Chapter 2771

But now, things seemed a bit different from what he was used to. This internet seemed to be a new thing, and he needed to adapt to it again. And this time, it had attracted so many reporters, so he needed to take this matter seriously.

Shi Fengnian said, "So you mean the person who posted it can't be found?"

Hao Yinong said, "I'm afraid they can't be found."

If it were more than a decade later, it would still be possible to find this poster; after all, internet cafes would require real-name registration, and there would be surveillance cameras. It wouldn't be difficult for cyber police to find someone. But in this era, it was equivalent to looking for a needle in a haystack. Internet cafes had neither real-name registration nor cameras, and so many people came and went, and machines were used casually—where would one go to find this person?

After pondering for a moment, Shi Fengnian asked, "Then who do you think posted this?"

Hao Yinong said, "Many people could have. The pollution caused by those gold and silver mines is indeed too terrifying, and there are too many victims. It wouldn't be strange for anyone to post it."

Shi Fengnian had a headache now. This was truly an old revolutionary encountering a new problem. The person who posted it couldn't be found, and in fact, even if they could be found, what would be the use?

The problems reflected by others were objectively existing; those mines indeed had pollution. Even if you arrested someone, you couldn't arrest them on these grounds; you would have to fabricate other charges to arrest them.

Besides, even if you arrested the person, what would be the use? It would just be venting anger. Now that public opinion had been created and the influence had been caused, the urgent matter was how to calm public opinion and eliminate the influence. Otherwise, when the provincial level or even the central government was alarmed, he, Shi Fengnian, would be in a passive position.

Thinking of this, Shi Fengnian said, "Yinong, in your opinion, what should we do now? How can we eliminate the influence?"

Hao Yinong said, "We still have to try our best to handle these reporters. If we can't handle them, and they write another report, it will be hard to deal with."

Shi Fengnian said, "This task is handed to you. In all of Baozhou, you are the only one who can complete this task."

Hao Yinong had worked in the Baozhou City propaganda department for many years and maintained good relationships with many media outlets, which was why Shi Fengnian said this, and Hao Yinong was indeed the person most likely to complete this task in Baozhou City.

Hao Yinong said, "I will try my best to work on those reporters."

Shi Fengnian said, "As for how much funding is needed, just go and collect it."

To handle those reporters, funding was definitely needed. Usually, the propaganda department had a special fund for this aspect, and this time, since the matter had blown up so big, more funding would only be needed. In this regard, Shi Fengnian would not be stingy.

Hao Yinong nodded and said, "Secretary, I am now worried that the provincial level already knows about this. What if the provincial level wants to send someone to investigate?"

Shi Fengnian's brows furrowed again. This matter was truly troublesome. Yes, if the provincial level already knew about this and wanted to send someone to investigate, what should be done?

Shi Fengnian said, "This is truly a headache. How about this: let's urgently convene a municipal committee standing committee meeting tonight to discuss this matter. This matter is not just my own business; everyone needs to pool their wisdom and efforts to overcome this crisis."

Speaking of the gold and silver mines in Baozhou City, that was indeed not just Shi Fengnian's business. Shi Fengnian naturally had shares in the gold and silver mines, but among the leaders in the city, how many did not have shares in the gold and silver mines? Now that such a thing had happened, naturally, a standing committee meeting had to be convened to discuss and resolve it.

Hao Yinong nodded and said, "Okay, then let's discuss it at the standing committee meeting."

On this day, an incident occurred at the Sheshan Gold Mine, about ten kilometers away from the county seat of Yinshan County. The gold mine's security personnel brutally beat a reporter and locked the reporter up, but a companion of that reporter called the police.

That reporter had brought a companion. When that reporter was being beaten, the companion saw that the situation was not good, so he escaped the scene when those security personnel did not notice him, and immediately rushed to the Yinshan County seat, revealed his identity to the Yinshan County Public Security Bureau, and requested the Public Security Bureau to immediately send people to rescue his companion.

These two reporters belonged to a fairly influential newspaper in the provincial capital of Yanbei Province. Upon hearing their name, the Yinshan County Public Security Bureau did not dare to be negligent. They immediately reported to the county committee and then sent people to the Sheshan Gold Mine to rescue that reporter.

If they didn't go fast enough and that reporter was really beaten into some state, then the matter would be a big deal.

Deputy Director Ren Weidong, who had just taken office not long ago, also went along. Their car drove very fast, and they arrived in just a few minutes. As soon as they arrived at the Sheshan Gold Mine, several security guards of the gold mine came up to greet them, handing cigarettes to the driver and the police inside, looking very familiar.

A person who looked like a security captain smiled and said, "Leaders, what wind blew you here? Come in and have some tea."

But today, those drivers and police did not take their cigarettes. A policeman said with a straight face, "Yang Hu, be serious. This is our new Director Ren."

Ren Weidong got out of the car. He was tall, and his body was as sturdy as a door panel. Standing there, he was very imposing. The captain named Yang Hu quickly handed a cigarette to Ren Weidong and said, "So it's Director Ren. Have a cigarette and come in for some tea."

Ren Weidong said with a straight face, "Did you beat a reporter here?"

Yang Hu was stunned and said, "No, when did we beat a reporter?"

The companion of the beaten reporter came out from behind Ren Weidong and shouted, "It was you! You just directed people to beat our reporter Wang."

Yang Hu was still somewhat stunned; he did not recognize the person speaking. At this moment, a security guard behind him whispered, "The person we beat just now seemed to say he was a reporter."

Yang Hu said, "Director Ren, is the reporter you mentioned that person?"

Ren Weidong nodded and said, "Yes, that's him. Hurry up and hand the person over to us."

Yang Hu said, "But that person has been sneaking around our mining area, and his behavior is very suspicious. We thought he was a thief, so we beat him up and locked him in our security room." ===== CHAPTER 2773 =====