Chapter 461

At this moment, everyone held their breath, eager to know how Deputy Secretary Fang would face County Magistrate Zhou's soul-searching questioning.

Some people had long been looking forward to the clash between these two female leaders.

Then Fang Jingwen spoke slowly, 'According to County Magistrate Zhou's opinion, what should we do? Have the Discipline Inspection Commission staff start a 24‑hour nonstop investigation of every cadre, or have the Public Security Bureau's special police and officers provide 24‑hour protection at all government and unit entrances and beside relevant important personnel?'

'This incident occurred because a hidden danger had been planted earlier, a malignant tumor that had been nurtured, not because of a mistake in current work. As for whether you are referring to a work‑style problem of Discipline Inspection Commission staff, or whether someone deliberately leaked this information, leading Cui Mingjiu to jump the gun, this has been mere speculation so far, with no direct evidence proving that Cui Mingjiu is behind it.'

'So before the dust settles, before there is any evidence, please do not pin such a big hat on our discipline inspection work.'

'Besides, I am also the head of the Poverty Alleviation Office; this time the office's comrades met with trouble in Xiushui Township, and I feel more anguished and anxious than anyone present.'

'Fortunately, nothing regrettable has happened.'

'The incident has already occurred; constantly blaming and handing out punishments should not be our focus. Our focus should be to uncover the facts as quickly as possible and bring the relevant personnel under control.'

'We should clarify the full context of the incident in the shortest time, while offering some care and assistance to the frightened staff.'

'Finally, I want to ask why this abscess in Xiushui Township keeps getting bigger, why no one has stepped forward to lance it, whether someone behind the scenes is being indulgent, and whether that person has interests with the township's relevant personnel.'

'Today, I want to take this meeting as an opportunity to state my position: anyone involved in the Xiushui County case, no matter who, I, as the head of the Discipline Inspection Commission, will investigate to the end.'

'Secretary Zhou just had everyone turn in their communication devices, which I agree with; I also suggest that we all wait here until no one has been restrained and taken back to the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Public Security Bureau.'

'This would both give an explanation to the Poverty Alleviation Office comrades and provide everyone a chance to prove their innocence.'

After her speech, laden with the smell of gunpowder, ended, she did not lower her head to look at her notebook or drink water like the others; instead, she continued to stroke that silver bracelet.

It seemed as if she were saying, 'What can you do to me? After all, it's on my wrist now—I can touch it, turn it as I like; are you going to try to yank it off?'

Of course, the spark between Zhou Ruohan and Fang Jingwen did not harm either of them, but it frightened the others present enough to make them gasp.

Besides Zhou Hongtao, anyone else who gets caught between their hands will surely have no good outcome.

A slight misstep will make one a vent for their anger.

Zhou Ruohan was annoyed by an itchy tooth, while Fang Jingwen's stroking of the bracelet meant nothing to others, but she understood it as a real challenge to herself.

But everyone here has status and position; they cannot act like a shrew and shout insults, and they usually express dissatisfaction through work‑related language, so she merely let out a heavy hum and then fell silent, indeed seething inside.

Well done, Su Yang! You said the bracelets were all at your hometown and not brought back, and you promised to bring me one personally next time—so how did it end up on Fang Jingwen's wrist?

Thus, her face grew even colder, and everyone present could feel a strong chill emanating from her.

For a moment, Zhou Hongtao didn't know whether he should say a few words then and continue chairing the meeting.

'Since Secretary Fang said that, I think everyone should just stay in the meeting room and let me know if anything is needed.'

While the atmosphere at the County Party Standing Committee meeting was extremely tense, personnel from the County Public Security Bureau and the County Discipline Inspection Commission also arrived in Xiushui Township.

At this very moment, Cui Mingjiu was bringing his entourage of lackeys to a restaurant to drink alcohol and eat meat.

The restaurant owner's wife heard the sound of car doors closing outside, thought another group of diners had arrived, and went out to greet them—only to see that everyone who entered were young people, and noticing their sharp gazes, she realized they were certainly not ordinary folks.

'May I ask if you are here to eat, or do you have something else in mind?' the landlady asked, summoning her courage.

'Hello, we are looking for Cui Mingjiu; is he eating here?'

The landlady stammered, 'Yes, yes, yes, Township Chief Cui is having his work meal here; please wait a moment, I'll go tell him.'

Don't let the fact that this landlady usually stays in Xiushui Township fool you—she learns the essence of whoever she deals with.

For example, because she often deals with Cui Mingjiu and his ilk, her manner of speaking and handling affairs follows a set pattern.

Although Cui Mingjiu was clearly bringing people in to eat and drink heartily, from his mouth it came out as having a work meal; moreover, seeing that the newcomers looked unfriendly, she also wanted to go inside first to give Cui Mingjiu a heads‑up so he could prepare himself.

But the Discipline Inspection Commission staff would not give her that chance; the deputy secretary leading the team said, 'No need, no need—we'll go fetch Township Chief Cui ourselves; don't bother with us, just get on with your work.'

After the deputy secretary finished speaking, his two staff members gently escorted the landlady to the side.

At that moment the landlady's face turned pale; she probably sensed what was about to happen, but judging from the situation, she dared not shout or make any move.

Because behind the Discipline Inspection Commission personnel were several police officers.

'May I ask who is Township Chief Cui?' a young staff member hurried into the inner room and asked the group of Cui Mingjiu who were drinking and playing finger-guessing games.

'What do you want? What business do you have with Township Chief Cui? Can't you see he's busy here? Get out.'

Gao Haisheng, who had just lifted his wine cup, upon hearing someone looking for Township Chief Cui, spoke bluntly.

Usually he doesn't get many chances to show himself; seeing strangers barge in without the landlady present to look for Cui Mingjiu, the fact that he didn't go up and curse them at the nose was already not bad.

Even if the visitors were dressed very formally, in their hearts Cui Mingjiu was the undisputed local tyrant of Xiushui Township.

Others who came had to step aside; moreover, this was the crucial moment when Cui Mingjiu was about to perform his deep‑water bomb.

Of course, if a senior leader from the county were to come down, they would have received advance notice.

'Is that so? This comrade has quite the air; we came to talk with Comrade Cui Mingjiu, and you are deliberately blocking us—do you intend to speak for him and join us in accepting our talk?'