102: Chapter 102 The Use of Public Opinion

After hanging up the phone, Xu Weidong held his mobile phone and stood by the window for a long time.

Du Song, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

He was one of Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection Li Gang's men, and Uncle Li was an old subordinate of his father.

This phone call was less of an investigation and more of a heads-up.

It was to tell Xu Weidong that someone was watching this case, but the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection was on their side.

As for whether he asked if Deputy Mayor Zhang Fusheng had reached out...

A cold sneer appeared on the corner of Xu Weidong's mouth; Deputy Mayor Zhang Fusheng hadn't reached out to him, but he had reached out to Secretary Huang Hao.

It wasn't that he wanted to protect Deputy Mayor Zhang Fusheng; it was just unnecessary.

Deputy Mayor Zhang Fusheng was the Vice Mayor of Lüjiang City in charge of political and legal affairs, and Chen Zhi was his brother-in-law; this matter was already enough to keep him busy.

Since the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection had asked, they naturally had their own considerations, and he just needed to answer truthfully.

As for the rest... he looked out the window at the deep night.

The next day, those videos and discussions on the internet suddenly disappeared.

It was as if an invisible hand had given a gentle wipe, and all traces were gone.

In their place was an entertainment news story about a famous male celebrity whose chaotic private life had been exposed, with multiple girlfriends speaking out simultaneously, providing chat logs, transfer screenshots, and hotel surveillance footage, all complete.

The trending searches were instantly ignited, and the comment sections were bustling with activity, as if the previous discussions about the barbecue restaurant, gender conflicts, and regional discrimination had never existed.

Xu Weidong watched this scene, a complex feeling welling up in his heart.

"This is public opinion!"

It can stir up monstrous waves, and it can also become calm overnight.

In early May, the Changyuan County People's Court delivered its verdict on the barbecue restaurant assault case.

When the presiding judge read the verdict, the public gallery was packed. Lin Xiaoyu and her parents sat in the first row, gripping their hands tightly.

The several defendants lowered their heads, their expressions numb.

"Defendant Chen Zhi is convicted of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, and intentional injury. Combined punishment for multiple crimes, sentenced to twenty-five years in prison, with five years of deprivation of political rights..."

Chen Zhi's shoulders trembled, and he suddenly looked up, wanting to say something, but was held down by the bailiff.

"Defendant Zhang Lei is convicted of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, and intentional injury. Combined punishment for multiple crimes, sentenced to twenty-three years in prison..."

"Defendant Wang Qiang is convicted of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, and intentional injury. Combined punishment for multiple crimes, sentenced to twenty-two years in prison..."

"Defendant Li Wei is convicted of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, and intentional injury. Combined punishment for multiple crimes, sentenced to twenty years in prison..."

"Defendant Zhao Gang is convicted of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, and intentional injury. Combined punishment for multiple crimes, sentenced to twenty years in prison..."

Twenty-five years!

Chen Zhi is thirty-five this year; by the time he gets out, he will be sixty.

His life is over.

His parents sat in the last row of the public gallery; the old woman fainted on the spot, and the old man's eyes were red, unable to say a word.

Lin Xiaoyu's mother stood up and shouted toward the direction of the defendants, "Serves you right!"

The bailiffs hurriedly came over to maintain order, but a round of applause erupted from the public gallery.

When they walked out of the court, the sunlight was just right.

Xu Weidong stood on the steps, watching Lin Xiaoyu's family of three leave, supporting each other.

Lin Xiaoyu looked back at him and bowed deeply to him.

Xu Weidong nodded and watched them walk away.

One evening in mid-May, Xu Weidong received a call from his father.

Xu Tianhua's voice sounded a bit tired, but it remained steady.

"Has the case been sentenced?"

"It has."

Xu Weidong said, "Twenty-five years."

"Hmm."

Xu Tianhua paused, then said, "Do you know why the sentence is so heavy?"

Xu Weidong thought for a moment and said, "Deterrence? Making an example of them?"

"That's one aspect."

Xu Tianhua said, "On the other hand, it is to show public opinion. Although public opinion has been suppressed, the explanation that needs to be given must be thorough."

"The common people are not stupid; they can see it."

Xu Weidong nodded and said, "I understand."

Xu Tianhua's tone became earnest as he said, "Comrade Weidong, I called today because I want to talk to you about this matter of public opinion."

