52: Chapter 52 Instigating Internal Conflicts Among the Enemy

Upon hearing that it was an engineering quality inspection agency, Xue Hongtao became somewhat anxious.

He hurriedly asked, "Are you saying that Dayang Company cut corners on the road construction?"

Sun Ning shook his head gently, indicating that there was no need to dwell on matters for which there was no evidence.

Besides, now that he had already brought in an inspection agency, was there any need to worry about not uncovering the truth?

Sun Ning's intuition told him that the Pi family, Dayang Company, the Discipline Inspection Commission, Dong Zhensheng, and even Li Jincai were all part of the same web.

Therefore, Sun Ning decided: you play your dirty tricks, and I will play my open strategies!

Who laughs last will depend entirely on each of our own methods.

After giving instructions to Li Shusheng, Sun Ning encouraged Wang Ling and Wang Penghui, and also entrusted Xue Hongtao to keep an eye on things.

This wasn't because Sun Ning was being long-winded, but rather to establish this as a standard operating procedure.

When one of the two township leaders is away, the other must step up.

It is not about two people guarding against each other or undermining one another.

Of course, this was also formed by the unique circumstances between Sun Ning and Xue Hongtao.

If it were anyone else, it certainly wouldn't work.

After finishing his instructions, Sun Ning got into his car with great flair.

"Hey…"

The young man from the Eighth Inspection Office had likely been holding back for a long time.

As soon as Sun Ning got back into his car, the young man wanted to jump out again.

"Shut up. Don't think I don't know what you're planning. Just get the person back first."

Director Tang Youde saw his subordinate wanting to jump out again, immediately stopped him, and got into the car without another word.

If Sun Ning were there, he would be able to understand the relationships involved.

Fifty minutes later, the two cars arrived one after another at the Great Wall Hotel.

This hotel was the designated location for the armed police detachment stationed in Gongfan County, and also the designated hotel for the Gongfan County Discipline Inspection Commission to handle cases.

Just by looking at the posture of the guards at the hotel entrance, one could tell this was no ordinary hotel.

Upon reaching the destination, Sun Ning instructed the driver to take the car back to Mishui Township.

"Leave the car behind. There's no need to go to Mishui Township to retrieve it when the Procuratorate comes to seize it, wasting state resources."

It was that same young man again; seeing Sun Ning tell them to drive the car back, he couldn't help but make a snide remark.

"Shut up!"

Director Tang Youde was practically infuriated to death by this second-generation rich kid.

He had seen stupid people before, but never anyone this foolish.

Before the battle had even begun, he had already revealed the caliber of his own ammunition to the opposition.

How was this any different from surrendering outright?

Although Director Tang Youde scolded him quietly, Sun Ning was still able to hear it.

He chuckled softly, turned to the young man, and said, "Your surname is Pi?"

"That's right, I am a member of the Pi family."

Director Tang Youde looked at the smug Ma Gaoxiang, a deep sense of helplessness rising within him.

Strictly speaking, Director Tang Youde did not belong to the faction of Pi Yingshi.

He was a man of the Deputy Party Secretary of the County Discipline Inspection Commission, Li Bing.

And both Li Bing and Pi Yingshi belonged to the faction of the County Party Committee Secretary.

After Li Bing agreed to Pi Yingshi's request, he had instructed his capable subordinate, Director Tang Youde, to handle this matter.

Sun Ning also looked at the smug Ma Gaoxiang, then turned his gaze toward Director Tang Youde.

"Director Tang, I advise you to stop. Is a family with this kind of character even worth risking your career for?"

Director Tang Youde desperately wanted to say that he didn't want to be associated with the Pi family either, but he had no choice.

However, he found himself unable to open his mouth to explain.

"Sun Ning, you're still acting arrogant even here? Let's see how long you can keep that up."

Regarding Ma Gaoxiang's threat, Sun Ning chose to ignore it entirely.

