Chapter 53 Reporting the Situation

The tail end of the National Day holiday retained a trace of leisurely stillness in the morning light of the hometown town.

The things his father had mentioned regarding Wei Shili, the county party secretary, along with the helplessness and warnings implicit in Mayor Sun Guodong's words, weighed heavily on Li Yifei's mind like a lump of ice.

He felt both angry and anxious, eager to take some action, but reason reined him in—he could not act recklessly.

He was well aware of his own weight. Having joined the First Inspection Division of the Ministry of Supervision for only three months, he was still a rookie. He lacked the authority to handle cases independently, let alone the qualification to interfere in local affairs—especially matters involving powerful local figures and highly complex underlying dynamics.

Rules were the ironclad law of the supervision system, and they were also the foundation upon which he could establish his footing. Lashing out blindly on a sudden impulse would not only alert the enemy prematurely and possibly implicate himself, but might even disrupt an investigation that perhaps was already taking shape.

A rule was a rule. He had carved these words into his heart.

Early in the morning a few days later, Li Yifei woke up exceptionally early. Taking care not to wake his family, he slipped into the garage and squatted in the secluded corner where the jars of liquor were kept.

Inhaling a breath of the chilly air, he took out his phone and dialed a number that was reserved only for critical matters: the private number of Ling Tianming, director of the First Inspection Division of the Ministry of Supervision.

After ringing a few times, the call connected. Ling Tianming's deep, penetrating voice came through from the other end, as crisp and concise as ever: "Speak."

"Leader, I am Li Yifei. I have an important matter that I wish to officially report to you. I am not sure if this is a convenient time for you," Li Yifei said in a steady voice, every word imbued with solemnity.

"Hmm." A single nasal sound came from the other end of the line, prompting him to continue.

Li Yifei organized his thoughts and began. Free of personal emotion and devoid of wild speculation, he spoke as if delivering a brief:

First, he clarified the source of the information—he had heard it from family members when he returned home for the National Day holiday, and later had a private conversation about it with Sun Guodong, Mayor of Anyin City.

Next, he summarized the ordinary citizens' grievances regarding Wei Shili, the Party Secretary of Anyun County. Having been in the county for over seven years, Wei had generated numerous rumors: roads were dug up and repaired repeatedly, squandering public funds; he used his power to bully ordinary people and take advantage of them; when people filed complaints, not only did they yield no results, but the complainants faced retaliation and obstruction.

He placed particular emphasis on Mayor Sun Guodong's remarks: the municipal government was not unaware of the situation, but the obstacle behind Wei Shili was simply too formidable.

Finally, he emphasized that he had heard all of this privately during his family visit, not as a lead obtained through official work. However, because it involved a high-ranking local official and the public reaction was so intense, he felt obligated to report the facts truthfully to the organization.

Throughout the process, Li Yifei maintained a steady pace and clear logic, recounting only facts and relayed statements without adding his own judgments.

On the other end of the line, there was a prolonged silence.

This silence pressed down like a boulder, causing Li Yifei's ears to ring. He could easily picture Ling Tianming's stern, carved-stone face pulled tight at this moment, his sharp eyes narrowed and flashing with a cold light.

Time seemed frozen. The fingers with which Li Yifei gripped his phone had turned white at the knuckles.

After a long while, that deep voice finally sounded again, each word striking the earpiece like a lump of ice:

"Comrade Yifei," Ling Tianming used his full name and the term "comrade," a rare occurrence, with a heavy tone that sounded like an official pronouncement. "Everything you just reported involves an incumbent county party secretary and the potentially deeply entrenched network of relationships behind him.

Do you understand what this means? Can you take responsibility for what you have said? Can you take responsibility for the source and content of the information you have relayed?"

This was not a mere inquiry; it was a fierce interrogation! He was being asked to stake his political future and credibility as a guarantee!

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Yifei replied in a low yet resolute voice that landed like a stone hitting the ground: "Leader, I dare guarantee with my Party spirit. Everything I have reported is the truth I heard and relayed, without a single falsehood. I am willing to bear all consequences."

He offered no defense and no elaboration, using the four words "Party spirit guarantee" to make the firmest possible commitment.

On the other end of the line, there was silence for another few seconds. Then came a single word—"Understood"—followed by the busy tone of a dropped call.

Li Yifei lowered his phone, let out a long breath, and felt a slight dampness on his back.

He touched his head, feeling a bit uncertain. Director Ling's reaction... was it perhaps too heavy?

No instructions, no follow-up questions, just those two heavy, oppressive interrogations and a single "Understood." Beneath that calm surface, what currents were actually churning?

He did not know that Ling Tianming, on the other end of the line, was far less calm than he appeared.

