Chapter 251: Xiao Gao, you must prioritize the bigger picture!

It's hard to tell true from false, human faces are full of deceit……

No.

Wrong channel.

Nanzhou's Number One Boss Gao doesn't understand Cantonese songs.

Once again: 'I want a life that bursts forth in bloom, like soaring through the vast sky, like wandering the boundless wilderness, possessing the power to break free from everything……'

The night is cool as water.

Gao Peng stood by the window, looking down at the neon‑flickering Nanzhou night view.

His mood was extremely heavy.

Flying is definitely out of the question; the vast sky is utterly useless.

This life, treading on thin ice, cracks with a 'crack' after treading on and on—the thin ice beneath suddenly gives way to a merciless huge hole, leaving one panicked.

At this moment, Gao Peng felt he was really like a hippopotamus.

Because the hippopotamus is the most embarrassing mammal in the world.

Hippo Brother can't stay on shore too long; if he does, his skin will dry out and then he'll kick the bucket.

At the same time, it can't be too arrogant in the water, because it naturally lacks the ability to swim; if it mistakenly enters deep water, it might well drown.

So……

I, am I aquatic or terrestrial?

Now Gao Peng is torn over this question: if he says he's terrestrial, he can't stand the sun's blazing; if he says he's aquatic, he dares not venture into deep water.

Ever Sand Group's Wang Minjuan came out of the room wearing a sexy set of pajamas.

She wrapped her arms around Gao Peng's waist from behind.

She asked softly, 'Still thinking about Zhao Lianyue's arrest?'

'How could I not…'

This beauty's gentle embrace also couldn't let Gao Peng relax his brows.

Gao Peng pushed away the jade hand clasped around his waist, sat down on the sofa, lit a cigarette, took two deep drags, and exhaled what seemed not smoke but the pent‑up anger in his chest.

Wang Minjuan also sat down beside him.

Wang Minjuan also, half‑smiling, advised Gao Peng: 'Didn't Gao Lu say it? It wasn't she who ordered the warehouse blast; it was her subordinates acting without restraint. Whoever did the bombing, arrest whoever did it—what's there to worry about?'

'You make it sound easy, but Lin Dongfan's coming to Nanzhou this time clearly means he wants to investigate our Gao family.' Gao Peng took another two sullen drags on his cigarette: 'On this matter, he won't let it go.'

'His father‑in‑law Chu Jinsong has already been promoted, so why is he still meddling in Nanzhou's muddy waters?' Wang Minjuan looked puzzled.

Gao Peng had also thought this over many times.

He felt this time it probably wasn't Chu Jinsong trying to stir things up, since Chu Jinsong can't command the Anti‑Corruption Bureau; rather, the higher ups likely want to use the Gao family as a sacrificial lamb, but the Gao family is merely cannon fodder.

Xiang Zhuang's sword dance, aimed at Pei Gong—the higher ups' true target is probably the veteran leader Zhou Yugang.

All this stems from the state‑assets embezzlement case involving the Sea Mining Group.

Given how widespread this matter is, it's inadvisable to speculate recklessly about the higher ups, and Gao Peng also finds it inconvenient to tell Wang Minjuan his true suspicions.

Gao Peng casually remarked: 'Lin Dongfan is nothing more than a knife in someone else's hand; that kid acts impulsively, without regard for consequences. The Bureau sent him to Nanzhou just to see if he can beat the old masters to death with his fists.'

'Didn't you send people to protect him? Just find a chance to send him away—one fell swoop.'

Wang Minjuan recalled the scene when Lin Dongfan first arrested her.

In her heart, resentment welled up; if it weren't for Gao Peng's all‑out protection, she would have already been sentenced to death, and now she hardly has a chance to sit here and enjoy life.

However, Gao Peng still felt cautious about 'sending Lin Dongfan away.'

Killing is easy, but the aftermath is hard.

Gao Peng flicked off the ash from the cigarette's end, took another deep drag, and said slowly: 'No rush—first let's see if Lin Dongfan can pry open Zhao Lianyue's mouth.'

