Chapter 4: Lin Dongfan, Unable to Shirk Duty

Behind the Southern Electric Assets Case, it's Xiao Yunce, who holds real power, fanning the flames; it can be said to be coming with great force, clearly intending to knock Chu Jinsong down in one go.

Under the shroud of this terrifying atmosphere.

Now, in the entire Nanzhou officialdom, almost everyone thinks Chu Jinsong is doomed this time, each eager to distance themselves from Chu Jinsong.

This is also one of the things that makes Shen Junlan feel most hopeless.

Lin Dongfan's appearance has brought Shen Junlan some spiritual comfort, however small. What she tastes is not chicken soup, but the warmth and coldness of human relations in this world; each mouthful is a medley of flavors.

Shen Junlan took a bottle of wine from the liquor cabinet: "Dongfan, keep me company with a drink."

"Sure."

Lin Dongfan truly does not treat himself as an outsider.

He had long known that Teacher Shen, though sentimental, does not like pretentious people, and it's better to be natural in front of her.

"Today you can come visit me, I'm really happy."

Shen Junlan first filled Lin Dongfan's cup with wine, then added a small half cup for herself.

When she drinks, she is elegant, taking just a little each time.

That little bit is enough for her to savor all the spiciness and satire of the world, especially now, in this cold-hearted time when the tree falls and the monkeys scatter.

She set down her wine glass and gave Lin Dongfan a side dish: "Just treat this as your own home, don't stand on ceremony."

"Mm, thank you, Teacher Shen." In the course of chatting and laughing, Lin Dongfan seized the opportunity to appeal to familial feelings: "In this world, you are the second person to give me a side dish, a bit like my mother."

"Missing home, huh?"

Shen Junlan didn't yet know Lin Dongfan's family background, so she asked casually.

Lin Dongfan readily shared his background: "I'm a local of Nanzhou, a wild child raised in the countryside. My parents have been gone for many years; now I'm the only one left at home."

"Come, eat more."

This appeal to kinship undoubtedly awakened Shen Junlan's maternal radiance.

Upon hearing that Lin Dongfan had no parents, Shen Junlan's face filled with pity. She directly moved the plate of stir-fried beef that Lin Dongfan liked in front of him.

She looked after Lin Dongfan like a mother.

"Thank you, Teacher Shen; please drink more soup to nourish your injury."

Lin Dongfan then ladled some soup for Shen Junlan.

Shen Junlan ate while sighing: "Now my family's Old Chu has run into this trouble; this lifetime is basically over. That you can come see me in this situation makes me truly happy."

Lin Dongfan smiled faintly: "This is what I should do; when Secretary Chu was in office, he treated us well."

"People's hearts aren't comparable; when my family's Old Chu held great power, some people received huge benefits, but they aren't as grateful as you are."

Saying this, Shen Junlan downed the wine in her cup in one gulp, seeming to harbor deep resentment.

Upon hearing that, Lin Dongfan immediately knew who she was mocking.

He hurriedly topped up her wine.

Going along with the topic, he recommended himself: "Teacher Shen, there's no need to worry about this. Coincidentally, I also have no parents; if you don't mind, from now on just treat me as your son to command. For anything, just call me."

"Really a silly kid."

The originally low-spirited Shen Junlan was coaxed into smiling with brows relaxed and eyes bright.

Shen Junlan laughed: "Everyone else seeks high ground, water flows low; you, on the other hand, run toward whichever household is unlucky, not seeking promotion or wealth."

"What is destined will come; what is not destined cannot be forced." Lin Dongfan picked up some vegetables, eating and chatting: "I think a plain, uneventful life is also fine, without so many worries."

"You're pretty open-minded."

Shen Junlan looked at Lin Dongfan, and the more she looked, the more pleasing he became to her eye.

Thinking of the out-of-contact Old Chu, Shen Junlan's face clouded with worry again: "My waist injury is nothing; it's just that my family's Old Chu..."

"Does Secretary Chu also have an injury?" Lin Dongfan asked, puzzled.

Shen Junlan frowned, unrelenting: "My family's Old Chu has a bad heart; when he was taken away, they didn't bring any quick-acting heart-saving pill. Facing intense interrogation, who knows if it might trigger a heart attack. Earlier I wanted to ask someone to go to the provincial capital to deliver medicine to him, but nobody wanted to get involved in this mess, and now I have no recourse."

"Where is the medicine? I'll go deliver it to Secretary Chu right now."

Lin Dongfan immediately put down his utensils.