After hanging up, Ling Tianming's brows, usually devoid of expression, twisted into a deep crease shaped like the Chinese character for a river.

He did not move immediately. Like a precision machine, he dismantled and reassembled the information Li Yifei had provided in his mind, over and over:

The source of the information—common gossip among ordinary citizens—might contain some exaggeration, but there was no smoke without fire. Coupled with the private confirmation by Sun Guodong, the mayor of a prefecture-level city, if even a mayor spoke in such a manner, the person behind the scenes must hold a considerable rank.

The problems reflected—abuse of power, squandering of funds, bullying the common people, and blocking complaints—were severe enough in nature.

The crucial point was that "someone was backing him"—this undoubtedly went beyond the county level! If even a mayor like Sun Guodong felt helpless, it indicated that the protective umbrella reached at least the municipal level, or perhaps even higher!

Did the provincial supervision system know about this?

As for Li Yifei's attitude—guaranteeing it with his Party spirit! This was no child's play. Ling Tianming had witnessed this young man's astuteness and stability; he would not make a mockery of his own future.

"We have a massive problem..." Ling Tianming's internal alarm bells began to ring wildly. If what Li Yifei said was true, this was no longer merely a case of corruption involving a county party secretary; it meant the political ecosystem of Anyin City, or even Jiang Province, had rotted through in certain parts!

The implications were too broad and the impact too severe, far exceeding an ordinary local case.

Should they move or not? How to move? When to move? Doing so required an extremely high degree of political wisdom and tact.

Ling Tianming understood that although he was the director of the First Inspection Division of the Ministry of Supervision, a case with such extensive ramifications closely tied to the overarching stability could not be decided by him alone.

He stood up abruptly, without delay, and walked straight out of his office. With a steady pace carrying an invisible pressure, he strode down the quiet corridor straight toward the office of Deputy Minister Wu Zhenhua.

"Minister, I have an important situation to report." Standing before Wu Zhenhua's spacious desk, Ling Tianming spoke in a low voice.

Wu Zhenhua, who was reviewing documents, looked up. Noticing Ling Tianming's unusually grave expression, a thought stirred in his mind, and he laid down his pen. "Tianming, sit down. What is so urgent?"

Instead of sitting, Ling Tianming stood straight as a ramrod, reporting as if delivering military intelligence. He repeated everything Li Yifei had said over the phone, word for word.

His delivery was devoid of emotional color, yet it laid bare the full severity and complexity of the situation.

As he listened, the relaxed expression on Wu Zhenhua's face vanished, replaced by a solemnity and gravity the subordinate had rarely seen before.

Leaning back in his chair, Wu Zhenhua tapped his fingers unconsciously against the smooth mahogany desktop, producing a dull, rhythmic tapping sound while his sharp gaze turned inward in deep thought. The air in the office seemed frozen.

Wu Zhenhua's brows furrowed tightly as well. He knew all too well what this meant. If this case were substantiated, pulling up the radish would bring out the mud, potentially implicating the provincial level! Moreover, the timing was rather unfavorable!

To launch such a massive anti-corruption storm at this critical juncture—would it affect stability? Would it be exploited by individuals with ulterior motives? These were all political calculations that had to be made.

The silence lasted for a full minute. Wu Zhenhua's gaze landed on Ling Tianming's face, and he suddenly shifted topics, asking a seemingly unrelated question: "Tianming, how has Li Yifei performed in the First Inspection Division of the Ministry of Supervision over the past few months? Tell me the honest truth."

Ling Tianming was momentarily taken aback, failing to understand why the minister was suddenly asking this, but he quickly gathered his thoughts and offered an objective evaluation:

"Comrade Li Yifei... has been exceptional. He lacks the impatience and arrogance common among young people; he is able to keep his composure and settle his mind. In three months, he has thoroughly digested the basic case files, procedural rules, and investigative essentials we provided him. And he didn't just memorize them blindly—he truly understands the underlying logic and methodologies.

His observational skills are sharp, his learning speed is fast, and his grasp of details and human psychology far surpasses that of other newcomers joining at the same time. His only shortcoming is that he has never handled an actual case. But given his comprehension and foundation, with a bit more practice, he will surely become a backbone of the supervision system."

Listening to this, the stern lines on Wu Zhenhua's face softened slightly. He even nodded almost imperceptibly, a glimmer of gratification—the validation of "I saw it right"—flashing in his eyes.

Back then, he had overridden dissenting opinions and even utilized special channels to poach this young "special talent" from the National Development and Reform Commission precisely because he valued the young man's unusual composure compared to his peers, his sharp vision, and his unique advantage of being "economically absolutely clean."

Now it appeared his speed and adaptability in learning the supervision business were equally astonishing.

