Chapter 733

Su Xinghui stopped and slowly turned around. "Chief Zhang, do you have anything else to say?"

At that moment, Zhang Lihui's blood boiled. He lunged forward in one step and swung a punch straight at Su Xinghui's face. He had no other thought—even if it meant being dismissed, he wanted to beat Su Xinghui up.

Zhang Lihui never considered he might lose to Su Xinghui. Though he was half a head shorter, Su Xinghui was a college graduate, looking refined and gentle, while Zhang Lihui was a veteran soldier, strong and muscular, trained in several grappling and capture techniques—how could he possibly lose to Su Xinghui?

But he never expected that Su Xinghui merely stepped aside lightly, dodging the punch, then hooked his foot beneath Zhang Lihui's ankle—Zhang Lihui tumbled face-first into the mud, covered head to toe in dirt.

Su Xinghui glanced coldly at Zhang Lihui on the ground. "Chief Zhang, think carefully about your next steps."

After speaking, Su Xinghui descended the levee with Liu Yongjun. On the way, Liu Yongjun exclaimed excitedly: "Chief, that move of yours was absolutely awesome!"

Su Xinghui shook his head. "Don't mention this again. Two town chiefs fighting—people would laugh."

Liu Yongjun nodded and said nothing more.

Back at the Zhenzheng Prefecture, Su Xinghui first reported the incident to the town party secretary, Comrade Qi Jian. Upon hearing it, Comrade Qi Jian flew into a rage, slamming his fist on the desk: "How dare he? Playing cards at this time, on this levee—what is Zhang Lihui trying to do? Report it to the county immediately."

Su Xinghui nodded. "Alright, I'll call the county flood control and anti-flood command center right away."

Su Xinghui reported the incident to the county flood control and anti-flood command center. Commandant Kaishan, upon hearing it, was furious. He recommended an emergency standing committee meeting, which decided to remove Zhang Lihui and another town official present at the scene from all party and administrative positions, and to issue public reprimands to two farmers.

Thus, Zhang Lihui, once a deputy town chief, slunk back to his village home, reduced once more to an ordinary villager.

The town's flood control and anti-flood leadership group also issued a notice, inviting flood-control volunteers to report any violations occurring during flood control efforts.

The incident shook the entire town. Party members, cadres, and villagers on the levee no longer dared to slack off. After all, behind the levee lay their own homes, their own families—who wouldn't do their duty?

The key was that everyone watched their leaders. If the top is corrupt, the bottom follows. If the county had ignored Zhang Lihui's actions, everyone would have lost motivation. Now that Zhang Lihui had been punished, morale surged. Those who had considered slacking off were deterred, and the overall spirit lifted instantly.

That day, Tong Yuejin and others were dining at Peng Taiping's home. After drinking a cup of wine, Tong Yuejin said: "Secretary Peng, isn't Su Xinghui starting to settle old scores? He just got rid of Old Zhang in one blow. Poor Old Zhang worked so hard for all these years—just because he played a card game, all his effort went to waste."

Peng Taiping frowned. "Yuejin, don't talk nonsense. Zhang Lihui was punished for violating discipline. If these words reach others' ears, they'll think differently of you."

Tong Yuejin grumbled: "I don't care. If they want to fire me too, fine—I don't believe he can do anything to me!"

Peng Taiping said: "Yuejin, I'm not saying this to scold you, but this is flood control season—a critical time. If you really do something wrong, getting fired won't matter? You won't even know where to cry for help. I'm telling all of you: be extremely careful during this period. Don't give anyone a reason to catch you."

Everyone nodded, acknowledging his words.

In truth, Peng Taiping was just as fearful. In his own thoughts, he too felt Su Xinghui's actions carried the scent of settling old scores—who among them hadn't offended Su Xinghui before?

Putting himself in Su Xinghui's shoes, Peng Taiping would have settled old scores too. In officialdom, there's no such thing as a "nice guy." So he didn't think Su Xinghui was wrong.

Su Xinghui wanted to settle old scores—and Peng Taiping and the others had no way to counter him. Peng Taiping could only keep his head down, afraid Su Xinghui might find some fault and fire him, destroying half a lifetime's effort.

Tong Yuejin tossed back another cup of wine. "Secretary Peng, I understand the logic—but I still feel suffocated. Think how happy we used to be. Since this Su came, everything's been miserable. Don't you all feel the same?"

Peng Taiping said: "Enough. Don't say such things anymore. Just behave yourself quietly. If you can serve safely until retirement, that's enough. Come, drink!"

Hearing Peng Taiping say that, Tong Yuejin could only nod, poured another cup, and drank. But he was only venting—facing Su Xinghui directly, he'd have cowered instantly.