Chapter 20: Analyzing the Situation

On the threshold of Room 107 at the hotel, Yang Dong kept watch the entire night, not sleeping for a moment. Lu Yike managed to stay with him through the first half of the night, but by the latter half, exhaustion overcame her and she returned alone to the hotel to rest.

Hou Shuangquan had bought a pile of instant noodles, sausages, and bottled water, and kept vigil alongside Yang Dong.

At seven in the morning, as the drowsiness faded, Yang Dong glanced at Hou Shuangquan and casually smiled, asking, as a team leader ought to know his members. “Comrade Shuangquan, what is your position at the City Procuratorate?”

“Team leader, I’m just a small figure at the City Procuratorate, not worth mentioning,” Hou Shuangquan replied with a cheerful smile, his eyes narrowed, resembling the Maitreya Buddha.

Yang Dong nodded, not pressing further. Since the other was unwilling to elaborate, he let it be. This Hou Shuangquan was shrewd, several levels above Hou Donglai. To truly win him over, Yang Dong knew he would need a strategy.

Ah, speaking of Hou Donglai—Yang Dong abruptly stood, remembering he had left him outside to guard the window. Had he frozen through the night?

“Comrade Shuangquan, call Hou Donglai in quickly.”

Hearing this, Hou Shuangquan thought to himself, only now do you remember? I thought you intended to freeze him to death. Rising, he strode briskly toward the outside of the hotel.

Soon, he returned with Hou Donglai, who was wrapped in a green military coat, shivering violently, a chill radiating from his body.

“Comrade Donglai, I’m terribly sorry, are you alright?” Yang Dong walked over, apologetic.

Sniffing, Hou Donglai shook his head. “No, it’s fine, team leader.”

“Here, some freshly made noodles. Eat a bit, it’ll warm you up.”

Yang Dong was genuinely remorseful; he hadn’t meant to prank Hou Donglai—he’d simply forgotten he was guarding outside.

“Thank… thank you, team leader.”

Yang Dong helped Hou Donglai to a seat, handing him a steaming bowl of instant noodles. Hou Donglai ate heartily, finishing even the broth before he felt much better.

“Tell me, team leader, are you still upset with me?” Hou Donglai’s eyes brimmed with grievance and frustration.

“How could I?” Yang Dong shook his head immediately; he truly hadn’t intended to make things hard for Hou Donglai, even if the latter would one day become a corrupt official.

“Otherwise, why torment me like this? It was below freezing last night, the wind howled, and I only survived thanks to the gatekeeper lending me this military coat.”

Sniffling, it seemed Hou Donglai was coming down with a fever.

“You don’t need to work today. Rest well and take some cold medicine.”

Yang Dong granted Hou Donglai a day off to recover.

“Team leader, you can’t do that, I—”

Hou Donglai kept rambling, vexing Yang Dong.

“Will you stop already? Do you want me to make you stand outside every day?” Yang Dong glared at him, silencing him immediately.

“I’ll go check if Yin Tiejun is awake yet.”

Yang Dong picked up a pack of instant noodles and a kettle of hot water, unlocking the door to Room 107.

“Yin Tiejun, I’m coming in!” he called from the doorway, pushing inside.

Hou Donglai, head drooping, drank hot water, while Hou Shuangquan watched the door, his gaze restless, lost in thought.

Inside Room 107, Yang Dong found Secretary Yin awake, grooming his hair.

Compared to the weary, haggard face of the previous days, Yin Tiejun appeared much rejuvenated, his spirit restored after a good night’s sleep.

“Secretary, have some noodles,” Yang Dong said softly, preparing the meal with hot water.

“Xiao Dong, what’s the situation outside?” Yin Tiejun asked in a low voice as soon as Yang Dong entered, noticing he was alone. Though anxious, he finally had a chance to strategize. He, the lowest-ranking trusted aide in the City Government’s General Office, had arrived.

“Secretary, let me summarize. I made the call—a young woman answered. At the City Government, Tian Guanghan targeted me and has suspended me for reflection. However, yesterday afternoon, I received a joint transfer notice from the City Discipline Inspection Office and its Organization Department. I entered the investigation team and was appointed leader of the tenth group. As for your case, I’m confident—if I wish, I could solve it in a day.”

These words should have been said yesterday when he first met Yin Tiejun, but with Lu Yike present, he couldn’t speak freely. Now, finally alone with the Secretary, he explained everything.

Yin Tiejun’s eyes lit up, joy flooding his face. “Then what are you waiting for? Get me out of here, you rascal…”

“Secretary, don’t you want to strike back? Just walking away—it’s too easy on them, isn’t it?” Yang Dong asked earnestly.

Yin Tiejun’s gaze sharpened, reassessing Yang Dong. Suddenly, he realized he had underestimated this young man.

