Chapter 188 of "New Urban Farmers": Lin Zhong, the Township Party Secretary
"These bastards! They really think outsiders are easy to bully if we don't mess with them!" Zhang cursed on the phone. The call was from Yan Weimin; Liu Neng was currently at the police station.
But previously, they had been detained in a small room, and even the items in their car had been confiscated. Yan Weimin, who had returned to the station earlier, was furious when he heard the news.
"Damn it, they actually think they can bypass me, the director!" Yan Weimin led his men to demand the person.
The five community security officers who detained the man were locals. They were somewhat panicked when they saw the police chief arrive. But after one of them muttered something, they quickly calmed down.
"This is what Chief Yan and Chief Zhong instructed us to do, it's difficult for us too," a member of the joint defense team said in a low voice, sounding troubled.
The conflict between Zhong Ben and Yan Weimin was ultimately a farce within the institute; everyone knew the director and deputy director couldn't get along. If outsiders knew, it would be a laughing stock.
But Yan Weimin became even more enraged upon hearing this: "Chief Zhong? It's Deputy Chief Zhong! I'm still the chief of the police station! Release him immediately!"
Seeing that Yan Weimin did not back down, the auxiliary police panicked. They then remembered that the person in front of them was the head of the station and might kick them out if he was unhappy. They panicked immediately.
"We were ordered to check Yan Suoxiao because there were counterfeit cigarettes on the vehicle," the joint defense team tried to make excuses.
Yan Weimin, however, had a dark expression on his face, as if he wanted to devour someone: "The police station isn't Zhong Ben's personal operation. I didn't even know about it. Heh heh, it seems necessary to mention to the secretary that some people in the station need to improve their awareness. This is affecting efficiency!"
The auxiliary police officers are just low-level staff. While the police station only has eight regular officers, there are about ten auxiliary officers. However, the competition is still fierce. Unlike regular police officers, Yan Weimin, as the head of the auxiliary police force, has the authority to reduce or increase staff.
So Liu Neng was released quickly. Fortunately, the auxiliary police officers hadn't had a chance to do anything.
When Deputy Director Zhong returned, Liu Neng and Yan Weimin had already walked out the door. Deputy Director Zhong glared at the two men with great resentment. If he hadn't been so attached to that slutty young woman from the village, he probably wouldn't have been late. Now things were all messed up again!
"The township head's affairs are not going well. Yan Weimin released Liu Neng!" Zhong Ben called Zheng Haifu anxiously, adding fuel to the fire and shifting all the blame onto Yan Weimin.
At that moment, Zheng Haifu was waiting for this phone call in a room in the county.
But this phone call enraged him. This Zhong was utterly useless; he'd botched even this little thing? So, Yan Weimin, you're planning to team up with Lin Zhong, aren't you?
"What use are you if you can't even handle a small matter?" Zheng Haifu roared.
Zhong Ben dared not answer, feeling uneasy, while Zheng Haifu, unable to contain his anger, slammed down the phone and then called Yan Weimin.
"Comrade Weimin, I heard that your joint defense team caught someone selling counterfeit cigarettes? Not bad!" Zheng Haifu said, suppressing his anger.
When Yan Weimin received Zheng Haifu's call, he gritted his teeth and cursed Zhong Ben inwardly. He said aloud, "Township Chief, I'm reporting this to you. Deputy Director Zhong has arbitrarily mobilized the joint defense to arrest someone selling counterfeit cigarettes. I, the director, didn't even know! I think Deputy Director Zhong has no respect for his superiors at all."
Zheng Haifu was taken aback, wondering how Yan Weimin had suddenly become so bold as to change the subject and leave him to suffer in silence.
"What happened?" Zheng Haifu's face was dark. His voice was deep and heavy.
