Power and Wealth

Chapter 545 – Unable to take it anymore!

Tuesday, morning.

Dong Xuebing had set his alarm at 6 am last night. He opened his eyes when his alarm went off and looked at the time before getting up to get dress. He lit a cigarette and called Peng Gang to ask him about his progress.

Peng Gang replied. “We had arrested ten men, and nine of them are detained.”

“Has the situation cool down? Are they still creating trouble at the District Party Committee Building?”

“After we arrested them, they dispersed, and they have not appeared today.”

“Good. Thanks for your hard work.”

“That’s my duty.”

Dong Xuebing is relieved to know this incident is settled. But things changed unexpectedly.

…….

District Party Committee Family Quarters.

Nan Shan District Organization Department Deputy Chief Peng Kun is very nervous. The District’s Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary had questioned him about the clash between Liu Xiang Hu Tong and Guang Ming Subdistrict. He knows he had crossed the line and could not sleep at night. He is worried the District will penalize him and doesn’t want that to happen. The City’s Party School training is next month, and he will be transferred to Xi Ping District the following month. This is an important promotion for him, and nothing must happen.

Peng Kun thought through the night and took out his phone to make a phone call. “Hello, Editor Chen? I’m Peng Kun.”

Peng Kun has a smirk after hanging up the call.

……..

A while later, Dong Xuebing’s phone rang.

Dong Xuebing is in the kitchen preparing breakfast, and he answered. “Hello?”

“Are you Guang Ming Subdistrict Office’s Director Dong?” A young man asked. “I am Liu Gang, a reporter with Nan Qi Morning Post. I would like to interview you. Are you free this morning?”

Nan Qi Morning Post?

Dong Xuebing had heard about this newspaper agency, but it is a small agency with average influence.

Dong Xuebing frowned. “I am busy this morning. What do you want to know? We can speak over the phone.”

Liu Gang paused for a second and asked. “It was regarding the fight at Liu Xiang Hu Tong yesterday. I heard Guang Ming Subdistrict Office staff had beat up the residents there and injured over twenty people. Two of them are still undergoing treatment at the hospital.” Other than the people there, no one will believe one person can beat up twenty-six men. That’s why the rumors become it was the Subdistrict Office’s staff beat up more than twenty residents. “What do you have to say about this incident?”

Why is it regarding this incident again?

Dong Xuebing is irritated. “Someone had instigated the residents to attack us, and we are forced to retaliate.”

Liu Gang continued. “Have you considered the consequences of beating up those civilians?”

Hmph! Who are you to educate me?

Dong Xuebing coldly replied. “Reporter Liu? I find your tone disrespectful. You all can go to the scene to find out what happened.”

Liu Gang replied emotionlessly. “We had gone to the scene and gotten some information.”

“Since you all know what happened, you should not be calling me. You should be asking those illegal store owners why are they attack us? Why did they break the law?!”

“We had interviewed a few injured residents at the hospital, and all of them are furious. They had lost confidence in the Government. Director Dong, can I assume Guang Ming Subdistrict thinks this action is right?”

Are you having trouble with me?

What’s wrong? We are trying to demolish those illegal buildings to ensure the safety of the rest of the residents. Those illegal store owners attacked us with weapons. Why are you targeting us?! You made it sound like those people have the right to operate their illegal stores. Are you saying they had done nothing wrong to build buildings illegally and are right to attack us? Whatever we do is wrong?!

Dong Xuebing understood what is happening. “I believe reporters have to abide by the journalism ethics and must report factually. If Nan Qi Morning Post did not even find out what happened, then I will not answer any more questions.”

Liu Gang replied. “I only know your Subdistrict Office’s staff injured more than twenty civilians. All of them are furious and….”

F*CK you!

Dong Xuebing can’t be bothered to argue with this reporter and hangs up!

Dong Xuebing has nothing against reporters, but Nan Qi Morning Post’s Liu Gang had disgusted him. This guy doesn’t know anything and still dares to make accusations. He just wants a sensational headline to attract readers. But is that the truth?

Dong Xuebing watched the news for a while after breakfast.

Ten minutes….

Twenty minutes….

Thirty minutes….

