Chapter 780: Grand Boasts at the Banquet

Half a month later.

The bald-headed guy from Chengxin Demolition Service Company—Wang Lao San—was released after being administratively detained for fifteen days.

That night after regaining freedom.

Wang Lao San booked the most luxurious grand private room at the Imperial Banquet Hall to entertain his great benefactor. This place is a famous money-sink in Wuzhou; a meal doesn't cost less than ten thousand plus eight thousand.

Inside the private room, smoke swirled.

On the table lay lobster, abalone, and East Star grouper; eight bottles of Moutai had been opened.

The person seated at the head of the table was Li Political Commissar of the Public Security Bureau.

His face was already flushed from drinking.

Li Political Commissar wore casual clothes today, but his official bearing still showed through; he habitually waved his hands while speaking, as if making a report on the podium.

Bald-headed Wang Lao San sat to his right, eagerly pouring wine, passing cigarettes, and serving dishes.

His rib injury hadn't fully healed, making his movements a bit stiff, but his face was piled with smiles.

"Li Political Commissar, let me toast you again!" Wang Lao San raised his cup: "Thanks to your help this time, otherwise I'd really have to spend a few days locked up. I'll drink mine; you do as you like."

Li Political Commissar raised his cup and took a restrained sip.

When he set down the cup,

He tapped his fingers on the table: "Lao San, this matter must not happen again. You guys are still too crude—smashing someone's spirit hall in broad daylight and threatening children—is that even acceptable?"

"Yes yes yes, it's because my parents died early; I've lacked proper upbringing since childhood."

Wang Lao San nodded repeatedly in apology, but inwardly he cursed: "Damn it, wasn't it you who told us to go ahead and do it? Now you're putting on a good‑person act—damn!"

"But having said that,"

Li Political Commissar suddenly shifted tone, slipped a piece of abalone into his mouth, and said: "That Liu Jianjun really is just physically unfit. Asthma—when it acts up, it acts up. If King Yama wants to take his soul, no one can stop it. Arguing with him is proper communication; he's hot‑headed and can't handle it himself—who's to blame?"

Wang Lao San's eyes lit up; he instantly perked up: "Exactly! Exactly! Li Political Commissar, you're absolutely right! We were just reasoning with him; he couldn't see reason himself."

"So..."

Li Political Commissar took another sip, leaned back, and assumed a leader's demeanor.

He set the tone: "The characterization of this matter is important. If it's just provocation and trouble, a few days' detention and a small fine, then it's over. But if it's dragged into intentional injury or even negligent homicide, that would be a big problem."

"What should we do next? Please give us more guidance."

Wang Lao San promptly refilled Li Political Commissar's glass with a bit of Flying Fairy Moutai, maintaining a humble, attentive posture throughout, appearing very sensible.

Li Political Commissar seemed to get more light‑headed the more he drank.

He spoke with full confidence: "The mayor's side is seething, but since he's just arrived his base isn't solid. I've read all the departmental reports—they're all by the book, so he can't find fault. Over at the Discipline Commission, Shi Lian Tang is an old slickster; without solid evidence he won't act. So rest easy, the sky won't fall."

Hearing this, Wang Lao San completely put his mind at ease.

Wang Lao San quickly raised another glass to Li Political Commissar: "With those words, I'm at ease! Come, come, let me toast you again!"

Their cups clinked, sending droplets of liquor flying.

Three cups went down.

Li Political Commissar's words flowed more and more; he slapped his chest and unleashed grand talk:

"Wang Lao San, when you go back tell your General Manager Zhao to put his mind at ease.

"Within our bureau's jurisdiction, as long as I, Li, am here, even if you pierce a hole in the sky, I can patch it up!"

"What's killing a few people?"

"Every year countless people die accidentally—who ever gets to the bottom of it?"

"Tell him not to worry."

"This matter, I, Li, can back him up."

This is probably just the effect of alcohol; if not for liquid courage, Li Political Commissar wouldn't dare say such arrogant things—he should at least consider the consequences.

Wang Lao San also felt his heart pound hearing that, thinking, "Having power really is damn great!"

So as not to spoil Li Political Commissar's mood,

Wang Lao San's face beamed with flattery: "Yes yes yes, Li Political Commissar, you're right! With you here, we fear nothing!"

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes,

Wang Lao San saw the moment was right, leaned in and whispered: "Li Political Commissar, thanks for your trouble on this matter. Those local specialties—should I send them straight to your home, or...?"

Don't look at Li Political Commissar being all hazy from drink.

