Chapter 239: You don

The next morning.

Leng Chuan specially arranged a minibus to take Lin Dongfan and others to Nanzhou on official business.

Although Peng Tianhua, Zhang Xiaoguang, Tang Xia, and Jian Sining were meeting for the first time, it did not stop him from putting on airs; as soon as they got in the car, he handed out study materials to the three: "Young people, don't just chat and play on your phones—read more files when you have time, understand the case, and strive to be targeted."

Since Old Peng was a deputy section chief and they didn't know his temperament, none of the three dared to protest.

Lin Dongfan cleared his throat twice and gently jabbed Peng Tianhua: "Old Peng, do you think it's possible they know more about Nanzhou's affairs than you do?"

"I also know Zhuzi—does that stop me from getting hammered?" Peng Tianhua touched his already-healed forehead, as if the past tragedy were repeating.

Lin Dongfan couldn't help laughing: "With that shameless spirit of yours, next time there's an eight‑hundred‑for‑one‑hammer job, I'll still give you a discount."

"Thanks for looking after me, Director Lin—come to me and you'll be right. I'm professional at anti‑corruption, and I'm also professional at swinging the big hammer for extra cash—no nonsense."

Saying this, Peng Tianhua handed Lin Dongfan a cigarette and then produced a lighter to light it for him.

This shameless act left the upright Zhang Xiaoguang sighing: "Sure enough, money not only lets you act like a big shot, it even lets you have the leader light your cigarette."

"You don't know a hammer." Peng Tianhua replied righteously: "This has nothing to do with money; I mainly admire Director Lin's character and ability, as well as his selfless and fearless work ethic."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaoguang, Tang Xia, and Jian Sining all broke out in a collective black line.

Flattery really is a skill; seeing Old Peng's god‑level maneuver showed that as long as you have no bottom line, you can scoop up money with a sack.

Speaking of which, just how much money does Brother Fan have?

Tang Xia stared at Lin Dongfan, full of doubts, wanting to ask but not daring to speak, mainly because they hadn't worked together in over half a year and he didn't know whether Brother Fan's temper had changed after his promotion.

Tang Xia poked the arm of Jian Sining in front of him.

After Jian Sining turned around, Tang Xia leaned in and whispered: "You're Brother Fan's junior sister, you've got face—ask him how much he's worth."

"One body, one home." Jian Sining smiled sweetly.

Just as Tang Xia sat there glum and speechless,

Lin Dongfan's gaze snapped over: "Put the wealth question aside for now—talk about the Qiangsheng Petrochemical warehouse explosion. Li Chunyan has been arrested; to nail his guilt, Qian Muye of the Nanzhou High‑Tech Zone Public Security Bureau will not only use torture to extract a confession but may also coach Li Chunyan's ex‑wife to give false testimony…

"How do you know?" Tang Xia asked.

Lin Dongfan said: "Never mind how I know. Once we reach Nanzhou we'll split into three groups. Tang Xia, you and Xiaoguang go find Li Chunyan's ex‑wife and tell her to hold to her principles."

"Okay."

Tang Xia and Zhang Xiaoguang responded in unison.

Lin Dongfan then instructed Peng Tianhua: "Old Peng, I've already greeted Secretary Luo of the Nanzhou Political and Legal Affairs Commission; he'll coordinate the Judicial Department to help you. When we get to Nanzhou, you go with the Judicial Department people to the High‑Tech Zone Public Security Bureau. Take photos of Li Chunyan's injuries to prevent him from being tortured."

"No problem." Peng Tianhua gave an OK sign.

Jian Sining looked at Lin Dongfan, bewildered: "What about me?"

"You come with me to find Li Chunyan's father—Li Zhong."

In Lin Dongfan's memory, Li Zhong would go to the blast site to gather evidence; without his help, he'd find nothing.

The minibus sped down the highway.

Rain.

It ended up falling after all.

Lin Dongfan gazed out the window at the splashing world, wondering whether heaven was weeping for some people or whether certain corners of the world were too dirty and needed cleansing.

One moment of posing as a literary youth, and his whole body filled with bandit vigor.

Not doing it wouldn't be satisfying!

Lin Dongfan pulled out his phone and messaged Yang Qing: "The huge explosion at Qiangsheng Petrochemical's warehouse is a major gangland‑evil case; your Provincial Department can totally handle it as a special project. Don't just focus on matchmaking and marriage—when you have time, poke your bureau chief Qi. Let him step in and take this case, so the investigative authority doesn't fall into the hands of Nanzhou bureaucrats."

