Chapter 433: Final Verdict

I do not know when Provincial Governor Lin returned to the provincial capital. I only know that, like the Buddha, he returned quietly.

As soon as Provincial Governor Lin returned to the provincial capital, the case of the Qilin Villa reached a conclusion. The investigation was terminated, and Hao Qiang and Lao Mo, who bore responsibility for the death of Old Can, were both suspended from their duties to undergo investigation.

When I heard this news, it felt as if my heart had been suddenly stabbed with a knife, with fresh blood streaming out.

Hao Qiang and Lao Mo were the key people I had personally arranged to investigate this case. I had originally thought that once the case was solved, they would rightfully receive merit and rewards, and I had paved a bright road for their next promotion. Who would have thought that such a conclusion would plunge them into an abyss from which they could not extricate themselves.

I vaguely felt that Provincial Governor Lin had an extraordinary connection to this case. His arrival in Chunshan was unknown to anyone, and he did not come for the sake of Lin Xiaoxi and me. He must have had another purpose. Although he only touched upon the case lightly in our conversation, I could basically hear the subtext in his words.

If Provincial Governor Lin were involved in the counterfeit money case, this matter would appear boundlessly dark.

I was given a huge fright by my own speculation.

Provincial Governor Lin is the number two leader of the province and the highest official in the public security system of the Central Province. If he is involved in this, who has the ability to uncover this dark curtain?

I decided to go find Guan Peishan to probe him.

The residential complex's security guards were already very familiar with my car; seeing me arrive, they stood at attention, saluted, and let me through.

After returning from Qilin Villa, Guan Peishan still did not go to work at the County Committee building. He locked himself at home every day, letting Deng Hanyu handle everything, while he only commanded from afar.

Although Guan Peishan had stepped down from the position of Party Secretary, he had not lost his former prosperity. People coming to his home every day to visit, chat, and report on work were still as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river. As a result, he was not lonely at all; instead, there was a sense of the guest usurping the host's role. It seemed as if his home was the second County Committee of Chunshan County.

I chose to go over at twilight.

At this time, everyone else had left. Guan Peishan was unwilling to go out to eat or attend various social activities. His meals were handled by Deng Hanyu, who specifically found a restaurant that made the food he liked and had it delivered on time.

I knocked on the door and entered; Guan Peishan was just preparing to eat.

Seeing me come in, he enthusiastically invited me to sit down and eat together.

I did not want to refuse. I hadn't eaten myself, either. Besides, many things are easier to resolve in the process of eating and drinking.

I got up myself to take a bottle of Moutai from the liquor cabinet and asked Guan Peishan, "Old Secretary, let me have a drink with you."

Guan Peishan was clearly interested and happily told Deng Hanyu to bring over wine glasses. He said that drinking is something that must be done with someone you are compatible with. Drinking with a compatible person, even if the wine is bland, is better than nectar. If you drink with someone irrelevant, even if it is nectar, it is as hard to swallow as swill.

Guan Peishan's words were telling me that the reason I could drink with him was because I was compatible with him.

After three cups, our conversation became more frequent.

I deliberately feigned a hazy drunkenness, held up my thumb, and said, "Old Secretary, you really are my idol!"

Guan Peishan smiled calmly and signaled for Deng Hanyu to fill my glass. He picked up his own glass, held it level in front of his nose, and sighed, "Little Chen, I am grateful that you can often come to see this old man."

I was flattered and raised my glass with both hands, tapped it lightly against his, and said earnestly, "Old Secretary, you are the treasure of our Chunshan County! Only you truly understand the foundation of our county and understand the direction of our county's development. Without your leadership, I would be like a blind fish, unable to find my direction."

Guan Peishan seemed to enjoy my flattery; he tilted his head back, downed the wine in one gulp, smacked his lips, and said, "Little Chen, the one who knows me is Chen Feng."

Deng Hanyu, on the side, laughed sinisterly and said, "This guy Chen Feng, isn't he a white-eyed wolf?"

Guan Peishan's face darkened, and he scolded, "Little Deng, what kind of talk is that?"

Deng Hanyu accompanied him with a smile and said, "Old Secretary, I speak directly and am not afraid of offending people. This Chen Feng is eating what is in the bowl while eyeing what is in the pot."

I felt a surge of agitation and wanted to curse out loud. You son of a bitch Deng Hanyu, how am I eating what's in the bowl while eyeing what's in the pot?

