98: Chapter 98 Full-Scale Sweep

April in Changyuan County was destined to be anything but calm.

The first Party Committee meeting of the Public Security Bureau after Xu Weidong took office as Director was crisp and decisive.

The meeting room was filled with smoke.

Several deputy directors, the political commissar, and members of the Party Committee sat around a long table, with notebooks and teacups placed in front of them.

Xu Weidong sat at the head of the table; the ashtray in front of him was spotlessly clean, as he did not smoke, and no one dared to light up in his presence.

"Comrades."

Xu Weidong spoke, his voice not loud, but everyone pricked up their ears.

"There is only one topic for today's meeting—the Crackdown on Organized Crime."

He paused and scanned everyone present.

"I am currently concurrently serving as the deputy director of the county's Crackdown on Organized Crime Office. This position is not just for show."

"The spirit of our superiors is very clear: the Crackdown on Organized Crime must be normalized and deepened. Everyone knows the situation in Changyuan County."

"Sihai Group has fallen, but those who engage in petty crimes, bully the market, or force women into prostitution are still here."

Xu Weidong opened the notebook in front of him and read a set of data: "Last year, the number of criminal cases filed in the county increased by 12% compared to the year before, and public security cases rose by 18%."

"And this is with Sihai Group already taken down."

"What does this mean? It means there is still significant room for improvement in public security in Changyuan County."

Director Li Zhongmin, the deputy director in charge of criminal investigation, immediately replied: "Director Xu is right."

"According to the information I have, there are still several gangs in the county. They usually bully the market and collect protection money, and the common people dare not speak out."

"There are also several village bullies in the countryside who rely on clan forces to commit crimes. It is time to deal with these people."

Xu Weidong nodded and looked at the others: "Do you have any opinions?"

No one had any opinions.

Or rather, no one dared to have any opinions.

Political Commissar Hu Ke sat in the corner, smiling, but his heart was pounding.

He had visited many Standing Committee members' homes before, but Xu Weidong had still become the Director.

Now that the new official was taking his first steps, and the first step was the Crackdown on Organized Crime, if he dared to object, wouldn't that be courting death?

"I support Director Xu."

Political Commissar Hu Ke was the first to express his stance: "The Crackdown on Organized Crime is a political task and must be executed without compromise."

Deputy Director Chen Ling quickly followed: "I support it too."

"The Public Security Bureau should be doing this: fighting crime and protecting the people."

Others expressed their support one after another, and the meeting room was filled with voices of agreement.

After they finished speaking, Xu Weidong closed his notebook and gave a final summary: "Then it is settled."

"Starting from today, the entire bureau will be mobilized."

"Director Li will lead the criminal investigation, Deputy Director Chen will lead public security, and all police stations will cooperate."

"The goal is to destroy all active criminal dens and arrest all rampant criminals."

"Any questions?"

"No!"

"Meeting adjourned."

That afternoon, the Changyuan County Public Security Bureau was fully mobilized.

Police cars drove out of The Government Compound one after another, with police lights flashing and sirens wailing.

Pedestrians on the street stopped to watch, wondering what big event had happened.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. So many police cars; what big thing happened?"

An old man next to them squinted his eyes, looked, and suddenly slapped his thigh: "Good! The police are finally taking action! They should have acted long ago!"

The first stop was a KTV in the western suburbs of the county.

On the surface, this KTV was an entertainment venue; in secret, it was a casino and a drug-using den.

The boss's surname was Qian, nicknamed "Money Stringer." He had been in the county for over a decade and had connections with many people.

During several previous crackdowns on pornography and illegal activities, he had received news in advance and escaped.

But this time, he couldn't escape.

At 3:00 PM, it was just the time when the KTV was preparing to open.

Several police cars stopped silently at the entrance. When more than twenty police officers rushed in, "Money Stringer" was counting money in the office.

"Don't move! Police!"

Before "Money Stringer" could react, he was pressed onto the table and handcuffed.

"What are you doing? I know your Deputy Director Chen!"

"It's useless no matter who you know!"

The leader was the deputy captain of the Criminal Investigation Brigade, a protégé of Secretary Liu Qingfeng; he was young and full of righteous indignation.

"Take him away!"

Meanwhile, in a private room on the second floor, a bald man was holding a young girl and forcing her to drink.

The girl looked to be in her early twenties, her eyes red, and there was a full glass of white liquor in front of her.

