Chapter 65 Struck Pure Dumb Luck

Thank you, Secretary Xu. I will always remember your kindness in my heart. However, you don't need to feel guilty about this; it's not your fault, but my own responsibility. Since I made a mistake, I must naturally bear the consequences, Qin Feng said with a nod.

Rest assured, I will continue to work hard on this matter. I am heading to the county committee office right now to see the leadership. I believe that not only are you without fault in this incident, but you actually rendered a great service. I will make this clear to the county party secretary, Xu Guoli said, putting on a loyal and righteous front.

Xu Guoli exchanged many polite and flattering words with Qin Feng before leaving with Hong Haifeng. Naturally, before departing, Hong Haifeng repeatedly instructed Hongyue to take good care of Qin Feng and told her not to leave until Qin Feng was discharged from the hospital, adding that he would help her ask their head physician for leave.

Secretary Xu treats you very well. He is a rare and good leader to come and visit you at a time like this and keep helping you out, Hongyue said to Qin Feng after Xu Guoli left.

Is that so? Heh heh, perhaps, Qin Feng replied with a faint smile.

Not long after Xu Guoli left, the hospital ward was suddenly flooded with a number of leaders and doctors. The leaders personally came to visit Qin Feng, and several doctors stood by reporting on his medical condition, which left Qin Feng feeling rather bewildered.

Next, a few nurses arrived and immediately transferred Qin Feng to a VIP care ward.

It was a private single room equipped with vastly improved facilities, granting him top-tier treatment.

This... what is going on here? Hongyue asked Qin Feng in bewilderment after packing up his belongings.

How would I know? I'm completely in the dark myself. What kind of play are they putting on? Qin Feng smiled wryly.

Qin Feng was not given much time to remain puzzled. Shortly after his transfer to the new ward, a large group of leaders appeared in his room, including the county party secretary, the acting county magistrate, the head of the propaganda department, and others, closely followed by reporters from the Shannan County Television Station.

The county party secretary warmly grasped Qin Feng's hand to express his solicitude, while the television reporters and propaganda department staff behind him aimed their long lenses and flashing cameras at Qin Feng, making him feel completely at a loss. The shy Hongyue had long since retreated and hidden in a corner.

Throughout the entire condolence visit, Qin Feng's mind was entirely blank. First, it was due to nervousness; he had never seen so many high-ranking leaders in his entire life—more than half of the top brass of Shannan County were present, with a television crew filming right behind them. How could he not be nervous?

Secondly, it was because Qin Feng had no idea what had actually happened. Wasn't he supposed to face disciplinary action and blame? Wasn't he supposed to be fired? How did the situation flip so suddenly? According to the county party secretary, not only was he free of blame, but he had made a major meritorious contribution and achieved significant accomplishments. What on earth was going on? Qin Feng's mind kept racing with this question.

Because so many people had come and Qin Feng was surrounded by several leaders expressing their concern, he completely failed to notice Li Ji standing at the back of the crowd, glaring at him with venomous and resentful eyes.

Just as all the leaders were leaving, Li Ji deliberately stayed behind until the very end, at which point Qin Feng finally noticed him standing there.

What are you still standing around here for? Qin Feng asked, glaring at Li Ji.

Damn it, you really stepped in dog shit this time, you bastard. Never mind, let's wait and see, Li Ji said through gritted teeth before turning and marching out.

That guy is an absolute psycho! Hongyue said, emerging from the corner with a face full of indignation.

You're right, he is a psycho. No need to pay attention to him, Qin Feng said with a smile.

I was scared to death just now. Are those all top leaders? Why did so many high-ranking officials suddenly show up to visit you? And there was even a television crew just now, Hongyue said, her heart still pounding heavily.

I have no idea what's going on either. I feel like I'm sleepwalking.

I know why, Hongyue said with a mysterious smile.

Why?

Here, take a look, and you'll understand once you see it, Hongyue said, handing her phone to Qin Feng.

After glancing at the video on the screen, Qin Feng instantly understood why all of this had happened.

However, this only deepened Qin Feng's suspicions. Without someone pushing the matter from behind, it would have been entirely impossible to attract the attention of the television station. The fire this time was merely a minor incident resulting in no casualties or injuries. In Shannan County alone, a dozen such fires occurred every year. Why on earth would this one warrant television coverage?

While Qin Feng lay in his hospital bed racking his brain without finding an answer, Hu Jiayun sat quietly in her office working, entirely calm as if none of this had anything to do with her.

Over the past few days, aside from making a daily phone call to check on Qin Feng's condition, Hu Jiayun had not maintained excessive contact with him because she knew Hongyue was there.

Chang Yong's office was next door to Hu Jiayun's. At around three-thirty that afternoon, Chang Yong was taken away directly from his office by the public security bureau. Wang Yunfei had remained in his office with the door tightly shut all along; he had long known that Chang Yong was going to be arrested, but he had to feign complete ignorance and could not leak even a hint of wind to Chang Yong.

Naturally, Wang Yunfei was not afraid. Upon learning of the county's arrangements, he had immediately made a phone call to Li Chunsheng, who told him not to worry and to remain calm at his desk. He understood Li Chunsheng's meaning right away, and his heart instantly settled at ease.

An hour before Chang Yong was taken away, the petty hoodlum who had accepted two thousand yuan from Chang Yong to start the fire on the mountain surrendered himself to the special investigation team before the police could even track him down.

The punk had originally thought it was just setting a small fire in the mountains—how big of a deal could it be? Besides, it seemed impossible for anyone to find any evidence; once the fire burned everything down, where would they look for proof? However, he never expected that Qin Feng would be out on patrol at precisely that time and happen to run into him. Of course, he did not know that Qin Feng hadn't seen his face clearly, nor did he ever imagine that the gasoline container would escape the fire and be collected by Qin Feng.

When the punk saw the widely circulated video online, his heart began to flutter with anxiety. Early this morning, a large number of police cars had rushed to the scene of the fire, making him terrified and restless. After enduring half a day of psychological struggle following lunch, he could no longer hold out and voluntarily turned himself in to the special investigation team, confessing every detail of how Chang Yong had instigated him to set the fire and paid him two thousand yuan.

The person experiencing the most distress was Qin Feng. After the video spread widely, his phone was practically ringing off the hook. Several local media outlets requested interviews with him, which he flatly refused. Later, when these reporters tracked him down to the hospital, Qin Feng had Hongyue close the ward door. Possessing a naturally low-profile personality, he simply could not accept the idea of appearing on television.