Nan Shan District’s news channel reported on the reorganization of the illegal buildings. Still, they did not mention anything about yesterday’s incident.

8.30 am. Dong Xuebing arrived at the Subdistrict Office.

Party Secretary Office.

Dong Xuebing had just entered his office for a while when Party Office Department Director Zhou Yanru rushed in.

“Director! We are in trouble.” Zhou Yanru is holding a copy of the newspaper.

“What’s wrong?” Dong Xuebing hates hearing the words, ‘we are in trouble.’

Zhou Yanru placed the newspaper on the desk and points to an article. “This is today’s copy of Nan Qi Morning Post. Look at this article. It is about our Subdistrict Office!”

Dong Xuebing’s face changed, and he grabbed the papers. He is furious after reading it. The article reported the forced eviction incident by Guang Ming Subdistrict Office yesterday. Still, it did not mention the cause or Peng Kun’s interference. It only states Guang Ming Subdistrict Office’s staff had injured over twenty residents during the process. It reported on the injures suffered by the residents and their grievances. It also publishes a photograph of an injured resident at the hospital. The author of the article is Liu Gang!

The office’s door opened again!

The Subdistrict Office’s Secretary of the Disciplinary Work Committee, Qu Yiqiang, entered the newspaper with a copy. “Nan Qi Morning Post is ridiculous! Why didn’t they write anything about those people surrounding us with weapons or the surrounding residents cheering for us?! This report is biased! It is tarnishing our Subdistrict Office’s reputation! What will the residents think of us after reading this article?!”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Nan Qi Morning Post’s Liu Gang had called me this morning, and I felt something was off from his tone. He is purposely finding trouble with us!”

Zhou Yanru shouted. “They are twisting the facts!”

Deputy Director Yu Rongfeng, who oversees the Publicity Department, saw the article and rushed to Dong Xuebing’s office. Everyone from the Subdistrict Office is in trouble after this article is published. It affected the Subdistrict Office and their image!

Dong Xuebing banged on his desk. “Director Yu, contact the District Publicity Department and see if they can recall Nan Qi Morning Post’s papers!”

“Yes.” Yu Rongfeng knew it is impossible, but he will still try.

Zhou Yanru asked. “Director, what should we do now?”

Dong Xuebing looked at the newspaper and banged it on his desk again. “Has Nan Qi Morning Post always writing such misleading articles?”

Zhou Yanru paused for a few seconds. “Not really, but they are more daring when writing articles.”

“Oh.” Qu Yiqiang suddenly mentioned. “I saw the District Organization Department’s Chief Peng dining with two Nan Qi Morning Post’s Deputy Chief Editors at a restaurant last year.”

Peng Kun and Nan Qi Morning Post?!

Dong Xuebing immediately knew who is behind this.

“Peng Kun?!” Zhou Yanru is mad. “What is he thinking? How can he get the newspaper agency to accuse us?! Not only will this affect our Subdistrict Office’s reputation, but the District will also be affected! The Organization Department had caused this incident. Without Peng Kun, those people will not attack us, and our men will not be injured. He had created this mess and still wants to get us into trouble?!”

Dong Xuebing is in a bad mood and waved them off. He needs to have a smoke alone.

Nan Qi Morning Post’s article will create resentment among the residents. Those who don’t know the truth will start scolding Guang Ming Subdistrict Office. This will affect their work in the future!

Dong Xuebing called the District at around ten is to find out what happened. But the outcome made him mad. The District’s Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary, who had said this case was closed yesterday, changed his mind. Some District Leaders want to punish Dong Xuebing!

Damn! This is too much!

Are they going along with Nan Qi Morning Post’s article?!

Dong Xuebing could not take it anymore. He knows that he doesn’t have any relationship with the District Leaders and doesn’t have any backings. That’s why no Leaders will speak up for him, but this is too much. What’s wrong with protecting my men?! What’s wrong with tearing those illegal buildings that are disrupting nearby residents?!

Now, I am going to be punished?! Why?!

Just because of a misleading article reported by Nan Qi Morning Post?!

F**k that!

Since you all want to make my life miserable, fine! I will drag you all down with me! Let’s see who dares to punish me!