The plot had progressed to this point.

Whether others understood it, I didn't know.

But Ding Mengxiang seemed to have sniffed out something unusual.

The card Chen Fang received was handed directly to Fan Xian, which meant that the matter between Chen Fang and Chou Goushi was now unrelated.

He pondered this carefully, and it dawned on him.

At the end of the day, it was Chen Fang's "using another's hand to kill."

Having realized this, he felt a chill rise up inside him.

If that was truly the case, Chen Fang's intentions were somewhat terrifying.

Zhu Liangjia, who had spent a lifetime in the bureaucracy.

Hearing what Fan Xian said, he also started to realize it.

He moved closer to Chen Fang, secretly turned off the microphone, and asked, "Vice Mayor Chen, did you move against my son for the present situation?"

"Look at how you're speaking, sir, about what happened to your son. I'm truly sorry, and I hope you wouldn't take it personally, Chairman Zhu."

Chen Fang's unfazed response made Zhu Liangjia even more certain by three points.

Secretly giving a thumbs up, he said, "Clever move, I've actually been used by you as a gun."

Chen Fang chuckled and said, "Once a gun is fired, the bullet strikes out, and there's no turning back now for Chairman Zhu."

Suffering in silence.

This was originally intended against Chen Fang.

But after all that, it turned out Chen Fang had used it to his advantage.

Though his heart was filled with resentment, he was helpless.

In this gap, Wen Mei had already reported to Song Yiqiang and Gao Chang about Zhao Denggui's suicide. In the investigation, it was found that Zhao Denggui did not commit suicide on his own but was forced by some of Chou Goushi's subordinates who had been caught.

They knew that Zhao Denggui had written a whistleblowing letter to the provincial Disciplinary Committee, and understood that unless Zhao Denggui remained completely silent, the matter could not be resolved.

Thus, by holding Zhao Jie as leverage, they forced Zhao Denggui to consume pesticide and die by suicide and had him write a suicide note before his death. Thus, when Zhao Denggui died, all leads were severed, and as it was a suicide, no one would suspect anything.

The only thing they didn't anticipate was that this matter had already alerted the provincial Disciplinary Committee.

Moreover, the Disciplinary Committee had sent Fan Xian to investigate.

Normally, when a person died, the case would die too, stirring no waves. Yet Fan Xian, refusing to let the matter go, relied on her own means to get to Jinde County and secretly had Chen Fang assist in a thorough investigation.

If it had been an open investigation by Chen Fang.

There would still have been room for maneuver.

At least the Chou Goushi faction could have reacted in time.

But it wasn't Chen Fang who investigated, instead, it was an inquiry initiated by the unnoticed political consultative, coinciding with the arrival of a new criminal police captain who was completely beyond the control of Deputy Director Lu Yan. These many coincidences came together, catching Chou Goushi off guard, leading to a disastrous defeat.

Was it really just a coincidence?

Of course not.

Every step here was meticulously planned by Chen Fang.

He certainly knew the limitations of his influence, and also knew that there must be a protective umbrella over Chou Goushi. With the strategies of killing someone with a borrowed knife and deceiving the heavens to cross the sea, they ultimately brought down Chou Goushi, the corruption bug in the tobacco system.

The conclusion of the commendation ceremony saw the secretary of the Disciplinary Committee, Wu Liangyin, being temporarily suspended, while the Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau, Lu Yan, was directly dismissed and taken in for investigation. With solid evidence against Chou Goushi, he was double-fired on the spot and handed over to the police department for custody.

With this, Zhao Denggui's and Zhao Jie's case was rightfully redressed.

Even though the television station filmed the entire process.

When the commendation ceremony was broadcast on the news channel the next afternoon, that particular segment had been cut out.

Somewhat regrettable.

Thinking about it, it was also normal.

After all, there were many details of the case that still needed to be filled in. Broadcasting it now was like alerting other suspects, literally scaring the snakes in the grass.

It also wasn't conducive to further investigations.

