Chapter 66

Brother, that person is your friend, right? He seems to have been staring at you.

Translation: "Brother, is that guy your friend? He seems to have been staring at you."

But we need to keep it concise, natural. "Brother, is that person your friend? He seems to have been staring at you." Use "person" or "guy". We'll keep "person". "Brother, is that person your friend? He seems to have been staring at you."

Which?

Lin Dongfan turned his head following the barbecue stall owner's gaze, and his eyes met those of Yin Qiuhong sitting in the business car, as if there was an instant hatred upon first sight.

But we need to keep "barbecue stall owner" as "barbecue stall owner". "business car" as "business car". Could be "commercial vehicle". We'll keep "business car". "an effect of instant hatred upon first sight". We'll phrase: "as if there was an instant hatred upon first sight."

Yin Qiuhong in the car hastily closed the window and told the driver to leave.

Translation: "Yin Qiuhong in the car hastily rolled up the window and told the driver to drive off."

The driver had just started the vehicle and pulled away.

Lin Dongfan dashed to the front of the car, adopting a roc-spread-wings interception stance. The driver slammed the brakes so hard the car shuddered, and Lin Dongfan shouted, 'Are you sick? Get out of the way!'

We need to keep quotes. Translation: "Lin Dongfan lunged forward in a single stride to the front of the vehicle, assuming a spread-wing stance to block it. The driver was so startled he slammed the brakes to the floor, producing a strong jolt. Lin Dongfan shouted, 'Are you sick? Get out of the way!'"

Lin Dongfan shouted, 'Are you sick? Get out of the way!'

The driver poked his head out and shouted angrily.

'Nobody in the car has spoken yet, when does it become your turn to show off here? Hurry up and retract your titanium-alloy dog head; I would never treat you to skewers.'

titanium-alloy dog head

To prevent the driver from fleeing, Lin Dongfan casually lifted the hood.

He let the driver rage and curse.

Lin Dongfan stepped forward and tapped the rear window glass: 'You've been peeking for so long, wanting to leave without a greeting? Come out and let's spar a bit…'

The window glass slowly rolled down, revealing a sullen-faced Yin Qiuhong.

Lin Dongfan leaned in to take a look, delighted: 'Yo, Chief Chang is here too? I heard that a hundred years of cultivation lets you share a boat, a thousand years lets you share a pillow—what level have you two reached?'

Chang Jian, Yin Dajuzhang

Thus line 13 translation: "Lin Dongfan leaned in to take a look, delighted: 'Yo, Chang Jian is here too? I heard that a hundred years of cultivation lets you share a boat, a thousand years lets you share a pillow—what level have you two reached?'"

Lin Dongfan, don't talk nonsense; we're just colleagues.

Chang Ming pulled Along face, as if he wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

Yin Qiuhong is a controversial figure in Nanzhou's officialdom.

Hanging out with her late at night would really make people imagine things, hard to explain.

Feeling nervous, Chang Ming habitually added an explanation: 'We're discussing work.'

I get it, official business…

In the teasing, Lin Dongfan dragged out the tail sound of the 'gan' character, its echo lingering, its meaning lingering; Chang Ming's old face instantly flushed red from shame, his embarrassment evident.

In the teasing, Lin Dongfan drew out the tail sound of the 'gan' character, its echo lingering, its meaning lingering; Chang Ming's old face instantly flushed red from shame, his embarrassment evident.

Yin Qiuhong laughed angrily: 'Lin Dongfan, you're a public servant after all—can't you think of something clean?'

I said I understand official business, so how is that not clean?

Lin Dongfan took a bite of grilled meat.

While eating, he asked: 'Tell me, why are you tailing me? What were you plotting just now? Are you trying to dig a pit to arrest me?'

Three consecutive killer questions struck straight at the hearts of Yin Qiuhong and Chang Ming.

Chang Ming is the type who likes to explain when questioned by strong leaders, but likes to teach when facing weaker subordinates.

Now it's unclear whether he sees Lin Dongfan as a strong leader or a weak subordinate; he sullenly closed his mouth, like a silent lamb.

Yin Qiuhong remained as strong as ever.

She flung open the door, stepped out, and approached Lin Dongfan with head held high and chest out: 'We, the Forest Public Security Bureau, are consulting with the Municipal Procuratorate on work—do we need to report to you? Who do you think you are? The Municipal Party Committee Secretary or the Mayor?'

Municipal Party Committee, Mayor, Municipal Party Committee Secretary, Municipal Procuratorate, Forest Public Security Bureau

Threefold questioning counterattack, without beating around the bush.

