Chapter 1011

Meng Qinghe's roar was deafening!

Translation: Meng Qinghe's roar was deafening!

We need to keep exclamation mark. Ensure we keep the same punctuation.

Fu Xinping trembled with fear, quickly lowered his head, and dared not speak.

Translation: Fu Xinping shuddered all over, quickly lowered his head, and dared not make a sound.

"What makes me angrier is!" Meng Qinghe's voice grew louder, burning with rage: "You caused the trouble yourself, and now Lin Dongfan is getting serious—you come running to tell me?!"

Translation: "What makes me angrier is!" Meng Qinghe's voice grew louder, burning with rage: "You caused the trouble yourself, and now Lin Dongfan is getting serious—you come running to tell me?!"

"What makes me angrier is!" Meng Qinghe's voice grew louder, burning with rage: "You caused the trouble yourself, and now Lin Dongfan is getting serious—you come running to tell me?!"

Check: The Chinese has an exclamation after the first quoted phrase, then a colon, then second quoted phrase with question and exclamation marks. We'll keep similar.

「！！！」

Translation: "!!!"

We need to keep the quotes and exclamation marks.

Fu Xinping still kept his head down, not daring to meet Meng Qinghe's gaze.

Translation: Fu Xinping still kept his head down, not daring to meet Meng Qinghe's gaze.

Meng Qinghe was fuming: "What background does Lin Dongfan have? You don't even know? Once he gets serious, even the municipal Party secretary Guo gets put on leave! Can I handle this? Your actions are so despicable—coming to talk to me in the middle of the night—are you trying to drag me down too?!"

Translation: Meng Qinghe was fuming: "What background does Lin Dongfan have? You don't have a clue? Once he gets serious, even the Municipal Committee Secretary Guo gets put on leave! Can I handle this? Your situation is so terrible, you come to talk to me in the middle of the night—are you trying to drag me down too?!"

We need to keep the quotes and punctuation.

"Mayor Meng, I didn't mean that."

Translation: "Mayor Meng, I didn't mean that."

Fu Xinping kept his head lowered, trembling, not even daring to breathe.

Translation: Fu Xinping lowered his head trembling, not daring to take a breath.

Meng Qinghe stared fixedly at Fu Xinping before him, his anger nearly bursting forth; he truly wished he could slap this clueless bastard to death.

Translation: Meng Qinghe stared fixedly at Fu Xinping before him, his inner anger nearly bursting forth; he really wanted to slap this clueless bastard to death.

"You're damn bold!" Meng Qinghe gritted his teeth: "How did I tell you to behave? Keep a low profile, don't bring trouble on yourself! But you—you go ahead and cause trouble despite the risks!"

Translation: "You're really bold as hell!" Meng Qinghe gritted his teeth: "How did I tell you before? Keep a low profile, don't bring trouble on yourself! But you—you go ahead and cause trouble against the wind!"

「！！！」

Translation: "!!!"

Fu Xinping was scolded like a grandson, and didn't dare utter another word.

Translation: Fu Xinping was scolded like a grandson, and didn't dare utter a sound.

After the tirade, Meng Qinghe still had to face a harsh reality—if Fu Xinping fell into Lin Dongfan's hands, that bastard's role as the behind-the-scenes boss would be exposed! Then he too would suffer the consequences. In short, the two are now tied together like grasshoppers on a rope.

Translation: After the scolding, Meng Qinghe still had to face a harsh reality—if Fu Xinping fell into Lin Dongfan's hands, that bastard's role as the behind-the-scenes boss would be exposed! Then he too would suffer the consequences! In short, the two of them are grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

We need to keep the em dash and exclamation marks.

He pondered for a moment.

Translation: He pondered for a moment.

Meng Qinghe softened his tone, but his face remained grim: "Lin Dongfan bypassed the municipal bureau and asked the provincial department to set up a task force—clearly to investigate you! Your top priority now is to immediately cut ties with Chen Cheng!"

Translation: Meng Qinghe eased his tone, but his face remained grimly frightening: "Lin Dongfan bypassed the City Bureau and asked the Provincial Department to set up a task force—clearly he's investigating you! Your top priority now is to immediately cut ties with Chen Cheng!"

Fu Xinping blinked: "Cut ties? How? What's my connection with him..."

Translation: Fu Xinping stared for a moment: "Cut ties? How? My involvement with him..."