"Hmm," Wu Zhenhua pondered for a moment, his gaze turning profound again as if a decision had been made. "Tianming, what do you think... about dispatching Comrade Li Yifei to work in Anyin City?"

This time, Ling Tianming was genuinely stunned! He had never expected the minister to come up with an idea so bold it bordered on recklessness!

"Minister! This..." Ling Tianming instinctively wanted to object. "Li Yifei's capability is strong, but he is far too young!

He has never worked at the local level, let alone handled a case independently! What is the situation in Anyun right now? It is a quagmire!

No one even knows how deep the water goes! Sending a rookie without a local foundation down there to go up against a deep-rooted, seasoned local tyrant like Wei Shili... is far too dangerous!

He might not even figure out which way is up, let alone get any work done! Besides, how can his safety be guaranteed?"

Ling Tianming's concerns were not without reason. Throwing a young man lacking grassroots experience straight into the epicenter of tangled problems looked, by all accounts, like tossing a sheep into a tiger's den.

Wu Zhenhua, however, acted as though he had already considered all of this. He waved a hand to signal Ling Tianming not to be hasty:

"Young people cannot always stay in a greenhouse; true skills cannot be learned merely by reading case files. Wind and waves can only be truly experienced out on the open sea.

A lack of local work experience will always be a shortcoming. Isn't Anyun right now the best—and most challenging—place for him to practice?"

He stood up, walked over to the window, and with his back to Ling Tianming, gazed outside. His voice was low, yet carried an unquestionable decisiveness:

"Regarding his rank and security: Li Yifei made a major contribution by developing the 'Eagle-Eye' system at the National Development and Reform Commission, and everyone is aware of that. In accordance with this year's policies on special contributions and the rejuvenation of the cadre ranks, he can be exceptionally promoted to the deputy division level.

You will immediately take charge of this matter, prepare the materials according to procedure, and submit them for approval as soon as possible. Once his rank and appointment come down, arrange for him to be temporarily assigned to Duohhe County, Anyun City, as the deputy secretary of the county discipline inspection commission in his capacity as an official of the First Inspection Division of the Ministry of Supervision.

This identity will give him sufficient standing to carry out work locally without exposing his true purpose too early."

Hearing the words "deputy division level" and "temporarily assigned as deputy secretary of the county discipline inspection commission," Ling Tianming felt an even greater shock! This promotion speed was like riding a rocket! Yet, considering Li Yifei's unique background, his capabilities, and Anyun's complex situation, he began to understand why the minister was making such an exceptional exception.

Wu Zhenhua turned around, his gaze piercing like lightning as he laid out the core task word by word:

"You will talk to him personally. Tell him that his core task is only one: secret verification, and holding the evidence tightly in his hands! He is not being sent there to make immediate arrests, and he must certainly not alert the enemy!

He is to utilize his familiarity with local conditions, his meticulous mind, and his unassuming identity to slip in quietly like a needle, steadily and firmly collecting the problem clues and evidence concerning Wei Shili and the network behind him, piece by piece!

Verify it thoroughly! Remember, all operations must be kept under strict confidentiality and report solely to you and me! At the current stage, there must absolutely be no public moves!

Everything must wait until the smooth transition of the critical work phase next year, after which we will concentrate our forces and resolve everything in one fell swoop! Right now, stability outweighs everything else! Do you understand?"

"Understood!" Ling Tianming felt a chill in his heart as he instantly grasped the minister's intent. This was not sending Li Yifei out to charge into battle; it was sending him out as the most covert—and most crucial—"spike" and "intelligence agent."

During the quiet period before the storm, he would infiltrate right up to the enemy's doorstep and plant the fatal fuse. The risks remained immense, but under the current circumstances, this was already the most prudent and actionable approach.

"Good. You are responsible for handling his identity, paperwork, and security contingency plans. Remember, his safety is priority number one!" Wu Zhenhua emphasized at last.

"Yes, Minister! I will attend to it immediately!" Ling Tianming answered solemnly.

Walking out of Wu Zhenhua's office, Ling Tianming felt the burden on his shoulders grow even heavier.

He had two immediate tasks to handle: first, securing the exceptional promotion for Li Yifei; second, meticulously planning the secret operation for Li Yifei's deployment to Anyun.

He unconsciously glanced in the direction of the First Inspection Division of the Ministry of Supervision.

At that moment, Li Yifei was still fretting over his post-report anxiety and the affairs of his hometown, completely unaware that a momentous decision—one that would alter the trajectory of his destiny and influence the political ecosystem of Anyin and beyond—had already been finalized without his knowledge.

An invisible net, centered upon him, was slowly casting itself toward that seemingly calm yet turbulent native soil.