? Such a good cadre—why was he removed? Who removed him?""

Wuzhou, right? I heard the newly arrived secretary wants to replace people with his own.

Translation: ""Wuzhou? I heard the newly arrived secretary wants to replace people with his own.""

When it comes to anti-corruption, they're not this eager, but when it comes to framing people, they have a whole set of tricks.

Translation: ""During anti-corruption efforts, they weren't this proactive, but when it comes to messing with people, they have a whole set of tactics.""

……

Translation: "……" (just ellipsis). Keep as is.

In less than two hours, the view count surpassed one million.

Translation: "In less than two hours, the view count exceeded one million."

All major platforms began to repost, and on Weibo a related topic emerged, #Wuzhou Villagers Sent Items Then Were Dispersed# rose to the hot search list, as if an invisible hand were secretly fanning the flames.

Translation: "Major platforms began to repost it; on Weibo a related topic emerged, #Wuzhou Villagers Sent Items Then Were Dispersed#, which rose to the hot search list, as if an invisible giant hand were secretly fanning the flames."

#Wuzhou Villagers Sent Items Then Were Dispersed#

Public opinion spread too fast—before Guo Binghua could even react, the fire had already reached the provincial party committee.

Translation: "Public sentiment came too fast—before Character could react, the fire had already reached the Provincial Party Committee."

Luo Zhiwei was not idle either.

Translation: "Luo Zhiwei was not idle either."

He arrived at the provincial capital at three in the afternoon and went straight to the Provincial Committee's Letters and Visits Office.

Translation: "He arrived at the provincial capital at three in the afternoon and went straight to the Provincial Party Committee Letters and Visits Office."

He didn't use connections or back doors; he simply submitted his appeal materials and filled out the forms like an ordinary citizen, following the proper procedure.

Translation: "He did not use connections or back doors; he simply submitted his appeal materials and filled out forms properly, just like an ordinary citizen, following the procedure."

Seeing his work ID, the Letters and Visits Office staff were stunned—a municipal public security bureau chief, a division-level official, had come in person to file a petition.

Translation: "Seeing his work ID, the Letters and Visits Office staff were stunned—the Municipal Public Security Bureau Chief, a Division Level cadre, had actually come in person to file a petition."

The staff asked in surprise, "Chief Luo, what…?"

Translation: "The staff asked in surprise, "Chief Luo, what…?""

"I'm filing an appeal," Luo Zhiwei said, pushing the documents forward: "The Municipal Committee removed my position and forced me into early retirement. The reasons are insufficient and the procedure violates regulations. I earnestly ask the Provincial Committee to investigate."

Translation: ""I am filing an appeal." Luo Zhiwei pushed the documents forward: "The Municipal Party Committee removed my position and forced me into early retirement. The reasons are insufficient and the procedure violates regulations. I earnestly request the Provincial Party Committee to investigate.""

The Letters and Visits Office staff dared not delay and immediately reported it upward.

Translation: "The Letters and Visits Office staff did not dare delay; they immediately reported it upward."

At four in the afternoon, Guo Binghua received a call from the Provincial Committee General Office; on the other end was Secretary Jiang Huantian's aide, whose tone was polite but whose words were not.

Translation: "Character received a call at four in the afternoon from the Provincial Party Committee General Office; on the other end was Secretary Jiang Huantian's secretary, whose tone was polite but whose words were not."

"Secretary Guo, Secretary Jiang wants you to come to the Provincial Committee tomorrow morning. Regarding Luo Zhiwei's matter, he needs to hear your report in person."

Translation: ""Secretary Character, Secretary Jiang wants you to come to the Provincial Party Committee tomorrow morning. Regarding Luo Zhiwei's matter, he needs to hear your report in person.""

"Luo Zhiwei is deliberately causing trouble!"

Translation: ""Luo Zhiwei is deliberately causing trouble!""

"Secretary Guo, telling me this is useless; you'll have to explain it to Secretary Jiang tomorrow. To be frank, Secretary Jiang saw the online uproar today and his face darkened."

Translation: ""Secretary Character, telling me this is useless; you'll have to explain to Secretary Jiang tomorrow. To be frank, Secretary Jiang saw the online public opinion today and his face turned black.""

"Understood, thank you."

Translation: ""Understood, thank you.""

After hanging up the phone, Guo Binghua sat in his chair, staring at the red desk phone, unable to recover for a moment.

