0131 140 Police Report

After saying these words, it seemed that Zhou Xiye had used up all his strength, and his legs felt like they were filled with lead.

She walked back to her car, got in, and closed the door. She threw off her hat, closed her eyes, and leaned back in her seat. The car was completely silent, as if isolated from the world. Zhou Xiye remained calm for a long time when the phone on the passenger seat vibrated. Without opening her eyes, she reached for her phone, then squinted to see who was calling and answered the call.

"...Are they planning to investigate Qihang?"

The person on the other end said something else, and Zhou Xiye hummed in response. "Now that we've found out, let's put out what they want to see and let them choose."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Xiye raised his hand and rubbed his temples.

A car approached from the opposite direction, its headlights flashing across Zhou Xiye's face. She opened her eyes.

"What mischief have you gotten yourself into now, you little rascal!"

A cane tapped him from behind. Meng Qinggong was startled; Zhou Xiye had vanished from his sight, as if it were a dream—a female ghost entering his dream. He closed the door, turned to Meng Lingnan, and asked, "Dad, it's so late, aren't you asleep yet?"

"You were asleep and dreamt that someone was cursing you. Come and see what's going on."

Meng Qinggong raised his hand to touch the tip of his nose, lowered his head and said, "No one is cursing me... Zhou Xiye is in dire straits himself and came to find me to take the fall. I'm not that stupid." After saying that, he shook his head, walked to Meng Lingnan's side, and put his arm around his father's shoulder. "Let's go and go to sleep."

"You've uncovered the truth behind the human trafficking and prostitution case? I don't see you've issued a statement," Meng Ling stopped and looked at Meng Qinggong. "Was what that little girl said just now true?"

Meng Qinggong sighed, "Dad! What do you mean by real or fake? This is just an internal power struggle between Zhou Xiye and Hu Rui. It has nothing to do with us. I just need to do my job well."

"You're too ashamed to even speak the truth, yet you want to do your job properly?!" Meng Lingnan cursed. "I don't understand what you're thinking. Let them fight it out; it has nothing to do with you. Why don't you follow the proper procedures? I think you're just trying to avoid suspicion, wearing your police uniform but not doing what a police officer is supposed to do!"

Meng Qinggong glared, "How could I not have done it! Didn't I find out what really happened? I went to arrest people under the scorching sun and interrogated them all night. Didn't I do anything? Yes, the truth has been found, but does the truth have to be known by everyone? We just need to uphold fairness and give an explanation to the victims. Why should so many people know?"

Unable to bear hearing this, Meng Ling raised his cane to hit him.

"dad!"

Before the cane could fall, a few seconds later, Meng Lingnan looked up and took a deep breath. "It's my own path, I'll walk it myself."

Hearing his father's disappointed tone, Meng Qinggong felt a pang of emotion and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Dad, it's late, go to sleep."

The next morning, the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee held a special meeting (expanded meeting), chaired by Hu Rui, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee. The meeting emphasized that the mistakes made by Zhou Xiye, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, in his work had attracted great attention within the Party, and all comrades should take this as a warning.

At the meeting, Hu Rui pointed out that this expanded meeting of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee was a meeting to clarify responsibilities, improve execution, and emphasize the Party's own conduct; more importantly, it was a meeting to uphold the original aspiration and never forget the mission. The main focus was on resolving the follow-up issues of the rural tourism-prostitution case, clarifying the responsibilities of various departments, strengthening accountability, and ensuring accountability.

Hu Rui emphasized the need to strengthen responsibility and be willing to take on challenges. He stressed that mistakes must be accepted and that the people should provide criticism and education. While addressing problems, it is also important to implement other tasks in Kunming. He emphasized that agritourism is not the only way for Kunming to develop, and that the municipal party committee and government must remain grounded and move forward step by step.

The wording was quite subtle. Ling Xingzhi sat to the side, picked up his teacup, and took a sip of the long-cold tea. Shen Yuhe sat silently to the side. Apart from Hu Rui, who was very excited, no one at the meeting was happy. Of course, there was also Qiao Senxi, who was sitting next to Hu Rui.

"Mayor Ling, is there anything you'd like to say?"

