Chapter 13: Wei Chonghu

Yang Dong was not at all surprised that Xu Yuncai was trying to assert his authority and drive him away.

When it came to the case of Yin Tiejun, no one understood the hidden schemes better than Yang Dong himself. The reason the maid in Yin Tiejun’s household reported him was because she had received benefits from Xu Yuncai, prompting her to make false accusations. The fifty thousand yuan in cash found in the refrigerator was also placed there by the maid at Xu Yuncai’s behest. Then, the municipal disciplinary commission staged a surprise inspection, arriving just as the “evidence” was conveniently in place.

Moreover, the fifty thousand yuan had passed through Yin Tiejun’s own account. The maid had secretly taken one of Yin Tiejun’s cards and, under Xu Yuncai’s subtle guidance, carried out the entire scheme. One could say that the chain of evidence was almost airtight: except for Yin Tiejun’s own lack of awareness, all evidence pointed directly to his embezzlement. In such a situation, even if Yin Tiejun refused to confess, the overwhelming evidence would suffice to turn him over to judicial authorities.

“Secretary Xu, my secondment letter was issued by the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission Office and handled by the Commission’s Organization Department,” Yang Dong spoke calmly, addressing Xu Yuncai. “According to regulations, the revocation of my secondment should also be processed by the Office or the Organization Department. What you’re doing doesn’t comply with the proper procedures. As the deputy secretary of the Commission, you’re certainly more familiar with the rules than I am. So, you can communicate with the Office or raise the issue with the Organization Department. As long as they agree, I will comply with their decision.”

Yang Dong maintained his composure, neither servile nor overbearing, in front of Xu Yuncai. He wasn’t about to be intimidated by a few words, nor would he lose his head.

He was convinced that whoever had arranged for his transfer here was someone Xu Yuncai feared. Otherwise, he would never have gotten in—Xu Yuncai’s opposition would have kept him out easily. Once he understood this simple logic, Yang Dong felt neither anxious nor afraid.

“Fine, then let’s follow procedure,” Xu Yuncai sneered, turning on his heel and heading straight for the office of the Commission’s Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission also served as the head of the Office and was a standing member of the Commission, holding the rank of deputy division chief. (In different regions, the ranks may vary, but in Lingyun City, the standing members held this position.)

“Yang Dong, all the noise was my fault. My laughter was too loud just now and got you involved,” apologized Jiang Hu, looking both frustrated and remorseful as soon as Xu Yuncai had left. He had been reminded of Yang Dong’s heroic rescue in that KTV incident, which made him laugh out loud, forgetting that this was the Commission, not the Economic Investigation Unit at the Public Security Bureau. Now, realizing he had dragged Yang Dong into trouble, he felt deeply sorry.

“It’s nothing. I did speak in the corridor, so I was making noise too,” Yang Dong replied with a faint smile, shaking his head. He didn’t take it to heart and certainly didn’t blame Jiang Hu. After all, even if they had made some noise, it wasn’t a good enough reason to send him away. The truth was, Xu Yuncai was deliberately looking for any excuse to get rid of Yang Dong, to prevent him from coming into contact with Yin Tiejun or interfering in the case.

This only made Yang Dong more determined to meet the Secretary-General and get involved in the investigation.

“Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom,” Yang Dong said apologetically to Jiang Hu and Luo Jin before heading off. As he walked, he evaluated the two men in his mind.

He thought Jiang Hu was an honest man, someone with a solid moral foundation, a person worth befriending. Luo Jin, on the other hand, though seemingly affable, was proud at heart and skilled at weighing pros and cons—a person to keep at arm’s length, never to be considered a true friend, lest he one day cause trouble.

Arriving at the restroom, Yang Dong made sure there were no cameras or people around before taking out his phone and dialing the number Yin Tiejun had given him. This was his second attempt to get through.

After a few rings, the woman answered again, but this time Yang Dong didn’t give her a chance to speak.

“This is Yang Dong. I’ve just been seconded to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, possibly joining the investigation team. I don’t know who you are, nor do I want to. I’ll say only this: If you want to save Secretary Yin, you can’t just sit back and do nothing. Xu Yuncai from the Commission just tried to find a reason to kick me out and void my secondment. If you want to save Secretary Yin, you’d better help me. That’s all. You don’t need to say anything—I might catch a cold just listening to you.”

With those words, Yang Dong hung up without bothering to listen to the woman, whose voice was as cold as an iceberg, as if he owed her a fortune. He washed his hands and left.

