Urban Crisis [Complete] - 8

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

At 10:30 PM on the 13th

, Jiao Xiaoyu, carrying her suitcase, followed the flow of people into the train station entrance for ticket inspection.

Just after Jiao Xiaoyu left the office, Chen Hu called Bao Baozhu, instructing him to monitor her. He
was worried Jiao Xiaoyu might be in danger under the pressure from both inside and outside the station.

Bao Baozhu made a call from a public phone booth at the train station: "Director Chen, Jiao Xiaoyu has entered the train station."

"Follow her and ensure her safety."

"Understood."

Bao Baozhu hung up the phone, entered the train station, showed his work ID to the ticket inspector, and followed Jiao Xiaoyu onto the train
bound Chongqing.

In the hard sleeper carriage, Jiao Xiaoyu was fast asleep in the middle bunk, her small suitcase under her pillow.

A strange young man passed by quietly, his eyes glancing at Jiao Xiaoyu's suitcase.

Jiao Xiaoyu gripped the suitcase tightly with one hand.

Seeing he couldn't get it, the man returned to his bunk.

Jiao Xiaoyu got up to use the restroom, picked up her suitcase, and got off the bunk.

The man who had been sleeping in the same position secretly witnessed everything and quietly followed her.

Suddenly, a stranger shoved Jiao Xiaoyu, who was standing near the toilet door, towards the connecting area between two carriages, covering
her mouth with one hand.

The stranger pulled out a key, opened the door, and a rush of wind swept in.

He snatched a suitcase and forcefully pushed Jiao Xiaoyu off the train.

Jiao Xiaoyu struggled, seemingly about to be pushed off the train.

Suddenly, Bao Baozhu rushed over and forcibly pulled Jiao Xiaoyu, half her body outside the carriage, back inside.

The stranger and Bao Baozhu fought, and both fell off the train.

The train braked suddenly.

Jiao Xiaoyu and the railway police rushed off the train.

The stranger was run over by the train and died, his body unrecognizable.

Bao Baozhu was dying.

Jiao Xiaoyu held Bao Baozhu in her arms, calling out to him. She didn't know how Bao Baozhu had suddenly appeared. "

One hundred million!

" Bao Baozhu said to the south, "Do you have... alcohol?"

Jiao Xiaoyu shouted, "Alcohol! Bring alcohol!"

The police officer returned from the dining car with a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

"The wine's here!"

Jiao Xiaoyu held out the bottle and fed Bao Baozhu a drink.

Bao Baozhu took a sip, closed his eyes, and the wine dripped down his chin.

The bottle fell to the ground in Jiao Xiaoyu's hand, the wine spilling out.

"Bao—Bao—Zhu!"

Jiao Xiaoyu's heart-wrenching cries echoed across the fields. The sudden sacrifice of

Bao

Baozhu to protect Jiao Xiaoyu had brought her to the brink of mental collapse, and guilt tore at her
heart.

Without further hesitation, she walked into the gates of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. She gave a detailed
report .

After listening to her story, a deputy secretary said with satisfaction, "Comrade Jiao Xiaoyu, the situation you reported is very
important , especially regarding Comrade Jiao Pengyuan receiving a Mercedes-Benz. But Comrade Jiao Pengyuan is still the municipal
party secretary and political commissar of the garrison, and also your uncle. How you respected him in the past is how you should respect him in the future. Secretary Fang, just keep
this to yourself. Don't tell anyone else. Follow the Central Committee's instructions. Comrade Xiaoyu,
I want to learn from you, to learn your spirit of maintaining political consistency with the Central Committee." " You can still uphold your principles even amidst family troubles
; who can compare?"

Fifteen

Fang Hao, Zhang Guangda, Kong Xiangdi, Lin Xianhan, Qian Zhong, Zhou Senlin, Cai Dabing, Chen Hu, Jiao Xiaoyu, and
Bao Baozhu's wife greeted the ashes at the train station exit. Bao Baozhu's body was cremated on the spot; he boarded the train as a human,
and disembarked as ashes.

Two lines of cadres in prosecutor's uniforms stood solemnly in line, saluting.

Zhou Senlin, unable to contain his grief, embraced his old comrade, tears streaming down his face, "Old Bao, Old Bao!" Zhou Senlin

then placed the urn in Bao Baozhu's wife's arms. She was a laid-off female worker.

Bao's wife clutched the urn, weeping, "You should have listened to me and retired earlier, then this wouldn't have happened!
Who's the murderer...?"

Fang Hao stepped forward to comfort her, "The murderer was crushed into a pulp by the train, unrecognizable. But we'll soon
uncover the truth."

Fang Hao's gaze turned to the prosecutors lined up in two rows, and he said with grief and indignation, "Comrade Tao Suling sacrificed her life,
Chen Hu escaped death, and Bao Baozhu also sacrificed his life. They used their blood to purify the body of the Republic.
A central leader once said when talking about anti-corruption, 'I've prepared one hundred coffins, ninety-nine
for corrupt officials, and the last one for myself.'" Bao Baozhu's portrait hung on the wall of the

Sixteenth Secret Office. Fang Hao, Zhou Senlin, Jiao Xiaoyu, and Chen Hu sat around a square table. Fang Hao said solemnly, "From today onwards, Comrade Jiao Xiaoyu will join our work. First, I propose that each of us toast Comrade Bao Baozhu." Fang Hao took out a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), poured himself a glass, and Zhou Senlin, Chen Hu, and Jiao Xiaoyu each poured a glass. Four glasses of wine were placed before Bao Baozhu's portrait. Zhou Senlin said sadly, "Xiaoyu, you must have many questions you want to ask." "I thank the Party and my comrades for their trust in me, and I will never forget Lao Ji. Hey, why is Lao Yi on the train ?" Fang Hao said earnestly, "It was Director Zhou and Chen Hu who sent Lao Bao to secretly protect you." "Thank you, thank you. A while ago, I was in great pain. To verify whether my brother Jiao Dongfang had any problems , I conducted my own investigation and discovered an important situation. Ye Baoxin was crushed by Yang Ke's car and overturned down the riverbank, dying in the accident. I got Ye Baoxin's camera. I didn't report these things to the organization in time because I had selfish motives, I..." Jiao Xiaoyu wept sadly. Zhou Senlin nodded: "Xiaoyu, we know all about this. We didn't touch Yang Ke because we wanted him to continue act, and we didn't want to alert him. We've always trusted you and were waiting for you to tell us all this. Xiaoyu, you haven't let the organization down." Jiao Xiaoyu looked at Zhou Senlin, "Director Zhou, I haven't spoken to the organization because I felt it involved my uncle. I didn't know who to trust, especially you. You always act according to my uncle's wishes; I was afraid you'd sell me out." Chen Hu, Fang Hao, and Zhou Senlin all laughed. "So, it turns out I'm the most unreliable one! Haha... I accept the criticism. Let's get down to business, Chen Hu, shall we start with the photos?" Chen Hu took out the three photos He Ke had sent and placed them on the table.

“I have two more photos here that Comrade Xiaoyu developed from Ye Baoxin’s camera.”

Chen Hu laid out the five photos on the table, trying to find the relationship between them. Jiao Xiaoyu looked at them for a few minutes, then suddenly realized something. She rearranged the photos

according to the dates and times left by the automatic camera . “The first one is Yang Ke talking to someone at the entrance of the motorcycle repair shop. The second one is Jiao Dongfang and Uncle He at the entrance of the roast duck restaurant. The third one is moving wooden crates into the municipal party committee office building. The fourth one is loading trucks at the back door of the Horizon Hotel. The fifth one is loading containers.” Jiao Xiaoyu pondered and said, “According to the time marks on the photos, this is how they should be arranged.” Chen Hu shook his head. “Xiaoyu, your arrangement solves the time problem, but it doesn’t solve the spatial problem. The first two photos are separated from the last three by a relatively long period of time. Look, aren’t the last three photos a comic strip with a storyline?” Zhou Senlin sarcastically said, “Sniff? You’re so sharp, you can even see the storyline?” "Looking at these last three photos, the main character is Jiao Dongfang, and the main prop is a wooden crate. The first scene is the back door of the municipal party committee office building, a scene we are very familiar with. I'm not sure about the second scene, it looks like the Horizon Hotel. The third scene is the container yard at the train station. There are four supporting characters. One I know, and you 've seen before, is Zhao Wuzhou, the driver from the Horizon Hotel. The other two..." Jiao Xiaoyu interrupted, "I know the other two, they are Jiao Dongfang's two henchmen. I've dealt . This one is called Yang Ke, and this one is called Liu Side." Fang Hao rested his chin on his hand, "But what kind of play are they acting in?" Chen Hu stared at the photos thoughtfully and said, "That depends on what's inside the crates." Jiao Xiaoyu continued to examine the photos and said, "I've got it! Look at this one of the municipal party committee office buildings. This worker is carrying a crate in each hand as he enters the building. They are obviously empty crates. Could he be taking something from the municipal party committee?" Jiao Xiaoyu took out a magnifying glass to examine the wooden crates in the photo carefully. “It must be something very important. I saw a glass label on the wooden box, a ‘handle with care’ sign. It can’t be books or documents or anything like that,” Chen Hu said, touching the knife scar on his face. “I guess the person who sent me the photos must have known what was in the box . If it wasn’t important, they wouldn’t have sent it to me. You could interpret the photos as a special report, a report against Jiao Dongfang.” Zhou Senlin lit a cigarette and said, “Then who sent the report? What was their motive?” Fang Hao gently tapped the table and said, “These five photos were obviously taken by Ye Baoxin. The person who sent the photos is the one who hired Ye Baoxin.” Chen Hu wanted to give Jiao Xiaoyu a chance to establish her position, so he smiled and said, “Xiaoyu, Jiao Dongfang is your cousin, you should know him quite well. Can you tell me about him?” Jiao Xiaoyu immediately understood Chen Hu’s intention and said without reservation, “He was smart from a young age. During the Cultural Revolution, my uncle was persecuted, and he suffered a lot too. He has a wide range of interests and achievements… ” He was a good student, a university graduate, and successful in his career, possessing foreign languages in French, Japanese, and English. After returning from his studies abroad, he wanted to pursue a political career. He was my uncle's darling . I admired him greatly when I was young; he's still unmarried, claiming to be a bachelor. Actually, we only see each other a few times a year. He has companies in Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, nominally state-owned enterprises. But that's not necessarily true; these days, many companies . He spends money like water and loves making friends. By the way, I've seen his Tongan passport. In a market economy, people can change in any direction; it all depends on their choices. The specific suspicions are that he received a Santana and a Mercedes from Xu Jiabao, and he may have played a key role in Xu Jiabao exchanging cars for the county party secretary's position; another is that he is Yang Ke's backer. Yang Ke instructed the bridge contractor He Xilai to subcontract the project to Ni Xia, and... "The Mercedes could have been used to push Ye Baoxin off the riverbank, and Jiao Dongfang could be the mastermind, but there's no concrete evidence yet." Zhou Senlin's eyes revealed approval of Jiao Xiaoyu. "Xiaoyu, Jiao Dongfang might be involved in a corruption and bribery case, but it hasn't been confirmed yet. I've been thinking about how to contact him. His father is the former mayor and current municipal party secretary; one move could have far-reaching consequences, so we can't be careless. Now the opportunity has come, and we'll start our attack from the wooden crates. The goal isn't just what's inside the crates, but to break through and achieve a complete victory. You'll be responsible for investigating the information provided by these photos; we'll call it the 'Wooden Crate Incident.' As long as we rely on the masses , the Wooden Crate Incident won't be difficult to investigate. Ordinary cadres of the municipal party committee, loading and unloading workers, and restaurant employees will all provide clues. Because the people deeply abhor corruption, they will definitely actively support us. You and Jiao Dongfang are cousins contacting him will be convenient, but you must be careful with your strategy and not expose me too early." Our investigation points. Corrupt officials are adept at counter-investigation; they collude, destroy evidence, transfer stolen goods, and even flee abroad with huge sums of money. We must guard against all of these. Especially the last resort, fleeing abroad, has been happening frequently recently. Of course, by then we can contact Interpol to bring the criminals to justice, but the losses will be much greater. Chen Hu picked up a photo of the motorcycle repair shop and said, "Xiaoyu, you should remember the scene in this photo, right? This is the motorcycle repair shop on the side of Yeshanpo Road. When we arrived that day, Shi Hai had already been poisoned." Chen Hu suddenly said, "Secretary Fang, Director Zhou, the person who poisoned Xiaoyu couldn't have been a regular robber, could he?" Fang Hao nodded, "The Railway Public Security Bureau is investigating. They will contact us promptly if there are any developments. Your focus should still be on He Qizhang's case. Break through this tough nut and see what's inside!" Chapter Twenty: The Chief Secretary Takes a Great Risk; Underworld Man Saves White-Collar Man. Chen Hu drove to the entrance of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. He wanted to make a set of copies of the photos Ye Baoxin had taken and give them to Tao Tieliang. According to regulations, all cases involving criminal matters were handled by the Public Security Bureau. Jiang Yuexiu lingered at the door, chatting with Tao Tieliang, saying, "Please put in a good word for me with my father." Chen Hu got out of the car and called out, "Tieliang. " Tao Tieliang shook off Jiang Yuexiu and went to the Cherokee. Unexpectedly, Jiang Yuexiu followed him. "You're the famous Chen Hu?" "And you are?" Tao Tieliang introduced, "Jiang Yuexiu, Director Jiang's daughter. She suddenly had a whim to become a criminal investigator and asked me to speak to Director Jiang on her behalf." Chen Hu politely shook hands with Jiang Yuexiu and turned to Tao Tieliang.