After hanging up the phone, Guo Binghua sat in his chair, staring at the red desk phone, unable to recover for a moment.

The hot search list, the video, and the Letters and Visits Office all converged at once.

Translation: "The hot search, the video, the letters-and-visits office—all converged at once."

He picked up his phone, opened Weibo, and the hot search was still there.

Translation: "He picked up his phone, opened Weibo, and the hot search was still there."

He then opened the short-video platform; that video's view count had surpassed five million, and the number of comments in the comment section kept refreshing.

Translation: "He then opened the short-video platform; that video's view count had already surpassed five million, and the number of comments in the comment section kept refreshing."

He called the head of the Propaganda Department.

Translation: "He dialed the publicity department head's phone."

He immediately lashed out: "Are you blind? The incident of dispersing villagers is causing an uproar online, yet your Propaganda Department has shown no reaction at all—are you all blind?!"

Translation: "He opened his mouth and cursed: "Are you blind? The incident of dispersing villagers is causing an uproar online, yet your publicity department has shown no reaction at all! Are you all blind?!""

"Secretary Guo, we've just seen it too and are handling it."

Translation: ""Secretary Character, we just saw it too and are currently handling it.""

The Propaganda Department chief's voice sounded somewhat flustered.

Translation: "The publicity department head's voice sounded somewhat flustered."

Guo Binghua kept berating: "What have you been doing all day? Do you want to lie low like Luo Zhiwei? Only when your backsides are on fire do you finally react!"

Translation: "Character kept scolding: "What are you doing all day? Do you want to lie low like Luo Zhiwei? Only when your backs are on fire do you finally react!""

The Propaganda Department chief dared not respond.

Translation: "The publicity department head dared not interject."

Guo Binghua issued a stern order: "I give you ten minutes to cleanse the internet! If after ten minutes the negative online sentiment is still spreading, you'll be waiting for punishment!"

Translation: "Character issued a stern order: "I give you ten minutes to cleanse the net immediately! If after ten minutes the negative online sentiment is still fermenting, you wait for disciplinary action from me!""

Having said that, Guo Binghua didn't wait for a reply and slammed the phone down.

Translation: "Having said that, Character did not wait for a reply and slammed the phone down with a bang."

Outside the window the light grew dim, the office lights were still off, and in the gloom Guo Binghua's face seemed shrouded in an inescapable gloom.

Translation: "Outside the window the sky gradually darkened, the office lights were still off, and in the dim light Character's face seemed shrouded in an inescapable gloom."

The speed at which online public opinion is spreading is too fast—it's surpassing his imagination!

Translation: "The speed at which online public opinion spreads is too fast—it's surpassing his imagination!"

Moreover, thinking back to how those villagers suddenly showed up to present items...

Translation: "Moreover, thinking about how those villagers suddenly came to send items…"

Even if Guo Binghua were foolish, he would realize that behind this series of events someone must be fanning the flames! Yet what pains him is that, even now that he understands this, it changes nothing.

Translation: "Even if Character were foolish, he would understand that behind this series of events someone must be fanning the flames! Yet what pains him is that, even now that he understands, it's of no avail."

He has already been roasted over a fire by online public opinion!

Translation: "He has already been roasted over a fire by online public opinion!"

It's like riding a tiger—hard to get off.

Translation: "Riding a tiger is hard to dismount."

How should he explain things to the Provincial Committee tomorrow?

Translation: "How should he explain things to the Provincial Party Committee tomorrow?"

Guo Binghua slumped in his chair, racking his brain for over an hour with no clue! Before coming to Wuzhou to take office, he never imagined he would be doomed to suffer.

Translation: "Character slumped in his chair, racking his brain for over an hour with no clue! Before coming to Wuzhou to take office, he never imagined he would actually be a doomed man."

The next morning, at the Provincial Committee office building.

Translation: "The next morning, Provincial Party Committee office building."

Jiang Huantian sat behind his desk with a document spread before him. Guo Binghua sat opposite, sitting upright but with evasive eyes.

Translation: "Jiang Huantian sat behind his desk, with a document spread out before him. Character sat opposite, sitting ramrod straight but with a somewhat evasive gaze."

The office was quiet, no smell of smoke, only the ticking of the wall clock.

Translation: "The office was very quiet, no smell of smoke, only the ticking of the clock on the wall."

