Chapter 883: Political studies are life

At the instant Lin Dongfan kicked the door open, Zheng Congwen, startled out of his wits, indeed failed to keep his grip; the cup of tea in his hand almost slipped, and the scalding tea splashed onto his hand.

But he had no time to feel the pain, because Lin Dongfan had already walked in.

No one followed him; it was just him alone.

The door remained open; a few passing police officers in the hallway poked their heads in to look, but a glance from Zheng Congwen made them all shrink back.

"Lin... Mayor Lin..." Zheng Congwen set down his tea cup, squeezing out a smile: "How did you come? You didn't even call ahead so I could go meet you..."

Lin Dongfan ignored him.

He walked straight in, plopped onto the sofa, crossed his legs, and with a death‑god stare fixed on the uneasy Zheng Congwen standing opposite.

"Political Commissar Zheng, your office door is pretty sturdy!"

Zheng Congwen's smile froze for a moment: "Mayor Lin, what you're saying..."

"I kicked it once and it didn't break." Lin Dongfan turned to glance at the door panel: "The quality of this door is quite good! I wonder if your small frame is as tough."

"Mayor, you're joking; my small frame can't take a kick."

After the shock, Zheng Congwen's smile, though still a bit awkward, had calmed considerably; he thought, "Go ahead, kick me and see if I die—if not, you'll think I'm useless."

Xu Jialiang stood nearby, neither advancing nor retreating, rooted to the spot, at a loss.

Lin Dongfan's gaze fell on him: "Are you Xu Jialiang?"

"Mm."

Xu Jialiang was so nervous he didn't know how to reply.

Lin Dongfan took a step forward and asked: "I heard you took over Gao Yicheng's case?"

"......!!!"

Xu Jialiang, with a black line across his forehead, still didn't know how to answer—if he said yes, he'd offend Lin Dongfan; if he said no, he'd offend Zheng Congwen.

Either way it's a pitfall; whichever he chooses, he's doomed.

Just as Xu Jialiang was vexed and at a loss, Zheng Congwen suddenly interjected: "Mayor, Gao Yicheng is suspected of extracting confessions by torture. To protect the image of our police force, I've already suspended him for reflection. The Huang Jintang case is now handled by Comrade Xu Jialiang. He's experienced and handles cases steadily—you can rest assured."

"Rest assured?"

Lin Dongfan smiled, rose, and walked over to Zheng Congwen.

Only a desk lay between them.

Lin Dongfan asked directly: "I came today just to ask you one thing—what do you plan to do about the Huang Jintang case?"

"Of course we'll handle it according to law."

No wonder he's a Political Commissar handling ideological work—his response was lightning fast; the four words "handle it according to law" came out without a thought.

He even bore an air of calm composure, neither humble nor arrogant.

Lin Dongfan's face grew stern: "You barged in while Gao Yicheng was interrogating Huang Jintang, slapped a torture‑confession charge on him, and suspended him on the spot—is that handling it according to law?"

"......!!!"

Zheng Congwen clenched his teeth silently, his face flushing slightly.

But as a Political Commissar should be, he lacked neither calm nor composure; his mindset remained as steady as an old dog.

He pondered briefly.

Zheng Congwen replied: "Mayor Lin, Gao Yicheng indeed has some procedural violations. If you don't believe me, you can wait for Huang Jintang's injury report."

"You have all kinds of tricks; whether we look at that injury report or not makes no difference."

Lin Dongfan gave a cold smile.

He further warned Zheng Congwen: "I don't care whether you serve the people or some individual, nor how many tricks you have. I came today just to remind you—keep that person under watch!"

Zheng Congwen put on a helpless expression.

He gave a wry smile again and again: "Mayor Lin, I truly don't know what I've done wrong to make you misunderstand me so deeply. All this talk of 'many tricks,' 'many schemes,' 'serving some individual'… I really don't get it. And you said to 'keep that person under watch'—watch whom? I don't understand; please clarify."

When it comes to feigning ignorance while understanding perfectly, Zheng Congwen is undoubtedly an expert.

Lin Dongfan had obviously anticipated this response, saw no point in arguing; his sole aim was to give this old fogey a warning, and making his attitude clear was enough.

Lin Dongfan said: "The Huang Jintang case was originally handled by Gao Yicheng. You forcibly took Huang Jintang out of the Zhu Ling Police Station and handed the case over to Xu Jialiang. Since you attach such importance to this case, you naturally bear full responsibility for Huang Jintang's personal safety."

"Mayor Lin, I don't understand your meaning—are you suspecting someone might harm Huang Jintang?"

Zheng Congwen's face bore a hint of doubt, but inside he was secretly laughing: "Mayor Lin, Mayor Lin, to protect Huang Jintang's life you actually came personally and kicked the door—what trouble you've gone to."

Lin Dongfan's eyes were icy: "Old Zheng, let me be blunt—if Huang Jintang meets with any mishap out of the blue, you are the primary responsible party and will bear full blame!"

"......!!!"

Zheng Congwen wore a smile while fury burned inside; he thought, "You've really come to put a tight spell on me! Too bad—I, Zheng Congwen, have never been a soft pushover anyone can push around…"

He pondered silently for a moment.

Zheng Congwen shifted his gaze to Xu Jialiang: "Old Xu, did you hear that? The Mayor has issued a clear order. Now you are the person in charge of this case; you must ensure Huang Jintang's personal safety. If anything happens to him, you'll be held accountable—don't let down the Mayor's expectations."

"......!!!"

Xu Jialiang, with a black line across his forehead, felt as if he heard his great‑grandmother calling his name from the Yellow Springs road.

"Who am I?"

"Where am I?"

"Could it be that I'm born stupid, with too much of the five elements forcing me?"

"Why do you think I'm an idiot?"

"The Mayor dumped the responsibility on your shoulders, and you just shoved it onto me—how can a person be so shameless?"

"Damn it, have I boarded a thief's ship?"

"Or have I stepped onto a road of no return?"

This series of doubts welling from the depths of his soul devoured Xu Jialiang's mind into a blank void, and in that moment he plunged straight into the realm of idiocy.

In short, he had nothing to argue with and no strength to resist.

Could only remain silent.

……

At this point, Lin Dongfan also saw through it. The dog traitor is a real chicken thief, and the fool is also a real idiot! Even after being sold out, he still harbors the fantasy of gaining promotion and nobility, completely lacking the awareness to turn from darkness to light.

Should we lend the fool a hand?

In a moment, Lin Dongfan decisively dismissed that thought; saving the fool is the work of a holy mother bitch! I'm just a vulgar person.

Lin Dongfan solemnly patted Xu Jialiang's shoulder: 'Well... give it a shot, Bicycle-to-motorcycle upgrade! Keep at it; as long as you don't get into a catastrophic car accident, you won't die.'

...!!!

Xu Jialiang still had a black line on his head, speechless, mainly because he had nothing in his brain. Back at the police academy, he focused on learning criminal investigation techniques, never expecting that political theory would be the ultimate lesson of life.

Now that he can't play politics, how can he survive?

If someone really wants to kill Huang Jintang, then this becomes a big trouble! Damn, I can't possibly spend 24 hours accompanying Huang Jintang in the detention center, can I?

As he thought, Xu Jialiang's face had collapsed beyond repair, his left side showing an aura of despair, his right side showing a lack of will to live.