After Chen Mián hung up the phone with Qin Lán, he didn't immediately hand over the recording of Lǐ Féngyuán soliciting bribes.
He leaned back in his office chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk, his gaze sharp as an eagle.
With only a recording of bribe solicitation, Lǐ Féngyuán would at most receive disciplinary action; it was not enough to bring him down completely.
If he was going to do it, he had to cut the grass and remove the roots, leaving him no chance to ever recover.
In Chen Mián's mind, Lǐ Féngyuán's greedy face flashed by.
This kind of person, having been a Deputy Director for so many years, must have been involved in more than just soliciting bribes.
Corruption, bribery, abuse of power – he was probably involved in everything.
As long as more conclusive evidence could be found, he could be made to rot in jail.
Chen Mián's gaze fell on the Urban Management Bureau's brochure on his desk.
It showed photos of the leadership team, and Lǐ Féngyuán's smiling face was particularly glaring.
A bold plan quietly took shape in his mind.
The next morning, Chen Mián deliberately changed into a decent suit.
He had his secretary call the Urban Management Bureau's office in the name of Qi Hai Technology.
They said they wanted to discuss a cooperation project on urban appearance maintenance and hoped to communicate with Deputy Director Lǐ in person.
Not long after, the secretary brought good news: Lǐ Féngyuán agreed to meet.
Chen Mián drove to the Urban Management Bureau building.
The security guard at the entrance, seeing his luxury car, was particularly respectful.
Walking into the building, a bureaucratic atmosphere immediately hit him.
In the corridor, several staff members were chatting, holding their thermoses, leisurely and unhurried.
Chen Mián followed the directions to the Deputy Director's office on the third floor.
He knocked on the door, and Lǐ Féngyuán's characteristic arrogant voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Chen Mián pushed the door open, a perfectly calibrated smile on his face.
Lǐ Féngyuán was sitting in his leather office chair, legs crossed, looking at a document.
Seeing Chen Mián enter, he raised an eyelid, his tone perfunctory.
"Sit down."
"Regarding cooperation, you should have had your department manager discuss it. Did you really need to come here in person, Mr. Big Boss?"
Chen Mián sneered inwardly, but smiled even more warmly.
"Director Lǐ is extremely busy. This small matter shouldn't have bothered you."
"It's just that I feel that matters concerning the company's image should be reported by me personally to be on the safe side."
As Chen Mián spoke, he subtly surveyed the office.
A spacious room, high-end rosewood furniture, and an expensive orchid in the corner.
This didn't look like a Deputy Director's office at all; it was even more luxurious than the Director's.
Lǐ Féngyuán was very pleased with Chen Mián's flattery.
He put down the document, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
"You're a smart kid."
"Cooperation is easy to talk about."
"As long as you play by the rules, I guarantee no one will bother you concerning the urban appearance in the future."
Chen Mián nodded repeatedly, appearing meek and submissive.
"Of course, of course."
They chatted aimlessly.
However, Chen Mián's attention was entirely focused on his surroundings.
His fingers moved subtly in his pocket.
He quietly activated his X-ray Vision ability.
A cool stream of air flowed into his eyes.
The world in front of him instantly became transparent.
Chen Mián's gaze penetrated the drawers of the desk.
Inside were several packs of high-end cigarettes and a thick stack of cash.
His gaze swept over the interlayer of the bookshelf.
Several valuable watches were hidden there, still in their packaging.
These items were clearly illicit gains of unknown origin.
But Chen Mián knew this was not enough.
He was looking for ironclad proof that would be fatal.
Chen Mián's gaze moved slowly.
Finally, it settled on an inconspicuous old-fashioned safe in the corner.
The surface of the safe was covered in a thick layer of dust.
It looked like it had been abandoned for a long time, used as a makeshift shelf, with several boxes of mineral water piled on top.
But under the gaze of X-ray Vision, everything inside the safe was exposed.
There was no cash, no jewelry.
Only a thick leather-bound ledger.
On the first page of the ledger, two words were written in pen – Flow.
Chen Mián's gaze fell on the inner pages of the ledger.
Dense handwriting met his eyes.
Every entry recorded the time, person, and amount.
"XX Construction Company, fifty thousand."
"XX Real Estate Project, one hundred thousand."
"Jīng Zhāpí, environmental project approval, thirty thousand."
The entries were shocking.
This was simply a complete record of Lǐ Féngyuán's corruption and bribery!
Chen Mián's heart pounded violently.
He suppressed his excitement and silently memorized the safe's combination.
It was a simple six-digit number, seeming to be Lǐ Féngyuán's birthday.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Lǐ Féngyuán,
Chen Mián found an excuse and got up to leave.
Walking out of the Urban Management Bureau building, the sun shone on him.
Chen Mián breathed a long sigh of relief.
With the lead on this ledger in hand, Lǐ Féngyuán would have no escape.
Chen Mián didn't delay.
He immediately contacted Qin Lán.
Introduced by Qin Lán, he met the head of the special investigation team from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Chen Mián handed over the recording, the bank account number, and the location and password of the ledger to the other party.
The head of the special investigation team looked at the evidence in his hands, his expression becoming increasingly serious.
"Mr. Chen, the evidence you've provided is crucial."
"We will investigate thoroughly and provide an explanation to the citizens."
That afternoon, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection dispatched an investigation team, which raided the Urban Management Bureau.
When the investigation team members, in front of all their colleagues, opened the dusty safe and took out that leather-bound ledger,
Lǐ Féngyuán's face instantly turned ashen.
He slumped into his office chair, trembling all over, his lips quivering, unable to utter a single word.
He couldn't understand how his well-hidden ledger had been discovered.
The investigation team immediately put cold handcuffs on him.
In the corridor, staff members who had come to watch were gathered.
They watched as the once arrogant Deputy Director Lǐ was now like a stray dog.
Various expressions appeared on their faces.
Some were surprised, some scornful, and some even gloated.
When the news spread, the entire Urban Management Bureau was shaken.
Meanwhile, Chen Mián stood by the window of Qi Hai Technology, looking at the distant sky.
A faint smile played on his lips.
Lǐ Féngyuán, this malignant tumor, had finally been removed.
Next, it would be Jīng Zhāpí's turn.
In the interrogation room, the lights were stark white.
Lǐ Féngyuán sat on the cold chair, his head bowed so low it almost touched his chest.
Every entry in the ledger was like a sharp knife, piercing his heart.
He knew his good days were over.
Fear, like a tide, completely drowned him.
His mind was filled with only one thought.
It's over, everything is over.