Names: Uncle Zhao Mengsheng, Father-in-law Pei Yihong

The speed of information dissemination on the internet today is ridiculously fast, especially in the face of confrontations, which easily captures the attention of netizens.

In just half an hour, the hashtags #RetiredProsecutorSavesWorkersByHidingBulldozerAlone# and #DafengFactoryBillionYuanLandDemolitionControversy# quietly rose to the top of the local trending searches.

An hour later, it rose to the top of the trending searches in Handong, and tens of thousands of netizens flooded the comment section instantly, with polarized opinions completely tearing apart the public opinion battlefield.

There are quite a few netizens who support Chen Yanshi, and their comments are straightforward, sharp, and down-to-earth.

"These days, there are so few retired officials willing to stand up for ordinary people and protect their livelihoods! Most people retire and enjoy their retirement in seclusion, oblivious to the world's affairs. Only Old Chen dared to face the pressure of officialdom and protect the livelihoods of working people. He is truly a conscientious and upright official!"

"It's obvious at a glance. The so-called urban planning and demolition is nothing more than a collusion between officials and businessmen to fleece the people! A plot of land worth ten billion yuan was given to the Shanshui Group for nothing, and the workers' life savings were gone just like that. Who could tolerate that?"

"Ding Yizhen's true colors are so real. Relying on his power, he oppresses the common people, his mind is full of political achievements and capital, he doesn't care about people's livelihood at all. He's a complete bloodsucking mediocre official!"

"Thank goodness Old Chen was there. If it weren't for this veteran cadre, over a thousand workers would have lost their jobs, their life's work gone to waste! This isn't demolition; it's stealing people's livelihoods!"

The public opinion was overwhelmingly in favor of the workers at Dafeng Factory, expressing sympathy for the lower-class workers and supporting Chen Yanshi, while also mocking the laziness and sycophancy of grassroots officials in Guangming District.

However, online public opinion is never a one-man show.

As its popularity soared, dissenting voices quickly emerged, forming their own distinct camp and instantly generating a great deal of controversy.

Many netizens rationally analyzed the scene and voiced different opinions.

"Logically speaking, the legal judgment has already been made. The equity pledge is compliant and legal, and the procedures are complete. Since the court has already pronounced its ruling, the rules should be followed. Just because someone is backing you doesn't mean you can ignore the regulations, right?"

"To be honest, retired cadres are retired cadres. There are rules for those still in office. If they've retired, why are they still interfering in grassroots government affairs and obstructing urban planning? Isn't that a typical case of 'retiring but not retiring' and overstepping their authority?"

"Personal feelings are one thing, rules are another. The overall urban planning is a big picture; we can't let the entire Guangmingfeng multi-billion yuan project be halted just because a group of workers are holding a grudge. If the rules are broken, how will the grassroots demolition work proceed in the future?"

The two sides of the argument were at loggerheads, and neither side could convince the other, leading to a heated debate in the comments section, with the controversy escalating.

Some people, not wanting to miss out on the drama, dug up Chen Yanshi's family background, and screenshots of it went viral online.

"No wonder they're so confident! Their eldest son is the director of the provincial public security bureau, their second son is the director of the provincial procuratorate's anti-corruption bureau, and their old subordinates are all over the Handong political and legal system. To put it bluntly, they're not just backed by their conscience; they have a real, established network of connections in the officialdom!"

This revelation caused another reversal in public opinion, with many netizens joining in to analyze the situation.

"Now I understand. The reason why Dafeng Factory can't be demolished is never because the law is flawed, but because of excessive personal relationships. Grassroots cadres can't get past seniority when dealing with superiors, and they can't resist public opinion when dealing with subordinates. They are caught in the middle."

Some insightful veteran netizens succinctly pointed out the essence of the matter, and their comments were pinned and highly praised.

"The most unsolvable problem in officialdom is never the rules, but the personal connections. Rules are inanimate, but personal connections are flexible. Old Chen alone can crush the entire grassroots team in Guangming District."

