Rebirth: My college entrance exam score was stolen? I turned the tables and made a billion.

Chen Jianguo stood in the shadows of the second-floor corridor, watching through the window as Zheng Dongfang hurriedly left with the case file.

Only after Zheng Dongfang's figure disappeared around the corner of the red brick wall of the county committee compound did Chen Jianguo let out a cold snort and reach out to tug at the top button of his shirt, which was fastened tightly.

Actually, his vest was already soaked with cold sweat.

Zhao Youcai, that stupid pig!

Arresting a few street vendors would have been fine, but they insisted on putting them in a detention center to raise funds, and ended up kicking a hornet's nest by arresting County Magistrate Lin's own son!

If it weren't for his constant flattery and service to the old Party Secretary over the past few years, this whole mess would have been impossible to contain.

He protected Zhao Youcai, did he really think it was some kind of brotherhood or loyalty?

Bullshit!

Could the college entrance exam score substitution have been successful without Zhao Youcai involved in every step?

Once Zhao Youcai is cornered by Lin Weimin and spills everything inside, what will Chen Jianguo do?

On the contrary, as long as Zhao Youcai's identity is preserved, the matter of his son Chen Defu taking Liu Guangming's place in university will still be foolproof.

Chen Jianguo straightened his hair, put on his usual composed demeanor, and strolled toward the Education Bureau.

......

On the other side, Zheng Dongfang, already covered in sweat, pushed open the door to the office of the executive deputy county head.

He recounted in detail the scolding he received from the old Party Secretary, and how Chen Jianguo was sitting and drinking tea nearby at the time.

Lin Weimin was also taken aback when he heard this.

"A rough work style? Simple and brutal?"

Lin Weimin suddenly stood up:

"Locking up legally operating businesses and using them as pawns to kill—is that a matter of conduct? That's utter lawlessness!"

Zheng Dongfang kept his head down, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Lin Weimin grabbed the dark blue coat from the back of the chair and picked up the thick case file on the table.

"Come on! Follow me to see the old Party Secretary!"

The old Party Secretary's office is located in the east building of the county Party committee compound.

Lin Weimin pushed open the door and entered, skipping all pleasantries, and threw the case file directly onto the coffee table.

The old Party Secretary was drinking tea from a purple clay teapot when his brows immediately furrowed into a deep frown.

Before he could speak, Lin Weimin preemptively pulled a piece of paper from the case file and placed it on the table.

"Old boss, this is a copy of Liu Guangming's business license."

"What's underneath are the confessions of those prison bullies in cell number 7!"

The old Party Secretary's face darkened, and he didn't even bother to pick up the paper.

"Weimin, what are you doing? Making such a fuss over a few small vendors?"

Lin Weimin stood ramrod straight, refusing to budge an inch.

"Old boss, this isn't a matter for a few small vendors!"

"Zhao Youcai even arrested my son as a vagrant!"

"He even ordered the cell bosses to beat people up while he was in jail. If my son hadn't been protected by Liu Guangming, that street vendor, I'd be in the hospital with him today!"

Upon hearing this, the old Party Secretary's hand, which was holding a cigarette, trembled violently.

Chen Jianguo didn't tell him that he had arrested Lin Weimin's son! That godson only said that Zhao Youcai had arrested a few hooligans who were speculating and profiteering!

However, on second thought, no matter what, he was still the top leader.

You, Lin Weimin, are right, and you are a cadre, but you haven't even taken over your post yet, and you're already contradicting me to my face. Your temper has completely flared up.

He slammed his hand on the sofa armrest, stood up abruptly, and pointed at Lin Weimin's nose.

"Comrade Weimin! Do you perhaps think I'm senile and deliberately protecting bad people?"

"This is just a matter of conduct among comrades at the grassroots level! Don't make a mountain out of a molehill!"

"You're pushing the economy too hard right now. Don't let a few small business owners disrupt our cadre ranks!"

Faced with this statement, Lin Weimin naturally knew what the old Party Secretary was thinking.

Overall situation, stability?

Everything should revolve around economic development and liberating productive forces; this is the overall priority!

He simply stood his ground and stared directly at the old Party Secretary.

"Old leader, if you insist on muddling through this, then I will take this irrefutable evidence and personally report to the municipal and provincial party committees!"

"At worst, I'll quit being the executive deputy county head. I absolutely cannot stand by and watch this stagnant water in the county completely rot!"

"If this unhealthy trend isn't stopped, how can our county carry out reforms?"

The old Party Secretary was stunned, but he calmed down a bit.

In fact, Lin Weimin is usually quite disciplined.

But looking at him today, it seems he's really desperate; he's even willing to give up his official position.

