Right path to power

Huang Chunning was quite frustrated with how things had developed to this point.

Cai Zili was his former secretary, whom he had personally trained. Now, his influence in Quanzhou and the reputation of his former subordinates were all tied to this case.

If the case is reopened, it would be like slapping him in the face in public, and the influence he has built up over the years in the state would be greatly diminished.

Therefore, Huang Chunning had no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it.

He originally thought that by personally stepping in, the matter could be easily resolved, and he even gathered a group of people to help him. Who knew that Lin Xiao would bring over a reporter from the Legal Daily and keep a close eye on things.

After returning to the provincial capital last time, he made many phone calls, but the results were not ideal.

Moreover, Zhang Hongyu, deputy editor-in-chief of Legal Daily, revealed to him that the case was being followed up by key leaders, so he couldn't say much more.

Later, Zhang Hongyu even stopped answering the phone.

Faced with this situation, Huang Chunning was also helpless. Although he had stepped down to the second line, he still held a position as a deputy ministerial-level leader and was still in office.

As a result, even getting such a small thing done was extremely difficult; it's true what they say, once someone leaves, they're forgotten.

However, even after personally going to Beicheng to mediate and coordinate, he ultimately returned to Fengdu in disgrace.

On the same day, the Municipal Procuratorate reviewed all the case files and determined that the second-instance judgment had major flaws. It then issued a prosecutorial recommendation for retrial to the Municipal Intermediate People's Court, requesting the court to initiate retrial proceedings.

The Intermediate People's Court was suddenly put in a very difficult position.

Huo Tianqiong couldn't hold on any longer and had no choice but to immediately seek help from Cai Zili.

But Cai Zili had no choice but to seek help from his old leader Huang Chunning again.

However, Huang Chunning was already exhausted at this moment, and only told Cai Zili in a depressed tone on the phone: Just do your best.

Cai Zili instantly realized that his old leader's trip to Beicheng had not achieved the desired results.

For a moment, he couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out:

"hateful."

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

"We'll see, there's still a long way to go."

He knew that Lin Xiao had finally succeeded this time. The whole city was watching the spectacle, but he had completely lost face.

April 5th, morning.

The Intermediate People's Court of the city restarted the retrial of Zhou Huayu's case in accordance with the law, and ultimately overturned the second-instance suspended sentence, upheld the original judgment of the first instance, and sentenced Zhou Huayu to five years and six months in prison, and immediately put him into prison to serve his sentence.

The news caused a stir throughout Zhenxing District.

As everyone knows, Huang Chunning, the vice chairman of the Provincial People's Congress, made a special trip to Quanzhou to exert pressure, which forced the Intermediate People's Court of the city to change the sentence to probation, and the situation was completely reversed.

Unexpectedly, under pressure from the Legal Daily and the intervention of the Municipal Procuratorate's judicial supervision, the erroneous judgment in the second instance was ultimately corrected.

The Zhou Huayu case has come to a complete close, but it leaves behind many thought-provoking questions. The case itself serves as a warning to everyone: legal judgments cannot be swayed by personal relationships or connections; no matter what kind of relationships the parties involved have, they cannot supersede legal principles.

At the same time, the whole district was abuzz with discussion.

"I knew it! Secretary Lin was bound to win."

"Yes, even the provincial leaders coming down couldn't help."

"I think no one will dare to go against Secretary Lin anymore, right?"

"Who knows? After all, there are always some people who keep going even after hitting a wall."

"Alas, how could evil possibly triumph over justice?"

Lin Xiao's strong confidence impressed everyone.

But in Lin Xiao's own view, the Way of Heaven is the ultimate law governing all things.

At this moment, Deputy District Chief Zhang Changming was filled with regret. He never expected that Lin Xiao could withstand the pressure and ultimately send Zhou Huayu to prison.

If he had known it would end like this, he would never have been so eager to jump out and sabotage things.

He gently patted his cheek and muttered, "It's all Yang Songfeng's fault. How could I have believed his nonsense?"

After careful consideration, he still felt that he couldn't afford to offend someone like Lin Xiao, and that he should even try to ease the tension between them.

After all, a local official is more powerful than a distant one.

That afternoon, news came from the district discipline inspection commission that they had obtained clues about Zhang Yubin, the director of the district urban management bureau, and were currently investigating.

Zhang Changming panicked instantly. He had received a lot of benefits from Zhang Yubin, and if Zhang Yubin confessed everything, he would definitely be implicated.

In a panic, he went to Lin Xiao's office and sincerely reported on his work. He took the initiative to examine his previous mistakes of blindly following others, arbitrarily relaxing environmental protection measures, and being unsteady in his stance. He solemnly stated that he would definitely follow the district committee's arrangements and earnestly implement all tasks in the future.

