"Miss Hongyan, what time is it now, and you're still lying to me?"
Chen Feng replied without thinking.
If only three had died, Zhao Hongyan wouldn't have been so terrified.
"I dare not say."
Zhao Hongyan trembled even more violently.
"If you dare not say, you must say it. If you don't say it and the higher-ups are alerted, even if I find a way, it will be too late."
Chen Feng stated directly.
"More than sixty people died."
Zhao Hongyan dared not look at Chen Feng.
Chen Feng's heart also sank when he heard this.
According to relevant Chinese regulations, the death of 30 people must be reported to the capital immediately.
With over sixty deaths in the Zhao family's mine disaster, even a deity couldn't save the situation.
"Miss Hongyan, you and your father must discuss this. One of you will have to take the blame. Not only will someone from your Zhao family have to take the blame, but I will also have to take the blame. The death of over sixty people is a very serious matter."
Chen Feng said with a solemn expression.
"Chen Feng, if it were before, I would have done so without hesitation. But this time, it's truly unfair, and I'm not reconciled..."
Zhao Hongyan cried even harder.
"What do you mean?"
"It's like this, Chen Feng, you previously said that the Zhao family would shift its profit focus from the mining industry to the financial industry. My father and I both believed you and did as you advised. Therefore, during this period, the Zhao family's mines were gradually sealed off. Who would have thought that a group of people would secretly enter the sealed mine to excavate..."
Zhao Hongyan said with a look of grievance.
"Miss Hongyan, to be honest, if only a few people had died, the responsibility could have been easily shifted. But with so many deaths at once, it's impossible to shift the blame. Alas, the Zhao family is truly unlucky to encounter such bizarre events. Hmm, I'll think about it carefully... How about this, let's keep it a secret for now and then slowly figure out a way."
Chen Feng hesitated for a moment but decided to break the rules to help the Zhao family.
It was also to help himself.
With so many deaths in the mine disaster, if the higher-ups found out, it would be a major stain on his career.
This wasn't the most critical point. The most critical point was that this mine disaster was fundamentally different from ordinary mine disasters.
Strictly speaking, this mine disaster had nothing to do with the Zhao family.
The responsibility entirely lay with the sixty-odd miners who had died. They had torn open the seal and gone down to excavate privately, resulting in the mine disaster.
It was precisely because of this special circumstance that Chen Feng decided to go along with it and deceive the higher-ups.
Of course, if the mine disaster was caused by the Zhao family, he would not be able to reconcile with his conscience if he went along with it and deceived the authorities. He would have to uphold justice.
Even if it meant a severe blemish on his career, he couldn't afford to overlook it. He had to uphold justice.
If he didn't do so, he would be letting down the deceased miners.
"The news has already been blocked. Only a few of us know about the mine disaster. But the problem is, such a major event cannot be kept secret for long."
Zhao Hongyan replied anxiously.
"We cannot forcibly block it. The more we forcibly block it, the less effective the blockade will be."
Chen Feng said calmly.
Although Chen Feng was trembling all over, he had to maintain his composure.
With such a significant event, if he lost his cool, his career prospects could be ruined forever.
"Husband, I don't understand what you mean by that. If we don't forcibly block it, can it really be blocked?"
Zhao Hongyan asked with confusion.
"Throw money at it, throw money at it madly. First, give each of the informed individuals one million yuan immediately, and if the news does not leak, reward them another million. Second, hold a large-scale event in the city tonight to draw everyone's attention. This way, the attention on the mine disaster will be significantly reduced."
Chen Feng stated decisively.
"Husband, this method is good. But it will cost quite a lot of money, won't it?"
Zhao Hongyan asked in a low voice.
"It will indeed cost a lot of money, but no matter how wrongly spent, the money must be spent. Otherwise, either you or your father will definitely go to prison for life. Is money more important, or is a person more important? I don't need to tell you; you should be able to figure it out."
Chen Feng said seriously.
"Husband, whether it's me or my father, we can definitely understand. We just feel very unwilling and wronged. This matter has absolutely nothing to do with the Zhao family, yet we have to pay such a heavy price."
Zhao Hongyan replied dejectedly.
"This is the political arena in China. It doesn't matter if you did it or not; as long as you can legitimately take the blame. In China, when nothing is happening, everyone can be carefree and leisurely. But once something happens, someone must take the blame. You and your father feel wronged. Do we, the officials, not feel wronged? As officials, if any major incident occurs within our jurisdiction, we are almost guaranteed to be disciplined, euphemistically termed 'responsibility system.' Forget it, as long as the matter can be resolved with money, it's not all bad. The worst thing is when money cannot solve the problem."
Chen Feng advised Zhao Hongyan to look at it optimistically.
"I understand, husband. Your words make me feel much better."
Zhao Hongyan smiled helplessly.
"Don't worry, the Zhao family has lost quite a bit of money this time. However, they can protect you and your father from going to prison and ensure the stable situation in Wuzhou District. In no time, the lost money can be earned back."
Chen Feng continued to comfort Zhao Hongyan.
"I believe that. Alright, husband, I'll go arrange it now. I'll have people prepare enough money, and I'll go talk to the informed individuals one by one."
After speaking, Zhao Hongyan left the office directly.
Chen Feng didn't hesitate and went directly to find Qin Yan.
With such a major event happening in Wuzhou District, he had to discuss it with Qin Yan.
"Chen Feng, you are too daring! An incident involving over sixty people, and you dare to conceal it from the higher-ups. If you report it truthfully, you will bear no responsibility, and I and the Zhao family will take the blame. But by concealing it now, all the responsibility falls on you."
Qin Yan said with a serious expression.
"I know all of this."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"Since you already know, why are you still doing this? Isn't this foolish? You are meant to do great things in your career, so how can you be so soft-hearted?"
Qin Yan was both surprised and pleased.
She was surprised by Chen Feng's immense courage.
In recent years, no one had dared to conceal a major incident involving over sixty people. This was a red line in politics; whoever touched it would die.
Yet, Chen Feng had touched it.
She was pleased because Chen Feng could have easily shifted the blame to her and the Zhao family, but he didn't.
From this perspective, Chen Feng was truly loyal and righteous.
"Director Qin, to be honest, the reason I dared to defy public opinion and conceal this major incident involving over sixty people was indeed that I did not want to see you and the Zhao family suffer misfortune. However, more importantly, it is from the perspective of the overall situation."
Chen Feng explained with a solemn expression.
"Overall situation?"
"Yes, the overall situation. If this mine disaster was due to the Zhao family's poor management, I would definitely not conceal it; the Zhao family would have to pay the price, and Wuzhou District would have to pay the price. Only then would everyone be vigilant and avoid similar tragic mistakes in the future. However, this incident has absolutely nothing to do with the Zhao family. The Zhao family had sealed off the mines. Based on this, I chose to conceal it. Otherwise, even if beaten to death, I would not have abetted evil and concealed the matter. Wuzhou District has been developing rapidly recently. If this matter were to get out, the higher-ups would scrutinize Wuzhou District closely. Once under scrutiny, the development speed would definitely slow down. Politics is like this; once you are targeted, it means you are being targeted. And if you are targeted, it means that no matter what you do, they can find fault with it."
Chen Feng explained patiently.
"Since that's the case, I agree to your concealment. But the problem is, how can such a major event, with over sixty deaths, be concealed?"
Qin Yan asked anxiously.