Deputy Department Director Zhou came away from the meeting with quite a haul.
Of course, he knew perfectly well that favors always came with strings attached.
Cheng Zhixing and Tian Zhengbing had shown him such goodwill and made such concessions because both wanted to extract some crucial information from him.
Once Tian Zhengbing left, leaving only him and Cheng Zhixing in the office, Zhou Yi figured the negotiations had reached their decisive moment.
"Regarding the case against our Public Security Department's Comrade Yan Li, what grounds do you have for imposing compulsory measures when the facts are unclear and the evidence insufficient? Tell Fang Zhen to release him!"
"And as for Song Tianlin's suspected rape case, whoever reviewed it needs to explain to me exactly where the evidence falls short! What else needs to be supplied?"
At that moment, Cheng Zhixing, a member of the Provincial Party Committee's Standing Committee and secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, positively radiated authority as he sternly criticized and questioned Procurator-General Han Dong over the phone.
Zhou Yi quietly watched Secretary Cheng throw his weight around, unable to help feeling a little envious.
In this period, secretaries of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission were at the height of their power, possessing near-absolute authority to command and direct the Political and Legal System at their level, including the police, procuratorates, and courts.
Back in Yangcheng City, he had served briefly as both secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and Public Security Director. But the difference in rank was considerable, and his tenure had been far too short. His uncle-by-convenience had transferred him to Changtian just days after he took office.
After finishing the call, Cheng Zhixing returned, his expression regaining the warmth and friendliness he reserved for Comrade Zhou Yi.