Guan Peishan saw that my expression was off, reached out and patted the back of my hand lightly, and said, "Little Chen, Little Deng is also showing concern and care between comrades. As cadres, we must put our lifestyle and conduct first. How many cadres have fallen under a woman's pomegranate skirt? I don't need to say this; you must be aware of it yourself."

I glared at Deng Hanyu and said, "Old Secretary, he is just making things up out of thin air."

Deng Hanyu returned to his sinister smile, smacked his lips, and said, "I'm making things up? You are talking marriage with the daughter of Municipal Committee Minister Huang, so why are you flirting with Lin Xiaoxi?"

I was filled with shame and loudly defended myself, "I did not."

"Whether you did or not, you know in your heart; do I need to say it?" Deng Hanyu drank a cup of wine and sighed, "To tell you the truth, I envy you too. You kid are not much to look at, but you have great luck with women. One is the daughter of an Organization Minister, already beautiful enough to make fish sink and geese land, and then comes a princess of a Vice Provincial Governor, even more beautiful enough to make the moon hide and flowers blush. I don't know what exactly these girls see in you."

A stone in my heart fell to the ground. Deng Hanyu's statement only mentioned my relationship with Huang Weiwei and Lin Xiaoxi. He did not yet know that in Suxi Town, I still had a harem.

I smiled triumphantly and said, "Old Deng, when luck comes to a person, you can't even block it with a door plank."

Guan Peishan watched us singing in harmony and a kind smile appeared on his face. He tapped the edge of the table with his chopsticks and said, "You two, don't bicker anymore. Little Deng, don't say strange things, and Little Chen, you must also be careful."

We both stopped talking, each filled our own glasses, and prepared to toast Guan Peishan.

Guan Peishan waved his hand to refuse our toast and said sternly, "Little Chen, there are some things you really need to be careful about. Especially in relationships between men and women, you must never stand on two boats."

I was speechless and could only smile bitterly.

"I heard that Minister Huang's daughter has been seeing you for several years?"

I nodded in admission.

"When do you plan to get married?"

"I haven't thought about it yet," I stammered.

"How are you going to handle the matter of Xiaoxi?"

I shook my head blankly, not knowing how to answer.

Deng Hanyu clapped his hands and laughed, "Chen Feng, you are now neither fish nor fowl. To advance is death, and to retreat is also death."

I said angrily, "Old Deng, what do you mean by that?"

"Do I need to say it? Chen Feng, think about it. If you abandon Minister Huang's daughter, can Minister Huang let you go? If you ignore Lin Xiaoxi, can Provincial Governor Lin let you off lightly?" His analysis was very logical, and it made my hair stand on end. It was as if there was a black pot hanging over my head that would crush me into it at any moment, and I wouldn't be able to make a sound.

Guan Peishan mused, "This period is indeed a critical period. Little Chen, you don't need to worry too much. Just choose to love the person you love most. Of course, there is a way to go about marriage in life. If you marry well, you can soar to great heights; if you marry poorly, you might fall into a bottomless abyss."

I became increasingly terrified. Was Guan Peishan hinting at me?

"However, as long as you act upright and do things correctly, and don't drag things out, cutting the Gordian knot is also a magic weapon for dealing with emotional entanglements."

My heart was already in a mess! Both girls were my lovers. With them, there was not only physical intimacy but also spiritual resonance.

But you cannot have both the fish and the bear's paw! I knew the meaning of this saying well. But if I were to abandon either one, I would definitely suffer a fatal blow to my conscience.

What people fear most is heartbreak! Women fear heartbreak even more. If a woman's heart is completely broken, she will choose destruction rather than compromise.

Huang Weiwei is as tender as water, and Lin Xiaoxi is as unyielding as iron. Just as Deng Hanyu described, not only are they beautiful enough to make fish sink and geese land, or make the moon hide and flowers blush, but the temperament and character they possess are not comparable to those of ordinary girls, are they?

What's more, behind each of them stands a figure who can control my life and death.

Minister Huang or Provincial Governor Lin—either one of them, as long as they lightly flicked their fingers, I would definitely be smashed to pieces.

I said in a low voice, "Actually, Xiaoxi and I are just friends."

Deng Hanyu laughed, "Aren't all wives started from being friends?"