"Tieliang, I have something in my car, I'll give it to you."

Tao Tieliang and Chen Hu walked to the car about two meters away. Chen Hu took out a photo from his briefcase and handed it to
him. Jiang Yuexiu stood there looking at them.

"A photo, I don't know who sent it, but it's very valuable. Look at this guy on the motorcycle, his name is Yang Ke,
talking to someone who looks like a mechanic at a motorcycle repair shop. This is the place where Shi Hai died. Shi Hai damaged
my brakes and was poisoned. This man is one of Jiao Dongfang's men,
what ? If it was for a motorcycle, he wouldn't have gone hundreds of miles to a small place to get it repaired, would he? You
're in charge of this case, Secretary Fang instructed you to handle it. This photo might be helpful to you."

"Who took the photo?"

"It might have been taken by Ye Baoxin, but who sent it, and what their motive was for sending it to me, is still unclear.
Tieliang, solving this mystery is your job. But there's a date on the photo."

"Okay, thank you for bringing it all the way here. I'll let you know as soon as there's any result."

"Then I'm leaving."

Chen Hu got into the car, started the engine, and drove away.

After sneaking off to Tao Tieliang's county seat, Jiang Yuexiu snatched the photo from his hand.

"Let me see, whose photo is this? Is it your mistress?"

Jiang Yuexiu recognized the man in the photo as Yang Ke, Jiao Dongfang's bodyguard.

Tao Tieliang reprimanded her, "What are you doing! Give me back the photo. This is work; you have no manners at all.
I'll have your dad give you a good scolding."

Jiang Yuexiu grinned and said, "I thought it was your mistress! Bye-bye."

Jiang Yuexiu left, and Tao Tieliang shook his head, watching her retreating figure.

Less than ten minutes after leaving the police station, Chen Hu's Cherokee pulled up in front of the New Moon Hotel. He stepped onto the stairs and went
straight into Qiu Siyu's office. Qiu Siyu, dressed in a tight-fitting cheongsam, greeted him with a beaming smile.

"Oh, Prosecutor Chen, you've come to sample the 'Delicious Beauty' dish,
haven't you too scared?"

Chen Hu smiled slightly. "It wasn't that I was too scared, I just wasn't fortunate enough to enjoy authentic Hong Kong cuisine. Boss Qiu, you're
getting more and more beautiful."

"Thank you. What new name do you want to give me today? I really like 'Delicious Beauty.' Please have a seat."

"No, thank you. I've come to visit Ms. Ge Mengmeng. I know she lives here."

"Did you make an appointment?"

"No.

" "I knew it. If you had made an appointment beforehand, she would have waited for you; she's very trustworthy. Today was the ribbon-cutting ceremony
for the completion , and she just left."

"Thank you, I'll go find her."

"Do you know the place?"

"Yes, it's a villa community, managed by Hong Kong property management. Except for the land, everything is imported—not only
building materials and interior and exterior decoration materials, but even the turf is imported. It's been advertised in the newspapers."

"Prosecutor Chen is truly observant and well-informed."

Qiu Siyu stood up to see him off. "Next time you come, don't run away at the last minute again." Today is Ge Mengmeng's big
day. Don't spoil her fun. She made a lot of money this time, so you should go and congratulate her. Qiu

Siyu was secretly delighted. Let Chen Hu, that jinx, cause trouble for Ge Mengmeng!

The car headed towards Emperor Garden.

Emperor Garden was only twenty kilometers from the city center, nestled against the mountains and beside a lake, with beautiful scenery. Twenty villas in Gothic, English,
Japanese, and American styles formed a complete community, complete with a shopping center, business center, and entertainment center,
allowing residents to communicate with the world without leaving home and enjoy all
the benefits of modern civilization.

Dozens of luxury cars were parked in the tree-lined parking lot.

More than two hundred people gathered in front of the entertainment center. Among them were newly purchased villa owners, municipal government officials who came to
cut the ribbon , television reporters, and the developers and dealers of Emperor Garden.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony would not take place until the mayor's assistant, Qian Zhong, arrived. Ge Mengmeng was being interviewed by reporters.

Chen Hu spotted the beautiful Song Huihui in the group of reporters. She was holding a microphone and interviewing Ge Mengmeng. "
Ms. , as the developer of Emperor Garden, today is the completion ceremony of Emperor Garden and the handover of keys to the users.
What are your feelings?"

The camera lens focused on the elegantly dressed Ge Mengmeng. "I've been looking forward to this day when the residents will move into the Emperor's Garden .
All residents will receive the hospitality and enjoyment of royalty. The completion of Emperor's Garden
is another achievement of our city's reform and opening up. As a Hong Kong businesswoman, I thank the municipal government for its support."

"Ms. Ge Mengmeng, you used to be a cadre of the municipal party committee, and later moved to Hong Kong to do business.
What are your feelings about these two choices?"

Ge Mengmeng gave a charming smile. "Aren't many cadres in China going into business now? I think
this is an inevitable trend, a very good thing. But I am still Chinese, and I will not forget
my responsibility . Thank you everyone. Please go and interview our residents, they are now the true owners of Emperor's Garden!"

The beautiful Song Huihui went to interview the residents.

Ge Mengmeng asked a staff member beside her, "Why hasn't Qian Zhong arrived yet?"

"Just spoke on the phone, he'll be here soon."

Chen Hu parted the crowd and walked to Ge Mengmeng's side. "Ms. Ge Mengmeng, I need to talk to you."

"Now."

“Yes, now.”

Just then, three Audis pulled up.

“Excuse me, the city leaders are here. Can we talk after the ribbon-cutting ceremony?” Ge Mengmeng left Chen Hu and went to greet Qian Zhong, who was
getting out of the car .

Four beautiful young ladies held up a red ribbon, with a red embroidered ball tied every three meters. Three young ladies
stood in front of the embroidered balls, each holding a golden plate containing a pair of gleaming silver scissors.

The band played a welcoming tune. A smiling Qian Zhong, a bejeweled Ge Mengmeng, and a chubby dealer each
stood in front of their respective embroidered balls, with Qian Zhong in the center, Ge Mengmeng on the left, and the dealer on the right. The city government officials, developers, and dealers
lined up a row.

The pretty emcee announced the start of the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Three scissors fell simultaneously, and three embroidered balls landed in the golden plate.
At this moment, firecrackers exploded and drums resounded.

Ge Mengmeng walked to the microphone, announcing, "Please have the city government leaders distribute the keys to the residents!"

Accompanied by music, wealthy men and women lined up and received a brocade box from Qian Zhong. Inside was
a set keys to a villa—the main gate and all the room doors, a total of twelve keys.

Chen Hu watched this scene, his heart filled with unease. He thought of the crowded tenement courtyard…

The dilapidated, low-rise houses... the sight of four generations crammed into a room of only eight or nine square meters, even
bringing to mind Zhao Taiji's impending execution...

Chen Hu couldn't suppress his anger and walked to Ge Mengmeng's side. "I must talk to you immediately."

Qian Zhong saw Chen Hu but didn't greet him, continuing to distribute key boxes.

Ge Mengmeng said unhappily, "Can't you wait a little longer, until all the keys are distributed?"

After the keys were distributed, the residents went looking for their villas.

The beautiful reporter Song Huihui and others followed the residents into the exquisitely decorated villas for interviews, while Qian Zhong and his entourage were
invited rest in the entertainment center.

Ge Mengmeng glanced at her watch and said to Chen Hu, "I'm going to the airport. Wait ten minutes for me to pack my luggage;
let's talk in the waiting area."

Ge Mengmeng's secretary, a handsome young man, came over carrying a suitcase.

"Boss, it's time to go to the airport."

Ge Mengmeng glanced apologetically at Chen Hu and said, "Director Chen, we'll have to talk in the waiting area."
Ge Mengmeng got into her Buick.

Chen Hu reluctantly got into his own car. The Buick led the way, followed by the Cherokee, as they drove along the expressway towards the airport.
Chen Hu followed closely behind the Buick, as if tracking a criminal.

Upon reaching the airport parking lot, Chen Hu parked his car close to the Buick, then got out and
walked the bustling airport terminal.

Ge Mengmeng was about to queue for her seat ticket and check her luggage. Chen Hu stopped her, saying, "These procedures
don't need to be handled by the boss personally."

Ge Mengmeng had no choice but to have her secretary handle the check-in. Chen Hu found two empty seats.

"Please sit down, Boss Ge."

"What do you want to ask? What's there to talk about between us?"

"I just want to ask about something from the past. Back then, you were an official in the Municipal Party Committee Office.
Did you borrow the case files for the huge foreign exchange fraud case?"

Ge Mengmeng asked in surprise, "What case?"

"It's the case of Yi Xin, the section chief of the Finance Bureau, who forged the official seal of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, misappropriated the Finance Bureau's foreign exchange quota
allocation slips, and fraudulently obtained 60 million US dollars. You heard the report back then, you haven't forgotten, have you?"

"Hmm, that sounds like it happened. Wasn't it closed a long time ago? Why are you asking about this now?"

"I'm asking if you borrowed the case files?"

"No."

"Then take a look at this." Chen Hu took a photocopy from his briefcase and handed it to Ge Mengmeng.

"This is a photocopy from the case file borrowing register in the procuratorate's archives. You
borrowed the case file on the afternoon of April 30, 1993, and you signed your name in the borrower's column.
Do you remember now?"

Ge Mengmeng said coldly, "Since I signed it, then I borrowed it. It's been three years, I can't remember right now."

"Why did you borrow the case file back then?"

"Anyway, it wasn't me who went. I can't remember which leader needed what materials, it's been so long."

"Two documents are missing from the file, it's the confession of the main culprit, Yi Xin. Have you seen it?"

Ge Mengmeng's face turned pale, but her tone was firm, "No, I haven't!"

"You were the only one who borrowed this file, how do you explain the missing confession?"

“How should I know? Maybe the custodian lost it!”

The airport announcer’s sweet voice came through the loudspeaker: “The flight to Hong Kong is about to take off.
Passengers board.”

Ge Mengmeng’s secretary followed with seat numbers. “Boss, it’s time to board. Please go in.” Ge Mengmeng
stood up. “Excuse me, Director Chen, I have to board the plane. Goodbye.” “You can’t leave until you explain yourself.
Did you take Yi Xin’s confession?”

Ge Mengmeng sneered. “Director Chen, do you have an arrest warrant? Let me remind you, you don’t have an arrest warrant. You’ve
violated a citizen’s personal freedom! I have the protection of the Hong Kong British government.”

Ge Mengmeng turned and left, heading towards the check-in gate.

Watching Ge Mengmeng’s departing figure, Chen Hu’s right fist slammed into his left palm.

Chen Hu walked out of the airport hall in frustration. He suddenly felt pathetic, watching helplessly as the suspect who stole the case file and
confession swaggered onto the plane to Hong Kong, completely powerless to stop her. He
cursed inwardly, “Damn it, another suspected criminal has fled overseas!”

Requesting assistance from the Hong Kong police through the Interpol China Central Bureau? That's one way, but
the evidence is insufficient to issue a red notice. The most feasible solution is to go to Hong Kong to gather evidence, but that's currently
impossible. "Ge Mengmeng, if you stole the confession of the main culprit in the '11.2' case, even if you run to
the ends of the earth , I, Chen Hu, will bring you to justice!

" Chen Hu looked up at the blue sky; a plane flew by. He didn't know if it was bound for Hong Kong.
Damn it , criminals used to run on the ground, now they fly in the sky. Maybe one day we'll have to go to space to
bring them to justice!

Chen Hu reluctantly got into his car, and after twenty minutes of speeding on the highway, they entered the city. A
concept formed in his mind, faster than the wheels: economic crimes are rapidly aligning with international practices,
and corrupt officials have already transferred, and will continue to transfer, their ill-gotten gains overseas through various channels!

Chen Hu arrived at Fang Hao's office and asked the secretary, "Is Secretary Fang in?"

"He's in the inner room, talking with other comrades."

Chen Hu glanced at the tightly closed door and knew it must be an important conversation; otherwise, the door wouldn't be locked.

He sat on the sofa and waited. The secretary brought a cup of tea and placed it on the coffee table. Returning to his seat, he picked up the internal phone
and dialed .

"Comrade Chen Hu has arrived and is waiting outside."

"Please ask him to wait another five minutes."

The secretary hung up.

"Secretary Fang, please wait a moment."

Five minutes later, Jiao's secretary, Shen Shi, emerged from the inner room with a worried expression. He glanced at Chen Hu, didn't
greet him, and left.

Fang Hao stood at the doorway of the inner room and said, "Comrade Chen Hu, come in."

Chen Hu entered and closed the door behind him.

"Secretary Fang, Ge Mengmeng vehemently denies taking the confession of the main culprit in the foreign exchange fraud case. I watched her
board the plane to Hong Kong. I have no evidence, so I had to let her go."

