Chapter 428

Did you fall into their trap?

Chen Shaokang's nervous reaction left Lin Dongfan utterly confused.

In Lin Dongfan's impression, Chen Shaokang is not only a responsible person but also composed and calm; he didn't complain even after being suspended, facing everything calmly.

Whatever could make him nervous is surely no small matter.

Lin Dongfan guessed, "Is it a trap set by Zheng Canghai?"

"That's right."

Chen Shaokang took a deep drag on his cigarette, his expression growing increasingly grave.

He recalled solemnly: "After I was suspended, members of the Sea Dragon Society came to see me. They said that if I helped them with a task, they could not only get me reinstated but also secure my promotion."

"What did they ask you to do?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Chen Shaokang said, "They knew you bought a cruise ship and expected you to go out to sea for fun. They told me to get close to you, find an opportunity at sea to kill you."

"You didn't agree?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Chen Shaokang pondered for a few seconds, then confessed: "I agreed. At the time I thought, if I didn't agree to them, they'd just find someone else to do it. Rather than let things get out of control, it's better to get involved. Then we'll turn the tables, fabricate a scene of you dying at sea. Once I gain their trust, I'll further dig up their criminal evidence, see if we can take them all down in one go."

"Not a bad plan."

Lin Dongfan smiled, feeling he hadn't misjudged the person; Chen Shaokang is not only socially responsible but also has an unyielding stubbornness.

The reason he was suspended is surely because Zheng Canghai is pulling strings behind the scenes.

He himself understands this.

Lin Dongfan analyzed: "That old fox Zheng Canghai first used underhanded tactics to bring you down, then offered you an olive branch, hoping to win you over without effort to serve him. But you're unwilling, wanting to turn the tables and dig deep into his criminal evidence. Has your vengeful mindset been seen through by him?"

Upon saying the words 'seen through,' Chen Shaokang's face grew a bit more gloomy.

Chen Shaokang took a deep drag on his cigarette, paused a moment, then continued: "Zheng Canghai told me he already had people plant a remote-controlled bomb on your ship. He also gave me a satellite remote controller, telling me to keep close watch on your schedule. Once you go out to sea, my task is to follow you closely. At sea, I would use the remote to detonate the bomb."

"Then why didn't you follow me when I went out to sea?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Chen Shaokang said, "Later, a lackey ran over to Zheng Canghai and said the bomb planted this time wasn't remote-controlled but a time bomb that would explode on its own when the time came, needing no remote detonation."

"So what?"

Lin Dongfan felt like he was listening to a childish version of a story session.

What a boring game!

Chen Shaokang grew increasingly gloomy: "When I learned this, I panicked, rushed to the restroom to call my aunt and ask her to inform you. Now it seems this is a trap. That old fox Zheng Canghai never trusted me; he deliberately dug a hole to test my loyalty."

"I told you, he definitely saw through your vengeful mindset."

As expected, Lin Dongfan didn't find it strange.

Someone like Chen Shaokang, who takes things to heart, shows many emotions on his face, impossible to hide. Put bluntly, he doesn't know how to play along; he's not of the same ilk as those two-faced old slickers in officialdom.

Putting it even more bluntly, this guy is lacking common sense!

In a place like Haishan, no one would readily reuse someone who doesn't fit in. Whether it's police leadership or the bigwigs of the underworld, they'd see him as an outsider.

Lin Dongfan lightly patted Chen Shaokang on the shoulder.

He smiled meaningfully: "They don't trust you, but I do. As long as you follow my orders, the position of chief of the Old Dock Police Station will be yours. Want to defy fate and change your destiny?"

"Director Fan, don't joke."

Chen Shaokang smiled and took a drag on his cigarette.

He thought Lin Dongfan was just joking, so his smile was a bit wry, thinking if it were really that easy to defy fate and change destiny, that would be great.

Lin Dongfan also expected this guy wouldn't believe he had that kind of ability.

After all, in Haishan the powers that be rule with an iron fist!

To those in power, merchants are merely money‑printing machines; even the local Dragon King Zheng Canghai can't sway their will, let alone an outsider like me.

Lin Dongfan looked left and right, seeing no one around.

