News Clues (1)

Furthermore, Director Gao Weimin left the police station and didn't return directly to the Public Security Bureau. Instead, he detoured with Wu Dean, the Director of the Political Department, to the home of an elderly man named Liu Benzhong in the West City District, about ten miles away. He brought him twenty catties of rice, ten catties of flour, and five packs of sugar.

A light rain suddenly started falling on the way.

At the bend of Baiyun Community on the river embankment in the West City District, a dilapidated thatched cottage with mud walls lay nestled in the mountain hollow. Old Mr. Liu Benzhong sat on the stone steps at the entrance, holding a foot-long clay pipe and smoking leaf tobacco that had a pungent smell detectable for miles around.

He was one of the impoverished households that Gao Weimin had taken on to help after arriving in Tangdu City. Liu Benzhong was sixty-eight years old. His wife had passed away long ago, and he had two sons who were unaccomplished and lived far away, only returning home occasionally.

Seeing Director Gao arrive, Liu Benzhong became somewhat emotional. He coughed dryly, his face breaking into a wide smile. Even from a distance, he said, "You're a good man, a good man!" Perhaps these simple words best expressed the gratitude of this honest and simple old man.

"Elderly sir, this is a small token of my regard. Please accept it!"

"Director Gao, why do you help me, a man nearing the grave, at all times?"

"Elderly sir, it's because the Party's policy is good. Don't you worry about it!"

"Yes, the Communist Party is indeed good!"

"Elderly sir, have you heard from your sons?"

"Sigh, don't mention them. Useless things. It's as if I never had them!" It was evident that the old man did not want to mention his sons' disgraceful behavior in front of Director Gao.

"By the way, elderly sir, your house is already a dangerous structure and urgently needs renovation. I've already contacted the Subdistrict Office in the West City District. They will send people to inspect and begin construction in a few days!"

"At my age, will I still get to use it?"

"Don't worry, the government provides subsidies!"

"Elderly sir, have you heard from your sons?"

"Sigh, don't mention them. Useless things. It's as if I never had them!" It was evident that the old man did not want to mention his sons in front of Director Gao. In reality, his eldest son, known as "Shorty," had already been stabbed to death during a fight with Tong Haojing, and his second son, Qian Long, hadn't returned for many years. On the day Shorty died, Ma Shaokang had brought the old man to the Public Security Bureau to make a fuss about his eldest son's death. The Criminal Investigation Team of the Public Security Bureau had replied that they were investigating. However, in front of Director Gao, he remained silent about his son's death because a group of unidentified people wearing masks had taken some money late at night and silenced Liu Benzhong, threatening him not to bother the Public Security Bureau anymore.

The Party's policy warmed the hearts of the people and benefited thousands of households in Tangdu City. Liu Benzhong was one of the beneficiaries. Despite his busy schedule, Gao Weimin braved the rain to complete one of his poverty alleviation and assistance activities for the day. Little did anyone expect that Gao Weimin's efforts to connect with and assist the people would yield unexpected social results in his future work.

The rain stopped, and Gao Weimin bid farewell, holding the old man's hand.

Just then, Gao Weimin received a call from the Command Center. There was a fight with injuries at the West City Old Town Demolition Site, with a large crowd gathered. A mass incident was highly likely, and the West City Station had already been dispatched to handle it.

Gao Weimin's eyebrow twitched, and he keenly sensed the sensitivity of the matter. He signaled to his driver, "Quick! Change course to West City!"

"It's Director Tang's jurisdiction. He's an experienced station chief..." Wu Dean was quite familiar with the West City Station and unconsciously briefed the new director on the situation in the area.

The car sped along, and half an hour later, they arrived at the West City demolition site.

A BMW car was parked in an open space by the roadside. In the back seat sat a man who looked like a boss, wearing a brand-new suit. This person was Tang Fafa, the general manager of Tengda Real Estate Development Company. He was in his 40s, with a cold expression, and his face would contort slightly when he spoke, due to a scar on his left cheek that was now almost invisible.

In the front passenger seat of the BMW, a police officer in uniform was leaning sideways towards the back, arguing with Tang Fafa about something.

On the other side of the road, about fifty meters away, an excavator was parked by the roadside. A man in his seventies was leaning against the excavator's tracks, shouting that his foot had been run over. Beside him, two ruffian-like young men were yelling, "Old man, if you don't move, we'll take action!"

Two young police officers in uniform stood in the crowd, trying their best to persuade them. "Everyone, please calm down. No one should resort to violence. We must act according to the law."