"Township Chief, this Mr. Liu is investigating the investment environment in the township, and he might even be investing here. Even if there's some temporary unpleasantness with the township, it's all for the best, right? Deputy Director Zhong actually said that Mr. Liu is selling counterfeit cigarettes, which is utterly absurd! This is a legitimate purchase, for his own consumption, not a sale. How can you say he's selling them? Besides, I know Mr. Liu is wealthy. Why would he need to sell a few cartons of counterfeit cigarettes? This is causing trouble for the township! Secretary Lin just called and questioned me about this, he was very angry, and I dared not refuse to tell him!" Yan Weimin said.
Lin Zhong did indeed call. Qingmu Township is just one street. If anything happens, everyone knows quickly. Although Liu Neng was introduced by Yan Weimin, Lin Zhong received some benefits. Of course, the benefits weren't significant. Moreover, Lin Zhong genuinely wanted to test whether Liu Neng wanted to invest; the excuse of arresting someone was so lame that he had no choice but to call.
"Is Zheng Haifu out of his mind? He just didn't get any food, and he's making up such a lame excuse." Lin Zhongwang cursed Zheng Haifu inwardly when he received the news. But secretly, he was happy that Yan Weimin, the township party committee member and police station chief, was now standing up to Zheng Haifu, which meant he was now one of their own.
Anyone with eyes could see that you had just failed to seize someone's property and lost face, and the whole township was talking about it. Then, you instructed Zhong Ben, that lackey, to arrest someone. Who wouldn't guess that it was you, Township Chief Zheng, who ordered it? It's a pity that Yan Weimin intercepted it; Zhong Ben messed it up.
When Zheng Haifu heard that Secretary Lin Zhong had also called to inquire about his situation, his face darkened even more.
"How come Zhong Ben can't even handle these things? Please apologize to Boss Liu on my behalf!" Zheng Haifu said, suppressing his murderous urge. His words were ambiguous.
I don't know if they're blaming the arrest of Liu Neng for not being handled well, or for being disobedient and dishonest. Probably the former.
Yan Weimin, however, made a tough decision. He was a member of the township party committee, equivalent to a "standing committee member," a rank higher than that of a typical deputy township head. He figured he might as well go all the way and side with Secretary Lin Zhong if necessary, since he had already offended Zheng Haifu.
But this means Ran will lose his previous neutral position. Is helping Liu Neng worthwhile or not?
“Mayor, I think Deputy Director Zhong’s ideological awareness is a bit lacking. Should we bring it up at the committee meeting?” Yan Weimin said, seizing the opportunity.
"We'll talk about this later!" Zheng Haifu forced down the phone, barely containing his anger.
Then he launched into a tirade.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you so grumpy even at dinner?" A voluptuous young woman emerged from the kitchen, looking at Zheng Haifu's ashen face with surprise. "Who in this village is so blind as to dare provoke the village head's temper?"
This alluring and voluptuous woman, Yao Hong, was not his legal wife. With Zheng Haifu's secret help, she opened a shop in the county and was considered his mistress.
"Isn't it because your husband can mess up even the smallest things?" Zheng Haifu sneered.
Yao Hong immediately smiled charmingly and put the plate down. She sat on Zheng Haifu's lap, her full buttocks rubbing against him, causing his desire to rise again.
"How about I divorce him? I'll just be your mistress from now on?" Yao Hong said softly.
Zheng Haifu grabbed her breasts and rubbed them a few times until she was panting heavily. His face turned serious and he said, "Don't mess around! Now that you're divorced, even more people will be paying attention to you. But is that bastard Zhong Ben still coming to see you?"
"Mayor, I haven't slept with him for a year. Ever since I became your woman, I've been sleeping in separate beds!" Yao Hong said coquettishly.
"Haha, I was just saying. I like 'clean women eat first, then eat you!'" Zheng Haifu, his heart burning with desire as he touched Yao Hong's fleshy buttocks, forced himself to finish his meal. He had to leave. Staying here too long risked being seen.