Fang Hao remained silent, his brows furrowed, and beckoned Chen Hu to sit on the sofa.

Fang Hao took out a small, yellow, gourd-shaped porcelain bottle from his pocket, poured out six nitroglycerin pills, placed them
in his palm, and then put them in his mouth to swallow.

"Secretary Fang, do you have a heart condition?"

"It's nothing, just angry. I'll get over it in a bit, it'll be fine."

"Is it about Ge Mengmeng?"

"Hao Xiangshou deceived the organization, using the pretext of an external investigation to secretly go to Hong Kong. We've been looking for him,
but we can't find him."

"Could Hao Xiangshou have heard something? Is someone colluding?"

Fang Hao opened the door, went to the outer room, brought in the tea his secretary had just given Chen Huche, and placed it on the coffee table.
"This is what Xiao Liu just brewed for you, right? I won't brew any more, to avoid waste. We can't rule out the possibility of a leak. But
for someone with a guilty conscience, Hao Xiangshou knowing you went to Hong Kong with the High Prosecutor..." "He doesn't need to gather information
to understand your purpose. It's normal for him to want to escape. The problem is, why did our comrades allow Hao
Xiangshou to get involved in the anti-corruption bureau's work? I've already reported this to Secretary Jiao and requested an emergency Standing Committee meeting. Whoever
is home should attend. The meeting is about to start. Don't leave, wait here. I might ask you to explain the
situation. Of course, you need to be careful with the timing. Okay, that's settled then, I'm going to the meeting now."

Fang Hao left and went to the small conference room next door.

The emergency meeting of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee was being held there.

Mayor Lin Xianhan, Standing Committee member Qian Zhong, Deputy Secretary Kong Xiangdi, and Organization Minister Zhang Guangda were already
present. Although they all knew about the situation, they all remained silent.

When Lin Xianhan saw Fang Hao enter, he pointed to a chair in the center of the long table and said,

"You're the chairperson today, so you should sit in the head seat."

Fang Hao moved the chair outwards and sat in the seat that Jiao Pengyuan usually sat in during meetings.

Lin Xianhan said, “All the Standing Committee members who are at home are here. Secretary Jiao has something to attend to and can’t come back. He just called and
asked us to discuss this and then listen to a report. Let’s start the meeting now. Today’s emergency meeting of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee was proposed by Deputy
Secretary and approved by Secretary Jiao. There is only one item on the agenda: to hear Comrade Fang Hao talk about
several specific issues related to anti-corruption in our city. Comrade Fang Hao, you will chair the meeting.” Fang Hao

opened his notebook and laid it out on the table.

The Standing Committee members all took out their notebooks and pens.

“I ask that you comrades not take notes for now. Because the case is still under investigation, it needs to be kept confidential.”

Lin Guanghan closed his notebook first, and then everyone else did the same.

"Comrades already know. Li Haoyi, the director of the Development Office,
was detained and then arrested by the S Province Public Security Bureau and Procuratorate in our city. Li Haoyi abused his power and position to get involved in a huge illegal
fundraising . The problem is extremely serious, but we were completely unaware of it beforehand. It was our brother provinces and cities that discovered it first
. This cannot be said to be anything other than a dereliction of duty on our part. As the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee in charge of political and legal affairs, and also
the secretary should be the first to take responsibility and conduct a self-examination. In this important matter of fighting corruption, we have fallen behind our brother provinces and cities.
This is a profound lesson."

Qian Zhong kept drinking water, his hand never leaving the teacup.

Fang Hao picked up the thermos on the table and poured water for Qian Zhong, saying, "You're quite thirsty today."

"Comrade Chen Hu from the Anti-Corruption Bureau and a comrade from the Supreme People's Procuratorate made a special trip to H City to interrogate
Feng Aiju, the main culprit in the illegal fundraising fraud. She's a woman in her fifties. They also interrogated Li Haoyi. Li Haoyi gave a preliminary confession and made
some accusations , which involved important cadres of the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government."

Qian Zhong's teacup swayed slightly in his hand. Fang Hao glanced at him, taking a clear look, but didn't stop talking.

"Because the investigation into who is involved is still ongoing, I won't mention their names for now. But everyone
knows . I suggest we ask Comrade Chen Hu to report to the comrades; he knows better than I can.
What do you all think?"

Organization Minister Zhang Guangda looked at Lin Guanghan and said, "Comrade Guanghan, what's your opinion? I think it's good to hear it."

Qian Zhong put down his teacup and coughed.

"Yes, I agree with Secretary Fang's suggestion. Can we ask Comrade Chen Hu to speak?"

Several other comrades also agreed.
Lin Guanghan said with a worried expression, "Comrade Chen Hu can speak about the relevant situation. Comrade Fang Hao still has something to say;
after he finishes, we'll invite Chen Hu to speak."

"The next question concerns Ge Mengmeng, the former deputy director of the General Office, who has now moved to Hong Kong. She is suspected of
stealing the confession of the main culprit in a huge foreign exchange fraud case, which was discovered by Comrade Chen Hu.
Comrade Chen Hu will explain the details later. Now I want to talk about a strange matter. Hao Xiangshou, the deputy director of the Municipal Party Committee General Office, has already gone to Hong Kong.
Hao Xiangshou is not in charge of foreign affairs, and there was no arrangement for him to go to Hong Kong in the Municipal Party Committee's already drafted overseas visit plan.
Which leader approved Hao Xiangshou's trip to Hong Kong? What was his purpose in going to Hong Kong in such a hurry? I hope to clarify this
matter . If any comrade here knows the situation, please explain."

Lin Guanghan said, "Comrade Fang Hao, are you finished?"

"I'll stop here for now; I'll add more if I think of anything else."

Lin Guanghan's gaze swept across every face. Qian Zhong started drinking water again. Lin Xianhan coughed a few times: "Let's
talk about Hao Xiangshou's trip to Hong Kong first. Who would like to speak first?"

Kong Xiangdi said, "I'm in charge of the work of the Municipal Party Committee Office, but he was recently seconded to the Anti-Corruption Bureau. I didn't
arrange any business trip for him, and I didn't know he was going to Hong Kong. He didn't ask me for permission beforehand, not even verbally.
I think it's very abnormal for Hao Xiangshou to go to Hong Kong. He used a business trip as an excuse to leave the country without permission.
It's very necessary to find out who approved it and what procedures were followed. It's unbelievable that such behavior would happen to a bureau-level cadre
. It's completely disorganized and undisciplined."

Qian Zhong put down his teacup and said, "I don't have much contact with Hao Xiangshou on a daily basis. I only
heard about his trip to Hong Kong yesterday. Since he left the country without permission, he should bear full responsibility."

Zhang Guangda said, "I was also very angry when I found out. I specifically asked Secretary Jiao if he knew that Hao Xiangshou had gone
to Hong Kong. Secretary Jiao was very surprised. He said he didn't know about it beforehand. He only knew that he was on a business trip."

Lin Guanghan's gaze swept across everyone's faces. "Comrades have all stated that they were unaware of Hao Xiangshou's departure from the country.
Since neither those present nor Secretary Jiao knew about it, the nature of this matter is even more serious, likely going beyond
a simple disregard for organizational discipline. This matter must be thoroughly investigated, and Secretary Jiao shares this opinion. Comrade Fang Hao
has already begun the investigation; perhaps Comrade Fang Hao could speak first."

Fang Hao turned a page in his notebook.

"I've already spoken with the Public Security Bureau and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and obtained some preliminary information. All the paperwork was
handled by Comrade Shen Shi, Secretary Jiao's secretary. Clearly, this was a premeditated action. I've already spoken with Comrade Shen
Shi once, and I suggest we bring him here so he can speak with everyone."

Qian Zhongqian said modestly, "Should I speak with Chen Hu first, or with Shen Shi first?"

"Chen Hu is in my office. Let him speak first; perhaps there's some
connection ." He picked up the internal phone and dialed.

"Chen Hu, go to the small conference room to report to the Standing Committee. I'll be right there. Old Kong, should
you notify Shen Shi to come?"

Kong Xiangdi stood up, walked to the telephone, and picked up the receiver to dial.

"Have Shen Shi come to the small conference room. Wait outside first."

Chen Hu knocked and entered.

"Comrade Chen Hu, please give everyone a brief report on the progress of the investigation into Li Haoyi's case and
some information about Ge Mengmeng. Sit down and speak."

"Thank you."

Chen Hu sat down and began his report.

Shen Shi arrived outside the small conference room, found the door closed, and sat on the hard bench in the aisle where people waited to be received.

He let out a heavy sigh.

Sitting here, he felt extremely uncomfortable. This was where ordinary petitioners sat, waiting to be received by leaders,
some pitiful, some anxious and apprehensive, all hoping the municipal leaders would offer
a turning point to their miserable fate.

Shen Shi had often called out the names of the petitioners waiting in line here, and they were always
filled with gratitude for his calls. Facing them, Shen Shi would often savor the smug feeling of being superior.

But now, sitting here, unlike the petitioners, what awaited him was not
a change in fortune, but rather thunder, lightning, rain, and snow.

People kept walking past him, yet not a single one greeted him—something that would have been absolutely impossible in the past
. Even though he was just Secretary Jiao's junior secretary, he was always greeted with smiles; to be rude to him would be to disrespect
Secretary Jiao .

But now, they seemed to have reached a consensus, completely ignoring his presence, as if he were invisible
air .

Shen Shi understood that the municipal government's information dissemination was incredibly fast; clearly, all the officials knew
he had processed Hao Xiangshou's exit permit. Thus, he became a plague everyone avoided.

He'd seen many officials suffer misfortune and be met with cold shoulders, and he'd done the same. He never
expected to be the one to suffer such treatment today.

Shen Shi remembered the names of everyone who passed by without greeting him. "Secretary Jiao is still alive, I'm still his
secretary! Don't even think about asking me for favors anymore!" he thought. "Don't even think

about it!"

But how could he explain this to the Standing Committee?

The entire process of processing Hao Xiangshou's exit permit flashed through his mind. He had to think through every
detail , what he should say, what he shouldn't. He had to get through this no matter what!

The door opened, and Chen Hu came out, saying, "Please come in."

Shen Shi forced himself to enter the small conference room and respectfully greeted everyone in turn.

"Mayor Lin, Secretary Kong, Secretary Fang, I've arrived."

Kong Xiangdi didn't invite Shen Shi to sit down, and coldly said, "Comrade Shen Shi, please explain to us the whole story of Director Hao's
trip ."

Shen Shi took out a letter and handed it to Lin Guanghan, saying, "Director Hao brought his approval document for going abroad. This is a copy I made for my
records. It clearly states that the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee decided that Comrade Hao Xiangshou would go to Hong Kong for a week, and it bears the official seal of
the Municipal Party Committee Office. I'm responsible for handling the travel documents for leaders, and since there was an approval document, I
processed all the procedures for him. That's the gist of it."

The copy was circulated among the Standing Committee members.

Zhang Guangda stared wide-eyed. "There's no leader's signature on the approval document. Can't you see the problem?"

Shen Shi was on the verge of tears, feeling wronged. "There's an official seal. Besides, how could I doubt Director Hao? He's my direct
superior . I can't refuse work assigned by my superiors."

Fang Hao said sternly, "Comrade Shen Shi, I spoke with you earlier, but you didn't explain clearly.
What did Hao Xiangshou talk to you about before he left? Tell everyone again."

"Director Hao really didn't say anything to me."

"Can you take responsibility for your statement? You must be honest in front of the organization."

"Now we need to be truthful ."

Qian Zhong's gaze was fixed on Shen Shi, and he asked methodically, "Little Shen, did Secretary Jiao
know ? When did you report to Secretary Jiao?"

"Secretary Jiao didn't know beforehand. He couldn't find Hao Xiangshou and asked me. I said, 'Didn't the leader approve his trip to
Hong Kong ' That's when Secretary Jiao found out. He was very angry. That's what happened."

Qian Zhong pressed sharply, "Why didn't you report Director Hao's trip to Hong Kong to the organization? You handled the procedures!"

“The approval document is very clear; it states that the Standing Committee agreed to his trip to Hong Kong. I assumed the Standing Committee knew this, so I didn’t
report it. If it weren’t for organizational approval, I couldn’t have processed his exit permit.”

Qian Zhong felt pleased with himself for absolving Secretary Jiao of responsibility with his two questions, and his tone
softened. “Then why did you report it later?”

“I knew Secretary Jiao and Secretary Fang were looking for Director Hao everywhere, so I told Secretary Jiao that it wasn’t the organization that approved Director Hao’s
trip to Hong Kong. Beforehand, I absolutely didn’t know that Director Hao had secretly gone to Hong Kong under the guise of a business trip.
I can guarantee this to the organization in the name of a Communist Party member.”

Zhang Guangda and Fang Hao whispered a few words. Fang Hao waved his hand. “Go down and
write a detailed account of everything that happened before and after you processed Director Hao’s exit permit, and give it to me.”

Shen

Shi returned to his office, and after writing the explanation for Hao Xiangshou’s exit, he frantically dealt with the incoming letters.

Dozens of letters addressed to Secretary Jiao Pengyuan or the Municipal Party Secretary were on his desk.
One of was to open and process these letters. The particularly important ones were sent to Jiao Pengyuan for review, while the ordinary ones were forwarded to
the relevant departments by him, and that was it.

