Chapter 236

Lin Dongfan arrived in Wuzhou and went straight to the provincial procuratorate.

Before he even arrived, the provincial procuratorate's Prosecutor General Liu Yishou was already worried sick, hesitating whether to greet Gao Peng.

Times have changed.

Lin Dongfan is no longer the small fry he once was; he is now the team leader of the special investigation team sent by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau to Jianglan, pointing his sword at the Gao family's Heavenly Action Group.

Should he greet Gao Peng about this?

Now the province is also a muddy pool; when Liang Jingzhong stepped down, he promoted Chu Jinsong. Now Chu Jinsong's license plate is Jiang O·00009, while Gao Peng's is Jiang O·00008.

Chu Jinsong ranks after Gao Peng, not because his authority is lower.

It's only because he entered the Standing Committee a step later than Gao Peng.

In short, they are evenly matched.

They check and balance each other.

The newly arrived Provincial Party Committee Secretary, Jiang Huantian, is an inscrutable person. As the No. 1 of the Provincial Party Committee, he keeps his sharpness hidden and never speaks words that would harm unity. This bigwig seems intent on preserving the balance left by Liang Jingzhong.

Worry!

The Provincial Party Committee Secretary's attitude is ambiguous, seeming to love everyone yet also seeming to love no one.

Gao Peng and Chu Jinsong openly mock and sneer at each other whenever they disagree.

It seems neither can do anything to the other.

But now the situation is abnormal; the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau has dispatched a special investigation team to Jianglan, pointing at the Gao family group—does this mean Gao Peng's era is about to end?

Probably not.

Gao Peng's foothold in Jianglan relies on the old leader Zhou Yugang—who would dare disturb the ground under Tai Sui? The Central Anti-Corruption Bureau sending that greenhorn Lin Dongfan to investigate the Gao family group might actually be because they don't want to move against Gao Peng.

That Lin Dongfan kid must have offended someone at the Central Bureau and been kicked out as cannon fodder.

Thinking this through…

Liu Yishou again played his "keep a trick up his sleeve" routine, smoothly trapping himself in a pitfall, racing down the road of misjudging the situation.

He picked up the red desk phone and dialed Gao Peng's private line:

"Secretary Gao, the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau's special investigation team stationed in Jianglan has now arrived in Wuzhou. This time we are mainly investigating the issues between the Heavenly Action Group and the Sea Mining Group. The chairman of the Heavenly Action Group, Gao Lu, is your younger sister. Please do some ideological work on her so she actively cooperates with the superior's investigation."

As expected of someone who keeps a trick up his sleeve, Liu Yishou always leaves himself some leeway in his words.

On the surface he's asking Gao Peng to do ideological work on Gao Lu, but actually he's subtly reminding Gao Peng: your sister is in trouble, hurry up and wipe clean the stains on yourself.

Gao Peng understood immediately and replied, "Prosecutor Liu, who is leading the team?"

"Chu Jinsong's son-in-law—Lin Dongfan."

Although Liu Yishou didn't put much stock in Lin Dongfan's reckless, radical style, he did so in order to further increase his protective influence over the Gao family group.

He then deliberately emphasized: "Lin Dongfan is no longer the little shrimp he once was; he personally arrested Jia Yuzhang of the Sea Mining Group."

"I know about his arresting Jia Yuzhang."

"The Central Anti-Corruption Bureau attaches great importance to this case, Secretary Gao; please assist as much as possible and be sure to do ideological work on Gao Lu so she actively cooperates with the Bureau's investigation."

"No problem, I'll talk to her shortly."

"Alright, that'll do for now."

After sending Gao Peng a soft pillow, Liu Yishou then extended goodwill to Lin Dongfan, ostensibly aiming to offend nobody.

He summoned Leng Chuan and ordered him to personally greet Lin Dongfan.

Leng Chuan is now the director of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau.

In terms of administrative rank, Lin Dongfan certainly isn't qualified for such a reception, but as the team leader of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau's special investigation team, he is a bona fide imperial envoy whose actual authority exceeds his rank.

