Chapter 648

In the evening.

Provincial Party Committee office.

The newly arrived Secretary Shen was washing tea, brewing, and distributing cups, a series of movements smooth as flowing clouds and water.

He first handed a cup of hot tea to Wang Daochen, then carefully turned the cup's orientation, aligning the handle toward Wang Daochen for him to pick up easily.

Then he brought another cup of tea to Lin Dongfan, who politely rose to receive it and said thank you.

Secretary Shen left after finishing the tea.

After Secretary Shen closed the office door, Wang Daochen unhurriedly opened up: "The problems in our Baiyue medical system have drawn out so many tigers and flies. When I learned that Wu Changsheng was Lv Yizhi's plant placed beside me as an informant, those days I was also worried sick."

Hearing this, Lin Dongfan felt greatly relieved.

Wang Daochen willingly admitted he too had times of being worried sick, showing he let his guard down and didn't treat Lin Dongfan as an outsider.

Lin Dongfan then took the opportunity to give Wang Daochen a reassurance: "After Wu Changsheng was netted, he raved like a mad dog, biting people randomly. Obviously, he wanted to drag more people down to fill his dark psyche. But the eyes of the headquarters' task force are also sharp; they won't be led by his nose. Comrade Lin Zhenhua once clearly instructed: everything must be based on facts, adhere to seeking truth from facts, so as to avoid falling into the trap of expanding through implicating the innocent."

Then that's good.

This reassurance containing Lin Zhenhua's sayings worked like a divine stabilizing needle, instantly dispelling all of Wang Daochen's worries.

Wang Daochen lifted the tea and gently blew to cool it.

He then sighed thoughtfully: "From Lv Yizhi down to all levels of officials in the Baiyue provincial medical system. This time, the number of officials from our province who have fallen reaches double digits. For our province, this is no less than a major surgery that damages muscles and bones. The instructions from the central authorities, at critical moments, serve to steady morale."

Indeed.

Lin Dongfan neither affirmed nor denied, nodding in agreement.

Wang Daochen took a sip of tea and then said: "After Xu Chuping was placed under shuanggui, Xu Jijun later drowned at sea. The Xu father and son affair is truly beyond expectation; no one could have imagined that Xu Jijun was Mr. G. I heard Xu Jijun was once your close schoolmate, and this time you too have undergone a great test."

He paused briefly.

Wang Daochen then went on to the main point: "In the past, the director of the Baiyue Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau was usually held concurrently by the deputy prosecutor general of the provincial procuratorate. Since you were initially parachuted from the headquarters to Baiyue and assumed command in an emergency, the deputy prosecutor general position was never filled. Now nominating you as deputy prosecutor general should face little obstruction."

After talking for a while, it turned out he was trying to give Lin Dongfan a hand.

Lin Dongfan immediately frowned: "Secretary Wang, does this promotion come with any conditions?"

"Conditions, of course there are." Wang Daochen said with a smile: "Engaging in politics precludes business; that's a matter of principle. Initially the province made a special exception, allowing you to establish Zhengtong Capital under the alias Fan Donglin as its chairman, to investigate the Haishan corruption case. Now that the Haishan case has been closed for half a year, you should return to shore. Please promptly relinquish the chairmanship and hand Zhengtong Capital over to the provincial SASAC."

This time, Old Man Fan really couldn't laugh.

It seems today's performance is all about first giving a sweetener, then swinging a club.

Zhengtong Capital is the business empire he built with his own hands.

He personally controls 90%; the chairman of Mortal Group, Ye Jiaying, holds 3%, and Yu Youwei holds 1%. Excluding these, the provincial SASAC's stake is only 6%.

An ant trying to swallow an elephant—who could bear that?

Lin Dongfan spoke bluntly: "Secretary Wang, I can step down as chairman, but handing Zhengtong Capital over to the provincial SASAC is out of the question."

"Don't rush to say no; it's not about asking you to give it away for free." Wang Daochen laughed: "I've already negotiated with the provincial SASAC; at market value, they would buy out your personal 90% stake in full."

The prospects of Zhengtong Capital cannot be measured by money.

Over the past six months, Zhengtong Capital's investment domain has been expanding in an orderly fashion.

The investment fields involve marine economy, network economy, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, space exploration, and other cutting-edge technologies.

Lin Dongfan's goal is to outdo Musk and become the world's richest person and a tech titan within ten years.

If Zhengtong Capital were handed over to the provincial SASAC for management,

Lin Dongfan is absolutely certain that Zhengtong Capital would be ruined into a mediocre venture capital firm, never able to become a tech titan leading global trends.

This also means a rising tech star would be strangled in its cradle.

Lin Dongfan set down his tea and then said: "Secretary Wang, let me put it this way: Zhengtong Capital is like a child I raised with my own hands; I could never just hand it over to someone."

"Engaging in business precludes politics; you need to think clearly before deciding, don't act on impulse—your political future is at stake." Wang Daochen advised: "As far as I know, your father does not wish you to leave office for business; how will you explain yourself to him then? He's old and cannot withstand your provocation."

I will not resign from office during my father's lifetime.

Lin Dongfan really dares not provoke his father. It's not that he fears a beating; mainly he fears accidentally angering his father to the point of harm, after which regret would come too late.

Wang Daochen gazed at Lin Dongfan with a smile: "You don't want to quit office nor give up business; you're giving me a tough problem, kid…"

"Secretary Wang, over the past six months no one has pressured me to step down as chairman; mainly it's you backing me from behind. I know this, and it's caused you considerable trouble." Lin Dongfan said.

Wang Daochen laughed and cried: "Since you know you're causing me trouble, how can you still want to have both bear's paws and shark fins? There's no such good thing in the world."

"You can't have both fish and bear's paws, I understand." Lin Dongfan said: "I've already thought it over; let my wife take the chairmanship."

"Your wife would take the chairmanship?" Wang Daochen looked astonished.

Lin Dongfan also showed surprise: "Secretary Wang, looking at your reaction… could it be that you look down on my wife?"

"Don't put labels on me randomly." Wang Daochen laughed: "I heard she came from a dance troupe, after marriage she stayed home full-time to raise the kids, rarely active in society; are you sure she can handle it?"

No matter whether she can or not, Zhengtong Capital must bear the Lin surname!

When Lin Dongfan uttered the four words "must bear the Lin surname," he deliberately stressed his tone, reaffirming his resolve never to hand over Zhengtong Capital.

Having reached this point, Wang Daochen no longer insisted.

Wang Daochen lifted his tea cup, blew on it, and then said: "Within one month, you personally must completely sever ties with Zhengtong Capital. Also, let me remind you: the Lin family now has two generations in politics. As a member of the Lin family, Chu Lingxi, in principle, cannot engage in business within the jurisdiction of Comrade Lin Zhenhua."

!!!

Lin Dongfan was speechless: not being allowed to do business within Lin Zhenhua's jurisdiction basically means not being allowed to do business domestically, right?

Damn it, you've screwed me over again!

Lin Dongfan decisively turned the tables: "Secretary Wang, do you think there's such a possibility? Zhengtong Capital is actually not a private enterprise but a state-owned one. And my wife, Chu Lingxi, is not a private entrepreneur either; she was transferred from an artistic troupe to a state-owned enterprise, appointed as chairperson, holding a public institution position."