Chapter 155

The three-person meeting ended unhappily.

Gao Peng's domineering, inviolable posture was deeply etched in the minds of Chu Jinsong and Leng Chuan, who initially thought Gao Peng simply wanted to deal with Lin Dongfan.

Later they discovered it wasn't that simple.

The two had just reached the stairwell when Municipal Party Committee Secretary-General Jiang Hualiang hurried up and said, 'Chu Jinsong, Leng Chuan, don't walk so fast—let me say a few words…'

'Secretary Jiang, what advice do you have?' Chu Jinsong stopped upon hearing it, maintaining a polite smile.

Jiang Hualiang advised meaningfully: 'Some matters actually still have room for maneuver. The Wang Minjuan issue—call it small, it's not small; call it big, it's not big. For some already-defined issues, why cling to them? As long as you release her, the Lin Dongfan matter can also be big or small; I can go talk to Secretary Gao about this.'

These words made Chu Jinsong and Leng Chuan suddenly realize.

It turned out Gao Peng was exploiting Lin Dongfan's loophole to force them to release Wang Minjuan.

In other words, it's a deal: you don't touch my people, I won't touch yours; if you insist on holding onto my people, I'll make you regret it!

But Gao Peng himself couldn't say these things outright, so Jiang Hualiang came over to act as intermediary.

Leng Chuan laughed and asked Chu Jinsong's attitude: 'Secretary Chu, what do you think of this…'

It's easy to see that Leng Chuan wants to compromise.

He mainly worries about Lin Dongfan's future; if Lin Dongfan falls at this hurdle, he will lose a capable subordinate, and the provincial anti-corruption bureau will also lose an anti-corruption vanguard.

But this matter leaves no room for compromise.

Chu Jinsong knows Lin Dongfan's temperament well; even if he and Leng Chuan compromise, Lin Dongfan will not.

Otherwise Lin Dongfan would not have arrested Wang Minjuan.

Lin Dongfan always acts with his own will; he wants to seek justice for the vulnerable groups in Qingzhu Village who have been bullied by powerful forces and real estate developers.

That willpower is the same as that of the Lin Family patriarch when he shouldered his rifle and went to battle.

No one can stop him!

Chu Jinsong bluntly replied to Jiang Hualiang: 'Secretary Jiang, I don't believe Lin Dongfan would secretly collude with Yin Qiurong; if you want to investigate, go ahead. But Wang Minjuan will surely face legal judgment. Whoever compromises on this matter is desecrating the spirit of the law. As a political and legal cadre, I cannot trample the law's bottom line—sorry.'

'Lin Dongfan is your son-in-law; aren't you concerned about his future?' Jiang Hualiang looked incredulously at Chu Jinsong, who was so 'unappreciative of favors'.

Chu Jinsong merely smiled and did not answer that vulgar question.

They walked out of the Municipal Party Committee building.

Leng Chuan also pursued, puzzled, asking Chu Jinsong: 'Secretary Chu, I also believe Lin Dongfan wouldn't secretly collude with Yin Qiurong; I just fear someone might exploit the situation to frame him maliciously—are you really not worried?'

'Rest assured, the innocent will clear themselves.'

Chu Jinsong indeed isn't worried—what background does Lin Dongfan have?

Some names cannot even be mentioned.

But…

Not being able to mention them doesn't mean they don't exist!

These clowns in Nanzhou's officialdom, used to acting like local emperors, would benefit from bumping into some hard thorns; once they end up with bloody heads, they'll naturally know who's hurting.

Upon returning home, it was already eleven at night.

As soon as he entered the house, he saw Lin Dongfan sitting on the sofa texting someone; Chu Jinsong asked concernedly, 'Why are you still awake so late?'

'Just chatting a few lines with an online friend.'

The QQ friend he mentioned, with the username 'Little Lemon,' is Wang Minjuan's sister Wang Minlei; they've chatted for years but remain mere online acquaintances, neither knowing the other's identity.

Lin Dongfan put away his phone and smiled, asking: 'Dad, did Secretary Gao call you over this late for a meeting just to deal with me?'

'His temper tonight isn't small—he was slamming the table and glaring…'

Chu Jinsong briefly explained the whole story.

He then added: 'At first I really had some reservations. After all, he's the head of the Municipal Party Committee; once things stall, it's bad for everyone. Later I thought, compromise isn't a solution. If he can use this to threaten us today, there will be a second and third time—we can't let him set this precedent.'

'Dad, you're right—we can't set this precedent.' Lin Dongfan said eagerly, smiling: 'I actually want to see how they'll try to arrest me tomorrow.'

'Since you anticipated this, have you already called the old master?' Chu Jinsong asked with a smile.

