Chapter 64

January 20, 2010, Tuesday.

On this explosive black Tuesday, two major events occurred: first, the vice president of the Supreme People's Court was sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption and bribery.

The second major event was the Nanzhou Municipal Government's public announcement of the reinvestigation results of the 9·28 forest fire.

The official bulletin acknowledged that the actual death toll was 11 people.

And it published the specific list of deaths.

The Nanzhou official explanation is as follows:

Qingzhu Ling Project Development Department Director Dai Fengnian, jointly with Deputy Director Zhou Jian of the Emergency Management Bureau, Huang Bin, head of the Fire Supervision Section of the Forest Faction, Xu Lianping, deputy town mayor in charge of work safety of Dongchuan Town, and Yang Shouli, village chief of Qingzhu Village, together deceived superiors and concealed facts, falsified, and reported false casualty numbers.

In short, Dai Fengnian, who lies unconscious in the hospital, is the primary responsible person.

After the investigation was reopened, the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government attached great importance, and according to law imposed severe disciplinary measures on Dai Fengnian: expulsion from the Party and removal from public office.

Zhou Jian, Huang Bin, Xu Lianping, and Yang Shouli were given dismissal from office.

At the same time, Deputy Mayor Jiang Yuchuan, who oversees safety production, bears responsibility for inadequate supervision and was given a warning talk.

At first glance, with so many people from top to bottom being punished, the handling seems strong, and outsiders are satisfied anyway, but those who understand know it's just a bunch of easy-to-pinch soft persimmons.

Lin Dongfan held back a stifled feeling, and even dinner tasted bland.

Chu Jinsong smiled knowingly: "Say whatever you want to say; at home you don't need to hold back."

"Dad, then I'll say it." Lin Dongfan looked at Chu Jinsong, who was eating: "In the city, they casually pull a few unlucky ones to take the blame; as the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, can you turn a blind eye?"

"This matter isn't up to me to decide, nor is it up to Xiao Yunce."

"Then who decides?"

"The head of the Municipal Party Committee, Gao Peng."

"Does Secretary Gao also have an affair with Yin Qiuhong?"

"Speak carefully; baseless speculation shouldn't be made. Hengsha Group plans to invest 500 billion in Qingzhu Ling to build a tourism resort; the city has already taken this project as a key project to focus on. Now Xiao Yunce is the main person in charge of this project, and Secretary Gao also has concerns, not wanting the project to die in the womb."

"You mean Secretary Gao also has to compromise with Xiao Yunce? Then in the April election, Xiao Yunce's promotion to mayor would be a sure thing, wouldn't it?"

"Secretary Gao wants to advance further; he needs Xiao Yunce's help to achieve some political achievements."

"Understood."

In Lin Dongfan's memory, Xiao Yunce indeed smoothly became the mayor of Nanzhou City.

He originally thought that, having lived two lives, his interference in this life would have altered some developments' trajectories and should be able to cut off Xiao Yunce's path to promotion.

Now it seems he was still a bit overconfident, underestimating Xiao Yunce's strength.

Lin Dongfan worried: "Dad, according to what you say, now undermining Xiao Yunce is equivalent to undermining Secretary Gao; should I slow down the anti-corruption progress?"

"Investigate however it should be investigated."

Chu Jinsong frankly said: "Before, I was too mild-mannered, and they treated me, Chu Jinsong, as air, trying to pin the blame on me whenever they wanted. If I continue to show weakness, Gao Peng will directly join forces with Xiao Yunce. By then, there will be no place for me to stand in the entire Nanzhou, and I will likely become a sacrificial victim of this struggle."

"Hmm."

Lin Dongfan nodded, as if suddenly understanding.

According to father-in-law's saying, as long as the Political and Legal System and the Executive faction are in a balance of equal strength, Gao Peng will not clearly support anyone.

But!

