Chapter 381

July 2013.

Lin Dongfan, who had taken a two-year leave of absence from the party school to study and earned a master's degree, returned to his post. The organization transferred him from the Anti-Corruption General Bureau to Baiyue Province, appointing him as director of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The former director of the Baiyue Province Anti-Corruption Bureau, Liang Wei, died a violent death three days ago.

On the day of the incident.

Liang Wei was riding in a government vehicle from the provincial capital Yuezhou to Haishan Shi to handle a case when, while passing an overpass, the side of the vehicle was violently struck by a large truck, causing both person and vehicle to fall from the overpass, killing him instantly.

Before departure.

Li Mingtang, worried, earnestly instructed Lin Dongfan: 'Haishan Shi is a place with fierce local customs; they have always had a spirit of striving. But that spirit is not limited to personal career struggles. When you go there, you must be extra careful and absolutely not be careless.'

'Is it fiercer than Lu Han?' Lin Dongfan asked with a dismissive smile.

Li Mingtang furrowed his brows: 'There too, officials and businessmen collude, exchanging benefits. The nature of the involved organizations is similar; they are likely involved with gangs and evil forces.'

'It's highly possible, yet you actually use such words.' Lin Dongfan smiled contemptuously: 'This shows you're just guessing wildly; you really don't know the situation there.'

Li Mingtang solemnly emphasized: 'The main difference is the environment. When you handled cases in Jianglan Province, everyone around you was someone you could trust—whether your subordinates like Jian Si-ning and others, or Yang Qing and others from the Provincial Department—they would risk their lives to fight alongside you. Haishan Shi is different; when you go there, you'll be unfamiliar with the people and place, a lone commander.'

'If you put it that way, I really feel a bit nervous.'

Lin Dongfan joked with a smile on his lips, but inside he was completely calm, thinking, 'As Little Master who has lived two lives, what kind of place is Haishan Shi? How could Little Master not know?'

For now, putting on a show of timidity is mainly to seize the opportunity to make a request.

Lin Dongfan put on an air of prioritizing the big picture and told Li Mingtang: 'Since you also know that a lone commander is hard to get things done, shouldn't you help me out?'

'I can't help you; go on your way, and may you have smooth sailing.'

Li Mingtang seemed to catch a whiff of the bloody scent of a great white shark, and turned to flee.

He hadn't taken two steps when Lin Dongfan grabbed his shoulder.

Lin Dongfan relentlessly scorned: 'My Bureau Chief, if you talk like that, it'll break my heart. I've taken you to trade stocks and get rich; these two years your life has been getting better and better—even your wife now looks at you with new eyes, not only not sleeping in separate beds but also helping you wash your feet and warm your blankets. Shouldn't you repay me?'

'How should I repay you? Invite you to a meal, yet you look down on my status.' Li Mingtang put on an embarrassed smile: 'Your staying or leaving really isn't up to me. Go forth bravely; don't act timid.'

'Did I say that?' Lin Dongfan questioned.

Li Mingtang instantly went blank: 'Could it be that you don't want me to keep you in Jingcheng?'

'Bureau Chief, you really don't understand me at all.'

Lin Dongfan quickly wiped his smile, then firmly patted Li Mingtang's shoulder, just as a senior leader presses a subordinate, making Li Mingtang feel uneasy all over.

Speaking of which, Li Mingtang really didn't dare to put on airs in front of Lin Dongfan.

The main reason is not because Lin Dongfan's background is too strong.

But stems from a profound life realization—one must hold reverence for the God of Wealth!

Yes, Lin Dongfan is his God of Wealth. If Lin Dongfan didn't take him to trade stocks, he would immediately be cut off from the rich. Should he fail to make money, returning home he'd have to watch his wife's expression.

Li Mingtang timidly asked: 'Since you don't intend to stay in Jingcheng to avoid disaster, what do you mean, Master Fan?'

'I want my troops.'

Lin Dongfan slapped a prepared work resume into Li Mingtang's hand; the resume belonged to Jian Si-ning, Lin Dongfan's junior martial sister.

Lin Dongfan righteously emphasized: 'Jian Si-ning of the Jianglan Province Anti-Corruption Bureau—take a good look at her case record; these years she has racked up many merits.'

'She's already been promoted to section chief level; Jianglan Province's Comrade Lengchuan still thinks highly of her.' Li Mingtang decisively passed the buck to Lengchuan.

From the resume, although Jian Si-ning holds a section chief rank, she is not in a leadership position.

