Chapter 240: Inspection (Part 1)

What constitutes a sense of achievement? It is a philosophical proposition. To explain it thoroughly would require a thick book, and even then, it might not be fully elucidated.

Yet, regarding the "Strike Hard" storm sweeping through Yiyang City, Hou Weidong felt a genuine, tangible sense of accomplishment. Following the violent incidents involving Huang Yishu and Zeng Xiangang, and through his subtle mediation, Zhu Yan finally grasped the rampant nature of the local underworld forces. Consequently, he resolved to launch a comprehensive "Strike Hard" campaign in Yiyang, aimed at "protecting the development environment and enhancing the people's sense of security."

Cai Heng, the newly appointed Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, was equally energetic. Under his vigorous organization, the public security, procuratorate, court, and justice departments, along with the Armed Police stationed in Yiyang, collaborated multiple times to deliver systematic, sustained, and powerful blows against the local criminal elements.

Heiwa, known for chopping off hands; Qingpi, the rising star; and Xiaogang, notorious for his ruthless strikes—these figures had once ruled the streets of Yiyang with impunity. Now, swept away by the storm of people's dictatorship, they were swept into custody. The detention centers, police stations, and detention houses quickly filled with these local thugs, followed by large-scale interrogations and evidence collection.

The Shazhou Municipal Public Security Bureau strongly supported Yiyang’s efforts. Lao Ma, the Party Secretary and Bureau Chief, dispatched elite officers to join the campaign. Particularly during the later stages of interrogation, the municipal bureau sent over a hundred personnel. As Lao Ma instructed, "Even in a 'Strike Hard' campaign, we must respect evidence. Every case must be an ironclad one."

In this atmosphere, many victims, either openly or secretly, began to open their hearts to the police. Piece by piece, evidence came into the hands of the authorities.

A significant breakthrough was the seizure of eight handguns, eliminating a major public security hazard. Two were standard-issue pistols, while six were expertly crafted homemade guns. One of the standard-issue pistols was the very weapon used to assassinate Qin Dajiang. By tracing the weapon to the owner, the murder case of Qin Dajiang was unexpectedly solved.

At the time of Qin Dajiang’s assassination, Heiwa had gathered over a hundred henchmen and possessed several handguns. Inflated by this illusory power, he was ambitious to monopolize the Yiyang construction materials market. In his arrogance, he viewed the Yiyang government as nothing. He ordered the assassination of Qin Dajiang, one of his stumbling blocks, intending to punish one to warn a hundred. However, his dreams turned into a joke due to a surprise attack by two masked men. After his hand was severed, his sworn brothers—Qingpi, Xiaogang, Dayong, and others—quickly betrayed him, each gathering their own followers and refusing to heed his commands.

Through multiple chaotic battles and the winnowing of the sands, Yiyang’s underworld entered a "Spring and Autumn" era of fragmented power. Ultimately, three factions remained: Heiwa, Qingpi, and Xiaogang. None of them had anticipated that when the Communist Party decided to act seriously, the thunderous crackdown would be so fierce.

Four guns were confiscated from Heiwa, one of which was linked to a blood crime. His prospects were naturally bleak.

Significant amounts of drugs were found among Qingpi’s henchmen, meaning he too faced severe punishment.

Although Xiaogang had the largest number of followers and had committed numerous heinous acts in the city, his crimes did not involve murder or drug trafficking. Xiaogang might possibly save his life.

A month later, a public arrest and sentencing assembly was held in Yiyang City. The once-arrogant underworld bosses were loaded onto ten Dongfeng trucks. Each vehicle was guarded by armed Armed Police and fully equipped public security officers. The streets of Yiyang were packed with people. The gang leaders, heads bowed like rats crossing the street, sparked a surge of appetite and thirst among the citizens. The braised food stalls on the streets were cleared out instantly, and liquor sales reached several times their usual volume.

The public sentencing assembly coincided with National Day. Zhu Yan had a sense of humor; he welcomed the holiday with a baptism by storm.

On the afternoon of National Day, at the Yiyang Small Guesthouse, Wang Shaoshi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, had just listened to the report from the Yiyang County Party Committee. Representing the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee, he gave full affirmation to Yiyang’s "Strike Hard" work. Subsequently, reporters from the Shazhou Daily began an in-depth interview with Zhu Yan.

Ji Haiyang was in good spirits. He said to Hou Weidong beside him, "Congratulations, Section Chief Hou." Hou Weidong quickly replied with humility, "Standing Committee Member Ji, I have only been in the committee office for a short time. Please criticize and help me."

Ji Haiyang smiled and said, "The position of Comprehensive Section Chief is at the section level. You were previously a deputy township cadre. In terms of rank, there is no increase, but the position of Comprehensive Section Chief is very important." He paused and added, "I have assigned you an assistant, Yin Xiaowei, Deputy Section Chief of the Comprehensive Section. She is a selected graduate from the Lingxi Provincial Party Committee Organization Department in 1995. She is very capable. You can generally leave the daily affairs of the Comprehensive Section to her."