"You really are a silly kid."

The inherently melancholic Shen Junlan set down her utensils and sat upright, quietly appreciating the vigorous Lin Dongfan.

Laughing and laughing, tears welled up in her eyes again.

She couldn't help but wonder:

"Why is this world so unfair? Ungrateful people thrive, while this pure-hearted silly kid remains unknown in the workplace."

"Now the Xiao faction has its sights set on the people of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

"If this silly kid runs to the provincial capital at this critical juncture, it's tantamount to running into a gun barrel; his future prospects would likely be completely ruined on this hurdle."

"The Chu family owes this silly kid neither gratitude nor grudge, but we cannot let him take this risk."

Upon thinking this, Shen Junlan pulled out a tissue to wipe her tears: "Forget it, delivering the medicine was basically a pipe dream."

"How come we're forgetting again?" Lin Dongfang looked bewildered.

Shen Junlan sighed helplessly: "This isn't something you should do; just eat your meal properly." Saying that, she added some more vegetables to Lin Dongfan's bowl.

"I've said it before—you can treat me as your son to command; your affairs are my affairs."

Lin Dongfan rose to his feet, unable to shirk his duty.

Shen Junlan laughed through tears: "How can you be so stubborn, kid? Even if you went, you wouldn't see him, and how would you give him the medicine? Listen, sit down and eat properly."

"Quick-Acting Heart-Saving Pill, right? I'll go buy it at the pharmacy."

Saying that, Lin Dongfan didn't eat his meal, turned and left.

Shen Junlan chased him all the way to the door: "I told you you can't go, come back quickly... Dongfan! If you keep refusing advice, I'll get angry..."

"When it's a matter of life and death, I can't just stand by and watch you anxiously at home; go back inside and rest."

Lin Dongfan ran faster and faster, and in an instant broke free of Shen Junlan's obstruction range.

Shen Junlan stood at the courtyard gate, tears and a bitter smile, watching his fading silhouette: "Silly kid, if you'd come to my house a few years earlier, you wouldn't be so unknown at work..."

The outdoor sun blazed like fire.

Only after returning indoors did Shen Junlan realize she hadn't even left a phone number for Lin Dongfan.

She called her daughter Chu Lingxi: "Lingxi, when are you coming back home? I still don't know how your father is. Forget it—Li Hengbo is just an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. Just now Dongfan went to bring medicine to your father; you might not know him, he's a minor staffer at the Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

The call got cut off midway.

Section Chief Leng of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission's special task force showed up at the door with his team, knocking and calling, "Teacher Shen."

"Please come in."

This was Shen Junlan's second encounter with Section Chief Leng; the first had been three days earlier, when he and his team came to her house to gather "evidence" against Old Chu, almost tearing the place apart.

Although Shen Junlan felt no goodwill toward them, she remained courteous on the surface.

Upon entering, Section Chief Leng noticed two sets of chopsticks on the table and, understanding the situation, asked Shen Junlan, "Was Lin Dongfan just here?"

"I'm injured—someone came to visit me. Is that also a crime?" Shen Junlan's face flushed with mild anger: "He's never received any favor from my husband Old Chu, and today is actually his first visit to my home."

"Teacher Shen, did you know Lin Dongfan is speaking up for Chu Jinsong's injustice?" Seeing Shen Junlan's face darken in surprise, Section Chief Leng smiled again: "From your reaction, I take it you didn't know."

"What are you trying to do?" the emotionally sensitive Shen Junlan exclaimed angrily on the spot: "Dongfan's just an insignificant nobody—do you really intend to go after him too? Don't overdo it! I warn you lot, if you keep wiping everyone out, you'll invite revenge!" Shen Junlan grew more worked up as she spoke, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Teacher Shen, please calm down first."

To avoid any further misunderstanding, Section Chief Leng spoke bluntly: "To be frank, it's precisely because Lin Dongfan is righteously demanding justice for Chu Jinsong that we want to look into the matter further. For now, we haven't ruled out the possibility that Chu Jinsong may have been wronged. We came today simply to re-examine the data on your home computer."

Upon hearing Section Chief Leng's words, Shen Junlan's emotions eased considerably.

She also felt relieved in her heart:

I never expected that foolish kid Dongfan would dare, at such risk, to speak up for Old Chu's injustice—and that very act would draw the attention of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission's special task force.

Shen Junlan steadied herself, pointed to the study, and said, "The door's unlocked; the computer's inside—feel free to have a look."