Chapter 1042

Dong dong dong!

Comrade Su Yang, please open the door.

Su Yang had just fallen asleep not long ago when a knocking sounded at the door.

However, before Su Yang could get up to open the door, the door was violently pushed open from outside; to be precise, it was kicked open violently. This was much like the last time someone had dragged him out of bed.

The people who entered were all strangers, none of whom he knew, and their attitude was extremely arrogant.

Before he could sit up on the bed, the leading black-faced man flashed his work ID and said, "Comrade Su Yang, is that you? I'm from the third inspection room of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission; this is my work ID. We've received a related report; please come with us for a moment to clarify the matter."

Su Yang said, "Okay, no problem. But let me put on clothes and shoes, alright? You're not expecting me to go barefoot, are you?"

Also, I hope you can act more civilized and not behave like barbarians. You're from the Discipline Inspection Commission, not an anti-terrorism unit. This poor county's door, if broken, needs to be repaired.

Although Su Yang only said a few short words, they were full of anger. The face of the leading inspection room chief turned dark with fury; he knew Su Yang wasn't someone to be trifled with, but he never expected Su Yang to be so obstinate!

If it were other officials, seeing the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission personnel at this moment would have scared them silly—some could barely walk, almost being dragged out by the investigators—but Su Yang actually dared to say they were wrong, which is practically rebellion.

Seeing his direct superior being talked down to, a crew-cut young man stepped forward: "Su Yang, who do you think you are? Do you know how serious your offense is? Our Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission usually deals with vice-department-level officials; the fact that we came to take you away is already giving you face!"

While putting on his coat, Su Yang suddenly turned his head, coldly staring at the crew-cut youth, and said, "This is a society ruled by law, where everyone is equal—not a place where someone with a little power can act arbitrarily."

It's fortunate you're just a staff member of the inspection room; if someone like you were sent to the localities, you'd definitely be a scourge there. With your arrogant and overbearing style, I suspect the Discipline Inspection Commission's little black room will soon have a cell ready for you.

Having said that, Su Yang turned and walked out amid the astonished, angry, and bewildered gazes of everyone.

After stepping outside, he discovered that the hallway was packed with unfamiliar faces; it seemed the Discipline Inspection Commission personnel were afraid he might run away this time.

The few bewildered staff members from earlier came out of the office, seeing so many people present, they couldn't help but straighten up. One of them even brought a pair of handcuffs over, intending to put them on Su Yang.

Su Yang snapped his head back, glared, and said, "I'm just returning to assist your investigation; I haven't broken any law or discipline. Who gave you the authority to do this? Which of your leaders? Tell me his name!"

His voice was loud enough to be heard throughout the floor. The crew-cut youth holding the handcuffs instantly wilted.

The black-faced inspection room chief from earlier waved his hand: "If we don't cuff him, we don't cuff him; once we get him to the locality, he'll find out."

But when they all went downstairs, they were dumbfounded. At some point, the compound of the County Party Committee and County Government was filled with a sea of people.

Standing on either side of the building's entrance were the few remaining standing committee members of the county: Organization Department Head Chen Bo, Vice County Magistrate Li Lingyu, United Front Work Department Head Yang Kang, Publicity Department Head Bao Shuang, and also Vice County Magistrate Jiao Qiang of the county government.

Also present were the town chief of Shuanggou Town, Zhang Lei; the County Public Security Bureau Chief Sun Chengjun; the Public Security Bureau Political Commissar Tang Niu; and the entire Party Committee leadership of the bureau. Besides them, personnel from the Finance Bureau, Industry and Commerce Bureau, Tax Bureau, and other agencies not involved in this incident were also there, more or less.

If it were only these people, they could easily be thought to have come just to watch Su Yang's joke. Within the system, when something goes wrong and there's no way out, some people like to mock at the last moment in this tacit way. Likewise, some from the Discipline Inspection Commission say this is obstructing their law enforcement.

But this time, what could be seen in their eyes was anger, and contempt for these uninvited guests.

If it were only these people, it would be fine, but in the courtyard stood old and young, male and female, all wearing cloth shoes—some autumn shoes, some rubber shoes. From seventy- or eighty-year-old elders down to seven- or eight-year-old children, their eyes were fixed intently on the Discipline Inspection Commission staff accompanying Su Yang.

"What are you doing? Are you trying to violently resist the law? Do you know what unit we are? We are from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission!"

No sooner had his words fallen than an elderly person stepped forward in the courtyard, angrily saying, "I don't care what unit you are or how much power you have, but County Magistrate Su, you cannot take him away!"

"Our Lieshan County has gone how many years without seeing such a good official; on what grounds do you take him away? When we were previously lacking warm clothing and enough food, why didn't you show up? Now, with County Magistrate Su leading us, we finally see hope and a future, yet you come rushing out like mad dogs—what do you intend to do?"

"If it weren't for County Magistrate Su, I'd either be out in the fields facing the loess with my back to the sky, guarding the few grains of grain that barely last a year, or I'd be working away from home, unable to see my elders and children all year. You people are simply blind and unable to distinguish good from bad—why doesn't a thunderbolt come and strike you dead?"

His words finished, and they were met with echoing agreement from the crowd.

"Exactly, exactly—County Magistrate Su is the best official our county has seen in hundreds of years!"

"Indeed, our family used to not have enough to eat, but this year, following the medicinal herb planting, our income has risen to several thousand yuan. If you dare to take County Magistrate Su away, we'll confront you!"

"Exactly, without County Magistrate Su, we'd raise all those cattle just for our own families to drink a little more milk, and most of the milk would go unwanted. Now it's great—our dairy cows' milk is entirely purchased in advance with government funds, and we're even going to set up a dairy farm!"

"Stop wasting words with them; immediately release them, or else the tools in our hands won't distinguish friend from foe!"

The speaker still held a sickle in his hand; behind him in the crowd, some held iron spades, some held hooves. Evidently, in their minds, anyone who truly works for them is worth protecting.

Seeing this vast crowd speaking up for him, even if their methods were somewhat improper, Su Yang felt warm inside. As long as he served the common people, they would ultimately hold him in their hearts.

There's an old saying that holds true: the common people have a scale in their hearts; whoever treats them well, they will support.

However, this approach is indeed improper, and since they have marshaled such a formidable force this time, he must undergo investigation; this is merely the first wave, with further higher-standard examinations to follow.

But at this moment, the faces of those from the Discipline Inspection Commission inspection team had turned green, while the team leader's face was both black and red. He took out his phone to report the situation to his superiors; if things continued to develop, the situation might become hard to contain, and he also feared that if it really blew up, they themselves would certainly bear responsibility.