"What the...!" Yang Haipeng also didn't expect that Gao Xiaohu would directly order the Municipal Public Security Bureau to come and arrest people, he was also stunned.

  About twenty police officers got out of the four police cars, showing evidence to the security guard at the factory gate and wanting to go in to arrest people. Yang Haipeng also knew that this was not something that he and Chen Tong could stop, so he asked Chen Dan, "Where is there a phone nearby?"

  Yang Haipeng couldn't get in touch with Shen Huai and Zhao Dong from the factory, even if he did, it would be useless, so he could only call Lao Xiong first.

  Chen Dan was also pale and frightened, and said directly: "There is a public phone over there..." pointing to the convenience store on the north side of the road, with a public phone sign standing outside.

  Xiong Wenbin didn't have a mobile phone or beeper, so how could he just happen to be by the phone? Yang Haipeng called the Municipal Research Office and found out that Xiong Wenbin had gone to the Planning Commission in the afternoon. Yang Haipeng then called the Planning Commission to look for Zhou Ming, only to find out that Xiong Wenbin and Zhou Ming had just left, saying they would be going to Zhou Ming's house for dinner with his wife that evening.

  Xiong Wenbin used to live in that house in Xinjiayuan, and the city had installed a telephone.

  Xiong Wenbin later gave the house to his daughter Xiong Danni and Zhou Ming for their marriage, and he moved with his wife to a tube-shaped building. The city then transferred that phone to the tube-shaped building for Xiong Wenbin's use.

  Zhou Ming's level was not yet at the point where he could have a phone installed by the city, and in '93, even in the urban areas, having a private phone line installed wasn't cheap. After the phone in the Xinjiayuan house was removed, they never had another one installed again.

  Yang Haipeng drove directly to Xinjiayuan to find Xiong Wenbin, Chen Dan and Chen Tong had nowhere to go, staying behind was also useless, so they followed Yang Haipeng to the city.

  Fortunately, Xinjiayuan is just two or three kilometers past Meixi Bridge, and Xiong Wenbin happened to be at his daughter-in-law's house, where he was able to block Yang Haipeng, Chen Dan, and Chen Tong.

  "When we rushed over, more than 20 police officers had already entered the factory. Old bear, you have to act faster, can't let Shen Hua be taken away by the municipal bureau." Yang Haipeng briefly told Xiong Wenbin about the situation.

  Xiong Wenbin furrowed his brow, thinking of a countermeasure.

  Bai Su Mei was just in the kitchen with her eldest daughter picking vegetables for dinner, listening to Yang Hai Peng's words, and she also felt anxious, saying: "How can so many things happen on the first day of taking office?"

  "Gao Tianhe should still be at the city government," Xiong Wenbin said, "Hai Peng, drive me to the city government, we can't let Shen Hua be taken away by the municipal bureau."

  Zhou Ming and Xiong Danni heard that Shen Hua had caused such a big commotion on his first day as the new official, and they secretly cursed him. Seeing his father-in-law going to find Mayor Gao Tianhe, he said: "Shen Hua collided with Gao Tianhe's son's car, and the Municipal Bureau went to catch people, it's likely that Gao Tianhe gave the order. Dad, you're looking for Gao Tianhe at this time, isn't that asking for trouble?"

  His father-in-law has been sitting in the deputy director's position of the research institute for nearly three years, but it's still stable. Even if he no longer holds real power, the treatment that comes with being a deputy department level cadre hasn't fallen much either. Zhou Ming thinks his father-in-law shouldn't have offended Gao Tianhe for someone unrelated to him...

  "You don't understand," Xiong Wenbin didn't have the heart to explain anything to his son-in-law. He took off his coat and went back into the bedroom, then said to Chen Dan and Chen Tong, "Why don't you two stay here first? As long as you make it clear to Mayor Gao about your interests, they shouldn't cause any trouble..."

  Zhou Ming saw that his father-in-law was being belittled and couldn't help but feel annoyed, so he tried to dissuade him: "Shen Huai has caused such a big commotion, the municipal bureau wants Shen Huai to go back and cooperate with the investigation, which is reasonable! He can't just run to the municipal bureau and think it's an injustice, can he?"

  "What is meant by cooperating with the investigation? The incident at Meixi Steel Factory this afternoon, does it fall under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Bureau? Isn't this obviously a case of being instructed to strike back in revenge? Shen Hua is the newly appointed deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Meixi Town and the newly appointed head of Meixi Steel Factory. If he openly takes handcuffs from the Public Security Bureau to take people away from the steel factory, what kind of impact will this have?"

