Chapter 26

Here is the English translation:

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As Yang Jie left, Zhou Dalong looked at his two trusted subordinates, Lei Shuping and Chen Yuan, and sternly instructed, "What Yang Jie just mentioned must not be leaked out. The county magistrate is waiting to see our mess. We must not let him have his way! Lei, you handle your driver discreetly for now. We'll deal with it after the fuss dies down."

Lei Shuping and Chen Yuan both knew what Zhou Secretary was referring to. Zhang Daxian and the others knew that Jameson had sneaked out of the hotel late at night to find a prostitute because he had drunk the aphrodisiac wine that Yang Jie had prepared. They didn't target Yang Jie because he was too small a target and not worth their attention.

If the other side knew and didn't speak, it was because they wanted to use this to undermine Zhou Dalong. If the information was leaked by their side, wouldn't all their previous efforts be in vain? They would be providing ammunition for the other side to exploit, causing Zhou Dalong to lose face again.

Whether to protect Yang Jie, or to save Zhou Dalong's face, or to ensure the success of Jimmy's investment in Wuhe County, Zhou Dalong would not allow anyone to stir up trouble over this matter.

"Please rest assured, Secretary, we won't leak a single word!" Lei Shuping and Chen Yuan exchanged a glance and assured him in unison.

"This kid actually came up with two types of medicinal wine to attract Jimmy's investment. I can't believe he thought of it. He dared to let Jimmy give it to Loren and Jameson without fear of any issues." Zhou Dalong suddenly smiled, the gloom on his face finally dissipating.

"Secretary, this might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Given Jimmy's love for alcohol and his promise to invest in the Wuhe Distillery, if we can secure the stone project, we'll have another large distillery investment. It would be a double success!" Lei Shuping, seeing Zhou Dalong's improved mood, became increasingly interested in the two functional wines that Yang Jie had created.

"Jimmy's incident also involves some responsibility on Jimmy's part. Therefore, I'm not worried about the project. However, County Magistrate Zhang is too shortsighted. The interests of the entire county, a three-billion investment, and thousands of job opportunities can all be ignored. This is truly disappointing. I've given him face before for the sake of his brother-in-law, but now that he's being unreasonable, don't blame me for being ruthless." Zhou Dalong's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he looked at Lei Shuping and Chen Yuan and said in a serious tone.

"The County Public Security Bureau Chief, Luo Song, and the Wuhe Hotel Manager, Chen Jian, must be removed. We need to set an example."

Lei Shuping's eyes gleamed. As Zhou Dalong's trusted subordinate and the one in charge of the county's economic and industrial work, the success of this investment attraction was closely related to him. He was eager to remove Luo Song and Chen Jian, two of Zhang Daxian's lackeys.

"Secretary Lei is right. The Discipline Inspection Commission has received many reports about Luo Song and Chen Jian. These two have long been unsuitable for leadership positions. We can use this Jameson incident to remove them." Chen Yuan had also been offended by Zhang Daxian's faction that evening. Being questioned at the County Party Committee Office was like a slap in her face.

Her hatred for the Wuhe Hotel Manager and the County Public Security Bureau Chief was no less than Lei Shuping's. Knowing that Zhou Dalong had the majority of the votes in the Standing Committee, as long as Zhou Dalong was determined, he could implement his will. Therefore, she supported him enthusiastically.

"Once Yang Jie handles the Jameson incident and the investment attraction is successful, we will remove them, especially the County Public Security Bureau. It must be thoroughly reformed; it's too outrageous!" After this incident, Zhou Dalong finally made up his mind. He was willing to confront Zhang Daxian to remove the County Public Security Bureau.

Zhou Dalong had been in Wuhe County for more than three years. After the former county magistrate was transferred to another county as the Party Secretary last year, some of the Standing Committee members who originally leaned towards the county magistrate gradually shifted their support to him. Before Zhang Daxian took office, he had already controlled the Party Secretary's Office and the Standing Committee.

Zhang Daxian was an appointed official. Because he had the backing of the Municipal Party Committee's full-time Deputy Secretary, Li Wujin, who was his brother-in-law, some of the neutral Standing Committee members and some of the former county magistrate's loyalists gradually leaned towards Zhang Daxian, forming a faction in the Standing Committee led by Zhang Daxian.

