Cao Wenxing stared at Yang Mei in astonishment.
He could not quite figure out what she was getting at.
"Some people grow older and lose their judgment. They turn a blind eye to wrongdoing, do nothing, and turn a perfectly good school into a cesspit. As the saying goes, 'When virtue falls short of rank, disaster is sure to follow.' I think it's time people like that got the hell out."
Yang Mei smiled faintly, her eyes behind her glasses brimming with calculation.
Cao Wenxing paused for a moment, then gave a knowing smile.
Why bother saying 'some people'? You might as well just name Sun Qifa.
She would use the "accidentally" leaked disc to amplify the impact of the Second Middle School student's jump, exposing how a high school girl had suffered prolonged bullying while the school remained utterly indifferent and did nothing. That would prompt the higher authorities to hold someone accountable, leaving Sun Qifa unable to escape responsibility and forcing him to resign as principal, voluntarily or otherwise.
That had to be it!
That was exactly what Yang Mei was planning!
As for who would become the principal of Second Middle School afterward...
Cao Wenxing believed no one was better suited than this old classmate of his!
"Yang, you're putting me in a difficult position here. After all, Principal Sun and I are on pretty good terms." Cao Wenxing sighed, looking troubled.
Yang Mei slowly pushed a thick envelope across the coffee table.
"Yang, what are you doing? We're old classmates. There's no need for this. We're among friends here. Whatever you need, I'll make sure it gets done properly. Oh, really, you're embarrassing me..." Cao Wenxing made a token show of refusing it twice before reluctantly slipping the envelope into his bag.
Yang Mei smiled and took a sip of tea. For some reason, she enjoyed watching Cao put on that sanctimonious act.
On the drive back to the city, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Cao took out his phone and called Kong Qinghua, deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Political Department.
"Kong, I went to Dongji Second Middle School today. I'm on my way back now. I've got something you'll definitely be interested in. Heh, let's talk tonight at King of Kings Braised Bones. Your treat."
Putting down his phone, Cao Wenxing glanced through the rearview mirror at Zhang Xing, the intern photojournalist sitting in the back.
"Accidentally" leak the footage, then dump the blame on a temp?
Ha. Did he need to stoop that low?
Under instructions from the newly appointed municipal Party secretary, Zhou Zhiyuan, the municipal Party committee's publicity department was working with the Municipal Public Security Bureau on a citywide publicity campaign to "establish exemplary police officers and fully showcase their role as pioneers and models."
Cao Wenxing could confidently guarantee that no material could fit the campaign's theme more perfectly!
That was why Yang Mei was thinking too small.
That was why, even if he said he wouldn't make a backup, there was no way he wouldn't.
That was why he had already made his plans before meeting Yang Mei.
Yang Mei was determined to become principal of Second Middle School. Wasn't he just as eager to drop the "deputy" from "deputy editor-in-chief"?
County Public Security Bureau. Interview room.
Squad Leader Liu Zhi and two public security officers were patiently trying to persuade and educate Gangzi.
Bam.
A fist the size of a sandbag slammed into the suspect's lower abdomen, drawing an involuntary scream as his entire body instantly curled up like a shrimp.
Bam, bam, bam...
Aah, aah, aah...
Finding Gangzi's screams too noisy, Liu Zhi simply stuffed a rag into his mouth, then kicked him again.
"I'll talk, I'll tell you everything..."
Gangzi could not take any more. He kept nodding and blinking, begging for mercy through muffled words.
Liu Zhi gave a meaningful glance, and an officer immediately pulled the filthy rag from Gangzi's mouth.
"I'll talk. I'll tell you everything. The camera and memory card are in the drawer in my room. There are some backups on my computer, too. That's all of it." Gangzi forced himself to endure the pain, grimacing as he confessed.
"Did you upload any of it online?" Liu Zhi pressed.
"No, absolutely not." Gangzi hurriedly shook his head like a rattle.
Liu Zhi stared at Gangzi for a while. Finding no sign of a lie in his expression, he finally motioned for Officer Little Wei to turn on the computer and surveillance camera.
Right. Now they could take his statement.
After his statement was taken, Gangzi left the interview room with his head hanging, escorted by two officers.
Just as they rounded a corner in the corridor, he spotted a familiar figure.
"Cai! Cai! I finally found you!"
Gangzi was so excited that tears nearly filled his eyes. Liu Zhi, you bastard! I told you I knew your deputy brigade commander, Cai Xiaobo, but none of you fucking believed me. Let's see what you have to say now.
Cai Xiaobo glanced at him and frowned. "Who the hell are you? What are you yelling about? Who's your buddy?"
Gangzi froze in bewilderment. His eyes widened as he pointed at his own face. "It's me! Gangzi..."
"What gang? What guy? You're talking nonsense. I'm warning you, quit acting like we're close. I don't know you at all. Keep running your mouth, and I'll fucking slap you to death." Cai Xiaobo delivered the warning fiercely, then turned and walked away without looking back.
Gangzi's eyes were filled with confusion.
They had eaten, sung karaoke, and gotten foot massages together just last week. How could he turn around and pretend not to know him today?
Cai Xiaobo sighed inwardly as he walked.
He had indeed known Gangzi before.
But ever since learning that Brigade Commander Zhou had sent people to arrest him... Who was Gangzi?
It was almost impossible to believe.
How many fucking days had it been? The entire Public Security Management Brigade was already firmly under Zhou's thumb.
Just look at those squad leaders and officers, especially Liu Zhi. They practically treated Zhou Yi's words like imperial decrees, running around to prove their loyalty and fawning over him every waking moment.
Pah!
Didn't they feel fucking ashamed?
Cai Xiaobo ranted furiously to himself and soon reached the door to the brigade commander's office.
"Commander, I heard from Little Wei and the others that you hurt your arm, so I came to check on you." Looking at Captain Zhou's bandaged right arm, Cai Xiaobo spoke with concern written all over his face.
"Just a cut. It's superficial. I'm fine." Zhou Yi smiled faintly, picked up the Soft China cigarettes from his desk, and offered them to him. "Have one. I swiped these from Director Zhang yesterday."
"Did you get a tetanus shot?" Cai Xiaobo asked attentively as he accepted a cigarette.
"Yes, I did." Zhou Yi smiled and nodded, taking a cigarette for himself as well.
Click.
Cai Xiaobo swiftly pulled out his lighter and bent down to light Brigade Commander Zhou's cigarette first. Then a casual glance revealed that the commander's cup was empty, and he immediately picked up the teapot beside it and refilled the cup.
Hmph. When it came to kissing ass-no, being considerate-even three Liu Zhis put together couldn't match one Cai Xiaobo.
He had figured it out long ago: Zhou was young, capable, and on the rise, with backing whose depths no one could fathom.
As the saying went, "A golden carp is no creature meant for a pond; once wind and clouds arrive, it transforms into a dragon."
If he didn't latch on to a powerful patron like this, wouldn't he have to be out of his mind?
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