Chapter 287: The Suiyuan Gang Begins Its Counterattack!

Du Chengfeng walked back to his office with steady, powerful strides.

From afar, he saw Wang Xingjian pacing back and forth at the entrance.

He felt puzzled, but his face instantly filled with a perfectly measured smile as he took the initiative to greet him: "Chairman Wang, are you waiting here for me specifically? Is there some urgent matter?"

Before he had even finished speaking, he raised his hand to push open the office door, enthusiastically turning to the side to let him in, "Please, come in quickly; let's sit down and talk slowly."

Wang Xingjian stepped slowly into the room, his gaze sweeping over the calligraphy works on the wall and the brand-new leather sofa, a surge of indescribable bitterness rising in his heart.

This spacious and bright office had once been within his reach, but now Du Chengfeng had become the winner, while he himself, after his defeat, had been transferred to the Municipal CPPCC, his political career already at an end.

However, although Wang Xingjian had entered a state of retirement, Suiyuan County was still under his control.

During this period, Wan Ming had reported to Du Chengfeng.

Many of the instructions he issued were always met with outward compliance but inward opposition from those below.

Originally, Wan Ming had intended to arrest two individuals involved in organized crime.

But after the meeting ended, these two people immediately vanished without a trace.

Wan Ming was feeling very distressed now.

He had all the strength in the world but could not get anything done.

Although Du Chengfeng had no fondness for this old rival, he maintained a facade of decorum throughout.

He personally brewed a cup of hot tea and handed it over, his tone calm and steady: "We are old acquaintances; there is no harm in speaking plainly."

Wang Xingjian picked up the teacup and took a light sip, taking the opportunity to pull out a cigarette and offer it, his face full of sycophantic smiles: "Brother Chengfeng, we have known each other for so many years; I won't hide it from you, I have always admired you in my heart. You are upright in your conduct and steady in your work; that quality of being neither humble nor pushy in you is just different from others. Now that you have reached this step, I am truly convinced."

Du Chengfeng sneered in his heart, but his face remained calm as he spoke lightly: "Chairman Wang, let's not beat around the bush; you aren't here just to reminisce with me, are you?"

The smile on Wang Xingjian's face instantly froze, and a flash of malice crossed his eyes: "Brother Chengfeng, in doing things and dealing with people, one must always leave some room for maneuver. Suiyuan County is already a tangled mess; why must you be so aggressive?"

"That is an overstatement. I am merely fulfilling the duties of my position and have a clear conscience." Du Chengfeng picked up his teacup and blew lightly at the tea foam, his tone as calm as a deep pool.

Wang Xingjian let out a scoff and slammed his teacup heavily onto the table: "A clear conscience? I think you clearly want to drive me to my death!"

Seeing the other party finally tear off his disguise, Du Chengfeng's expression turned stern: "I have never thought of opposing anyone; everything I have done is based on the overall situation. Why must you stand on the opposite side of the overall situation?"

"Are you not afraid that we will both perish?" Wang Xingjian lowered his voice, his tone as sinister as a viper flicking its tongue.

Du Chengfeng's gaze was like a torch, staring straight into the other's eyes: "Five hundred million in municipal fiscal funds were allocated to Suiyuan County and thrown into the water. That is the hard-earned money of the common people! This money must be recovered. You chose your own path; having reached this point today, I hope you can recognize the situation and not set yourself against the will of the people."

Wang Xingjian suddenly switched to an earnest expression: "Old Du, I admit that I lost, but don't make me lose too ugly. The city has established a special task force, and there must be an explanation for this matter. As long as you are willing to give me a chance, I can help you smooth things over, and we can both end up with a good result."

Du Chengfeng wore a smile that was not a smile: "What good result? Tell me about it."

"Although I am now in the Municipal CPPCC, I still have some face in Suiyuan. From the County Magistrate to the Town Mayor, from Department-Level Cadres to ordinary Staff Members, whoever you want to hold accountable, I can give you a satisfactory answer. Wouldn't a win-win situation be better?" Wang Xingjian patted his chest with confidence.

Du Chengfeng sighed at length: "You should be clear that what I want is not a so-called win-win, and even less to find a scapegoat; I want to give the taxpayers an explanation. If you can cough up the five hundred million, I can refrain from pursuing this further."

He knew in his heart that it was impossible for Wang Xingjian to fill this astronomical hole.

Wang Xingjian was silent for a long time, then suddenly reached for his briefcase, took out a document, and pushed it onto the table: "Old Du, look at this first, then make your decision."

Du Chengfeng took the file folder, and the moment he opened the document, his usually steady complexion changed drastically.

—On it was clear evidence of his niece Xie Miao taking bribes of two hundred thousand during her tenure at the Municipal XinhuaBookstore, utilizing book bidding.

"When one is in the world, one is not always free to act as one wishes. You are extremely principled in your own work, but your niece Xie Miao, I'm afraid, is not so clean. Two hundred thousand is not a small sum." Wang Xingjian smiled with a look that was not a smile, "Considering that you and I have known each other for a while, I have been suppressing this material and haven't handed it over. Now it depends on what you say, and we can discuss the next step."

Du Chengfeng's fingers tapped the tabletop unconsciously, his heart churning like the tide.

He knew deep down that this material was nine times out of ten true, and he never expected that the niece he strictly disciplined in daily life would commit such a grave error.

On one side is a relative connected by blood!

On the other side is the heavy responsibility on his shoulders!

This multiple-choice question was far more difficult than he had imagined.

"Lao Wang, Xie Miao is an adult; if she did something wrong, she should bear the consequences. As for how to handle it, you can decide. This happened in Suiyuan County; it seems Suiyuan is riddled with holes and has problems everywhere." Du Chengfeng finally said in a deep voice.

Seeing that the other party still refused to yield, Wang Xingjian stood up and took his leave helplessly.

After seeing Wang Xingjian off, Du Chengfeng sighed heavily and dialed his younger sister Du Xiaofeng's phone: "Xiaofeng, have Xie Miao come to my house for dinner tonight; I have something to talk to her about."

Without waiting for his sister to ask, he hurriedly hung up the phone.

On the other side, Tang Ye received the call from Du Chengfeng.

"Are you free tonight? Have Xi Xi's mother cook a few dishes, and come over to the house for a meal."

He keenly sensed the anomaly in the other's tone.

"Dad, did something happen?"

Under questioning, Du Chengfeng finally revealed the truth:

"Xie Miao accepted money she shouldn't have on the Suiyuan County Library project, and Wang Xingjian came to find me with the report materials."

Tang Ye's heart jolted.

At present, the Municipal Party Committee Investigation Team was fully investigating the whereabouts of the five hundred million in fiscal allocations; as the leader of the investigation team, Du Chengfeng being blackmailed at this critical juncture was equivalent to a fatal blow.

"She is too bold! But don't worry too much; I suspect she was mostly set up by someone." "Whether she was set up or not, it was she herself who failed to hold her bottom line; she can't blame anyone else!"

Du Chengfeng's voice was full of disappointment and heartache.

Hanging up the phone, Tang Ye's expression was grave.

He keenly realized that the Suiyuan Gang, which had been lying dormant for a long time, had finally begun to counterattack.

According to the timeline, Wang Xingjian had begun laying his plans as early as three months ago.

This contest of undercurrents was far more thrilling than it appeared on the surface.

Old foxes who had been floating in the officialdom for many years.

Every move in their game contained unfathomable calculations.