175: Chapter 175 A Life in Jail

Xu Weidong's car had just driven past the police cordon when it encountered a black sedan coming from the opposite direction.

The sedan had its hazard lights on, made an emergency U-turn, and pulled up steadily beside his car.

The car window rolled down slowly, revealing a face of about fifty years old—a square face with a broad forehead, hair combed meticulously, and eyes filled with an unconcealable sense of urgency and eagerness to please.

"Is that Comrade Weidong?"

The man pushed open the car door and walked over quickly, his steps both hurried and steady, as if afraid that being a second late would mean missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The driver stopped the car, and Xu Weidong rolled down his window. He looked at this uninvited guest, his brows twitching slightly.

He did not recognize this person, but from the man's attire and that aura—the kind only honed after years of struggling and climbing in the officialdom—he could make a rough guess.

"I am Party Secretary Ouyang Ming of Haiyang District."

The man had already reached the side of the car, bent down, and extended his hand, his attitude as respectful as a subordinate greeting a superior.

"Comrade Weidong, it is my dereliction of duty that you were wronged in our Haiyang District. I apologize to you."

Xu Weidong glanced at him, extended his hand to shake his, his tone as flat as if he were discussing something trivial.

"Party Secretary Ouyang Ming, you are overstating it. It is a minor matter, not worth you making a personal trip."

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming held Xu Weidong's hand without letting go immediately. He covered it with his other hand, clasping it with both hands and shaking it, his face full of sincerity and self-reproach.

"Comrade Weidong, hearing you say that makes me feel even worse. Haiyang District is my jurisdiction; since such an incident occurred, as the district Party secretary, I cannot shirk the responsibility."

"I have already given instructions to investigate this matter thoroughly and give you a satisfactory answer."

Xu Weidong's lips curled slightly. He pulled his hand back, leaned against the seat, and his tone remained flat.

"Party Secretary Ouyang Ming, the perpetrator has already been taken away by Director Zhao Jinan. Let the procedures follow their course; I believe the law is just."

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming nodded repeatedly, the smile on his face deepening with a sense of 'I understand you' tacit agreement.

"Yes, yes, yes, handle it according to the law, handle it according to the law. Comrade Weidong is absolutely right."

He paused, as if recalling something, and lowered his voice a little, carrying a probing tone.

"Comrade Weidong, are you heading to the Western District? The road is still long; shall I have some comrades from the district open a path for you?"

Xu Weidong shook his head, his tone polite but distant.

"That won't be necessary, Party Secretary Ouyang Ming. I have people waiting for me, so I won't take up any more of your time."

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming tactfully took a step back, straightened his posture, and nodded at Xu Weidong, his smile unchanged.

"Very well, Comrade Weidong, safe travels. When you have time another day, I will treat you to a meal to apologize."

Xu Weidong did not respond, and the car window rolled up slowly. The car restarted, merged into traffic, and disappeared into the night.

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming stood on the roadside, watching the car's taillights fade into the distance. The smile on his face faded bit by bit, replaced by an indescribable gravity.

He turned and got into his own car, closed the door, leaned back against the seat with his eyes closed, and tapped his fingers lightly on his knees twice.

"Party Secretary Ouyang Ming, back to the district committee?"

The driver asked cautiously.

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming opened his eyes, looked at the flashing neon lights outside the window, remained silent for a few seconds, then spoke in a low, weary voice.

"Go back."

Damn, hopefully I can pass the buck...

When Party Secretary Ouyang Ming returned to the district committee, the night was already deep.

He walked quickly into his office, without even taking off his coat, and immediately picked up the phone on his desk to dial the number for the district committee office.

"Notify all members of the Standing Committee; there will be a meeting in half an hour. Whoever doesn't come can explain it to me personally."

The duty secretary on the other end of the line was stunned for a moment, hurriedly agreed, and hung up to start notifying them one by one.

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming put down the phone, sat in his chair for a while, and replayed the earlier events in his mind.

Haiyang District was his territory; since such a thing had happened, he had to take a stance. If his attitude wasn't right, his future in Yancheng would end right there.

The Standing Committee meeting was held forty minutes later. Except for two members who were away on business, all other members were present.

The conference room was filled with smoke, and the atmosphere was as heavy as the sky before a storm.

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming sat in the main seat. There were already several cigarette butts in the ashtray in front of him. His face was livid, and his gaze swept over everyone present.