Around the excavator, a large crowd had gathered, their emotions running high, and angry voices erupted. "The developer started demolition without reaching an agreement with us! The police are colluding with the developer! We can't trust them unless their leader guarantees us that the interests of the people will not be harmed!"

The person arguing with Tang Fafa in the BMW was Tang Changan from the West City Station. He had already learned that Tang Fafa had forcibly entered the site without reaching an agreement with the residents whose properties were to be demolished, and that some of Tang Fafa's staff had clashed with the elderly man who was blocking them.

"Director Tang, look clearly. This has nothing to do with me. My subordinates accidentally injured the old man. They're willing to compensate, but you need to understand, this is a key project, and we can't afford to delay. That old man insisted on blocking us, what could we do!" Tang Fafa leaned back against the rear seat, looking dismissively at Tang Changan without even glancing at him, and said unhurriedly.

"General Manager Tang, demolition must be done according to the law, and no one should be injured. You know this!" Tang Changan said, suppressing his anger, in a serious tone.

"What? I don't understand the law? I have approval. Why don't you go ask your superiors!" Tang Fafa's arrogant and unreasonable demeanor was quite intimidating.

At this moment, Gao Weimin, dressed in plain clothes, arrived at the scene. The driver had called two police officers from the scene.

"Are you from the West City Police Station?" Gao Weimin asked.

"Yes!" one of the police officers replied.

"Where is your director?" Gao Weimin asked again.

"Our Director Tang is... is in the car arguing with the developer!" The police officer stammered slightly and pointed towards the BMW.

"Go quickly and call him over. Tell him I, Gao Weimin, have arrived!"

The police officer glanced at Gao Weimin, then turned and hesitated before running towards the BMW.

The driver carefully protected Director Gao as Gao Weimin pushed his way to the center of the crowd. He announced his identity.

"I am the Director of the Tangdu City Public Security Bureau. I assure you, if you have any demands, I will report them to the Municipal Demolition Department in person. However, you cannot gather here and obstruct construction, and the demolition workers cannot act recklessly and injure civilians. Please rest assured, we will investigate this matter according to the law and deal with it seriously. Now, you can select a few representatives to negotiate!"

"How can we trust you? Look, your police officers are sitting in the BMW with the developer's boss. You're colluding with them!" someone in the crowd shouted loudly.

"Fellow villagers, please believe me. I guarantee this on my honor as the Director of Public Security. Nothing of the sort will happen! If any of us break the law or discipline, you can come directly to me. I will give you my phone number now!"

"This is the new Director of Public Security. I heard they say he personally apprehended a drug addict at Minsheng Market..." Someone in the crowd recognized Gao Weimin, and the crowd looked at him with trust.

"Alright then, we'll trust you!"

At this moment, Tang Changan and the police officers ran over, followed by Tang Fafa, dressed in a sharp suit, striding forward with an air of arrogance that made him seem unapproachable.

"Director Tang, where is your post?" Gao Weimin asked sternly, his face set.

"I am..." Tang Changan started to explain.

"No more!" Gao Weimin cut off Tang Changan. In Gao Weimin's eyes, this showed Tang Changan's poor handling of the situation. His proximity to the developer at this moment could easily lead to misunderstanding among the public. Moreover, what was the exact relationship between them...

Just then, Tang Fafa's expression suddenly changed to a smile. He took two steps towards Gao Weimin and extended his hand.

"Oh my, it's an honor to meet Director Gao! A pleasure! It's not Director Tang's fault today. It was my subordinates' foolish actions that disturbed Director Gao. I guarantee compensation and will properly discipline those two employees!" Tang Fafa said with a fawning smile, his left cheek twitching slightly.

Gao Weimin firmly grasped Tang Fafa's hand. An invisible force made Tang Fafa feel immense pressure. He forced a smile and said, "Director Gao, your strength is incredible. You truly are Tangdu's guardian god. Our company relies entirely on your protection!"

"And what about today's incident?"

"Director Gao, rest assured, we will definitely cooperate with the police station to handle this matter properly!"

Afterward, Director Wu gave a look to Tang Changan, who stood stunned before Gao Weimin. Tang Changan and two police officers immediately took the injured old man and the two young men back to the police station.

The onlookers dispersed. Gao Weimin and Wu Dean got into their car and hurried back to the bureau.

In the car, Gao Weimin was still contemplating the matter between Tang Changan from the West City station and Tang Fafa.