  Xiong Wenbin saw his son-in-law Zhou Ming, who had some prejudice against Shen Hua and couldn't see the essence of the problem, getting a bit agitated. He couldn't help but raise his voice: "Shen Hua's smashing of the car blocking the gate of Wanhu Company today was in line with the strong will of the steel plant workers. Even if it was a bit out of line, Wanhu Company can only accept it. At this time, the Municipal Public Security Bureau rushed into the factory to arrest people, without considering the emotions of the steel plant workers. What if the workers make trouble again and cause chaos? Who will take responsibility?"

  Zhou Ming saw his father-in-law making a big fuss about Shen Huai, and he was very dissatisfied in his heart. He thought to himself: Even if the Meixi Steel Factory is turned upside down, what does it have to do with them?

  "Why don't we call Tang Secretary and ask him to contact Mayor Gao?" suggested Bai Su Mei.

  "Now, even if you find a phone number, it's not necessarily that you can find the person. It's better to go look for Gao Tianhe." Xiong Wenbin said, and didn't explain anything else to his son-in-law Zhou Ming, and hastily left with Yang Haipeng.

  Zhou Ming was stunned for half a moment before asking his mother-in-law: "Mom, what did you just say to Dad about Secretary Tan?"

  Bai Su Mei didn't think that much, some things were originally planned to be brought up at dinner with Zhou Ming, said: "It's the Deputy Director of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department Tan who is coming to Donghua as the Municipal Party Secretary, yesterday Shen Huai and your dad specially went to the provincial city to see this Secretary Tan, listening to their tone when they came back, saying that your dad can become the Deputy Secretary General of the Municipal Party Committee this time..."

  Zhou Ming felt as if he had been hit by a blunt instrument. He knew, of course, that his father-in-law and the Deputy Director Tan of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department were not closely related, but Shen Hua should have some connection with the new Municipal Party Secretary who was about to take office in Donghua. Suddenly, he felt that what he had just said was really foolish.

  **************

  Although Shen Huai forced all the workers to return to their posts and resume production and study in the afternoon, the workers had just gone through such an event and were still restless, making it difficult for them to calm down in a short period of time.

  The four police cars of the Municipal Public Security Bureau stopped in front of the factory gate, and the security guard first passed the news to each workshop.

  When they heard that the Municipal Public Security Bureau was coming to take away the new factory director, the emotions of the workers were ignited again, and they didn't care about production or study. They rushed out of the workshop in a swarm, surging towards the factory office.

  Du Jian had just walked into the three-story building, with ivy crawling up the side wall of the factory office, when he didn't expect that the municipal public security bureau was led by Vice Director Song Sanhe.

  In 1993, the Public Security Bureau had not yet risen to prominence, and the deputy director of the Municipal Bureau was only a deputy department-level cadre, but still more prestigious than Du Jian, the deputy secretary of the town party committee.

  Du Jian had dinner with Song Sanhe several times and they were acquaintances.

  Du Jianba couldn't let Shen Huai be taken away by the municipal bureau's people, and after being expelled from the party and public office, he would have to spend a few more years in prison. But as the Party Secretary of Meixi Town, on the surface, he also made a gesture of blocking the arrest, saying:

  "Afternoon's matter, although Secretary Shen was a bit impulsive, it was also caused by the situation. The Municipal Public Security Bureau cannot just take people away like this. Another thing is that if the Municipal Public Security Bureau wants to arrest someone, they should first notify the Xiapu County Committee..." In his heart, he was roaring: Hurry up and arrest, hurry up and arrest, as if my words were farting!"

  "We didn't come to arrest anyone, after receiving the report, we asked the parties involved to go to the Municipal Public Security Bureau for assistance in the investigation, which is a normal procedure. If Meixi Town obstructs us from enforcing the law, then I can only say sorry..." Song Sanhe said with a stern face, not giving Du Jian any leeway.

  Normally, your mom, assisting in the investigation requires calling four police cars and twenty policemen? Du Jian secretly grumbled in his heart, with a smile on his face: "It's also, it's also, assisting in the investigation is necessary..."

  Song Sanhe is a big fat man weighing over 200 pounds, and he sweats all over his body with just a little movement. This matter is not only about Gao Xiaohu's car being smashed, but also about him coming to run this errand, more importantly, there are shares of Song Sanhe in the Wanhu Trade Company.