As soon as local specialties were mentioned, his eyes lit up at once, and visions of glittering gold bars appeared in his mind—collecting 'small yellow fish' is one of his great loves in life.

He gave Wang Lao San a sideways glance.

He blandly criticized: "Why local specialties again? Lao San, you're honest but not flexible enough—eating just one dish every day gets boring."

Hearing that, Wang Lao San couldn't help but blink, wondering, "Has this dog‑like fellow changed his taste?"

Upon further thought, that didn't seem right.

A stray dog can quit eating feces, but this dog‑like fellow absolutely can't kick the habit of eating small yellow fish—if he could, he wouldn't be a dog‑like fellow.

Thinking deeper, Wang Lao San suddenly realized: this is just human greed!

He smacked his forehead: "Look at my pig‑brain—I get it, I get it! The local specialties are too greasy; we just need a few cups of tea to rinse the mouth."

Saying that, Wang Lao San immediately pulled out his phone and sent a message to his subordinate.

Less than ten minutes later.

A young man came in carrying two exquisite gift boxes, set them down, and left.

Wang Lao San pushed the gift boxes toward Li Political Commissar.

Lowering his voice to flatter, he said: "These are ten boxes of 'Old Ban Zhang' tea I just got from my sister‑in‑law's shop—how about using this tea to rinse your mouth?"

Li Political Commissar glanced at them and his face broke into a satisfied smile.

Whether this is top‑grade 'Old Ban Zhang' doesn't matter; the point is that the tea was bought from his wife's shop, each box priced at 100,000, so ten boxes make one million!

Li Political Commissar patted Wang Lao San's shoulder, smiling: "Wang Lao San, you little guy are a sensible person. To be frank, I still love this. Don't worry, I've got your matter covered."

"Thank you, Li Political Commissar!"

Wang Lao San was overjoyed, and opened another bottle of Moutai.

The two drank for another hour or so.

Li Political Commissar was already bleary-eyed, his tongue thick from drink.

Seeing this, Wang Lao San leaned over and whispered in his ear: "Li Political Commissar, you've had enough to drink. A few foreign technicians have just arrived at Yulong Bay, and they're top-notch. Would you like to change venues to sober up? And maybe pick up some foreign language while you're at it."

"Study a foreign language?"

Li Political Commissar narrowed his eyes, giving a knowing smile: "As the saying goes, live and learn. Your suggestion is excellent. Come, lend me a hand."

"Take it easy."

The two staggered to their feet.

Wang Lao San supported Li Political Commissar as they walked out, meanwhile making a call: "Arrange it—our next stop is Yulong Bay; we'll be there in half an hour."

The private room door closed.

Cups and plates littered the table, six or seven empty Moutai bottles lay overturned.

The two gift boxes labeled "tea leaves" sat quietly beside the chair Li Political Commissar had just vacated, forgotten like trash on the floor.

Outside the window, the night was deep.

A black sedan pulled up silently opposite the Imperial Banquet Building's alley; inside, Lao Ba had just lowered his night-vision binoculars.

Lao Ba picked up his phone to report: "Master Fan, they've already shifted positions; tonight's entertainment program probably isn't over yet."

On the other end of the line,

came Lin Dongfan's calm voice: "Follow them, keep watching, and only inform me after you've confirmed their next destination."

"Understood."

Lao Ba hung up, started the car, and kept a discreet distance behind Wang Lao San's Benz.

Meanwhile,

In the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission building, a light was still on in an office on the seventh floor.

Shi Liantang stood by the window, gazing at the night scenery.

He held a freshly received document—materials Lin Dongfan had sent that afternoon: a transcript of the tea shop's audio recordings, plus photocopies of receipts for 80,000 yuan in cash used to purchase "ordinary tea leaves."

Another document lay spread out on the desk.

This document was the preliminary investigation report from the Public Security Bureau on Liu Jianjun's death, completely different from the version Li Political Commissar had leaked at the meeting.

Shi Liantang pushed up his glasses, worried sick:

Mayor Lin was dead set on taking action against Li Political Commissar of the Public Security Bureau; although Li is at least a Division Level official, not greeting Municipal Party Committee Secretary Wang first could cause trouble down the line.

He hesitated for a while.

Shi Liantang steeled himself and called Lin Dongfan: "Mayor Lin, regarding the investigation into Li Chuangen, I personally suggest we first give Secretary Wang a heads-up, after all..."

"Old Shi, don't beat around the bush."

Lin Dongfan cut him off directly.

And over the phone he emphasized: "Even if the sky falls, I, Lin Dongfan, will bear it—tonight we must detain Li Chuangen! Organize personnel right away and wait for my call."