'If we can't kill him, we'll follow due procedure.' Wang Minjuan proposed: 'Bring back the overseas fugitive Yin Qiuhong and have her accuse Lin Dongfan of rape and abetting escape.'

!!!

This again hit Gao Peng's sore spot.

As early as last year, Gao Peng had secretly ordered Jiang Huailiang to have people track down Yin Qiuhong's whereabouts and demanded a live capture, insisting she be brought back to the country.

Now, over half a year later, they still haven't discovered which country Yin Qiuhong is hiding in.

Yin Qiuhong lives up to her former role as a public security leader.

Her counter‑espionage skills are certainly not weak.

Gao Peng said: 'Your Ever Sand Group also has overseas branches; you're not lacking in funds or manpower—help investigate Yin Qiuhong's whereabouts.'

'All right, I'll handle the Yin Qiuhong matter.'

As for Gao Peng, Wang Minjuan is now utterly loyal; she clearly knows that if Gao Peng falls, she won't escape death either—they're both grasshoppers on the same rope.

Wang Minjuan walked to the back of the sofa.

She massaged Gao Peng's shoulders and added another suggestion: 'Secretary Gao, if we really can't find Yin Qiuhong, it's not that there's no way at all.'

'What other way is there?' Gao Peng asked.

Wang Minjuan laughed: 'There's no man who doesn't love a beautiful woman; just find a decent‑looking beauty to throw herself into his arms, and I don't believe Lin Dongfan can remain chaste in her embrace.'

Gao Peng laughed: 'Wouldn't that just be letting that kid off easy?'

'Compared to our futures, giving her a woman is nothing.' Saying this, Wang Minjuan shifted gears: 'I'm afraid that if we send away Lin Dongfan, the Anti‑Corruption Bureau will just send another to take his place, clinging to the Nanzhou matter and not letting go—then we'll face new troubles.'

These words struck Gao Peng's heart.

Even if we settle Lin Dongfan, this will only treat the symptoms, not the root, because the problem's source isn't Lin Dongfan himself but the higher ups.

'Go take a shower first.'

Gao Peng stubbed out the cigarette butt in the ashtray.

He rose and returned to his room.

He closed the door and dialed Zou Yugang's phone.

As soon as the call connected, Gao Peng put on a sincere smile: "Senior leader, I'm Gao Peng; calling you so late is truly urgent, I have no choice."

"Is it that the Anti-Corruption Bureau isn't giving you face?" a deep voice came over the phone.

Gao Peng replied sheepishly:

"Senior leader, you are far-sighted; nothing can be hidden from you. Today I personally went to find the head of the special case team, Lin Dongfan; that kid is a clueless hothead. For now I really can't do anything about him."

"Don't worry, the business of your Gao family's Tianxing Group and Hai Kuang Group is legal and compliant. Let them investigate if they want; when they find no evidence of embezzling state assets, they'll naturally back off."

"What I'm worried about now isn't that."

"Then what are you worried about?"

"In Nanzhou's high-tech zone, an ethylene warehouse of Shengsheng Petrochemical exploded, killing four and injuring five. The person in charge of the high-tech zone, Zhao Lianyue, has already been taken away by the special case team; I'm worried Zhao Lianyue won't withstand the pressure. If Zhao Lianyue talks, my sister Gao Lu could get into trouble, and the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Gao Peng, in doing things you must prioritize the big picture; do you need me to teach you?"

"What do you mean?"

"If you want me to call off the special case team and halt the investigation, I can only say you're naive. Since we can't disband the special case team, what should we do? Do you really need me to teach you?"

"I understand, you should rest early, good night."

After hanging up the phone, Gao Peng's mood had plummeted into an abyss.

This call made him realize two problems:

One, trying to solve the problem at its root is impossible! Put bluntly, even the senior leader Zou Yugang is now in a passive situation.

Two, we must prioritize the big picture!

And what is meant by prioritizing the big picture is to know how to timely eliminate hidden dangers, even if that hidden danger is his own younger sister Gao Lu; when it needs to be dealt with, it must be dealt with, cannot be left for the New Year.

Officialdom is ruthless.