A letter from France caught his attention. The envelope was addressed to "To the Municipal Party
Secretary" both "Secretary" and "Sir" aroused his curiosity.

Shen Shi muttered to himself, "Secretary, Sir, what a jumble of names."

He cut open the seal with scissors and was shocked to find it was a letter of denunciation from abroad.

The letter read: "Dear Municipal Party Secretary,

I am an overseas Chinese living in France, running a members-only club, essentially a gambling den, in Paris.
The reform have made us overseas Chinese, far from our homeland, feel a deep sense of pride. However, some inexplicable things
have also happened."

For the past twenty days, Mr. Yin Qi, a high-ranking official of the municipal steel company, has frequently visited my gambling den and several other
gambling establishments .

According to the local newspaper, he is a major entrepreneur who came to France to acquire the company. The first time Mr. Yin Qi visited my
gambling den, out of friendship, I let him win 50,000 francs and subtly advised him not to return to such places.

However, Mr. Yin Qi's gambling addiction only intensified; he came every day and lost every time. In just my two gambling dens, he has
lost 25 million francs! I run a members-only gambling den, of course, to make money. But I know that Mr. Yin Qi,
as a public official, cannot afford to lose this much money.

He is losing the hard-earned money of the Chinese people; at this rate, he will soon
lose . I am a conscientious overseas Chinese and do not want to see the fruits of China's reform and opening up being
squandered by Mr. Yin Qi.

I have kept separate accounts of the money he lost in my gambling dens, awaiting your verification. Mr. Party Secretary, please
stop this squandering of state assets. I'd rather not make any money than let my gambling den be used by him
to squander .

But Mr. Liu and Mr. Qi have other gambling dens to go to, so I took the liberty of writing to you to ask you to stop his
behavior.

With my highest respect! Can this letter of complaint

from Huang Yaxing, an overseas Chinese in France,

be forwarded to Secretary Jiao? Shen Shi stared blankly at the letter. Of course not. If Sun Qi reveals this
, it will inevitably involve Jiao Dongfang, me, and other leaders. If I report it,
Secretary Jiao can only order an investigation, but would he really be willing to do that? It seems that I can only keep this matter under wraps
and not report it; this protects Dongfang, protects myself, and saves face for Jiao Dongfang.

Shen Shi locked the letter of complaint in the safe. This letter must be known to Jiao Dongfang. Yes, call him.

"Dongfang? I have an urgent matter to discuss with you."

"Then come over."

"Not now, I'll go after work."

He hung up the phone. After

work

, Shen Shi rushed to the Horizon Hotel and handed a letter to Jiao Dongfang.

"This is a letter of complaint from a Chinese expatriate surnamed Huang in France to the Municipal Party Committee. Take a look,"

Jiao Dongfang said, reading the letter.

Shen Shi paced anxiously back and forth in his office.

Jiao Dongfang impatiently reprimanded, "Can't you just sit still for a moment? You're such a nuisance! Do you dare
to wander around in front of my dad like that?"

"Isn't it annoying?"

"This overseas Chinese writer is just bored and has nothing better to do. You run a gambling den and make your money, why do you care who
gambles here? He's sick, absolutely sick."

"He's patriotic." "

Can a good person run a gambling den? He's like a prostitute trying to maintain a virtuous image, even abroad he can't change the
fine traditions left by his ancestors."

"What should we do? This is addressed to your father, should we send it over?"

"What do you think? Letters to my dad are always dealt with."

"If I send it over, and Secretary Jiao really approves the investigation, it will inevitably involve you and me, and maybe even
more people. So I'm holding it for now, to discuss it with you."

Jiao Dongfang smiled, "Little Shen, are you scared?"

"Vice Mayor He is dead, Li Haoyi has been arrested, Director Hao went to Hong Kong, and now
a —one thing after another, who wouldn't be worried?"

"What's the use of worrying? We need to stay calm, especially now. Destroy this letter."

Shen Shi panicked upon hearing this. "We can't destroy it. The express mail office has records, and the Jiao office also
receives documents. If they trace this letter later, not being able to produce it will cause a lot of trouble. I'll keep it for now and destroy it
later when I have the chance."

"Okay, let's do it that way."

"Call Sun Qi right away and tell him to stop gambling at that Huang guy's place. We can't keep cleaning up his
messes."

"Sun Qi hasn't contacted me at all since he went to France. I don't know his phone number. That kid's really
out of his mind; he'll never amount to anything."

"Today, the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee had a meeting to discuss Director Hao's secret trip to Hong Kong. They called me in and questioned me.
This has blown up."

Jiao Dongfang jumped up and shouted, "Hao Xiangshou is a bastard! He went to Hong Kong without even telling me!"

"Yes, if he's labeled a defector, Secretary Jiao will be in a difficult position."

"My dad got himself into this mess because of
those . My dad just doesn't know how to use people."

"Don't drag me into this, I'm completely loyal to Secretary Jiao."

Jiao Dongfang gave Shen Shi a meaningful look. "Don't brag. A strong wind reveals the strength of the grass, a turbulent time reveals the hero.
Don't wet your pants when the time comes, even if you're not weak."

"Do you know where Director Hao lives in Hong Kong?"

"He can't escape the Buddha's palm. Don't think the Anti-Corruption Bureau can't find him; one phone call from me, and my
friends will obediently send him back."

Shen Shi waved his hands nervously, "No, no, that won't do. If Director Hao comes back, it'll be troublesome. If he tells us everything,
we'll all be finished."

"I won't let him come back. Since he's run away, let him enjoy a few days of peace."

"He's enjoying peace, and I've become the scapegoat."

"Little Shen, are you thinking of running away too?"

Shen Shi's heart skipped a beat. He had indeed thought about it, but had no way to carry it out.

"You'd better give up that idea. Even if you run away, Interpol's China Central Bureau will issue a red notice
and arrest you anyway. You only have one option: cling to my dad's coattails."

Shen Shi sighed deeply and said, "How could I not want to cling to Secretary Jiao's coattails? I'm just afraid that if something happens to me,
your dad won't let me anymore. He might kick me aside. I've seen too many cases of sacrificing a pawn to save the king."

Jiao Dongfang patted Shen Shi's head. "Then we'll see how you perform."

Ge

Mengmeng drove through the tunnel and entered the Tsim Sha Tsui area. Buildings such as Hong Kong Polytechnic University flashed past the car window
.

The car stopped in the parking lot of the Nikko Hotel. Ge Mengmeng got out of the car and entered the Nikko Hotel.

Ge Mengmeng entered the lobby and walked straight to the elevator. Looking back to see that no one was following her, she entered the elevator.

The guest room corridor was empty.

Ge Mengmeng went to the door and rang the bell.

The door opened, and Ge Mengmeng slipped out.

Hao Xiangshou didn't offer Ge Mengmeng a seat, and asked anxiously, "Is there any news from over there?"

Ge Mengmeng coldly glanced at Hao Xiangshou and lit a cigarette.

"Your running off to Hong Kong has definitely put Secretary Jiao in a very passive position. I heard they held a Standing Committee meeting specifically to discuss your
defection. I don't know the details."

Hao Xiangshou joked, "Hong Kong is Chinese territory, how can that be considered defection?"

Ge Mengmeng retorted, "Taiwan is also Chinese territory, according to your logic, going there wouldn't be considered defection either?"

"I had no choice, who wants to hide in Hong Kong and be looked down upon?"

"How do you think things will develop?"

"Mengmeng, the Municipal Party Committee is in chaos. Li Haoyi might
expose . Don't be fooled by his usual bravado, he can't hold his own in a critical moment. It might even affect Secretary Jiao's position.
If I hadn't run fast, I'd be in jail by now!"

Ge Mengmeng poured herself and Hao Xiangshou a glass of XO, took a small sip, and said, "That means they
're serious about dealing with Secretary Jiao this time!"

Hao Xiangshou sighed deeply.

"Sigh! This is all Secretary Jiao's own fault. He's arrogant and self-important, acting like no one else is around. And the internal party
struggles are so complicated. I've advised him several times, but he just won't listen. We should learn from history. If
you were fine, that would be one thing, but Secretary Jiao is full of flaws and doesn't know anything about keeping a
low profile. How could he not attract attention and bring trouble upon himself? I didn't want to go down this path at all, but I had no other choice but to resort to
this."

"You, Hao Xiangshou, are lucky to have gotten out of
here . You

should be grateful that you weren't taken to court." "That's what I say, but I'm still not reconciled. Xiao Ge, now that I'm in trouble, I can't go back to the mainland for the time being
. You won't just stand by and do nothing, will you? I was the one who brought you to Hong Kong back then. We should still remember our past relationship, right?"

Ge Mengmeng stroked Hao Xiangshou's stubble.

"You look so listless, cheer up. We were on the same page before, and we'll still be on the same page in the future
. Let me tell you, I almost fell into Chen Hu's hands this time too. He chased me all the way to the airport,
interrogating me about Yi Xin's confession, but I managed to shut him up." "

What confession?"

"You forgot? It's
the confession . Jiao Dongfang insisted on getting it, and you gave me the approval to borrow it from the prosecutor's office archives."

Hao Xiangshou slapped his forehead.

"I remember now, something from three years ago. What's the point of Chen Hu bringing up old dirt again?"

Ge Mengmeng gave Hao Xiangshou a dissatisfied look.

"Old Hao, there are no outsiders here. It's no fun if you pretend to be confused in front of me. Uncle He has
a deep relationship with He Qizhang, and also with Jiao Dongfang. If we investigate according to this confession, we would have exposed He Qizhang back then
. How could he be promoted to vice mayor? It's in your common interest to push He Qizhang out as vice mayor. That's why
Jiao Dongfang insisted on stealing Yi Xin's confession from the case file. You entrusted this task to me, how could you
forget it!" Gai

Hao Xiangshou smiled awkwardly.

"I'm really not pretending to be confused. My mind has been a mess since I came to Hong Kong. If you suddenly bring up something from three years ago,
I can't remember . But, neither Mayor He nor I have treated you badly. The municipal government paid for you
to build a comfortable home in Hong Kong."

Ge Mengmeng kicked off her high heels and curled up on the sofa like a cat, saying, "If something happens in the city, Hong Kong won't be
safe . Besides, the 1997 deadline is approaching, we need to find another place."

Ge Mengmeng suddenly excitedly jumped off the sofa and onto the floor.

“How could I forget? We need to find Uncle He! He’s made a lot of money off us.
It’s dangerous . We need to ask him for help!”

Hao Xiangshou downed his drink in one gulp.

“I know this guy. He’s involved in both the legitimate and underworld circles, very influential, and has a deep connection with Jiao Dongfang. But given
my current situation, can he really help?”

“I think so. Not because he’s particularly righteous, but because we share common interests. If we all
fall, his investments in my city will be ruined. If we don’t have enough influence, just have Dongfang make a phone call
.” The heavy rain at

midnight

in Hong Kong made the bustling streets, which had been noisy all day, deserted. A black Volvo sedan
drove through the rain and stopped at the entrance of a high-rise building in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon. Wearing a cream-colored raincoat was Ge Mengmeng, and the man
beside had his face covered by a rain hat. It was Hao Xiangshou. To avoid the attention of acquaintances, Hao Xiangshou
had to live a life where he was completely covered up.

At this moment, Hao Xiangshou’s biggest worry was how Uncle He would receive him. Things are different now. He's no longer the
high-ranking deputy director of the municipal party committee office. In times of chaos, a person is worse off than a stray dog. Uncle He doesn't need to fawn over me like he used to . A single word or a note from me could have secured his ill-gotten gains; now I'm begging him for help. Will he still treat me like a prominent government official? What should I do if he refuses? Luckily, I escaped the jaws of death and arrived safely in Hong Kong. Ge Mengmeng was kind enough to help me connect with Uncle He. But even if she wasn't loyal, there was nothing I could do; we were in the same boat! Before getting out of the car, Hao Xiangshou coughed. "Mengmeng, what kind of reception do you think Uncle He will give me?" "I don't know. But Uncle He agreed to let us see him." "Sigh, Uncle He used to be so obsequious to me when he came to the Municipal Party Committee, and I always took good care of him. He won't forget our past friendship, will he?" "Even though you're no longer the high-ranking Deputy Director of the Municipal Party Committee Office, you should still be prepared and not take his attitude towards you too seriously." "Past?" Ge Mengmeng interrupted impatiently, "Old Hao, stop talking about the past. You're in this state now, why do you still act like you're the deputy director? You have to adapt to the situation. You're asking for his help now, so you have to bow your head. Old Hao, Uncle He has very strict rules here. I've been here before, and it was like entering a brothel. Just be compliant and don't make things difficult for yourself." "Sigh, I never thought that I, Hao Xiangshou, would end up like a tiger fallen into the plains, bullied by dogs today because of a single wrong decision." "You can't say that. You, Hao Xiangshou, are still Hao Xiangshou. The only difference is your identity. If you can't adapt to the change in role, even I can't help you." Hao Xiangshou hesitated, then obediently got out of the car.

As soon as they entered the elevator, Hao Xiangshou and Ge Mengmeng were blindfolded by two burly men accompanying them.

Ge Mengmeng, having met Uncle He before, knew this was the usual procedure for outsiders visiting him, so
she felt relatively at ease.

