Chapter 15: Subduing Hou Donglai!

6 PM, outside the hotel arranged by the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission.

Yang Dong and his companions stepped down one after another from the shuttle bus, lining up to enter. First, they handled check-in—each group was assigned a room, with five beds per room, just enough for five people. If there were female members in a group, they would be reassigned to stay together.

Yang Dong’s group included a female member, Lu Yike. So now, accompanied by three male members, he made his way to Room 210.

The room, about fifty square meters, housed five beds without feeling cramped; the environment was quite decent.

Bang!

No sooner had they entered than Hou Donglai, seconded from the Municipal Procuratorate, threw his bag onto a bed with a grim expression, turned, and began to curse at Yang Dong. “Yang, what gives you the right to be group leader?”

“I’ve worked at the Procuratorate for eight years and am now a deputy section chief. Among us five, my rank is the highest—I should logically be leader. Who do you think you are, to be the leader?”

“Shuangquan, am I right?”

After venting, he shot a look at Hou Shuangquan. Both Hou Donglai and Hou Shuangquan were seconded from the Municipal Procuratorate—internally, they were known as the ‘Two Hous,’ though they weren’t related.

“Donglai, it’s just a temporary appointment, not a real leadership position. Let it go,” Hou Shuangquan, a portly man resembling the Laughing Buddha, squinted as he spoke, his eyes reduced to slits.

His words seemed to defuse the situation for Yang Dong, but actually implied that the group leader was nothing—once the task was over, Yang Dong would remain a grassroots worker, while Hou Donglai would still be a deputy section chief.

“Right, just a meaningless group leader. I don’t care for it.” Hou Donglai sneered, then sat on the bed, removing his shoes and instantly filling the room with a foul odor.

“Comrade Hou Donglai, come with me,” Yang Dong frowned, clearly disliking Hou Donglai’s behavior—using seniority to stir trouble.

“Who do you think you are? I’m not—”

Bang!

“Move!” Yang Dong grabbed Hou Donglai by the collar and dragged him out forcefully.

Hou Donglai had no time to react, being hauled out by Yang Dong.

“Yang Dong, you—” Hou Shuangquan was startled, not expecting Yang Dong to resort to force. He hurried to intervene.

“Comrade Hou Shuangquan, this doesn’t concern you!” Jiang Hu immediately stepped forward, grinning, and blocked Hou Shuangquan’s path.

Hou Shuangquan, seeing the burly, dark-skinned Jiang Hu, swallowed nervously and sat back down quietly.

“Yang Dong, let go of me! What are you trying to do?” Hou Donglai’s face flushed red as Yang Dong held him by the collar, making him look like a whipped dog.

Especially with other investigation team members still in the corridor, watching—he felt utterly humiliated.

“Get in!” Yang Dong kicked Hou Donglai’s backside, sending him into the men’s restroom.

Yang Dong slammed the door shut and locked it.

“Is something about to happen?”

—

“What’s the story with the leader of the tenth group? So aggressive?”

“You haven’t heard? He’s the one who rescued a woman at Happy Sheep KTV last night, offending several municipal leaders—Yang Dong.”

“That’s him? No wonder his name sounded familiar.”

“Hou Donglai giving him attitude—it’s his own fault.”

In the corridor, members of other groups whispered among themselves, gazing toward the restroom, curious about what would unfold.

Would there be a brawl? A fight?

Inside, Yang Dong stared coldly at Hou Donglai, the deputy section chief from the Procuratorate.

“Yang Dong, what are you doing? I’m warning you—assault is illegal.”

“I work for the Procuratorate. I know the law! I warn you!” Hou Donglai, initially angry, quivered at Yang Dong’s expression and began to feel afraid.

“Hou Donglai, you don’t accept me as leader?”

Yang Dong’s voice was icy as he asked.

Hou Donglai stepped back, gripping the faucet on the sink.