I said seriously, "Old Deng, friends are friends, and wives are wives. There is a big difference between the two."

"I don't see any difference between them," Deng Hanyu said with dissatisfaction. "It's just you, nitpicking. Where does any friendship exist between men and women? The goal is the same."

"What goal?"

"Do I even need to say it? How could I not know what you're thinking inside?"

"Perhaps that's just what you're thinking yourself? You filthy person." I laughed, pretending to be relaxed, and teased Deng Hanyu, "Old Deng, in your eyes, women are all just for sleeping with, right!"

Deng Hanyu wanted to argue back, but Guan Peishan's face darkened, and he scolded, "What kind of nonsense are you both talking about? Aren't you afraid of losing face!"

We had no choice but to clam up. In truth, what difference was there between the bickering we just had and the squabbling of common folk on the street corners? No wonder Guan Peishan couldn't listen anymore and sternly stopped us.

Everyone stopped talking, and the atmosphere in the room became stifling.

Guan Peishan put down his chopsticks and said, "Both of you listen up, let's talk about some serious business now. Little Deng, tell me, how is the investment in Suxi Town going?"

Deng Hanyu sat up straight, cleared his throat, and said, "Old Party Secretary, under your guidance, it is currently 80% complete. The water plant has finished testing; once the city experts issue the water quality report, we can supply water immediately. As for the substation, we are cooperating with the county power supply company, and the power transmission and transformation are currently normal. The facilities and equipment are all installed."

Guan Peishan gave an "oh," turned his head, and asked me, "Little Chen, take a look, is there anything else we need to do?"

I smiled gratefully, "It's enough, it's enough. Suxi Town having today is inseparable from the care of the Old Party Secretary."

Deng Hanyu said unhappily, "Chen Feng, you bird-brained man, without me, Old Deng, suffering and working hard in Suxi, your town would have no water, no electricity, and would just be a dead town."

I hurriedly cupped my hands in a salute and said, "Of course I must thank you, Brother Deng. You are a hero! When Suxi officially opens, I will have to invite Brother Deng to cut the ribbon yourself."

Deng Hanyu smiled conceitedly, then suddenly frowned and said, "Who is currently in charge of the Suxi Town Police Station?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I said, "Isn't it Hao Qiang?"

"I heard this person has been put on file for investigation by the Municipal Procuratorate. And Lao Mo, too, Lao Mo from the detention center."

"Where did you hear that news?" I asked, pretending to be surprised.

"Li Fulian said so. Li Fulian's husband is Lao Mo, you didn't know?"

I shook my head and said, "I didn't know."

Deng Hanyu rolled his eyes at me with disdain and said, "And you're a Deputy County Magistrate; you don't even know the famous Li Fulian."

Guan Peishan interjected, "I don't know any Li Fulian either. Who is that?"

Deng Hanyu then gave a detailed account of Li Fulian's past and history, and at the end said, "Lao Mo going to investigate the Qilin Villa case, that was likely your arrangement, Chen Feng, wasn't it?"

I flatly denied it, saying, "Can I mobilize the public security people? Besides, this matter of cracking down on illegal and criminal activities has no direct relation to our county government."

With the conversation reaching this point, I had basically achieved the purpose of my visit.

Guan Peishan sighed and said, "These two people really do need to be investigated. A prisoner, perfectly fine in their hands, how could he just die like that? Isn't there something else behind this?"

"Isn't it said that the case is about to be closed?" I asked, feeling unwilling to let it go. "Since it's already closed, why bother investigating the two of them?"

"Closing the case is closing the case. Closing the case means this matter will no longer be pursued. But for what has already happened, someone must take responsibility," Guan Peishan explained. "As for the Qilin Villa case, I see it as concluded here."

I finally understood. The counterfeit money case, the drug case, as well as the gambling and other matters at Qilin Villa, were all covered up and finalized by a single "counterfeit money case."

The death of Old Can completely concluded the entire case.

"Is this the opinion of the city?" I asked.

"No, it is the opinion of the Provincial Department."

"Not investigating anymore?"

"The person is already dead, who else is there to investigate?"

"Isn't it said that Old Can wasn't the real boss?" I asked with suspicion.

"Old Can is the boss. There are no other bosses." Guan Peishan looked at me sideways and said in a low voice, "The decision of the Provincial Department, what else is there to say."

It felt as if I had swallowed a fly, and I felt sick enough to vomit.