Director Tang Youde also chose to ignore it, and led Sun Ning into the hotel.

Room 402 of the hotel was set up like a typical interrogation room.

This was clearly a layout designed to exert pressure from a superior onto a subordinate.

Its purpose was to create a psychological sense of oppression for the suspect, compelling them to confess.

Inside the room, four members of the Discipline Inspection Commission were already seated.

Yet Sun Ning remained standing there.

Director Tang Youde smiled slightly and said, "Township Head Sun, please take a seat."

Sun Ning remained standing, and said indifferently, "Director Tang, your memory really isn't very good. Have you already forgotten about what happened in Mishui Township? Are you treating me like a criminal? Is this how your Discipline Inspection Commission treats guests?"

"What do you want?"

"I'm not asking for a tea party, but Director Tang should at least treat me like a colleague assisting with an investigation."

Director Tang Youde had run into another soft yet firm obstacle with Sun Ning.

Before Director Tang Youde could speak, Ma Gaoxiang slammed the table and stood up.

He started cursing immediately: "Sun Ning, I've tolerated you for a long time. You're just a crappy Township Head from a remote backwater, what are you acting so high and mighty for?"

Director Tang Youde also slammed the table and shouted, "Shut up!"

"Director Tang, he…"

"Shut up!"

Ma Gaoxiang was still unconvinced inside, but he had no choice but to sit back down sullenly.

He looked at the gloating Sun Ning, and his hatred for Ma Gaoxiang grew even more intense.

If Ma Gaoxiang weren't Pi Yingshi's nephew-in-law, he would have been dealt with long ago.

Now was not the time to bicker with Ma Gaoxiang, so Director Tang Youde turned his gaze back to Sun Ning, who was watching the spectacle.

"Township Head Sun, we always conduct our cases this way. Please cooperate."

"I cannot cooperate at all. I am not a criminal; I am a state cadre. Please grant me the proper political treatment."

Tough, truly tough!

You were this tough in Mishui Township, and I thought you were just putting on a front because it was your own turf.

You're still like this even after coming to my turf?

Could it be that you really have nothing to hide, and thus have a clear conscience?

At that moment, Director Tang Youde felt that he wouldn't be able to complete his mission.

He no longer insisted on those formalities; with Sun Ning's level of confidence, these petty tactics were simply beneath him.

So he moved a chair out and placed it at a forty-five-degree angle in front of Sun Ning.

"Township Head Sun, let's begin."

As he spoke, Director Tang Youde took out his notebook and began the questioning.

"Comrade Sun Ning, I am from the Eighth Inspection Office of the Gongfan County Discipline Inspection Commission... I am now questioning you regarding the contents of the tip-off letter. I hope you will answer truthfully."

"Director Tang, I see that you have been misled by certain people. Let me give you a word of advice: don't get too deeply involved. This matter has nothing to do with you."

Ma Gaoxiang slammed the table again and stood up.

Sun Ning truly felt sorry for his hand, and he didn't know where this guy got such a temper.

"Sun Ning, I can consider that sentence of yours as a threat to Discipline Inspection Commission personnel."

Sun Ning pointed at the standing Ma Gaoxiang, then pointed at Director Tang Youde.

The implication was very obvious.

Some people were feeling guilty, weren't they?

Seeing that his goal of sowing discord had been achieved, Sun Ning sat composed and said, "Go ahead and ask!"

Director Tang Youde also wanted to end this farce as soon as possible.

He had seen through it now; the Pi family representative plus himself were no match for this man.

With a single, effortless sentence, he had created a rift between this temporary alliance of interests.

Now, Director Tang Youde didn't even want to stand completely on the side of his old leader anymore.

Just as Sun Ning said, this matter had absolutely nothing to do with him.

So he sat up straight and said in a professional manner, "Comrade Sun Ning, someone has reported that you act arbitrarily in the township and practice one-man rule. Do you have anything to say about this?"