"How to cut ties?" Meng Qinghe interrupted him, eyes sharp as a knife: "Exactly how to do it is your own business! Is it appropriate for you to ask me about this?"

Translation: "How to cut ties?" Meng Qinghe interrupted him, eyes sharp as a knife: "Exactly how to cut ties is your own business! Asking me about this—is that appropriate?"

"I understand."

Translation: "I understand."

Fu Xinping still kept his head down, thinking the ideal way to cut ties would be to make Chen Cheng disappear from this world entirely—only the dead keep silent.

Translation: Fu Xinping still kept his head down, thinking the ideal way to cut ties was to make Chen Cheng vanish from this world entirely! Only the dead won't talk.

But right now, the situation is completely under Lin Dongfan's control!

Translation: But right now, the situation is completely under Lin Dongfan's control!

Trying to eliminate Chen Cheng under Lin Dongfan's nose is no small feat.

Translation: Trying to get rid of Chen Cheng under Lin Dongfan's nose is no small feat.

Just as Fu Xinping was pondering how to act,

Translation: Just as Fu Xinping was pondering how to proceed,

Meng Qinghe added: "Also, don't lose your composure! Tomorrow, go to work as usual, handle your duties, and don't show any panic. Tomorrow I'll visit Secretary Guo to see his stance. I'll discuss the specific solution after meeting him."

Translation: Meng Qinghe added: "Also, don't lose your composure! Tomorrow, go to work as usual, handle your duties, don't show any panic. Tomorrow I'll go see Secretary Guo to gauge his attitude. The specific solution, I'll tell you after I meet him."

"Understood, thank you, Mayor Meng."

Translation: "Understood, thank you, Mayor Meng."

Fu Xinping quickly nodded, still scheming in his mind how to get rid of Chen Cheng.

Translation: Fu Xinping quickly nodded, still scheming in his mind how to eliminate Chen Cheng.

"You go back first."

Translation: "You go back first."

After seeing Fu Xinping off, Meng Qinghe spent a sleepless night.

Translation: Seeing Fu Xinping off, Meng Qinghe spent a sleepless night.

The next morning, early.

Translation: The next morning,

At dawn, Meng Qinghe changed into a proper suit and drove to the municipal Party committee's residential compound. After being placed on leave by the provincial Party committee, Guo Binghua had been staying home, tending flowers and walking his dog.

Translation: At dawn, Meng Qinghe changed into a proper suit and drove to the Municipal Party Committee residential compound. After being placed on leave by the Provincial Party Committee, Guo Character had been at home tending flowers and walking his dog.

Note: Guo Binghua is translated as Character per glossary.

Meng Qinghe believed that, regarding this matter involving Fu Xinping, Guo Binghua would not stand idly by.

Translation: Meng Qinghe believed that, regarding the Fu Xinping matter, Guo Character would not stand idly by.

The reason is simple!

Translation: The reason is simple!

Fu Xinping was a cadre promoted by Guo Binghua himself; if Fu Xinping gets into trouble, Guo Binghua will inevitably bear responsibility for faulty personnel selection.

Translation: Fu Xinping was a cadre promoted by Guo Character himself; if Fu Xinping got into trouble, Guo Character would certainly bear responsibility for faulty personnel selection.

For Guo Binghua's political career, this would undoubtedly be a fatal blow.

Translation: For Guo Character's political career, this would undoubtedly be a fatal blow.

When Meng Qinghe knocked on Guo Binghua's door, Guo Binghua was practicing tai chi in the courtyard.

Translation: When Meng Qinghe knocked on Guo Character's door, Guo Character was practicing tai chi in the courtyard.

Seeing Meng Qinghe, Guo Binghua blinked, stopped his movement, and said, "Old Meng, why are you here so early? What's up?"

Translation: Seeing Meng Qinghe, Guo Character paused, stopped his movements: "Old Meng, why are you here so early? Anything up?"

"Secretary Guo, something big has happened!" Meng Qinghe said with an urgent expression.

Translation: "Secretary Guo, something big has happened!" Meng Qinghe looked anxious.

Guo Binghua replied, "Let's talk inside."

Translation: Guo Character said: "Let's talk inside."

"Hmm."

Translation: "Hmm."

Meng Qinghe followed Guo Binghua into the living room.

Translation: Meng Qinghe followed Guo Character into the living room.

