Chapter 0435: Wrapping Up

Zhou Wei never expected that Zhao Fusheng would come in with two people, all menacing, and then just leave like that. He had made a lot of harsh threats, which were certainly frightening, but in Zhou Wei's view, they were utterly useless.

But ten minutes later, he could no longer smile.

“Section Chief Zhou, please explain how you colluded with criminal forces?”

“Section Chief Zhou, is this how a qualified cadre behaves?”

A crowd of reporters burst into Zhou Wei's office, with cameras, microphones, and notebooks. Zhou Wei even saw someone carrying a video camera.

His eyes twitched. Instinct told Zhou Wei that he might have inadvertently stirred up a considerable trouble.

And at that moment, he saw the man and woman who had just followed Zhao Fusheng out slowly walk back in.

Qiu Ming's face broke into a bright smile, and he said to Zhou Wei, “Section Chief Zhou, we meet again.”

Zhou Wei's expression shifted, but he didn't know what to say.

Outside the door, Zhao Fusheng smiled faintly and walked away.

What happened next no longer required his attention. With so many reporters blocking the entrance, even the top leader of the Industry and Commerce Bureau would be unable to sit still.

Stepping out of the bureau, Zhao Fusheng called Qian Dongliu to ask about the losses at the arcade. Unexpectedly, although many monitors were smashed, not a single motherboard was damaged, so the loss was not severe.

“Later, find a supplier and see how much it costs to replace all the monitors,” Zhao Fusheng said to Qian Dongliu.

Qian Dongliu hesitated and asked, “For the money, should we use our own account?”

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then laughed: “What are you thinking? Of course, Section Chief Zhou will have to pay for it.”

No way—tens of thousands in losses was no small sum. Zhao Fusheng naturally intended to pin the bill on Zhou Wei.

As for those thugs, the public security authorities would handle them.

As for what Qiu Ming and the others would do next, Zhao Fusheng wouldn't interfere. As journalists, they had their own procedures.

Moreover, as long as the Ninghai Industry and Commerce Bureau wasn't stupid, they would know not to let this story be reported in the news.

Of course, Zhao Fusheng also understood that Qiu Ming and his team knew what to do.

Every industry has its own rules. If the bureau didn't want to be made an example of, they would have to abandon Zhou Wei and make this his personal conduct.

The goal was clear: target only Zhou Wei himself. That was the plan Zhao Fusheng had set early on.

He didn't have the ability to strike at the ills that plagued the entire bureaucratic hierarchy. The vast cadre corps was a mix of good and bad, and as a mere reborn man, changing all that was impossible.

Or rather, it was nothing but a dream!

Take the simplest example: among a group of men, it's easy to single one out and determine how to satisfy him.

But when they come together, it becomes confusing.

By the same token, one Zhou Wei might not draw attention, but if Zhao Fusheng brought down a large number of people, it would give him a bad reputation.

What is the biggest difference between a mature person and a novice?

Those just entering society are often inexperienced but highly adaptable, with fiercer temperaments and a drive to charge forward fearlessly in everything. Success or failure, life is bold; at worst, start over.

A mature person, on the other hand, tends to think twice, carefully considering every detail before making a decision, preferring stability over taking risks.

It's not that either is bad; after all, different life stages bring different understandings of life.

In Zhao Fusheng's view, living without the courage to strive, just muddling through, is no good. But charging ahead blindly without considering the impact of one's actions on those around them is even more pitiful.

“By the way, keep an eye on Zhang Qian,” Zhao Fusheng said after a moment to Qian Dongliu.

He worried that Zhang Qian might do something rash, like going after Zhou Wei, who was now in the eye of the storm.

Qian Dongliu, quick-witted, understood Zhao Fusheng's meaning and quickly nodded: “Don't worry, I'll tell him right away.”

Zhao Fusheng added a few more instructions before hanging up.

After thinking it over, he called Zheng Yao and explained the whole situation, finally saying: “Make sure the arrangements are in place. No matter what, the report on the welfare home must be published, and our sponsorship of the welfare home must be mentioned. As for Zhou Wei's matter, if Ninghai's PR team does a good job, I'll pretend it never happened.”

Zheng Yao held the phone, speechless for a long time. She really hadn't expected that Zhao Fusheng could remain so calm about everything under these circumstances. She had even thought he might demand Zhou Wei's complete ruin.

But clearly, Zhao Fusheng had no such intention.

“Are you really letting that Zhou guy off?” Zheng Yao asked before hanging up.

Zhao Fusheng laughed: “Come on, this is a society governed by law. What else can I do to him?”

Zheng Yao paused, then laughed herself. As Zhao Fusheng said, in a law-based society, even knowing that someone like Zhou Wei was despicable, there wasn't much you could do.

But she still felt that Zhao Fusheng's backup plan couldn't be that simple.

Actually, she was wrong.

Zhao Fusheng really hadn't prepared any backup plan.

The reason was that it was the year 2000. Even though Zhou Wei had indeed made mistakes, Zhao Fusheng knew well that with just this issue, he lacked the power to do much to him.

But Zhao Fusheng also knew that by now, even if Zhou Wei wanted to turn things around, it was impossible.

Moreover, according to the unspoken rules of officialdom, to quell public anger, someone had to be pushed forward to appease the masses.

Zhou Wei was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

So Zhao Fusheng didn't need to do anything at all; he could just watch silently from behind.

As for Zhou Wei, it wouldn't be long before he left his current position. Whether he would face criminal prosecution seemed unlikely to Zhao Fusheng. But once he left that position, Zhao Fusheng believed Zhou Wei's future path would not be smooth. After all, some people often fail to see that their unimpeded progress is not due to their own ability, but because of the position they hold, which forces others to tread carefully.

Zhou Wei was such a person.

Away from the Industry and Commerce Bureau, Zhou Wei was nothing.

…

…

A week passed quickly. After the provincial TV station, radio station, and newspaper jointly reported on the Red Star Welfare Home, the matter finally settled.

Zhou Wei was dismissed from public office. As for Hua Zi and the others, they were detained in the detention center, awaiting trial by law.

Zhou Wei's elderly father stepped in, spending considerable favors to have a message delivered to Zhao Fusheng through Zhao's father, saying that one should be lenient when possible.

Zhao Fusheng made no comment, merely accepting the compensation they sent.

As for whether it would implicate Zhou Wei, Zhao Fusheng said it had nothing to do with him; that was the police's business.

But everyone knew that the Industry and Commerce Bureau cadre who, according to the newspapers, colluded with criminal forces, assaulted reporters, and vandalized the welfare home's business would not end well.

“People shouldn't be too greedy; that way, you can't have it both ways,” Zhao Fusheng said with a smile, sitting across from Dong Chenxi.

Dong Chenxi had come to deliver documents to him. Hearing his words, she pursed her lips but said nothing.

In her view, Zhao Fusheng was always like this, fond of quietly setting traps for people.

This time, that Zhou guy had clearly been set up by Zhao Fusheng. Speaking of which, that guy really was asking for trouble, daring to make exorbitant demands. Didn't he know to investigate beforehand?

“What are you thinking?” Zhao Fusheng asked curiously, seeing Dong Chenxi lost in thought.

Dong Chenxi shook her head: “Nothing. General Zheng asks if she should come for the arcade's opening.”

Zhao Fusheng shrugged: “No need. It's not a big deal anyway.”

As he spoke, he looked at the half-meter-thick stack of documents in front of him: “Don't tell me all this is for me.”

Dong Chenxi smiled and nodded lightly.

At that moment, Zhao Fusheng felt utterly defeated.