Chapter 87: with translation of chapter title

Lin Dongfan (person). Cultural work troupe (generic organization). Wife (generic). Father-in-law (generic). Secretary Liang (title+person).

This sudden summons left Lin Dongfan secretly alarmed.

Provincial Party Committee Secretary (title). Nanzhou (place). Anti-Corruption and Anti-Black Special Meeting (event; maybe not needed, but it's a named event that could be considered a named entity, though we'll skip it).

Chu Lingxi (person). Provincial Party Committee Secretary Liang (title+person).

"Honey, I feel you're being a bit clueless today. Such a big leader wants to see you—how can you be late? You should rush over immediately, nonstop."

Chu Lingxi's urging voice came through the phone, leaving Lin Dongfan startled and puzzled.

no new.

Lin Dongfan helplessly explained: "What I meant by 'later' wasn't seeing the leader later, but seeing you later…"

"Did I hear wrong?" came a doubtful voice over the phone.

Lin Dongfan nodded seriously: "You didn't hear wrong; I just didn't explain clearly. Let's not talk about it now—I'll call you later."

After hanging up, Lin Dongfan smiled with relief—having a sweetly naive wife is wonderful.

Afternoon around three o'clock (time, not entity).

Father-in-law (generic). Chu Jinsong (person). Liang Jingzhong (person). Provincial Party Committee Secretary Liang Jingzhong (title+person). Also Chu Jinsong only.

Secretary Liang himself (person).

This leader in his sixties, though his temples had a few strands of white hair, was still full of vigor, his eyes bright and sharp.

Secretary Liang, Secretary Chu (titles).

Lin Dongfan did not put himself in an unfamiliar position; after entering, he gave a plain, ordinary greeting.

Son-in-law Lin Dongfan (person with relation).

Lin Dongfan (person).

Secretary Liang (title).

Lin Dongfan's sharply angular handsome face suddenly reminded Secretary Liang of an old leader, and he was secretly startled: "How could they look so alike…"

Old leader (generic).

Seeing Secretary Liang staring at Lin Dongfan without speaking, Chu Jinsong also grew nervous, unsure whether Liang wanted to reprimand him or something else.

Dongfan (Lin Dongfan) (person). Main responsibility (generic).

no new.

Secretary Liang's train of thought was interrupted, but he wasn't angry.

He chuckled and teased Chu Jinsong: "I heard someone offered a price—one million for a single strike to kill him on the spot, yet he didn't even frown. With such guts, do you have it?"

no new.

Having figured it out—that Secretary Liang wasn't planning to deal with Lin Dongfan—Chu Jinsong breathed a sigh of relief, smiling as he admitted his own courage was indeed inferior to that of the young.

Secretary Liang pointed to the two chairs opposite the desk: "Please sit down and talk."

no new.

Lin Dongfan first helped his father-in-law pull out a chair, waited until he was seated firmly, then sat down beside him.

no new.

Secretary Liang saw this and felt pleased.

He thought: This young man Lin Dongfan indeed has some merits—bold and daring in outward struggles, bearing the heroic spirit of an old leader who once swept across battlefields; inwardly, he observes proper seniority and seems to understand gratitude and repaying kindness.

no new.

Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau (organization). Changming Sub-bureau (organization). Ice cabinet corpse case (case name; maybe not needed, but it's a named case that could be considered a named entity, though it's descriptive).

"Go on, tell me—do you think I should praise you or criticize you?"

no new.

Jianglan Province (place).

"You throw this question at me out of the blue—what do you mean by that?"

"Could it be you want to see whether I, Lin Dongfan, have any self-awareness?"

Lin Dongfan turned his head to glance at his father-in-law, just as the father-in-law also turned his head; their eyes met, the father-in-law smiling, appearing calm and composed on the surface.

But Lin Dongfan understood—his father-in-law was actually nervous, subtly signalling him to answer carefully.

no new.

He responded modestly yet firmly: "Looking at my actions, many of my approaches have been overly radical, breaking the rules within the system; I reflect and accept the leader's criticism. However, I do not regret it. If given a chance to do it again, I would still act this way, for a simple reason—serious illness requires strong medicine."