Having Leng Chuan personally greet him is the necessary posture for 'handing in homework' to the Central Bureau, demonstrating the importance attached to the case.

Liu Yishou repeatedly reminded Leng Chuan: "Although Lin Dongfan used to be your subordinate, he has now flown high to become a capital official; when you see him, don't put on airs."

"Not really."

Leng Chuan rarely showed a hint of a relaxed smile.

But inside he despised Liu Yishou, thinking, "You clearly know I have some history with Lin Dongfan, yet you spout this hollow talk—this act is damn fake."

Leng Chuan composed himself, glanced at his watch, and said, "Prosecutor Liu, Lin Dongfan should be arriving soon; if there's nothing else, I'll head out first."

"Go ahead."

Liu Yishou leisurely lifted his tea cup, blew on it, and said nothing more.

As soon as Leng Chuan went out, he called Lin Dongfan: "Where are you? Prosecutor Liu assigned me to personally greet you, this imperial envoy."

"I had planned to go to the procuratorate, but changed my mind at the last minute. I've already had Peng Tianhua go to the guesthouse to rest, so no need to meet." At that moment Lin Dongfan was sitting in a taxi on the way to the Municipal Party Committee compound.

Leng Chuan frowned upon hearing this and said, "What's this new act?"

"I'm returning to Wuzhou; I ought to first go see my father-in-law. I'll wait for you at his place." Lin Dongfan truly didn't treat Leng Chuan as an outsider.

"Alright."

Leng Chuan guessed at once that Lin Dongfan was going to see Chu Jinsong first, likely to feel out the province's stance so as not to make a misstep and get trapped.

This kid has learned well; his actions are becoming increasingly cautious.

Leng Chuan smiled with relief, hesitating whether to buy some gifts, since it was his first visit to Secretary Chu's residence, and showing up empty-handed would seem impolite.

He thought it over.

Leng Chuan shook his head again, thinking it better to forget it—he was going to discuss work, not to curry favor, and bringing gifts would only invite criticism.

With his frank, ice‑cold face, he thus entered the Municipal Party Committee compound empty‑handed.

Coincidentally, at the compound gate he ran into Lin Dongfan, who had just gotten out of his car.

Seeing Lin Dongfan's hands full of high‑end gifts, Leng Chuan felt as if he had taken ten thousand points of critical damage, his brows knotted in gloom: "Why didn't you say hello first?"

"What greeting?" Lin Dongfan was completely bewildered.

Leng Chuan pointed at the big and small packages in Lin Dongfan's hands and said, "Your approach makes me look like a fool who doesn't understand human relations."

"What a peculiar train of thought." Lin Dongfan smiled faintly: "You say, is it possible I went to visit my parents-in-law? The situation is different from yours."

"Whether you're visiting elders or discussing work, now you're carrying so much while I have empty hands, giving the impression that I'm clueless."

Leng Chuan rarely argues over right and wrong with others, unless the other party is a close friend.

Lin Dongfan laughed: "You've really nailed that nitpicking; I also feel you're a bit clueless today. How about you try flattering me a couple of lines? I might then share a gift with you."

"I have to flatter you?" Leng Chuan looked at Lin Dongfan as if he were a lunatic.

Lin Dongfan nodded in earnest: "I seem like an imperial envoy now; your flattery fits the bureaucratic rhythm—want to give it a try? My flattery is really easy to do."

"Your tail's stuck up to the sky—do you think you're a kite? How high you want to float, you can float?" Leng Chuan cast a contemptuous glance, turned and walked toward the Chu family: "Don't say I didn't warn you; the weather forecast says our River Waves province will be overcast, with dark clouds rolling overhead—if you float too high, watch out for lightning."

Those words carried deep meaning.

It amounted to reminding Lin Dongfan: the political ecology of River Waves is complex; one must speak and act cautiously.

Lin Dongfan followed, understanding implicitly, chatting and laughing all the way: "If I don't float at all, how would others see me as an idiot? Saying you can't keep up with the god's rhythm, you truly don't grasp pretending to be foolish while not actually being so."