"The exact casualty numbers haven't been reported to the province yet—don't rush." Yang Qing's reply was light and casual, as if he could hold his composure.

Lin Dongfan directly replied with a middle‑finger emoji.

At this moment……

The actual casualty figures had in fact come out: four staff members dead, plus five seriously injured in hospital—just that Gao Peng was pressing down on them, and the two office staff were still researching how to write the report.

Gao Peng's mood today had sunk to the limit, his anger index fully showing in his feet.

Bang!

With a tremendous bang, the door to Gao Lu's house was kicked open.

The landlord's foolish son, Gao Shuo, nicknamed Gao Xiao Pang, was originally lying on the living‑room sofa clutching his phone, intently watching a ghost movie.

Startled by the sudden kicking‑door sound, his fat hand trembled and the phone fell to the floor.

He turned his head and saw his old uncle arriving in grand style.

Gao Shuo clutched his pounding little chest and sighed in relief: "Scared me to death—I thought it was a ghost, Uncle, could you please knock next time…

"Where's your mom?"

Gao Peng's gaze was icy and sharp as a blade, invisibly exuding a menacing fury.

This was the first time Gao Shuo had seen his uncle's face look so grim.

In astonishment,

Gao Shuo pointed weakly at the gym and said, "Weight‑loss…?"

"What are you afraid of? You're grown and have no manliness at all!" Every time he saw Gao Shuo's innocent‑looking foolish face, Gao Peng wanted to kick him: "Pick up your phone!"

"Oh."

Gao Shuo himself didn't know what he was afraid of; anyway, his heart was in a panic.

After picking up the phone.

Seeing his elder uncle already heading toward the gym, Gao Shuo again clutched his chest and breathed out, muttering anxiously: "Is the sky falling? This is terrifying…

For safety's sake, Gao Shuo hurried back to his room and locked the door.

The gym.

Gao Lu, drenched in sweat, was running on the treadmill.

Although a white sweat towel was around her neck, it still couldn't hide the layers of flesh on her neck, three layers thick; as for the flesh on her belly, how many layers it has is indescribable.

Recently, she hasn't controlled her diet, and her weight has already surpassed the 180-jin mark.

The key is that her height is only 160 centimeters.

Gao Peng frowned as soon as he saw her pig-like appearance: "Are you eating feed? In just over a month without seeing you, you've gotten this grotesquely fat!"

"If you can't speak, then don't speak—did I provoke you?!"

Nothing could interrupt Gao Lu's will to lose weight; even though she was exhausted to the point of being unable to catch her breath, she kept moving her elephant-like legs.

Each step matched her breathing rhythm, and she had already run herself into experience.

Gao Peng wore a black face and directly scolded Gao Lu: "What's good to play with, you actually play with bombs! Four people are dead now—do you want to get shot?!"

"Are you sick? I've never played with bombs."

"Yesterday the ethylene warehouse at Qiangsheng Petrochemical exploded—do you dare say it has nothing to do with you? I'm the head of Nanzhou, and you blew up a warehouse on my turf; the first one to take responsibility is me!"

The angry roar echoed through the gym.

Gao Lu turned off the treadmill, picked up the towel around her neck, wiped sweat while saying: "It's really not me who ordered the warehouse bombed; it's the people below who don't understand things and failed to gauge the situation properly."

"You really know how to pick a time!" Gao Peng shouted, veins bulging: "You didn't act earlier or later, but you chose to strike just when the Anti-Corruption Bureau dispatched personnel to Jianglan Province!"

"Is it just Lin Dongfan?" Gao Lu sneered: "Besides digging up people's ancestral graves and smashing their ancestral homes, what else can he do? He's just a greenhorn—nothing to fear."

The more Gao Peng listened, the angrier he got: "Even now, you still don't realize how serious the problem is! Even if he's talentless, he's now wielding the imperial sword and coming to Jianglan!"

"So what if he's gotten the imperial sword?"

Gao Lu gave a faint smile.

She then continued analyzing the current situation: "Before, it was Liang Jingzhong and Chu Jinsong protecting him, allowing him to jump around. Now Liang Jingzhong has already been transferred away from Jianglan Province; as for Chu Jinsong, although he has climbed to a position comparable to yours, he's now in Wuzhou and has no authority to interfere in Nanzhou's affairs. Today's Nanzhou is not a place where Lin Dongfan can just jump around as he pleases. If he doesn't behave, I'll make him regret coming to Nanzhou!"