Chapter 901

Place Intermediate People's Court, Vice President's office.

The elegant lady on the sofa—Jiang Yinghong—had come out in person today for Huang Jingrong's matter, and only after waiting half an hour did she see Fang Xiaoqian.

Fang Xiaoqian, who had long become a shrewd person, kept thinking of ways to stall.

"Director Fang."

Jiang Yinghong lifted her teacup, gently blew on it, and said: "Although this is our first meeting, I've long heard your name. You are the youngest vice president in the Jianglan political and legal system, with a bright future."

Fang Xiaoqian smiled: "Sister Jiang, you flatter me; you surely didn't come just to praise me, did you?"

"Director Fang is straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush." Jiang Yinghong set down her teacup, chatting easily: "I came today for Huang Jingrong's case."

Fang Xiaoqian raised her eyebrows slightly, feigning surprise: "Huang Jingrong, what's your connection to him?"

"Not really a relation; I just feel sorry for him."

Jiang Yinghong avoided the main point.

Striking a wistful pose: "His brother's been locked up, the company's accounts frozen, and now Mayor Lin has left him in tatters. This guy—once luck turns against him, even drinking cold water gets stuck in his teeth."

Fang Xiaoqian didn't respond.

Jiang Yinghong continued: "I came today hoping Director Fang could mediate. Could we not let that case get so stuck? Let's withdraw the suits where we should, unfreeze where we should—each side take a step back."

Fang Xiaoqian laughed: "Sister Jiang, you put it… I don't even know how to respond. The case is being tried by the court; it's not up to me alone. Moreover, the counter-suit against Huang Jingrong arose because he refused to withdraw his suit first, took a hard line, and refused mediation—we have no choice."

Jiang Yinghong nodded:

"I know this matter; regarding Huang Jingrong's lawsuit against Mortal Group, I can persuade him to withdraw. I came to see you hoping you could work on Mortal Group—persuade them to withdraw their counter-suit and, at the same time, unfreeze Huang Shi Engineering Company's assets. Each side steps back, harmony brings wealth."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoqian found it laughable.

Earlier we told you to withdraw, yet you insisted on posing like 'I've got an iron head, I fear no one!'—such a badass attitude!

Now you've suffered a loss, can't hold on, and come running over, panting, asking for mediation!

Do you think the court is your family's business?

You want things your way, and that's how it shall be?

Just as Fang Xiaoqian was pondering how to rebut, the office door was knocked twice, then shoved open.

Lin Dongfan walked in.

Jiang Yinghong's smile froze slightly, but quickly returned to normal.

He and Fang Xiaoqian rose together, and he was the first to greet Lin Dongfan: "Yo, Mayor Lin's here. Perfect, I was just looking for you."

"Sister Jiang, long time no see."

Lin Dongfan politely stepped forward, shook hands, then invited everyone to sit and talk.

As soon as Jiang Yinghong sat down, she said: "I came mainly to discuss the issue of Huang Shi Engineering Company..."

She simply repeated what she had just said.

Finally.

She also specifically added: "Your mother-in-law Shen Junlan is my distant cousin; by relation you should call me aunt. We're at least relatives—won't you give me this face?"

"Aunt Jiang, you're too kind."

Lin Dongfan had long grown accustomed to such name‑dropping and pulling strings.

Lin Dongfan smiled: "You should know the Huang Shi Engineering Company affairs better than I. Over the years, how many municipal projects has the company undertaken in Place? How much did they falsify in project volume? How many instances of cutting corners and substituting inferior materials? When these are exposed, someone must bear responsibility."

Jiang Yinghong choked, fell silent a moment, then said: "Dongfan, Huang Jintang is already inside—isn't that taking responsibility? Why push Huang Jingrong onto a dead‑end road?"

"Aunt Jiang, you've misunderstood; I truly don't intend to drive Huang Jingrong to a dead end."

Lin Dongfan also put on a helpless look.

Emphasizing with reason and evidence: "Huang Jintang's case is still under investigation. At this critical juncture, Huang Jingrong has popped up to sue Mortal Group, maliciously creating obstacles, stalling the work at Cloud Peak Mountain Villa. I've signed a military order in the province, demanding the villa resume work within a month—what do you want me to do?"