This does not match Jian Si-ning's 'actual achievements.'

Lin Dongfan scorned: 'Don't try to fool me; in Jianglan, there are many monks but little porridge—this can't be blamed on Bureau Chief Leng.'

'Could it be my fault?' Li Mingtang put on an innocent, clueless look.

Lin Dongfan righteously laughed: 'No wonder you're a Bureau Chief—your comprehension is high; do you want to make up for your work oversight?'

Upon hearing this, Li Mingtang furrowed his brows in worry.

He thought: Jian Si-ning is a cadre of Jianglan Province; her personnel files are in Jianglan. Deciding where to place her is originally Jianglan Province's matter—none of Li Mingtang's business.

But now that Lin Dongfan has spoken, he can only grit his teeth and respond.

Li Mingtang gloomily said: 'How do you want me to make up for it?'

'It's simple.' Lin Dongfan said without hesitation: 'If we directly transferred Jian Si-ning from Jianglan Province to Baiyue Province, the difficulty would be high. I won't make it hard for you; I'll give you six months. First, request her from Jianglan Province and transfer her to work at the Anti-Corruption General Bureau. Then dispatch her to Baiyue Province to assist me.'

'Master Fan, you really know how to lower the difficulty.'

Li Mingtang agreed, laughing and crying at once, thinking you've gone around such a big circle, yet in the end you still can't let go of your junior martial sister.

Lin Dongfan urged: 'Will you or won't you? Give me a straight answer.'

'Objectively speaking, Comrade Jian Si-ning's work performance these past years is indeed noteworthy.'

Li Mingtang held Jian Si-ning's work resume and pretended to examine it.

And he launched into flamboyant praise: 'Take a look—every major case in Jianglan bears the traces of her sweat and blood. Promoting her to the General Bureau is also required by work. Right now Haishan Shi is rampant with tigers and flies, the road is blocked and arduous. What our General Bureau needs is exactly her kind of anti-corruption elite who fears neither power nor hardship.'

'That hits the spot; your assessment is quite fair.' Lin Dongfan finally laughed: 'Then I'll go ahead—I'll wait for her in Haishan Shi.'

'Safe travels.'

Li Mingtang watched Lin Dongfan walk away.

After Lin Dongfan disappeared from sight, Li Mingtang picked up the work resume in his hand, looked at it again, and sighed with many feelings, thinking Master Fan is truly a benevolent person.

Soon after.

Peng Tianhua suddenly ran over and asked: 'Director Li, where is Section Chief Lin? He just left?'

'Look at you—you didn't even hurry two steps to see Section Chief Lin off; you couldn't catch a hot bowel movement even if you ate shit.' Li Mingtang knew Peng Tianhua had a strong heart, especially after going to Jianglan with Lin Dongfan to handle cases, his clownish traits have only increased, so he didn't stand on ceremony: 'Where the hell were you just now?'

'I just went to the toilet.'

Peng Tianhua craned his neck to look at the parking lot; seeing Lin Dongfan's car had already driven off, he couldn't help but feel a bit down—indeed, he had come a step late.

Li Mingtang smiled contemptuously: 'Lazy people just produce lots of feces and urine.'

Peng Tianhua quickly straightened his posture: 'Director Li, this time I really am not slacking. I want to go to the most dangerous place and handle the toughest big case. Please grant my wish, Director Li.'

"You want to go to Haishan Shi and keep helping Lin Dongfan?" Li Mingtang asked with a smile.

Peng Tianhua replied righteously: "If I don't go to hell, who will? I have an understanding with Section Chief Lin; he senses it, he needs me."

"It's regrettable to tell you, you've already missed the chance to cling to a powerful patron." Li Mingtang patted Peng Tianhua's shoulder: "You definitely can't go to Haishan Shi, but you have the opportunity to succeed Lin Dongfan as Section Chief."

Peng Tianhua stayed in Jingcheng, got promoted, taking over Lin Dongfan's former position, and it was actually quite pleasant.

If one really followed Lin Dongfan to Haishan Shi.

Whether one could come back alive is uncertain.

No matter if you're a big official parachuted in from the capital, in the tough-and-tumble Haishan Shi, they really don't take you seriously. Anyone who knows the history knows that a special task force was once wiped out in Haishan Shi!

Lin Dongfan is versed in both civil and military affairs, capable of taking on ten opponents alone.

As for Old Peng, he's now as fat as a pig, his beer belly has evolved to look like he's pregnant, and at critical moments all he can do is take a beating.