Chapter 10: Secondment to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission?

"Yang Dong, what are you thinking? Stock trading? At a time like this?"

An hour earlier.

Yang Dong had been on the phone with Chu Li. When Chu Li heard Yang Dong was planning to invest in stocks, he was so startled his hair stood on end.

"It's a global economic crisis right now, and you still dare to put money into the stock market?"

"Old Yang, don't tell me... you embezzled funds? Trying to launder money?"

Chu Li’s expression changed, his mind jumping to a troubling conclusion.

"Nonsense! I’m not even a deputy section chief, who would I embezzle from?"

Yang Dong was speechless. Chu Li had always been imaginative since their college days, and now he suspected him of corruption...

"Then why insist on trading stocks?"

Chu Li worked at the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, fully aware of the market’s turmoil this year. To sum it up: in the morning, you ride in luxury cars with beautiful women; by noon, you're queuing on the rooftop to jump; by evening, you're reporting to the King of Hell.

The stock market was changing by the hour.

Even as an exchange staffer, Chu Li found the volatility nerve-wracking—the market graph was more intense than a heart monitor.

"Chu, do you trust me?"

Yang Dong asked seriously. There was no way to explain, certainly not by claiming to have been reborn.

Chu Li paused, then replied, "You were an outstanding student in our Chinese department, a student council officer, class president—you’ve always been steady and reliable. I trust you."

"Good. Help me out this time."

Yang Dong relaxed, reassured by Chu Li's high opinion of him.

"Alright, which stock? How much?"

Seeing Yang Dong was determined, Chu Li stopped persuading and got straight to business.

"ST Salt Lake. I have thirty thousand on hand; I’ll try to make it fifty thousand," Yang Dong said.

"If you’re serious about buying, let’s go crazy together. I’ve got some savings; I’ll lend you fifty thousand, so you can make it up to a hundred thousand."

"If we lose, it’s just bad luck for the both of us."

"If we win, you just return the principal. How’s that?"

Chu Li truly deserved to be Yang Dong’s closest friend and roommate—he immediately offered fifty thousand.

In his previous life, though Yang Dong was mediocre, Chu Li never looked down on him and always visited when Yang Dong returned to Jijiang Province.

"Alright, I won’t stand on ceremony. But if we make money, I’ll repay you exactly what’s due."

Yang Dong knew well the advantages of ST Salt Lake’s shares and the potential profits.

If he invested a hundred thousand, with each share under five yuan, once the stock rose, he could make twenty times his investment—at least two million, not including the principal.

Two million in 2008 was a considerable sum.

"Okay, you raise the money, and I’ll help you buy."

Chu Li didn’t waste words or stand on ceremony.

After agreeing, they hung up.

Yang Dong stepped out of the taxi and walked to the bank entrance.

He picked up his phone again, dialing the home landline.

His parents were rural folk and only had a landline, no mobiles.

He called for a long time before someone picked up—a voice he knew better than any.

"Who is it?"

Hearing his mother Du Yuxiang, Yang Dong’s eyes reddened instantly. Though it seemed they hadn’t been apart long, in reality, it had been many years.

In his previous life, his mother died of lung cancer before he turned forty.

"Mom, it’s me, Yang Dong."

Yang Dong suppressed his urge to cry and spoke with a smile.

"You child, calling at midday—don’t you know how expensive calls are? You need to learn to save money. How’s Wenwen? When are you two getting married?"

Listening to his mother’s nagging, Yang Dong felt only warmth, not annoyance.

His mother’s grumbling and his father’s lectures were things of a past life.

"Mom, I broke up with Han Wen."

Yang Dong felt he should clarify his relationship, lest his mother still thought of Han Wen as a good daughter-in-law.

"What? Broke up? You rascal, you..."

Seeing his mother getting angry, Yang Dong quickly cut in, "Mom, I have something important to tell you. I’ll explain the breakup later."

"What is it? Oh, she was such a good girl. Why didn’t you treasure her?"

His mother continued, her tone full of regret and reluctance.

"Mom, how much money do we have at home? Can you send me twenty thousand? I need it."

"I’ll pay you back within a year."

Yang Dong was embarrassed, but this was a sure thing, so he asked.

"We have it. I’ll get your father to go to town and transfer it," his mother replied, not questioning his reasons. She trusted her son, a steady government worker in the city, not one to do anything bad.

