229: Chapter 229 trended on social media.

Lin Fan was a native of Wanshun County. He happened to be back in Wanshun County today and unexpectedly witnessed the entire process of that traffic accident.

He filmed the whole process, and he was very satisfied with the shooting angle, quality, and so on. Of course, witnessing such an event left him feeling incredibly furious!

After returning, the first thing he did was process the video and then post it online.

He was a major blogger and the moderator of a well-known forum. In today's terms, he was a big internet celebrity with significant influence online.

Not only did he post the video, but he also included quite a few photos, including some close-ups, and wrote a short essay describing the traffic accident while expressing some of his own views.

Even though it was past ten o'clock at night, there were still many people online, and combined with Lin Fan's own influence and the fact that the post was pinned to the top,

the matter rapidly fermented and spread across the internet...

The next morning, early.

After Qin Chuan woke up, he habitually checked the news updated by the system for the day.

1. Yesterday's traffic accident has hit the trending searches with massive influence. Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin's identity and family background have been completely exposed, along with photos of him wearing luxury goods and expensive watches, sparking massive heated discussion and indignation online.

2. Be careful of someone splashing dirty water on you and diverting the trouble toward you.

After reading these two messages, Qin Chuan thought for a while.

For such a big incident, it was normal for it to hit the trending searches as long as someone exposed it online.

The key was the second point. Someone actually wanted to divert the trouble; he didn't even need to think to guess that it was likely the people behind Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin, trying to use this to distract netizens and focus everyone's attention on him.

He stood upright and was clean, so there was nothing to worry about. The only thing was that he was too young, which was likely what they would seize upon to make an issue.

Understanding this, Qin Chuan called his father and recounted what happened last night, mentioning that the other party might expose him, splash dirty water on him, and use this to shift the hot topic and attract netizens' attention.

After making this call, he felt much more at ease.

Early in the morning, Director Zhu Huabing came over to report the situation in person. According to the investigation, it was indeed Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin who kicked and broke two of the girl's ribs. Additionally, a high-definition surveillance video of the traffic situation at the scene was delivered.

After listening to the report, Qin Chuan went directly to Ningzhou City. Besides preparing to report to Secretary Kang and ask for instructions on how to handle Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin, he also wanted to report to Zhang Qun and slap him in the face.

Around nine o'clock or so in the morning, Qin Chuan knocked on the door and entered Secretary Kang Kewu's office.

Because he had received Qin Chuan's call earlier, Secretary Kang Kewu was waiting in his office. Seeing Qin Chuan enter, he immediately said, "Comrade Qin Chuan, you've arrived so quickly. Please, sit down."

Qin Chuan sat down, gave a very detailed report, and handed over a copy of the surveillance video he had brought. "Secretary Kang, it has been confirmed that the victim's two ribs were indeed kicked and broken by Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin."

Secretary Kang Kewu's expression became serious. This matter was quite severe; if handled strictly, Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin would need to bear criminal responsibility and be sentenced.

If it were an ordinary leading cadre, there would be no concerns, but this was the only son of Secretary Pei Yuantao, and he had kicked and broken someone's two ribs, so he became cautious.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "I will communicate with Secretary Pei first. You all wait for my next instructions."

Qin Chuan expressed his understanding and nodded.

After reporting and leaving the office of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, Qin Chuan went to the office of Mayor Zhang Qun.

He had been scolded severely by him last night, which left him feeling uncomfortable, so he had to get even.

Seeing Qin Chuan knock and enter, Zhang Qun's face darkened slightly. "Why are you here?"

Qin Chuan smiled. "Secretary Zhang, look at what you're saying. Can't I come?"

Zhang Qun said with a bit of impatience, "Speak, what have you come here for?"

Qin Chuan went straight to the point. "Mayor Zhang, I think you are unaware of the traffic accident that happened in our county last night, so I will report it to you in person."

After reporting in detail and handing over a copy of the surveillance video, Qin Chuan asked with a stern face, "Mayor Zhang, Comrade Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin calling people 'low-life' in front of so many people, insulting and beating the victim, and even kicking and breaking two of her ribs, do you think my handling of the situation last night was correct?"

Zhang Qun's old face flushed red.

He felt he had been rash. Last night, upon receiving Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin's call, he hadn't investigated the truth and had completely listened to one side of the story. Feeling angry, he had scolded Qin Chuan without a second word.

Now he was very embarrassed, his face turning both black and red.

Especially with Qin Chuan looking at him, that gaze seemed to be saying, "Mayor Zhang, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

This...

Zhang Qun really wanted to kick Qin Chuan out. Damn it, this wasn't reporting the situation to him at all; it was clearly coming here specifically to slap his face.

But he was in the wrong.

He also started to hate Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin to death in his heart. Damn it, he was simply a piece of trash. How could he beat and insult the victim after such an incident, and even kick and break her two ribs?

How was this going to end???

After hesitating for a long while, Zhang Qun had no choice but to apologize with great frustration in his heart. "Comrade Qin Chuan, I'm sorry. It was because I listened only to Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin's side of the story earlier and didn't investigate or understand the situation."

Qin Chuan laughed.

Mayor Zhang, you have this day too!

Laughing happily, Qin Chuan said, "Mayor Zhang, since such a big thing has happened, we will wait for the city's instructions on how to handle Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin."

After saying this, he left the Mayor's office in a good mood.

Just as he walked out the door, Qin Chuan heard the sound of a teacup smashing on the ground. Mayor Zhang had smashed the teacup he had just replaced not long ago in anger.

Office of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary.

Secretary Kang Kewu had to call Secretary Pei Yuantao. There was no other way; one rank higher in officialdom crushes people, and the other party was a member of the Provincial Party Committee.

After explaining the situation over the phone, Secretary Kang Kewu said, "Secretary Pei, we didn't expect such a thing to happen either. On behalf of the Ningzhou Municipal Party Committee, I apologize to you. But the matter has already happened, and the common people are watching. How should we handle it? Please give us instructions, leader."

There was silence on the phone for several seconds. Secretary Pei Yuantao said, "Keep the impact of the matter to a minimum. Require Deputy County Party Secretary Pei Lin to write a self-criticism and make a public self-criticism at the County Party Standing Committee meeting. Additionally, pacify the victim, pay some money, and urge her not to make a scene..."

Hearing such instructions, Secretary Kang Kewu felt a chill in his heart, but he was helpless.

Putting down the phone, he sat on his office chair for a long time without speaking. This handling was too light. A self-criticism and some money, and that's it?

He didn't know, and Secretary Pei Yuantao didn't know either, that the matter had already fermented rapidly on the internet, had hit the trending searches, and occupied the first and second spots on the trending searches respectively.