In name only: The land of Handong, I shall rule its fate.

The first day of the Gregorian New Year, at night.

The higher authorities announced their decision regarding Gao Yuliang: he was removed from his position as school principal and replaced by Wu Chunlin, the organization minister, while he retained only as a full-time deputy secretary.

He wasn't completely stripped of his position, but he became a true figurehead. Even under the special circumstances of a few years ago when full-time deputy positions weren't promoted to permanent positions, there wasn't a case as tragic as Gao Zhiwu's.

To some extent.

Tall plants also broke new ground in history.

Upon hearing the result, Liu Changsheng, a longtime comrade-in-arms, sighed deeply, saying that it would have been more dignified to dismiss him from his public office.

"Zhiyuan!"

Liu Changsheng kept pulling the man aside and earnestly admonishing him, "The Political and Legal Affairs Commission is a special case. There are many people and a lot of work to do. It is also on the front line of the fight against crime. Many cadres cannot resist temptation and become corrupt. You should pay more attention during your term."

"Especially as the year draws to a close, it is a period when cases tend to occur more frequently."

Everyone knows that Lin Zhiyuan's concurrent appointment as Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission is just a transitional role, but when things go wrong, he will be punished just the same.

"Governor, I understand."

Lin Zhiyuan reassured the other party, "Yesterday I launched multiple rounds of overall planning and supervision, from the system to the geographical area, dividing powers and responsibilities and assigning responsibility to individuals. As long as they dare to cause trouble or reach out, I will chop off their claws."

"Are you going to attack me again?"

Liu Changsheng's face twitched. If he had known that this brat was still full of murderous intent, he would not have said anything.

"Monitor first, and don't take action unless there are any unexpected situations."

Lin Zhiyuan shook his head.

To reiterate, the most important objective of the provincial government is long-term stability and security. Eliminating bad elements cannot be done in waves; social stability must be taken into consideration.

Let's rest and recuperate first, and talk about it after the New Year.

"Governor, since I came to Handong, I have only visited Luzhou and Chuzhou. I would like to take this opportunity to inspect the work at the grassroots level and to get first-hand information for next year's work."

Lin Zhiyuan then revealed his plans.

"Go! Go!"

"Leave the daily work here at the provincial government to me. As for the responsibilities you took over from Tianhen, I'll share them with Deng... Xingkui and the others."

Liu Changsheng quickly said.

It's good to inspect grassroots work!

As long as you give advance notice, you generally won't have to deal with any old grievances, and Handong can stay quiet for a few days under the thumb of Lin Zhiyuan, that troublemaker.

Lin Zhiyuan was both amused and exasperated.

You were the one who told me to work hard back then, and you're the one telling me to hold back now.

Jingle Bell!

The cell phone rang from Lin Zhiyuan's pocket; it was a call from Lu Yangshan.

"Executive Director Lin, something's happened!"

As soon as the call connected, Lu Yangshan's panicked voice came through.

Liu Changsheng's face immediately darkened.

He finally managed to suppress one troublemaker, but a second one popped up right away.

"Handong hasn't sunk yet, what could possibly happen to make a vice-governor panic like this!"

Liu Changsheng snatched the phone and roared into the microphone.

Don't you know that he can't stand hearing these three words lately?

"Governor...Governor!"

Lu Yangshan visibly swallowed. "It's...it's from Han University."

Han University?

Liu Changsheng was a bit irritable. Seven or eight out of ten of the problems at Handong were related to this school, and he even wanted to tear it down.

"explain!"

Liu Changsheng took a few deep breaths, suppressing his anger.

"The fact that several female students took out loans has been exposed. One parent even rushed to the school and angrily denounced them for being shameful. They...they are on the rooftop of the dormitory building now."

Lu Yangshan said, trembling.

He shouldn't have gotten involved in this kind of thing, but he happened to run into it while dealing with installment platforms and microloans at Handa University these past two days.

"The news spread very quickly, and many students in the university campus area received the information."

"Public opinion is out of control."

Lu Yangshan added.

How many students were involved? Was it spread online?

Lin Zhiyuan then brought up the topic.

"Ten...thirteen."

Lu Yangshan reported, "It's not online yet, but the management of major universities has intervened. I contacted the communications department to temporarily cut off the signal in the university campus area."

Thirteen people…

No wonder Lu Yangshan was so frightened.

"Notify the police and fire department to prepare for rescue operations, apprehend and remove the parent from the area, and ensure all related information is completely removed!"

Lin Zhiyuan quickly issued instructions: "Also, take full control of Han University's management and integrate them into the investigation process after this matter is over."

"Yes, Executive Director Lin."

Lu Yangshan responded, "But there's another special situation now; a student requests to see you."

"They won't come down unless they see you."

"See me?"

Lin Zhiyuan's expression was inscrutable.

"Yes, that female student has the bracelet you gave her."

Luyang Mountain Road.

"Send me your location in ten minutes."

Lin Zhiyuan hung up the phone.

"Don't give away things randomly next time."

Liu Changsheng patted his shoulder earnestly, "It's easy for something to go wrong."

Lin Zhiyuan's lips twitched, and he picked up his suit jacket and left. He couldn't reason with this old man.

Outside the dormitory building.

The area has been cordoned off by police, with multiple layers of cordon tape, and no students are gathered outside, indicating that Han University has already evacuated the area.

"Director Lin, the fire department has already set up an air cushion, so there is no danger to life. However, jumping from such a high floor will definitely cause injury, and there is a possibility of internal organ and intracranial damage."

Upon seeing Lin Zhiyuan arrive, Lu Yangshan hurriedly stepped forward to explain the situation.

"I'll go upstairs to talk; you don't need to come with me."

After Lin Zhiyuan finished speaking, he walked into the dormitory building. The seven-story staircase seemed particularly high at this time. After climbing to the rooftop, he felt hot despite the howling cold wind.

"Don't come up here!"

As if they had spotted the person coming upstairs, a shrill voice, filled with fear, rang out.

"It's me!"

Lin Zhiyuan took off his coat and draped it over his arm. His gaze, aided by the faint moonlight, locked onto a student on the edge of the rooftop. "An Jing, a journalism major."

"Executive Director Lin!"

The student named Anjing looked slightly relaxed, still holding the bracelet on her wrist in one hand.

Approaching to within about 15 meters.

Lin Zhiyuan stopped moving forward and sat down cross-legged. "Anjing, would you like to come and talk to me?"

Anjing exchanged glances with the others. Some shook their heads, while others nodded. Finally, she jumped down from the wall. Her clothes seemed to be very thin because she was in a hurry, and she kept shivering in the night wind.

"Avoid the cold and warm up."

Lin Zhiyuan tossed his coat over.

"Thank you for remembering such an insignificant student as me."

Anjing didn't refuse and put on her coat.

"Those who can get into Handong University are all the pride of heaven. Qi Tongwei from the Public Security Bureau and Hou Liangping from the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau are your seniors. They used to brag a lot because they came from Handong University."

Lin Zhiyuan laughed and said, "I have no reason not to remember every student at Han University."

"You're the really amazing one."

An Jing lacked the pride and confidence of a top university student; instead, she exuded an underlying sense of inferiority, despite being a "twenty-year-old with dual doctorates in economics from Peking University and law from China University of Political Science and Law."

"But it's really good."

"You remembered each and every one of us; you didn't treat us like weeds."