Hu Rui suddenly pointed at Ling Xingzhi, who put down his teacup. "I'm not very familiar with the human trafficking and prostitution cases involving agritainment businesses. My job has always been to focus on the economy," he said, pulling out prepared materials from under a sheet of white paper. "In the first half of this year, the city's main economic indicators were better than the provincial average, and key tasks were carried out effectively and in an orderly manner. Tourism accounted for the largest share, which may be attributed to the economic benefits brought by agritainment businesses. This achievement is hard-won, but we must also recognize our shortcomings and deficiencies."

Ling Xingzhi looked at Hu Rui and smiled. "The main problem is that there are still many unfulfilled economic targets, and the speed of development cannot keep up with the speed of debt accumulation. Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that it is a legacy issue. The previous leadership team left many problems, resulting in insufficient momentum for subsequent growth, difficulties in ensuring the availability of essential resources, and a prominent contradiction between fiscal revenue and expenditure. I think development is a difficult thing. We must overcome all difficulties and forge ahead. We cannot just see the small pitfalls in front of us and get stuck in the current difficulties and stop moving forward."

He paused, then sighed deeply. "It's one thing to write a self-criticism, but it's another to ridicule and mock. We must remember that we are one, sharing both honor and disgrace. Those who criticize Secretary Zhou are not only criticizing Zhou Xiye, but also themselves, and even more so, the Municipal Party Committee."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuhe picked up her teacup to hide her urge to laugh. Hu Rui was truly blind; Ling Xingzhi had managed to get Zhou Xiye out of there, so how could he possibly take Hu Rui seriously? Overestimating himself, like a monkey becoming king when the tiger is away.

Hu Rui understood what Ling Xingzhi meant, but Yunnan was so far from Beijing, and whoever was in charge of the territory had the final say, so he couldn't make any definitive statements.

"Regarding Secretary Zhou's case, our inspection team has been making progress. We will not frame anyone, nor will we let anyone who has made a mistake go free," Shen Yuhe said, looking at Hu Rui. "Secretary Hu, don't worry. There has been new progress in Secretary Zhou's case, and I believe we will have a result soon."

"Team Leader Shen, you've worked hard."

Meng Qinggong remained silent at the meeting, listening to the undercurrents of tension and the echoes of Zhou Xiye's insults. He felt he hadn't done anything wrong. Being an official was no longer about being concerned for the people when one held a high position; if you couldn't keep your job, all your abilities were meaningless.

What was Zhou Xiye's motive? He didn't understand—was she trying to drag him down with her? Was there some other conspiracy? Or was Zhou Xiye simply acting out of a sense of justice? Such lofty qualities seemed absurd to him.

Meng Qinggong preferred to believe that Zhou Xiye was plotting against him.

However, Zhou Xiye was reported for embezzlement and suspended from her duties for investigation. Ling Xingzhi helped her get away with it, and the patrol team did not take any coercive measures against her. Judging from the signs, the possibility of Zhou Xiye being punished is very small, but it is hard to say whether she can return to her position.

What was Zhou Xiye's purpose in scheming against him? What outcome did he want?

Meng Qinggong was completely baffled.

Every word Zhou Xiye spoke struck his heart. He felt that, perhaps, very rarely, she might really be doing it for the people and for the truth.

For the sake of justice in her heart.

Meng Qinggong weighed the possibilities, feeling uncertain. Looking at Hu Rui's appearance, the small flame of justice that Zhou Xiye had finally ignited was extinguished by the reality before him. Ling Xingzhi dared to challenge him to his face because he had a good father. Meng Lingnan would not help Meng Qinggong do those things, and might even come back to kick him while he was down if he made a mistake.

He didn't know what to do.

After the meeting, he and Ling Xingzhi took the same elevator downstairs.

"Director Meng doesn't seem quite right today?" Ling Xingzhi asked with a smile. "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Meng Qinggong was taken aback, feeling that Ling Xingzhi's words had a hidden meaning. He shook his head and said, "No, I was just thinking about things at the bureau. There have been a lot of cases lately."

Ling Xingzhi nodded, looked away, and stared at the red numbers on the electronic screen. Neither of them spoke. Meng Qinggong, emerging from his own world, looked at Ling Xingzhi. The overhead lights were stark white, and the feeling of falling was unpleasant. He suddenly felt the atmosphere in the elevator was heavy, making it hard for him to breathe.

Ling Xingzhi flinched and turned to look at him. "Director Meng, what's wrong?"

Meng Qinggong shook his head. Just then, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. "It's nothing, I just didn't sleep well last night," he said, and walked straight out. As he passed Ling Xingzhi, he heard Ling Xingzhi chuckle, which sounded like mockery.