  The Wanhu Trade earns a profit of at least 40 to 50 million yuan per year by selling the steel materials from Meixi Steel Plant. This lucrative business is about to be lost due to the arrival of the new deputy secretary of the town party committee, Song Sanhe. How can he not be angry?

  Song Sanhe was determined to severely suppress the arrogance of Mei Xi Town.

  Shen Hua had just gathered the deputy factory directors and department heads of the steel plant for a meeting, when the people from the Municipal Public Security Bureau burst in. The leader, a big fat man, almost bursting out of his uniform, squeezed through the narrow door of the conference room, and with an air of arrogance, glared at the group of people inside and asked: "Who is Shen Hua?"

  "It's me." Shen Hui turned around, looking at the few police officers who followed him into the conference room, and instantly understood that Gao Xiaohu had directly instructed the Municipal Public Security Bureau to send people over to arrest him.

  The local forces in Donghua City are intertwined and the police force is also used for private purposes, which doesn't make people feel surprised at all.

  "We received a report that you intentionally damaged private property, and in public, you used a truck to crush a high-end Mercedes-Benz and a Buick business car. Please come with us to the municipal bureau to assist in the investigation." Song Sanhe said.

  "First, I can go to the town police station with you to assist in the investigation and explain the cause and effect. Second, if you must take me to the municipal bureau for assistance in the investigation, you can cuff me!" Shen Hua calmly rolled up his sleeves, revealing his wrists for Song Sanhe to put on handcuffs.

  "Your mom, you don't drink to show respect but drink as a punishment. You're just a township official, what are you to me?" Song Sanhe was used to being an official and naturally had the temperament of one. Seeing that Shen Hui was only a deputy secretary of the town party committee, he dared to speak to him in such a tone, and his anger immediately flared up. He scolded loudly, but didn't go over and slap him twice, which could be considered giving face to the party. With a cold face, he ordered the police beside him, "Cuff him and take him back to the bureau for investigation!"

  "Director Song, isn't this inappropriate?" The police officer who gave orders to Song Sam-he didn't want to cooperate.

  "What the f**k, are you in charge or am I?!" Song Sanhe's temper flared up, seeing his subordinate dare to disobey him right to his face made him even more furious. "Stop your damn nonsense, I told you to cuff him so cuff him."

  "No procedure, directly handcuffing people is my responsibility, I won't take it." The police officer was also stubborn and walked to the side, leaving Song Sanhe stuck there, unable to exert his authority.

  "Your mom, go back and I'll deal with you. Whatever happens, I'll take responsibility." Song Sanhe slapped his subordinate in public, almost exploding with rage, shouting "Laozi" (a term of self-reference). Fortunately, he had loyal followers by his side, and two of them immediately pulled out handcuffs, clicking them onto Shen Hua's wrists with a "clack".

  "What are you doing? Can the Municipal Public Security Bureau arrest people at will?" Zhao Dong saw that the police really put handcuffs on Shen Hui, and he also became anxious.

  Zhao Dong, who was just appointed as a production assistant at the meeting earlier, sat on the southeast side of the conference table, relatively far away. He rushed up to stop the police from arresting someone, but was instead pinned down by two policemen who came in through the back door, his arms twisted behind him and pressed against the conference table, unable to move.

  Several deputy factory directors and department heads who were summoned to the meeting, like Du Jian, had some understanding of the background of Wanhu Company and knew that Gao Xiaohu was not a good person to mess with.

  Seeing a dozen or so people from the Municipal Public Security Bureau rush in to make arrests, the crowd in the conference room was shocked, but they all quickly moved aside to watch without interfering with the police making the arrests.

  Song Sanhe saw Shen Hua being handcuffed lightly and easily, and with a somewhat pleased swing of his head, he said: "Let's go..." But just as they were leaving the conference room and had not yet left the administration building, they saw that the gate was packed with workers, their angry eyes seeming to want to tear them apart.

  Shen Hua did something that delighted everyone today, and suddenly won over the hearts of all the workers in the factory. Now the Municipal Public Security Bureau is coming to arrest people for this afternoon's incident, how can the workers not be indignant?

  Wanhu Company sucked so much blood and flesh from the steel factory that it was forced to shut down, making it difficult for workers to make a living. Not only did Wanhu Company go unpunished, but it also prevented Shen Hua, who strongly expressed his emotions and called on workers to take back control of the sales channel, from being taken away by the Public Security Bureau. How can the steel factory workers not be outraged?