Chapter 7: Rape Twisted into a Confession?

The morning market in Pinghu Town is very lively.

People selling deep-fried dough sticks and fried sugar cakes; making noodles and boiling wontons; pan-frying potstickers and baking flatbreads...

The prices are only one-third of those in the city center, the flavors are hearty, and the atmosphere is thick with the scent of daily life.

Tang Ye bought five potstickers, asked the landlady for a portion of wontons, sprinkled on some chili powder, added a few drops of aged vinegar, and ate until he was sweating all over.

When the landlady had a moment of leisure, she would banter and joke with a table of married women by disparaging her own husband.

"Sigh, you look like you're in good spirits lately, life must be sweet."

"Don't even mention it, my husband is like a water meter reader; he only checks the meter once a month."

"Once a month? That's already pretty good. My man is like a newspaper delivery boy; he sees the mailbox, stuffs it in, and that's it." The middle-aged woman speaking had a loud voice, causing people at other tables to look over one after another.

"Then you've got it pretty good; my husband is like a milkman, he just leaves it at the door every day and walks away."

The few tables in the shop burst into roars of laughter.

Infected by the bustling, down-to-earth atmosphere, Tang Ye couldn't help but smile.

Just then, his cell phone rang, and Tang Ye answered, "Secretary Xu, hello."

"Come sit in my office after you get to work; I want to chat with you about something."

"Alright, I'll be there in half an hour!"

Tang Ye guessed it had to do with the incident involving Xu Jie last night.

In the Party Committee Office, the bookcase was neatly lined with boxed editions of the Four Books and Five Classics.

Xu Yiping took the initiative to brew a cup of tea for Tang Ye, "There was a bit of a misunderstanding last night."

Tang Ye ignored the look of conciliation Xu Yiping was projecting.

For an official, not letting one's joy or anger show on one's face is a basic skill; even if one is full of straw inside, one must still put on a profound and inscrutable expression.

He took the teacup and placed it on the coffee table...

"Secretary, I was planning to report this matter to you as soon as I got to work. Xu Jie is a star entrepreneur in the town, has been named an advanced individual for several years in a row, and is suspected of insulting a woman... If this kind of thing gets out, it will have an extremely negative impact on our town's business environment!"

Tang Ye adopted a preemptive strategy, tying the severity of the matter to the image of the Government.

Xu Yiping took a cigarette in a leisurely manner, lit it, and took a puff, "I know Xu Jie very well; his nature isn't bad. He doesn't have a good relationship with his wife and has been in the middle of a divorce. His way of pursuing Gu Wenqin was ill-considered! He should have gotten the divorce first before confessing his feelings to her."

Rape could be twisted into a confession of love?

Tang Ye felt extreme disgust toward Xu Jie, but since he had just arrived in Pinghu Town, going head-to-head with Xu Yiping would be detrimental to his future work, so he couldn't make the scene too ugly.

Besides, changing his perspective, he could treat Xu Jie as a detonator for a bomb to be set off later...

"Secretary Xu, I understand what you mean. We don't have to pursue Xu Jie's matter deeply, but he must offer an apology to Gu Wenqin.

Additionally, I suggest he be placed under administrative detention for a few days; otherwise, the cost of committing a wrong is too low, he won't reflect deeply, and it will be hard to convince the public."

Xu Yiping chose to endure for a moment of peace, also because he had inquired into Tang Ye's background.

Tang Ye had been promoted to a Deputy Section Level Official after only one year of work, had saved the former Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Hong Ruilin, and had the opportunity to serve as the Municipal Party Secretary's Secretary, yet he chose to take a temporary post...

"Do as you say!"

Xu Yiping stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray.

His nephew's wings had grown stiff these past few years.

Sometimes he wouldn't listen; it was time for a small punishment as a warning!

At the Town Party Committee meeting, the leadership team studied and discussed the economic reform proposals put forward by Tang Ye.

