Official Career Storm-Chapter 1403

Cui Shibin's slightly nervous and panicked demeanor made Zhou Zheng increasingly puzzled.

No matter how big the issue gets blown up, Zhou Zheng felt that Cui Shibin, as Consul General, shouldn't be this way.

He seemed terribly afraid of the situation escalating.

Shouldn't Song Guanchao be the one fearing the chaos?

Zhou Zheng couldn't understand and couldn't fathom it.

But none of this mattered.

Even if Cui Shibin didn't bring it up, he would find a way to suppress the heat.

Zhou Zheng nodded and said, "Let me see you off."

Once they were gone, Zhou Zheng immediately contacted Minister Liu from the propaganda department, asking him to suppress the news.

Next, he called Liang Jianfeng.

"Director Liang, release Director Song."

Liang Jianfeng almost thought he misheard.

"Release?"

"Yes."

"Sorry, can't do that."

"What did you say?" Zhou Zheng looked puzzled.

Clearly, Song Guanchao and Liang Jianfeng were in cahoots, yet he refused when asked to release Song Guanchao?

Liang Jianfeng said, "Secretary Zhou, this matter has already been filed. Also, this is a criminal case, not civil; it can't just be dismissed."

"This is not child's play."

"..." Zhou Zheng suddenly didn't know what to say.

If he didn't know Liang Jianfeng and Song Guanchao had a good relationship, he would really suspect that Liang Jianfeng hated Song Guanchao.

"Director Liang..."

"Secretary Zhou, please don't discuss this with me. The case is currently under the charge of Director Li on Dafang Road in Pingtan District. You should contact him directly."

Zhou Zheng sulked for a while, and then said, "Fine, I understand."

After hanging up, Zhou Zheng cursed, "Damn it."

He thought Liang Jianfeng had issues with his brain and didn't know how to be flexible.

Such rigid, rule-abiding persons are sometimes handy to use, but sometimes he really wished he could remove Liang Jianfeng from his position as Director!

After adjusting his emotions, he proceeded to call Director Li.

"Secretary Zhou, are you looking for me?" Director Li asked obsequiously.

Liang Jianfeng said, "Release Song Guanchao."

"Huh?" Director Li replied, troubled, "That might not be feasible."

"Why not feasible?"

"This case has already been filed, and it's a criminal case with eyewitnesses... It's hard to release."

"Eyewitnesses? What kind of eyewitnesses? Can just anyone speaking count as evidence? Is there any physical evidence? Any surveillance footage?"

"Well... there is indeed no physical evidence."

"Without physical evidence, how dare you file the case?"

Director Li said aggrievedly, "Secretary Zhou, yelling at me won't help. I didn't bring those eyewitnesses here."

Zhou Zheng snorted. Though angry, he understood what Director Li meant.

This case was manipulated by Zhang Yan from the start.

To overturn the testimonies of those eyewitnesses, Zhang Yan must be handled first.

So, he called Zhang Yan.

"Mayor Zhang, where are you? If you aren't busy, come over, I have something to discuss with you."

He didn't care whether Zhang Yan had time and hung up after dropping this sentence.

Holding the phone, Zhang Yan's face showed a mix of different emotions.

"Why is Zhou Zheng looking for me?"

At this point in time, contacting her, she indeed had some guesses.

However, she felt that the situation had already progressed to this extent, and even if she temporarily withdrew, Song Guanchao would not be able to get out.

With this understanding, Zhang Yan headed to the city committee.

"Secretary Zhou." Zhang Yan sat down.

Zhou Zheng got straight to the point, "This matter has become big. Go call Director Li and have him release Song Guanchao."

Zhang Yan was a bit incredulous.

She hadn't expected Zhou Zheng to ask her to release him directly.

This is a criminal case with eyewitnesses, after all.

Moreover, Song Guanchao had offended the consulate.

How could he make such a decision in this context?

Isn't he afraid of offending the consulate?

Zhang Yan said forcefully, "Secretary Zhou really wants to release him? If the consulate lays blame, who will bear the responsibility?"

Zhou Zheng replied impatiently, "This is the consulate's intention! Do you think I'm messing around with such a troublesome matter?"

"What?" Zhang Yan's eyes slightly widened in disbelief, feeling Zhou Zheng was lying to her.

How could the consulate possibly want to release Song Guanchao?

"The consulate wants to release him?"

"You think I'm lying to you?" Zhou Zheng's face darkened, somewhat displeased.

Zhang Yan shook her head, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.

She certainly didn't think Zhou Zheng would lie about such a matter, especially given that he clearly disliked Song Guanchao.

It's just that the whole thing sounded too absurd.

Jin Yongjun suffered such a beating from Song Guanchao; how could the consulate actively let him off?

"Consul Cui visited this morning. He doesn't want the matter to escalate and proactively admitted fault."

Zhou Zheng revealed more specifics.

Zhang Yan became more and more confused as she listened.

It's unscientific, it was too unscientific.

Zhou Zheng said solemnly, "Mayor Zhang, let me remind you, Governor Lu has stepped in on this."

"Governor Lu..." Zhang Yan felt enlightened yet still sensed something amiss.

She investigated Lu Zhizhong, who was just an ordinary prefecture-level city head before his promotion, with no backing.

Even if he stepped in, the Korean embassy wouldn't sell him a favor, since the domestic officialdom and the consulate are entirely separate systems.

Even Governor, let alone Provincial Committee Secretary, they don't necessarily give you face when they decide not to.

"I have delivered the message correctly. Whether to release or not, is your choice."

"But let me remind you, if you don't release him and any uproar happens later, you bear it yourself."

Zhou Zheng wouldn't force her; he was just passing the message.

Zhang Yan acknowledged faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing on releasing.

Downstairs in the car, Zhang Yan called Jin Yongjun but was disconnected.

Jin Yongjun seemed busy, so she wasn't in a hurry to keep calling and waited quietly for him to return her call.

After Jin Yongjun and Cui Shibin left the city committee, they hastily headed to the police station.

Director Li didn't know Cui Shibin's identity. Consul Park introduced, "This is our Consul General."

Consul General!

Director Li was startled.

He didn't know the consulate's hierarchy, but understood that the Consul General meant the head of the embassy.

Director Li knew he came for Song Guanchao, and immediately said, "Consul Cui, rest assured, we will handle this case impartially!"

Consul Cui's already stern face turned a bit darker.

"Please bring Song Guanchao out, I have something to say to him."

"Sure, Consul Cui, please wait." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

He led the three to wait in an office for a moment.

Then he found Song Guanchao.

"The embassy's Consul General wants to see you!"

"Song Guanchao, be mindful when you speak, this Consul General is not someone you can provoke!"

"Are you listening when I speak to you?"

Seeing Song Guanchao's nonchalant demeanor, Cui Shibin was infuriated.

But knowing Song Guanchao might hold secrets about a few consuls, he held back from lashing out.

If he made him angry and spoke ill of him to the other consuls, it would be disastrous.

Director Li pushed the door open, with a smile, "Consul Cui, I've brought him for you."

Cui Shibin said, "You may leave."

"Alright." Director Li, trying to please, moved to close the door, when Song Guanchao said, "Why leave? Director Li, stay and listen with me to what the consuls have to say."