“Yeah, I don’t accept you,” he forced himself to look up defiantly, prepared to shout if Yang Dong dared hit him, hoping it would reflect badly on Yang Dong. He couldn’t believe the Discipline Commission would choose a violent man as group leader.

“Ha, you don’t have to accept me.”

Yang Dong laughed aloud at Hou Donglai’s response. Just as Hou Donglai expected Yang Dong to hit him, Yang Dong lifted his head and stared at him intently, unnerving Hou Donglai.

“Do you know Huang Xiaocui?” Yang Dong asked. Hou Donglai’s eyes widened, his heart racing.

“I—I don’t know any Huang Xiaocui!” he stammered, Yang Dong’s words hitting a nerve.

Yang Dong continued, sneering, “Huang Xiaocui—a recent college graduate involved with a deputy section chief from the Procuratorate, now pregnant with his child. The child should be at least a year old by now, right?”

“So, Donglai, what do you think would happen if the wife of that deputy section chief learns about the child?”

“Are you curious?”

Yang Dong stroked his chin, murmuring, “Seems I should inform his wife.”

With that, Yang Dong moved to unlock the restroom door.

“Wait, leader, please don’t go!” Hou Donglai rushed forward, pale-faced, his tone pleading and ingratiating as he grabbed Yang Dong.

“Hou Donglai, what did you call me?” Yang Dong looked at him in surprise.

“Leader! You’re the leader of the tenth investigation team. I, Hou Donglai, am a team member and will absolutely obey you!”

“Whatever you say, I’ll follow!”

Hou Donglai smiled obsequiously, bending slightly, his eyes showing fear. No one—not even his parents—knew about this. How did Yang Dong find out?

—

How did Yang Dong know? Now wasn’t the time to dwell on that—he couldn’t let Yang Dong reveal it, especially to his wife.

His position in the Procuratorate depended entirely on his wife’s family. Her father was a deputy chief prosecutor, retired a few years ago, but still influential. If his wife found out and told her family, Hou Donglai would be kicked out of the Procuratorate instantly.

“Really? But I thought you didn’t accept me as leader,” Yang Dong feigned surprise.

“Maybe we should drop it—no need to force the issue,” he said, turning away.

“No, it’s no trouble—I was just joking!” Hou Donglai was nearly in tears. If this ever came to light, he’d be ruined.

How did Yang Dong know his dirty secret?

Yang Dong sneered inwardly. This Hou Donglai, once promoted to full section chief in a few years, would become a true pest—his rank might not be high, but his corruption would be substantial.

He remembered from his previous life that Hou Donglai’s scandal exploded after his wife discovered the affair and the child, triggering a major incident. The Discipline Commission intervened, uncovering that since becoming section chief, Hou Donglai had repeatedly aided lawbreakers, meddling in trials and case reviews.

Over several years, he amassed more than eight million yuan through such misconduct.

A minor official in the Procuratorate, yet he accumulated over eight million.

Clearly, Hou Donglai was rotten—likely already neck-deep in corruption, and an investigation would surely expose it.

Ironically, Hou Donglai had been seconded to the Discipline Commission investigation team, now becoming an ‘inspector’ of others.

“Are you truly convinced?” Yang Dong asked, sneering.

Hou Donglai nodded vigorously, sweat pouring down his face.

“I am!”

“Good, then let’s go. Don’t keep others from using the restroom.”

Satisfied, Yang Dong said no more, unlocking the door and stepping out. Hou Donglai immediately followed, ingratiating and deferential.

“Leader, watch your step.”

“Leader, let me open the door for you!”

“Please, after you!”

His behavior was so servile, one might have mistaken Yang Dong for some high-ranking official.

Everyone in the corridor was dumbstruck, exchanging bewildered glances.

Wasn’t Hou Donglai just refusing to accept Yang Dong?

What had happened?

There had been no sounds of fighting from the restroom—how had Hou Donglai surrendered so quickly?