Chapter 1114

But Su Yang didn't pick up; he could roughly guess who was calling, and answering would only cause more trouble.

Translation: However, Su Yang didn't answer; he could roughly guess who was calling, and if he did answer, it would be more troublesome.

We need to keep it concise but faithful. Let's produce: "However, Su Yang didn't pick up; he could roughly guess who was calling, and if he did answer, it would be more troublesome."

There's a saying: "Bite off more than you can chew."

There's a saying: "Bite off more than you can chew."

If others also tried to cozy up to him over a meal, he couldn't refuse, yet he couldn't easily accept either.

Translation: If others also wanted to get close to him and have a meal together, he couldn't refuse, but it wouldn't be appropriate to agree.

We need to keep meaning: "If others also wanted to get close to him and share a meal, he couldn't refuse, but it wouldn't be proper to accept."

If he agreed, he would immediately become a true political opponent of Pan Wenhai, and from then on everything he did would be closely scrutinized.

Translation: If he agreed, he would immediately become Pan Wenhai's genuine political rival, and thereafter everything he did would be closely watched.

His success in the Public Security Bureau's internal promotion competition was essentially due to Pan Wenhai never considering him a rival.

Translation: The reason he succeeded in this internal competition for positions at the Public Security Bureau was essentially that Pan Wenhai never regarded him as an opponent at all.

Besides, he was also well prepared.

Translation: Moreover, of course, it was also because his preparations were thorough.

Besides, most of these people belong to the local faction or are homegrown, with a web of overt and covert ties that's extremely complicated. If another Zhou Yanru or another Hou Junlai showed up, it would be more than anyone could handle.

Translation: Moreover, most of these other people are from the local faction, or else they grew up locally; their overt and covert relationships are extremely complicated. If another Zhou Yanru or another Hou Junlai were to come, he truly wouldn't be able to withstand it.

We need to keep names: Zhou Yanru? Not in glossary but appears as Zhou Yanru. It's a person's name, we need to romanize: Zhou Yanru. Also we have Hou Junlai already.

Thus line: "Moreover, most of these other people are from the local faction, or else they grew up locally; their overt and covert relationships are extremely complicated. If another Zhou Yanru or another Hou Junlai were to come, he truly wouldn't be able to withstand it."

Pan Wenhai wasn't idle either; as soon as he left the Public Security Bureau, he drove straight to Huang Beidou's place.

Translation: Pan Wenhai wasn't idle either; right after leaving the Public Security Bureau, he drove straight to Huang Beidou's place.

The moment he walked in, he saw Huang Beidou holding a whip, whipping the naked Zhao Cuicui.

Translation: As soon as he entered, he saw Huang Beidou holding a whip, lashing the naked Zhao Cuicui.

While lashing her, he hurled vulgar insults: "You worthless piece of trash, you can't even handle a small thing. If you had taken care of business with Su Yang that night, would we have this trouble now?"

Translation: While whipping, he also spat out vulgar insults: "You worthless piece of trash, you can't even handle a small matter. If you had directly taken care of things with Su Yang that night, would we have this trouble now?"

"You're always boasting about your kung fu, but you didn't even touch her—you got kicked off the bed. What good are you, you worthless wretch? Aside from buying luxuries and getting beauty treatments that day, you're practically worse than a dog."

Translation: "You usually brag about how good your martial arts are, yet you didn't even touch them and got kicked off the bed. What use are you, trash? Aside from buying luxury goods and getting beauty treatments that day, you're worse than a dog!"

This is Huang Beidou's distinctive way of letting off steam: when he's enraged, he vents his anger by abusing women.

Translation: This is Young Master Huang's unique way of venting. When he is extremely angry, he relieves his fury by abusing women.

As Xu Jinxiu said, Zhao Cuicui may act high and mighty before most people, but to these coal bosses she's nothing more than a chamber pot.

Translation: Zhao Cuicui, as Xu Jinxiou said, may act high and mighty before most people, but in the eyes of those coal bosses she is merely a chamber pot.

Of course, what he doesn't realize is that women like Zhao Cuicui have to endure other burdens besides being a chamber pot—for instance, being the target of a whipping.

Translation: Of course, he didn't know that women like Zhao Cuicui, besides being a chamber pot, also have to bear other burdens, such as being the target of whipping.

The more Zhao Cuicui screamed and cried, the more Huang Beidou enjoyed it.

Translation: The louder Zhao Cuicui screamed and the harder she cried, the more Huang Beidou enjoyed it.