“How much do you know?” His tone grew solemn, his eyes scrutinizing.

Yang Dong neither flinched nor feared; he knew that by revealing what he was about to say, he would be fully embroiled in this power struggle. Yet, ambition demanded he touch such matters. With the bitter failure of his previous life, he was ready—this time, he would live differently.

“You’re aiming for Deputy Mayor, and your rival wants the same. This rival is special—a Deputy Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission—using his position to frame you, hoping to eliminate you this way. All your trusted aides in the City Government and elsewhere are under their watch, which is why you turned to me to make that call. Isn’t that right?”

Saying this, Yang Dong smiled warmly at Yin Tiejun.

Yin Tiejun was stunned for a long moment. He had never expected a lowly staff member like Yang Dong to see through the situation so clearly…

“You rascal… Hand over the noodles, damn it, I’m starving.”

Yang Dong felt relieved—his gamble had paid off. If before Yin Tiejun had merely looked after him, now Yang Dong was his true confidant, irreplaceable in the Secretary’s eyes.

When a leader no longer guards his words and curses freely in your presence, what does it mean? It means he considers you one of his own.

Yang Dong handed over the noodles. As Yin Tiejun ate, he asked, “Has the new Discipline Inspection Secretary taken office these past two days?”

“The Secretary?” Yang Dong paused; he hadn’t paid attention to this, being preoccupied with Yin Tiejun’s crisis. In his memory, the previous Discipline Inspection Secretary, Lu Zheng, left due to late-stage cancer. Then a new Standing Committee member, Guan Mushan, arrived as Secretary.

“It should be Guan Mushan,” Yang Dong replied softly, observing Yin Tiejun.

Yin Tiejun nodded, but did not pursue the topic, turning instead to other matters. Yang Dong was puzzled by his interest in the new Secretary.

“Xu Yuncai has a powerful figure backing him. Let’s not act rashly yet,” Yin Tiejun said seriously.

“Revenge is not a matter of a single day,” he continued. “First, get me out. Some things are beyond your reach right now. Even if operations are needed, I’ll handle them.”

Yin Tiejun was clear—he would inevitably retaliate, but not yet. Their position was weak, and any counterattack would be futile. But a gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years—there’s no rush. In politics, you don’t always need to strike back immediately.

“Alright, I’ll solve the case quickly and get you out,” Yang Dong understood. His status was too low to exact revenge; worse, he might be eliminated instead.

“You want to help me, but the enemy won’t let you. As a temporary transfer, you might be sent back at their whim. If you’re recalled to the City Government, my hope for release vanishes. So, seek out Wei Chonghu—let him help you, don’t let the enemy’s plot succeed.”

Yin Tiejun, a full-fledged government secretary, analyzed the situation with a few words, foreseeing the dangers Yang Dong faced.

“I’ve always wondered, since you and Secretary Wei are supposedly close, why hasn’t he helped you? Why did he watch you suffer?” Yang Dong asked, finally voicing his long-held confusion.

Yin Tiejun glanced at him and smiled. “Who told you I’m close with Wei Chonghu?”

“What? He…” Yang Dong was shocked, his heart pounding, cold sweat breaking out down his back.

If the two weren’t close, why had Wei Chonghu helped him, appointing him leader of the tenth group?

Seeing Yang Dong’s reaction, Yin Tiejun chuckled but didn’t tease him further.

“I don’t get along with him, but we are indeed allies—only because we share the same former superior. I was his third secretary; Wei Chonghu was the second. That’s all. Personally, we have nothing in common. Now you understand?”

With these words, Yin Tiejun clarified their relationship. Both were favored by the same old leader, making it hard for them to cooperate. Especially since both served as the leader’s secretary, mutual dislike was inevitable.

No wonder, in his previous life, when Yin Tiejun entered the Discipline Inspection Commission, Wei Chonghu never intervened…

It must have been that after Yang Dong made the phone call this time, the person behind the call urged Wei Chonghu to help, forcing his hand.

Understanding this, Yang Dong felt at ease.

“Secretary, who is your old leader?” Yang Dong asked, curious. In his previous life, he never knew who stood behind Yin Tiejun—this was perhaps the only thing the reborn Yang Dong didn’t know.

“You rascal… Bite off more than you can chew. Get out!” Yin Tiejun glared at him, pointing to the door.

Yang Dong’s face fell, but he replied in a grave tone, “Comrade Yin Tiejun, please refrain from insulting a Discipline Inspection investigator! This is your first warning! Reflect well, I’ll take my leave!”

After his declaration, Yang Dong strode out, closing the door behind him.

Yin Tiejun was stunned for a moment, then slapped his thigh.

“That rascal—needs a beating…”