Afternoon.
Dong Xuebing, who is still locked in the interrogation room, had wanted to ask about the situation outside. But Old Feng and Qin Yong did not visit him again. The officers guarding him are changed to the ones he is not familiar with. They seemed to be Hu Yiguo’s men, and they refused to answer anything Dong Xuebing asked. Dong Xuebing knew this situation is not in his favor, and he is barred from outside contact.
Dong Xuebing can only smoke.
One cigarette… three cigarettes… five cigarettes…
Dong Xuebing threw the cigarette butt on the floor in anger. F**k! What is going on?!
News of Dong Xuebing will be brought down spreads, and the Investment Promotion Agency is in chaos. Is their chief arrested for suspected murder? How can this be possible?!
The Investment Promotion Agency’s Office.
Lou Haiting is pacing around her office anxiously. “The investment fair is about to start, and what is the Public Security Bureau trying to do? How can they arrest others like this? What can a fingerprint prove? This is a setup! They are trying to bring down Chief Dong! I must look for Mayor Xie!”
Lin Pingping sighed. “Mayor Xie had gone to the City for a meeting, and her mobile phone is off. I heard Secretary Hu is on her way to the City to look for her.”
“How can this be happening?! They are too much!” Luo Haiting shouted angrily.
Lin Pingping is also angry. “I can tell Party Secretary Xiang is behind this. If not, the Public Security Bureau will not do this. We cannot even contact Chief Dong now. Secretary Xiang… is a disappointment. Chief Dong had just brought in a 100 million RMB project to the County, and Secretary Xiang had still praised our agency. But now?! He changed his attitude immediately! How can he use such a piece of vague evidence to frame Chief Dong?! If all the Leaders are like Secretary Xiang, who would want to do their best at work?! No wonder our County’s economy is so bad!” Lin Pingping did not hold back because they are alone in the office.
Luo Haiting asked. “Where is Secretary Guo?”
“Director Guo had gone to look for Secretary Huang.” But Lin Pingping knew Xiang Daofa is the County’s head and has absolute control over the Public Security Bureau. Even the Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee. Huang Li cannot do anything about this. They can only wait for Mayor Xie to return. Chief Dong is her trusted aide, and she will not ignore him.
Luo Haiting didn’t care about her work anymore. “I will go to the County Government now!”
Compared to Luo Haiting, Lin Pingping and Guo Panwei, Sun Shuli, and Business Section Two’s Chief Jiang Hailiang are calm. They continued to do their work. If anything happens to Dong Xuebing, Sun Shuli will be the best person to take over his position.
Suddenly, everyone received alarming news!
Dong Xuebing is suspended from his duties!
This is an obvious signal. Suspected for murder, suspension, and the Party Committee will appoint someone to take over the Investment Promotion Agency because of the upcoming investment fair. This will take away Chief Dong’s powers. Once Secretary Xiang’s man secured the position, Secretary Xiang will downplay this case. Even if Dong Xuebing is found not to have anything to do with Li Hong’s case at that time, he will not regain his position.
Luo Haiting, Ling Pingping, and many others are shaken. Xiang Daofa is going all out to bring down Chief Dong.
Xiang Daofa is not giving Dong Xuebing any chance!
How is Chief Dong going to clear his name now?
Many people had the same guess as Lin Pingping. Arrest, suspension, and Xiang Daofa will call for an emergency Party Committee meeting to discuss the investment fair’s preparation and Dong Xuebing’s replacement when Mayor Xie is not around.
The Investment Promotion Agency is a direct department under the County Government, and Dong Xuebing is not a low-ranking government servant. His rank and position are on the same level as the Public Security Bureau’s Chief. That’s why Xiang Daofa gives out his suspension order. But Dong Xuebing’s replacement must still be discussed in the Party Committee meeting as investment fair is very important to the County.
County Party Committee Building.
Meeting Room 2.
Party Secretary Xiang Daofa, Deputy Party Secretary Cao Xupeng, Organization Department Head Yang Tao, Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee Huang Li, Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection Duan Zhengan, Publicity Department Chen Tongbing, Executive Deputy Mayor Zhou Pingzhi, Head of People’s Armed Forces Xiong Zhiyong, Head of the County’s Party Committee Office Administration Lian Yanshan, and Deputy Mayor Geng Yuchao, are all present except for Xie Huilan.
Because this matter concerns the Public Security Bureau and the Investment Promotion Agency, Public Security Bureau Chief Liang Chengpeng and Deputy Mayor Zhao Xinglong are allowed to attend this meeting.