Lin Dongfan smiled faintly: 'I am the nemesis of corrupt elements, the top anti-corruption figure in Jianglan Province—I dare to dig up Chief Cheng's family ancestral grave, and I dare to smash Director Dai's house walls…'

Chief Cheng, Director Dai, Jianglan Province

Before he finished speaking, Yin Qiuhong's face already showed anger mixed with a smile.

Lin Dongfan generously handed her a string of lamb skewers: 'Don't panic, first have a lamb skewer to steady your nerves—be careful not to scare yourself silly.'

Am I panicking? That's hilarious!

Yin Qiuhong took the skewer and bit into it hard.

This angry way of eating seemed not to be enjoying delicious lamb skewers, but biting into Lin Dongfan, who hasn't showered tonight—each bite brought her satisfaction, her eyes glaring with age-old hatred.

Lin Dongfan narrowed his eyes and said: 'For now… you have the right to remain calm, after all your father's mouth is strict; we interrogated him all night and he didn't utter a word.'

Lin Dongfan, if you're a man, come at me! Playing tricks on an old man—what kind of skill is that? It'll be embarrassing if it gets out!

You're wrong.

What did I say wrong?

I'm not tormenting an old man; I'm tormenting a fame‑seeking calligraphy master, a grandmaster of Nanzhou's calligraphy circle and the founder of the Calligraphy School—each character worth a hundred thousand!

calligraphy master, grandmaster, Calligraphy School, Nanzhou's calligraphy circle

So you're a rich‑hater?

Yin Dajuzhang, your pronunciation isn't quite standard. I hate corruption, not wealth—watch my mouth: f‑u‑corrupt! Third tone.

Right, your mouth is even more foul; whatever you say is right!

Compared to a corrupt woman in her thirties, I feel my breath could still use a little freshening. Want to confess and be lenient? Tell me, were you two just now plotting how to scheme against me?

You have family too, right?

Yin Qiuhong avoided answering Lin Dongfan's questioning, turning her gaze to Chu Lingxi, who was eating barbecue across the street, and the corner of her mouth curled with a sinister, stern smile.

I heard she's pregnant and will perform in this year's Spring Festival Gala—better be careful, because if anything goes wrong, she might miscarry.

This is undoubtedly a naked threat.

What it means is: you dare to move against my father, watch out—I'll go after your wife and kids! This spiteful life creed is all about repaying grudges.

Lin Dongfan calmly chewed on his skewer: 'You guess whether I'm easily scared?'

'I'm actually easy to get along with—you give me a foot, I'll give you a zhang.' Yin Qiuhong smiled threateningly: 'If you push me to a dead end, all I can think of is mutual destruction.'

you give me a foot, I'll give you a zhang

Thus: "'I'm actually easy to get along with—you give me a foot, I'll give you a zhang.' Yin Qiuxiang smiled threateningly: 'If you push me to a dead end, all I can think of is mutual destruction.'"

Yin Qiuhong

I know you're capable of doing this.

Lin Dongfan bent down.

Again he smiled and asked Chang Ming, who was sitting in the car: 'Chang Jian, Director Yin is threatening me like this, and you, the Prosecutor General, are playing deaf and dumb—is that appropriate?'

Prosecutor General, Yin Dajuzhang, Chang Jian

The Procuratorate handles affairs according to law.' Chang Ming replied righteously: 'If she really committed illegal and disciplinary acts, the law will punish her.'

Procuratorate

Fine then, just bring it on.

Lin Dongfan left with a faint smile and turned to walk away.

Yin Qiuhong suddenly shouted: 'Surname Lin, the truth of the 9·28 forest fire has been released, a large number of officials have been punished! Do you know how many people now want to hack you to death? You're a smart person—if you keep holding onto this, it's tantamount to opposing the entire Nanzhou officialdom; you'll have no good outcome in the future.'

9·28 forest fire, Nanzhou officialdom, you'll have no good outcome

I cannot share the heavens with corrupt elements!

Lin Dongfan raised an OK hand gesture and walked toward the opposite side of the road without looking back.

Yin Qiuhong stood where she was, glaring angrily; her whole body exuded an angry aura that made the night feel much colder, and her eyes truly radiated a chilling killing intent.

Chang Ming, sitting in the car, helplessly called out: "Let's go; we shouldn't have come here today. Now that we've startled the snake, he definitely won't give you a chance to find an opening."

"If there's no opening, we'll dig one!"

In Yin Qiuhong's life dictionary, the words 'compromise' simply do not exist.

She fears nothing.

In Nanzhou, there is nothing she dares not do.

The reason she can call the shots in a sub-provincial-level city is not because of how great her authority is, but because she is a bomb! If she detonates, she'll blast a whole swath of leaders.

Chang Ming knows how formidable this woman is.

He then couldn't say anything more, only letting out a wry laugh and a sigh: "If we keep going like this, I really worry I won't live to see retirement."