The County Public Security Bureau Chief, Luo Song, and the Wuhe Hotel Manager, Chen Jian, were both part of Zhang Daxian's faction. Zhou Dalong had previously considered Zhang Daxian's brother-in-law's face and did not remove the County Public Security Bureau when Zhang Daxian first took office. However, he never expected Zhang Daxian and Luo Song to play such a move, which naturally infuriated Zhou Dalong.

Zhou Dalong could become the County Party Secretary of Wuhe County because he was not isolated in the city. The City Party Secretary, Li Jun, and Zhou Dalong were both military men. Zhou Dalong was a trusted subordinate and a protégé of Secretary Li, who had been cultivated by Li Jun. It was precisely because of Li Jun's support that Zhou Dalong was not afraid to offend Zhang Daxian.

Yang Jie arrived at the Public Security Bureau's Public Order Brigade in Chen Yuan's car. The Public Order Brigade had its own office separate from the County Public Security Bureau. By the time he arrived, it was already 1:30 AM the next day.

The County Public Security Bureau Chief, Luo Song, the Deputy Chief in charge of traffic police and public order, Yang Hua, the Public Order Brigade Chief, Chen Yinglong, and Deputy Chiefs Zhang Wei and Wang Biao, along with more than a dozen police officers in uniform, had been waiting at the entrance of the Public Order Brigade. They hurriedly greeted Chen Yuan's car number 16 as it entered the courtyard.

The County Public Security Bureau Chief, Luo Song, was over fifty, with a rugged face that made him look like a butcher in the market. His eyes were sharp, and he walked with a powerful gait. The Deputy Chief, Yang Hua, was around forty and had a military demeanor, clearly indicating his military background.

Yang Jie got out of the car and saw Luo Song and Yang Hua, along with the more than a dozen police officers behind them. He knew these must be the leaders of the County Public Security Bureau and the Public Order Brigade.

Seeing Yang Jie get out of the car, Luo Song's somewhat sinister face broke into a false smile. He took a few steps forward and warmly said, "You must be Comrade Yang Jie? I am Luo Song from the County Public Security Bureau, and this is Deputy Chief Yang Hua, in charge of public order and traffic police. Thank you for your hard work today."

"Chief Luo and Deputy Chief Yang, I am Yang Jie from the County Party Committee Office. I have been ordered to come to the Public Order Brigade to handle the matter of the foreign investor, Jameson. Where is Jameson now? Can I see him first?" Yang Jie noticed that Luo Song was smiling, while Yang Hua had a stern face. The stark contrast between the two suggested that they were not on good terms.

"Director Chen has already called. Our bureau will fully cooperate with Comrade Yang's work to minimize the impact of this incident and avoid affecting the county's investment attraction efforts." Luo Song turned to Chen Yinglong behind him and asked, "Chief Chen, take Comrade Yang to see Mr. Jameson first. Your Public Order Brigade must have been kicked in the head by a donkey to arrest a distinguished guest of the county. How do you run this brigade?"

Chen Yinglong did not respond to Luo Song's harsh criticism. In fact, he was also frustrated. He, as the brigade chief, was completely unaware of the entire incident. It was all done privately by Deputy Chief and Second Squadron Captain, Wang Biao, without any consultation. Everyone in the brigade knew that Wang Biao was Chief Luo's man. Now, Luo Song was shifting the blame entirely onto Chen Yinglong, leaving him with no grounds to argue. How could he not feel frustrated?

"Wang Biao, you acted without authorization and caused significant obstacles to the county's investment attraction efforts. From this moment on, you are relieved of your duties as Deputy Chief of the Public Order Brigade and Captain of the Second Squadron. Go home and reflect. We will discuss your case at the bureau meeting and decide on further action." Yang Hua's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he announced the bureau's decision regarding Wang Biao in front of Yang Jie.

"Deputy Chief Yang, Wang Biao was performing his duties by conducting a raid on Changmen Street. He unintentionally arrested the foreign investor. He did nothing wrong in this matter. If we punish our police officers for arresting foreign investors who violate public order regulations, are we the protectors of the people or the protectors of foreign investors? If performing our duties results in punishment, who will dare to enforce the law seriously in the future? Are we supposed to avoid foreigners and think we are still in the Qing Dynasty?" Luo Song immediately objected when he heard Yang Hua's decision to handle Wang Biao.

"Comrade Yang, Mr. Jameson is on the second floor. Please follow me." Chen Yinglong understood that family matters should not be aired in public. He did not want Yang Jie to know about the internal affairs of the bureau. Seeing Luo Song and Yang Hua arguing again, he immediately led Yang Jie upstairs.

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