Once the Political and Legal System is overwhelmed by Xiao Yunce, those surnamed Gao will then go with the flow, abandon the weak and choose the strong! It's impossible for them to sacrifice a lost cause general and give up easily attainable political achievements.

Lin Dongfan seriously asked: "Dad, there's something I can't make up my mind about."

"What is it?" Chu Jinsong said while eating and chatting.

Lin Dongfan worried: "Since Secretary Gao regards the Qingzhu Ling achievement as a stepping stone for promotion, if I destroy Hengsha Group, causing the Qingzhu Ling project to fail, will Secretary Gao turn against you?"

"If you can take down Hengsha Group, it means Xiao Yunce will also fall." Chu Jinsong smiled with deep meaning: "At that point, Secretary Gao will also lose his political achievement, be unable to turn things around, and can only retreat to the second line. He won't be foolish to oppose me; he'll only accept his fate. Recommending me to the Provincial Party Committee to take his position would benefit him."

"Hmm, I know what to do now—strike while the iron is hot."

This deep talk with father-in-law gave Lin Dongfan the deepest feeling: he's still a rookie!

Before, he had never truly engaged in the top-level political maneuvering of Nanzhou; even having lived two lives, he couldn't truly understand what is meant by 'talk and laugh, and the masts and oars vanish in ashes and smoke'.

His political wisdom still falls far short compared to father-in-law's.

Officialdom isn't simply a matter of you scheming against me and me against you; more importantly, it seems to be about assessing the situation, planning from within the tent, and defeating enemies from a thousand miles away.

After the meal, he accompanied his wife Chu Lingxi for a walk outside.

Lin Dongfan said with mixed feelings: "I never expected that Dad, who looks refined and gentle, would have a tougher stance than mine. He really dares to think and act, even daring to challenge the authority of the Municipal Party Committee's No. 1." Dancer Chu Lingxi: "I only know my dad is handsome, and the father of my baby in my belly is also handsome."

Chu Lingxi giggled as she rubbed her belly.

From the outside now, her belly shows no obvious signs of pregnancy; after the Spring Festival Gala performance ends, her belly will probably gradually swell.

Lin Dongfan held her hand and walked slowly: "After the New Year, let's go buy a big villa."

"Is the money saved enough?" Chu Lingxi asked in surprise.

Lin Dongfan confidently smiled: "Scraping together a down payment should not be too difficult…"

"Huh?"

Chu Lingxi suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

She pointed ahead and said: "Honey, there's a barbecue stall over there; I want to eat barbecue."

"Speechless…"

Lin Dongfan frowned, vexed: "I'm talking to you about buying a villa, yet your attention drifts to a barbecue stall fifty meters away."

Are skewers more important than a house?

Lin Dongfan said: "Mom said, you can't eat these during pregnancy."

"But I haven't had skewers in Along time." Chu Lingxi, like a teasing little sprite, tugged at Lin Dongfan's hand and acted coquettish: "Honey, let me have some, okay? Just one skewer."

"No."

"Why?"

I saw my ex-girlfriend.

Where?

She's buying barbecue up ahead, let's scram.

What scram, we're collecting a debt.

She works for the court, sharp-tongued, you can't argue with her.

What's with the court person? A court person owes someone 180,800 and doesn't have to pay back? What's more infuriating is, the last time you were hospitalized, she actually sent you a set of hollowed-out lace lingerie—what is she trying to do? Is she trying to show off her legs? Are her legs as long as mine? Can she dance? Can she do the splits?

!!!

This barrage of questions hit like artillery shells, leaving Lin Dongfan's scalp tingling.

The usually peace‑loving madam wife unexpectedly showed a hint of fighting spirit tonight—former and current lovers are indeed natural enemies.

Lin Dongfan advised: "Mainly because you're pregnant now, you mustn't agitate the fetus. How about we retreat for now, and after you give birth we can fight again?"

No way, let's go.

Chu Lingxi, without a second thought, grabbed Lin Dongfan and rushed forward.