As Li Dakang scrolled through the ever-rising trending topics and polarized comments on his phone, he finally understood the deeper meaning behind Qi Tongwei's words, "Let the bullets fly for a while."

In the game of officialdom, victory or defeat is never determined in the present moment.

Public opinion is a knife, personal relationships are a shield.

A master of officialdom always uses his power to kill.

Fan Jiahui's article put Chen Yanshi in the spotlight.

Handong Provincial Government.

Office of the Executive Vice Governor.

Qi Tongwei leaned back in his office chair, swiping his phone screen as he scrolled through discussions about the demolition of Dafeng Factory.

Just then, the cell phone on the table rang.

Caller ID notes: Level.

Qi Tongwei tapped his fingertip to answer the call.

"Qi Province, the news is confirmed."

Chen Qingquan and Qin Ben made an appointment to go to the Shanshui Group to learn a foreign language.

I've already arranged for two trusted officers from the Guangming branch to stake out the area and watch them enter the Shanshui Group.

Qi Tongwei nodded. "Thanks for your hard work, brothers. We can leave now."

After hanging up the phone, Qi Tongwei pulled out his contacts and dialed a special number.

Liu Hailong, deputy director of the State Security Department of Handong Province, received a phone call.

The call connected instantly.

Liu Hailong's steady voice came through: "Province Qi."

Qi Tongwei said bluntly, "Hailong, send out a secret mission. Select capable plainclothes officers, all armed, to discreetly infiltrate the Shanshui Group."

Arrest two people and send them to Zhao Guoqiang in the military region.

Liu Hailong didn't waste any words, "Received, will arrange it immediately."

Extremely high level of authority, top-secret operations.

Once it strikes, it's a devastating blow.

Shanshui Group.

Shanshui Building is Jingzhou's top-tier private club, serving as a base for foreign scholars to exchange ideas and a haven and haven for officials to relax and enjoy themselves.

The compound is surrounded by high walls and has tight security. Everyone is certain that there are no checkpoints or surprise inspections here, and it is absolutely safe.

Several security guards stood upright, appearing professional, but in reality, they were all just for show. Deputy General Manager Jia Fengtian paced back and forth in the lobby with his hands behind his back, looking arrogant.

In Jingzhou, the Shanshui Group is a prestigious brand, backed by the Zhao family.

Everyone has to give them some face, and no one dares to come knocking on their door to cause trouble.

The next second, the main entrance of the building was pushed open.

A group of plainclothes officers dressed entirely in black entered, all wearing masks.

Everyone carries a gun.

It is not a police-issued weapon; its level and grade are far superior to the police equipment used by the municipal and branch bureaus.

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

Li Shiya, the chairwoman of Shanshui Group, who was handling business in her office, quickly came out upon hearing the noise.

He wore a well-fitting business suit, had a refined appearance, and remained quite composed in the face of adversity.

Suppressing her inner turmoil, she raised her hand to stop them, "Comrades, it's all a misunderstanding. Perhaps this is a routine inspection arranged by the Public Security Bureau? Our Shanshui Group has always actively cooperated with the police, operating legally and honestly."

None of the plainclothes officers looked up or responded.

Dead silence is far more terrifying than shouting.

Li Shiya's pupils contracted suddenly when she caught a glimpse of the sidearms in everyone's hands.

She had spent many years mingling in official circles and had handled Chen Shan's gun.

With a sharp eye, he could spot the difference at a glance.

These guns are of a higher level than the standard equipment of provincial and municipal public security bureaus; they are not part of the public security system at all.

Could they be someone from the ministry?

My inner confidence crumbled instantly.

She could no longer maintain her composure and hid in a corner to contact Chen Shan.

"Director Chen, a large number of armed plainclothes officers have stormed into the Shanshui Group, claiming to be on a mission. Is this a coordinated operation by the provincial department?"