This appointment as Chief of the Comprehensive Section was essentially a nominal title for Hou Weidong. He remained Zhu Yan’s full-time secretary, which was his primary role. The Comprehensive Section was, in fact, managed by Yin Xiaowei.

This arrangement was Ji Haiyang’s way of showing favor to Hou Weidong.

Hou Weidong naturally understood the implication. In government work, many facts cannot be explicitly stated. High emotional intelligence leads to insight. Many outstanding university graduates assigned to government offices hit a wall immediately and spent years crawling at the bottom of the hierarchy. One important reason was their lack of the specific insight required for bureaucratic work.

Ji Haiyang said lazily, "After the reporters finish their interviews, if Secretary Zhu has no other arrangements, you and the comrades from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission should accompany them to dinner. Cai Heng has been exhausted during this period, and I am not relaxed either. Now that the public trial is over, I want to sleep soundly and dream the Spring and Autumn dream."

Hou Weidong accepted the task, feeling a mix of emotions. He sat in the lobby of the small guesthouse, absent-mindedly waiting for the reporters.

Cai Heng, the Standing Committee Member and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, was originally the Director of the Political Department of the Shazhou Municipal Public Security Bureau. He would turn forty the following year. Having just arrived in Yiyang County, he encountered this "Strike Hard" campaign. With his background in public security, he commanded the campaign with ease, handling the nuances with skill.

After the work report, Leaders Wang Shaoshi and Zhu Yan needed to exchange opinions. Additionally, the Shazhou Daily reporters needed to interview both leaders separately. Cai Heng went to the lobby to wait and sat with Hou Weidong for a while. He casually asked, "Section Chief Hou, is Hou Weiguo your brother?"

Most people who came from the Shazhou Public Security Bureau asked this question. Hou Weidong was used to it and replied, "Hou Weiguo is my older brother." Cai Heng, pleased that his intuition was correct, smiled and said, "You two brothers look very alike, and both are very capable."

Cai Heng was a member of the Standing Committee. Although Hou Weidong had matters on his mind, he still gathered his energy to converse with him. However, his peripheral vision quietly watched the inner room, where the Shazhou Daily reporters had been interviewing for about thirty minutes.

Cai Heng checked his watch several times and said, "These reporters are really tedious. Our report materials are very detailed. They could just follow the pattern. There is no need to interview for so long."

—

After waiting a while longer, the Shazhou Daily reporters finally emerged. Duan Ying was wearing a neutral-style cloth shirt, with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows. She looked fresh and efficient. After months apart, her temperament seemed to have changed again, becoming more mature and confident.

Duan Ying had followed Wang Shaoshi to Shazhou. Previously, she had always followed senior colleagues on interviews. This time, she was acting as a senior colleague, leading her subordinates, so her mood was naturally different. Through her conversation with Zhu Yan, she sensitively realized that Yiyang County’s "Strike Hard" campaign had great potential for in-depth reporting.

Duan Ying said to Cai Heng, who approached her, "Secretary Cai, according to the newspaper’s arrangement, we will conduct a series of reports on Yiyang’s 'Strike Hard' campaign. Our interview team plans to stay in Yiyang for a few days to interview the public security, procuratorate, court, and the general public."

Cai Heng, coming from the municipal bureau’s political department, often dealt with reporters and had a deep understanding of the importance of the media. He cooperated fully, saying, "This is Director Liu from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Office. He will serve as your interview guide and accompany you throughout."

How to face Duan Ying was indeed a dilemma for Hou Weidong. From a man’s nature, Duan Ying was an excellent partner. They had shared two sexual experiences, each time so intense it felt like the sky and earth were darkened. But since following Zhu Yan and witnessing the infighting in officialdom, he had constantly restrained his behavior. A small lack of patience could ruin a grand plan. In a relatively closed area like Yiyang, matters between men and women were most likely to put one in the eye of the storm.

Cai Heng introduced, "This is Hou Weidong, Chief of the Comprehensive Section of the County Party Committee Office and Secretary to Secretary Zhu." Hou Weidong had to step forward and smile, saying, "Reporter Duan, hello."

Their eyes met briefly, then quickly averted.

Since accepting the assignment to interview in Yiyang, Duan Ying often inadvertently thought of Hou Weidong. The two soul-stirring experiences had unconsciously hidden Hou Weidong in the deepest part of her heart, even replacing the position of her first love boyfriend. During this period, she had met three outstanding men, but felt nothing for any of them.

At this moment, colliding with Hou Weidong’s gaze, she even sensitively detected the true thoughts in this beloved man’s heart, which brought her a trace of sadness.

Cai Heng arranged a lavish late-night snack for the Shazhou Daily reporters. Since Zhu Yan had other arrangements, Hou Weidong did not attend.

That night, Duan Ying stayed at the Yiyang Hotel. She placed her mobile phone on the bedside table, but the phone remained silent. The expected ringtone never came. At twelve o’clock, she sighed in her heart, feeling quite disappointed. Just as she was preparing to sleep, the mobile phone rang suddenly, clear and distinct in the night.