Chapter 157

Liang Jingzhong's arrival caught Gao Peng off guard.

Although Liang Jingzhong is about to be transferred, he is still Jianglan Province's number one; confronting him directly is a very foolish move.

Gao Peng, not wanting to act foolishly, instinctively stood up from his chair.

Flustered, he went forward to greet: "Secretary Liang, why are you here?"

"Don't you welcome me?"

Liang Jingzhong smiled casually, certainly wouldn't say he had received a call from Lin Dongfan last night; today he deliberately came to Nanzhou to see how you, Gao Peng, are wielding power.

Liang Jingzhong sat down in Gao Peng's chair.

He quickly shifted his gaze to Lin Dongfan, offering a faint friendly smile: "Comrade Lin Dongfan, just now you said who wants to frame you?"

Upon hearing that, Gao Peng became nervous, sweat beading on his forehead.

Before Lin Dongfan could speak.

Gao Peng hurriedly explained: "Secretary Liang, here's the situation: Yin Qiuhong's escape still has many doubts; Lin Dongfan is suspected of colluding with Yin Qiuhong, and I am about to have the City Bureau launch an investigation."

"Do you have evidence?"

Liang Jingzhong's gaze flicked over, and Gao Peng instantly became mute.

Lin Dongfan put on a wronged expression: "Secretary Liang, I really can't explain this; I'm more wronged than Dou E. Just because Yin Qiuhong didn't kill me, they suspect I secretly colluded with her—what logic is that? Do I have to die at Yin Qiuhong's gun to be a qualified good cadre?"

"Comrade Dongfan, you're overstating it; there might be some misunderstanding."

Saying that, Liang Jingzhong turned his gaze toward Gao Peng.

He meaningfully admonished Gao Peng: "Comrade Dongfan, since joining the provincial anti-corruption bureau, everyone has seen what he's done. He's caught many tigers and flies, also offended many; someone wanting to frame or retaliate against him is not surprising. Secretary Gao, you must not be led by the nose by certain people."

This formidable rhetorical skill made Lin Dongfan involuntarily feel admiration.

The big shot is just the big shot.

In speech and action, he always leaves room.

Secretary Liang, without naming names, said who was retaliating, and in various ways reminded Gao Peng not to be led by the nose; actually he was giving Gao Peng a way out.

Gao Peng wasn't so foolish as to not step down when given a way out.

He sensibly replied: "Secretary Liang's criticism is correct; in this matter… I indeed didn't consider enough, acted a bit rashly…"

"Since it's a misunderstanding, let's clear it up; you go about your business." Liang Jingzhong stood up, returned the chief seat of Nanzhou to Gao Peng, and as he walked said: "Comrade Dongfan, come walk with me."

"Sure."

Lin Dongfan immediately followed.

The big shot left, the heart‑piercing thorn in his eye also left, but Gao Peng's mood remained stuck at the bottom of the valley; he only hated himself for still being a bit impulsive, he should have waited until Liang Jingzhong was transferred out of Jianglan Province before acting.

Today, Liang Jingzhong made it clear he came to back Lin Dongfan.

Gao Peng suppressed his anger, picked up the phone on the desk, and notified Jiang Hualiang outside: "Secretary Jiang, find a way to locate Yin Qiuhong who fled overseas; bring her back alive!"

The last three words are the key; only a living person can bite.

As for whom he wants Yin Qiuhong to bite.

That is obvious.

At this moment…

Lin Dongfan accompanied Liang Jingzhong as they just stepped out of the Municipal Party Committee building; although the New Year had passed, the earth had not yet warmed, still a late‑spring chill, the wind cold enough to pierce the bones.

Lin Dongfan tightened his corduroy coat.

As they walked, he complained: "Secretary Liang, why did you just give the Gao surname a way out? Being so gentle makes me feel love‑hate toward you; I almost want to sue you to my aunt."

"You little brat, you take the advantage and still act innocent, full of bad ideas."

Liang Jingzhong explained with a pleasant face: "Gao Peng, after all, is also a provincial standing committee member; he can't be moved just yet. Giving him an exit lets your matter be put to rest, a mutual compromise."

"He won't compromise; once you're transferred, he'll surely bare his fangs and bite me."

"Hehe, you know fear now?"

"I don't fear him at all; I'll play however I want, I'll see it through to the end. My aunt already said, if anything happens, report her name. Right now I haven't even played my trump card, yet I'm already steady at the forefront."

"Your uncle Lin Zhenhua is the real trump card."

