Chapter 944

Wang Qigang is to be transferred; this is already a settled matter.

As for where the Organization Department will transfer Wang Qigang, whether it's a promotion or a demotion, Lin Dongfan actually doesn't care about these matters.

Now what Lin Dongfan cares more about is, after Wang Qigang is transferred, who the superiors will send to Wuzhou to serve as secretary.

This matter directly relates to work for the next few years.

Evening.

Lin Dongfan called the retired Liang Jingzhong; Old Liang had presided over Jianglan Province for five years and knows the situation there like the back of his hand.

Lin Dongfan asked directly on the phone: "Uncle, who do you think the superiors will send to Wuzhou?"

"Haha, you little brat also have moments of anxiety, huh?"

West Mountain old residence.

Liang Jingzhong had just finished washing up, wearing only a white bathrobe, his hair still damp, holding his phone as he came out to sit in the living room.

The old master, accustomed to sleeping early, had already entered dreamland.

Aunt Lin Yuzhi had just chased her grandnephew Lin Weishang to the study to do homework. Seeing Old Liang on the phone, she snapped: "Again wanting someone to go through the back door? Hurry up and hang up and go to sleep."

"It's Dongfan."

Liang Jingzhong made a shushing gesture toward Lin Yuzhi.

He continued the call with Lin Dongfan: "This matter, asking me is useless; you need to ask Secretary Jiang. Now Jianglan Province is under Jiang Huantian's leadership. His personal opinion is usually taken into account by the Organization Department."

"It's not good to ask about this," Lin Dongfan said, torn.

Liang Jingzhong disagreed: "What's wrong with asking? You're the mayor of Wuzhou; inquiring about the situation is also to do your work well."

"Saying that, who knows what he'll think." Lin Dongfan said: "In his eyes, no matter who the superiors send over, I have to cooperate unconditionally. If I rush to inquire about this, I'd seem fickle and restless. He might even think I want to get ahead of him, which would not be good for unity."

"Looks like you've really grown up, kid." Liang Jingzhong laughed: "Then tell me the truth, are you really trying to get ahead of him?"

"It depends on who gets transferred over," Lin Dongfan said frankly.

Liang Jingzhong replied confidently: "Rest easy, Jiang Huantian being able to sit firmly as the top leader of Jianglan Province shows he's a smart person. In this matter, he certainly won't set a trap for you; otherwise he wouldn't take the opportunity to oust Wang Qigang. What he's doing clearly aims to help you clear obstacles."

"I've thought about this too, just a bit uncertain," Lin Dongfan said frankly.

Liang Jingzhong analyzed: "Back then, Jiang Huantian succeeded me as the leader of Jianglan Province. He worked there for three years, then was transferred to Hanzhong Province. After not staying long there, he was transferred back to Jianglan Province. All these years he's been spinning his wheels, unable to get promoted. Now he's clearing obstacles for you, also hoping to draw your uncle's attention."

"If you say that, then I can relax."

"Stay calm, just pretend nothing happened and wait quietly for the new official to take office. No matter who comes, Wuzhou is yours to command, trust me..."

Liang Jingzhong originally wanted to add a few more reminders.

He didn't finish speaking.

Lin Yuzhi suddenly snatched the phone and turned on the speakerphone.

She snapped as soon as she spoke: "You're in your forties, yet you can't even see this small matter? Is your brain kicked by a donkey or pinched by a door? You're as stupid as a pig!"

"Um... Aunt, I don't think I've provoked you, have I? You start scolding as soon as you come on." Lin Dongfan's gloomy voice came through the phone.

Lin Yuzhi sat down on the sofa, found the spot a bit cramped, and stuck out her butt.

She shoved Liang Jingzhong to the side.

She continued her tirade: "Don't forget, you're a Lin! Lin Yuzhi's Lin! Just my aunt's reputation alone would let you roam freely in Jianglan Province. Yet you, you're mixing around like a grandson! You've embarrassed my face; can't I scold you? Tell me, do you want me to personally go to Wuzhou to teach you how to be a big shot?"

No matter how many whippings she usually gets at home, the aunt's protective strength toward her offspring hasn't diminished at all.