"Comrades, have you all heard about what happened tonight?"

No one spoke. Everyone kept their heads down; some looked at their notebooks, some at their teacups, and some stared at the tabletop, like a group of elementary students who had done something wrong, waiting for a lecture from their teacher.

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming stubbed out the cigarette in his hand in the ashtray, his voice rising a few notches, carrying an irrepressible anger.

"On a main road in Haiyang District, someone was driving drunk and rear-ended another car, insulted and threatened the other party in front of traffic police, and even snatched their phone."

"Such a thing happening in Haiyang District is our disgrace!"

Executive Deputy District Mayor Zhang Qiming raised his head and opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but upon meeting Party Secretary Ouyang Ming's eyes, which seemed ready to spit fire, he swallowed his words back down.

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming stood up, pressed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and swept his gaze over everyone's face.

"That perpetrator, some damn 'Fifth Master' or whatever, has already been taken away by Director Zhao Jinan of the City Public Security Bureau. What I want to talk about now is not this person, but the nature of this incident."

"Do you know who the person who was rear-ended is?"

The air in the conference room froze. Everyone pricked up their ears, but no one dared to ask.

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming did not say the name, but his voice was very low, so low it was like he was telling a secret that could not be made public.

"Behind that person stands power!"

"Regarding tonight's incident, a call from the General Office of the Central Committee came directly to Secretary Qi Min's phone."

"Think about it, what kind of concept is this?"

Secretary Qi Min sat in the corner, his expression also grim, and nodded without responding.

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming straightened up, walked back to his seat, sat down, and took a sip from his teacup.

He put down the teacup, leaned back in the chair, and his tone returned to its usual calm.

"Therefore, I demand that we must get this case back from the City Public Security Bureau and have it handled by our Haiyang District."

"Handle it strictly and severely, with quick trial and quick sentencing."

"As for that damn 'Fifth Master', no matter what background or connections he had before, this time, we must make him rot in jail."

Zhang Qiming finally couldn't help it and spoke cautiously: "Party Secretary Ouyang Ming, the case has already been taken away by the City Public Security Bureau. It probably won't be easy to get it back."

"As for Director Zhao Jinan..."

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming glanced at him, his gaze cold. "I will communicate with Director Zhao Jinan. What you need to do is get the preparatory work done."

"The Procuratorate must intervene early, and the court must prepare in advance. The evidence must be solid, and the procedures must be legal, so that no one can find any fault."

"What I want is not just a case; what I want is a stance. A stance that allows the higher-ups to see that our Haiyang District is resolute and decisive in its actions."

Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary Qi Min nodded, his voice steady. "Rest assured, Party Secretary Ouyang Ming. I will go to the City Procuratorate first thing tomorrow morning to communicate and strive for early intervention."

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming nodded with satisfaction, swept his gaze around the conference room again, his tone softening slightly, but still serious.

"Comrades, this matter concerns the image of our Haiyang District and the future of every one of us. I do not hope to see anyone drop the ball on this matter."

"Whoever drops the ball will be held personally responsible!"

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming stood up, picked up the notebook on the table, looked at those present, and his voice returned to its usual steadiness.

"Meeting adjourned. Secretary Qi Min, please stay behind."

The others stood up one after another and filed out. Soon, only Party Secretary Ouyang Ming and Secretary Qi Min were left in the conference room.

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, took a drag, and exhaled slowly.

"Old Qi, do you think the City Public Security Bureau will release the person?"

Secretary Qi Min thought for a moment, then carefully chose his words: "You know what kind of person Director Zhao Jinan is; he doesn't play by anyone's rules."

"But this time is different. He personally took action, which shows that he also knows the gravity of the situation."

"If we go to ask for the case, he might not give it to us, but we can cooperate with him and handle the case jointly."

"Anyway, the goal is the same: to make it an ironclad case against that damn Fifth Master."

Party Secretary Ouyang Ming flicked the ash off his cigarette and nodded. "You go find Director Zhao Jinan tomorrow and convey my intentions to him."

"Tell him that Haiyang District will fully cooperate with the City Public Security Bureau, but the case must be tried in Haiyang District."

"In addition, the connections behind that Fifth Master must also be investigated clearly. Find out who in the district he has dealings with and what illegal or disciplinary issues exist, and investigate it to the end."

Secretary Qi Min acknowledged, stood up, turned around, and walked out.

Fifth Master: "Family, is there any chance of survival?"