Director Zhao was already asleep when Captain Shi's call startled him awake.

"Hello, Captain Shi, what's the matter?"

Director Zhao's tone was a bit impatient.

"Director Liang wants you to go to Dujiang City immediately and take over the case there."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

"...Alright, I got it."

After hanging up the phone, Director Zhao mumbled a few curses.

His wife was awakened by the noise: "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, go back to sleep."

After getting dressed and putting on his shoes, Director Zhao opened the door and suddenly saw Captain Shi at the entrance.

Behind him were lots of police officers.

Director Zhao was stunned: "Captain Shi, you..."

"Zhao Xuezhi, come with me," Captain Shi said coldly.

Zhao Xuezhi was stunned for two seconds but immediately reacted.

His heart was filled with panic, knowing he might have been exposed.

"Captain Shi, I..."

"I only handle arrests, any issues you can take up with Director Liang later."

Captain Shi waved his hand, and two officers stepped forward to hold him on either side.

"Go in, search the place."

"Bring everyone in the house along."

"Yes."

A team of police officers immediately entered the home, turning on the lights.

The noise woke Zhao Xuezhi's wife and children.

With a face ashen as he watched his terrified wife and children and the phones, computers, and other equipment being seized, his last shred of hope evaporated.

Half an hour later, the vehicle pulled into the precinct.

After the Zhao family of four was searched, they were brought into the interrogation room.

Special arrangements were made for the two children.

Captain Shi personally handled the interrogation, but Zhao Xuezhi was uncooperative.

"I don't know about Zhu Qiushui, Captain Shi, we've worked together for so many years, you know my character..."

"Zhao Xuezhi, are you sure you want to resist to the bitter end?"

Captain Shi said sternly, "You know Director Liang's style of handling cases better than I do. Would he have arrested you without absolute evidence?"

At this moment, Liang Jianfeng suddenly entered and said, "No need for further questioning, just lock him up. The evidence has already been extracted."

Captain Shi responded with a nod, picking up pen and paper to stand up.

Liang Jianfeng looked at him coldly, "Zhao Xuezhi, you've really disappointed me."

After leaving those words, Liang Jianfeng closed the door of the interrogation room.

Staring at the cold interrogation table, Zhao Xuezhi's heart sank to the bottom.

...

The next day.

Zheng Bihui had just arrived at the office as Secretary Li Jun was tidying up and making tea.

Zheng Bihui's mood was neither particularly good nor particularly bad.

At least, the Fengmen Building project was still in his hands.

Additionally, he had some other projects in his hands.

As mayor, although he hadn't made any significant contributions, he also hadn't committed any major faults.

He had actually come to terms with this.

Compared to the City Secretary, being mayor suited him better.

Without power and lacking cooperation from subordinates, being City Secretary was pointless besides bearing responsibilities.

Rather than that, he'd prefer to be mayor and focus on economic development.

As long as the achievements were there, it wouldn't be worse than Secretary Lu.

After Li Jun organized today's documents, he stepped out the door.

No sooner had he left than the phone on Zheng Bihui's desk rang.

"Mayor Zheng, City Committee Secretary Wu requests you come to the Fengjiang Branch."

"Now?"

"Yes."

"Understood."

Zheng Bihui snorted coldly; he could guess with his toes what they wanted him for.

It was nothing but Director Yang's case.

But Secretary Lu was gone, and now Wu Qiangwei was the City Committee leader.

The case, you handle it yourself, why call me?

Trying to make me take the blame?

Let's see what kind of gross overreach Wu Qiangwei intends!

...

After receiving the call, Jiang Yuan was deep in thought.

This case, no matter how it turned out, shouldn't have come looking for him.

What was Secretary Wu trying to do?

Could it be that the case had seen developments?

Has the case involved leaders from the City Government?

Could it involve Zheng Bihui or Zhang Xiaoxian?

With questions swirling, he headed to the Fengjiang Branch.

