Chapter 312: Flirtatious Veteran Driver and the Golden Peach

Boss, is my cake ready?

It's ready. The birthday candles are over there; help yourself.

This Western-style cake shop is just over a hundred meters from the Municipal Party Committee compound.

The boss is called Qin Jie.

She's a very sexy person who also knows how to enjoy life; she doesn't open for business when it's windy or rainy, nor when she has her period, and she works three days and rests two.

She seems to have opened the cake shop just to pass the boring time.

She also doesn't offer delivery.

Her monthly earnings are estimated not to cover the utilities and rent, yet she never seems short of money—the BMW 5 Series parked at her shop's entrance is her car.

Lin Dongfan didn't expect attentive service either; he grabbed a few birthday candles himself and casually remarked, "Qin Jie, with competition this fierce, your service attitude won't do."

What kind of service attitude do you want then?

Qin Jie leaned lazily against the cash register, casually tossing her ear-length hair; with every frown and smile she exuded an irresistible charm.

Too bad she couldn't sway Lin Dongfan.

In Lin Dongfan's world, any random girl he pulls out feels more substantial than her; it's not that she isn't pretty, but she gives off a vulgar, flashy vibe, lacking a noble air.

Just like a karaoke hostess stepping out of a KTV VIP room.

Looks very high-end.

Deep down, she actually harbors a gene for vulgar charm, like a cancer cell—once it takes root in her bones, there's basically no chance of redemption.

Lin Dongfan joked, "As long as you don't poison my cake, that's the best service."

"Your demand is too low, lacking ambition—can't you make a more outrageous special request? Try it; maybe I'll make your wish come true." Qin Jie smiled like spring.

Lin Dongfan replied, "My demand isn't low—this morning someone tried to poison me. I'm lucky; my colleague got hit instead. He's still in the hospital getting his stomach pumped."

"Who would've thought that people with iron rice bowls also have a high-risk job." Qin Jie laughed, "Don't worry, I'd never poison someone as handsome as you—eat up."

Thanks, and may your business thrive.

Really couldn't stand her constant flirtatious airs, Lin Dongfan picked up the cake and left.

On the way home.

Lin Dongfan didn't think the cake was anything strange.

That evening the whole family gathered around a table, opened the exquisite cake gift box, and prepared to light the birthday candles to celebrate the mother-in-law's birthday when everyone was shocked by an explosive scene.

On the cake sat a peach the size of a fist.

But it wasn't an ordinary peach.

"Dongfan, what are you up to? How did you manage a golden longevity peach?" Chu Jinsong, sharp-eyed, immediately saw it was a pure gold peach.

Chu Jinsong asked with a smile, "Want to give your mom a surprise? She doesn't like these things."

"No way..."

Lin Dongfan was genuinely a bit dazed.

Shen Junlan asked in surprise, "This glittering golden longevity peach—wasn't it you who prepared it?"

"I just ordered a plain fruit mousse cake for over a hundred bucks." Lin Dongfan's words left everyone staring at each other, the atmosphere plunging into dead silence.

Being an official's family, this is no small matter—it smells of bribery.

Chu Jinsong had the housemaid fetch the kitchen's electronic scale, weighed it, and exclaimed, "Good grief!" This golden longevity peach weighs 888 grams, worth about 250,000 at today's market price.

A greeting card was stuck on the cake.

Lin Dongfan picked it up and examined it closely, utterly speechless.

Chu Jinsong asked, "What does it say?"

"Section Chief Lin, a small token, nothing much." After Lin Dongfan finished reading, he handed the card to his father-in-law Chu Jinsong; the card bore no signature indicating who sent it.

Chu Jinsong solemnly asked Lin Dongfan, "Do you know who sent this?"

Lin Dongfan shook his head: "Whoever sent a peach worth 250,000 isn't trying to curry favor—they're trying to frame me."

When Lin Dongfan, Chu Jinsong, and Shen Junlan were worried.

Chu Lingxi blurted out, "The golden peach isn't edible, but the cake is fine, right? Mom, do you still want to light the candles and make a wish? If not, I'll dig in."

"Someone's trying to frame Dongfan, and you still have the mind to eat cake?" Shen Junlan's face showed the helplessness of failing to discipline her daughter.

