Chapter 822: The Mighty Son‑in‑Law in the Gap

As he stepped out of the municipal government building, Su Qingyu's legs were still weak.

He got into that coloured Audi, didn't rush to start the engine, but raised the windows and breathed deeply in the sealed space.

The shirt on his back was soaked through with cold sweat, sticking clammily to the leather seat.

Lin Dongfan's last words, "Look up and watch the road," were not only a warning for him to pass on to Zhao Tianyu, but equally a warning to Su Qingyu himself.

Those words were like a thorn, deeply piercing his heart.

How to look up?

Where to look?

What he, Su Qingyu, had to face was his ruthless, blood‑stained brother‑in‑law Zhao Tianyu.

He still remembers that rainy night three years ago.

Back then, a subcontractor argued with Zhao Tianyu over project quality, and the next day he went to the Western Heaven to meet the Buddha.

The police ruled it an accidental slip, but everyone in the circle knew what really happened.

Zhao Tianyu once clapped his shoulder and gave him instruction: "Ah Qingyu, in our line of work you must be ruthless—anyone who blocks the way, move them aside."

At the time he kept smiling all along, but inside he was nervous as hell.

Over the years, only he knew his own plight and embarrassment; in the eyes of the Zhao family he was nothing, and they never regarded him as one of their own.

Put bluntly, Su Qingyu was merely a money‑making dog kept by the Zhao family.

Though Green Wild Landscaping grew ever larger, on the surface it was his Su Qingyu's enterprise, but in fact over sixty percent of its profits had to be handed over to the Zhao family.

Zhao Linlin was his wife, yet she always sided with her natal family, throwing out during every argument: "Without our Zhao family, where would you be today?!"

Frustrated.

Too frustrated.

But Su Qingyu dared not resist.

Anyone who betrays the Zhao family comes to no good end! Zhao Tianyu will not allow traitors to live in this world.

But now…

On the other side is Lin Dongfan, who holds power.

This young mayor's iron fist is out of the ordinary.

When Zhou Hongwei first fell from power, he was still glad that his dealings with Zhou Hongwei had been few.

But later Yuan Ben Zhong was arrested too, and Tang Yuchao voluntarily surrendered.

Only then did he belatedly realize—Lin Dongfan's anti‑corruption sword cannot be stopped! Sooner or later it will cut down the lawless Zhao clan on the execution ground!

The materials Lin Dongfan produced today are merely the tip of the iceberg.

"What should I do now…"

Su Qingyu slumped over the steering wheel, fingers dug deep into his hair, his despair plain to see.

His phone suddenly rang, startling him into a shudder.

It was Zhao Linlin calling.

"Hello…"

"Honey, where are you?" Zhao Linlin said in her usual commanding tone: "My brother wants to eat tonight at the clubhouse. Come early, don't be late."

"I…"

"By the way, pick up my mom too. She's playing mahjong today; meet her at the card room at six."

She hung up without giving Su Qingyu a chance to speak.

Su Qingyu held the phone, staring at the dark screen, suddenly feeling especially tired.

All these years, in the Zhao family he has forever been a go‑fer, a bill‑payer, and an errand boy. When Zhao Tianyu is in a good mood he calls him "brother‑in‑law"; when in a bad mood he calls him "that Su guy".

Zhao Linlin has never truly respected him either, as if marrying him were an act of charity.

But what can he do?

The lifeline of Green Wild Landscaping is pinched in the Zhao family's hand; over the years, to win projects he has given how many officials gifts, accompanied them in drinking, and played the obsequious grandson.

If those accounts were really dug up, they'd be enough to kill him ten times over.

"No…" Su Qingyu jerked upright, a flash of desperate will to survive crossing his eyes: "I can't just sit and wait for death."

He started the car, but instead of going to pick up his mother‑in‑law, he turned the wheel and drove toward the Zhao Group headquarters.

The top floor of the Zhao Group.

Zhao Tianyu's office is as big as a basketball court.

A whole wall of floor‑to‑ceiling windows overlooks downtown Wuzhou; the redwood desk is larger than a double bed, and the walls hang landscape paintings of unknown authenticity.

Interestingly, a statue of Guan Yu stands in the corner, with three fresh sticks of incense in the burner.

Zhao Tianyu was seated before the tea tray, brewing tea.

Seeing Su Qingyu enter, Zhao Tianyu couldn't be bothered to lift his eyelids: "Come in? Have a seat."

His tone was flat.

But Su Qingyu heard the impatience in it.

Su Qingyu sat down cautiously in the opposite zitan chair and said, "Big brother, today Lin Dongfan asked to talk with me."

"Oh?"

Zhao Tianyu glanced over, unimpressed, and asked: "What did he say?"

"He… he used Green Wild Landscaping's old accounts to pressure me." Su Qingyu swallowed, then added: "He also told me to urge you… in short, he was warning us not to clash head‑on with him."

Zhao Tianyu laughed.

Not a happy laugh, but a contemptuous, condescending chuckle.

"Warning me?" He slammed his tea cup onto the tea tray: "What is Lin Dongfan anyway? An airborne parachute who actually thinks he's the master of Wuzhou?"

Brother, this matter... I think we should still be cautious.

Su Qingyu gathered his courage.

Forcing himself to speak, he urged: 'He's a member of the Jingcheng Lin family, with deep roots in the capital circle. Zhou Hongwei, Yuan Ben Zhong, Tang Yuchao—these folks have been operating in Wuzhou for years; he says jump, and they jump. We...'

'What about us? Do you think I'm the same as those good-for-nothings?'

Zhao Tianyu stared coldly at Su Qingyu; just a glance of indifferent, ruthless eyes frightened Su Qingyu into silence, and he dared not utter another word.

Zhao Tianyu rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

With his back to Su Qingyu, he said: 'Secretary Wang has long sounded me out, saying Lin Dongfan won't stay long in Wuzhou. As long as we weather this current storm, Wuzhou will still be our Wuzhou.'

!!!

Su Qingyu suddenly felt powerless, feeling unable to turn the tide because this person underestimated Lin Dongfan's strength.

But to survive.

Su Qingyu finally forced himself to say: 'If Secretary Wang could truly suppress Lin Dongfan, our Zhao Group wouldn't have come to a halt of work and production; anti-corruption is already the prevailing trend...'

'What trend? What trend?!'

Zhao Tianyu turned sharply, his face darkening: 'Su Qingyu, I think you've been scared witless by the Lin surname, right?!'

!!!

Su Qingyu lowered his head to listen to the lecture, swallowing the words he hadn't finished saying.

Zhao Tianyu walked up to Su Qingyu, gave a dismissive smile, and said: 'Lin Dongfan has connections, and Wang Qigang is no pushover; the Wangs won't let our Zhao Group be purged. Listen up: on this little plot of land in Wuzhou, the rules set by Wang Qigang are the true iron law!'

!!!

Su Qingyu was cowed by Zhao Tianyu's arrogant aura, not daring to lift his head.

'Furthermore...'

Zhao Tianyu's tone grew colder: 'Don't forget, without our Zhao family, you, Su Qingyu, would still be hauling bricks on a construction site! If you think your wings have hardened and you want to climb to a higher branch...'

Before he could finish speaking, a terrifying killing intent swept over him.

Su Qingyu hurriedly protested his innocence: 'I never had such a thought, never even considered it.'

'If not, then shut up!'

Zhao Tianyu pointed at the door and ordered: 'Get out! I don't want to hear any more of that talk that builds others up while tearing yourself down!'