Chapter 503

Li Mingtang - already.

The tea had just been finished when a knock finally came from outside. He lifted his wrist to check his watch; it had been exactly half an hour. He couldn't help but smile again; he hadn't expected Mr. Wei to be so punctual.

none.

Li Mingtang set down his tea cup and straightened his posture.

none.

Wei Shouqin, Lin Dongfan - Lin Dongfan given.

Li Mingtang greeted with a smile: "Wei Ting, how have you been?"

"Director Li, I'm not late, am I?" Wei Shouqin walked forward nervously, the faint smile on his face somewhat awkward, every pore showing tension.

Li Mingtang had long been used to such scenes.

In the past, those summoned by the Anti-Corruption Bureau mostly showed this nervous demeanor, few could truly stay calm in crisis.

Li Mingtang got up to refill the tea: "Right on time, have a seat."

Hmm.

Wei Shouqin glanced at the chair before the desk, then turned to look at the sofa against the wall behind, hesitating where to sit, as Li Mingtang had risen and left his office seat.

After Li Mingtang finished refilling the tea, Wei Shouqin still stood there like a student who'd done something wrong.

Li Mingtang couldn't help smiling: "Don't be nervous, have a seat."

This time Li Mingtang waved to indicate the spot, sat on the sofa. Wei Shouqin then found his place and nodded with an "hmm."

The sofa was soft.

But this feeling of sitting on pins and needles was obviously unpleasant.

A full bureau-level official, Wei Shouqin was also a prominent figure in Baiyue Province; today he was completely rattled, utterly unaware of what fate awaited him.

He asked timidly: "Director Li, why did you summon me today?"

Don't be nervous, relax.

Li Mingtang picked up the tea, blew lightly a few times, took a sip, still a bit hot.

Then he set the tea down on the table.

He then spoke formally to Wei Shouqin: "Wei Ting, how have things been with your wife lately?"

!!!

Talking about feelings? Seems like a lifestyle issue, but no, even if I had lifestyle problems, that's for the Discipline Inspection Commission, not something the Anti-Corruption Bureau should handle.

Damn, could he be trying to worm information out of me?

Having thought this through, Wei Shouqin steadied himself and firmly replied: "My relationship with my wife has always been good; we've been married over twenty years, never had a quarrel."

"I heard you've always wanted a child but your wife can't bear one; you have no thoughts on that?" Li Mingtang asked with a smile.

Wei Shouqin also chuckled: "Such things can't be forced; what could I think? I couldn't divorce my wife just because she can't have kids—I value feelings. To abandon a marriage like that, frankly, I couldn't do it."

Hearing that, Li Mingtang laughed again, thinking, "Damn, you really can act."

"Then what's your relationship with Liu Qingmei?"

"Just an ordinary friend."

"Just an ordinary friend? Wei Ting, think before you answer; I heard she calls you 'husband' in public."

"There's some truth to that, but not exactly."

"How so?"

"She's mentally unstable; when she has an episode she calls anyone 'husband'. Having such a friend, I can't do anything about it."

Wei Shouqin said it as if it were true, wearing a look of rueful resignation.

Li Mingtang lifted his tea to wet his throat, then spoke unhurriedly: "Wei Ting, as far as I know, Liu Qingmei has never worked since graduation, has no stable income, her family is ordinary, her parents live in the countryside. Yet today she bought a necklace worth over a hundred million at the Rui Bao Ge auction."

"Is that true?"

Wei Shouqin put on a look of shock.

Li Mingtang asked with a smile: "You don't know?"

"Director Li, I really don't know!" Wei Shouqin shook his head repeatedly, then asked in surprise: "Where did she get that much money?"

"I also want to know where she got that money, which is why I called you in to talk." Li Mingtang set down his tea cup, his smile fading, his expression turning grave.

He stared directly at Wei Shouqin's eyes: "Wei Ting, help me analyze where that hundred million came from."

"I really don't know about that."

As soon as his words fell, Wei Shouqin felt a chill inside; Li Mingtang's sharp gaze was like a knife, silently saying: "Try being stubborn again, see if I don't cut you down!"

"That's the gaze of a judge!"

"Dignity without anger!"

This also made Wei Shouqin realize a grave problem: he must never admit it, even if beaten to death!

"Today whoever yields first will become the other's bone underfoot! The essence of the summons is intimidation—plainly put, the other side still lacks solid evidence!"

"If the other side had evidence, today wouldn't be a summons but an arrest!"

Having thought this through, Wei Shouqin steeled himself, putting on a thoughtful guise as he randomly speculated: "Director Li, could the truth be like this? The necklace purchase—she was actually acting on someone's behalf. Perhaps some big boss had no time to attend the auction, so he entrusted her to bid for him."

"Is that so?"

Li Mingtang saw through it but didn't expose it.

He then half-smiled, offering a warning to Wei Shouqin: "Wei Ting, an elder once told me: in life, the most important thing is to seize opportunities, including the chance to recognize and correct mistakes, to cherish them as you go."

"That elder makes perfect sense; I fully agree."

Wei Shouqin nodded, seeming to have understood, feeling moved.

At this point Li Mingtang also saw that this guy was being obstinate today, refusing to confess! Well then, since you won't take the step offered, we'll just take our time.

Li Mingtang said calmly: "Besides, today Liu Qingmei came here to publicly accuse Comrade Lin Dongfan; as her friend, could you persuade her not to be so rash?"

「Report Director Lin? 」

Wei Shouqin again wore a look of surprise.

Knowing full well, he pressed Li Mingtang: "What did she report Director Lin for?"

"Today Comrade Lin Dongfan auctioned his own watch at the Rui Bao Pavilion auction, fetching an astronomical price of 250 million, and she reported Comrade Lin Dongfan for taking bribes under the table."

Li Mingtang quietly observed Wei Shouqin's reaction.

Wei Shouqin frowned, then put on a helpless look: "One watch, auctioned for an astronomical 250 million. Director Li, I'll pluck up the courage to say something I shouldn't, but Director Lin's nerve is too great."

"What do you mean?"

Li Mingtang further probed Wei Shouqin's attitude.

Wei Shouqin put on a righteous front: "Director Li, since you've brought this up, I'll do my best to persuade Liu Qingmei. But I can't guarantee she'll listen to me, after all..."

"After all what?"

"After all, 250 million is no small sum; if she holds evidence of Director Lin's bribery, I can't just rush in to help Director Lin put out the fire—this, after all, is illegal and against discipline."

When mentioning illegality and indiscipline, Wei Shouqin gave Li Mingtang a meaningful glance.

This attitude undoubtedly is a counterstrike aimed at Li Mingtang—Old Li, do you know what you're doing? You're engaging in illegality and indiscipline!

Li Mingtang, who understood the hint, replied with a faint smile while holding a hundred thousand yuan note: "Since you don't want to persuade, I won't force you—you may go."