Chapter 1111: Justice Speaks

Xu Jinxiu immediately stepped forward, stood in front of the podium, snapped a salute, then bent his torso forward, trying to listen to Secretary Pan's instructions.

As soon as he leaned his face in, Pan Wenhai's massive slap, accompanied by a whooshing sound, came swinging at him.

"Snap!"

The slap caught him off guard; Xu Jinxiu spun like a top a few times, then slammed into the front‑row table and tumbled headfirst onto the floor.

Even a Public Security Bureau Director could have his body become so limp.

But Pan Wenhai's anger hadn't been fully vented; he rushed out and unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks on Xu Jinxiu.

This happened in front of all mid‑level leaders of the public security system and nearby police officers, giving Xu Jinxiu no respect at all, beating him like livestock in a pen, wildly punching and kicking.

Xu Jinxiu was knocked senseless. He believed his judgment was sound, and this time he was fighting for Secretary Pan's face, even striking Su Yang's cheek. Even though Secretary Pan had just taken a phone call, it should have been about something else. Yet the more this moment arrived, the more he felt he must speak up for Secretary Pan!

"Secretary Pan, have you gone crazy from eating shit or what? Why are you constantly berating yourself?"

Though he thought that inside, he absolutely dared not strike back, and could only do his best to protect his head and his lower body. First, he must not let his head be damaged or suffer a concussion; his brain must stay sharp. Second, his lower body must stay unharmed, or else his happiness for the rest of his life would be gone.

Everyone knows that Secretary Pan beats people; you can't say he's like a mad dog, but he's certainly like a rabid wild donkey, completely reckless. Someone was once kicked by him, ruining the rest of that person's happiness, and to this day they dare be angry but not speak out.

The others stared at each other, no one stepped forward to intervene, nor dared to speak up, because they feared Pan Wenhai would turn and beat them. After all, in Liu Cheng Xian, the cadres Pan Wenhai has beaten are not one or two, but a whole crowd.

Su Yang felt a flash of exhilaration, the most genuine feeling deep in a person's heart: "Aren't you trying to slap my face? Aren't you trying to go head‑to‑head with me? And the result? Your master doesn't even treat you as a human!"

But immediately after, a sense of bleak sorrow rose in his heart. If within the system everyone behaves in this Local Tyrant‑style, bandit‑style manner, not to mention any talk of democracy, even the dignity humans should have is trampled into pieces.

Can they still serve the people like this? It's literally throwing the people's face away!

At that thought, he shouted, "Enough! We are public servants of the people, cadres of the Party, not bandits or thugs!"

"Xu Jinxiu may have erred at work, but he should be dealt with according to the Organization's regulations, not by this most barbaric, most primitive method!"

"If all the cadres in our county act like this, resorting to fists and kicks at the slightest provocation, how will the grassroots cadres treat the Common People? What image do we present in the hearts of the Common People?"

"You have no shame, yet the Organization still cares about face! The higher Organization Department and higher government leaders also demand face!"

His words struck like a thunderclap on a clear day, hitting each person's heart. They have always been indifferent, hanging aloof, thinking Pan Wenhai could never hit them. Yet their silence and failure to intervene actually condoned the violence; in other words, they too are perpetrators.

It was the newly arrived Deputy Secretary Su Yang, who feared nothing, publicly denouncing the act before everyone; how could that not make them blush with shame?

Of course, while ashamed, they mutter inwardly that Su Yang is a blockhead, thinking this wouldn't give Pan Wenhai face, that it would only bring trouble on themselves. So, can Secretary Pan even dodge this?

"Do you want to taste the wrath of Secretary Pan?"

At the same time, some people secretly hoped that Pan Wenhai's "shame‑infused iron fist" would strike Su Yang's face directly.

And Su Yang is a hot‑blooded twenty‑something lad; if he actually took that beating, he'd never hold office again, and it'd be best for him to tuck his head into his crotch when walking.

But if Su Yang also threw punches back, meeting violence with violence, it would become the biggest joke in the entire officialdom. Pan Wenhai would later be mocked into unable to lift his head, and both of their careers would essentially be over.

In that case, those people on the podium might soon encounter a huge turning point. As for human hearts, that's all there is.

However, what none of them expected was that Pan Wenhai's angry iron fist suddenly came to an abrupt halt.

Then, his face turning ashen, he returned to the podium, pounded the table and roared:

"From now on, you, the Public Security Bureau Director, should temporarily stop working! I, representing the County Standing Committee, hereby suspend Xu Jinxiu's position as Public Security Bureau Director!"

"Comrade Xu Le, the Executive Deputy Director, should immediately advance the competitive appointment work!"

"I don't care what you do; by 8 a. m. tomorrow you must produce a feasible plan, and starting tomorrow everyone must sign up to participate!"

"If anyone among you still dares to muddy the waters, still pretends to be loyal while acting oppositely, still defies orders, I don't mind stripping them of their police uniform!"

After speaking, he swept his sleeves and left, and as he departed he smashed the tea cup on the table into pieces.

This scene left everyone staring dumbfounded. Is this still Pan Wenhai's style as the top leader? According to his usual manner, he should have opened fire on Su Yang at this point. Yet he not only refrained from harming Su Yang, but also led the push for competitive appointments. Are their ears broken, or is Pan Wenhai's brain broken?

Competitive appointments elsewhere aren't a big deal; it's merely a power play among County Standing Committee members, simply some leaders' dissatisfaction with the Public Security Bureau.

But in Liu Cheng Xian, the matters behind this are numerous. Some key positions—such as the Public Security Brigade Brigade Chief, Criminal Police Team Team Chief, and Chengguan District Paichusuo Chief—are all arranged by the coal boss.

By openly pushing this competitive appointment now, aren't you blatantly insulting those "gold‑backing fathers" behind the scenes? How will you answer them later?

At that moment, the other Standing Committee members' phones suddenly rang; after taking the calls, each one's complexion instantly turned pale.

After a brief stunned moment, they all turned their gaze to Su Yang, eyes filled with shock, disbelief, and also flattery. Clearly, people had been calling them one after another to inform them of the interview program's content.

It has already been said that these people's other abilities are questionable, but to claim they lack political sense would be an insult to their character.

At that moment, they suddenly felt that the sky over Liu Cheng Xian might be about to change. This young Deputy Secretary, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary, is far from a hotheaded youth; he comes bearing a great mission.

Even more terrifying is that this guy actually comes from Jingcheng! Could there be behind him a power and strength beyond their reach and imagination?

At that moment, Su Yang's phone suddenly rang. He picked it up, saw an unfamiliar number, and without hesitation pressed the answer button.