"I haven't explained it to you in detail before, but now that you have worked at the grassroots level for a few years, you should have some understanding of it."

Xu Weidong became serious and said, "Dad, please go ahead."

Xu Tianhua stated calmly, "Public opinion is a knife."

"And it's a double-edged sword."

"Used well, it can cut through thorns and thistles. Used poorly, it will hurt yourself. More importantly, anyone can pick up this knife, and anyone can use it."

Xu Tianhua paused and continued, "In my current position, there are not many people left who can shake me."

"But if someone wants to cause trouble for me, the only thing they can use is public opinion."

"Stir up a matter, intensify conflicts, mobilize public sentiment, and then steer it in a certain direction."

"Many people are very familiar with this routine."

Xu Weidong recalled the process of this incident and nodded with deep understanding.

"This incident is a very good lesson."

Xu Tianhua said, "Have you thought about what the consequences would have been if you hadn't stopped those attackers at the time and let them run away?"

Xu Weidong was silent for a few seconds and said, "Public opinion would say the Public Security Bureau is inactive, that the Crackdown on Organized Crime is just for show, and that..."

"That you, as the Public Security Bureau Chief, are derelict in your duty."

Xu Tianhua took over, "Saying that Changyuan County's public security is chaotic, and that there are problems in the Fengtian Province political and legal system."

"And then? Someone would seize the opportunity to point fingers at the city, at the province, and even at me, the commander-in-chief."

Xu Weidong felt a chill in his heart.

"Cadres who have moved from the Public Security Bureau to leadership positions all have some problems, more or less."

Xu Tianhua's voice was calm, but it carried a chill.

"Not problems of corruption, but problems of working methods, interpersonal relationships, and historical legacies."

"These problems are not fatal normally, but once they are targeted by public opinion and repeatedly hyped, they will become fatal wounds."

"How many cadres have been cut down by this knife of public opinion."

Xu Tianhua paused and continued, "The reason this incident could be settled so quickly is that several parties cooperated well."

"You clarified it in time on your end, the province followed up with supervision, and the propaganda system cooperated to suppress the heat."

"Of course, this final entertainment news is a common tactic."

"The masses, most of them like to watch the excitement, and the internet has no memory; as long as the new topic is exciting enough, old matters will soon be forgotten."

Xu Weidong listened silently, various thoughts churning in his heart.

"But you must remember."

"It won't be this smooth every time."

"Some topics will repeatedly appear on the internet; suppressed and then rising, rising and then suppressed."

"No need to overthink; that's the people behind the scenes competing."

"You make a move, I make a move, back and forth, seeing who can't hold on first."

"In the end, it's not about who is reasonable, but who has more cards and whose wrist is harder."

Xu Weidong took a deep breath and said, "Dad, I understand."

"What do you understand?"

"Public opinion is not simple public will; it is a tool that can be manipulated."

Xu Weidong said slowly, "As a cadre, one must know how to use it and also how to defend against it."

Xu Tianhua chuckled, "Not bad, you've made progress."

Xu Tianhua paused and added, "One more thing. You handled this incident well."

"Reporting the crime immediately, saving people immediately, clarifying afterwards in a timely manner, and handling the case firmly—these were all correct."

"But do you know what the most critical thing was?"

Xu Weidong thought for a moment and said, "Is it... not letting those people run away?"

"Yes."

Xu Tianhua said, "Once the people are caught, the case is sealed."

"If they can't run, public opinion has no room to play."

"If you let them run, even if you catch them later, public opinion will say you only acted under pressure, not proactively."

"Therefore, in the future, when encountering similar things, the first reaction should be that the people must be controlled."

"Once you have control of the people, the initiative is in your hands."

Xu Weidong nodded heavily and said, "I will remember."

"Alright, it's late, go get some rest."

Xu Tianhua said, "Take this incident as a lesson for you. The road ahead is long; learn slowly."

"Thank you, Dad."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Weidong stood by the window, staring blankly at the night.

His father's words echoed repeatedly in his heart.

Public opinion is a knife; it can be used, it can be defended against, and it can also be used as a weapon.

This time, someone wanted to use this knife to cut people, but it was blocked.

What about next time?

He thought of those videos and discussions on the internet that had suddenly disappeared, and the entertainment news that had ignited the trending searches; it was truly terrifying!