169: slander and framing

Upon hearing what Cao Mingxiu said, Gao Mingyuan quickly replied, "Secretary, please rest assured. I will carry out the work cautiously, exactly according to your instructions."

"In a while, I will go to report on this aspect of the work to the Mayor."

"You don't need to go to the Mayor's Office anymore; I will find a suitable opportunity to communicate with the Mayor about it."

"The fewer people who know about this matter, the better. We must be extremely cautious."

Cao Mingxiu said expressionlessly.

"I understand, Secretary. I will follow your instructions and carry out the work cautiously."

"I will definitely uncover the truth and give you a satisfactory answer."

Cao Mingxiu nodded and picked up his teacup. Gao Mingyuan said his goodbyes and left, and Cao Mingxiu stood up and walked to the window.

Looking at the scenery outside the window, he couldn't help but think, "Could it be that Lin Zifeng, because he is too young and holds a high position, couldn't resist temptation and has gone astray?"

If that were really the case, it would be a great pity.

Lin Zifeng is not only young and promising—serving as a County Magistrate at twenty-six—but he also has strong work capabilities and is a very capable young Cadre.

Not only do he and the Mayor appreciate him greatly, but even the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chen Yuanhua, holds him in high regard.

If he does not go astray, his future achievements will surely surpass his own.

He hoped he could withstand the test; otherwise, a rising political star would be extinguished from this moment on.

Lin Zifeng was busy working as usual. What he did not know was that those scoundrels who had been purged from the teaching profession were secretly plotting against him.

Furthermore, the Discipline Inspection Commission had already secretly launched an investigation into this matter.

Just after work started that morning, a group of twenty or thirty people appeared in front of the Municipal Party Committee Compound.

They held up banners, attracting the attention of many passersby as well as staff members of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government.

These banners read, "Lin Zifeng is corrupt and takes bribes, running rampant in Yushu County."

"Lin Zifeng is tyrannical and persecutes the teachers of Yushu County."

"The history of blood and tears of Yushu County teachers."

"Children want to improve their grades, but have no way to seek education."

Soon, a large number of onlookers gathered near these people, and these individuals embellished and exaggerated Lin Zifeng's 'evil deeds.'

The incident happening here was quickly known to all the Municipal Leaders.

Gao Mingyuan quickly arrived at Cao Mingxiu's Office and said anxiously, "Secretary, I sent people to look into it, and these people outside the main gate are certainly not good people."

"Judging by their tone and appearance, they seem to be unemployed vagrants and ruffians from society."

"They claim that County Magistrate Lin is running rampant, arrogant and tyrannical, and persecuting the teachers of Yushu County."

"Based on the situation I understand, that is not the case. One month ago, under the leadership and promotion of County Magistrate Lin, Yushu County launched a vigorous campaign to crack down on extracurricular tutoring classes."

"Those teachers who were dealt with were all people with twisted minds who lacked professional ethics."

"These people did not teach properly in the classroom, saving the important content to teach in their own tutoring classes in order to amass wealth."

"This increased the burden on parents significantly. County Magistrate Lin's approach can be said to be very gratifying to the people and is deeply welcomed by the students' parents."

"Our Discipline Inspection Commission working group has already had some success in the secret investigation regarding the anonymous whistleblower letters."

"The clues all point to these teachers who were dealt with."

"These people outside the main gate are not the relatives or friends of those teachers, yet they appeared here to report County Magistrate Lin with such fanfare, which makes one have to question their motives!"

"Do you mean that these people were paid by those teachers to come here on purpose to slander and smear Lin Zifeng?"

Cao Mingxiu grasped the key to the problem and asked urgently.

"Secretary, although I do not have evidence, judging from their behavioral motives, I suspect it is highly likely that this is the case."

"Therefore, I suggest arresting all these people for interrogation. We should be able to uncover the truth very quickly and also identify the mastermind behind it."

"Otherwise, if we let them continue to make trouble, it will be very detrimental to County Magistrate Lin's reputation."

Gao Mingyuan stated his guess and suggestion.

"How dare they! To openly slander and frame our Cadre—some people are truly unscrupulous for the sake of profit!"

"I will immediately have the Director of the Public Security Bureau send people over to arrest these individuals and interrogate them thoroughly."

"Your Discipline Inspection Commission must also follow up and use this as a breakthrough to clarify the truth as soon as possible. If the facts prove that they are indeed slandering and framing Comrade Lin Zifeng..."

"...we must severely punish the slanderers and those behind the scenes. We will not be lenient, and we will clear Comrade Lin Zifeng's name."

"In addition, I have already notified the two Comrades from Yushu County, Wan Guoliang and Lin Zifeng, to come to the Municipal Party Committee to report on their work."

"At that time, your Discipline Inspection Commission can also secretly question Comrade Lin Zifeng to settle this matter as soon as possible so that it does not affect or delay Comrade Lin Zifeng's work."

Cao Mingxiu finished speaking angrily and immediately called the Director of the Public Security Bureau, Zheng Zhonghua.

"Secretary, when the time comes, let me personally question Comrade Lin Zifeng right in your Office!"

"That way, it won't cause any impact."

Gao Mingyuan asked tentatively.

"That's fine. I haven't seen your Discipline Inspection Commission at work with my own eyes yet! I can experience it then."

Cao Mingxiu didn't even think about it and agreed immediately.

"Secretary, then I will go and arrange the work. When Comrade Lin Zifeng arrives, I will bring my people over."

Gao Mingyuan stood up as he spoke. Cao Mingxiu nodded. After Gao Mingyuan left, Cao Mingxiu called Jiang Shiyu.

The two chatted on the phone for more than ten minutes before hanging up.

A large number of Police Officers from the Municipal Public Security Bureau quickly arrived at the gate of the Municipal Party Committee Compound, accompanied by more than a dozen staff members from the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission.

They dispersed the crowd, surrounded these twenty-plus people, quickly took down the banners, and moved to make arrests.

Someone tried to run, but was pinned down by a Police Officer.

Someone shouted, "We haven't broken the law! Why are you arresting us?"

"Exactly! With so many people watching, how dare you arrest people indiscriminately in broad daylight?"

"We came here to report problems. Are you trying to protect your own officials?"

"Slandering and framing others is a crime. Don't you know what you have done? Just wait to be severely punished by the law!"

A Discipline Inspection Commission staff member said with a serious expression.

"Can't I just quit? I don't even want that one thousand yuan. When they hired us, they didn't say that doing this would be illegal!"

"Please let me go! I will go home immediately and will never do such a thing again."

One of them got scared and begged for mercy.

"Wang Er, you big idiot, what kind of nonsense are you spouting? Even if they arrest us, it'll be detention for a few days at most."

"When we get out, we can still ask for some compensation. Why are you blurting everything out? If you betray the employer, where are we going to get our compensation?"

The leader of these people cursed at the person who had just told the truth.

However, the words he spoke only confirmed the nature of the matter further. He was scolded by a Police Officer and was then escorted to the police car.