Jiang Huantian looked up at Guo Binghua and asked, "Comrade Guo Binghua, how long have you been in charge of Wuzhou?"

Translation: "Jiang Huantian looked up at Character: "Comrade Character, how long have you been in charge of Wuzhou?""

"Almost two months."

Translation: ""Almost two months.""

These two months have felt like years for Guo Binghua.

Translation: "These two months, for Character, have felt like years."

Jiang Huantian nodded, half‑smiling, and criticized: "Two months may not be long, but you've stirred up quite a mess."

Translation: "Jiang Huantian nodded, half‑smiling, and critiqued: "Two months isn't long, but you've stirred up quite a few baskets.""

Saying this, Jiang Huantian pushed the document forward.

Translation: "Saying that, Jiang Huantian pushed the document in front of him forward."

He continued: "This is the record from the last Standing Committee meeting. You spoke up for Meng Qinghe's son, accusing Lin Dongfan of abusing his power. But the provincial department's investigation shows clearly that Meng Yu was the organizer and planner of the assault. You didn't even get the basic facts straight, yet you opened fire at the meeting."

Translation: "He continued: "This is the record from the last standing committee meeting. You sought redress for Meng Qinghe's son, accusing Lin Dongfan of abusing authority. The result? The Provincial Department's investigation materials clearly state that Meng Yu was the organizer and planner of the assault incident. You didn't even get the basic facts straight, yet you opened fire at the standing committee meeting."

Guo Binghua's face flushed: "Secretary Jiang, that time I was insufficiently informed."

Translation: "Character's face flushed: "Secretary Jiang, that time I was insufficiently informed.""

"And what about this time?"

Translation: ""And this time?""

Jiang Huantian wore a look of disappointment: "Regarding Luo Zhiwei's case, did you talk to him beforehand? Did you give him a chance to defend himself? When the meeting was convened, hundreds of villagers gathered at the Municipal Committee building's gate holding items. Yet you stubbornly went ahead, even using forcible dispersal against the crowd, which led to today's situation."

Translation: "Jiang Huantian wore a disappointed expression: "Regarding Luo Zhiwei's matter, did you talk to him beforehand? Did you give him a chance to defend himself? When the meeting was convened, hundreds of villagers holding items gathered at the Municipal Party Committee building's gate. Yet you stubbornly went your own way, even forcibly dispersing the crowd, which led to the present situation."

「……！！！」

Translation: ""……!!!""

Character lowered their head, staying silent, holding a bellyful of resentment with nowhere to vent.

Jiang Huantian again said: "You are the secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, not a mountain bandit. The appointment and removal of cadres must follow procedures and observe rules. If procedures are not proper and rules are not observed, what do you have to convince the masses?"

"!!!"

Character still kept his head lowered, silent.

Jiang Huantian continued: "The common people gave Luo Zhiwei an Item, you had people disperse them, and it was even spread online. Now causing such a bad social impact, who will bear this responsibility?"

"Secretary Jiang, this matter is definitely someone behind the scenes..."

Character wanted to say a few words in argument.

He didn't get to finish speaking.

Jiang Huantian interrupted him: "Let me finish first."

Character had no choice but to shut up.

Jiang Huantian said: "Before you came to Wuzhou, the organization had high hopes for you. Wuzhou needs a secretary who can stabilize the situation, needs a secretary who can unite the team. But what's the result? You've been here less than two months, you have a bad relationship with the Mayor, a bad relationship with the cadres, and even the common people have a bad relationship with you."

He paused briefly.

Jiang Huantian continued: "I called you here today to remind you that the work methods you used in the central ministries and commissions won't work at the local level."

"Secretary Jiang, I understand."

Character looked ashamed, as if he had truly realized something.

Jiang Huantian picked up the tea in front of him, took a sip, and said slowly: "Regarding the Luo Zhiwei issue, you must properly resolve it when you return. In dealing with matters, consult more with Comrade Lin Dongfan, don't act arbitrarily."

"!!!"

Hearing this, Character was grief-stricken as if he had lost his parents, his sorrow uncontainable.

In dealing with matters, consult more with Comrade Lin Dongfan!

This remark from Jiang Huantian means that Jiang Huantian has already denied everything Character has done! Jiang Huantian is hinting to him — he must bow to Lin Dongfan.