Chapter 523: with translation of chapter title

How about you come back in a few days to investigate?

When Wei Shouqin said such nonsense, Lin Dongfan's face clearly showed some disappointment, and Peng Tianhua couldn't be bothered to waste words with Wei Shouqin.

You think anti-corruption is a game?

You brought pals to drop by?

If it's inconvenient for you, we'll have to come another day, right?

Peng Tianhua took Lin Dongfan aside and whispered: "Director Lin, I really brought a metal cutter—how much to cut the safe?"

"What price?" Lin Dongfan didn't react at once.

Peng Tianhua grinned: "Before, swinging a big hammer earned a hardship fee—eight hundred per strike. Now I've upgraded to a metal cutter; I can't possibly lose money, right? Buying equipment costs money."

"Your grandma's old cold legs! Your boss is the organization, the people—not me! Every time you act, you demand money from me—do I look like a sucker?" Lin Dongfan restrained the urge to beat Peng to death.

Peng Tianhua turned and glanced at the others.

He felt there was a risk of the news leaking.

He then pulled Lin Dongfan a few steps back and whispered: "In my heart, you're as towering and majestic as the People's Heroes Monument—how could you be a sucker?"

Lin Dongfan brusquely shook off Peng Tianhua's hand: "Cut the crap, I've got no money!"

"I'll lower the price—six hundred per cut."

Peng Tianhua shamelessly held up six fingers, treating the leader as his boss at the crucial moment, and he did so without hesitation.

If Jian Sining saw this, she'd definitely roll her eyes at him.

Too bad Jian Sining wasn't there.

She was still rummaging through the next-door bedroom, having just found a videotape in the nightstand, the box labeled in black ink with seven characters: "First Form of the Two Hua Shan Elders."

Instantly she imagined the shameless Hua Shan Dragon Claw Hand.

She couldn't help but curse: "Scum!" Then she opened the wardrobe and continued searching for Wei Shouqin's incriminating evidence, leaving no corner unchecked.

Over in the study.

Peng Tianhua was still haggling with Lin Dongfan: "Master Fan, six hundred is already cheap—I spent several thousand on that handheld portable cutter."

"You're trying to fool ghosts—does that thing really cost several thousand?" Lin Dongfan questioned.

Peng Tianhua gave a noncommittal reply: "I really did spend several thousand; it's a German import."

"Two hundred per cut," Lin Dongfan said.

Peng Tianhua quickly held up five fingers: "Five hundred."

"Three hundred, no more," Lin Dongfan said.

Peng Tianhua flared: "Master Fan, who are you looking down on?! In my mind, Master Fan is a heroic god who treats money like dirt! When we were in Haishan, you'd give away ships worth tens of millions without a thought—seeking neither fame nor profit, nor even the beauty of some young lady! Is the great anti-corruption cause worth only three hundred per cut? You're insulting my idol!"

Lin Dongfan: "……?!?!"

He was dumbfounded, really a bit dumbfounded—damn it, has flattery evolved to this point? That reasoning is so strong it's impossible to refuse.

Lin Dongfan slapped Peng Tianhua on the shoulder: "Just for your fervor, it's one thousand per cut—not a cent less. And you must make at least a hundred cuts; falling short would betray my conscience."

"Master Fan, rest assured—if it's under two hundred cuts, it's just my lack of skill; watch my performance."

This time Peng Tianhua was truly pumped up, full of passion, turned and went out to fetch the metal cutter from the car.

One cut, one thousand!

Ten cuts, ten thousand!

A hundred cuts equal a hundred thousand—barely any profit; even plucking a hair from Master Fan would be worth more than that.

We need to start at two hundred cuts and aim for over five hundred.

Then we could buy his wife a BMW 5 Series, and coming home he'd be just like those idle rich in the Jing circle—fanning himself while humming Peking opera, waiting for dinner.

Such a happy, blissful little life—just thinking about it gets him excited.

Peng Tianhua grabbed the metal cutter and rushed to the safe, grinning at Wei Shouqin: "Director Wei, didn't expect that? I really came prepared."

"Go ahead—cut if you can, however you like."

Wei Shouqin struck a calm pose.

He thought: My safe's door panel is 12mm solid steel, with an internal honeycomb alloy frame—effective against cutting.

The inner cabinet is also solid steel, 25mm thick—even a bomb can't blast it open, and you expect to cut it with that cheap, busted cutter?

Damn, that's hilarious!

Wei Shouqin laughed: "Comrade Peng, don't say I didn't warn you—if sparks later injure your own eyes, don't blame me."

"Don't worry, I'm a professional at making money!"

Peng Tianhua said let's do it, turned, plugged in the power cord, put on the prepared safety goggles, started the metal cutter in his hand, and the next second sparks flew.

That piercing metal-cutting sound was irritating to hear.

Wei Shouqin turned to Lin Dongfan: "Director Lin, there's really nothing in this safe that you imagine; why go through this?"

"Exactly, why bother? You're forcing us to use the cutter."

Lin Dongfan smiled faintly, turned and left that noisy world, first heading to the next room to check the search results of Jian Sining and the others.

After four or five minutes, he returned to the study.

Seeing Peng Tianhua cutting for so long without even opening the safe's door panel, he couldn't help but wonder: "Old Peng, are you deliberately trying to make extra cuts, or is your cutter just no good?"

"Neither—it's just that this safe is genuinely secure."

At first Peng Tianhua indeed wanted to make a few extra cuts, but as he cut he realized the safe was like a woman's safety pants—anything that tears easily is a hooligan product.

Clearly, Director Wei, that old hooligan, was quite serious when choosing the product.

"271 cuts!"

"272 cuts!"

"273 cuts!"

Peng Tianhua silently counted, cutting frantically amidst flying sparks.

He cut for over twenty-one minutes straight, finally slicing off the safe's outer door panel to reveal the metal cabinet inside.

Anyone who knows the score knows this is the real hard nut to crack.

Peng Tianhua laughed excitedly: "Director Lin, I feel my ambition can be adjusted upward a notch."

"What ambition?" Lin Dongfan asked with a smile.

Peng Tianhua said while cutting: "Originally, I wanted to buy my wife a BMW 5 Series. I didn't ask for anything else, just to be able to come home and lie back like an old master, not get scolded. Now I feel the BMW 5 Series is too low-key; buying her a Porsche is no problem. Haha, quickly congratulate me for my hard work."

...!!!

Lin Dongfan was at a loss for words; suddenly he felt as if he had been ruthlessly ripped off as a sucker. He couldn't help but admit that Old Peng's hardworking demeanor was truly shameless.

Lin Dongfan turned to Wei Shouqin and asked: "You've seen the vigor of Section Chief Peng; it can't be hidden. Why won't you still bring out the mechanical key?"

You make it sound as if I'm deliberately making things difficult for you.

Wei Shouqin stared intently at the safe, sparks flying as it was being cut.

He solemnly added: "I have no key, and there's nothing you want inside; you're just messing around for no reason."