At these people’s level, they can tell what is happening. Xiang Daofa’s men, Chen Tongbing and Lian Yanshan, sat there calmly enjoying their tea. Huang Li, Geng Yuchao, and Zhao Xinglong are looking terrible. Mayor Xie had just left the County, and Xiang Daofa suspended her trusted aide Dong Xuebing from his duties and even called for a Party Committee Meeting to interfere with the County Government. This is dirty and unreasonable.
The meeting started, and Huang Li immediately open fire!
Huang Li stares at Liang Chengpeng. “Old Liang, why am I not inform that the Public Security Bureau had arrested Chief Dong? Who asked you all to arrest him? Ah? Have you all investigate this case thoroughly?”
Liang Chengpeng calmly replied. “We did not arrest him. We had only brought him back to assist us with the investigation. Chief Dong’s fingerprints are on the deceased’s handbag. We cannot stop investigating this case because Chief Dong is a Government servant.” Although Liang Chengpeng and Cao Xupeng are Xiang Daofa’s men, they are close to Dong Xuebing and have owed him favors. That’s why they are also troubled. If possible, Liang Chengpeng also does not want to do this, but he had no choice.
It is tense in the meeting.
Huang Li and Liang Chengpeng started arguing.
Xiang Daofa saw them arguing and knocked on the table. He wants to settle this as soon as possible. “I also believe Xiao Dong is innocent. I trust our people, but we must treat this seriously since this had happened and investigate it. This will clear Xiao Dong’s name too. Alright. Let’s talk about the person in charge of the investment fair. As Xiao Dong is suspended now, someone must lead the Investment Promotion Agency. I suggest this investment fair be headed by another department as this investment fair must not go wrong.”
Zhao Xinglong’s face turned black. Is this to clear Xiao Dong’s name? Why did the Party Committee suspend Xiao Dong? It’s to tarnish his reputation!
Suspension?
Once the person in charge of the investment fair is handed to another person, this person will officially take over the Investment Promotion Agency after that! Will you allow Dong Xuebing to resume his duties as the Agency’s Chief after that? Impossible! Xiao Dong’s current situation is like being sent to the Party School and getting someone to replace him. Xiao Dong will not be coming back even if he wants to!
Zhao Xinglong and Huang Li know Xiang Daofa’s plans, but there’s nothing they can do.
Fingerprints are important evidence in a case. If someone wants to make a mountain out of a molehill, there’s nothing Dong Xuebing can do.
Zhao Xinglong sighs in his heart as Xiao Dong’s political career is going to end. He is just unlucky to have touched Li Hong’s bag.
Xie Huilan had switched off her phone in the morning because of her meeting. Hu Silian finally found her when she is having lunch with some City Leaders at noon. Xie Huilan immediately leaves for Yan Tai County and even told the City Government that she would not be attending the meetings in the afternoon.
Swoosh!
The Meeting Room’s door opened, and Xie Huilan walks in!
Xiang Daofa suggested Dong Xuebing’s replacement as the head of the investment fair when the door opened. Everyone turns to the door. Xiang Daofa, Chen Tongbing, and the rest frowned, while Geng Yuchao, Zhao Xinglong is relieved. Mayor Xie is back, and the County Government has a leader.
“Mayor Xie.”
“Mayor Xie.”
Xie Huilan entered the meeting room and glanced at Liang Chengpeng coldly before sitting on an empty seat. “Sorry, there is a traffic jam, and I am slightly late. What happened? I heard Xiao Dong is in custody for suspected murder? Is this true?”
Liang Chengpeng gritted his teeth and replied. “We are still investigating, and…”
“The investigation is not over, and you arrested him?” Xie Huilan coldly interrupted/
Liao Yanshan saw it and added. “Mayor Xie. We have found evidence. Chief Dong’s fingerprints are found on Li Hong’s handbag, and he claimed he had been sleeping in his quarters last night. But he has no alibi, so…”
Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes and smiled. “Fingerprints on a handbag can be considered evidence? What about her clothes, watch, buttons? Are Xiao Dong’s fingerprints found on it? Chief Liang, don’t your Public Security Bureau know how long fingerprints can last on an object? I think it’s time for you to give up your position as the Public Security Bureau Chief! If Xiao Dong had met Li Hong in the past and touched that patent leather handbag, his prints will remain on it for years if the bag is not cleaned. Yet you are calling this evidence?!”
Liang Chengpeng frowned. “But other evidence and alibi…”
“Then am I considered an alibi?” Xie Huilan made an alarming statement. “Xiao Dong is with me last night!”
Liang Chengpeng is stunned. “… the case happened around 5 am, and…”
Xie Huilan looks at them. “Xiao Dong is with me from last night to this morning, 6 am. I can be his alibi as he is beside me the whole time and did not step away from me even for one minute!”
Geng Yuchao and Zhao Xinglong are stunned, let alone Xiang Daofa, Chen Tongbing, and the rest!