"Mom, how are my brother and sister?"

"They’re both well. Your brother’s a senior in high school—four months till the college entrance exam."

"Your sister’s in her third year of middle school, too, preparing for exams."

"Don’t worry about us in the city. Your father and I are fine. Just you and Wenwen—what happened…"

As she spoke, the old woman started up again about Han Wen.

"Mom, I have to hang up. Take care of yourself, and tell Dad to smoke and drink less."

Yang Dong dared not listen further to her nagging about Han Wen. Just thinking of Han Wen now made him sick.

He hung up, finally breathing easy.

But barely had he relaxed when Han Wen, whom he’d just been thinking about, appeared before him.

She was, in the past two days, the person he’d seen most—and the one he least wanted to see.

"Yang Dong, what are you doing at the bank entrance?"

Han Wen was dressed in a thick mink coat, stylish and every inch the wealthy lady.

Seeing Yang Dong, her expression soured.

Ever since last night’s KTV incident, Yang Dong and Guan Jiujiu had been on her bad list.

Especially Yang Dong, who played the hero and embarrassed her boyfriend Lin Yaodong.

Even their engagement party had lost its joy, and she’d argued with Lin Yaodong.

Though they quickly made up, all her resentment fell on Yang Dong.

"I’m at the bank. Do I need to report to you?"

Yang Dong replied calmly, glanced at Han Wen, and headed inside to withdraw money.

"Yang Dong!"

Han Wen shouted behind him.

The cry drew the attention of many passersby.

Yang Dong turned around.

Han Wen’s face was serious. "I know you still have feelings for me, that you still like me, but it’s impossible between us."

"Yang Dong, you need to know when to let go."

"You saw it yourself—Yaodong bought me that gold necklace yesterday, over ten thousand yuan. That’s something you could never afford."

"Why keep chasing after me?"

"We dated for five years, but not once did you satisfy me."

"I’ve had enough!"

"Are you here at the bank to stalk me? Did you hear from someone I’d be here today?"

"Yang Dong, please, act like a man."

"Don’t be a sore loser, alright?"

Han Wen was full of frustration, feeling Yang Dong’s presence disturbed her life and her relationship with Lin Yaodong.

Yang Dong felt even more annoyed and speechless. He hadn’t realized he’d been so much of a sycophant.

He understood the term from later generations—even if it wasn’t used at this time, it perfectly described him.

In Han Wen’s eyes, he was just a sycophant?

But wasn’t she being a bit too self-absorbed?

He hadn’t clung to her in his previous life, much less now...

"You’re overthinking. I’m here at the bank—"

Yang Dong began, wanting to explain.

But Han Wen cut him off.

"I don’t want to hear your feeble excuses. Just stay away from me!"

"I heard you’ve been suspended? With all those officials last night, how could you be so foolish, standing up for Guan Jiujiu?"

"Lin Yaodong has such connections, and even he didn’t step in. What made you think you could?"

"Now look. Suspended and reflecting. Your days at the municipal office are probably numbered."

Han Wen sighed, full of pity for Yang Dong’s foolishness.

"Are you insane? Seriously!"

Yang Dong had no patience for her arguments—there was nothing left to say to a woman like her.

He shook his head and walked into the bank.

"Your pathetic pride—can’t you keep it in check? Now that I’ve exposed you, you’re angry?"

Behind him came Han Wen’s mocking laughter.

Ring ring...

Just then, Yang Dong’s phone rang.

His phone had been busy all day—first Chu Li, then his mother, now another call.

"Hello, Li Chen?"

Yang Dong answered, surprised.

Han Wen stepped closer, listening in.

"What? A transfer order from the city discipline commission? They want me to report there?"

Listening to Li Chen’s excited voice on the other end, Yang Dong felt even more confused.

"The city discipline commission?"

Han Wen was stunned, mouth slightly open in disbelief.

A transfer to the discipline commission?

Him? Yang Dong? Surely a joke.

"Yang Dong, can you stop making up such lame excuses? Trying to win me back?"

"A lie is a lie—it can’t become truth."

"This kind of acting is pathetic."

"Hey, Yang Dong, where are you going?"

Han Wen sneered, her face full of disappointment, her last bit of goodwill toward Yang Dong gone.

But before she could finish, Yang Dong hurriedly flagged down a taxi and left.

He didn’t even spare her a glance.