The municipal Party committee office.
The atmosphere was stiflingly tense.
Secretary Wang stood before the massive mahogany desk, fine beads of sweat seeping from his temples as he grimly reported what he had just learned from the hospital and the police station.
Behind the desk, Zhao Lidong, Yicheng City's deputy Party secretary and mayor, stood with his back to him, gazing at the gray sky outside.
"They jumped out of a window? And saw a ghost?"
Zhao Lidong turned around, unmistakable surprise and displeasure showing on his square, naturally imposing face.
Secretary Wang looked helpless, even somewhat disgusted.
"I've already been to the police station. A resident directly across from Li Youtian's house happened to have a security camera installed. I copied the footage too. It's very clear: the father and son got drunk and jumped out of the second-floor window of their own accord."
"No third party was involved at any point."
Zhao Lidong's face darkened completely.
He slammed his hand down on the desk.
"Damn Mud Legs! They can't get anything done, only make a mess!"
They couldn't even handle such a minor task, and now they had made themselves into an absurd laughingstock. They had utterly humiliated him.
Secretary Wang lowered his head, not daring to respond.
"Then what do we do about... the reservoir project now?"
Zhao Lidong paced back and forth across the office. After a moment, he stopped, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Have the relevant departments look into whether this project meets the regulations."
Secretary Wang froze, then cautiously reminded him, "Secretary Zhao, this project... seems to have been personally approved by Deputy Mayor An. As far as the paperwork goes..."
"An Changlin approved it?"
Zhao Lidong cut him off with a sneer.
"So what?"
"Does a project he approved not