Chapter 648

Su Yang feigned surprise: "Mayor Bai, what do you mean? What media?"

"The media in the city, what does that have to do with me? I can't even figure out the situation in Lieshan Xian, how could I have the power to mobilize other media?"

"Besides, I already made it clear just now: I'm not targeting anyone, I'm just doing what I ought to do."

"What's wrong with that?"

Bai Yupeng slapped the table and stood up: "Su Yang, you're utterly shameless, don't you know I'm doing this to save you? Otherwise, you'll surely regret it!"

Su Yang said calmly: "Then thank you, Mayor Bai. As long as I'm serving the common people, I have no regrets."

Bai Yupeng's face stiffened, and for a long time he couldn't utter a word.

Normally, with his status and position just sitting down like this would have made things clear. But today he not only came, he also spoke so bluntly—does Su Yang still refuse to give him any face?

In fact, such a situation is extremely rare within the system; ordinary people wouldn't dare confront their superiors like this unless they didn't want to keep their job. But that's the usual case, and the officials involved are ordinary; Su Yang is clearly not ordinary. Not to mention a vice mayor today—even if it were a leader from the province, he'd still say the same.

Of course, before coming, he already had some grasp of the situation in Lieshan Xian, and even knew who the province was backing to support Geng Miao.

So the people jumping out now are just small fry; he doesn't care at all. He's very confident they can't touch him—at worst they won't be able to remove him from his post, at worst they won't be able to give him petty trouble.

Anyone who tried to target him or trip him up basically ended up in trouble; he now feels a hint of pity for Vice Mayor Bai. The fact that they've jumped out shows they're deeply involved with Geng Miao—if Geng Miao falls, Vice Mayor Bai will likely be finished as well.

"Fine, very well, if that's how it is, then do as you please!" After saying that, Vice Mayor Bai flicked his sleeves and left.

He's spent so many years within the system, yet this is the first time a subordinate official has talked back to him. This is already a loss of face; if it gets out, he'll have to wear a mask whenever he goes out.

As he left, Ye Xianggao and Wen Qiren hurriedly followed. Su Yang doesn't care whom he offends, but the two of them dare not offend their superiors. Even though Vice Mayor Bai's anger is entirely because of Su Yang, they still have to follow him out to find an excuse, first to distance themselves.

Ming Yuexin stared at Su Yang, even a bit dazed. He had previously learned something about Su Yang, even conducted a special investigation, but in his view, being within the system is just about fame, rank, and profit. He'd already said what could be given should be given, yet Su Yang would accept neither soft nor hard approaches. In the end, even the vice mayor talked back, and this is merely the opening—surely we can't bring in leaders from the province.

"Boss Ming, this meal ends here today; nobody's happy. Let me lay it out plainly: I never intended to target Geng Miao or the winery."

"But if someone reports it, and if Geng Miao and the winery's other businesses closely tied to the common people continue as they are now, using hard-handed tactics to extort and squeeze, then I will absolutely not stand by. And don't think you can offer me benefits in exchange later—I simply won't accept that." Having said that, he turned and left.

Only Ming Yuexin remained, staring at the full table of dishes, at a loss. He had thought this time he could definitely take down Su Yang, at worst delay him a bit to get Geng Biao out first, but instead he got a blunt blow.

Su Yang had just stepped out when Geng Miao entered.

"How is it? Is he still refusing both soft and hard approaches?"

Ming Yuexin said: "Right, I've already messaged you about the previous matters; just now Vice Mayor Bai made his position crystal clear, but Su Yang is dead set on locking horns with us to the bitter end. What should we do? Are we really just going to let him keep Geng Biao?"

"Besides, judging by the situation, he surely has other backup plans. Even if Sun Chengjun really fired the gun on purpose, we lack sufficient evidence to prove it, since the gun also bears Geng Biao's fingerprints. It's basically impossible to clarify; no matter who we ask to appraise, the verdict will be assault on an officer and gun seizure. This is getting troublesome; if it really can't be resolved, should we call the provincial leaders?"

Geng Miao shook his head: "I've gotten this far not merely by relying on these connections; otherwise I'd have collapsed long ago. Those politicians give me a bit of face because they also value my skill and ability."

"Now letting me call for reinforcements would really be embarrassing. How about this: in a couple of days it's payday, right? Tell the Finance Bureau to inform all units that they have no money. Especially the teachers' salaries—don't pay a cent—then let those people go find Su Yang."

Ming Yuexin blinked, then caught on: "You mean Su Yang controls education; if those people really can't get their money and go to him, that makes sense."

"But according to the original plan, we were indeed supposed to make up the tax payments this month; theoretically that's more than enough. Moreover, we'd already told the county about it, so doing this actually drags Ye Xianggao and Wen Qiren into it as well."

Geng Miao said: "It doesn't matter who we drag down; I just want Su Yang to know that in the whole Lieshan Xian there's nothing I can't handle, and without me, Lieshan Xian would fall apart."

"As for the back taxes, I say pay them and they get paid; I say don't pay and they don't—what can they do about it? Besides not paying the taxes they owe, I'll also cancel all the New Year's cash red packets and shopping vouchers prepared for them. And you should put this notice out now, so that all the county's officials go to Su Yang to demand an explanation. By then I think we won't need to lift a finger—Su Yang will be driven out by the entire county's officials."

Ming Yuexin asked: "But Geng Biao is still in the city hospital; can he hold out there? Su Yang could have the ability to arrange all that media attention, and likely will bring in others to intervene in the interrogation. In my view, the chance of Geng Biao coming back directly is slim."

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Geng Miao's face: "Don't worry, Geng Biao won't say anything, nor will he admit anything. The tricky part now is those three detained at the Shuanggou Town Paichusuo—if they disappear, Zhang Chao-xia can't account for it; but if they're still there, they'll surely be questioned eventually, and these three aren't that tough."

"Originally the plan was to have those three take the fall, but after consulting people, I feel they're still somewhat reluctant, after all this matter could cost them their heads. I'll think it over; if it really can't work, I'll have them break out of the Paichusuo—Zhang Chao-xia as chief is useless anyway, we can discard her. Anyway, losing the chief just means we can reassign her to another unit."