440: Chapter 440 Burning with Rage

According to the division of labor, Dongjiang City's petition work was handled by Deputy Secretary Zhao Fenfang.

Since a death had occurred, she was responsible.

It wasn't just a simple matter of responsibility; before the people from Ningjiang County took action, they had requested instructions from Deputy Secretary Zhao Fenfang and received her permission.

"Secretary Qin, I'm sorry for causing you trouble. I didn't expect their methods to be so brutal as to beat someone to death..."

Before she could finish, she was interrupted by Qin Chuan. This Deputy Secretary Zhao Fenfang was shirking responsibility the moment something happened, trying to clear her own name.

"Comrade Zhao Fenfang, you don't need to apologize to me. You should apologize to the victim's family. Let me ask you, have you apologized to the victim's family yet?"

How could she have thought of apologizing to the victim's family? She hadn't even met them.

In her eyes, they were just country bumpkins. She was a Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, a deputy-department level official. How could she apologize to a bumpkin?

Hearing her silence, Qin Chuan ordered, "Go offer your condolences to the victim's family immediately and apologize on behalf of Dongjiang City. Conduct a thorough investigation of those involved!"

Deputy Secretary Zhao Fenfang was slightly surprised. It was just a dead old man from the countryside; was it worth all this? But since it was the request of the top leader of the Municipal Party Committee, she could only say, "Alright, I'll get on it right away."

After hanging up, Qin Chuan was dissatisfied with Deputy Secretary Zhao Fenfang.

What was in this woman's head? No matter concerning the common people was small; what was she thinking!

Actually, the matter was very simple.

In Ningjiang County under Dongjiang City, an old man went to the provincial capital to petition. Upon receiving the news, people from Ningjiang County intercepted him, successfully caught him in the provincial capital, and brought him back to Ningjiang County.

The leaders of Ningjiang County called Deputy Secretary Zhao Fenfang for instructions on how to handle it. Deputy Secretary Zhao Fenfang instructed them to send the man to a Mental Hospital and keep him locked up for a while.

Learning that he was to be sent to a Mental Hospital again, the old man resisted fiercely. The staff members brutally punched and kicked him, ultimately killing him.

As for why the old man went to the provincial capital to petition, Qin Chuan didn't know yet. Secretary-General Tian Chaoqun had only given a brief report over the phone; everything would have to wait until they returned to Dongjiang City.

Walking out of the airport, Qin Chuan immediately saw Secretary-General Tian Chaoqun waiting for him, as well as the Municipal Party Committee's No. 1 car.

"Secretary Qin."

Qin Chuan nodded slightly. "Get in the car. We'll talk about everything inside."

Secretary-General Tian Chaoqun hurriedly opened the door of the Municipal Party Committee's No. 1 car. After Qin Chuan got in, he prepared to sit in the passenger seat.

Qin Chuan said, "Sit in the back and tell me in detail exactly what happened."

A moment later, the car started and left.

Secretary-General Tian Chaoqun gave his report, and Qin Chuan finally understood what had happened.

It turned out that more than ten years ago, the old man's son and daughter-in-law had both died because of an unauthorized pregnancy.

The daughter-in-law had been over eight months pregnant, less than a month away from giving birth. After being caught, she was forced into an induced labor, resulting in the death of both mother and child.

The old man's son couldn't take it and went to reason with the township leaders. As a result, he was beaten to death right in front of the Township Government by the then-Vice Township Mayor Gu Fuan, who was in charge of Family Planning, and several others.

The old man sought justice for his son and had approached Vice County Magistrate Gu Fuan many times.

Besides being detained several times and locked in a Mental Hospital twice, he had gained nothing. Vice County Magistrate Gu Fuan was completely unscathed and had now even been promoted to Vice County Magistrate of Ningjiang County.

It was him again. Yesterday, he had ordered a group of people to lock the old man in a Mental Hospital, which resulted in the man being killed. Now, even the body had been cremated.

After listening, Qin Chuan sneered in anger. "Their efficiency is certainly high. To cremate him so quickly without even an autopsy."

According to Qin Chuan's knowledge, the countryside in Dongjiang City generally practiced burials, and there was no mandatory cremation rule in the city.

Cremating the body was destroying the evidence, making it impossible to investigate. They could just make up any cause of death, like a sudden illness, allowing the involved personnel to get off scot-free.

On the way back to Dongjiang City, Qin Chuan looked solemn and didn't say a word.

Secretary-General Tian Chaoqun knew that the Secretary was suppressed by a wave of rage. Those who didn't take the common people seriously were likely going to be in trouble.

...

Ningjiang County, Vice County Magistrate's office.

Vice County Magistrate Gu Fuan was in a good mood, leisurely drinking tea.

His secretary reminded him, "Leader, after all, someone died. Will the higher-ups hold us accountable?"

Vice County Magistrate Gu Fuan said, "What's there to fear? The body has already been burned, and we've officially announced it as a death by illness. What does it have to do with us? Even if they want to hold someone accountable, it won't fall on my head. Don't worry, someone will take the fall."

"Oh, right. Deputy Secretary Zhao from the city just called and asked us to apologize to the victim's family. Take two thousand yuan and go to Shawan Village to offer condolences on our behalf."

"Alright, I'll go now."

After watching his secretary leave, Vice County Magistrate Gu Fuan thought to himself that the old man was finally dead, and things would be quiet now. He could go down and reunite with his son and daughter-in-law.

Right, he also had a granddaughter. I heard she's fifteen and studying at County No. 1 High School. Should I call the school and have the leaders warn her not to cause trouble...

...

Qin Chuan returned to Dongjiang City.

The first thing he did was look into the matter in his capacity as Municipal Party Secretary. Feeling that wasn't enough, he thought for a moment and called his secretary, Deputy County Mayor Zhang Tianxiong, over.

"Come, accompany me on a trip to Ningjiang County."

Deputy County Mayor Zhang Tianxiong asked, "Leader, should I notify others to come along?"

Qin Chuan waved his hand. "Just the two of us. Don't notify anyone, including Ningjiang County. Just tell Secretary-General Tian. Oh, and don't drive the Municipal Party Committee's No. 1 car; just take an ordinary vehicle."

Deputy County Mayor Zhang Tianxiong immediately went to arrange it. A few minutes later, an ordinary domestic SUV left the Municipal Party Committee Compound, quickly hit the highway, and sped toward Ningjiang County.

Qin Chuan said, "The deceased is from Shawan Village. We'll go directly there instead of the Ningjiang County seat first."

The transportation in Dongjiang City was very good, with highways the whole way. After getting off the highway, they only drove a few kilometers on township roads.

The rural roads were also good, beautiful asphalt roads. In about an hour, around 4:30 PM, the SUV entered Shawan Village.

There was no need to ask for directions; the sound of firecrackers, gongs, and drums could be heard from afar.

When someone dies in the countryside, they usually invite Taoist priests to perform rituals and noisily send the deceased for burial. Following the sound, the SUV stopped on a patch of dirt. Not far away was likely the deceased's home, with white paper pasted up and wreaths displayed.