...

Minister Zhou had the same thoughts as Jiang Yuan when he received the call.

As Minister of Organization, a criminal case shouldn't be related to him.

Unless the case involved members of the Organization Department.

Minister Zhou's mood was somewhat gloomy. While on the way by car, his mind kept flashing through the faces within the Organization Department.

He had absolute control over the department, and there was no room for dissent.

If the Organization Department was implicated, it meant he was losing control.

One by one, committee members began heading toward the Fengjiang Branch.

Jiang Yiren also received the call.

Without so much as a second thought, she directly headed over.

Jiang Yiren was the first to arrive.

"Director Liang, you called for me?"

"There's a case that needs your collaboration."

Liang Jianfeng smiled, "But you'll need to wait a moment."

"No problem."

"Take a seat over there."

Captain Shi led her to a small conference room.

Soon after, Zheng Bihui, Jiang Yuan, and other committee members arrived one after another.

They saw each other in the parking lot and were slightly surprised.

Zheng Bihui asked, "Did Secretary Wu call you all here?"

The few of them nodded, feeling increasingly strange.

What in the world was going on?

Inside the branch's lobby, Liang Jianfeng was already waiting.

Times had changed.

Liang Jianfeng was now Vice Mayor of Jiangzhou City and Director of the Public Security Bureau.

Although he wasn't on the standing committee, his rank and real power were on par with Jiang Yuan's.

Everyone felt a bit sentimental, but each was quite shrewd and quickly put on smiles, nodding and greeting Liang Jianfeng.

Liang Jianfeng said, "Please, follow me."

Upon entering the meeting room, Liang Jianfeng sat down, but there was no sign of Wu Qiangwei.

They weren't in any hurry to ask questions.

After two minutes, footsteps sounded outside.

Wu Qiangwei pushed the door open and walked in.

Behind her was Song Guanchao.

Surprised glances exchanged among people.

Isn't this guy a suspect?

What's he doing here?

Under their puzzled gazes, Wu Qiangwei took a seat.

However, she didn't sit in the main seat, but to the right of it.

Then, Song Guanchao approached the main seat and sat down under their astonished gazes.

"Good to see you again, esteemed leaders."

Though Song Guanchao's hair appeared unkempt, and his clothes seemed unwashed for days, his spirits were high.

He smiled, "All you leaders know me, so no need for introductions."

"Today, I have primarily invited you all here."

He paused deliberately to see if anyone would raise any questions.

But these committee members were deeply rooted figures, and although questions flooded their minds, they chose not to interrupt.

Song Guanchao continued, "I have some requests with me today."

Requests?

The crowd quickly caught onto this keyword.

Interesting.

Song Guanchao continued, "There are some matters for which I require your signatures."

This time, Liang Jianfeng stood up and placed a document in front of Zheng Bihui.

Song Guanchao timely added, "These are the papers from the task force declaring my exoneration. I would like the two mayors to sign them."

Mayor Zheng squinted as Jiang Yuan watched Wu Qiangwei with interest.

"That's amusing," he said.

Song Guanchao went on, "This is the recommendation letter appointing me the head of the provincial task force, and I need all of you leaders to sign your names on it."

With both documents laid down, everyone in the meeting room looked at Song Guanchao and Wu Qiangwei with perplexity.

What were they up to?

They must be mad.

Zheng Bihui sneered, confirming his suspicions that Wu Qiangwei had gathered him to find a scapegoat.

But it turned out that it wasn't just him who was supposed to take the fall.

Lighting up a cigarette, he tossed the document away with a cold sneer, "As I suspected, you summoned us just to make us take the fall."

"And you're not stopping at just me."

"So if I don't sign this today, will you pin some fabricated charges on me and have me arrested?"

"Wu Qiangwei, I suggest you remember your place! With Secretary Lu gone, I, Zheng Bihui, am the top standing committee member in Lingjiang!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.