"So saying you can't handle the aunt shows you don't understand her at all. She's full of rebellious spirit, daring to seize anyone and blow them up. Your little uncle's methods aren't as wild as hers; not suitable for blowing up fish."

"You and your aunt are truly of the same ilk."

Talking about this like‑minded aunt‑nephew pair, Liang Jingzhong truly had nothing to complain about, could only laugh it off.

Unknowingly.

The two had already strolled to the Municipal Park; in the bitter cold, there were few visitors, the serene setting was actually perfect for chatting about inner thoughts.

Liang Jingzhong sat down on the bench.

He earnestly advised Lin Dongfan: "Our generation is all getting old. The Lin Family now focuses its cultivation on you; they want to transfer you to Jing. Consider this, don't make the old man unhappy."

"For now I can't go." Lin Dongfan replied without hesitation.

Liang Jingzhong looked speechless: "Aren't you afraid the old man will whip you? Earlier you promised him you'd go to the capital after closing the case."

"Shouldn't one see things through from start to finish?"

Lin Dongfan lit a cigarette.

Arguing his point: "Although Xiao Yunce has been arrested and Wang Minjuan also arrested, have any of the victims' families in Qingzhu Village thought about getting them justice? Gao Peng has no such thought; his mind only holds his own political achievements, for his own gain he even wants to shield Wang Minjuan."

Liang Jingzhong frowned: "According to you, you want to fight Gao Peng to the end?"

"The villagers of Qingzhu Village have long been ignored by the powerful and bullied. That feeling of shouting to heaven with no answer, to earth with no response—you haven't experienced it, can't understand."

Lin Dongfan slowly inhaled a puff of smoke.

Then he said solemnly: "I have experienced that; that feeling is truly desperate. I too grew up in the countryside, before becoming a son‑in‑law of the Chu family, I was constantly stepped on. Now I have turned things over; I have the ability to seek justice for them. If I shrink back, I would not be worthy of being a descendant of the Lin Family."

These words struck Liang Jingzhong's heart directly.

He thought: This kid truly lives up to being a descendant of the Lin Family.

Justice lies in my heart!

Light fills my eyes!

Liang Jingzhong gave an embarrassed smile: "These things all happened during my term in office; if the old man finds out, he'll surely scold me to death..."

This isn't your fault.

Lin Dongfan analyzed objectively: "You are the person overseeing the whole situation; your position is too high, so it's normal not to see the grassroots truth. No matter how perfect your policy plan is, once it gets down to the lower levels, wanting nothing to deviate is almost impossible. The people below each have their own ways."

"Now, have you made up your mind not to go to the capital?" Liang Jingzhong stared at Lin Dongfan and advised: "I can send someone else to handle those matters in Green Bamboo Village; you don't need to stay here personally."

"Is Leng Chuan's temper tough enough? He still wouldn't dare to confront Gao Peng head-on." Lin Dongfan said: "No matter who you send, it's useless; as soon as I leave, the affairs of Green Bamboo Village will surely be left unsettled."

Sigh, there's really nothing I can do about you.

Seeing that persuasion was useless, Liang Jingzhong also grew too lazy to advise further.

After careful consideration, I feel what Lin Dongfan says isn't without reason; the situation in Nanzhou is indeed complex. Rather than advising this kid Lin Dongfan to leave, it would be better to elevate his authority.

He pondered for a while.

Liang Jingzhong said: "Since you've made up your mind to stay in Nanzhou, give me a list, and I'll arrange it."

"What list?" Lin Dongfan looked bewildered.

Liang Jingzhong spoke bluntly: "Recently, I have already recommended your father-in-law Chu Jinsong, planning to transfer him to serve as the Municipal Party Committee Secretary in the provincial capital Wuzhou and become a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee. By then, Nanzhou will lack a foothold; you alone can't handle everything. The people on this list must be willing to cooperate with you to get things done."

Those words were so damn heartwarming, Lin Dongfan really wanted to kneel down and kowtow to him.

Call him Great Uncle!

Without a doubt, Uncle Liang intends to promote another batch before his departure, helping Lin Dongfan form a daring tiger-hunting team.

Lin Dongfan beamed with joy: "This matter concerns everyone's future; you must let me screen carefully."

"I'll give you three days; hand over the list within three days." Liang Jingzhong again reminded Lin Dongfan: "Remember, don't just look at someone's ability to get things done; also check their sense of responsibility."

When it came to that sense of responsibility, Lin Dongfan understood instantly and gave an OK sign.

Isn't it just about selecting elites in the name of the people?