Chapter 45: The Rougher the Waves, the More Valuable the Fish!

Wan Ming saw Guo Chuan off and rendezvoused with Tang Ye.

"They are all thousand-year-old foxes who have cultivated into spirits; as soon as they heard it involved a homicide case, Guo Chuan smelled something fishy and took off running. However, I did promise him that those who participated in the gambling would be released after paying a fine and being detained for a few days."

Tang Ye smiled faintly, "Guo Chuan isn't stupid; he knows that if he enters the game, he'll become someone else's pawn."

"By the way, what else did you find out?" Wan Ming asked curiously.

Tang Ye raised an eyebrow, "Take a look at the written statement."

Wan Ming looked at Tang Ye in surprise, "Hong Lei's death was a murder!!!???"

"The driver who caused the accident, Lao Wang, stated that he had been instructed by someone that day to drive the sand truck into the motorcycle. Hong Lei was in a coma at the time, and the car accident was just to cover up the truth."

Wan Ming was a former criminal police officer; the complexity of the case excited him, "What a surprise! The more I investigate this case, the more I feel there's something to it."

Tang Ye stroked his chin and said softly, "Things aren't that simple; the other side definitely has countermeasures."

Wan Ming said dismissively, "Let the storm rage even harder; I can't wait for them to reveal more flaws!"

Tang Ye mused that Wan Ming truly shared his values.

Treat life and death with indifference, and if you aren't convinced, just fight!

……

Tang Ye set an alarm and fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed.

After opening his eyes, the east was already turning white.

Although he had only slept for two or three hours, because the quality of his sleep was exceptionally good, Tang Ye was fully recharged.

Compared to normal people who rest for eight hours a day, Tang Ye rested for less than half that time, meaning he had more time to handle work; this could also be considered a special skill.

From ancient times to the present, many people who achieved great things were people with extremely vigorous energy.

Many people think that intelligence determines a person's upper limit.

In fact, physical strength is also a key factor in determining that limit.

Tang Ye always maintained a fitness habit, running 5.2 kilometers, doing one hundred push-ups, and twenty pull-ups every single day without fail.

After eating breakfast, Tang Ye dialed Gu Wenqin's phone, "Are you free? Come with me to handle some business later."

Gu Wenqin didn't even ask what it was for and readily agreed.

Gu Wenqin was wearing a pale yellow coat, a black skirt, and nude-colored leggings today; she had carefully applied makeup, making her delicate features appear very three-dimensional. Although she didn't know who Tang Ye was taking her to see, she knew she had to take it seriously.

Tang Ye noticed that Gu Wenqin's heels were a bit high and said softly, "Don't wear such high shoes in the future; it's easy to sprain your ankle."

Gu Wenqin felt a little sweet inside, "I only wear them occasionally. Thank you for the reminder."

Tang Ye found a Santana and told the driver the address.

He sat in the back row with Gu Wenqin.

In the cramped environment, a faint, soft fragrance wafted from Gu Wenqin's body.

Recalling the scene from last night where she leaned on Tang Ye's shoulder, Gu Wenqin couldn't help but feel her cheeks grow warm.

Tang Ye, however, didn't have many thoughts, his mind calculating how to break the deadlock ahead.

"Who are we meeting later, and do you need me to do anything?" Gu Wenqin asked softly.

Tang Ye smiled and said, "Later, don't do anything. Just like me, lift your chin slightly, don't have any expression or any emotion, and give people a cold, aloof feeling."

Gu Wenqin lifted her chin, revealing her slender, snow-white neck.

"Tilt it up, right!" Tang Ye brought his fingers together and pulled back, smiling as he said, "Pull it in a bit, just this angle, remember how this feels."

Gu Wenqin moved her neck, looked at Tang Ye with annoyance, and complained, "Why does it feel like you're treating me like a doll?"

Tang Ye laughed out loud, "You aren't a doll; you're a priceless Ming or Qing dynasty vase."

Gu Wenqin glared at Tang Ye with annoyance; she hated it most when people called her a vase. If it were anyone else, she would have turned around and left.

On second thought, she comforted herself: if Tang Ye said she was a vase, didn't that mean he acknowledged her appearance?

They arrived at the eighteenth floor of the Haihua Building in the city center.

Tang Ye announced his name at the front desk.

Although they didn't have an appointment, the front desk still reported to those above, and after receiving instructions, she led the two to the General Manager's office.

The wallpaper was pale yellow, elegant and tasteful, with a semi-circle of dark yellow sofas surrounding a glass coffee table.

A man and a woman were sitting on the sofa.

The man was about forty years old, not tall, wearing a gray suit, his hair groomed to a shine;

The woman, because she was well-maintained, was of indeterminate age, with delicate features and a faint, elusive smile at the corners of her mouth; her pair of peach-blossom eyes were extremely alluring, as if they could speak.

The man wore a gentle smile on his face and took the initiative to stand up and extend his hand, "Welcome."

Tang Ye shook hands with the man; the other party's palm was very powerful.

After they sat down, the woman gestured toward the white porcelain teacup, "Please, have some tea!"

