103: Chapter 103 Public Opinion Resurgence

Half a month later, Xu Weidong was in Hukuang Township inspecting the Crackdown on Organized Crime when his phone suddenly vibrated incessantly.

He took it out and saw over a dozen missed calls, and the messages were over 99+.

"What's going on?"

He frowned and opened the messages.

The first one was from Mu Ruxue: "Comrade Weidong, you're on the trending list again!"

Xu Weidong's heart tightened; fearing some new trouble had arisen, he immediately opened the app to check the trending list.

Third place: "Changyuan County Public Security Bureau Director Xu Weidong"

Fifth place: "Complete Video of the Barbecue Restaurant Assault Case"

Seventh place: "Who wouldn't want a Public Security Bureau Director like this?"

He was stunned for a moment and clicked on the third item. The pinned post was from a marketing account, featuring the exact five-minute complete video previously released by the Changyuan County Propaganda Department.

Below the video was a long article detailing the events of the barbecue restaurant assault case, highlighting details such as "the Public Security Bureau Director personally stepping forward to stop the violence, especially the immediate police response and arrest, and the court's strict and severe sentencing."

The comment section had already exploded!

"This Director is so cool! One man standing up to block five drunkards—he's a real man!"

"I teared up after watching the video. That girl was beaten so badly; if the Director hadn't stepped up, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

"This is what a people's police officer should look like! I suggest promoting this nationwide!"

"I looked it up—this Director is only twenty-six? So fierce at twenty-six, his future is boundless!"

"It's not just fierce; it's about responsibility. It's rare these days to see a leader who dares to step up alone to stop five drunkards."

Xu Weidong scrolled down and discovered that it wasn't just this one marketing account posting about it.

Several major influencers had reposted it, with varying captions, but the core content was consistent.

Praising him, praising the Changyuan County Public Security Bureau, and praising the local political and legal system.

What was even more exaggerated was that people started digging up his "past history."

"I've heard of this Xu Weidong. Last year, he was the one who took down the Sihai Group in Changyuan County! He arrested over forty people and rescued over twenty trafficked women and children!"

"Yes, yes, yes! I saw the news back then. The Provincial Public Security Department awarded him a First-Class Merit!"

"And this April, Changyuan County launched a special Crackdown on Organized Crime operation, destroying over twenty criminal dens and arresting over eighty people!"

"Damn, so fierce? Is he even human?"

"When will we ever have a Public Security Bureau Director like this here..."

"I strongly suggest transferring Director Xu to our city!"

Xu Weidong looked at these comments, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

This wasn't ordinary public opinion fermentation; it was too organized, too layered.

First, they hyped the barbecue restaurant case, then directed traffic to the full video, then steered public attention toward him, and finally dug up his past political achievements.

Every step was perfectly timed, and the rhythm was controlled just right.

Someone is behind this!

And, a master at that.

"Director Xu?"

Director Li Zhongmin, standing nearby, saw his expression change and asked cautiously, "What happened?"

Xu Weidong handed him the phone. Director Li Zhongmin took it, glanced at it, and his eyes widened. "This... Director Xu, you're famous!"

Xu Weidong ignored him, took back the phone, and continued scrolling.

In the comment section, netizens had already started calling him the Hero Director.

Some were even saying they hoped he could be transferred to their city to be the Public Security Bureau Director.

Even more exaggeratedly, people were starting to "build a persona" for him.

"The Youngest Public Security Bureau Director"

"The Coolest Director"

"The Most Responsible Director"...

Xu Weidong put down the phone and took a deep breath.

Something is wrong; this doesn't feel right.

During the previous barbecue restaurant incident, someone tried to use public opinion as a blade to cut him down, but he and his father blocked it together.

What about this time?

Who is building him up this time?

What is the purpose of building him up?

He wanted to call his father, but hesitated and put the phone down.

His father said so much last time; wasn't it just so he could learn to handle these things himself?

He thought for a moment and replied to a message from Mu Ruxue: "It's fine, don't worry about it."

Then he put away his phone and said to Director Li Zhongmin, "Let's keep going, on to the next spot."

Director Li Zhongmin looked confused. "Director Xu, aren't you going back to check? The internet is all..."

"Check what?"

Xu Weidong glanced at him and said, "What people say on the internet—what does that have to do with me?"

"Arrest who needs to be arrested, handle what needs to be handled; don't worry about the rest."

Director Li Zhongmin was stunned for a moment, then gave a thumbs up. "Director Xu, your mindset is incredible."

Xu Weidong didn't respond and strode forward.

He knew in his heart that if this kind of public opinion wasn't handled well, he would either be built up to be destroyed or used by others.

The best approach was to not respond, not pay attention, and just keep doing what he was doing.

Over the next few days, the online heat not only didn't die down, it kept getting higher.

People started digging into his educational background: graduated from Civil Engineering University, former University Student Union president...

People started digging into his work history: started as a selected official, promoted from a staff member to a Bureau Director in two and a half years...

Xu Weidong's phone completely exploded.

"Comrade Weidong, you're famous!"

"Old classmate, impressive!"

"Comrade Weidong, I saw you! You're on the trending list!"

Even a few reporters called to request interviews, all of which Xu Weidong had his office decline.

He went to work as usual, held meetings as usual, and went to the countryside as usual.

After the Crackdown on Organized Crime special operation in April ended, the focus in May was on consolidating the results and preventing a resurgence.

He took Director Li Zhongmin and Deputy Captain Wang Tiejun, running from township to township, checking back on one criminal den after another.

A few times, he was recognized while in the countryside.

"Hey, aren't you that... that internet-famous Director?"

"It's him, it's him! I've seen him online!"

"Director Xu, can we take a picture together?"

Xu Weidong would usually wave his hand and walk past quickly.

If he really couldn't avoid it, he would say a few words, then make an excuse about being busy with work and leave quickly.

Director Li Zhongmin followed behind, clicking his tongue in wonder. "Director Xu, you're a celebrity now; people recognize you everywhere you go."

Xu Weidong didn't look back. "What's the use of being a celebrity? If I can't handle the cases well, I'll still get scolded."

Director Li Zhongmin chuckled. "Who would dare scold you? But Director Xu, regarding all that stuff online, who exactly is building you up?"

Xu Weidong paused his steps but didn't answer.

He was wondering about this too—who was it?

The Ye Family?

Director Ye Mingzhu hadn't made any moves recently; after Secretary Du Qing's father had his incident, she had also quieted down quite a bit.

His father?

Even less likely. His father was most wary of creating public opinion hype; how could he possibly take the initiative to push him into the spotlight?

Then who could it be?

Xu Weidong couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

Anyway, whoever was operating behind the scenes, as long as he didn't take the bait, the other side would have no moves.

By the end of May, the heat finally started to die down.

A new hot topic emerged: an A-list celebrity was exposed for cheating on their spouse, and netizens swarmed over to gossip.

Xu Weidong's name gradually disappeared from the trending list.

Director Li Zhongmin looked at his phone and sighed. "Director Xu, you were right. The internet really has no memory."

Xu Weidong smiled without saying anything.

But he knew in his heart that while the internet had no memory, some people did.

This incident, just as his father had said, was a contest of wills behind the scenes.

Only this time, the opponent was using praise, not a kill.

Why?

Wanting him to get arrogant?

Wanting him to make a mistake?

Wanting him to become a target for everyone?

Or... wanting to test something?

Xu Weidong didn't think in a positive direction at all. After all, a child raised under Old Xu was always extremely cautious about such things and certainly didn't believe in free lunches falling from the sky.