Lin Dongfan said: 'Secretary Liang is still in office; there's no need to bother the old master. Let me tell you a piece of gossip you don't know: Secretary Liang and my aunt are an unmarried couple.'

'An unmarried couple?'

Chu Jinsong listened, somewhat shocked; his first thought was: 'This isn't the lifestyle a system person should have, especially since both are high-ranking officials.'

If this gets out, the impact will be very bad.

Lin Dongfan, however, chuckled dismissively: 'Hard to believe? Haha, I won't say more—rest well, I'm going back to my room to sleep.'

'You little brat, you're keeping me in suspense.'

The easygoing Chu Jinsong showed no sign of sleepiness.

After Lin Dongfan returned to his room, Chu Jinsong sat alone on the sofa, smoking, pondering whether he should use the Lin Family's connections to advance a step.

The next day.

Knowing Lin Dongfan wouldn't give Gao Peng a stepping stone, so as not to hinder this kid's free rein, Chu Jinsong went early to Yinhe County for research, staying away from Nanzhou.

Everything went as he expected.

At ten a. m., Lin Dongfan was preparing to interrogate Wang Minjuan when the City Bureau's Xu Liangyuan personally led several officers to the Qinghu Guesthouse.

Before Xu Liangyuan could speak.

Lin Dongfan interjected with a laugh: 'Chief Xu, what major case is this that you personally came?'

'Don't be cheeky; hand over your current work and come with me to the Faction.'

Xu Liangyuan also wore a look of helplessness and gloom; like Leng Chuan, Chu Jinsong, and others, he believed Lin Dongfan could not possibly be secretly aiding Yin Qiurong's escape.

But Secretary Gao had issued a dead order—he had to come this trip whether he liked it or not.

Lin Dongfan asked with a smile: 'May I ask what offense I've committed?'

'You need to explain Yin Qiurong's escape,' Xu Liangyuan said with an embarrassed expression: 'Being chief isn't easy either—let's go.'

'Sorry, I can't go.'

Lin Dongfan lifted his butt and sat on the office desk.

Lin Dongfan calmly lit a cigarette.

Then, in a slow, deliberate tone, Lin Dongfan said: "Who said I secretly helped Yin Qiuhong escape? Let him step forward and say it to my face, and see if I slap his big mouth."

"You brat, can you stop stirring up trouble?" Xu Liangyuan worried sick: "I just asked you to give an explanation; before you can produce evidence, the City Bureau won't detain you."

Don't bother me with this; call the Gao over.

Please give me some face, don't go looking for trouble, okay? Constantly saying "the Gao"—what kind of talk is that? In a work setting you should use the title—Secretary Gao.

He's trying to pin the blame on me, yet I still have to be polite to him—what are you thinking? I'm not born with a cheap destiny.

Why do I feel you're scolding me?

What a huge misunderstanding—I almost thought I was arguing with you. Do you think my words have substance? If you want to claim them, I don't mind.

You brat, you're indeed scolding me.

Seeing his subordinates secretly chuckling on either side, Xu Liangyuan gave them a cold glance, and immediately those onlookers fell silent like cicadas in winter.

Unable to rein in this brat Lin Dongfan, but suppressing these few small fry nearby is more than enough.

At least he's also a bureau chief.

Xu Liangyuan again forced himself to forgive Lin Dongfan: "You brat, you're always mouthy—offending one person or another; today I won't hold it against you, so are you leaving or not?"

"Forget it, you call him over and say it to his face." Lin Dongfan sat on the desk smoking.

Xu Liangyuan was on the verge of breaking down: "Are you crazy? I'm just a minor bureau chief, and you want me to summon a Municipal Party Committee secretary to see you—why don't you ask me to pluck the stars from the sky for you?"

Can't get him to come? Fine, I'll go find him.

Lin Dongfan said he'd go and just went; this willful act left the people around him stunned.

Everyone couldn't help but think:

How stubborn can Brother Fan be? Bureau Chief Xu is willing to pluck the stars and the moon for you, because he's your father-in-law's old subordinate.

Secretary Gao isn't Bureau Chief Xu—would he also tolerate your bad temper?

Just kidding!

Xu Liangyuan shouted in desperation: "You damn thing, stand still! I'm telling you, if you keep stirring up trouble, I won't be able to help you even if I want to."

Welcome to follow along and watch the excitement.

Lin Dongfan stepped forward with steady strides, no one could stop him; in fact, he was also trying to help Xu Liangyuan break free.

So as not to have Bureau Chief Xu stuck in the middle, feeling as lowly as a grandson.

It's just a feud with Gao Peng, right?

Scared of nothing!

--PS:

This chapter is an extra installment for the brothers and sisters who smashed the urge-to-update talisman; wishing everyone a happy life.