Chapter 216: Zhang Guangnian’s Downfall

Zhang Guangnian froze, and the journalists also froze in shock. Did he hear correctly just now? This woman wanted to expose him? What was she trying to do? He was the top leader of this city, after all. Was it really appropriate for her to talk about exposing him in front of so many people?

Feeling the journalists’ strange gazes, Zhang Guangnian awkwardly smiled and said to Fang Qian, “Comrade, you must have made a mistake. I have been in this position for a long time. I won’t claim to have benefited the citizens, but at least I have always worked hard for the people. I really don’t understand why you want to expose me?”

Zhang Guangnian wasn’t just boasting. In the years since he became the top leader, he had built roads and developed new rural areas. He truly couldn’t figure out what grounds Fang Qian had to expose him.

“Miss, exposing the top leader is a serious accusation. You should think carefully before speaking. If you don’t have actual evidence, you could face legal consequences.”

One journalist spoke as if advising her, but inwardly, they were all hoping that if Fang Qian really did produce evidence, it would undoubtedly be the biggest news story of the year.

Fang Qian let out a cold laugh. If it were in the past, she might have believed Zhang Guangnian’s words. But now, with ironclad evidence, how could she let Zhang Guangnian deny it?

“You want evidence? Fine. All of us here are the evidence. Mayor Zhang, do you remember the Chemical Plant explosion three years ago? The four of us are the families of the four firefighters sacrifices. And behind us are the workers from that Chemical Plant back then. What we hold in our arms are our heroes!”

After she said this, the other three family members also stood up, tears in their eyes as they glared at Zhang Guangnian, looking as if they wanted to tear him apart.

The journalists on the scene were in an uproar, grabbing their cameras to take photos. The explosion case three years ago had shocked the entire nation, and there was no way they wouldn’t know about it. They had thought the matter was over, but they never expected there would be more to it!

Zhang Guangnian’s face stiffened, and his eyebrow twitched slightly. He hadn’t expected Fang Qian to bring up that incident. Pretending to be sorrowful, he said, “I also know about what happened back then. I didn’t expect you to be the relatives of those four firefighters. Has the government treated you poorly? It’s alright, you can tell me, and I will solve it for you. Heroes deserve everyone’s respect, and so do their families.”

This old fox Zhang Guangnian, having been in official circles for so many years, truly knew how to twist words. In an instant, he turned the tables, aiming to mislead the journalists into thinking these people were there to demand compensation or something.

Fang Qian spoke passionately, “The government doesn’t owe us anything. It’s you who owes us, Zhang Guangnian! Zhang Guangnian, do you remember the Chemical Plant’s Boss Huang Zongze? He has already confessed everything. Back then, he deliberately caused the Chemical Plant explosion to avoid paying the workers’ wages! More importantly, it was clearly a man-made case, but because you and that beast Wei Ming took his money, you forced it to be labeled as employee negligence! Zhang Guangnian, do you still have a conscience?”

Fang Qian’s words exploded like thunder in everyone’s ears. The journalists opened their mouths wide, trying to process what they had just heard. It was all too shocking. If this were true, then Zhang Guangnian was guilty of shielding a criminal!

“Mayor Zhang, please say something and give an explanation. Is what this young lady said true?”

“That’s right, the people need an explanation. Speak up quickly.”

The journalists wouldn’t let such prime material slip away. They swarmed forward with their cameras and microphones, and even the staff couldn’t stop them.

“This is slander!” Zhang Guangnian shouted angrily. Because he was guilty, he glared at Fang Qian and said, “You have some nerve, slandering me, the top leader! Who do you think I am? How could I do such a thing? This is pure slander! I will have all of you arrested!”

“What, are you ashamed into anger now?” Fang Qian sneered, then screamed hysterically, “Who do you think you are? Would we use the dignity of heroes to slander you? When you committed such heinous acts, you should have thought about the consequences! You want evidence? I’ll give you evidence!” As she spoke, Fang Qian took out a voice recorder, turned it on, and played everything Huang Zongze had said.

Zhang Guangnian’s face turned completely green. That bastard had really sold him out!

Fang Qian yelled again, “Do you still doubt we are slandering you? If you don’t believe it, you can take this recording for verification. Unlike you, we don’t act against our conscience. Such deeds will be punished by heaven!”

“No, no, it’s not like that. I was just confused for a moment. You have to believe me!” Zhang Guangnian felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body. He was distraught, babbling nonsense, with only one thought in his mind: it’s over, everything is over.

“Mayor Zhang, no, Zhang Guangnian, as the top leader, how could you do such a thing?”

“Heartless, worse than a beast! Those were four lives! How can you face your own conscience?”

“Arrest him! Someone like this must face disciplinary action!”

The voices of the journalists and the crowd grew louder. Zhang Guangnian had clearly stirred public anger. After doing such things, he was definitely finished!

Whoosh!

A sharp sound cut through the air, and a small stone, moving too fast to see, hit Zhang Guangnian behind the knee. In pain, he fell to his knees with a thud, right in front of Fang Qian.

“Do you think kneeling can atone for your sins? You will definitely face legal punishment!” Fang Qian didn’t know why Zhang Guangnian had knelt before her, but she took the opportunity to say this.

The clicking of camera shutters instantly drowned Zhang Guangnian. He made no attempt to stand up, covering his face as he lay on the ground, looking utterly pathetic.

Zhang Guangnian was surely finished. The next day’s headline would undoubtedly be about Zhang Guangnian’s downfall, kneeling before the heroes’ memorial photos to beg for forgiveness for his wrongdoings.

Tang Chen, sitting in a car not far away, smiled. The matter was resolved, and there was no need for him to step out anymore.

“Respected Host, this System did not expect someone as high-profile as you to do good deeds behind the scenes.”

The System was referring to Tang Chen throwing the stone. Tang Chen laughed heartily and said thoughtfully, “Sometimes, when punishing such evil people, the power of the masses is stronger.”

Tang Chen didn’t linger any longer. Since the matter was over, there was no point in staying. He had just received a call from Yang Mi, who told him to pick her up in the afternoon. Tang Chen had originally planned to go in the morning, but after thinking it over, he realized Yang Mi hadn’t seen her mother in a long time, so he decided to let them spend some time alone.

Since he couldn’t pick up Yang Mi, Tang Chen found his morning rather boring. After some thought, he drove to the hospital to check on Fang Wenxin and Chen Bailin.

He drove straight there, and it took about ten minutes to reach the hospital. After greeting the brothers at the entrance and Yu Tianyi, Tang Chen walked into the ward.

“Young Master Tang!” Fang Wenxin and Chen Bailin called out simultaneously. It turned out they had been moved into the same room at some point.

“Hmm, you two, are you feeling better?” Tang Chen walked over with a smile. He had always been concerned about his brothers’ injuries.

Fang Wenxin laughed and said, “Young Master Tang, I’ve been resting for almost two months now. I could have been discharged long ago. It’s boring staying here.”

Tang Chen curled his lip and glared at him, “Even if you can be discharged, you should stay put. There’s nothing big happening in the Gang right now, so rest properly. And you, Bailin, your injuries are the most severe. Don’t even think about leaving until you’ve rested for a year.”

Chen Bailin made a pained face and said helplessly, “Young Master Tang, a year is too long. How about a discount? Six months?”

“Do you think this is like shopping, haggling for discounts? What the Young Master says goes.” Tang Chen laughed and scolded him. Just then, his phone rang. He took it out and saw an unfamiliar number. When he answered, a rude voice said, “I’m getting off the plane soon. Come pick me up right now.”