"What a fine saying—serious illness requires strong medicine."

Secretary Liang revealed a relieved smile.

He had originally worried that Lin Dongfan was merely relying on Chu Jinsong's backing, charging ahead in the anti-corruption campaign like a brainless hotheaded youth.

Now it seems he had underestimated this junior.

"Serious illness"—this is Lin Dongfan's summary of Nanzhou's officialdom, indicating he has seen through the root of Nanzhou's problems and considered solutions.

"Strong medicine"—this embodies Lin Dongfan's viewpoint of eliminating the illness.

no new.

Secretary Liang shifted his gaze to Chu Jinsong: "In fighting corruption and eliminating evil, we need this kind of resolve—we must have the determination to administer strong medicine, as well as the lightning-fast, thunderbolt means to cut through tangled knots."

Leng Chuan (person). City Bureau (organization). Xu Liangyuan (person).

Yin Jiujiu (person). Hengsha Group (organization). Wang Minjuan (person).

Anti-Corruption Special Task Force (organization). Deputy Section Chief (rank). He Yanqing (person). Leng Chuan (person). Hengsha Group (organization).

Leng Chuan (person). City Bureau (organization).

no new.

As he got up to leave, Chu Jingsong gave Lin Dongfan's shoulder a meaningful pat.

He didn't say a word; everything was left unsaid, merely hinting that Lin Dongfan should watch his words and deeds and perform well—it's rare that the Municipal Party Committee's Number One appreciates him so much; don't miss this opportunity.

Lin Dongfan understood implicitly.

After Chu Jinsong left, Lin Dongfan, thinking, asked: "Secretary Liang, are you trying to say something about my contest with He Yanqing? This matter…"

Don't be nervous.

Secretary Liang stared intently at Lin Dongfan's appearance, and in his mind surfaced again the photo of the old leader in his youth in military uniform; the more he looked, the more he felt they resembled each other, as if carved from the same mold.

Secretary Liang said with a smile: "I have no interest in your contest. If you can defeat He Yanqing, that counts as half a capable person. If you can't, you'll bear the consequences."

"If I beat him, why would I only count as half a capable person?" Lin Dongfan wondered, a bit puzzled.

Secretary Liang spoke frankly: "Because Chu Jinsong is your father-in-law; no matter what, he'll help you a bit, so you aren't winning purely by your own strength against your opponent."

Lin Dongfan laughed embarrassedly, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Secretary Liang then asked, with deep meaning: "What is your father's name?"

"Lin Yuanchao." Lin Dongfan gave a self-deprecating laugh: "When I was little, my parents had already passed away; I'm almost forgetting what they looked like—saying it feels a bit unfilial."

Upon hearing that Lin Yuanchao had passed away, Secretary Liang's mood visibly fell a little.

He then asked again: "Is your grandfather called Lao Gen?"

"Lao Gen is my grandfather's nickname; his formal name is Lin Xu Chang." Lin Dongfan asked in surprise: "Do you know my grandfather?"

"I suppose I know him. Is he still alive?" Secretary Liang asked.

Lin Dongfan shook his head: "He died when I was in high school, over ten years ago. When he was alive, he never told me he had a friend who was a high-ranking official."

Hearing this, Secretary Liang couldn't help but chuckle again, thinking that Lao Gen had never met him, so how could he know he had a friend who was a high-ranking official?

Truly, things remain but people are gone.

In the blink of an eye, several decades have passed; that Lao Gen probably never knew, even to his death, that the old leader had been painstakingly searching for him all his life—but fortunately, heaven rewards the diligent, and the old leader got to see his grandson in his lifetime.

Secretary Liang set aside his miscellaneous thoughts.

He then solemnly urged Lin Dongfan: "Work hard; this battle must be won, not lost. Remember what you just said: a deep illness requires a strong remedy. In Nanzhou, wherever there is a diseased official, regardless of rank, you should freely crack down. As long as you yourself are not diseased, no one can touch you."