The news had just ended.

The door to Chen Fang's office was knocked on.

"Come in."

Chen Fang turned off the TV, and the door opened as Fan Xian walked in.

"Secretary Fan."

Chen Fang hurriedly stood up to greet her.

Fan Xian nodded her head, sat down on the sofa, and seeing Chen Fang busily making tea, waved her hand and said, "No need to fuss, I'm not thirsty. I came over to tell you something."

"What is it?"

Chen Fang asked.

Fan Xian thought for a moment and said, "Zhu Liangjia... he... he has resigned."

"What?"

Chen Fang paused, then asked, "Why?"

Fan Xian paused and said, "Zhu Liangjia, this person had been frustrated in his official career before and had since lost interest in it. The position at the Political Consultative Conference involves very little dirty work, and he planned to retire from this position. His re-emergence was solely to get back at you, but it turned out that he was, in fact, thoroughly utilized by you. Perhaps that blow was too much for him."

Chen Fang furrowed his brows and shook his head, saying, "That's one reason, but not the main one. Wu Liangyin, Lu Yan, and Chou Goushi certainly still have backers. Zhu Liangjia knew that by moving against them, he was also upsetting some leaders' apple carts, so he took the initiative to resign."

"That's also a possibility."

Fan Xian said.

Chen Fang forcefully slapped his head, blaming himself as he said, "It's all my fault. If I hadn't used him, he would have been able to retire smoothly. I was too reckless, only thinking of avoiding my own misfortune, without considering others' feelings."

Seeing Chen Fang looking distressed.

Fan Xian sighed deeply and said, "By your account, then it's all my fault. After all, it was I who asked for your help, which led you to think of this method."

Chen Fang shook his head and said, "No, the problem lies with me. I could have used another method, but I arrogantly chose one that hurt the innocent."

"Have you ever considered that the most despicable people in the bureaucracy are exactly those like Zhu Liangjia?"

Fan Xian suddenly asked.

Chen Fang was startled and asked, "Why do you say that?"

"Zhu Liangjia is the type of person who can be described with the idiom 'holding a position without fulfilling its duties.' Simply put, he's like someone occupying a bathroom stall but not using it. Many officials are like that today. They do not strive for achievements but only seek to avoid mistakes, thinking about getting through each day, believing that not violating rules and regulations is enough. If the entire bureaucracy becomes like this, isn't that also a huge tragedy?"

"There's a saying, 'If an official does not serve the public, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.' Zhu Liangjia does nothing. He seeks peace of mind, but what does that mean for the people? What use is such an official?"

Fan Xian's words were thought-provoking.

And they gradually eased Chen Fang's troubled heart.

The reality was just that.

If one is completely inactive, what difference does their presence make?

Chen Fang, having listened,

sighed and said, "That's indeed true."

Fan Xian patted him on the shoulder and said, "Alright, there's another matter. In the morning's standing committee meeting, Ding Mengxiang stated that you are the main person in charge of agriculture and rural affairs, and proposed that the responsibility for post-disaster reconstruction in Houtang Village be assigned to you. You need to take up this responsibility."

"Secretary Fan, rest assured, I won't take this matter lightly,"

Chen Fang nodded and said.

Fan Xian suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, I'm just curious to ask, you have been silent about Ding Mengxiang's negligence from the beginning. Are you planning to let him off?"

Chen Fang smiled and said, "I'm not that magnanimous yet. Since there were no casualties in Houtang Village, even if his negligence is investigated, he would only be dismissed from his post. That is too light a punishment compared to him wanting my life. Secretary Fan, don't worry, another drama is already being prepared."

"Good, if you want to cause a ruckus, just cause it. If the sky falls, I will support it. After all, I owe you a favor,"

Fan Xian said with a faint smile.

Chen Fang hummed in agreement, his expression suddenly becoming serious.

Seeing him like this, Fan Xian asked, "What's wrong?"

Chen Fang's eyes darted around, asking, "Did you hear any buzzing noise?"

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