Nominal: My senior brothers are all big shots

The mining area is 30 kilometers east of the city, and the mountain roads are rugged, making the car bumpy.

Lin Feng looked out the window. The mountains and fields were full of mine shafts, some still in operation, some abandoned, with piles of waste rock at the entrances, sewage flowing everywhere, and vegetation severely damaged.

The young section chief who was following him rarely spoke. He would answer Lin Feng's questions, but would not speak unless asked.

When they passed a mine entrance, Lin Feng asked the driver to stop.

He got out of the car, stood by the roadside, and looked at the mine shaft. The entrance wasn't large, and it was pitch black inside, making it impossible to see how deep it was. Several pickup trucks were parked at the entrance, and a few workers were loading ore onto them. When they saw a vehicle stop, they looked over warily.

Lin Feng walked over, and a leader greeted him, his face full of vigilance: "Who are you?"

Chen Yue stepped forward: "This is Secretary Lin of the Municipal Party Committee."

The leader's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and said with a smile, "Secretary Lin, we are a legitimate mine with all the necessary permits."

Lin Feng asked, "Who is your boss?" The leader replied, "General Manager Zhou, Zhou Tianming."

Lin Feng didn't say anything, turned around and got back into the car. The car continued driving forward, passing several more mines along the way, some large and some small, some of which were clearly operating illegally.

Lin Feng asked the young section chief, "Do all these mines have the necessary permits?"

The young section chief hesitated for a moment and said, "Most of them do. But some have incomplete paperwork, and some are still being collected even after the expiration date."

Lin Feng asked, "Did your bureau take charge of that?"

The young section chief lowered his head and stopped speaking.

In the afternoon, Lin Feng visited several other departments—the Environmental Protection Bureau, the Market Supervision Bureau, and the Emergency Management Bureau.

Every department's report was identical—detailed data, clear organization, and a tendency to downplay key issues. When asked about rare earth elements, their responses were remarkably uniform.

"The rare earth industry is a pillar industry of Pingjiang, and has made significant contributions to the city's economic and social development."

"Illegal mining is a long-standing and difficult problem that requires joint enforcement by multiple departments."

"Our bureau has been working hard, but we are short-staffed, have tight budgets, and face great difficulties in law enforcement."

It was almost dark when Lin Feng came out of the Emergency Management Bureau. He stood at the building entrance, gazing at the dark mountain shadows in the distance, and remained silent for a long time. Chen Yue stood behind him, not daring to speak.

"Return to the Municipal Party Committee," Lin Feng said.

That evening, Lin Feng sat alone in his study, with the materials and notes he had taken during the day's research spread out in front of him.

He smoked one cigarette after another, and the ashtray quickly filled up.

He was pondering a question—just how deep were the problems in Pingjiang? Sun Decai's report was too perfect, almost unreal. The data, the statements, the expressions—everything seemed rehearsed.

What does this mean? It means someone gave advance notice, ensuring all departments followed the same story. The person who could give advance notice is likely of a high rank.

In Pingjiang, there is only one person who can command the Natural Resources Bureau, the Environmental Protection Bureau, the Market Supervision Bureau, and the Emergency Management Bureau.

Lin Feng wrote two words in his notebook: Liu Zhi.

He recalled the foreman he had met at the mine that day, and the words, "Our boss is Zhou Tianming."

Zhou Tianming's mine has all the necessary permits and is completely legal. The fact that a gang leader, repeatedly reported for suspected smuggling and illegal mining, has a mine with all the required permits and is legal speaks volumes. It means someone in the Natural Resources Bureau approved his permits, someone issued him a mining license, and someone has been protecting him all along.

Lin Feng wrote two more words in his notebook: Sun Decai.

The night outside the window was deep and dark. He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and his mind drifted back to the data, the expressions, and the reports that were so consistent in their statements.

The problems in Pingjiang were more serious than he had imagined. The protective umbrella had infiltrated every system, from mines to docks, from the government to the political and legal system, from the city to the county, weaving an impenetrable net.

Zhou Tianming is the knot on the internet, and Liu Zhi is the hand behind that knot.

The phone rang; it was a video call from Su Wanqing. Lin Feng answered, and Su Wanqing's face appeared on the screen. She was wearing loose loungewear, her hair casually tied up, and she looked somewhat tired.

"Still not asleep?" Su Wanqing asked.

Lin Feng smiled and said, "I can't sleep. How about you? Is the baby fussing?"

Su Wanqing touched her belly, a gentle smile appearing on her face: "How old is she? Already causing trouble?" She paused, then looked closely at Lin Feng's face. "What's wrong? You don't look well."

Lin Feng paused for a moment, then said, "Wanqing, the water here is very deep."

Su Wanqing didn't ask what happened, but simply said softly, "Be careful. The child and I are waiting for you to come back."

Lin Feng nodded, feeling a sudden warmth in his heart.

On his fourth day in Pingjiang, Lin Feng began to feel that something was wrong.

It's not a specific event, but many small, subtle details that are slowly pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle.

For example, when he went to conduct research, there were people waiting at the door of each department he visited.

He didn't rush out to greet him; instead, he stood there calmly, as if he had known he would come all along. For example, his reports were detailed, logically sound, and he even had prepared answers for the questions beforehand.

This cannot be accomplished on the spot; it requires time to prepare and someone to notify the relevant parties. In Pingjiang, there is only one person who can notify all departments and districts in the city—the Municipal Party Committee Office.

The Municipal Party Committee Office was the territory of Secretary-General Qian Shumo.

But Qian Shumo was his man. Lin Feng didn't believe Qian Shumo would betray him.

There's only one possibility—someone has been watching his every move.

Lin Feng didn't make a fuss, nor did he ask Qian Shumo. He returned to his office, closed the door, and made a phone call. "Old Zhou, come over here for a moment."

Old Zhou's full name is Zhou Zhenggang, and he is the driver that Lin Feng brought from Beijing.

He was a retired member of the People's Armed Police and worked in the Special Operations Bureau for eight years. He is skilled, discreet, and reliable.

The person was personally selected by Su Bingheng.

Before Lin Feng came to Pingjiang, Su Bingheng only said one sentence: "You can use this person."

Old Zhou pushed the door open and stood ramrod straight. Lin Feng gestured for him to sit down and closed the door tightly. "Old Zhou, I need you to do something for me."

Old Zhou didn't say anything, he just looked at him.

Lin Feng took out a map from the drawer and spread it on the table. It was a map showing the distribution of mines in Pingjiang.

He drew several circles on it with a red pen. "These mining areas are where rare earth mining is most rampant. I need you to help me find out who is mining, who is transporting, and who is selling. Also, is anyone in charge, who is in charge, and have they even done anything about it?"

Old Zhou glanced at the map and nodded. Lin Feng then said, "One person isn't enough. I'll give you two people, seconded from the provincial department, without going through Pingjiang. You'll be in charge of leading them."

Old Zhou asked, "When do we start?"

Lin Feng said, "Now."

Old Zhou stood up, walked to the door, then turned back: "Secretary Lin, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

Lin Feng looked at him. Old Zhou hesitated for a moment, then said, "There's someone watching you."

Lin Feng didn't speak. Old Zhou pushed the door open and went out.