Even if Pan Wenhai entered, Huang Beidou acted as if he hadn't seen him, whipping Zhao Cuicui until she was bruised and unable to scream, then dragging her by the hair and tossing her into the swimming pool.

Translation: Even if Pan Wenhai entered, he acted as if he hadn't seen, continuing to beat Zhao Cuicui until she was bruised all over and unable to scream, then he grabbed her hair and dragged her out to throw her into the swimming pool.

He then urinated into the pool, clapped his hands, and walked away nonchalantly, saying, "Secretary Pan, what brings you here? You didn't even call—you just showed up. In our county, you're the big shot, Secretary Pan."

Translation: Then he urinated into the swimming pool, clapped his hands, and walked back nonchalantly: "Secretary Pan, what brings you here? You didn't even call, just showed up like that? In our county, Secretary Pan, you're the big shot who rules supreme."

"When we played golf, I recall you saying not to worry about a single Su Yang—even ten or a hundred wouldn't make a ripple in our Liuyang County."

Translation: "When we played golf, I remember you saying that not even one Su Yang, let alone ten or a hundred, could make a wave in our Liu Cheng Xian."

"So how did that work out? It's only been a short time, and already someone has openly come out in support of the internal public security bureau promotion."

Translation: "So how did that turn out? How long has it been? In the Public Security Bureau's internal competition for positions, someone has openly come out in support."

"That alone would be bad enough, but in our Liuyang County nobody can overturn the sky—yet you missed that they still have connections in the capital, in the Propaganda Department. Don't you realize that kind of interview show lets anyone speak up?"

Translation: "Just that alone would be bad enough; in our Liu Cheng Xian, nobody can overturn the sky, yet you didn't even notice they have connections in Jingcheng, in the Publicity Department? Do you not know that anyone can speak on those interview programs?"

"Besides, if they want to organize some kind of internal public security bureau promotion, just let them go ahead."

Translation: "Moreover, even if they want to conduct some internal competition for positions at the Public Security Bureau, just let them do it."

"Whether it's the Public Security Bureau or other county agencies, the key positions are all ours. No matter where he pulls people from to serve as judges, at worst they'll be replaced, and we'll just bring in another batch."

Translation: "Whether it's the Public Security Bureau or other county agencies, the important posts are all ours; no matter where he draws people to serve as judges, at worst those people will step down and we'll just replace them with another batch."

"You idiot with a brain bigger than your butt, what the hell are you doing now? From the provincial to the municipal party committees, they're already monitoring this situation's progress, and even if you had godlike means, you wouldn't dare or be able to use them. So many important posts in the Public Security Bureau are about to be removed—tell me how you're going to handle this."

Translation: "So you, you idiot with a brain bigger than your butt, what the hell are you doing now? From the Provincial Party Committee to the Municipal Party Committee, they've already started monitoring this situation's progress, and even if you had heaven-reaching means, you wouldn't dare or be able to use them. With so many important posts in the Public Security Bureau needing to be vacated, tell me how you'll respond next."

Pan Wenhai was dressed down like a grandson, too scared to assert his authority as county party secretary and stand up to them.

Translation: Pan Wenhai was dressed down like a grandson, not daring to show the authority of a County Party Secretary and confront him head-on.

He lowered his head and thought for a while before saying, "No matter what, all he can replace this time are mid-level cadres; the Public Security Bureau's Party Committee leadership remains in our hands, and Bureau Chief Xu Jinxiu will certainly not listen to him."

Translation: He lowered his head and thought for a long time before saying: "But no matter what, the only thing he can change this time is mid-level cadres; the Public Security Bureau's Party Committee leadership is still in our hands, and Bureau Chief Xu Jinxiou will certainly not listen to him."

As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Beidou swung his whip and struck the table, stopping less than ten centimeters from Pan Wenhai.

Translation: As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Beidou swung his whip and struck the table, less than ten centimeters from Pan Wenhai:

"You're completely useless; even using your butt to think, you should know they haven't given you a trump card. If they really wanted to oust Xu Jinxiu, it would be as simple as saying a single sentence."

Translation: "You're utterly useless; even thinking with your butt, you'd know they haven't given you their trump card. If they really wanted to oust Xu Jinxiou, it would be as simple as saying a single sentence now."

"And you still don't realize that among those you consider reliable members of the Bureau Party Committee, someone has already shifted their allegiance to Su Yang."

Translation: "Moreover, you still don't know that among those so-called reliable members of the Bureau's Party Committee, someone has already shifted their allegiance to Su Yang."