When Liu Neng returned from the police station, Dunzi and Gou Dan helped unload the purchased items from the car. After paying the driver, Liu Neng explained the situation in detail.
"Boss, Zheng Haifu will definitely cause trouble again. This time, we are only fortunate to have Director Yan. If he had arrived a moment later, I would have suffered. These joint defense officers are very rude!" Liu Neng said angrily.
"What about Lin Zhong?" Zhang Guodong asked after hearing this.
"Party Secretary Lin Zhong? Yan Weimin said that Secretary Lin called him to urge him on this matter. However, he hasn't shown up. Judging from Yan Weimin's tone, it seems he doesn't want a direct conflict with Zheng Haifu."
These words were implied by Yan Weimin.
It's indeed difficult to manage when the Party Secretary and the Township Head don't clash. However, the two are adversaries, and their conflicts are unpleasant. Lin Zhong may have his reservations, but outsiders have none.
"Let's ask Secretary Lin for help. If it can be done with money, then so be it. Zheng Haifu is really troublesome!" Zhang Guodong said after thinking for a moment. "Is Yan Weimin a member of the township party committee?"
Liu Neng didn't understand what Zhang Guodong meant. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I think he's been the director for six years, right?"
“That’s good. We should secretly investigate this Township Head Zheng’s information, especially his corruption and bribery. If we have any information or evidence, we can buy it. Also, we should have Yan Weimin do some lobbying with the county leaders,” Zhang Guodong said, having made up his mind.
"Boss, what do you mean?" Liu Neng's brow twitched. Zhang Guodong was planning to take down Zheng Hai.
Already?
"We need quiet here for the next few months. Anyone who crosses me is my enemy! And if they are my enemies, I won't hold back!" Zhang Guodong said coldly.
"Since you think Yan Weimin is worth befriending, let him try to get him to do some lobbying!"
“Great! Boss, that’s what I’ve been waiting for. Zheng Haifu can’t be clean. I’ll talk to Yan Weimin and see what he says. I’m sure he’s very interested in the position of township head!” Liu Neng said excitedly.
Liu Neng quickly returned to his hometown and found Yan Weimin. The two chatted at Yan Weimin's house for an entire afternoon. When Liu Neng came out, he had an excited look on his face.
"Yan Weimin does indeed have some information on Zheng Haifu. However, this information alone isn't enough to take down a township head, is it?" Liu Neng pondered. Yan Weimin had revealed a bit of this information, but Liu Neng hadn't gotten his hands on it. After all, they were currently just cooperating; trust hadn't reached that level yet.
It seems I should pay a visit to Secretary Lin Zhong.
Lin Zhong, the Party Secretary of the township, has a nickname: "Good Guy." To put it nicely, he's good at interpersonal communication; to put it bluntly, he's good at smoothing things over.
This man had ideas, but he was cautious, timid, and lacked decisiveness. Therefore, when he was vying for power with Zheng Haifu, he didn't even have the upper hand. The fact that they were evenly matched was largely due to his position as the leader; otherwise, Zheng Haifu would have prevailed.
“Secretary Lin, there’s a man named Liu Neng outside who wants to visit you,” said Xiao Chu, the clerk of the Party and Government Office, as she entered.
Lin Zhong, whose face had turned somewhat white, looked up from behind his desk and asked in confusion, "Liu Neng?" Xiao Chu reminded him.
"Oh, he let him in!" Lin Zhong suddenly remembered who Liu Neng was. He had just called Yan Weimin, so why was Liu Neng looking for him? Was he probably in a bad mood? What kind of mess had Zheng Haifu made that I, the Party Secretary, have to clean up?
Liu Neng waited outside, his mind racing. His boss had instructed him to lobby Lin Zhong to secure the secretary's support. However, he had heard a bit about Lin Zhong's style, and he was coming this time with a vengeance!
Xiao Chu quickly came out and said to Liu Neng, "Boss Liu, Secretary Lin invites you in!"
Bi: To be continued.
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