Chapter 998: and ===GLOSSARY=== sections

You you you! ……

Character trembled all over with anger, pointing at Lin Dongfan, unable to utter a complete sentence for Along while.

After spitting out three 'you's in a row, it finally became only a resentful angry roar: 'Good! Very good, you just wait for me!'

Having said that, he turned and left.

As he passed Lin Dongfan's desk, Character glanced over and saw a craft symbolizing 'smooth sailing' on the desk; the anger in his chest shot straight up to his head.

Nothing goes right for me, and you still want things to go smoothly?

Character threw a fierce punch, slamming hard onto the rosewood desk with a dull 'thud'! He had intended to knock over the 'smooth sailing' ornament, but he underestimated the desk's thickness.

After the punch, the desk remained as stable as Mount Tai, and the 'smooth sailing' ornament on it didn't budge at all.

His fist ached and went numb; Character winced, gritting his teeth, holding back a sound, merely quickening his steps.

Reaching the door, he grabbed the wooden door handle and yanked it hard backward.

The door was easier to deal with than the desk; a casual pull produced a loud 'bang' as the door panel slammed heavily against the wall.

'Is this old thing on drugs?'

Lin Dongfan watched Character's angry retreating back, a cold smile curling his lips, as clear as a mirror in his heart.

Without a doubt!

Character was truly furious!

Fu Xinping was the first confidant he promoted after taking office; if he were just toppled like this, where would his face as Municipal Party Committee secretary go? Thereafter in Wuzhou's official circles, who would still take him seriously?

Meanwhile.

Character got into the special car, his face grim enough to wring water from.

'To the Provincial Department!'

He gritted his teeth and spat out three words, his voice icy cold.

The driver dared not ask further, pressed the accelerator, and the car headed straight for the provincial capital.

Character leaned back in the seat, his mind replaying Lin Dongfan's calm, composed expression from earlier.

'Damn it, relying on that Jing circle background to act lawlessly! Do you really think I, Character, am a soft persimmon you can pinch however you like?!'

Character lifted his hand and slammed a fierce punch onto the leather seat, which emitted a dull thud.

The more he thought, the more aggrieved he felt.

He closed his eyes, his mind full of how, after meeting Jiang Huan-tian later, he would break today's humiliation into pieces, knead it open, and lay it just right before Jiang Huan-tian.

Half an hour later, the Provincial Department office building.

Character stepped with heavy strides into Jiang Huan-tian's office.

Jiang Huan-tian was lowering his head to read documents.

Seeing Character enter, Jiang Huan-tian looked up, smiled, and gave a warm greeting: 'Comrade Character, who provoked you today? Your face looks awful, have a seat.'

'I'm feeling out of sorts, my chest feels suffocated; I'd rather stand while speaking.'

Character did not sit; a single 'I'm feeling out of sorts' opened the complaint.

He walked straight to the desk, placed both hands on the surface, his tone tinged with grievance and anger: 'Secretary Jiang, I fear I can't continue as Municipal Party Committee secretary!'

Jiang Huan-tian set down his pen, furrowed his brows: 'What's going on? Speak slowly.'

'What else could it be? Lin Dongfan has sidelined me!'

Character raised his voice.

His chest heaved violently: 'I've been in Wuzhou this long, yet Lin Dongfan doesn't see me as secretary at all! He doesn't report big or small matters, acts arbitrarily, does whatever he wants.'

He caught his breath and continued his accusation:

'Speaking of recent days, he took a female college student to a hotel for a room, someone snapped it and posted it online—how damaging is that?'

'What was the result?'

'He not only didn't reflect, but turned the blame onto Fu Xinping, joining Provincial Department people to investigate Fu Xinping everywhere!'

'Fu Xinping is a cadre I promoted; him doing this is clearly meant to slap my face!'

'I, Character, am at least a provincial standing committee member, a full deputy ministerial rank, yet a bureau-level official rides on my head to defecate and urinate—how can you expect me to keep working like this?'

Character grew more agitated as he spoke.

Finally he directly pressured Jiang Huan-tian: 'Secretary Jiang, if you don't lay down the law today, I truly can't continue as secretary; I'm applying to resign!'

Jiang Huan-tian lifted his tea cup and took a sip.

He looked calmly at Character: 'Comrade Character, calm down. I know about that online video. Was it really Fu Xinping pulling the strings behind it?'

Character staggered for a moment, his expression instantly freezing.

Whether it was or not.

He, Character, truly didn't know.

Such a matter, even if Fu Xinping did it, would never be reported to him.

Character steadied himself, softened his tone, and emphasized: 'Secretary Jiang, I personally believe that regardless of who posted this online, it is a serious issue! If Lin Dongfan really went for a room, he should accept public supervision and deeply reflect on his lifestyle.'

Jiang Huan-tian set down his tea cup, his tone turning more serious: 'Regarding Lin Dongfan's lifestyle, the organization will verify it. Before the situation is clarified, it's inadvisable to jump to conclusions.'

After a brief pause.

Jiang Huan-tian shifted his tone, his eyes sharpening: 'Moreover, as I understand it, the reason Lin Dongfan and the Provincial Department people are investigating Fu Xinping is mainly because Fu Xinping is implicated in a homicide case. Before his death, Peng Xianjun frequently contacted Fu Xinping. Whether there is an issue here still needs investigation.'

'Could this possibly be a trumped-up charge?'

Character grew anxious, as if he'd taken stimulants, firing three questions in succession: 'Could Peng Xianjun's contact with Fu Xinping possibly be normal work communication? Could Lin Dongfan's actions possibly be exploiting the issue? Could they possibly be a whitewash for his own lifestyle problems?'

'Comrade Character.'

Jiang Huan-tian's tone sank: 'In our leadership work, we must speak of principles and facts. We cannot blindly defend Fu Xinping just because you promoted him, nor suspect Lin Dongfan's motives merely because you have a grudge against him. The key now is to clarify the facts. Who exactly posted the online video? Was Peng Xianjun's death accidental? Is Fu Xinping related to these matters? All of this requires evidence.'

Character was left speechless by his words, his face flushing red then turning pale.

He never imagined that Jiang Huantian would not only fail to criticize Lin Dongfan as he had said, but instead, with barbed remarks, criticized Character for acting without principle or regard for facts.

"Secretary Jiang, I……"

"All right, I know about this."

Character still wanted to say more, but Jiang Huantian cut him off.

Jiang Huantian picked up the phone on the desk and directly dialed Lin Dongfan's mobile: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, come to the provincial party committee; I have something to discuss with you."

After hanging up, Jiang Huantian looked at Character indifferently: "Comrade Character, since you want me to lay down the board, I'll do it today. Regarding the work-style issue you keep emphasizing, I'll give you an explanation today. Later, either Lin Dongfan will get the board, or you will—get ready mentally."