Chapter 113

"Lin Dongfan?"

The Provincial Procuratorate's Liu Yishou was reporting anti-corruption and anti-organized-crime work to Liang Jingzhong when he suddenly received a call from Gao Peng; aside from being shocked, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for Lin Dongfan.

In Liu Yishou's view:

Since the 9·28 Task Force stationed in Nanzhou, Lin Dongfan has brandished the anti-corruption big knife in his hand, gaining some reputation, but Lin Dongfan remains ultimately just a small figure.

All major and minor matters of the Task Force are decided by Leng Chuan; if there's anything, one should go to Leng Chuan.

Gao Peng specifically calls for a meeting with Lin Dongfan, and his tone is quite angry.

It looks like Lin Dongfan may be in trouble this time.

Gao Peng just got stabbed in the province, and as soon as he returned to Nanzhou he specifically called for Lin Dongfan, clearly intending to find someone to vent his anger on.

Thinking of this,

Liu Yishou feigned confusion, holding his phone and retorting: "Secretary Gao, has Lin Dongfan caused you any trouble in Nanzhou?"

"The trouble he's caused me isn't little? Immediately have him come see me!"

"Secretary Gao..."

As the highest leader of the Provincial Procuratorate, Liu Yishou originally wanted to shield his subordinate, but he didn't even get a chance to intervene before Gao Peng hung up the phone.

Gao Peng is really not giving face; this shows he's determined to deal with Lin Dongfan.

Just as Liu Yishou hesitated whether to call Lin Dongfan's superior, Leng Chuan, or his father-in-law, Chu Jinsong.

Liang Jingzhong suddenly asked with a smile: "Prosecutor Liu, just now hearing you mention Lin Dongfan, what happened to him?"

"Secretary Liang." Liu Yishou thought Liang Jingzhong was just asking casually, so he kept his mouth shut: "Nothing, the subordinates acted without discretion."

"Be specific, let me hear it; I'm very interested in Lin Dongfan's affairs."

Liang Jingzhong gazed at Liu Yishou with a smiling expression.

That enthusiastic demeanor left Liu Yishou somewhat puzzled—how could Secretary Liang be so interested in Lin Dongfan's affairs? This is truly strange.

The less understandable something is, the more cautiously one must treat it.

Guided by the life principle of 'cautious sailing brings ten thousand years of safety,' Liu Yishou answered truthfully: "That kid Lin Dongfan, handling cases in Nanzhou, may have taken some overly aggressive measures; now Secretary Gao specifically demands to see him."

"In anti-corruption and anti-organized-crime work, you can't lack aggressive tactics." Liang Jingzhong smiled meaningfully: "If everyone is timid, who will dare to tug the tiger's tail?"

"Secretary Liang is right."

Liang Jingzhong's words were like a blow to the head, leaving Liu Yishou's scalp numb.

Seeing Liang Jingzhong apparently intending to back Lin Dongfan, Liu Yishou belatedly felt that Secretary Liang was determined to carry out a massive purge before leaving office.

The storms in Nanzhou are likely to continue for a while.

Having thought this through silently,

Liu Yishou cautiously sought guidance from Liang Jingzhong: "Secretary Liang, Secretary Gao specifically demands to see Lin Dongfan; I'm not sure what he specifically intends to do, please instruct."

"Lin Dongfan is a member of a subordinate department of your procuratorate; as Prosecutor General, if you can't even protect your own subordinates, how can you protect the common people?"

Liang Jingzhong's light smile was enough to send a chill down Liu Yishou's spine.

Liu Yishou gave an embarrassed laugh: "A higher rank can crush a person; Secretary Gao is, after all, a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee. Now that he's called and specifically demanded to see Lin Dongfan, I truly can't stop him."

"Comrade Yishou, a higher rank can indeed crush a person."

In the course of talking and laughing, Liang Jingzhong also realized that Liu Yishou truly lives up to his reputation of keeping a fallback—when faced with a sharp blade, he retreats a step, his mind full of ideas for getting the best of both worlds.

If you don't hit him over the head, he'll never know how clueless he is.

Liang Jingzhong again criticized with a smile: "But being afraid to tackle a tough problem is not the demeanor a leader should have."

In just a few words, Liang Jingzhong left Liu Yishou feeling uneasy and unable to sit still.

Liu Yishou, steeling himself, replied: "I reflect..."

Liang Jingzhong candidly said: "During my last inspection trip to Nanzhou, I once promised Lin Dongfan that the anti-corruption and anti-organized-crime campaign has no forbidden zones—just go ahead and act freely. I told him that as long as he himself is clean, no one can touch him. This is not only my personal promise to him, but also the Provincial Party Committee's stance on the anti-corruption and anti-organized-crime campaign."

