140: Chapter 139 If I stand idly by today, who will cheer for me in the future?

Upon hearing Director Cheng's words, the others began to voice their support.

The eleven members of the Party Committee, all around forty-five years old, had been immersed in officialdom for over twenty years. They had long since mastered the 'Indestructible Rule': 'Look out for yourself and prioritize caution!'

The County Bureau Political Commissar said, "He's right, Comrade Fang Yihong. As police officers, we cannot judge the merits of a matter based on subjective intuition. If this turns out to be false, the responsibility would be immense—the County Bureau would not be able to bear it!"

The Deputy Political Commissar added, "It must be said that Yang Tian is indeed a very excellent comrade, but he was far too reckless in this matter. He lacked composure and shifted all the risk onto the County Bureau. This was truly inappropriate."

After the Deputy Political Commissar finished, it was Liu Dachui's turn. Just as Liu Dachui was about to speak, Fang Yihong shot him a look. His expression faltered, and he said, "Regardless, every step Yang Tian has taken so far has been correct. He isn't the type to be reckless or impulsive. I believe this matter is still up for discussion!"

Hearing this, Fu Yu immediately began to argue back.

"The video has already been shared over two or three hundred thousand times across the internet, with over ten million views! If this turns out to be fake, can you imagine the negative impact it will have on our County Bureau?!"

"Exactly!" the Captain of the Inspection Brigade followed up immediately. "He posted that video on behalf of the Public Security Bureau, not as a personal act. If this is fake, it could drag us all down. If the higher-ups come looking for accountability, not one of us will escape, including you, Fang Yihong!"

"You can't intimidate me!" Fang Yihong said with a resolute face. "Yang Tian is my man. If this is fake and the higher-ups blame us, I will take sole responsibility. There's no need for any of you to worry!"

Cheng Duxiu's face darkened as he asked coldly, "How exactly will you take responsibility??"

"Exactly, how will you take responsibility?" the Deputy Political Commissar echoed.

Fu Yu added, "Right, what do you have to take responsibility with??"

The others questioned him one after another with cold eyes, their voices full of mockery and ridicule. Only Liu Dachui and Deputy County Magistrate Liao Jiancheng chose to remain silent.

Just as the momentum of the room was about to shift entirely to Cheng Duxiu's side...

Fang Yihong slammed the table suddenly, stood up from his seat, and roared, "Is taking me out to be shot by a firing squad enough for you?!"

..."

The next second, the scene became pin-drop silent.

After a long while...

Cheng Duxiu, looking indignant, said, "Comrade Fang Yihong, must you protect him so stubbornly??"

Fang Yihong said without hesitation, "He is my soldier, my man. If I don't protect him, who will?"

"Please don't act on impulse, Comrade Fang Yihong!" the Political Commissar immediately reminded him.

"I am not acting on impulse. This is the answer I have given after a rational judgment!"

"Then why the hell are you slamming the table!"

Liao Jiancheng glared at him.

On the surface, Liao Jiancheng was scolding Fang Yihong, but in reality, he was giving him a way out. They couldn't actually agree to take him out and shoot him.

"Sit down!"

Fang Yihong sat back down.

Liao Jiancheng looked at the crowd.

"I see you've been discussing this for ages without producing a single useful result. Let's do this: we'll go straight to a vote. If more than seventy percent of the votes are in favor, it passes; otherwise, it doesn't!"

Seventy percent??

The members of the Party Committee were momentarily stunned.

Usually, a show of hands exceeding a simple majority was considered a pass.

Why had it become seventy percent today??

Clearly, County Magistrate Liao also intended to protect Yang Tian. However, in the face of major issues of right and wrong and the overall situation, he had to adopt a democratic decision-making process where the minority follows the majority.

"If no one has any objections, then let's begin the vote. Fu Yu is not within the voting scope!"

Liao Jiancheng stared at the crowd. "Those in favor of requiring Yang Tian to delete the video and issue a public apology, please raise your hands!"

Swish!

Seven people, including the Political Commissar, the Deputy Director, and the Deputy Political Commissar, raised their hands simultaneously.

The Director of the Political Work Office looked left and right. Seeing that everyone except County Magistrate Liao, Liu Dachui, and Fang Yihong had their hands up, he silently raised his hand as well.

"Eight votes out of eleven, that's over seventy percent!" the Political Commissar said before Liao Jiancheng could speak.

Liao Jiancheng counted the heads.

Indeed.

Eight committee members had raised their hands in favor.

He couldn't say much more and said with a somber expression, "Based on the principle of the minority following the majority, I announce..."

"Wait!"

Fang Yihong stood up from his seat once again.

"If you insist on doing this, then fire me first. Better yet, expel me from the Party first. Otherwise, I am clearly stating to all of you here: I resolutely refuse to carry out the decision you've made."

After saying this, Fang Yihong turned and left the meeting room.

Everyone watched his retreating back with varying expressions.

The Political Commissar was furious. "Our Bureau Party Committee can bypass you, Fang Yihong, and give orders directly to Yang Tian!"

The Deputy Political Commissar added, "Outrageous, simply outrageous! A veteran Party member of decades—how can he be so lacking in organization and discipline!"

Cheng Duxiu looked at Liao Jiancheng. "County Magistrate Liao, I suggest we immediately suspend Fang Yihong for self-reflection. Otherwise, it will be hard to maintain authority!"

Liao Jiancheng also truly hadn't expected Fang Yihong to just throw down the gauntlet and walk out.

This level of favoritism toward Yang Tian had already surpassed even the deepest father-son bond.

He looked at Cheng Duxiu and replied, "We will discuss how to handle Fang Yihong later. For now, which of you will go to the Yucheng Police Station to execute the Party Committee's decision??"

The crowd looked at each other, but not a single person dared to volunteer.

Because they also knew Yang Tian's capabilities; he wouldn't easily do something he wasn't certain about.

What if this turned out to be true?

If the higher-ups came to hold people accountable, the one who jumped the highest would certainly receive the most severe punishment.

Seeing this, Liao Jiancheng pointed at Fu Yu, the lowest-ranking official present, and said, "Public opinion falls under cyber supervision. You go!"

"Me?" Fu Yu wilted. "County Magistrate Liao, although I'm in charge of the Cyber Police Brigade, my rank isn't as high as Fang Yihong's. If I go to the Yucheng Police Station, won't I just be kicked out by him??"

The Political Commissar said, "You are going there to execute a Party Committee decision. He would dare to kick you out?!"

Fu Yu smiled bitterly. "Didn't he just pat his ass and walk out of here?"

Cheng Duxiu rolled his eyes at Fu Yu. "If you're told to go, then go. Stop talking nonsense!"

Fu Yu glanced at Cheng Duxiu and cursed in his heart, "You damn bastard, if you want someone to go, why don't you go yourself??"

"I'm not qualified enough, I..."

Just as Fu Yu was trying to continue making excuses, Liu Dachui swiped his phone screen and suddenly shouted.

"Maybe everyone should take a look at their phones first!"

He looked at the comments on the video and said, "The vast majority of online sentiment is supporting Yang Tian. If our Party Committee rashly makes this decision to delete the video, how will we clear up the doubts of the netizens??"

Hearing this, all the members of the Party Committee took out their phones, found the relevant video, and checked the comments.

In the video where Chen Yongsheng narrated his report, there was one comment that had already received over thirty thousand likes.

"Support the victim in defending their rights! If I stand by with cold indifference today, when misfortune befalls me tomorrow, there will be no one to cry out for me!"