Fifteen minutes later.

Jiao Zhengbing, the Party Secretary of Tianjing Lake Town, and the Mayor, Xia Rui, hurriedly arrived at the scene.

The weather wasn't hot.

Yet both of them were drenched in sweat.

It was apparent that they hadn't dared to delay even a minute after receiving the phone call, rushing over in haste.

Upon arriving at the scene,

they first inquired about the situation.

Then they repeatedly bowed and apologized to Chen Fang.

Chen Fang didn't say a word.

He walked straight towards the edge of Tianjing Lake.

The others could only follow behind silently.

The sewage pipeline had already stopped discharging waste, it has to be said that Jin Shuangxi's actions were quite rapid.

But the pollution on the lake's surface remained.

The putrid stench came in waves, enough to make one feel nauseous.

"Comrade Zhengbing," Chen Fang turned to Jiao Zhengbing, who was hanging his head, and asked, "I remember when I first came to Guyang City, someone told me that the water in Tianjing Lake met the standards for Grade III drinking water, which means you could just scoop up a ladle of water from the lake and drink it directly. I wonder, do the two leading officials of Tianjing Lake Town still have the guts to drink it?"

Jiao Zhengbing was visibly flustered.

He paused, then called out, "Deputy Mayor Chen..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Fang raised his voice and commanded, "Answer my question!"

Mayor Xia Rui took a step forward from the side.

He was about to speak.

Chen Fang pointed a finger at him and glared, shouting angrily, "I didn't ask you a question, let him answer!"

Jiao Zhengbing's forehead grew increasingly sweaty.

He licked his lips and said, "Deputy Mayor Chen, the... the town committee was unaware of this incident. We will definitely... definitely take serious action after we return!"

"Unaware? What a way to shirk responsibility. Since you claim ignorance, then as the chief official of this town, I see no need for you to continue in your position," Chen Fang said.

Upon hearing these words,

Jiao Zhengbing looked up.

He gathered his courage, looked at Chen Fang, and said, "Deputy Mayor Chen, the city can't just operate this way. Previously, we were pressured to deliver results, and now we're being pushed to control pollution. With the higher-ups issuing new policies every day, we at the lower levels are overburdened and stressed. You all from the top just have to give your orders, but what about us? What can we do?"

Chen Fang was taken aback by this retort.

He asked, "What do you mean 'previously being pressured to deliver results'? What are you implying?"

Just as Jiao Zhengbing was about to speak,

the sound of car horns came from behind them.

Two sedans kicked up a great deal of dust as they sped their way over.

Soon, the cars came to a halt by the lake.

The first car's door opened and out stepped Deputy Mayor Guo Linkun.

Following, Environment Bureau Director Liu Hao also got out from the second car.

Upon seeing Guo Linkun,

Jiao Zhengbing and Jin Shuangxi both seemed to have found a life-saving straw, their whole demeanor instantly relaxed.

Guo Linkun walked straight up to Chen Fang, glanced at the lake water, and said, "Deputy Mayor Chen, let's talk over there."

Chen Fang, puzzled.

Followed Guo Linkun to the shade of a large tree by the lake.

He offered Chen Fang a cigarette, which Chen Fang pushed away.

Guo Linkun lit the cigarette and said, "Deputy Mayor Chen, I've known about the pollution in Tianjing Lake for a while now, but the electroplating factory can't stop now. It must operate at full capacity until the end of the month."

Chen Fang frowned and asked, "What do you mean by that? You knew the pollution was this severe and you still approved the electroplating factory's continued operation?"

Guo Linkun nodded.

He said, "Don't get me wrong, Deputy Mayor Chen, I didn't take any favors from the electroplating factory, I'm not that kind of person. The reason I approved the continued operation is because of concerns for the GDP of the second quarter. Guyang City is now a provincially managed county-level city, and there are 21 such cities in the province. Guyang City has just entered the provincially managed list, and we can't afford to have an ugly GDP. If the electroplating factory stops, many industries under the Boiling Point Group will come to a halt, which will significantly affect the GDP figures for the second quarter."

"For the sake of GDP, you're willing to sacrifice the environment? Look at the lake, what has it become? Is this not fooling oneself? Besides, you're concerned about the GDP for the second quarter, but what about the third quarter? You can't disregard everything just for the sake of GDP, can you?"

Chen Fang asked sharply.

Guo Linkun chuckled.

He said, "Don't be angry, Deputy Mayor Chen. First of all, I am doing this for the good of Guyang City; secondly, this decision wasn't made by me alone."

His words were vague.

But Chen Fang caught the insinuation.

He paused for a moment.

He asked, "Was this order given by Mayor Dou?"

"As you know, Mayor Dou has just come to our Guyang City and also wants to make some achievements. I think this is understandable. Tianjing Lake is so vast, discharging some wastewater won't have too much of an impact. Look at the scenic area over there; the lake is still very clear."

Guo Linkun said.

Chen Fang's mouth fell open all at once.

He looked at Guo Linkun in astonishment, took a deep breath, and said, "Deputy Mayor Guo, how can you say such things? Haven't you seen the mass die-off of fish in the lake? And yes, the scenic area is clear now, but do you know how many toxic substances there are? Do you realize that soon the whole Tianjing Lake will be contaminated? Aren't you ruining the overall image of our Guyang City?"

"The environmental protection bureau has already calculated that to pollute the entire Tianjing Lake, it would take at least..."

Guo Linkun tried to defend himself.

Before he could finish,

Chen Fang said sternly, "Don't bother, I don't want to hear it."

After dropping this remark,

Chen Fang returned to the crowd from before.

Turning to Jin Shuangxi, he said, "From now on, Yongxing Electroplating Factory must cease operations immediately. Not only must you get your sewage treatment system sorted out, but you must also pay and contribute to clean up all the pollution you've caused. As for the environmental protection bureau, they should proceed as necessary with penalties and fines. I want to see who dares to neglect environmental management."

"You can't stop production!"

At this moment, Guo Linkun came back to the crowd, addressing Jin Shuangxi, "Continue production, no matter what, we have to ensure the GDP data for the second quarter."

On the scene, one Deputy Mayor, and one Deputy Mayor.

Clearly, Chen Fang held a higher position.

Yet, no sooner had he given an order than Guo Linkun dared to object, indicating that he didn't take Chen Fang seriously at all.

"I said, stop production immediately, or don't blame me for being rude."

Chen Fang repeated himself.

Guo Linkun snorted and said, "Jin Shuangxi, do whatever you need to do; Mayor Dou and I will back you whatever happens."

With such staunch support,

The fearful expression on Jin Shuangxi's face immediately evaporated.

He looked at Chen Fang provocatively and said, "Deputy Mayor Chen, I'm sorry, but I cannot disregard Mayor Dou's reputation. So, I won't be stopping the work. Next time you come to visit our Yongxing Factory, just call ahead and I, Jin, will personally welcome you..."

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