She shook her head, her voice trembling: "Big brother, I really can't drink..."

"Can't drink?"

The bald man grinned: "If you can't drink, why did you come here? If you're a hostess, you have to drink. Stop acting pure! Drink!"

Several of his underlings joined in: "Drink! Drink! Drink!"

The girl bit her lip and picked up the glass with trembling hands.

Just then, the door of the private room was kicked open with a "bang."

"Police! Nobody move!"

The bald man was stunned. Before he could react, two police officers rushed over and pressed him onto the sofa.

"What are you doing? I am..."

"Shut up no matter who you are!"

The leading police officer took out an arrest warrant and continued: "Qian Biao, nicknamed Baldy Biao, you are suspected of organizing prostitution, gathering crowds for gambling, and intentional injury. We are now arresting you according to the law."

Baldy Biao's face turned pale.

When he was taken away, he looked back at the girl.

The girl stood in the corner, staring blankly at everything, the glass in her hand having fallen to the floor at some point.

"You, take out your ID card and let me see."

The girl hurriedly took out her ID card. The police officer looked at it and then at her: "A student?"

The girl nodded, and tears suddenly fell.

"Officer, I was tricked by them... My best friend said to come here to sing and drink with her friends, I didn't know..."

The police officer sighed: "Alright, come back to the bureau with us later to make a statement, and then we will notify your school to pick you up. Be more careful in the future and don't come to places like this."

The girl nodded desperately.

At the same time, at a bath center on the other side of the county.

A middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache was lying on a massage bed, enjoying the technician's massage.

The girl next to him was kneading his legs, and he squinted his eyes, looking very satisfied.

"Big brother, I heard the wind is blowing tight recently."

"The wind is tight?"

The handlebar mustache smiled disdainfully: "I've been in Changyuan County for twenty years; what kind of wind haven't I seen? Isn't that Xu Weidong just a young kid? What can he do to me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was kicked open.

"Police! Nobody move!"

Handlebar Mustache was shocked and jumped up from the bed, and was pressed down while naked.

"What are you doing? I know your Political Commissar Hu Ke! I know..."

"It's too late no matter who you know."

The leading police officer sneered: "Chen Laoba, your deeds have been exposed."

"Organizing prostitution, harboring drug use, violent debt collection—that's enough to keep you busy for a while."

Chen Laoba's face turned completely pale.

When he was taken out of the bath center, a large crowd of onlookers had already gathered at the door.

"Oh my, isn't that Chen Laoba?"

"Serves him right! This guy's underling owes me 30,000 yuan, and he hasn't paid it back for three years!"

"Well caught! Let him be arrogant!"

Some people even applauded.

This scene was repeated in every corner of Changyuan County over the next month.

Card rooms, game halls, bath centers, KTVs, internet cafes in the county... Any place associated with underworld forces was raided by the police again and again.

The countryside was not spared either. Qili Village, the place that once hid human traffickers, was given special attention this time.

Village Secretary Wei Dabiao had already been taken away, and this time it was several village bullies who usually bullied neighbors, occupied farmland, and collected protection money, while the common people dared not speak out.

When the police cars drove into the village, those village bullies were playing cards at the entrance of the village store.

Seeing the police cars, they wanted to run, but there were police in all directions. Where could they run?

"Why are you arresting us?"

"Why?"

The leading police officer sneered: "Wang Laoliu, last year you forcibly occupied the land of neighbor Old Zhang's family. When they reported you, you beat them up. Have you forgotten about that?"

"Li Datu, you have been collecting protection money for three years. The Old Liu family, who runs a small store in the village, pays you 500 a month. Have you forgotten about that?"

The faces of several village bullies turned pale.

The villagers gathered around, more and more of them.

At first, they were just watching, but later someone shouted: "Well caught!"

Then more voices rang out: "Well caught!"

"Should have been caught long ago!"

"Officer, they bullied us so badly!"

An old lady walked over tremblingly, pointed at Wang Laoliu's nose, and cursed: "You beast! You broke my son's leg, give me back my son's leg!"

Wang Laoliu lowered his head and didn't dare to say a word.

When the police cars drove away, the villagers followed them all the way.

The scene was even livelier than during the New Year.

Throughout April, the police cars in Changyuan County never stopped.

Raiding during the day, raiding at night, raiding the county, then raiding the countryside, and then coming back for a follow-up.

Those who hung out in society all became honest.