The moment the blindfold was applied to Hao Xiangshou, he nearly collapsed, a sense of humiliation gripping his habitually
superior pride.

He suddenly realized that his past power—powerful enough to have Uncle He shine his shoes without being refused—
was not due to his personal ability, but because of government authorization; he had the right to speak on behalf of the government.

Now, having lost that right, he was nothing. If Uncle He asked him to shine shoes, he could only
swallow his anger.

Hao Xiangshou sensed the elevator was rapidly ascending, unable to determine how many floors it had reached. Suddenly, he was
pushed out of the elevator and into another. He sensed it was rapidly descending again, then suddenly stopping;
he was pushed out once more and into yet another rapidly ascending elevator. Having endured repeated cycles of weightlessness and G-forces, Hao
Xiangshou had lost his sense of direction and time, and his heart was struggling to keep up.

Only when they were led into a large room of at least two hundred square meters and their blindfolds were removed did Hao Xiangshou's heartbeat
begin to calm down.

The room was dimly lit and empty, except for a large executive desk in the corner and a green desk lamp,
under which a blurry head could be vaguely seen.

The sound coming clearly from the amplifier under the green lamp was soft, yet felt as if
it were someone .

"Welcome. Mr. Hao, Ms. Ge, please have a seat."

Someone in the shadows brought over two chairs. Hao Xiangshou and Ge Mengmeng sat down.

The two men removed Hao and Ge's blindfolds.

"Mr. Hao, I understand your purpose in coming, there's no need to elaborate. Just agree to one condition, and I
'll protect you."

"I'm willing to hear your conditions, as long as it's not about becoming a spy."

"You haven't let go of your bureaucratic airs, which is what worries me most. A plucked phoenix is no better than a chicken;
please remember that. My condition is simple: from today onward, Hao Xiangshou, the deputy director of the Municipal Party Committee Office
, has disappeared from the face of the earth. You are a different person, someone who will absolutely obey me."

"Just this condition?"

"Yes, very simple. Do you accept it?"

"I accept this condition."

"Very good. You can't go back to the mainland, Hong Kong isn't safe for you, and the United States isn't suitable for you.
Interpol 's China Central Bureau will issue a red notice for you, leaving you nowhere to hide. You're going to Latin America.
I've prepared all your documents—passport, driver's license, birth certificate, etc.—with a new name and a new
nationality, of course. You need to get used to your new identity, otherwise you won't be able to survive. Once you try to become Hao Xiangshou again,
your life is over."

"I understand. Thank you, Mr. He."

"No need to thank me, it's part of the business. Forget your wife, forget your children, forget your
family , forget everything about mainland China. Absolutely no phone calls to mainland China, no contact with anyone. If you
can't do this, go back to mainland China now and turn yourself in. It's not too late."

My wife is a famous businesswoman. She doesn't know anything about my situation. My running away will definitely ruin her
future and her career. And how hard she worked to get to where she is now, from being a sent-down youth!

We'll never see each other again, not even be able to call each other. Separation is a hundred times more cruel than death.

Hao Xiangshou shed tears. Forgive me, my beloved wife! And my son, who just started junior high school, is
intelligent but physically weak. How can he accept the reality of having a father who has defected? Forgive me,
son . One day I will bring you to study in America.

Mother, Father, you two fought in the north and south, made great achievements, and were respected by everyone. You were once proud of your
promising son. Whenever your old comrades said you were "like father, like son," you would secretly smile.

But from now on, you two will suffer the long-term shame of having a defector son. Your unfilial son will be unable to be there for
you in your final days. What use

are my career, my ideals, my extraordinary talents, my well-versed Marxist-Leninist classics and
Western modern political science works in the jungles of Latin America!

From now on, I am just a stray dog; how did I end up like this!

He suddenly thought of his lover, Shao Yuhua; her youthful body had given him boundless comfort, and
the days were filled with romance. And now he had fallen to the point of abandoning his wife and concubine.

Yes, I should call Yuhua, whether Uncle He approves or not, and find a way to get Yuhua
out of the country; she still has our shared credit card!

Ge Mengmeng gently nudged him, and he snapped out of his regretful thoughts.

"I will do as you ask, sir."

"That's good. Now you can take the last call from the mainland."

Hao Xiangshou eagerly took the cordless phone handed to him by the burly man. Uncle He picked up another
phone to listen in.

"This is Hao Xiangshou, who are you?"

"This is Dongfang. First of all, congratulations on obtaining your new identity."

"You found out so quickly?"

"Otherwise, you wouldn't have received this call. Your departure was so sudden, even I didn't know beforehand, putting
everyone in a difficult position. It's too late to complain now. You need to do one thing immediately: write
a letter to the Municipal Party Committee. Write everything that needs to be written, take responsibility for everything you can, and know how to phrase it.
Give it to Uncle He after you finish, and you'll get your new identity and leave Hong Kong."

"Okay, I'll write it right away."

"It's good that you're leaving. Anyway, I need people overseas. Thanks to Uncle He for his help. From now on, Uncle He will be your
mentor, that's very important."

"I understand."

"As for your family and children, I will do my best to help them, don't worry. Don't call me.
That's all."

The phone hung up. The burly man took the phone from the stunned Hao Xiangshou.

"See him out." The

green lamp went out, plunging the large room into darkness.

Hao Xiangshou and Ge Mengmeng were blindfolded again, led out of the room, and into the elevator. After another
round of ups and downs in the high-speed elevator, they arrived at the lobby and left the building.

Ge Mengmeng sat in the driver's seat of the black Volvo, with Hao Xiangshou beside her. The rain intensified, and all...
The buildings disappeared behind the rain curtain. The Volvo carefully entered the rain. Ge Mengmeng said sadly, "The typhoon is about to
make landfall."

The car drove into the undersea tunnel, heading towards Hong Kong.

The rain had stopped. Hao Xiangshou stood on the rocks by the sea, facing the ocean, his heart surging with emotion.

Ge Mengmeng was about ten meters away from him.

The beach was deserted and very quiet.

Hao Xiangshou suddenly raised his fists and roared, "What am I going to Latin America for? To plant sugarcane or pick coffee beans?"

Ge Mengmeng remained silent.

“I’ve become a dog, what’s the point of living! My son, he just started junior high, and he ranked among the top three in the International
Mathematical Olympiad! And my wife, a famous businesswoman, I’ll never see
them again! I’ve ruined them! Ruined them! You scoundrel, Mr. He! You bastard!”

Ge Mengmeng walked to Hao Xiangshou’s side. “Go ahead and curse, there’s no one here anyway.”

Hao Xiangshou grabbed Ge Mengmeng’s collar and yelled, “Tell that scoundrel Mr. He, and
that ! I’m not going to Latin America! I’m not going! They think they can just kick me aside? Dream on! I won’t let them control me!”

“Then what do you plan to do? Apply for political asylum? Don’t forget, you’re a corrupt official, a criminal,
no country will take you in.”

"I don't want them to take me in! Who am I? I'm Hao Xiangshou! The deputy director of the Municipal Party Committee Office! I have
a lot of materials, detailed materials, and I'm going to hold a press conference! I'm going to reveal everything I know!
From Secretary Jiao to ordinary section chiefs, everyone in the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government has their materials in my hands! I've seen He Qizhang's black
notebook, in which it

says, 'What can that get you? Once the materials are used up, you'll still be waiting for prison!'"

"I'm not reconciled! I'm not reconciled!"

"Not reconciled? Fine, go back, maybe the Municipal Party Committee will hold a welcome party for you."

"Don't gloat, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter, your fate isn't necessarily any better than mine."

"That's why we have to stick together."

Hao Xiangshou lost the strength to hold himself together, squatted down, and burst into tears.

Ge Mengmeng shrank her neck and said, "Let's go back, the typhoon is coming, it's not a joke." Chapter Twenty-One :
Land Dispute, Multiple Parties, Fake Marriage Contract, Three-Party Signature

. Wang Yaozu stood by the window, gazing at the distant cluster of buildings. The extensive Hong Kong media coverage of He Qizhang's death
had left him in a very awkward position; many newspapers had named him as having bribed mainland officials. His stock price
plummeted , and the company's directors demanded an explanation.

His female secretary entered.

"The directors are all here; they all look very anxious."

"I know, let's meet immediately." A dozen directors sat around the long conference table, their faces grim.

Wang Yaozu said dejectedly, "Regarding our company's project in the Colorful Plaza, there has been
a lot of , much of it untrue and exaggerated. Now, I am willing to answer your questions."

"Is the exposure of the Colorful Plaza incident related to the death of Vice Mayor He Qizhang?"

"Nothing much. The exposure was caused by an American businessman's complaint to an international arbitration institution."

"Did the American businessman's request for arbitration to the international arbitration institution stem from the city government's lack of cooperation?
There has been a lot of media coverage on this; please provide a detailed explanation."

Wang Yaozu took out a map, pinned it to the wall, and pointed at it with a wooden stick, explaining: "The Colorful Plaza is located in
a bustling commercial district with immense potential for appreciation. However, before I purchased the land use rights, an American fast-food restaurant
had already been operating in this prime location for three years, having signed a fifty-year contract with the city government.
The included the location of the fast-food restaurant. Without demolishing the fast-food restaurant, the overall design and construction of Colorful Plaza would face
difficulties. Therefore, although I knew there would be problems, and the city government knew there would be problems, both I and the city government still
signed an agreement to purchase the land use rights, including the location of the fast-food restaurant. Mr. He Qizhang and Mr. Qian Zhong
took on the risk of breaching the contract with the American fast-food restaurant for us. The city government agreed to allocate a better location for
the American fast-food restaurant, but the American fast-food restaurant refused to relocate, citing the fifty-year contract, so we
couldn't start construction. Due to the indefinite delay in starting construction, I had no choice but to transfer the land use rights of Colorful Plaza to the American
Global Travel Company. After discovering that the fast-food restaurant couldn't be demolished, the Global Travel Company sued me for deceiving them." " The current
situation is that American fast food restaurants have filed a lawsuit against the municipal government for breach of contract at an international arbitration institution, and American Universal Corporation has filed a lawsuit in Hong Kong
against us for concealing the truth when signing the land transfer contract. That's the situation."

"You have caused our company to suffer reputational damage. Moreover, you have spent
more than What responsibility do you bear for this double loss?"

"The mainland is currently fighting corruption. If you implicate our company in a corruption case, and the bribery scandal is exposed
by the press , the company's stock will be severely impacted, and the interests of shareholders will suffer great losses. How do you
plan to deal with such a perilous situation?"

Wang Yaozu wiped his sweat, at a loss, and said, "As chairman of the board, I will do my best to resolve the remaining issues of the Colorful
Plaza . However, this is not something that can be achieved by our efforts alone. The key is to see
what stance the municipal government takes towards the Colorful Plaza. Please rest assured, I will contact Mr. Qian Zhong, who is in charge of urban construction, as soon as possible."

The Audi was driving on the street.

Qian Zhong answered Wang Yaozu's call from Hong Kong on his mobile phone. After listening for a while, Qian Zhong lost his temper, "Mr.
Wang, my Mr. Wang, you have put me in a very passive position." " You secretly transferred the right to use Wucai Square to American
Global Travel Company without even informing them. Now it's turned into a series of lawsuits, and you're asking me what to do? I should be
asking you what to do!"

Wang Yaozu pleaded, "At this time, we need to work together even more, Assistant Qian. You have to understand my predicament,
Wang Yaozu . The key is to get the American fast food restaurant to drop the lawsuit and agree to relocate. I hope the municipal government can allocate
a place they are satisfied with, then all the problems will be solved."

"You make it sound so easy. The American fast food restaurant has a contract in hand. If they don't move, what can I do? You
people only know how to make money, you don't consider the political impact at all. That's it then. Mayor Lin, call a meeting to discuss this matter
immediately . I'll let you know the results later."

Qian Zhong turned off his phone.

Mayor Lin Guanghan's mind exploded when he glanced at the title of the compilation booklet.

The compilation of materials on the international turmoil caused by the Wucai Square incident was scattered on the large desk in the mayor's office. This was...
A booklet compiled by reporters from China's internal reference publication was sent to leaders of the central government and relevant ministries for review. Although thin,
Lin Xianhan considered it more destructive than an atomic bomb, because several important
approvals bore his "approval" and signature.

Lin Xianhan looked at the table of contents:

—A compilation of articles about Wucai Square published in Hong Kong newspapers

—A compilation of articles about Wucai Square published in Taiwanese newspapers

—A compilation of articles about the Wucai Square incident published in American newspapers

—Views of people in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau on the Wucai Square incident

—Several suggestions

. Lin Xianhan underlined what he considered key points in red as he read, finishing the booklet in two hours,
breaking out in a sweat. He finally understood the ins and outs of the Wucai Square incident, which had been sensationalized in overseas newspapers.

The first to launch the attack was an American fast-food company, which accused China of breaching its contract by
selling land leased for fifty years by the American fast-food company, as confirmed by a legal contract between China and the United States, to Wang Yaozu, a
Singaporean

, then attempted to resell it to an American company. An American businessman intending to purchase
and develop the land at Wucai Plaza discovered an existing American fast-food restaurant within the planned development area and demanded
its demolition.

