Chapter 480

On the way back to Hai'an Guoji Dajiudian with Guo Lichun in custody, Lin Dongfan received a call from Chen Shaokang.

It was very bad news.

Chen Shaokang led his team to Villa No. 9 of the Seaside Mountain Villa, but came up empty! In other words, Chen Nianian had already fled a step ahead.

As for whether Chen Nianian has escaped Haishan City.

It cannot be confirmed yet.

Chen Shaokang, feeling ashamed, reflected on the phone: "When we interrogated Zheng Canghai earlier, Zheng Canghai had already warned me. He said Chen Nianian was monitoring our actions, telling me not to leave the hotel, and that only external borrowing of your bodyguards could be used to make the arrest. I didn't report this detail to you earlier, leading to the current situation."

Upon hearing this, Lin Dongfan also found it hard to criticize.

It's completely understandable for Chen Shaokang to act this way: first, bodyguards lack law enforcement authority and can only assist police as citizens, cannot act alone; second, Chen Shaokang has just been promoted and needs to demonstrate his resolve and ability in anti-corruption and anti-crime through concrete action, so he ought to be on the front line.

The fundamental reason for not capturing Chen Nianian is not failing to heed Zheng Canghai's advice.

But rather that the arrest plan was not thorough enough.

Put bluntly, Chen Shaokang has long worked as a grunt at the grassroots level, never served as a commander, and lacks experience in deploying forces.

Adding to this, his eagerness to accomplish big deeds and earn great merit has led to the current situation.

Lin Dongfan comforted him over the phone: "Don't rush, Chen Nianian shouldn't be able to escape Haishan; redeploy a search operation. If necessary, you can request assistance from the local police. Now Guo Lichun has been apprehended by us, Secretary Yu has full control of the overall situation, and the local police should fully assist you."

"I'm going to find Secretary Yu right now."

"Mm."

From the tone of Chen Shaokang's voice on the phone, one could sense a frantic anxiety, which made Lin Dongfan more certain of his judgment: Chen Shaokang is indeed eager to prove his ability.

He is still too young, unable to stay calm.

He thought about it for a moment.

Lin Dongfan then called Xie Xiaofeng: "Old Xie, Chen Nianian has fled; deploy all the brothers from the Security Department to assist in the manhunt. Remember, after locating Chen Nianian, do not act on your own; just keep him under surveillance, then notify Chen Shaokang to make the arrest."

"Understood, any other instructions?"

"Just this matter, act immediately."

Lin Dongfan hung up after saying that.

The Security Department's over two hundred brothers had previously been divided into several functional teams, stationed like sentries throughout every corner of Haishan City.

Their knowledge of the local underworld's movements can be described as intimate.

From a certain perspective, they understand Chen Nianian better than the local police; regardless of whether the police assistance meets expectations, Chen Nianian cannot escape, and Lin Dongfan is confident of this.

Guo Lichun, held in custody in the rear seat.

Hearing this, he suddenly laughed and remarked: "Chen Shaokang's handling of the case is inadequate; you not only refrain from criticizing him, but also secretly send your own people to assist him. You neither hurt his pride nor deprive him of a chance to earn merit—you're quite righteous."

"I'm not being righteous; I'm just doing what I can, doing what I ought to do."

"Exactly, you're a self-important official; how could you admit to having any jianghu righteousness? Regardless of whether you admit it, I still appreciate your conduct today."

"If you're trying to give me a love potion, I advise you to save your effort, lest you waste your time—I would never let you go."

"You're overthinking."

"Hehe, that's perfect."

"There's something I've never been able to figure out; can you answer me one question? Let me die with understanding."

The rear seat space is limited; Guo Lichun, sandwiched between two prosecutors, can no longer lounge about as he used to.

He stared fixedly at Lin Dongfan sitting in the passenger seat.

Waiting for Lin Dongfan's response.

As the car moved, Lin Dongfan's eyes were not idle; he continually monitored the outside environment, guarding against any potential risks, including prisoner escape.

He saw no suspicious individuals along the roadside.

He also confirmed that no tailing vehicles appeared in the rearview mirror.

Only then did Lin Dongfan relax his nerves and reply: "What do you want to ask?"

"You're the director of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau; why are you engaged in business? As far as I know, your net worth is at least hundreds of billions, all legitimate?" Guo Lichun wore a puzzled expression.

Lin Dongfan smiled without hesitation: "First answer your second question—it's all legitimate. As for why I can engage in business, isn't that thanks to you? You should understand."

"Understood; the merchant identity is merely a disguise for your true identity."

Saying this, Guo Lichun felt immense regret, thinking that despite his lifelong cleverness, he had ultimately failed to see through the other's undercover ploy and had been led around in circles.

Guo Lichun inwardly concealed his worries.

He then said:

"You assumed the name of a merchant and registered Zhengtong Capital."

"But Zhengtong Capital is not a true state-owned enterprise; you hold absolute controlling shares as the major shareholder, while the Provincial SASAC merely holds a symbolic 6% stake."

"Put bluntly, the Provincial SASAC merely steps forward to endorse you and cannot interfere with your decisions."

"This is what I cannot understand."

"When you snatched projects in Haishan, you showed no mercy; this is not merely acting as an undercover operative—you are a genuine businessman."

Upon hearing this, Lin Dongfan smiled and asked: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"On the surface, you went undercover as a merchant to fulfill the anti-corruption mission; in reality, you came to Haishan as an undercover operative to engage in business, am I right?"

Guo Lichun kept his eyes on Lin Dongfan's reaction.

Seeing Lin Dongfan smile without speaking.

Guo Lichun then affirmed his suspicion and added: "Your abnormal attitude cannot escape my eyes, nor can it escape the notice of the superiors. Yet the superiors did not call a halt, allowing you in Haishan to wildly snatch project contracts, set up subsidiaries, and even give away ocean-going fishing vessels worth tens of millions as if they were nothing. Who is the big figure behind you? Don't say you have no backing—what you've done is certainly not something ordinary people could back."

Lin Dongfan laughed: "Speaking of this, I ought to thank Secretary Wang for his strong support in my work."

"Is the big figure behind you Wang Daochen?"

Guo Lichun was slightly startled.

Afterwards, he pondered and shook his head: "Wang Daochen couldn't possibly back this; you bear the surname Lin, and above Wang Daochen there is also a great figure surnamed Lin—could it be that…"

Having said that, Guo Lichun did not continue.

They already had the answer in their heart.

Suddenly, they self-mockingly laughed: "The higher-ups really think highly of me, Guo Lichun, actually sending someone like you, born with a red family genealogy, to arm-wrestle with me."

"With your political wisdom and courage, if you don't go astray, you should achieve great things." Lin Dongfan gave an objective assessment.

Guo Lichun, however, did not think so.

They chuckled lightly in return: "Having wisdom and courage does not equal having opportunity. 'Achieving great things'—these four words only suit someone like you. For someone of my ordinary background, if I don't harbor ulterior motives, I will likely spend my whole life at the grassroots level. Being promoted to section chief is already the limit; I won't have any great achievements."

Upon hearing that, Lin Dongfan merely smiled and did not continue the conversation.