Among them, the most important point was to make the "transformation and upgrading of the garment industry" the top priority.

Xu Yiping's attitude was puzzling: "Fully support Tang Ye!"

Tang Ye knew clearly that Xu Yiping was actively showing goodwill.

It was thanks to the fact that he hadn't pestered him endlessly over the Xu Jie matter, stopping once the point was made;

Xu Yiping didn't want to sour his relationship with Tang Ye for the time being—Tang Ye didn't seem like a soft persimmon.

It is the same everywhere: if you appear too weak, you will only be bullied at will by others.

But if you show a certain degree of resilience, others will respect you instead.

After the meeting adjourned, Xu Yiping called for Xia Haiqiao.

"Tang Ye sent Xu Jie in last night."

"Ah?" Xia Haiqiao was surprised, "I could tell this kid wasn't a simple character. He's looking for trouble as soon as he arrives?"

Xu Yiping said expressionlessly, "Just a greenhorn, no sense of rules."

Xia Haiqiao's eyes rolled around.

"Isn't he trying to make Qin Ge transform? If Qin Ge doesn't improve and instead faces bankruptcy, then he'll be unable to step down!"

Police Station.

Xu Jie hadn't slept all night, and by dawn, no one had come to bail him out, so he couldn't help but panic.

However, he wasn't too worried; he had done even more outrageous things before.

There was movement at the door, and Wan Ming walked in with long strides.

Xu Jie was overjoyed, his eyes full of expectation, "Can I go out now?"

Wan Ming shook his head at Xu Jie with a bitter smile.

"I'd love for you to leave right now, but I just received a call from Secretary Xu; you have to stay for a few more days, and you'll have to pay a fine too!"

Xu Jie's heart skipped a beat.

"Money is no object! How many days?"

Wan Ming squinted his eyes, smacked his lips, and sighed, "Seven days! Visits are allowed. You should call home and have them send over some daily necessities!"

Xu Jie gritted his teeth and slapped the table in anger, "Are you kidding me?"

Wan Ming frowned, threw a stack of letter paper onto the table, and his tone turned cold, "According to the instructions above, you still have to write an apology letter to the victim!"

After speaking, Wan Ming left with his hands behind his back; after he went out, the door was not closed tightly.

Xu Jie sat at his seat at a loss, and because he felt so aggrieved, he pulled at his own hair.

Wan Ming saw this scene through the crack in the door and felt much more satisfied.

Xu Jie being detained soon became the talk of the town, discussed over tea and after meals on every street corner.

"What? Er Lvzi is inside? Why?"

"Isn't it because of that sordid business in his pants? He tried to rape Gu Wenqin in the Birch Forest and was bumped into by the new Deputy Town Mayor!"

"Gu Wenqin is a good woman with a strong character! If it had been anyone else, they would have already been taken advantage of by Er Lvzi."

"What kind of background does Town Mayor Tang have to dare to move against Er Lvzi?"

"Who cares what his background is! The result is very satisfying!"

……

The Jindu Hotel in Pinghu Town is famous for its river delicacies, especially the pufferfish stewed with alfalfa, which is a unique dish.

Gu Wenqin wanted to thank Tang Ye, so she booked a private room at the Jindu Hotel.

When she was at the Police Station getting the apology letter, she tried to invite Wan Ming.

Wan Ming readily agreed and happily accepted the invitation.

Tang Ye pushed open the door to the private room.

Gu Wenqin stood up gracefully.

She was wearing a light yellow spaghetti-strap dress, high-heeled sandals, and a gauze shawl; her eyebrows were curved like the moon, her eyelashes like curtains, and her eyes were clear and bright, deep and limpid like the surface of a lake under an autumn night, which made her look very youthful; at first glance, one would think she was a female college student.

Tang Ye sat down and cupped his hands in apology, "Sorry, I'm late."

Wan Ming said with a smile, "Town Mayor Tang is busy with official business, I understand."

