Chapter 663: Is My Hand White Enough?

In the evening, Lin Dongfan originally planned to wait for his father-in-law Chu Jinsong to return, have a meal together, then head back to the capital.

He waited until 7:30 p. m., when Chu Jinsong called back, saying there was still an important meeting to attend, so he might not return until very late tonight.

No choice, Lin Dongfan had to go ahead first.

During the two years and nine months Lin Dongfan spent in prison, the older generation had been gradually retiring from the political stage.

Aunt Xie Yuxin has already retired.

Liang Jingzhong, the unofficial husband of Lin Dongfan's aunt, also failed to join the seven‑person core circle; after leaving his post in Xirong Province he was transferred to a higher‑level Political Consultative Conference, where he awaits retirement.

Only Lin Zhenhua, the younger uncle, remains as steady as Mount Tai, with hopes of being promoted from vice to full position at the October leadership reshuffle.

The building stands firm.

Lin Dongfan remains the princeling of the circle.

Some old acquaintances from Lin Dongfan's time working in Jianglan Province—such as his former girlfriend Fang Xiaoqian, former colleagues Leng Chuan, Zhang Xiaoguang, and Tang Xia, etc.

Upon hearing the news of Lin Dongfan's release from prison, they all sent congratulatory messages.

Fang Xiaoqian, full of ideas, even wanted to organize a banquet to welcome Lin Dongfan and cleanse him of dust—but Lin Dongfan politely declined. 'Having a wife is enough for that; no need to bother the ex.'

Lin Dongfan likewise turned down all other dinner invitations.

He only kept in touch with Yang Qing.

Eight o'clock in the evening.

Yang Qing personally drove over to give Lin Dongfan and Chu Lingxi a ride to the airport.

At the moment of parting.

Yang Qing assured Lin Dongfan: 'Rest easy returning to the capital; if Li Hengbo really is the mastermind, I won't let him off—I will definitely get to the bottom of this.'

'You've investigated for two years and nine months—I might as well consider it a fart,' Lin Dongfan said. 'Same as before: I want to see all of Li Hengbo's files and his movement tracks within three days.'

'Brother, you don't trust me at all—those words really hit home.'

'I don't doubt your sincerity in handling the case.'

'Then what do you doubt?'

'I doubt your decisiveness. Now that you're bureau chief, you've become overweight and timid. You're afraid of creating a wrongful conviction that would hinder your promotion, so you hold back.'

'Look at what you're saying—if I didn't enter the ministry, what qualification would I have to become your in‑laws? Marriage is about matching families; your son had better marry a minister's daughter.'

'So you mean the Lin family's threshold is too high, holding you back?'

'As long as you understand.'

'Get lost, you calf. From today on I'm not your brother. When you see me, call me Lin Dongfan—old man, I don't have a shameless brother like you.'

Having said that, Lin Dongfan took Chu Lingxi's hand with one hand and his suitcase with the other.

He lifted his leg and walked away, without a hint of reluctance.

Yang Qing stood where he was, laughing and shouting: 'Chief Lin, I've silently sworn to the heavens that if you die, I'll personally carry your coffin—doesn't that move you a little?'

'If anyone's going to die, it'll be you first; my life is tough—I'll definitely outlive you.'

At that moment, the never‑looking‑back Lin Dongfan really wanted to flip the bird skyward, but both hands were occupied, so he could only swallow his contempt.

The plane took off at 9 p. m. and arrived in the capital at 11 p. m.

The person picking them up was Lao Ba.

Regarding Su Yuhong's death and Lin Dongfan's imprisonment, Lao Ba has always felt guilty. If he hadn't taken the day off to be with his girlfriend that day, none of those tragedies would have happened.

Some things he couldn't bring himself to say in front of his sister‑in‑law Chu Lingxi.

But keeping them bottled up made him feel awful.

'Sister‑in‑law, wait in the car a moment; I'm taking Brother Fan to the restroom.' Lao Ba didn't care whether Lin Dongfan needed to pee—he just shoved him toward the toilet.