Several negotiations between Wang Yaozu and the fast-food restaurant regarding the demolition failed. The American fast-food restaurant's
response to the city government was that the new landowner, who signed the development agreement for Wucai Plaza,
was responsible for negotiating demolition or redevelopment with the fast-food restaurant, and should consult with Wang Yaozu.

Consequently, the American fast-food restaurant filed a complaint against the city government for breach of contract and took the matter to an international arbitration institution, triggering
a multi-party commercial and legal battle between the city government, the American fast-food restaurant, Wang Yaozu, and the American businessman.

Newspapers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and the United States extensively reported on this international lawsuit.

The American fast-food restaurant still stands in a corner of Wucai Plaza, but the surrounding buildings have been demolished. Because
the fast-food restaurant remains standing, construction on the entire plaza cannot proceed, resulting in land idling. While residents are unaware of
the full story, they have frequently complained about the long-term land vacancy.

Some officials and residents within the demolition area, including several vice-ministers, have written to higher authorities to report this
situation .

Wang Yaozu was exhausted from running around coordinating with various parties, but he couldn't control the media, causing the Wucai Square incident to escalate and
attract widespread attention. Hong Kong and Taiwan newspapers bluntly stated, "It's conceivable that behind the breach of contract
lies a dirty deal. Some powerful officials on the mainland have embarked on a path of corruption, only to have
their own downfall."

An internal reporter suggested that a force should be organized to investigate this incident that caused such a negative impact, to determine
if officials were involved, and to prevent similar "one woman marrying two husbands" incidents from happening again.

Lin Guanghan closed the booklet. He never smoked, but at this moment he went to his secretary, asked for two cigarettes,
and sat down his desk to smoke them silently.

It was truly a storm brewing. Strange things were happening one after another in the municipal government: first, Vice Mayor He Qizhang committed suicide;
then, Development Office Director Li Haoyi was arrested; then Hao Xiangshou defected; and now the international
lawsuit . What would happen next was unpredictable; who knew what other scandals might unfold?

Immediately after the Wucai Square incident, the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee held a meeting to discuss the matter and assigned Qian Zhong, who had participated in the negotiations,
to be responsible for the aftermath. Clearly, he hadn't done a good job.

Lin Xianhan picked up the internal phone.

"Comrade Qian Zhong, please come to my office."

Soon, Qian Zhong, his face pale and green, entered.

Lin Xianhan handed a booklet to Qian Zhong, who was sitting on the sofa.

"Take a look at this first (a compilation of materials on the international turmoil caused by the Wucai Square incident). The Municipal Party Committee only has two copies;
the other is with Secretary Jiao. I suggest each Standing Committee member make a copy. Comrade Qian Zhong, I
bear responsibility for the Wucai Square incident, and you bear responsibility too. You were in charge of the entire negotiation process and oversaw the city's urban construction; we should both
reflect deeply. This matter was handled poorly, absolutely awful! Back then, I
felt there was a problem with arranging a daughter's marriage to two different families, and I asked you about it; do you remember?"

Qian Zhong flipped through the documents without looking up.

"I don't remember very clearly. But I reported it to you, and you were the one who ultimately signed it. I only did some
specific work."

"It's okay if you don't remember; it's in the minutes of the municipal party committee meeting. I'm not holding you responsible now, and
I hope . I asked you before, what would you do if the American
fast food restaurant didn't demolish it? You said that Wang Yaozu would negotiate with them and reach an understanding, and that you could find a better piece of land for them.
But what happened? Wang Yaozu's negotiation failed, and the fast food restaurant sued us. Comrade Qianzhong, how do you plan to handle this
matter ?"

Qianzhong smiled bitterly and said, "What can we do? The American fast food restaurant insists on not demolishing it, so we have to
shrink and give up the space. We'll just have to admit defeat."

"But will the American Global Travel Company agree? Without the fast food restaurant, that piece of land will lack a
small corner facing the street. What value will it have? How much area will be left? And Wang Yaozu will inevitably
sue , because the contract includes the fast food restaurant's land."

"Mayor Lin, what do you suggest? We can't demolish it; but keeping it will affect the overall situation. I don't have a better
solution . You're the mayor, and you signed the approval document. It's a big decision, so you make the choice. If I'm wrong,
I'll just resign."

"Comrade Qianzhong, is this your attitude towards research? Take the materials back and review them first. Let's have a meeting,
discuss it collectively, and come up with a solution."

Qianzhong stood up from the sofa, walked to the door, turned back, and said, "Mayor Lin, should you
report ? Because Wang Yaozu isn't someone I know personally; he was introduced by Secretary Jiao's son, Jiao Dongfang.
I don't know much about Wang Yaozu; I'll have to ask Jiao Dongfang for details."

Lin Guanghan completely understood the meaning behind Qianzhong's words: You want to investigate Wucai Square? Then investigate
Jiao Dongfang; you're actually investigating Secretary Jiao!

He silently lit his second cigarette, coughing repeatedly from the fumes. Yes, Jiao Dongfang interfered too much in city
affairs hesitant to act rashly; if he continued this investigation, where would that leave Secretary Jiao?

Since taking office as mayor, he often felt caught in a dilemma.

The difficulty lay in the fact that some of Secretary Jiao's actions differed from the central government's opinions, causing him deep distress.
The Colorful Square was one such example. Lin Guanghan suggested to Jiao Pengyuan that the matter should be discussed with the central government, but
Jiao Pengyuan emphasized that urban redevelopment was within the jurisdiction of the municipal government and did not need to be reported, resulting in such
a huge mess.

Now, the responsibility rests solely with the mayor; he cannot shift the blame onto Jiao Pengyuan. In the past, whenever central government
officials came to the city to inspect work, even if Jiao Pengyuan's presence was not required, he would always invite the municipal party secretary to attend,
not wanting Jiao Pengyuan to suspect any underhanded dealings. Jiao Pengyuan was quite satisfied with this.

Some colleagues in the government made sarcastic remarks, saying, "Secretary Jiao is still holding both the mayor's and party secretary positions," which reached Lin Xianhan's
ears, but he was not angry, even approving and agreeing with this view, which at least proved that he had no
ambition .

To investigate the wooden box incident, Jiao Xiaoyu visited many departments of the municipal party committee and government. She arrived at
the office of the director of the administrative department.

"Director Qian, hello."

Director Qian greeted her with a smile, "Jiao Xiaoyu, what brings you here? Please have a seat." "

I'm here to find out something. Someone said dozens of wooden crates were moved from the Municipal Party Committee.

" Director Qian feigned ignorance and changed the subject. "Is your uncle in good health? It's been a long time since I heard him give a report. He speaks
without a script, brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"

"Director Qian, moving items out of the Municipal Party Committee requires your approval slip..."

Director Qian chuckled and said, "Those are trivial matters. The weather is really nice today. Where would you like to go for a few days?
I'll send a car."

Jiao Xiaoyu said unhappily, "Director Qian, I'm here to discuss work. Please cooperate."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I have a meeting. Let's talk another day, another day."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"You're Secretary Jiao's niece. I can't even invite you. I'll visit you another day. I'm really sorry
for being ."

After leaving the administrative office, Jiao Xiaoyu pushed open the door of the general office. After she explained her purpose,
the cadre remained silent for a long time before saying, "Comrade Jiao Xiaoyu, how many pairs of shoes have you worn out at the gate of the Municipal Party Committee?"

"What do you mean? I came to you to understand the situation."

"I've been going in and out of this gate every day for twenty years, and I've worn out at least a hundred pairs of shoes
. Come back to me after you've worn out ten pairs of soles, okay?"

Another cadre said, "I'm sorry, we don't know the answer to your question at all. May I offer you
a suggestion ?"

"Please."

"This suggestion is very simple: please don't interfere with our work."

Jiao Xiaoyu stood before Chen Hu, as if she had made a mistake. "The investigation into the wooden crate incident isn't going well. I
've questioned over a dozen people. Some said they saw movers carrying crates out, but didn't know what was inside;
others simply said they didn't know. Clearly, those who know are intentionally avoiding the issue."

Chen Hu stroked his scar thoughtfully and said, "That's not surprising. Since Jiao Dongfang is involved, ordinary cadres can't help
but have reservations, because he's Secretary Jiao's son. Let's go find Zhao Wuzhou. He's the truck
driver who ; perhaps he can provide some clues."

Jiao Xiaoyu hesitated, "Find Zhao Wuzhou? You go alone."

"What's wrong?"

Jiao Xiaoyu blushed.

"That day, when I left your house, I took a taxi, and that taxi belonged to Zhao Wuzhou. I was in such a sorry state that day, and besides,
he saw you too."

Chen Hu laughed, "You really are a case of 'enemies meeting on a narrow road,' as Zhao Wuzhou likes to say. So what if you lose face?
Life of setbacks. Let's go to Zhao Wuzhou's house."

Chen Hu drove, and Jiao Xiaoyu sat beside him. But neither of them could recapture the relaxed
feeling ; they were both somewhat awkward.

"Are you staying at home?"

"Chen Hu, please don't talk about these personal matters anymore."

Chen Hu scratched his scar. "This is also work. It's good to stay at home. Don't let your relationship with your brother sour;
it'll be good for the case."

Jiao Xiaoyu remained silent.

"Our investigations often happen in these casual conversations. The more relaxed the relationship, the better for the investigation.
What about the Santana your brother gave you?"

"I haven't driven it."

"You still drive it, just don't arouse Jiao Dongfang's suspicion."

This was a very deep, cramped courtyard, with crooked, self-built kitchens and storage sheds blocking the already
narrow passageways.

Chen Hu had been here when handling the case of Zhao Wuzhou's father's murder. A year had passed, and nothing had changed; it was
still just as crowded and chaotic.

Although Zhao Wuzhou's house was still the same one from years ago, Chen Hu felt it was a bit more spacious than before.
It turned out that after Zhao Wuzhou's father was executed, his mother fell ill from grief and soon passed away. Zhao Taiji's
large desk was gone, so this small room, with two fewer people, became a place where people could stay.

Zhao Wuzhou warmly welcomed the two uninvited guests, offering them tea and cigarettes.

"I know you don't want others to know what you want to discuss. That's why I sent my wife and children away."

"You're quite clever,"

Zhao Wuzhou laughed heartily.

"What good could you possibly be doing here besides investigating someone?"

Jiao Xiaoyu said with a mischievous smile, "Isn't it good that someone's paying back a debt? Comrade Chen Hu is here to pay back the money from last
meal."

Jiao Xiaoyu pulled out two hundred-yuan bills and stuffed them into Zhao Wuzhou's hand.

Chen Hu hadn't expected Jiao Xiaoyu to take out two hundred yuan; she hadn't mentioned it before he came. Stopping her now
would only cause a misunderstanding.

“Yes, yes, this is the money from our meal at that little restaurant last time. How could I let you pay?
You must accept this money.”

Zhao Wuzhou weighed the money in his hand and said, “So, we don’t even have the friendship of a meal together anymore?”

Seeing Zhao Wuzhou’s displeasure, Chen Hu quickly said, “That’s not what I meant. We have rules; if we didn’t have a friendship, would
we have come to your house?”

“Alright, I won’t break your rules. This pot of tea costs five yuan at the restaurant, I’ll give you two yuan. Pay up
.”

Jiao Xiaoyu smiled, amused by Zhao Wuzhou’s humor.

“Water is free. So, Director Chen, what do you want to see me about?”

“Just asking about something. Why are you driving a taxi and a truck again?”

'Hey, weird. Is the anti-corruption bureau keeping an eye on me? You even know I drive a truck! Sniff, right,
Miss Jiao, did you tell him?'

"Yes, we know, but we're not targeting you. We also know you transported
a truckload of wooden crates to the train station freight yard, and those crates were later loaded into containers. Is that true, Comrade Wuzhou?"

Zhao Wuzhou slapped his thigh and said, "Well, you're the kind of friends we shouldn't associate with. Do you even know how many times a
week practice live sex? That's too weird!"

Jiao Xiaoyu pretended not to hear Zhao Wuzhou's vulgarity and turned her back.

Chen Hu felt that Zhao Wuzhou was really confused, so he explained, "Comrade Wuzhou, don't be nervous. We're
just asking you about the situation; it has nothing to do with you."

"What does it have to do with me? I'm just a driver. What's going on?"

"We want to know what's in the wooden crates. Do you know?"

"I'll have to think about it carefully. I'll be transferred from the taxi team to the large fleet, hauling wooden crates and iron crates every day. You guys
drink slowly, I'll think about it slowly."

He remembered the whole story of transporting the wooden crates very clearly. He didn't need to think about it; what he was thinking about was: would telling the truth
cost his job?

A porter was turning a corner in the stairwell when a crate hit the corner of the wall and fell to the ground. At the time, Jiao Dongfang's guard Yang Ke
was chatting with Zhao Wuzhou when a box fell. Yang Ke punched the porter to the ground.

"Are you tired of living! If you break even one piece, you won't be able to afford to pay for it even if you go bankrupt! Master Zhao, do you have any
tools ? Find one to pry open the nails."

Zhao Wuzhou found an extra-large screwdriver in the truck's toolbox and handed it to Yang Ke. The porter was so frightened that he squatted on the ground, trembling.

"If you break even one piece, I'll skin you alive and tear you apart."