If the matter really escalates to the city level, Lin Weimin might just be transferred to a different post, but this old revolutionary who is about to retire to the second line will have his reputation completely ruined in his later years!

After a long while, the old Party Secretary sighed deeply, looking as if he had aged several years in an instant. He sat back down on the sofa and waved his hand weakly.

"Weimin, your temper... never mind."

"But Youcai has worked on the public security front for so many years. Even if he hasn't made any great contributions, he has certainly put in a lot of hard work. Don't condemn him outright. We should always leave him a way out."

Upon hearing this, Lin Weimin knew that this was the biggest concession his former leader could make.

"Okay, I'll go back and hold a meeting to determine the situation."

Lin Weimin picked up the case file, turned around, and strode away.

The next day at noon, the sun was shining brightly.

The door to the VIP ward at the county hospital was suddenly pushed open, and Liangzi, clutching a mimeographed notice that had just been torn down from the street, shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Brothers of Light! This is truly gratifying! This is absolutely gratifying!"

Fatty and the blond-haired guy squeezed in as well, all beaming with joy, walking with a swagger.

Liu Guangming was leaning against the headboard reading the newspaper, while his older sister Liu Chunhua was peeling an apple beside him.

"What's making you so happy?" Liu Guangming put down his newspaper.

"Zhao Youcai is finished!"

Liangzi slammed the notice on the bedside table and pointed to the bold text on it.

"The county bureau just posted a notice: expelled from the Party and dismissed from office! Even the deputy director and the captain have been removed from their posts!"

"I heard he's been reassigned to be a gatekeeper at Xiangshuiwan Reservoir, dozens of miles away!"

The fat man stood to the side, gesturing wildly and laughing so hard his face trembled.

"Haha, even birds don't poop in that place!"

"My uncle worked there, and he didn't even have anyone to talk to. That old man's life is pretty much over!"

"Serves him right! Let him bully others by taking advantage of his power!"

Yellow Hair also spat.

The ward was filled with laughter and joy. Liu Chunhua also chanted Amitabha Buddha's name and praised God for being so kind.

In the corner, Zhao Xiaojun was squatting next to the washbasin, scrubbing Liu Guangming's clothes.

This wasn't something Liu Guangming asked him to do; it was something he wanted to do himself.

Upon hearing this news, he paused for a moment.

Liu Guangming turned his head to look at Zhao Xiaojun's back.

The boy's back remained stiff for a while before he let out a long breath and his tense shoulders slowly relaxed.

Zhao Xiaojun stood up, hung up his wrung-out clothes, turned around and grinned at everyone without saying a word.

At the same time, the struggle and pain in his eyes had completely disappeared.

After all, having such a heartless father, his current predicament is a complete relief for him.

However, while everyone was in high spirits, Liu Guangming's brows gradually furrowed.

He picked up the notice and stared at the words on it several times.

He was expelled from the Party and dismissed from his post, but his public office responsibilities were retained; he was then assigned to guard a reservoir.

This result seemed significant to Liangzi and his team, but to Liu Guangming, it carried a strong sense of unease.

Lin Weimin witnessed the appalling conditions in the detention center yesterday and was furious on the spot.

Given the decisive and efficient nature of his position as the executive deputy county head, it was highly unlikely that he would only give Zhao Youcai such a mild punishment.

What's the big deal about being sent to a reservoir?

It should at least be considered a dereliction of duty, and he should be imprisoned for a few years!

This is clearly a case of picking something up high and then putting it down lightly!

It could never be Zhao Youcai himself who could make a powerful figure like Lin Weimin compromise and back down.

There must have been someone in the county with a higher rank and more seniority than Lin Weimin who intervened.

And who could possibly be the one to get such an important person to come up with a plan?

Liu Guangming slowly folded the newspaper, a chill running through him.

Whoever it is, it must be related to Chen Jianguo.

After all, if he were Chen Jianguo, he would also be afraid that after Zhao Youcai was caught, he would reveal the whole story about taking someone else's college entrance exam spot.

It seems that Chen Jianguo's interests are intertwined with those of others even more deeply than he realized in his previous life.

Meanwhile, as long as Chen Jianguo remains in power, Zhao Youcai's job as a gatekeeper at the reservoir may only be a temporary respite from the limelight!

Since these people don't want us to have an easy time, we have to act before they do anything underhanded...

"Brother Guangming, what are you thinking about?"

As Liu Guangming was thinking, Zhao Xiaojun came over and handed him the apple that his older sister had just peeled.

Liu Guangming took the apple and took a bite.

He swallowed the fruit, looked up at the bright sun outside the window, and waved to the people inside the room.

"I was thinking, even though I'm lying in the hospital, my shaved ice business can't stop."