Getting straight to the point: "During Mayor Lin's inspection in Jinxian County, he arrested a man named Chen Cheng and had the provincial department set up a task force to dig deep into the protective umbrella behind him. Comrade Fu Xinping is linked to Chen Cheng, and I fear we may not be able to contain this. I'm worried it could implicate you, so I rushed over to report."

Translation: Getting straight to the point: "Mayor Lin, during his inspection in Gold Brook County, arrested a man named Chen Cheng and requested the Provincial Department to set up a task force to dig deep into the protective umbrella behind him. Comrade Fu Xin has ties to Chen Cheng; I fear this may not be containable. I'm worried it could implicate you, so I rushed over to report."

Guo Binghua's hand holding the tea cup paused, his face gradually darkening: "Fu Xinping? What's his relationship with Chen Cheng?"

Translation: Guo Character's hand holding the tea cup paused, his face gradually darkening: "Fu Xinping? What's his relation to Chen Cheng?"

"This is Along story..."

Translation: "This is Along story..."

Meng Qinghe briefly explained Fu Xinping's shielding of Chen Cheng and accepting benefits.

Translation: Meng Qinghe briefly explained Fu Xinping's cover-up for Chen Cheng and acceptance of benefits.

He especially emphasized: "Secretary Guo, Fu Xinping is someone you promoted. If he gets into trouble, Mayor Lin will surely seize the opportunity to accuse you of improper personnel selection. You've only just arrived in Wuzhou, your base isn't solid yet—if Lin Dongfan catches you on this, it could be very detrimental to you."

Translation: He especially stressed: "Secretary Guo, Fu Xinping is someone you promoted. If he gets into trouble, Mayor Lin will surely seize the opportunity to accuse you of improper personnel selection. You've only just arrived in Wuzhou, your foothold isn't solid—if Mayor Lin catches you on this, it would be highly detrimental to you."

Guo Binghua fell silent, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

Translation: Guo Character fell silent, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

He certainly understood Meng Qinghe's meaning and was clear about the stakes involved.

Translation: He naturally understood Meng Qinghe's meaning and was clear about the stakes involved.

Lin Dongfan has been aggressively pursuing anti-corruption and anti-crime campaigns; the number of people he has taken down is already enough to fill several mahjong tables.

Translation: Lin Dongfan has been aggressively pursuing anti-corruption and anti-crime campaigns; the number of people he's taken down already could fill several mahjong tables.

If Lin Dongfan uses Fu Xinping's case as material,

Translation: If Lin Dongfan were to use Fu Xinping's matter as material,

then Guo Binghua would also be unable to escape a blow—not only would his reputation be ruined, but his political future would be completely destroyed.

Translation: then Guo Character would also be unable to escape a blow—not only would his reputation be ruined, but his political future would be completely cut off.

"Lin Dongfan's background isn't simple, but it's not without weaknesses," Guo Binghua said solemnly: "He's a man of deep loyalty and gratitude, especially toward his mentor, whom he always feels thankful for. If his mentor were to step forward and say a few words, perhaps this matter could be suppressed."

Translation: "Lin Dongfan's background isn't simple, but it's not without weaknesses." Guo Character spoke slowly, his tone grave: "He's a man of loyalty and righteousness, especially grateful to his mentor. If his mentor were to step forward and say a few words, perhaps this could be suppressed."

"Are you referring to Secretary Luo of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission?" Meng Qinghe questioned: "Secretary Luo has always been a strong supporter of Lin Dongfan; at this critical juncture, would he come out to support you?"

Translation: "You mean Secretary Luo of the Provincial Political Commissar Fa?" Meng Qinghe doubted: "Secretary Luo has always been a strong supporter of Lin Dongfan; at this critical juncture, would he stand up to back you?"

"You'll know only if you try."

Translation: "You'll know only after trying."

"Secretary Guo, what you mean is..."

Translation: "Secretary Guo, what you mean is..."

"Now that things have come to this, we can only seek help indirectly." Character raised his head, eyes firm: "I'll go see Secretary Luo Xiang later. Whether reasoning or discussing interests, we must get him to give face; don't let Lin Dongfan make things too extreme."

He paused, then looked toward Meng Qinghe: "On your side, keep a close watch on Fu Xinping. First, do not let him escape; if he runs, all responsibility will be confirmed. Second, have him quickly cut ties with Chen Cheng. Third, soothe his emotions, don't let him talk nonsense, and even more, don't let him implicate others."