He then took out his work ID, held it up to Chen Shaokang, and said: "Let me introduce myself—I'm the newly appointed director of the Provincial Anti‑Corruption Bureau, Lin Dongfan."

Chen Shaokang: "……!!!"

The national emblem on the ID is solemn and dignified! The feel of the leather case is also great! The key is the agency seal inside, flawless.

This doesn't seem like a counterfeit product.

Provincial Anti‑Corruption Bureau!

Director!

Holy cow, I just went to the Mazu Temple yesterday afternoon to pray for blessings, and already the provincial bigwigs have reused me—who is that enshrined in the temple if not Mazu? It's my mother!

No!

Even my mother's blessings aren't this effective!

This surprise came too suddenly; Chen Shaokang's heart was about to leap out of his chest, unbelievable! Truly unbelievable! I can't imagine what kind of dumb luck this is.

When Chen Shaokang was so excited he didn't know what to do, he again took two hard drags on his cigarette.

He tried to soothe his excited mood with nicotine.

At this point Lao Ba chimed in: "Chen Shaokang, Director Lin has laid his cards bare, and you haven't even let out a fart—what's that supposed to mean? Don't you want to work for Director Lin?"

Hearing this, Chen Shaokang hastily protested: "No, I didn't mean that." He also gestured with his hands to show he wasn't refusing.

He took another puff of his cigarette.

After his emotions had somewhat settled, he said to Lin Dongfan: "Director Lin, I truly didn't expect it—turns out you're the real big shot, my apologies! I always thought you were just a businessman. This surprise came too suddenly, with no mental preparation whatsoever. To be honest, I wasn't even this excited when my wife gave birth to our son last year."

"I fully understand how you feel right now."

This pretense finally allowed Lin Dongfan to put on the act, and his smile was utterly content.

Lin Dongfan smiled and asked: "My identity needs to stay secret; what should we do from now on? You don't need me to tell you, do you?"

"Understood, I'll still call you Fan Zong from now on."

Saying that, Chen Shaokang tossed away the cigarette in his hand and stomped it out.

Immediately after that.

He again stood at attention, solemn and respectful, and gave Lin Dongfan a salute: "Old Dock Police Station officer Chen Shaokang, I am willing to devote myself to the 'anti-corruption and anti-crime' task! Please give instructions, Bureau Chief."

Go home and await orders!

Lin Dongfan also stood at attention and returned a military salute to Chen Shaokang.

"Received, I'll stand by at any moment!" Chen Shaokang turned and had taken only a few steps when he turned back and smiled at Lin Dongfan, silently seeming to say thank you, Bureau Chief, for your trust.

Having spent so many years at the Old Dock Police Station, his future was as bleak as a salted fish, visible at a glance.

This time Chen Shaokang truly felt the happiness of a salted fish turning over; the reason was not only that Lin Dongfan had entrusted him with important duties, but also an important factor was Lin Dongfan's special identity.

Lin Dongfan is the chief of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau!

Even thinking with his toes, Chen Shaokang could tell that Lin Dongfan had come to Haishan under an assumed name, surely to avenge the murder of the former bureau chief, Liang Wewei.

Those corrupt officials and tyrants in Haishan, their good days are over!

Chen Shaokang, feeling excited, burst into the house and shouted at his wife: "Go buy a bottle of wine and come back; tonight I want to celebrate!"

"Celebrate what? Celebrate your suspension? Or celebrate that you can't even support your wife and children? Good-for-nothing!" Wu Qin was still Wu Qin; she didn't like the name Chen Shaokang had given her—Wu Jingfang.

She went back to the room, took Chen Shaokang's pillow out, and threw it onto the living-room sofa: "From today on, you sleep in the living room; don't touch me!"

In the past, when Chen Shaokang encountered such things, he would either endure it or have a big argument.

But today he wasn't angry at all.

He only found her ridiculous.

Because he had truly grasped that lifeline that could defy heaven and change fate—"a golden scale is no pond creature; once it meets the Bureau Chief, it becomes a dragon!"

Chen Shaokang confidently laughed: "Wu Jingfang, I advise you not to look down on people with dog's eyes. Whether I, Chen Shaokang, am a good-for-nothing is not for you to say. Since you won't let me sleep in the room today, there will come a time when you will need me."