Nominal: My senior brothers are all big shots

Three days later, Lao Zhou returned. He brought back a clue.

"Secretary Lin, there's an old miner in the mining area named Zhao Tiejun," Old Zhou said in a low voice, standing in front of his desk.

"He had worked in the mine for thirty years and was the most senior miner in the area. His son, Zhao Xiaojun, also worked in the mine. Two years ago, his son reported an illegal mining operation at a mine, and the report was sent to the city. A few days later, he died. They said it was a mine collapse that killed him."

Lin Feng frowned. "Where's Zhao Tiejun?"

Old Zhou said, "After his son died, he quit. He petitioned everywhere for two years, from the city to the province, and from the province to Beijing. Each time, someone received him, and each time he was told to go back and wait for news, but there was never any follow-up. He is still petitioning now, right here in Pingjiang."

Lin Feng paused for a moment, then said, "You found him?"

Old Zhou nodded: "Found him. But he's afraid to see you. He said he doesn't trust officials. His son was killed by officials."

Lin Feng stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Lao Zhou. "Tell him I'm the new Party Secretary. I'm not here just to go through the motions. I want to see him."

Old Zhou said, "I'll give it a try."

That evening, Lao Zhou called: "Secretary Lin, he agreed. But if he wants to see you, he can only choose the place."

Lin Feng said, "Okay."

The next afternoon, Lin Feng took Lao Zhou and drove an inconspicuous old car out of the city.

The car wound its way through the urban-rural fringe before finally stopping at the entrance of an old residential complex. The complex had no name, just a few rows of red brick buildings with weathered exteriors and some broken windows covered with plastic sheeting. Old Zhou made a phone call, and after a while, a thin old man emerged from one of the buildings.

He was around sixty years old, slightly hunched, wearing a faded blue cotton jacket, and his face was deeply wrinkled, like parched, cracked earth. His eyes were heavy, as still as a stagnant pool.

He saw Lin Feng, but didn't greet him. He just glanced at him and turned to walk into the building.

Lin Feng followed.

The elderly person lives on the fourth floor in a one-bedroom apartment with a cement floor. The white paint on the walls has turned yellow and peeled off in some places.

The living room contained only an old sofa, a folding table, and a few plastic stools. On the table sat a black-and-white photograph, a half-length portrait of a young man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a simple, honest smile.

Zhao Tiejun didn't offer Lin Feng a seat, but sat down on the sofa himself. He lowered his head, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke, his voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing against wood. "You're the new Party Secretary?"

Lin Feng said, "Yes."

Zhao Tiejun asked, "What do you want from me?"

Lin Feng said, "I'd like to hear about your son."

Zhao Tiejun abruptly raised his head, looking at Lin Feng with anger, pain, and a hidden expectation in his eyes. He stared at Lin Feng for a long time before saying, "You believe what I said?"

Lin Feng said, "You go first. I'll know whether I believe you or not after I hear it."

Zhao Tiejun was silent for a moment, then pulled a plastic bag from under the sofa cushion. Inside were several sheets of paper. He placed the plastic bag on the table, his hands trembling slightly.

"This is the letter of denunciation my son wrote. He wrote two copies; one was sent out, and the other is with me." Zhao Tiejun's voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself.

"The mine he reported belongs to Zhou Tianming. It has no permits, no safety measures, and the workers inside don't even wear safety helmets. He wrote down some mining rights number and some approval number, which I don't understand, but everything he said is true."

He looked up at Lin Feng, his eyes reddening: "He died a few days after he sent it out. The mine said there was a collapse, but I went to check, and the mine was fine, there was no collapse. He was beaten to death, there was a hole in his head. But the police said it was a collapse and wouldn't let us investigate."

Lin Feng picked up the papers and read them page by page. The letter of complaint was somewhat rough, but detailed, clearly stating the location of the mine, the time, and the amount of money involved. At the end of the letter, Zhao Xiaojun signed his name and pressed his fingerprint.