Finally, he raised his voice slightly: "Secretary Lin, my cousin Qin Ruifeng is the deputy director of the Third Cadre Division of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department. He will be back from his vacation in a couple of days. I'll treat you to a meal then, and my cousin will come to visit you."

This was his main purpose in coming here – to bring up his relative who works in the provincial Party committee's organization department as a powerful backer.

The Third Cadre Division of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department is primarily responsible for the evaluation, appointment, and nomination of deputy-department-level cadres at the prefecture-level city level. If Lin Xiao is to be promoted to deputy mayor, he will inevitably have to undergo evaluation and review by the Third Division. As the deputy director, Qin Ruifeng wields considerable influence.

Zhang Changming was certain that with this connection, Lin Xiao would give him face and show mercy.

He had witnessed countless lessons from the past, yet he remained oblivious, which only hastened his own demise.

Lin Xiao said calmly, "We'll see. I'm going on a business trip in a couple of days. I'll treat Director Qin to dinner another time."

To be honest, Lin Xiao didn't take Zhang Changming seriously at all. It wasn't because he was arrogant, but because he didn't care about such an incompetent cadre who only knew how to get ahead through connections.

Seeing Lin Xiao's cold and distant attitude, Zhang Changming became increasingly flustered. Just as he was about to try again, Lin Xiao interrupted him directly.

"If District Chief Zhang has nothing else to do, you should go back. Keep a close eye on the rectification work in the industrial park."

After hesitating for a few seconds, Zhang Changming replied, "Okay, Secretary Lin."

After saying that, he walked out of the office with a gloomy face.

Shortly after returning to his office, he received news that Zhang Yubin had been placed under investigation.

He couldn't sit still any longer and immediately called his cousin Qin Ruifeng, begging him to either come to Quanzhou City in person to mediate or call Lin Xiao directly to put in a good word.

Qin Ruifeng had previously received a lot of benefits from Zhang Changming. Since he had accepted their gifts, he had no choice but to help them. So he called Lin Xiao.

"Hello, is this Secretary Lin?"

On the phone, Qin Ruifeng spoke in a gentle tone, with a hint of official sarcasm in his smile.

"This is Lin Xiao. May I ask who this is?"

"Hello, Secretary Lin, I am Qin Ruifeng from the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee."

"Hello, Director Qin."

Lin Xiao's tone was flat and polite, lacking the obsequious enthusiasm others showed when addressing provincial party committee officials, but it still sounded stiff and distant.

This attitude made Qin Ruifeng extremely unhappy. Not to mention ordinary division-level cadres, even the deputy mayor and deputy secretary of the city would be extremely respectful when they received his call. How dare a district party secretary be so indifferent?

But since he needed their help, Qin Ruifeng had no choice but to suppress his anger for the time being.

"It's like this, Secretary Lin, my cousin Changming works under you and has always been very kind to you. I'll be going to Quanzhou for vacation in a couple of days, and I'll pay you a visit then, have a couple of drinks, and thank you for your guidance and help."

"Director Qin, you're too kind. It's all for work. However, I have to go to Beicheng on a business trip soon, so my schedule is quite tight. I'll definitely make a special trip to visit you next time I'm in Fengdu."

"Haha, that's too unfortunate. How about this, let Changming go with you, and when you pass through Fengdu, I'll treat you to a get-together. Work can be arranged flexibly, so since we're passing through, let's stop and sit for a while. I don't believe it will take too long."

Lin Xiao frowned, displeased.

Isn't it a bit presumptuous and overstepping one's bounds for a deputy director of a provincial department to arbitrarily interfere in local work and try to arrange the itinerary of local officials?

Lin Xiao patiently replied, "Director Qin, this trip is very tightly scheduled, and I really can't spare the time. We can talk about it another time. I also welcome Director Qin to visit Zhenxing District more often to provide guidance..."

He didn't want to offend anyone for no reason, so he made his point very clear.

"Haha, time is like a woman, you can always squeeze some out. Make sure you stop in Fengdu when you pass through, that's settled then. I won't bother you any longer, let's talk more when we meet."

Qin Ruifeng hung up the phone without saying a word, and scoffed disdainfully, "A district party secretary, yet he puts on quite the airs."

Lin Xiao put down her phone, shook her head speechlessly, and felt that this person was inexplicable and bullying others by taking advantage of their power.

Just then, Fan Shixin, the secretary of the district discipline inspection commission, rushed over to report.

"Secretary Lin, Zhang Yubin has confessed everything. He said that he gave Zhang Changming 100,000 yuan in cash and some jewelry, and also arranged for Zhang Changming to eat and drink at high-end clubs and receive paid companionship on many occasions."

"After compiling the relevant materials, they were formally handed over to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection for investigation."

Lin Xiao's expression darkened slightly, and he gave instructions in a calm tone.

He wanted to see if Qin Ruifeng still wanted to be the host.