Even Liang Jingzhong sitting nearby couldn't help but give a thumbs up, laughing: "It really has to be you; I wouldn't even dare to think of a phrase like 'be a big shot'."

"So you're also a useless good-for-nothing."

Lin Yuzhi rolled her eyes at him, making Liang Jingzhong give a bitter smile without sound.

Old Liang had to admit a fact—compared to these outstanding members of the Lin family, he really is a useless waste who can't get ahead.

Lin Yuzhi then continued to scold the distant Lin Dongfan in Wuzhou: "Why are you mute? Hurry up and fart if you've got gas!"

"What am I saying?" Lin Dongfan retorted gloomily: "Just now you said I'm mixing around like a grandson; about that, it's rather baffling. I've only been working in Wuzhou for less than a year. As a newcomer with no roots or foundation, I still managed to break through and thrive. How did I end up being a grandson?"

"You've sunk so low as to have to call back for help—what else is that if not a grandson?" The exasperated Lin Yuzhi, her face full of disappointment: "If you had even a bit of backbone, now in Wuzhou you could just let out a fart and people behind you would say it smells good! Do you understand the gap?"

"Screw understanding, I don't want to understand." Lin Dongfan said glumly: "I can't reason with you bandits; give the phone back to Uncle, I'll talk to him."

"Say you're useless, you really are a hopeless case." Lin Yuzhi said: "Your uncle has wandered the officialdom for most of his life and still hasn't reached some certain sea. What would you talk to him about? Learn how to be a waste like him? If you want to talk, talk to me; do you understand the weight of a general's rank? If this family weren't propped up by me, it would have collapsed long ago."

Upon hearing that, Liang Jingzhong broke out in a cold sweat, hastily glancing toward the old master's bedroom.

Fortunately the old master was already asleep, the bedroom door shut tight. If he heard this, tonight there would be chaos again.

On the other end of the phone, Lin Dongfan also broke out in a cold sweat, just like Liang Jingzhong.

Lin Dongfan weakly sighed: "Aunt, although I don't really grasp the worth of a general's rank, I know your boasting ability inside out. Can we talk about something down-to-earth?"

"What have I been boasting about?"

Lin Yuzhi, the more she went on, the prouder she became: "Back when you were bullied in Nanzhou, wasn't it me who came to wipe your butt? You ungrateful wretch, you truly don't remember my kindness. And who was it again? Jian Siqing's sister Jian Siqing—if I hadn't helped, could she have gotten into military academy? Could she have been assigned to the Military Commission's organ?"

"I didn't say you lack ability."

"Then who said just now that I was boasting?"

"I'm saying you have ability, but you're not the most capable person in the Lin family. The old master is still around; I told you to keep a low profile so you'd get whipped less."

"Speaking of getting whipped less, I have to hash this out with you! On the old master's birthday, who gave him a whip as a birthday present?"

"Not me, it was my mother-in-law who gave it."

"Who gave your mother-in-law the idea for that?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know? You dare to do it but not own up—you despicable thing! If you've got the guts, don't ever come back; otherwise! Not giving you a set of military calisthenics combo would be a disservice to your conscience."

"Um... I suddenly have something to attend to here, I'll hang up first."

"Hang up what? Keep talking!"

"What did you say? My signal's bad, I didn't hear. Aunt, are you still there?"

"Keep acting!"

"Hello? Aunt, aunt… Did you hear me? I love you, please reply if you hear. My signal suddenly went bad here, I can't hear your voice…"

"Don't give me that!"

Lin Yuzhi had just finished speaking when the sound of 'beep beep beep' came from the phone; Lin Dongfan had already hung up, and in anger Lin Yuzhi tossed the phone at Liang Jingzhong.

And she threw Liang Jingzhong a contemptuous look: "The Lin family's third-generation waste of a man, at least he knows how to say 'I love you'. You big waste, you can't do anything—learn a bit from now on."

"!!!"

Liang Jingzhong had a black line across his forehead, thinking, 'Do I really have to be so melodramatic? I'm over seventy, and I'm still hung up on those three words.'