Chapter 15: A Storm Approaches

Meng Jianguo was taken aback when he received Lin Ying’s call. By the time she finished explaining, his mind had stopped working. His voice trembled. “Lin Ying, what did you say? Gao Lan was beaten until she was crippled, and assaulted?”

“Yes, Director Meng. The report says fluid from three different men was detected.”

Meng erupted. He sprang to his feet, shaking with anger. The director of public security for Dongjiang Province could not find words. Fury burned in his chest. A county chief, a state official, had been raped in her own quarters, and by more than one man.

“Bastards! A bunch of fucking bastards!” His voice was angry and choked. He had met Gao Lan; she had been such a good child, the daughter of an old comrade-in-arms. If her father learned she had been beaten to death and assaulted by three men while in office, how could Meng ever face him?

His thoughts were in turmoil.

Lin could tell he was truly furious. He was cursing without restraint in front of a subordinate. She hadn’t expected him to lose his composure so completely.

Meng had watched Gao Lan grow up. If not for her, he would never have transferred Lin here. He needed to answer to his old comrade. How could he bear news like this?

At last his curses stopped. Faint sobbing came through the phone. Meng was crying.

Lin didn’t know his connection to Gao Lan. She was curious, but couldn’t ask. Clearly the two had been close.

“Lin Ying, I understand. Take care of yourself. If necessary, have armed police protect you personally.” Meng didn’t want anything to happen to her too.

“Don’t worry, sir. I’m safe for now. I haven’t even gone to work at the Gaoshan County Public Security Bureau yet. I plan to keep them waiting for a while.”

“Whatever you do, I support you. But remember this: if your safety is at risk, don’t act alone. Three county chiefs have already died in Gaoshan. If anything happens to you, even the province won’t be able to answer to the higher-ups.”

Lin nodded firmly. “I understand, sir. I’ll be careful and won’t take unnecessary risks.”

“One more thing. Gaoshan is complicated, but our investigations over the years haven’t been fruitless. The materials you received mention Tianlong Group and Sihai Transport. Both may be connected to criminal forces in the county. Their relationships are tangled. Until you have solid evidence, don’t alert them; we must avoid harming Gaoshan’s development and stability.”

“Understood.” Lin knew that in peacetime economic development remained a constant priority. But Gao Lan’s death might prompt the authorities to take a hard line against Gaoshan.

“All right, Comrade Lin Ying. I believe you can succeed and complete the mission with distinction. However dangerous the road, the provincial team and I will stand behind you. Tomorrow I’ll send a group down to assist. They’ll take your orders.”

“Thank you, sir.”

After the call, Lin breathed deeply. She had underestimated the determination behind her assignment. From Meng’s attitude, the higher-ups seemed resolved to cut out Gaoshan’s cancer.

At the provincial department, Meng was heavy-hearted. He pushed open the office door of Hua Yunfeng, Dongjiang Province’s top leader.

Two minutes later, staff passing Hua’s office heard a roar from inside, though they couldn’t make out the words.

Five minutes later, Zhao Zhongcai, director of the provincial finance department, received a call from the top leader. When it ended, he was bewildered. All of Gaoshan County’s funding for the year was to be suspended?

He dared not ask questions and quickly passed the order down.

The provincial audit bureau and tax authorities also received notice to conduct a comprehensive tax investigation, strictly audit earmarked funds and review every submitted project. All projects were suspended. Quietly, a province-level campaign against Gaoshan began.

A political storm was gathering over the county.

The next morning, an insistent phone woke Ma Guoliang. He hadn’t gone home in days. Beside him lay a petite beauty, naked beneath the covers.

“What’s all that noise?” she asked.

Ma motioned for silence. She rolled her eyes, turned away and pulled the blanket over her head.

“Lao Sun, what is it?”

“Secretary Ma, I’ve just heard from the province. Funding for several of our major projects has been suspended.”

“What?” Ma hadn’t heard clearly. Sun Youcai, director of Gaoshan’s finance bureau, repeated the news, and Ma sat bolt upright.

“Is there a mistake? Have you checked? Why would they suddenly suspend our funds? They went through every level of approval, and provincial leaders signed off. Who has the nerve to stop them?” Several major projects were underway that year. Once completed, they would count as achievements for Gaoshan. Ma had wanted to show the city and province that even without a county chief, he could make the economy thrive.

“I don’t know, Secretary! Several big projects are waiting for provincial money. Without it, work will stop immediately!” Sun was frantic.

Ma understood the seriousness. He dressed, washed and hurried to the county Party committee building.

Inside his office, he shut the door and dialed. “Secretary Chang, are you busy?”

“What is it, Secretary Ma?”

“Funding for several of our projects has been suspended. Do you know about it?”

“No.” Chang Yukun had only just heard the news himself and didn’t want to get dragged into it.

“These are major county projects. Do you know which leader ordered it?” Had Gaoshan offended someone?

“No.” Chang hung up.

Ma stared at the phone. What did Chang mean by that? Had all the gifts Ma had given him been wasted? The bastard couldn’t even answer a simple inquiry without impatience.

Ma dialed another number, uneasy. The person was a provincial leader, after all. But when he heard the reply, he was stunned…