Su Muyun was stunned, rooted in place for a long moment. By the time she recovered, Yang Dong had already hung up. Her usually cold expression now showed both anger and embarrassment.

When had anyone ever hung up on her? What man would dare treat her this way?

“Yang Dong from the General Affairs Section of the Lingyun City Government Office? I’ll remember you!” she muttered through clenched teeth, tossing her phone onto the sofa in a fit of rage.

But after a few seconds, a faint smile curled at the corners of her mouth. “How interesting—such an insignificant figure, yet he dares speak to me like this?”

She picked up her phone again and dialed another number. “Among the people seconded to the Lingyun City Discipline Inspection Commission, there’s one called Yang Dong. Xu Yuncai wants to get rid of him. Make sure he stays on the team. And if possible, let him get involved in Yin Tiejun’s case. What, you want to report to my father? Don’t bother seeing him for now. Handle this first.”

Putting down her phone, she reclined on the sofa, stretching out her long, fair legs, exuding a unique charm.

Yang Dong returned to the corridor and saw Jiang Hu and Luo Jin talking with two staff members from the Commission.

“This is Yang Dong!” Luo Jin announced as soon as he saw Yang Dong emerge from the restroom.

The two Commission staff immediately turned to Yang Dong. One of the men said, “Are you Yang Dong? Come with us.”

Yang Dong didn’t question them, simply following behind. Soon they reached the door of the Secretary-General’s office.

“Go in,” one instructed.

Yang Dong knocked, then entered.

“Old Ling, this is Yang Dong,” said Xu Yuncai, who was sitting on the sofa, smoking. He glanced at Yang Dong with cold indifference before addressing the Secretary-General.

This was Ling Zhenting, standing member of the Commission, Secretary-General, and Office Director. He was in his fifties, hair flecked with gray, slightly overweight, with a black mole by the corner of his mouth.

Ling Zhenting looked up at Yang Dong and said in a flat tone, “Give me your secondment letter.”

Yang Dong felt a pang of disappointment. He had put too much faith in regulations. But sometimes rules were just words to those in power. Xu Yuncai, after all, was the deputy secretary and a standing member of the Commission. If he and Ling Zhenting wanted to dismiss a seconded staff member, it was all too easy.

Yang Dong regretted that if he couldn’t stay on the investigation team, he’d have no way to contact Secretary Yin. But it wasn’t up to him. Faced with a roomful of Commission leaders, he, a mere section clerk, was utterly insignificant.

Without a word, he took out his secondment letter—the very notice issued by the Commission’s office that was now about to be withdrawn.

Xu Yuncai wore an air of calm indifference, not even glancing at Yang Dong. He was determined to cut off any path of survival for Yin Tiejun.

“Old Ling, the secondment was decided by the Secretary. It’s not really our place to change it,” came a sudden voice from the doorway.

Without knocking, a man strode in.

As soon as he entered, he spoke those words.

Ling Zhenting, who had been about to toss the secondment letter into the trash, immediately froze and looked toward the newcomer.

It was Wei Chonghu, the Executive Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission.

Wei Chonghu not only held that post but was also the Director of the Supervision Bureau, responsible for the daily operations of the Commission—a full division chief. Within the Commission, apart from the Party Committee member and Secretary Guan Mushan, he was the undisputed second-in-command.

The moment Wei Chonghu walked in, both Xu Yuncai and Ling Zhenting stood up in greeting.

“Secretary Wei!” they both said.

Wei Chonghu nodded, then turned to Ling Zhenting and continued, “The investigation team was formed by directive of the Provincial Commission, and the list of seconded personnel was personally overseen by Secretary Guan. Neither you nor I should interfere at will. After all, Secretary Guan has just arrived, and if we arbitrarily dismiss the people he selected, how will that reflect on us? What do you think, Old Xu?”

As he spoke, he glanced at Xu Yuncai.

Xu Yuncai quickly nodded and smiled. “Yes, Secretary Wei, you’re absolutely right.”

He dared not challenge the Executive Deputy Secretary, but he still protested, “But this Yang Dong made a scene in the corridor, causing a negative impact and showing disrespect to the Commission. Surely there should be some consequence?”

He was still unwilling to give up and wanted Yang Dong out.

“Old Xu, let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill. We should be more tolerant toward young comrades,” Wei Chonghu said, waving his hand dismissively. He no longer paid attention to Xu Yuncai but pointed at Yang Dong, saying, “Come with me.”

With that, Wei Chonghu turned and walked out.