Chapter 25: The True Face of Mount Lu

“Good day, Deputy Secretary-General Tian,” Yang Dong greeted, though he was reluctant to see this man. Indeed, the person in the BMW was none other than Tian Guanghan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Government, and First Deputy Director of the Municipal Office. Yang Dong had no choice but to greet him; after all, an official one rank higher could crush you. Not to mention, Tian Guanghan’s rank was far above his own. So he could only call out politely, but with clear distance.

Tian Guanghan’s expression darkened, clearly displeased with Yang Dong addressing him as “Deputy Secretary-General Tian.” True, that was his title, but did Yang Dong have to say it out loud? Every time, Yang Dong called him “Deputy Secretary-General,” as if to remind him constantly—he was only the deputy. How could that sit well with him? Moreover, Yang Dong was clearly a close ally of Yin Tiejun, which made Tian despise him all the more.

“What are you doing here? Is this a place for you?” Tian snapped. “Hurry up and go home to reflect on your mistakes. Don’t forget, you’re still on suspension! If your self-reflection isn’t sufficient, if you don’t realize your mistakes, don’t even think about coming back to the office.”

Tian Guanghan scolded Yang Dong, putting on all the airs of authority. Yang Dong hadn’t expected Tian to put on his official airs and lecture him even out here. Since that was the case, there was no need to be overly polite. Their relationship was already at the point of open hostility.

He’d been seconded to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, serving as the leader of the Tenth Investigation Group, but Tian Guanghan had interfered and personally had him transferred back, sending Lin Yaodong to deliver the news and humiliate him. Anyone with eyes could see Tian’s intentions. He was terrified that Secretary Yin might be exonerated. Given all that, why bother showing him any respect?

“First of all, Deputy Secretary-General Tian, I’m here visiting a friend,” Yang Dong replied coolly. “Besides, my suspension doesn’t prohibit me from leaving my house, does it? Don’t you think you’re overstepping a bit, Deputy Secretary-General?”

Yang Dong looked at Tian Guanghan, his tone neither warm nor cold. With a leader like this, respect was meaningless. Even if he knelt before Tian, the man wouldn’t give him the time of day and would still try to ruin him. So why not speak his mind?

“You—” Tian’s eyes widened, shocked that Yang Dong would speak to him in such a manner. He trembled with rage, his lips quivering, speechless with anger. It had been a long time since any lowly clerk had dared address him so. The last one who did now worked as a janitor in the municipal archives.

“Very good, Yang Dong. Remarkable,” Tian sneered, giving him a thumbs-up, his face breaking into a smile that revealed not the slightest hint of anger.

But Yang Dong knew, whenever Tian Guanghan wore such a smile, it meant he was truly furious—and would stop at nothing to destroy his opponent. In his previous life, when Tian had him sent out to the township agricultural office, at least Yang Dong kept his civil service status. Now, Tian would surely try to strip him of that as well, making sure he became just another ordinary civilian—or perhaps not even allowing him that dignity. He might slander him, trapping him in endless trouble, just as Xu Yuncai had framed Yin Tiejun. But Yang Dong was not afraid. Secretary Yin’s exoneration was already a sure thing. He was merely waiting for Yin Tiejun’s return to settle the score. This pent-up frustration had lasted not only these days, but for the entire fifteen years since he’d been kicked out of the municipal office in his past life. The debt had to be repaid—to Xu Yuncai, Tian Guanghan, Lin Yaodong, Zhou Hui, and Gu Chen, all of them.

“Whether I return to the municipal office or not isn’t for you to decide, Deputy Secretary-General,” Yang Dong said with a cold laugh, meeting Tian’s gaze. “As long as Secretary Yin hasn’t been dismissed, your word means nothing.”

“You still think Yin Tiejun is coming back?” Tian snorted, unable to suppress a string of derisive laughs. He knew far more of the inside story than Yang Dong. Was this just Xu Yuncai framing Yin Tiejun? If Xu were acting alone, would he dare? To bring down a secretary of municipal standing—such a move would have dire consequences. Without someone’s backing, would Xu risk so much? These were things a mere clerk like Yang Dong couldn’t possibly understand.

Then Tian’s gaze landed on Guan Jiujie. He paused, recognizing her—wasn’t this the girl at the KTV a few days ago, the one Wu Jiancai mistook for an escort? Did she really live here?

“Good day, Secretary Tian!” Guan Jiujie greeted him with a sweet smile. Her parents had raised her strictly; no matter who they faced, she was always to be polite. Even though she knew Tian Guanghan was no friend of Yang Dong’s, she greeted him out of courtesy—such was her upbringing.

“Oh? Young lady, you live here?” Tian asked casually, assuming she was visiting someone or seeking a favor. The thought that she might have an impressive family background never crossed his mind. If she’d had any such background, she wouldn’t have been treated that way at the KTV. Besides, Tian prided himself on knowing all the children and nephews of the city’s leading officials—from the party secretary’s offspring to the sons of deputy directors, he knew them all by heart.

But Guan Jiujie had never registered in his memory, so the idea that she was a leader’s daughter didn’t occur to him.

“Yes, I live here,” she replied naturally, her smile showing two small dimples.

“No wonder you’re mixed up with Yang Dong—birds of a feather,” Tian said with a sneer. “Young people these days, they lie without shame. Especially young women—honestly, your family must worry about you.”

He finished with a look of deep disappointment.

“Tian Guanghan, what makes you say my daughter is a liar?” came a cold voice from behind the BMW. “And since when are you so concerned about my daughter’s upbringing?”

Neither Yang Dong nor Guan Jiujie had noticed Sun Xiufen approaching, pushing her bicycle loaded with groceries from the market. She’d overheard Tian’s disparaging remarks and her expression darkened. Her daughter might not be a graduate of a top national university, but she was a renowned medical student in Jijiang Province, and had joined the city hospital’s obstetrics department as a nurse on her own merit, without any family assistance. How could Tian Guanghan call her a liar or an unworthy girl?

Startled, Tian whipped around—and his face changed dramatically. “Minister Sun…?”

He immediately turned off the car and got out. “Minister Sun, what do you mean? This girl…she’s your daughter?”

Tian felt as though his head was spinning, utterly incredulous. He’d always thought Sun Xiufen had a son—when did she acquire a daughter?

Ignoring him, Sun Xiufen pushed her bicycle over to Guan Jiujie and, with a gentle expression, asked Yang Dong, “Yang, is your injury better?”

Snapping out of his surprise, Yang Dong quickly nodded. “Thank you for your concern, Auntie Xiufen. I’m already recovered.”

Minister Sun…Sun Xiufen? Only then did Yang Dong remember—there was indeed an Executive Deputy Minister of Propaganda in Lingyun City named Sun Xiufen. In his previous life, he’d known only her name, never her face. A few days ago, with his head injury and the rush to get to work, he hadn’t made the connection. Now, it all made sense.

Guan Jiujie was the daughter of Lingyun’s Executive Deputy Minister of Propaganda.

At last, he had seen the true face of Guan Jiujie’s family.

Catching the odd expression on Yang Dong’s face, Sun Xiufen broke into a smile. “So, Yang, you’ve guessed my identity?”