Lin Dongfan said, 'What's wrong with you? Why drag me along just to go to the WC?'

'Come on, let's see who can piss farther.'

Before they were out of Chu Lingxi's hearing range, Lao Ba kept spouting nonsense, not a single sensible word.

After they arrived at the men's room,

Lao Ba immediately put on a serious face: 'Brother Fan, I know the police can't find any criminal evidence against Li Hengbo, and they can't touch Little Li—so I'll handle this.'

'What do you intend to do?' Lin Dongfan took out a cigarette and lit it.

Lao Ba replied indignantly: 'Of course it's revenge for grudges, redress for grievances. Just nod, and I'll send him straight to the Western Paradise Great Thunderclap Temple to attain Buddhahood.'

'I've just finished two years and nine months in there, and only now got out—do you want to go in and take my place?' Lin Dongfan gave him a white‑eye stare: 'You're over thirty; act your age.'

'Rest assured, I guarantee I'll do it cleanly, leaving no trace.' Lao Ba wore a confident expression.

Lin Dongfan said sternly: 'Enough. Although I'm no longer the Anti‑Corruption Bureau Director, I'm still a member of the Lin family—not a law‑less bandit. You need to know what you can and cannot do.'

'Then what should we do?' Lao Ba muttered glumly: 'The police can't touch Little Li, and you won't let me mess with him—are we just supposed to let that bastard run rampant?'

'Run rampant?' Lin Dongfan smiled faintly: 'Do you know what death by a thousand cuts is? Watch how I deal with him.'

'How will you deal with him?' Lao Ba said dubiously.

Lin Dongfan took a slow drag of smoke, then replied without hesitation: 'Of course I'll use legal means, gradually giving him surprises until he has nothing left to live for.'

'He's currently a billionaire tycoon.'

'Then first let him go bankrupt.'

'Brother Fan, you'll have to greet the industry and commerce, taxation and other departments, investigate him, seal his Rebirth Group—otherwise he won't go bankrupt.'

'I never engage in bullying with influence.'

'Bullying with influence is wrong, but using influence to beat a dog is fine. I think my suggestion is highly feasible—do you want to give it serious thought?'

'No.'

'Brother Fan, do you know what your biggest weakness is?'

'Speak.'

Underestimating the enemy, have you noticed? Every time you fall flat, it's because you underestimate the enemy. Put bluntly, you scorn the lowly underhanded tricks, yet you can't manage the grand, upright schemes. In the end you're stuck in the middle—neither up nor down—you didn't take out the enemy, but instead you got yourself into a nervous wreck. That's a tragedy.

Are you saying I'm mediocre?

I didn't say that; it's your own conclusion, but I think you summed it up correctly. Still, you don't need to be depressed—mediocrity and stupidity are still somewhat different.

Lao Ba, you're getting full of yourself; I'm the one who pays your salary, yet you dare talk back to me.

Good medicine tastes bitter but helps the illness; frank advice grates on the ear but aids action. You've been locked up for two years and nine months, and I, with nothing to do, have read many books. Hear my advice: when it's time to strike hard, strike hard.

Take a look at my hands.

Lin Dongfan held the cigarette in his mouth, then raised his hands for Lao Ba to see.

Lao Ba stared, growing more puzzled: "Soft skin, tender flesh, white and clean—you can tell at a glance you haven't done any work in there; don't you need a sewing machine?"

"This isn't the point." Lin Dongfan emphasized solemnly: "The point is, my pair of white, clean hands—how can you bear to turn them into two black hands?"

"I understand." Lao Ba nodded seriously: "You've memorized the prison rules and sayings inside, and you've etched those eight words—'reform oneself, start anew'—into your bones."

Tch!

Lin Dongfan once again held the cigarette in his mouth.

Standing before the mirror in the toilet, he tidied his collar and hair, speaking with full confidence: "No one who dares make me memorize the prison rules has been born yet."