The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"Is Chief Mei threatening me?"

Chen Fang asked.

With a slight smile, Mei Shikang said, "That depends on how Chief Chen interprets it. In my view, it's just a small, friendly reminder."

"So, I also can't take Tang Weiping away?"

Chen Fang asked.

Mei Shikang said coldly, "My man, you can't touch him."

"What if I insist on doing it?"

"I told you, you can't touch him. If you don't believe in evil, then you can try and see."

The words of Mei Shikang made Tang Weiping's face fill with triumph.

Such words, if said by someone else, could be seen as bragging.

But when Mei Shikang said them, it was different, after all, his family background gave him the courage to speak them.

Everyone thought that under these circumstances, Chen Fang had no way out.

Especially since the evidence had been destroyed.

With Mei Shikang present, even the officials from the discipline inspection team dared not act rashly.

But on Chen Fang's face, there wasn't much frustration.

He glanced toward the bathroom.

And said, "Chief Mei, do you really think you've destroyed the evidence?"

"Or else?"

Mei Shikang asked.

"If you don't mind, take a look back."

Upon hearing this.

Everyone turned to look outside.

To their surprise, the corridor was already filled with people, all of them in uniform.

At the front was a woman with a serious face.

"Anti-Corruption Bureau Luo Lan."

The woman showed Mei Shikang her badge.

Then with a wave of her hands,

The officials from the Anti-Corruption Bureau filed into the room.

"Who is Tang Weiping?"

Luo Lan asked.

At this moment, Tang Weiping had a premonition that something was wrong.

He raised his hand quickly and said, "I am."

Without any expression, Luo Lan said, "Take him away!"

Several Anti-Corruption Bureau officials immediately handcuffed Tang Weiping.

"Comrade, are you sure there's no mistake?"

Mei Shikang, still unwilling to give up, asked Luo Lan.

Luo Lan took several papers out of her briefcase and said, "There's no mistake, Tang Weiping manipulated examination results, abused his power for bribery and corruption, and also gathered idlers to intentionally inflict harm. We have already ascertained all of this."

Only then did Mei Shikang notice that what Luo Lan was holding were the very exam papers he had just burned.

How could this be?

Not only was he shocked.

Wang Qin, Lan Lv, and others all had their mouths agape as well.

What was going on?

Their gazes turned simultaneously to Chen Fang.

At this point, if Chen Fang didn't offer an explanation, it would seem suspicious.

He smiled wryly and said indifferently, "Chief Mei, don't blame me for keeping a trick up my sleeve. Given your high profile at the Safety Supervision Bureau, I, Chen Fang, a newly appointed deputy director, am certainly no match for you. Therefore, at noon, I made a copy, and as for the original, I had someone deliver it to the Anti-Corruption Bureau long ago."

"You're playing me?"

Mei Shikang was instantly enraged.

He asked through gritted teeth.

Chen Fang waved his hand and said, "How could this be called playing? I didn't know Chief Mei would come, and I didn't know Chief Mei would personally destroy the evidence. It's just a coincidence, merely a coincidence."

Mei Shikang was fuming.

Didn't know how to retort anymore.

Having just unleashed a torrent of self-righteous rhetoric and thinking he had controlled the situation, he ended up being toyed with by Chen Fang like a clown.

"Chen Fang, you wait for me, I won't let you have it easy."

Mei Shikang was truly infuriated.

He clenched his fists and said to Chen Fang.

Chen Fang chuckled and pointing at Lan Lv, he said, "Director Mei, I forgot to introduce her just now. This young lady is a reporter from Wen'an Evening News. Since she entered the room, she has recorded everything that has been said."

What?

Mei Shikang turned sharply to look at Lan Lv.

Lan Lv took a voice recorder pen from her pocket and triumphantly shook it at Mei Shikang.

Which meant that all the disdainful words he just uttered were recorded. If they were really spread out, as the Deputy Director...

Thinking of this.

Mei Shikang's fist loosened.

He managed to squeeze out a bit of a smile.

He said to Chen Fang, "Director Chen, can we talk?"

"If Director Mei invites me, of course we can."

Chen Fang followed Mei Shikang to the end of the hotel corridor with ease.

"Director Chen, things have their reasons, I won't explain much. This matter, it was my mishandling. In the future, anything that concerns Director Chen at the Safety Bureau is also my, Mei's, concern. What do you think, Director Chen?"

At this moment, Mei Shikang had already lowered his stance.

Chen Fang asked, "Director Mei means to say, the recording mustn't be made public, right?"

"Director Chen is a smart man, it's understood without saying," Mei Shikang replied.

"What's in it for me?"

"What benefits do you want?"

Mei Shikang asked.

Chen Fang thought for a moment and said, "I'm just afraid of giving Director Mei a hard time."

"You tell me, as long as I can do it, I will handle it well."

Mei Shikang was all in.

Chen Fang pondered, smacked his lips and said, "Since Director Mei is so sincere, I'll say it. First, investigate Tang Weiping's case thoroughly, regardless of how many people it involves, they must be held accountable by law; second, since Director Mei also said earlier that Tang Weiping is your man, when a subordinate errs, the leader must take responsibility. You should apologize to Lu Mingxian, and no matter how much the medical expenses and compensation cost, you, Director Mei, pay out of your pocket."

"Chen Fang!"

Mei Shikang suddenly raised his voice with a shout.

Chen Fang knew he was about to erupt and feigned confusion, "Director Mei, is there a difficulty?"

Mei Shikang was on the verge of an explosion.

But what could he do now?

He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll do as you say."

After getting this response, Chen Fang didn't stay a moment longer and turned to leave.

Tang Weiping, who was only wrapped in a bath towel, was taken away by the anti-corruption bureau's personnel just like that.

The whole affair was a triple win.

Firstly, Chen Fang had removed Mei Shikang's loyalist upon taking office, allowing him to quickly establish authority at the Safety Bureau.

Secondly, not only did Lan Lv obtain firsthand news material, she also fulfilled her promise to Lu Mingxian.

And there was a third benefit.

It was for Luo Lan.

The investigation into Tan Yandong's suicide case had been stalled.

Luo Lan, as the team leader, had also been under tremendous pressure.

Now, having cracked such a document trafficking case, it could somewhat relieve her predicament.

At the entrance of the hotel.

Watching Mei Shikang leave in a huff, Lan Lv asked, "Once this recording is released, Mei Shikang probably won't be able to stay at the Safety Bureau. Wouldn't that be more advantageous for you? Why won't you let me release it?"

Chen Fang smiled.

He said, "If you take this recording back, not only can it not be released, but you may also face punishment. Being transferred from your position is the least of it, it's not even certain if you can be officially employed."

"Why?"

Lan Lv asked, blinking her big eyes, "Big Eye."