"I understand; I'll call Secretary Gao back later."

Liang Jingzhong's words were like a sharp sword pressing against Liu Yishou's spine, forcing him to steel himself and move forward, even if it meant walking barefoot over a blade-laden mountain.

There is simply no room to retreat.

After leaving Liang Jingzhong's office, Liu Yishou called Secretary Gao on the road: "Secretary Gao, if Lin Dongfan had any overly aggressive conduct in his work, I apologize on his behalf..."

"Prosecutor Liu, why are you apologizing for no reason? Have Lin Dongfan come see me!"

The voice coming over the phone was extremely firm in attitude.

Liu Yishou, steeling himself, replied: "Secretary Gao, you are a vice-ministerial-level official, while Lin Dongfan is merely a low-ranking section-level cadre; it would be inappropriate for you to directly seek him out. If you have any work-related instructions, you can tell me directly. If it's a private matter, please go see him privately; I have no authority to interfere in private affairs."

"Prosecutor Liu, what is Lin Dongfan to you?"

"He's neither kin nor acquaintance; he's merely a subordinate of my subordinate. I've just come from Secretary Liang's office, and I hope you can understand."

"Is this Secretary Liang's intention?"

"I haven't said anything; you figure it out for now—I still have a meeting to attend on my end."

After that call, Liu Yishou felt as if he had just walked back from the gates of hell, his forehead breaking out in cold sweat.

Liu Yishou felt like the bit of cream filling in the middle of a sandwich biscuit—squeezed from both sides, his life instantly flattened, devoid of any sense of depth.

He couldn't fathom why Liang Jingzhong, who could be called a great governor of a region, would go to such lengths to protect Lin Dongfan.

In order to back Lin Dongfan.

Even if it further exacerbates his conflict with Gao Peng, he spares no effort.

Such a fact is rare.

"What special qualities does that kid have?"

Liu Yishou muttered puzzledly, thinking it over but still unable to understand, and helplessly shook his head.

On the Nanzhou side,

Gao Peng, sitting in his office, didn't take Lin Dongfan seriously at all.

Furious Gao Peng wasn't thinking that Liang Jingzhong was deliberately protecting Lin Dongfan; he thought Liang Jingzhong was deliberately making things difficult for him.

They just gave me a disciplinary action, cutting off my chances for promotion!

Now you even want to interfere when I discipline Lin Dongfan? Great! I'll just sit back and watch you step down, and see if you can still make it to the central government.

If you can't make it, just wait and see how I'll deal with your people!

He thought this far.

Gao Peng suppressed his anger and called his sister Gao Lu: 'Before Liang steps down, I can't throw my weight around. Handle your own affairs your own way.'

Before Liang Jingzhong steps down, Gao Peng ultimately still didn't dare to throw eggs at stones.

Even if his anger is bottled up to the point of bursting his liver.

He also has to grit his teeth and endure.

In this era, the provincial committee secretary has absolute authority; if the secretary doesn't permit him to take action against Lin Dongfan, he cannot take action against Lin Dongfan.

Lin Dongfan, who had just returned home, couldn't imagine that Gao Peng was so angry at being unable to touch him that he was about to burst his liver; if he knew, he would surely burst out laughing like a goose.

There are still three days until New Year's Eve.

Lin Dongfan was packing his luggage, preparing to go to the capital to watch his wife's performance.

Chu Jinsong walked to the door and asked, 'You seem low-spirited these past two days; is it because you failed to catch Yin Qiuhong, leaving you feeling frustrated?'

'A bit.' Lin Dongfan replied.

Chu Jinsong smiled and comforted: 'Escaping across the border in that situation counts as some skill; you needn't feel guilty, the responsibility for that matter isn't yours.'

'Mood is a strange thing.' Lin Dongfan laughed: 'At first I thought she had been blown up, feeling regretful. Later I learned she wasn't dead, and felt relieved. Then I thought about it, and felt a bit gloomy that she had escaped under my nose. But it's fine; I believe she will fulfill her promise.'

'Being able to let it go is good; maybe she really will send you a big surprise gift.'

Chu Jinsong also felt full of hope about this.

He also smiled and speculated: 'Xiao Yunce wanted to kill her; after she escaped, there's no reason for her to continue letting Xiao Yunce manipulate her. That big gift of hers might be evidence of Xiao Yunce's crimes.'

'We've come to the same conclusion; let's wait and see.'