"Manager Hu, coming here uninvited is a bit presumptuous." Tang Ye took a shallow sip and smiled faintly, "Let me introduce the lady sitting next to me; her name is Gu Wenqin, the owner of Qinge Clothing Factory. Of course, she has another identity: she is Hong Lei's wife."

Gu Wenqin tried hard not to let her emotions show.

Why did Tang Ye have to bring up Hong Lei?

Hu Mingsheng was silent for a few seconds, then laughed twice, "Town Mayor Tang, if you have something to say, you might as well be blunt!"

Tang Ye took a newspaper out of his briefcase and read, "Recently, Municipal Party Secretary Zhou Chengwu went to the Municipal Office for the Leading Group for the Struggle Against Organized Crime and the Municipal Public Security Bureau to investigate the progress of the normalized anti-organized crime work.

He emphasized that the normalized struggle against organized crime must be treated as an important political task, that the stubborn and complex characteristics of organized crime must be clearly recognized, that legal crackdowns must be strengthened, that both symptoms and root causes must be addressed, that the overall social stability must be better maintained, and that the happiness and tranquility of the people must be resolutely protected."

Hu Mingsheng frowned and said coldly, "Town Mayor Tang, what do you mean by this? Are you implying that I am a member of the underworld? I am a law-abiding, good citizen."

Tang Ye shook his head and explained patiently, "Manager Hu, I just wanted to reveal to you the city's important recent actions. A new emperor brings new courtiers. The Municipal Party Secretary has been in office for three months; it is precisely the time for him to push through a series of policies. You should be able to understand what signal he is sending by going to the Public Security Bureau to conduct research."

Gu Wenqin had regained her composure by this time.

She had heard of Hu Mingsheng's reputation.

She never expected that Tang Ye would actually bring her to meet a gang boss.

At this moment, she only felt her body tense up, with fine beads of sweat seeping from her back.

Remembering Tang Ye's instructions, she quietly clenched her fists, doing her utmost to control her emotions and manage her expression, so as not to reveal the panic in her heart.

Tang Ye drained the tea in his cup in one gulp, "In my view, this operation is a very good opportunity for you."

"An opportunity?"

"The times are changing; some positions cannot be held by one person forever."

"Sowing discord?"

"General Manager Hu, as far as I know, your parents were both fishermen; you should have known since childhood the principle that the bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish!"

Hu Mingsheng suddenly fell silent, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

The atmosphere suddenly turned stagnant.

Seeing that Tang Ye's teacup was empty, the woman stood up, intending to refill it for him.

Tang Ye smiled and declined, "No more. The words that needed to be said have been said; I shall take my leave now!"

A smile appeared on Hu Mingsheng's gloomy and uncertain face, "I will see you out."

Hu Mingsheng saw Tang Ye and Gu Wenqin to the elevator entrance.

Not until the elevator doors closed did he withdraw his smile.

He returned to the office.

The woman asked curiously, "Why were you willing to see him? He is merely a Deputy Town Mayor."

Hu Mingsheng took out a cigarette and held it in his mouth without lighting it, "Of course I wouldn't care about a Deputy Town Mayor. But the woman by his side is Hong Lei's wife. Do you know Hong Lei's identity?"

The woman looked at Hu Mingsheng, puzzled, "Hong Lei? That sounds familiar?"

Hu Mingsheng's eyes flickered, "Hong Lei is the grandson of the former Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, Hong Ruilin."

"My godfather's only son was originally required by Hong Ruilin to be severely punished, and he died of a sudden illness after entering prison."

"Given my godfather's temper, how could he swallow this insult? After Hong Ruilin retired, he secretly took revenge—first by luring Hong's son astray, and later by setting a death trap for his grandson."

"The newly arrived Municipal Party Secretary of Hanzhou, Zhou Chengwu, is a student of Hong."

A look of surprise appeared in the woman's eyes, "You mean, this crackdown on organized crime is aimed at my godfather?"

Hu Mingsheng's gaze gradually became firm.

The woman leaned in and tightly gripped Hu Mingsheng's hand, "No matter what decision you make, I will always support you."

On the way back to Pinghu Town.

Seeing that Gu Wenqin had been silent the whole time, Tang Ye said softly, "You can speak now; there is no need to be so aloof!"

Gu Wenqin said softly, "I am the granddaughter-in-law of Elder Hong. Is this the real reason you are helping me?"

Tang Ye shrugged and said with a smile, "I didn't approach you because you are good-looking, are you a bit disappointed? However, going into business with you was indeed because I was attracted to you as a person; you have the potential to become an excellent entrepreneur."

Gu Wenqin's originally depressed mood eased slightly, and she sighed slowly, "You look sunny, but you hide many things in your heart."

Tang Ye said with a smile, "Do you think I'm quite terrifying and plan to stay away from me?"

Gu Wenqin smiled helplessly, "I've already boarded the pirate ship; I'm a landlubber, so even if I wanted to run, I lack the ability."

The cell phone rang, and Tang Ye answered the call.

Wan Ming's tone was somewhat low, "The other side has acted. Dozens of sand trucks have blocked the Town Government."

Tang Ye was extremely surprised!

The storm had actually arrived so quickly!