Jiang Yinghong's face shifted repeatedly: "So you mean there's nothing to negotiate?"

"Aunt Jiang, this isn't a question of whether we can negotiate."

Lin Dongfan said: "Now Mortal Group is counter‑suing Huang Shi Engineering Company, and the litigation process is in the court's hands; although I'm mayor, I also find it inconvenient to interfere."

In a few words, Lin Dongfan tossed the problem straight to Fang Xiaoqian.

Jiang Yinghong could only turn her gaze to Fang Xiaoqian: "Vice President Fang, I've come today in sincerity, hoping we can consult to resolve the two sides' contradiction."

"'What do you want me to do?' Fang Xiaoqian replied, half‑smiling, composed."

Jiang Yinghong said: "As I just said, each side steps back, both withdraw the suits, and unfreeze Huang Shi Engineering Company's assets."

"'Sister Jiang, that probably won't work.' Fang Xiaoqian forced a bitter smile."

Jiang Yinghong's face changed slightly: "Mayor Lin's meaning was already clear just now—the urgent priority is to get Cloud Peak Mountain Villa back to work as soon as possible. With both sides withdrawing suits, it would help push the project forward—why wouldn't it work?"

"'Sister Jiang, that's how it is.'"

Fang Xiaoqian wore a helpless expression: "Before Mortal Group filed its counter‑suit, if Huang Jingrong had been willing to withdraw, none of this would have happened. Now Huang Jingrong regrets it, but Mortal Group is holding a grudge and refuses to withdraw. In this matter, our court can only follow procedure."

"'After all, you're just trying to play Huang Jingrong to death,' Jiang Yinghong snapped, anger flashing."

Fang Xiaoqian calmly returned a faint smile: "Sister Jiang, if you're going to put it that way, I have nothing more to say—please leave."

"!!!!"

Jiang Yinghong's face darkened with anger; she hadn't expected that a mere vice president like Fang Xiaoqian would not even regard her.

Jiang Yinghong turned to Lin Dongfan: "Dongfan, if we keep making a fuss, what's in it for you? Aren't you afraid Cloud Peak Mountain Villa won't be able to resume work on schedule?!"

When she uttered the words 'unable to resume work on schedule,' Jiang Yinghong deliberately stressed her tone.

It carried a hint of threat.

Lin Donggong furrowed his brow; he had indeed given this problem serious thought, and all things considered, there really wasn't anything to fear.

From recent signs, Huang Jingrong differs from his brother Huang Jintang.

Huang Jingrong is no brainless hothead!

Just like how we handled the Su family father and daughter affair.

When he realized the situation was turning against him, Huang Jinrong didn't mind swallowing his pride and playing the grandson, didn't mind paying out of his own pocket five hundred thousand to turn the tide, and spared no effort to save his own life.

Someone as clever as Huang Jinrong.

Everything he does is to expand his living space, to crave control over more survival resources, rather than to block his own path of survival.

In other words…

If he were truly driven to a dead end, Huang Jinrong's first reaction would definitely not be to perish together; he would choose to cut off his arm to survive.

Lin Dongfan responded with a smile to Jiang Yinghong: "Aunt Jiang, I understand your appreciation for Huang Jinrong's situation—it's a pity to lose talent. But judicial matters, I truly cannot interfere. Otherwise, outsiders might say I, Lin Dongfan, in Wuzhou, am covering the sky with one hand, interfering with judicial justice, and practicing one-man rule? I wouldn't dare wear such a hat."

"!!!"

This time Jiang Yinghong was truly angry, anger mixed with her smile!

She thought:

You two, one playing good cop, the other bad cop, joining hands to make a monkey out of me? Fine! Very fine! If Cloud Peak Mountain Villa can't resume work on schedule, I'll see how much longer you can keep laughing!

Thinking this far…

Jiang Yinghong flared up, grabbed her bag and turned to leave: "When you go back, give my regards to your mother-in-law! Tell her she has good eyesight, picking a son-in-law who doesn't recognize his own relatives!"

"???"

Lin Dongfan frowned in astonishment, speechless.