Zhao Wuzhou pried open the wooden box lid, which was filled with many scraps of paper. Yang Ke pushed aside the scraps, revealing an
antique Western clock. Yang Ke took out the clock and placed it on the ground to examine it; its exterior was undamaged. He then took out an
antique castle made of gold from the scraps; it gleamed brightly and was also undamaged.

Zhao Wuzhou looked at the ancient castle and said, "It's really beautiful, is it gilded?"

"Made of pure gold! Master Zhao. If this is damaged even slightly, I'll be in big trouble!"

At this moment, Jiao Dongfang walked over, saw the scene, and was shocked. He shouted angrily, "What are you doing?"

Yang Ke pointed at the trembling porter and said, "This kid dropped the box on the ground. I opened the lid to see
if it's damaged. If it's even slightly damaged, I'll skin him alive!"

"Is it damaged or not?"

"These two pieces are fine, but I don't know if the bottom one is damaged?"

Jiao Dongfang looked around warily.

"Don't take it out to check, put it back quickly!"

Zhao Wuzhou helped Yang Ke put the Western antique clock and the golden castle back into the wooden box and nailed the lid shut.

Jiao Dongfang kicked the porter in the head, and the porter fell to the ground like a sack of flour,
unconscious .

"Drag him to the basement and lock him up for three days. Load it onto the truck quickly."

Jiao Dongfang patted Zhao Wuzhou on the shoulder.

"Master Zhao, you didn't see anything, did you?"

Zhao Wuzhou's heart skipped a beat, but he reacted quickly.

"I didn't see anything!"

"You're getting the hang of it! Keep up the good work, I won't treat you unfairly. Keep an eye on the movers, don't break any more
boxes."

"Yes, boss."

Should Chen Hu be told these things? A monthly income of three thousand yuan isn't something you can find everywhere, especially with
the occasional bonus!

Zhao Wuzhou stared into Chen Hu's eyes and said, "Director Chen, you're on the government payroll, your income is guaranteed. I work for
the boss, if he fires me today, it won't be until tomorrow morning. You know who our boss is,
a powerful figure who shakes the entire city, the son of Secretary Jiao. If I tell the truth,
not only will my three thousand yuan monthly income be gone immediately, but I might even lose my life. What am I supposed to do?"

"Comrade Zhao Wuzhou, I completely understand your feelings; every word you've said is the truth. Everyone has
concerns about losing their job. But I can guarantee one thing: I will absolutely keep it a secret for you, and no one will know what you've told us."

Zhao Wuzhou snorted and said, "Do you think I'm some naive fool? Can you really keep a secret?
Secretary Jiao is your superior; can you not report it? Even if you're not high enough to be Secretary Jiao,
it's not easy for a minor section chief to meet the municipal party secretary, but you still have to report to your superior, and your superior has to report to his superior. It's like
a football being kicked to Secretary Jiao's feet in a few kicks. Is he keeping it a secret for me or for his son's life? This is obvious."
"Am I tired of living? Besides, there's so much collusion among officials. Maybe before the ball even reaches Secretary Jiao's feet,
some sycophantic official will suddenly appear, trying to curry favor with their superiors, and frame me first,
even taking away my position as section chief. Who am I supposed to turn to? Alright, Director Chen, even if I'm sorry for making you come all this way
for nothing , it's just that we've run into a tough guy!"

Chen Hu gasped. These seemingly absurd arguments truly revealed the root of corruption. Retaliation
was commonplace. Before corrupt officials were stripped of their power, they would use
it to cover up their crimes and attack innocent people. But without solid evidence, it was impossible to strip them of their power. Abstract
truths became paradoxes in harsh reality. Power, meant to protect the people,
became .

Thinking of this, Chen Hu stood up from the bench and said, "Comrade Wuzhou, what you said isn't entirely unreasonable;
some of it is indeed true. But can we let corrupt officials use the protection of power to get away with it for long?
I'm sorry to have troubled you today, causing you to drive your wife out onto the street. Goodbye. As for the two yuan for tea, you can pay next time."

Zhao Wuzhou felt embarrassed instead.

"Alright, Director Chen, I'm sorry this time."

Zhao Wuzhou saw Chen Hu and Jiao Xiaoyu out of the courtyard.

Chen Hu and Jiao Xiaoyu arrived at the Cherokee parked at the alley entrance. Jiao Xiaoyu pouted and said, "You're just
giving up like this?"

"Get in the car."

The car drove out of the alley, and Chen Hu said, "How can I convince him? Much of what he said is true; even I
can't convince myself. He's lost his job; can you find him a job that pays three thousand yuan a month? We'd
give him all our wages, and that'd barely cover half a month's pay. When it comes to your precious brother, who wouldn't be scared? No matter how much I pressure Zhao Wuzhou, he
won't say anything."

"So you're just giving up halfway?"

"Of course not. Zhao Wuzhou may not say anything, but he actually told us some things, at least proving that what's
in is important and directly related to Jiao Dongfang, which is why he's so hesitant."

“I’ll just go directly to Jiao Dongfang and meet him face-to-face,”

Chen Hu said, looking at Jiao Xiaoyu’s profile.

“We can meet, but you need a brilliant strategy. Let me think about it,”

Jiao Xiaoyu said, remaining silent. From her initial setback at the municipal party committee investigating the wooden crate incident to Zhao Wuzhou’s refusal to reveal the truth due to his concerns,
she had deeply experienced the power of authority. It was a sharp blade held to someone’s neck,
capable of severing their throat at any moment. Perhaps this was why corrupt officials could act with impunity? Unchecked power
is a monstrous evil. And she herself had almost become part of that evil.

The car drove silently towards the home of Yi Xin’s wife, Zhang Zhilan.

A few days ago, while Jiao Xiaoyu was investigating the wooden box incident, Chen Hu
conducted a thorough investigation into Zhang Zhilan's financial situation. He discovered that her standard of living had not declined after Yi Xin's execution. She had purchased a new 29-
hour color TV and a Xinghai brand piano, and was also trading stocks in her spare time. The stock exchange computer
showed that she had 200,000 yuan in her stock account; 150,000 yuan of that had been used to purchase
various stocks on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

It was impossible for a kindergarten teacher to have so much money. Chen Hu had suspected
that there might have been some oversight when recovering Yi Xin's ill-gotten gains, but after reviewing the "11.2" case file again, he dismissed this idea.
Her home had been thoroughly searched at the time, so where did the money come from?

Tonight, he would uncover this mystery.

Zhang Zhilan had recently moved to a new residence; it used to be a two-bedroom apartment, but now it was a three-bedroom.

Jiao Xiaoyu examined the photo of Zhang Zhilan entering the memorial service and asked, "Wasn't Zhang Zhilan married?"

"No."

"Her husband was executed three years ago, how come she's still not married?"

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

"It's truly heartbreaking for a woman to marry the wrong person."

"Back then, Yi Xin was a section chief in the Finance Bureau, so you can't say Zhang Zhilan married the wrong person. People change."

"What about you? Will you change?"

"I'm still somewhat confident in myself."

"Hard to say. When you rise to a high position, you might become corrupt, embezzle, and have affairs."

"Then you'll be absolutely at ease. In our line of work, the better you handle a case, the more people you offend, and
the lower your rank becomes. There are many people like that."

The Cherokee stopped outside Zhang Zhilan's building.

Jiao Xiaoyu knocked on the door. The woman who came out was Zhang Zhilan.

"Who are you looking for?"

Jiao Xiaoyu showed her identification and said, "We're from the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Are you Comrade Zhang Zhilan?"

"Yes, I am." "

We need to verify a few things with you. Can we talk inside?"

Zhang Zhilan hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside.

"Please come in."

The living room was carpeted, and Jiao Xiaoyu and Chen Hu took off their leather shoes and put on slippers.

"Please sit down. This must be Director Chen? We've met before."

"Thank you for remembering me. I'm Chen Hu."

Zhang Zhilan smiled sarcastically and said, "How could I forget you, Director Chen? Back then, you were the
one who led the search of my house, even emptying the flour sacks."

"I'm sorry, that was official business."

"Yi Xin has been dead for almost three years. What do you need me for?"

Chen Hu gestured for Jiao Xiaoyu to speak first.

"Comrade Zhilan, we just want to ask you a few simple questions. Your house used to be a two-bedroom, how did it
become a three-bedroom?"

"You're bothering with this? The house is newly built. I thought the old house was gloomy, and the neighbors all knew about Yi Xin's
situation, so I moved. Although it was only two rooms before, the location was good, so I moved to three. What, is that
illegal?"

"Don't misunderstand, we're just asking. From what we understand, Vice Mayor He helped you move, and the property rights of your
current three-bedroom house belong to the municipal government. Am I right?"

Zhang Zhilan was speechless, and suddenly tears welled up in her eyes.

"You're angry that I have an extra room. Vice Mayor He saw that we, a widow and her child, were pitiful after Yi Xin's death,
so he helped us adjust our housing situation, adding another room. You absolutely cannot take it back! Please, please let my child and me go
!"

"Don't be nervous, we're not in charge of the house. Since it was Vice Mayor He who arranged it, he must have his
reasons ."

Zhang Zhilan wiped away her tears.

“Yes, Vice Mayor He was a really good man. Most leaders, once they're dead and executed, who
cares? But Vice Mayor He didn't forget us, mother and daughter. Why don't good people live long lives?”

“Comrade Zhilan, what was your purpose in attending Vice Mayor He's memorial service?”

“Of course, it was to remember my old superior. What, is that illegal? You can't control everything, can you? You can't control what a living person says!”

Seeing Zhang Zhilan trying to act shamelessly, Chen Hu pulled out his killer silver.

“Zhang Zhilan, your actual assets don't match your income. Can you explain
the source of your assets?”

Zhang Zhilan's face suddenly turned pale, her expression panicked, unable to answer. Chen Hu deliberately said, “I suspect that some of the illegal gains confiscated from Yi Xin were left behind. You must tell

the truth .” Zhang Zhilan's tears streamed down her face again. "I'm innocent! I'm truly innocent! You took everything from me, what was left?" Jiao Xiaoyu went straight to the point. "Then explain yourself clearly, where ?" Zhang Zhilan, frightened, stopped crying and sobbed, "Fine, I'll tell you everything, otherwise you'll think I'm an embezzler. The 200,000 yuan was given to me by Vice Mayor He. He promised that Yi Xin had helped a friend become rich, and that friend wanted to repay Yi Xin, promising to give me 350,000 yuan, which Vice Mayor He would then pass on to me. After Vice Mayor He died, I thought I had no hope of getting that 150,000 yuan. That day, I went to the memorial service and asked He Kedai if he knew such a person. I wanted to find out his address so I could go to him and get that 150,000 yuan back, but He Kedai said he hadn't heard of such a person." "When did the vice mayor give you the 200,000 yuan?" "It was about a year after Yi Xin died." "Did he give you any more money?" "No, it was just once. Vice Mayor He said that Yi Xin's friend would give me another 150,000 yuan after the funds were available , but he told me not to urge him or tell anyone else. So I've always been too embarrassed to ask for it back."

"I panicked when Vice Mayor He suddenly died. I wanted to take the opportunity of the memorial service to ask He Kedai, but unfortunately he didn't
know ."

"Did Vice Mayor He mention the name of Yi Xin's friend?"

"He only said the surname was Liu, but not the given name."

Chen Hu gave Jiao Xiaoyu a wink. He stood up and said, "Alright, thank you for your trouble, Comrade Zhang Zhilan.
We'll take our leave. We'll contact you again if we need anything."

Zhang Zhilan grabbed Jiao Xiaoyu's hand and said pitifully, "Don't go yet. This 200,000 yuan is
our lifeline. Will there be any problems?"

Chen Hu said gently, "Now that you've revealed the source of the money, it proves at least two things: first, this money
wasn't Yi Xin's ill-gotten gains; second, it wasn't embezzled by you. According to our country's law, private gifts are legitimate as long as
they don't harm national interests. As for
the nature of the 200,000 yuan that Yi Xin's friend gave through Vice Mayor He, we don't know the details and can't offer any specific opinions. Thank you, goodbye."

After leaving Zhang Zhilan's house, they returned to their car and sat down.

Jiao Xiaoyu said suspiciously, "I don't think there's any such thing as a friend of Yi Xin transferring the money. It's probably from Vice
Mayor , just using a friend's name as a pretext. Vice Mayor He doesn't forget his old subordinates; he's very generous! He's quite
loyal."

"I agree with you. There's no such thing as a friend of Yi Xin. I'm thinking, the
350,000 yuan that He Qizhang promised to give Zhang Zhilan is exactly one-tenth of the 3.5 million yuan in embezzled funds that are still unaccounted for. Could that be a coincidence?
Behind Vice Mayor He's generosity and loyalty, there must be a hidden deal!"

Jiao Dongfang gently nudged Tian Congying, who was sleeping on the double bed. She was still immersed in the
romantic .

"Xiaoying, I'm going home for a bit. You get some sleep."

Tian Congying turned over and said, "I haven't been going back to the dormitory for a long time; my classmates are about to expel me."

"My restaurant is your home. If you get hungry in the middle of the night, just give me a call and have the restaurant bring you some food." "It's
so convenient living here, why go back to the dormitory where eight people share a room?"