"Even among the County Standing Committee members, someone has already gone out to eat with Su Yang. Do you still think the officials of Lishan County are all under your control? Pan Wenhai, I'll tell you bluntly: I can put you in the secretary's seat, and I can also put someone else there."

Translation: "Even among the County Standing Committee members, someone has already gone out to eat with Su Yang. Do you still think the officials of Lieshan County are all under your control? Pan Wenhai, I'll frankly tell you: I can make you the secretary, and I can also put someone else in that position."

At this moment, Pan Wenhai's forehead was slick with sweat; even though they usually have fun together and even play golf as a pair, when it comes to these matters Huang Beidou gives him no face at all.

Translation: At this moment, Pan Wenhai's forehead was drenched in sweat; even though they usually have fun together, even playing golf as a pair, when it comes to these matters, Huang Beidou gives him no face.

Of course, he also knows Huang Beidou is telling the truth; although he is a provincially managed cadre as county party secretary, if they really wanted to replace him, it would be easy.

Translation: Of course, he also knows Huang Beidou is speaking the truth; although he is a provincial-level cadre as County Party Secretary, if they really wanted to replace him, it would be effortless.

Actually, he also resents it deep down: aren't you big bosses all based in the capital? Especially since your father is the association president, you know the capital's personnel inside out. Don't you know Su Yang's background? If you'd known early what he's about and prepared accordingly, wouldn't you have avoided being so passive this time?

Translation: Actually, he also resents deep down: aren't you big bosses all based in Jingcheng? Especially your father, who is the chairman, knows Jingcheng personnel inside out. Don't you know Su Yang's background? If you had known early what Su Yang's background was and made preparations, would we have ended up this passive this time?

But though he thinks it, he daren't say it out loud.

Translation: But though he thought it, he naturally didn't dare say it.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "This time I was indeed a bit careless; I initially thought he couldn't make any waves, but who knew he had such powerful backing behind him."

Translation: He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said: "This time I was indeed a bit careless, because I initially thought he couldn't make any waves, but who knew he had such powerful backing behind him?"

"However, I think the situation isn't beyond repair yet; right now he's only targeting the Public Security Bureau."

Translation: "However, I think the situation hasn't reached an irreversible point; right now he's only targeting the Public Security Bureau."

"Besides, even if the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission and the Municipal Organization Department form a joint supervision team to ensure so-called fairness, we still have our people in key positions, so we retain absolute control."

Translation: "Moreover, even if the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission and the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department form a joint supervision team to ensure so-called fairness, we still have people in key positions, so we retain absolute authority."

"As Su Yang himself said, everyone first competes for the quota, then after obtaining it the positions are assigned. This gives us great leeway; we don't need to worry about remote police stations—if he wants them, let him take them, they're basically useless anyway."

Translation: "As Su Yang himself said earlier, everyone first competes for the quota, then after obtaining the quota they assign positions. This gives us great operational leeway; those remote police stations and such we can ignore—let him take them if he wants, they're basically useless."

"But positions like the commander of the Criminal Police Detachment, the commander of the Public Security Detachment, and the chief of the City Gate Paichusuo—we'll definitely keep those in our hands."

Translation: "But positions like Criminal Police Team Brigade Chief, Public Security Brigade Brigade Chief, and City Gate Paichusuo Director—we will definitely keep them in our hands."

Huang Beidou said coldly, "I hope you can follow through on your words; don't later spread your hands and tell me you underestimated Su Yang's ability. Also, arrange a meeting with Su Yang for me—just say I'd like to treat him to a meal."

Translation: Huang Beidou said coldly: "I hope you can follow through on your words, and later not spread your hands saying you underestimated Su Yang's ability. Also, help me set up a meeting with Su Yang; just say I'd like to treat him to a meal."

This puts Pan Wenhai in a tough spot; normally a single word from him gets any county official to comply, but with Su Yang his influence might not work.

Translation: This put Pan Wenhai in a difficult spot; for anyone else in the county, a single word from him would suffice, but with Su Yang, his influence might not work.

Besides, Su Yang just fell out with Huang Beidou upon arrival, and it's obvious he's being invited to a Hongmen banquet—he might not agree.

Translation: Moreover, Su Yang had just arrived and already fallen out with Young Master Huang; it's obvious this is a Hongmen banquet in the making—Su Yang might not agree.

But he couldn't say he couldn't do it, so he had to grit his teeth and say: "Okay, no problem, when the time comes you tell me the time and place, I'll bring him over directly."