A week later, the minutes of the expanded meeting of the municipal party committee were submitted to Liu Liangyou. He glanced at them and put them aside. Sitting opposite him was Zhao Hongji, the secretary of the provincial discipline inspection commission. "The Zhou Xiye incident has taught us a rigorous lesson. I think this rectification campaign will soon spread throughout the country. The party's work style needs to be rectified, and Zhou Xiye is the best example."

Zhao Hongji smiled and said, "Secretary Liangyou, don't be too anxious. The investigation results for Zhou Xiye haven't come out yet. Let's wait a little longer. The roving team will definitely give us an answer."

Liu Liangyou sighed deeply, "Secretary Zhao, we've both witnessed Zhou Xiye's situation firsthand. I admit he's capable and creative, but he just lacks practicality. 'Big strokes, cutting through mountains and boiling water' sounds impressive, but putting it into practice is never easy. How long have we been in the organization to get to this position, and how old is Zhou Xiye?"

“Secretary Liangyou, I can tell you’re worried about Zhou Xiye. But the Party organization needs young blood now, and the whole world needs young people. The Party is keeping pace with the times, and we also need to learn something from them. In my opinion, this is a good thing for Zhou Xiye. She needs to be tempered and know what it feels like to be confined so that she can do things within the rules, do things well, and do things properly.”

Liu Liangyou looked at Zhao Hongji, unable to understand what the old man meant by Zhou Xiye.

“Yes, yes, Secretary Zhao is right!” Liu Liangyou joked with a smile. “Did Team Leader Shen tell you about the progress of Zhou Xiye’s case? I didn’t see it mentioned at the expanded meeting of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee. The work in Kunming must continue. Hu Rui is a reliable person, but he’s a cunning old fox. He’s been eyeing the position of Municipal Party Secretary for a long time.”

Zhao Hongji smiled and shook his head.

Hu Rui's situation is special. Under normal circumstances, the mayor also serves as the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee. In order to promote Hu Rui, the former secretary of the municipal party committee also put Hu Rui aside and insisted on giving him the position of deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, thus separating the mayor and reducing the concentration of power.

Unexpectedly, Ling Xingzhi and Zhou Xiye arrived, leaving Hu Rui feeling a bit awkward.

But it doesn't matter, since Zhou Xiye is finished this week, Hu Rui is definitely the first choice for the municipal party secretary.

Zhao Hongji pursed his lips. "It's hard to say. If Secretary Zhou were in trouble, word would have spread long ago. Don't worry, we just heard from Team Leader Shen that there are new leads. Let's take it slow."

"What new clue?" Liu Liangyou asked.

Zhao Hongji stepped back, saying, "I don't know. What? You don't trust the people in the central government?"

Liu Liangyou quickly waved his hand, "No, no, it's just that I'm worried they'll be too busy, so the provincial committee has to send people to help."

“Oh dear, Secretary Liangyou, Team Leader Shen will definitely tell you if he has something to say, so don’t worry,” Zhao Hongji stood up. “I’m going back now; there’s a meeting at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection in a bit.”

After Zhao Hongji left, Liu Liangyou took out the documents again, flipped through them casually, and couldn't find anything of interest. Shen Yuhe didn't say anything about the situation, and Liu Liangyou still couldn't let go of the heavy weight in his heart. Zhou Xiye's success or failure was related to the political direction of Yunnan Province.

The phone on the table rang, and Liu Liangyou answered it.

"Secretary Liangyou, this is Xuxin. Are you free tonight? A few bottles of new Moutai have arrived from Guizhou and are to be served at the state banquet. Would you like to try some?"

Liu Liangyou smiled and said, "Okay."

After several rounds of drinks, before they could even discuss business, Liu Liangyou's phone kept ringing.

He answered the phone, and after a couple of sentences, Liu Liangyou immediately became alert.

He clicked on the WeChat link, which redirected him to Weibo, where he saw the top trending topic: Kunming farmhouses.

Meanwhile, Hu Rui, sitting at home, clicked on the message.

Ling Xingzhi took the phone from Li Qingshan.

Shen Yuhe turned on his computer and clicked on the first entry on the Weibo page: Kunming Farmhouse.

A blue image with white text appeared on the mobile phone screens of hundreds of millions of people—people on the subway, diners in fast food restaurants, and pedestrians jogging at night, all clicked on it—"Police Report".