Lin Feng folded the letter of complaint and put it in his pocket. Zhao Tiejun looked at him, his lips trembling, wanting to say something, but then swallowed his words.

"Master Zhao," Lin Feng's voice was soft but firm, "I'm taking this letter. I'll investigate your son's matter thoroughly. Give me some time."

Zhao Tiejun lowered his head, his shoulders trembling. After a long while, he raised his head, tears streaming down his face. "Secretary Lin, I don't want money, I don't want compensation. I just want justice."

Lin Feng nodded, stood up, walked to the door, then turned back and said, "Master Zhao, take care."

It was already dark when they left Zhao Tiejun's house. Lin Feng got into the car and said to Lao Zhou, "To the police station."

The Public Security Bureau building is located in the east of the city. It is a building from the 1990s. The building is a bit old, but there are quite a few cars in the courtyard.

Lin Feng didn't give any prior notice and simply had Lao Zhou park the car at the entrance. The security guard was taken aback when he saw the license plate, then quickly opened the gate. Lin Feng got out of the car and walked into the building.

Police Chief Lei Ming was already downstairs. He was in his early fifties, burly, with a resolute face, wearing a police uniform and standing ramrod straight. He had received a call from the security guard and rushed down, saluting Lin Feng upon seeing him.

"Secretary Lin, what brings you here?" Lei Ming's voice sounded a little nervous.

Lin Feng said, "Director Lei, let's find a place to talk."

Lei Ming led him into his office and closed the door. The office wasn't large, containing a desk, a bookcase, and an old sofa. Several documents were spread out on the coffee table, along with a cup of tea that had gone cold.

Lin Feng didn't sit down; he stood by the window, his back to Lei Ming. "Director Lei, how many years have you been working in Pingjiang?"

Lei Ming said, "Three years."

Lin Feng turned around and looked at him: "Three years. That's long enough. You know about the illegal rare earth mining, smuggling, and organized crime in Pingjiang, right?"

Lei Ming paused for a moment, then said, "I know."

Lin Feng asked, "Did you do anything about it?"

Lei Ming clenched his fists, veins bulging. He remained silent for a long time before saying, "Secretary Lin, it's not that I don't want to get involved, it's that I can't."

He walked to his desk, took a document from a drawer, and handed it to Lin Feng. "Take a look at this."

Lin Feng opened it and found a roster of cadres.

Lei Ming pointed to several names: "Criminal Investigation Detachment Chief Wei Guoan, Deputy Director Liu Dayong, Economic Crime Investigation Detachment Chief Sun Jianguo, Narcotics Control Detachment Chief Zhao Guoliang. These people are all Liu Zhi's men. Criminal investigation, economic crime investigation, and narcotics control are all under their control. My words have no effect."

He paused, his voice lower: "I've tried. Last year, I had someone investigate a smuggling case, which led to Zhou Tianming. Before the leads were even clear, Wei Guoan dropped the case, saying there wasn't enough evidence. I went to see him, and he told me, 'Director Lei, someone from above has intervened in this case, so we can't continue.' I asked who intervened, and he said, 'Don't bother asking, it's pointless.'"

Lin Feng closed the file without saying a word.

Lei Ming looked at him, his eyes filled with expectation but also hesitation. "Secretary Lin, now that you're here, I'm not afraid anymore. But I need your word."

Lin Feng said, "Go ahead."

Lei Ming took a deep breath: "If you just say the word 'investigate,' I'll risk my life to dig out this cancer in Pingjiang."

Lin Feng looked at him for a long time, then said, "Investigate."

Lei Ming's eyes reddened, and he saluted.

Lin Feng walked to the door, then turned back: "Director Lei, you're in charge of finding the evidence. I'll back you up."

Lei Ming nodded vigorously. Lin Feng walked out of the police station building and got into the car.

Old Zhou glanced at him in the rearview mirror but didn't say anything. Lin Feng leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

"Old Zhou, go back to the municipal party committee," he said.