Chu Lingxi replied dismissively, "With Dad around, you won't need to rack your brains— as the histories say, the inner court must not meddle in politics."

Saying that, Chu Lingxi stabbed a fork down and shoved a small piece of cake into her mouth.

Shen Junlan, at a loss for words, shook her head, turned and patted Chu Jinsong's shoulder: "Handle the golden peach matter yourselves, I won't interfere."

Chu Jinsong reminded Lin Dongfan, "Either send the golden peach back or turn it over to the organization."

I'll first go ask Qin Jie at the cake shop.

Lin Dongfan hadn't eaten a bite of cake, clutching the 888‑gram golden wave as he rushed to the cake shop, just in time to catch Qin Jie preparing to close up and head home.

Seeing Lin Dongfan approach.

She chuckled and asked Lin Dongfan, "What's wrong? Is my cake not tasty?"

"What's going on?"

Lin Dongfan took out the 888‑gram golden peach from the bag.

Qin Jie gave a faint smile, lowered the rolling gate, and said while locking up, "A big shot sent you a gift—you're not happy about that?"

"Who sent it?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Qin Jie locked the door, rose, and fixed an earnest gaze on Lin Dongfan: "If I say I don't know that person, would you believe me?"

"I believe you about as much as a hammer—spit it out already." Lin Dongfan's tone turned stern.

Qin Jie frowned: "I truly don't know who that person is; this afternoon he ran into my shop and told me to put this golden peach on your cake."

"Big sis, you're too funny—if they tell you to place it, you just place it?" Lin Dongfan questioned doubtfully.

Qin Jie spoke righteously: "How would I know whether this is something you guys agreed on? You people in the system, isn't this how you usually operate? I'm just a ordinary citizen; I don't dare to provoke you."

"Qin Jie, you're a smart person, don't do something stupid." Lin Dongfan warned: "If you can't explain today where this golden peach came from, then the person suspected of bribery is you. Understand?"

"I really don't know who that person is." Qin Jie put on an innocent look: "That person looked about your age, a man, also quite handsome, and the accent doesn't sound like someone from our Wuzhou."

"Was the greeting card written by you, or by him?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Qin Jie replied without hesitation: "He told me to write it, if……"

"What if?" Lin Dongfan urged: "Speak up quickly."

Qin Jie doubted: "You wouldn't really be afraid to accept even a single golden peach, would you? If you're worried about trouble and need me to testify, I'll cooperate with you."

"You're really something, doing whatever others tell you to do—no brains?"

"I really thought this was something you and that person had worked out together—what kind of person are you? Even if you gave me a hundred guts, I still wouldn't dare to offend you."

"Oh come on, earlier you were asked to deliver a cake and you didn't, and now you claim you don't dare to offend me?"

"Ha ha, not delivering the cake was just me being lazy; that doesn't affect your revenue. But this golden peach is different—if I don't agree to put it in, you'll be missing one golden peach. I can't afford that loss."

"Does your shop have any surveillance?"

"No."

"When I asked who the other party was, you said you didn't know; when I asked if your shop had surveillance, you said no. You're being so uncooperative—how can I believe you?"

"How about… you come sit in my car? I'll let you test my sincerity."

Qin Jie flicked her long hair, and all kinds of charm spread out under the streetlight, emitting a faint fragrance of perfume; she truly knows how to wield a woman's ultimate weapon.

I don't know which driving school she graduated from, but her driving skills are so proficient.

Lin Dongfan gave her a contemptuous glance, turned and walked away: "If I got in the car with you, I'd probably be dead by tomorrow."

"Section Chief Lin, you're a grown man, why are you so timid?" Qin Jie laughed and shouted: "If you don't say anything and I don't say anything, who would know about getting in the car?"

"!!!"

Lin Dongfan did not respond further to her provocation.

Just as he reached the entrance of the Municipal Party Committee compound, a Maybach parked at the curb suddenly honked; inside sat a man about the same age as Lin Dongfan.

He rested his left elbow on the car door.

He took a puff of a cigarette.

Then he called out to Lin Dongfan: "Section Chief Lin, since you don't like the gift I gave you, let's get in the car and talk."