Those who ran casinos closed down, those who ran KTVs only dared to do legitimate business, and those who collected protection money didn't even dare to step out of their doors.

Some wanted to run, but the train station and bus station were being watched; the monk might run, but the temple couldn't.

"Damn it, is this Xu Weidong crazy?"

"Not crazy, but ruthless. He really dares to take action."

"I heard he is only twenty-six? So young and so ruthless, what will happen in the future?"

"Forget it, forget it, stop talking, let's hide quickly. If he targets you, it's over."

Everyone was panicked, suspecting everyone as an enemy.

Throughout April, the whole county destroyed 23 criminal dens, arrested 186 criminal suspects, rescued 13 abducted women and children, and seized drugs, firearms, and gambling money.

More importantly, the village bullies, road bullies, and market bullies who usually oppressed the people were swept away.

According to the city TV station's interviews, the people of Changyuan County were also very happy.

"Now I dare to go out at night."

"Before, nobody dared to walk on this street after eight o'clock at night. Now there are people strolling outside at ten."

"My family runs a small shop. Previously, I had to pay 500 yuan in protection money every month. No one came to collect it this month."

"The Public Security Bureau is serious this time!"

On the last day of April, Xu Weidong went to the county for a meeting.

Walking into The Government Compound, he ran into several people he didn't know.

They saw Xu Weidong, were stunned for a moment, and then smiled and greeted him.

"Hello, Director Xu!"

Xu Weidong nodded and continued walking inside.

A lowered voice came from behind: "Is that Xu Weidong? So young?"

"Of course, it's him. With this sweep in April, the whole county knows him."

"Amazing, really amazing."

Xu Weidong did not stop, and there was no expression on his face.

In the meeting room, Secretary Yang Wei was talking to several people.

Seeing Xu Weidong enter, Secretary Yang Wei smiled and said: "Weidong is here? Sit, sit, sit."

After the meeting started, Secretary Yang Wei specifically mentioned: "The special Crackdown on Organized Crime in April had very significant results."

"The public response is very good, and the city has also affirmed it."

"Comrade Weidong, your Public Security Bureau has done a good job."

Secretary Wei Kuan also nodded and said: "Indeed very good."

"Continue to persist and improve the public security of Changyuan County."

Xu Weidong stood up and said humbly: "Thank you, Secretary Yang and Secretary Wei Kuan, for the affirmation."

"This is the result of the joint efforts of all comrades in the bureau. I just did my part."

Secretary Yang Wei waved his hand: "Sit down, sit down, don't be modest."

"Praise should be given when it is due."

After the meeting, Xu Weidong walked out of The Government Compound, and his mobile phone rang.

It was a message from Mu Ruxue: "Brother Weidong, I heard you were praised by Secretary Yang today?"

Xu Weidong replied: "You are well-informed."

Mu Ruxue sent a smug expression: "Of course. I also heard that the people of Changyuan County are all praising you, saying you are a great honest official."

Xu Weidong smiled: "That's an exaggeration."

"Not an exaggeration at all."

Mu Ruxue sent another smiley face and continued to send a message: "My Youth League Committee is conducting research, going down to ask the common people for their evaluation of public security work, and nine out of ten say good."

"Another one said, it's good, but I hope Director Xu won't be too tired and will take care of his health."

Looking at this message, the smile on Xu Weidong's lips deepened.

Xu Weidong replied: "And you?"

Mu Ruxue replied in seconds: "What about me?"

"Do you hope I won't be too tired?"

There was silence for a few seconds, and then a blushing expression was sent: "...Of course I also hope you take care of your health."

Xu Weidong smiled, put away his mobile phone, and looked up into the distance.

The underworld forces in Changyuan County had been swept once, but were they clean?

He didn't think so...

Some people hid deep, some people ran fast, and some people were legitimate businessmen on the surface but were doing shady things behind the scenes, which still needed to be investigated slowly.

But that didn't matter; Xu Weidong had plenty of time.

Police cars drove through the main street of the county again, with police lights flashing.

The people on the roadside saw them, not only did not hide, but some waved in greeting.

"Hello, Director Xu!"

"Thank you for your hard work, officers!"

The young police officer in the car scratched his head, a little embarrassed, but felt warm in his heart.

He remembered a sentence the old police officer told him when he first joined the police force.

"The greatest sense of accomplishment as a police officer is not how many people you have arrested, but that when the common people see you, they are smiling."

He didn't understand it then, but now he understood.