Tang Ye picked up a seven-dram wine glass and took the initiative to say, "I will punish myself with three cups!"

After three cups of wine entered his belly, his stomach felt like boiling water churning, burning hot.

Wan Ming smiled with hidden meaning: "I didn't expect Town Mayor Tang to be so forthright; your refined and gentle appearance is too deceptive."

Gu Wenqin hurriedly picked up two slices of braised beef for Tang Ye and said with concern, "It's easy to get drunk drinking on an empty stomach; eat something first."

Wan Ming said with a smile, "Right, eat a few bites first, otherwise I won't be winning fairly."

To get along with people like Wan Ming, one must take the path of being open and sincere.

"When I worked at the Old Cadre Bureau, an old bureau chief who retired from the public security force told me that when eating with public security comrades, you must treat them like brothers, and you cannot hide anything when drinking. Although I haven't trained my alcohol tolerance, today I will risk my life to accompany a gentleman. I toast you a cup!"

Wan Ming laughed loudly, clinked glasses with Tang Ye, and drank it all in one gulp!

"Refreshing! I wonder what this old bureau chief's name is?"

Tang Ye put down his wine glass and smiled mysteriously, "If I say it, you will definitely know—the Di Renjie of Hanzhou."

Wan Ming slapped his thigh heavily, his eyes lighting up, "Bureau Chief Gu is my old leader! I spent a few years in the City Bureau Criminal Investigation Team, and later I was transferred to Pinghu Town, and Bureau Chief Gu retired. His alcohol tolerance and his ability to solve cases are equally famous!"

Tang Ye picked up his wine glass and used flattery to prop up Police Station Chief Wan, "A strong general has no weak soldiers under his command; Police Station Chief Wan must also be exceptionally good at drinking."

Gu Wenqin also picked up her wine glass.

Tang Ye took the wine glass from her hand.

"You are injured, so don't drink."

Wan Ming secretly thought that Town Mayor Tang was also a romantic, actually playing the part of being chivalrous and tender.

He rolled up his sleeves and slapped the table, "Boss Gu, don't interfere; today Town Mayor Tang and I must decide a winner!"

Tang Ye said with a smile, "I'll have to trouble you later to be responsible for sending Old Wan home safely."

Wan Ming laughed heartily and said to Gu Wenqin, "I don't need you to worry about me, you take good care of Town Mayor Tang!"

With cups clinking and conversation flowing, before they knew it, Wan Ming began telling Tang Ye about the past, "Town Mayor Tang, I see my former self in you; cheers to your sense of justice."

"I just got lucky," Tang Ye complimented.

Wan Ming's expression suddenly sank, and he sighed, "I am the same as you, I was exiled here. I used to be in charge of anti-organized crime at the City Bureau, but I discovered that a Police Station Chief of a street police station was actually supporting four thugs: one responsible for running a gambling den, one for leading a theft ring, one for organizing prostitution, and one for bars and nightclubs. They gave him tribute every day, and he took the lion's share. I collected evidence, reported him by name, and sent that scoundrel inside, but afterwards, I was arranged to be sent to Pinghu Town."

"We are both people fallen to the ends of the earth!"

Tang Ye nodded while listening, feeling more respect for this man who seemed slick on the surface but was upright at heart.

"With your ability, it's a waste of talent in Pinghu Town; your future will be limitless."

"Haha, when drinking with a soulmate, a thousand cups are too few; when words don't match, half a sentence is too much. Come, our drinking pace is a bit slow, I toast you!"

One hour later.

Tang Ye was slightly tipsy.

Wan Ming was carried away by two colleagues……

"Careful!"

Seeing Tang Ye stumbling, Gu Wenqin hurriedly supported him with her shoulder.

"It's raining, the ground is really slippery."

Tang Ye stabilized his center of gravity and looked at Gu Wenqin with shame.

He had almost made a fool of himself too!