The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

The mastermind behind the scenes, could it be Xiao Xiao?

Chen Fang thought to this point.

Then he shook his head vigorously.

No, it didn't hold up, it absolutely couldn't be possible.

He had known Xiao Xiao for a long time, and she didn't seem like such a ruthless person.

Moreover, could a deputy mayor who wasn't even a member of the standing committee mobilize the resources of the entire Jinde County?

Pan Youde's suicide, Zhou Shengtie's dismissal to avoid disaster, and Meng Shuwan's transfer in—none of it looked like Xiao Xiao's handiwork. If the person behind the scenes was her, why would the county leaders obediently accept her manipulation?

Could it be that they had taken her money?

That reason didn't hold up either.

It was plausible for Xiao Xiao to slip money to a few people.

But to bribe a whole bunch of people, the risk was too great, and not everyone would dare to take the money.

Suddenly,

Chen Fang jolted.

Xiao Xiao indeed didn't have that kind of power, but the person behind her did. Xiao Xiao had said that the person who fathered her child was now a big shot. Considering the big shot's influence, it was possible that the leaders in Jinde County, who were in the know, would cover for her.

All of these were his own deductions.

Not evidence.

Chen Fang took a deep breath and asked, "Director Shao, the deputy director of the County Committee Office, Zhou Shengtie, do you know him well?"

"Old Zhou, of course I know him. He used to be our deputy director at the Education Bureau too. Later he was transferred to the County Committee Office, but he has stayed in that position for many years without much progress,"

said Shao Rui.

Boom!

Like a bolt from the blue.

This time, Chen Fang was truly stunned in place.

The suspicion on Xiao Xiao grew stronger.

But suspicion was still just suspicion, and Chen Fang still couldn't believe this fact.

He tapped his head with his hand, telling himself that all this was mere wild speculation. Xiao Xiao simply could not be that person, that terrible mastermind behind the scenes.

"Chen..."

Shao Rui was about to ask Chen Fang what was wrong.

Suddenly, with a clang,

the office door was pushed open.

Qin Yi walked in with an anxious face and said, "Chief Chen, there's trouble at the door."

"Trouble? What happened?"

Chen Fang asked.

Qin Yi said, "It's a parent from Seventh Elementary who says their child was beaten by another parent. The school hasn't dealt with it or responded, and they've come to demand an explanation."

"Seventh Elementary? Wasn't that where you used to work?"

Chen Fang asked.

Qin Yi nodded and said, "Yes, and the student was also one of my former students."

Chen Fang nodded slightly and said, "Please bring them in."

"Alright."

Qin Yi responded,

and quickly turned to leave.

Ten minutes later,

in the visitor's room of the Education Bureau,

there were a man and a woman, accompanied by a child about ten years old.

The two adults looked to be in their thirties, dressed very ordinarily, seemingly the type who worked in factories.

The child's head was wrapped in a thick layer of gauze, and there was a scabbed scar on his cheek.

Chen Fang inquired about the situation.

Through tears, the child's mother related the actual events.

The child was a student in class three (6) of Seventh Elementary, and normally a very well-behaved child.

That evening after school,

the kids lined up to leave through the school gates.

A child walking in front tripped and fell, bloodying his nose. When the parent of the tripped child saw this, they immediately rushed over and kicked their child in the body, sending him flying and his head striking the flower bed. He started bleeding right there and then.

Later, he was taken to the hospital and received six stitches.

Chen Fang frowned and asked, "His child fell, why did they hit your child?"

The child's dad said, "They falsely accused our child of pushing theirs. After the injury, we approached the school to provide surveillance footage from the school entrance. The school said the surveillance was broken and didn't capture anything. Moreover, the school stated that our child was at fault first and that the other child was also injured, so they considered it even."

"Then why didn't you call the police?"

Chen Fang asked.

The child's mom, crying, said, "We did call the police. After they arrived, they also urged us to settle the matter and didn't even file a case."

"Why?"

Chen Fang asked, somewhat puzzled.

At that moment, Qin Yi said, "Chief Chen, could you step outside with me for a moment?"

Knowing that Qin Yi had something important to say,

Chen Fang stood up, and the two of them left the visitor's room.

They found a quiet corner.

Qin Yi said, "Chief Chen, I know the father of the child who did the hitting. He is usually very arrogant. If his child bullies someone else, he doesn't say anything. But if his child gets bullied, he will make a fuss at the school. There have been several such incidents."

With these words, Chen Fang somewhat guessed what was happening and asked, "Who is that parent?"

Qin Yi said, "His name is Yao Shuangwu, the owner of Jin Tong Seafood Restaurant, and he also holds the title of a CPPCC member."

Hearing this,

Chen Fang understood why that parent was so arrogant.

Jin Tong Seafood Restaurant was the largest seafood establishment in Jinde County, with three branches, each of considerable size—a wealthy man indeed.

The saying goes, money makes the world go 'round.

On the victim's side, it was clear they were powerless and without influence; whether it was the school or the police station, to which side the scales of justice were tipped didn't need to be spelled out.

Back in the visitor's room.

Chen Fang walked over to the child, crouched down, and asked, "Little friend, tell uncle, did you push someone?"

The child seemed very frightened, hiding behind his father, but he still shook his head.

Chen Fang nodded.

He chose to believe the child.

He stood up.

He sighed deeply and asked, "What are your demands?"

The couple exchanged glances.

The woman spoke timidly, "The treatment for the child has already cost quite a bit. We don't want any nutrition fees, just the medical expenses reimbursed."

Chen Fang nodded.

He said, "Looking at the child's condition, he appears to have been traumatized and is showing a stress response. The treatment cost must certainly be compensated, as well as damages for mental distress, nutrition fees, and your lost wages—not a penny less. Moreover, the school and the offender must apologize in his presence, and most importantly, the person who hit the child must be punished!"

Upon hearing this,

the couple panicked.

The man immediately waved his hand and said, "Chief Chen, we only want the treatment fees—nothing else. We don't dare ask for more; if we do, they will surely retaliate. We don't even know if our child will be able to continue going to school. Both of us work in a factory, and we don't have the means to send our child to another school."

Hearing this,

Chen Fang felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

The perpetrator was at large, fearing nothing.

Meanwhile, the victims at the bottom of society didn't dare to ask for much even after being bullied. What kind of justice was this? It was topsy-turvy, an utter inversion of right and wrong.

He patted the man's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I will handle this matter."

After speaking,

he crouched down again.

He asked the child, "Little friend, are you hungry? Uncle will take you to get something delicious."

The child didn't dare to speak.

He looked towards his parents.

The couple initially wanted to refuse.

Chen Fang, however, took the child's hand and said to Qin Yi, "Xiao Qin, go to the Jin Tong and reserve a private room. Remember, book a room at the main restaurant, and don't reveal my identity. From now on, I am the child's uncle."

After finishing,

he smiled at the child and asked, "Little friend, what's your name?"

"Chen Si."

The child spoke in a very soft voice.

Chen Fang was taken aback and said, "What a coincidence, my surname is also Chen. My name is Chen Fang, and you are Chen Si. Put our names together, and it's 'Chen Fang Si,' which means 'brazen.' Well, today uncle will take you out to have some fun."