Jiao Dongfang leaned down and kissed Tian Congying, then turned and left.

"Dream on."

Jiao Dongfang got into his Mercedes at the entrance of the Horizon Hotel.

Yang Ke drove away.

"The usual place, President?"

"Yes, the usual place."

"Brother, you're rushing around like a theatrical performer, can your body handle it?"

Jiao Dongfang chuckled: "Have you ever heard of the term 'inclusiveness'? Women may seem like dumplings, different skins
but the same filling, but actually, each woman is unique."

"I understand, you're like serving both Sichuan and Cantonese dishes at a banquet, without missing a beat."

"Do you think I really like Jiang Yuexiu? She can't compare to Tian Congying at all. I'm just making He Ke suffer;
possessing the enemy's lover is a rare pleasure in life. Do you know Cao Cao from the Three Kingdoms period?"

"Who doesn't know Cao Cao?" "

Cao Cao had this hobby; after conquering a city, he would always take the wife of the enemy leader to sleep with, to vent
his hatred." Yang Ke chuckled. "

Everyone talks about love when they sleep with women. So, according to you, there are also people who
sleep with women while harboring hatred?"

"Too many, nothing new."

"Then who do you hate?"

Jiao Dongfang yawned.

"Stop joking, or you'll crash."

The Mercedes stopped in front of a beautiful Western-style building. In the Qing Dynasty, it was the office building for foreign diplomats, a true
European style. Compared to it, the so-called European-style villas of today look like clowns in mismatched clothes.
Jiang Yuexiu was the owner. Jiao Dongfang got out of the car and said, "Go back now." Jiao

Dongfang entered the building.

The Mercedes turned around and drove back. At this moment, He Kedai drove up and passed the Mercedes.

He Kedai's car stopped in front of the building.

He Kedai lit a cigarette in the car, his eyes fixed on the window with the light on.

Jiang Yuexiu came out of her bathroom and entered the bedroom. Her towel and bathrobe were not tied properly, and her fair
thighs and full breasts were exposed to Jiao Dongfang.

Jiao Dongfang leaned against the headboard of the sofa bed, looking at her lustfully.

"A swan emerging from the bath, breathtakingly beautiful!"

Jiang Yuexiu tied her bathrobe.

"Go, take a good shower, or don't come to my bed." Jiao Dongfang

tried to hug her, but Jiang Yuexiu pushed him away.

"Dongfang, have you told your dad? When are we getting married?"

Jiao Dongfang took the large bottle of spray perfume from the bedside table and sprayed it on Jiang Yuexiu. Jiang Yuexiu laughed and dodged, but Jiao Dongfang chased after her and
sprayed.

Jiang Yuexiu snatched the perfume bottle away.

"Do you think this is a fire hydrant? Who sprays perfume like that!"

Jiao Dongfang sat on the sofa and laughed loudly, "You know what, this is a fire hydrant, it'll help you cool down. My
dad 's been so busy he's lost his bearings, nothing's going right, talking about marriage now would just be making him dizzy.
Let's talk about it later."

"You don't understand, there's always a saying that you should use a happy occasion to ward off bad luck. I've already talked to my dad, he
agreed, and he's even urging me to get it done!"

Jiao Dongfang sneered at him, "Your dad? Your dad just knows how to take advantage of others. If you put a flashlight on him, he'd
climb up the beam of light, just like in Hou Baolin's crosstalk, once the power is off, he'd fall down. Besides,
I'm not in the mood for marriage, let's talk about it later, there's been a huge mess at Wucai Square, I don't even know how to plug the leaks!"

Jiang Yuexiu glared at him with her round eyes and said, "Let me tell you, Jiao Dongfang, I don't care what mess you've made,
I dumped Kedai for you, you can't let me down. You're not going to treat me like the girls you used to play with, like
used shoes, no way!" "Grandma doesn't eat vegetarian food. If you piss me off, I'll donate everything! Tell me, when are
we getting married ?"

"How funny, you're threatening me now? You're still too green. Going to bed is your choice. If the female dog doesn't agree,
the male dog can't climb on her! Besides, what could you possibly have to say? What am I afraid of?"

"Aren't you afraid?" Jiang Yuexiu picked up the hairdryer to dry her hair.

"That day, I saw a photo in the hands of Director Tao Tieliang of the Criminal Investigation Department. Your bodyguard, Yang Ke, was riding
a motorcycle and chatting with someone at a motorcycle repair shop. You think I don't know what kind of place that is? I heard my dad say that
Shi Hai, the owner of the Yeshanpo Motorcycle Repair Shop, was involved in Chen Hu's accident and was murdered before he was arrested.
Tao Tieliang is in charge of this case. What was Yang Ke doing at the motorcycle repair shop?"

Jiao Dongfang's eyebrows twitched a few times; this was indeed important information. He smiled faintly and said, "You must
have mistaken him for someone else. Yang Ke can't ride a motorcycle at all, how could it be him?"

"Whether I've mistaken him for someone else or not doesn't matter, I'm afraid the police won't make a mistake. Your denial that Yang Ke can ride a motorcycle
only proves you're hiding something!"

"There really is such a photo? You're not mistaken?"

"Of course I'm not mistaken. Chen Hu gave the photo to Tao Tieliang, and I saw it by chance. What does your
bodyguard have to do with Chen Hu's accident? You, as the boss, have to take the blame too."
Jiao Dongfang stood up from the sofa, walked to Jiang Yuexiu's side, and picked up the hair dryer.

"Here, let me blow-dry your hair, give you big waves. You're going to be a bride, so you should make yourself look pretty."

Jiang Yuexiu sat on the soft stool in front of the dressing table.

"This looks more like a husband."

Jiao Dongfang used a comb in his left hand to lift Jiang Yuexiu's long hair, and with the hair dryer in his right hand, he skillfully blew out layers of
waves .

"Dongfang, you're really something. How many girls have you blow-dried their hair?"

"Only you are worthy of me blow-drying your hair. The others, I wouldn't even want to wash their hair."

"That's more like it."

Jiang Yuexiu turned her head, raised her face, and let Jiao Dongfang kiss her.

"Yuexiu, although I don't know what Yang Ke has been doing behind my back, he's my assistant, and I
don't want anything to happen to him. Talk to your dad and ask him not to investigate this matter further, okay? Consider it a favor."

"Do you think my dad will listen to me? He recently gave me a severe scolding because I secretly got two people
out , and people found out. He said if I keep messing around, he'll lock me up too. But I'll try,
I'll talk to the people down there directly, since you're my husband!"

"Yuexiu, you're so understanding." Jiao

Dongfang leaned down and kissed Jiang Yuexiu.

At this moment, He Ke suddenly appeared in front of them.

In his panic, Jiao Dongfang didn't turn off the hairdryer, causing Jiang Yuexiu's long hair to fly wildly.

Jiang Yuexiu hurriedly stood up from the soft stool, her expression flustered. "Kedai? How did you get in?"

He Kedai stood straight in the middle of the room, neither angry nor sad, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Yuexiu, don't forget, I have your room key. You gave it to me yourself. You said your
door would always be open to me."

Jiao Dongfang regained his composure.

"Kedai, don't misunderstand. Yuexiu and I have nothing to do with each other. We're friends, and one shouldn't mess with a friend's wife
!"

He Kedai sneered. "Dongfang, your view is outdated. Now it's all about not being polite to a friend's wife,
so I understand your situation perfectly."

Jiao Dongfang offered him a cigarette, but He Kedai refused. "Kedai, you really misunderstand. Yuexiu and I
really have nothing to do with each other. I'm sorry, I have to go. Goodbye."

Just as Jiao Dongfang was about to leave the bedroom, Jiang Yuexiu shouted.

"Stop!"

Jiao Dongfang turned around and said, "Yuexiu, is there anything else? I was just worried that my presence would spoil
the atmosphere ."

"You've already spoiled it enough."

Jiang Yuexiu pulled Jiao Dongfang back from the doorway and pushed him to sit down on the sofa.

"This is better. I prefer to be clear in person. Kedai, please sit down too."

"Thank you, but I'll stay standing."

Jiang Yuexiu walked to He Kedai and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Kedai, I'm sorry. It's not that I betrayed you, it's that my father doesn't approve of our marriage. I've
always admired your courage and integrity. From now on, let's be good friends. Dongfang and I
are getting married soon, and I'd like to be the first to receive your blessings."

Jiao Dongfang looked dejected on the sofa. Jiang Yuexiu's bold confession not only made him lose face but also forced him into
a dead end where marriage was inevitable. He hated Jiang Yuexiu, but he couldn't show it.

"I wish you well, Yuexiu."

He Kedai's blessing brought tears to Jiang Yuexiu's eyes.

Jiang Yuexiu said softly, "Thank you."

Jiang Yuexiu walked to the sofa.

“Dongfang, Ke Dai already understands us, so just say a few words.”

Jiao Dongfang smiled awkwardly and said, “Yes, yes, Yuexiu and I have become friends, as for marriage…
it hasn’t been on the agenda yet, that’s all…”

“Dongfang, why are you hesitating? Ke Dai is a person who can take things in stride, what are you embarrassed about
? It’s as if I’m lying to Ke Dai. Make it clear, are we getting married?”

“Yes… yes… we are getting married.”

He Ke Dai completely understood that his old friend was forced to say these words. He had to help Yuexiu, he couldn’t let
this kid take advantage and run away. He stepped forward, stood in front of Jiao Dongfang, and extended his hand, saying, "Congratulations,
Dongfang. I wish you a happy marriage."

Jiao Dongfang had no choice but to stand up from the sofa, shake hands with He Kedai, and reluctantly said, "Thank you, Kedai."

"I am willing to be your marriage witness. Yuexiu is innocent and lovely, and the responsibility of protecting Yuexiu will fall on your
shoulders from now on. A man's word is his bond, so why don't you two sign a marriage agreement in front of me
?"

Jiang Yuexiu clapped her hands and said, "This is fun! This is fun! Yes, sign one, Kedai, you sign
your name as a witness too."

Jiao Dongfang couldn't stand He Kedai's ridicule and his face changed.

"What nonsense are you two talking about? What legal effect does this scribbled-down stuff have?"

He Kedai sneered, "Law? Can the law govern you, Young Master Jiao? A gentleman's agreement does have some
binding force . If I bother you again after signing the agreement, it would be unfair of me. If either of you breaks the agreement, whoever
breaks the agreement is unfair."

Jiang Yuexiu took out a piece of paper and a pen.

"Dongfang, write one down, it's fun. I'll write it, you two just need to sign it."

Jiang Yuexiu quickly scribbled a few lines on the paper. "

Jiao Dongfang and Jiang Yuexiu vow to be husband and wife, hereby.

This is to be effective upon both parties' signatures! "

Jiang Yuexiu signed her name and handed the paper to Jiao Dongfang.

"Dongfang, it's your turn to sign."

Jiao Dongfang reluctantly signed his name.

He Kedai picked up a pen, wrote "Witness He Kedai" on the paper, and then handed it to Jiang Yuexiu.

"I wish you all the best again."

He Kedai took Jiang Yuexiu's room key from his pocket, and with a slight slip, the key fell onto Jiao Dongfang's lap.

"Returning the jade intact, Dongfang, these keys are yours from now on."

Jiao Dongfang reluctantly placed the keys on the coffee table. Jiang Yuexiu said happily, "Matchmaker,
what brings you here?"

"There is something, but it's fine to say it in front of Dongfang. The person I asked you to help out last time, you promised so readily, but
why hasn't there been any progress? People came to ask, so I had to ask you. That's why I came here; I
didn't want to be there for your engagement ceremony."

“I was just talking about this with Dongfang. It was making some progress, but somehow my dad
found out and gave me a good scolding, so it's all ruined!”

He Kedai gave a bitter smile. “It's ruined, there's nothing I can do. I've failed this time; I didn't keep my word.
But I've already given you the money, so what am I going to do with it?”

Jiang Yuexiu, hearing about getting her money back, became flustered and said, “It's not that I didn't do it for them, it's that it was
only half done. Do you expect me to return the money?”

Jiao Dongfang said impatiently, “How much? I'll make up the difference. Let's not cause trouble.”

He Kedai smiled slightly and said, “This time, Dongfang is showing some husbandly spirit, able to ease his wife's worries.
Forget about the money, I'll make up the difference and return it. No amount of money can save my face. Goodbye, bride and groom.”

He Kedai turned and left the bedroom, the door slamming shut behind her.

Jiao Dongfang immediately stood up from the sofa, pointing at Jiang Yuexiu's nose and yelling, "Jiang Yuexiu, you've gone too far
! Let He Kedai make a fool of me! Who does he think he is? A stray dog, daring to point fingers at me. You
're no better, siding with him and wanting me!"

"He meant well. If it were someone else, and He Kedai stole your girlfriend, you might not be
as carefree as him."

"Who do you think I am? Am I a garbage collector? I wouldn't want He Kedai's leftovers. Marriage?
Are you out of your mind!"

Jiao Dongfang snatched the paper from Jiang Yuexiu's hand. Jiang Yuexiu refused to give it up, so Jiao Dongfang twisted her arm behind
her back, took the paper, and strode out of the room.

Jiang Yuexiu collapsed onto the bed, wailing and sobbing, her tears of regret and grievance soaking her pillowcase.

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